The National Handcraft Society

Welcome The National Handcraft Society

This page is dedicated to all who seek information about The National Hand Craft Society, also known as The Fad Of The Month Club.Here you will find information about the Handcraft Society and the products it had to offer.

If you are an old schooled crafter like me, and wonder what ever happened to this fine organization, fellow handcraft club members, and whether or not any craft kits are still in existence, you will find the answers here.

History of The National Hand Craft Society

The National Handcraft Society was established in or around 1947. The Handcraft Society was comprised of members who joined to receive the surprise craft kit of the month.

A Note From Club Secretary Nancy Lee

Each month, members received a letter from club secretary, Nancy Lee who would touch base with members with the latest notes about their Fad Of The Month Craft Kit, along with instructions.

National Handcraft Society Membership Information

As a member of The "Fad Of The Month Club," you were deemed the privilege of being a member of the National Handcraft Society. The craft kits were as shown in the catalog published by The National Handcraft Institute of Des Moines, Iowa.

Membership was available in two forms: The $7.50 Membership was ($6.00 for 6 Surprise Kits plus $1.50 to cover postage, handling, and insurance) for six surprise kits plus one FREE PRIZE. The second membership available was $12.50 ($10.00 for 10 Surprise Kits plus $2.50 to cover postage, handling, and insurance) for 10 Surprise Kits plus TWO FREE PRIZES.

The surprise kit was like the Forest Gump Box of Chocolates -- You never knew what you were going to get. But when that little box arrived, you knew you were getting a kit that included everything from start to finish to complete it. The package was well prepared, and often came with a full set of instructions, and a full color postcard of how the kit would look complete and on display. Of course, a member's satisfaction was of utmost importance. Members were protected with an UNCONDITIONAL MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.

Regardless of which membership package one chose, the FREE GIFT was the first item one would receive, along with a "Welcome" letter from Nancy Lee. The welcome letter also provided the means for enabling one to earn premium gifts by enrolling friends on the Special Membership Agreements. One could also provide Nancy Lee with names and addresses so friends could receive an invitation anonymously.

The Garden Medley Apron Kit

Gift Craft Catalog from The National Handcraft Institute

Thanksgiving In The Handcraft Institute Catalog

Make Your Own Cork Board

Steam Punk Antique Cars Fad Of The Month Craft Kit

Where To Find Fad Of The Month Club Kits

Members of The National Handcraft Society will probably remember the joy in receiving a surprise box once a month in the mail. In the early 1970s, I was a member of The National Handcraft Society, and once a month I received a surprise craft kit. Members who were faithful for a whole year received a National Handcraft Society Pin.

For collectors of the antique National Handcraft Society kits, look for items available for sale on eBay, estate sales, garage sales, newspaper classifieds, Craig's List, and social networks online.

Christmas In The Handcraft Society Catalog

The Posy Place

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Centripetal Force Easily Explained

Why I’ve decided to become a Dolphins fan if the Lions win the Super Bowl this year

Fun Handcrafts From The Fad Of The Month

Members Of The National Handcraft Society Unite

Crafters who quilt, sew, or appreciate original textile designs will love Spoonflower.

Custom Textiles For Craft Projects and Home Decor

The Hancrafter's Note

All the information contained herein is from my own National Handcraft Society kits and personal experience. Based on how difficult it was (and still is) to find relevant information about "The Fad Of The Month Club," this page was constructed for the benefit of all who have inquiry about the hand crafting group that existed for more than twenty five years and disappeared without a trace. The purpose of this page, most importantly, is to assemble information about the National Handcraft Society to be shared with all for historical purposes.

If you were a member of The National Handcraft Society (Fad Of The Month), your knowledge and information are welcome here. I would love to hear about your crafting experience, craft kits, and how the National Handcraft Society was part of your life. Also, if anyone knows whatever happened club secretary, Nancy Lee, it would be great if you could share your information here with fellow former members, as well.

It is amazing how many links to the National Handcraft Society are obsolete, or non existent. This page was designed to provide you and the internet with a real and relevant source of information about this topic. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit this page. May all who visit feel welcome, and may all who seek information about this topic find it helpful.

© 2010 Tonie Cook

Friends Of The National Handcraft Society - We'd Love To Hear From You

Gretchen on April 28, 2020:

I belonged to the club in the 70s and loved it. I recently came across a kit that I never completed--moved it with me 3 times. It's a little box to assemble with a velvet paper top with pansies to paint on it. I assembled the box and stained it and now I'm passing it to my artistic granddaughter to paint the pansies. Wish I could subscribe to these kits now for my grandchildren (and maybe me too.)

Nancy Lee Forrester on March 12, 2020:

No, not the Nancy Lee you are looking for. I found a 1996 McCall's Needleworks and Crafts magazine that has a coupon for the National Handcraft Society. Brought back memories. I belonged to that club many years ago. Loved their kits. I'm sure I still have some of the items I made in storage. But I gave most of them away as gifts, still do that with other crafts I make. Love crafting and needlework. Wish they still had that club.

Lucy on January 01, 2020:

Hi..I was a member in the early 70's and I am looking for the snow shovel with the little mouse on it. Anyone have one?

Leslie on March 23, 2019:

T Urbanski, you mention having 63 kits. Can you tell me which ones? If there are a lot of them that I don't have, I'd be willing to buy them. (But I have a *lot* of them).

Darlene - I would love to hear more about what working at National Handcraft was like!

Vonciel - How wonderful that you still have some of the kits you made! Which ones? Do you have a favorite?

Anybody who's interested - I've been listing some kits on eBay. I have over 100 of them, so keep checking, or let me know if there's a particular one you want and I'll list it right away.

Vonciel Thomas on February 13, 2019:

I was a member of this club since 1964 about. I even had my mother join later. I still have products i made. I now live in Alabama.

Patti Johnston on January 19, 2019:

I would love to have a kit for the ornate peacock wall hanging. It was mainly gold in color. If anyone out there has one and wants to sell it, please let me know. My email addy is patriciamjohnston@gmail.com.

Darlene on September 08, 2018:

I worked at National Handcraft during college. My mom worked for them most of my life until they moved operations to Indiana. She started working for them by typing envelopes at home. It was a great place to work. More companies should be like them.

T Urbanski on June 23, 2018:

I have 63 kits. I’d like to sell them all at once if possible. Are there any collectors interested in a larg3 quantity? I’m asking $145 for all 62 kits.

J Milstead from B.C., Canada on June 05, 2018:

Hello Sharon Downing,

The value is whatever people will pay for them. I once bought a box of 35 kits for $39, just over $1 per kit, but some sell for $5 or $6 each or even more than that. If you go to EBay or Amazon.com and type in "National Handcraft" in quotation marks, you will find examples of kits and/or postcards for sale and you can see how various people price them. Usually the boxes have been opened so they can name and send pictures of which kit(s) they are selling. People might be looking for a certain kit and would want to know which kit(s) they are buying. Usually the kits came with a postcard and you can scan the postcard and post the picture of the craft kit from the postcard picture.

I hope that helps, Good luck with selling them.

J Milstead

Sharon Downing of St. Joseph Michigan on June 04, 2018:

I have 5 kits total to sell. 3 of the boxes are unopened and will offer your sewers a new experience in SURPRISE. The other 2 boxes are complete 1) measure maid with wood, measuring cups and directions and 2) Garden medley apron kit. What do you think the kits are worth. I am assuming the unopened kits to be value. Please advise. thanks so much. sharon downing sharonreimers67@gmail.com

Lisa Schwalenberg on May 13, 2018:

I have about 50 vintage kits from 1960smost in original package anyone interested I would sell for $400 make offer

Janet Fuess on January 22, 2018:

When I was in my early teens my mother and I belonged to this club ( Fad of the Month) it was so much fun. Wish there was something like it now. I remember making a paper mache Santa. It lasted for a few years.

Leslie on January 05, 2018:

Terri, some time ago I put some pictures on Photobucket and then put the link in a message here and it worked. You could try that.

Is it the little round Santa whose body was made by papier-mache-ing a balloon?

Terri Calliope on December 25, 2017:

I still have a Santa ornament my mom made from the FOM club sometime in the 1960s. How can I share a photo

Leslie on September 20, 2017:

Wendy, just in case you want to send me a list of the kits, you can go to auntbook.com and click on one of the Tell Aunt Book links to e-mail me (I'm kind of wary of posting my actual e-mail and I don't quite understand how this site works to get my address to you any other way!)

Leslie on September 19, 2017:

Wendy, I would love to know what kits you have. You can list them on eBay. They go for varying amounts. Some of them are quite common, some less so. If you have some of the earlier ones and can fill in gaps in my knowledge I will be thrilled.

Wendy on September 07, 2017:

Oh my goodness! I was going through boxes of my 96 year old Grandma, may God Rest Her Soul! I found numerous kits from Fad of the Month Club! Most all of them are still complete with ALL materials! What do I do with them, still in original boxes and wonder what they are worth. A lot of them are pretty and "cool"! Sure takes me back!!!

Debbie Milligan on April 09, 2017:

Cleaning out my garage, I found the entire unassembled 1975 set of craft of the month kits. My mom ordered them for me but being a typical teen, I never got around to making them. If anyone would like these, please let me know.

manymilligans@airenetworks.com

I don't want money for them but would like to be reimbursed for shipping.

Angela on February 28, 2017:

Can't believe that 40 years ago I had my children make the Vintage Christmas ornaments, and that I still put them up on my Christmas tree. Last year my daughter finally took the one she made and has it in her curio cabinet. I also have the Scarecrow broom. Those were beautiful memories I shared with my girls and their friends.

Cindy on November 29, 2016:

I belonged to Fad of the Month Club in the late 50;s early 60's...my ..soon to be ...mother in law and I each got the surprises each month for $1. We loved doing the crafts..sometimes as gifts and sometimes we kept them. It was so exciting each month to see what we would get and there was always everything we needed to make the objects. WISH WISH WISH they would be available again.

anonymous on August 02, 2016:

I was so excited to read that others had such a fond memory of the monthly kits. I couldn't wait for each month. I believe the price I paid was $1 per month. My mother signed me up as a child.

J Milstead from B.C., Canada on May 28, 2016:

All the kits are vintage and so paints, glues, liquids are dried up. Probably someone removed the dried up varnish. I bought some vintage kits and then I bought a few acrylic paints, some white glue, hot glue, a small can of varnish, and a small can of wood stain. So far these have been enough to do the kits.

pterryalne@aol.com on May 01, 2016:

I have acquired a Fad of the Month called "GLIS-GLASS Rose Array" I have an instruction sheet, but no varnishes. Is it possible to still get them? The person who gave me this box of flowers did not know anything more about this. I am just pulling at straws here. Let me know on my E-mail please & I will send you my address.

Robin McGowan on December 30, 2015:

I looked forward to getting these every month. I wish they would come back because i would definately rejoin!

Crafty Sheila on October 10, 2014:

I received these in the mail when I was about 12 yrs old and looked forward to every one. It was always such a neat surprise to see what I would be making. I'm 65 now and wish we still had that neat monthly complete craft kit to look forward to.

Tonie Cook (author) from USA on September 23, 2014:

Thank you for sharing your link and your web page. The National HandCraft Society means a lot to me in that I was a member in the early 1970s, and still have my original kits and the boxes they came with. I am in the process of expanding on this page, as well, and if by chance your link does not show up here, I will make a point of including it on this page for all to see. Cataloging the kits from the Fad Club's beginning to the end is quite a challenge. Thank you for making an effort to do so, and thank you again for sharing your link here.

Leslie on September 11, 2014:

But, just in case you're interested, Charlino:

http://auntbook.com/FadoftheMonthClubIntroduction....

has links to other pages. It's still a work in progress, though.

Leslie on September 11, 2014:

I've started a webpage showing the various kits, but the little message under this text box says I'm not allowed to "promote other sites." Pity, because I have pictures of a whole bunch of the kits posted.

Kjuneau on November 15, 2013:

I loved these! Someone (I think it was my mother) gave me a membership as a child. ( I am my mid 50's) The surprise of a package every month and I was so proud of my creations that I still have a few in my treasure box. I made the car art kit in the for my Dad. Wish this was still around, I would give these to all my younger relatives.

Kirsti A. Dyer from Northern California on October 19, 2013:

I'd never heard about the National Handcraft Society. Thanks for letting me know about it.

anonymous on October 03, 2013:

Thought I had already posted here but don't see it. Hope we don't end up with multiple posts.

My grandmother, now deceased, was a member of the Fad of the Month Club. How fun it was to see her open those little boxes of supplies and instructions--such excitement and anticipation for a child! I hadn't thought of it in years until recently while working on a pottery project with one of my sisters. After painting the frog she was working on, they asked if she wanted to put glass into the concaves. As we shook out those little glass shards, I had a strange sense of deja vu. My sister suggested that it might be memories of crafting with our grandmother. This brought to mind the "Fad of the Month Club." Just wondering if anyone out there knows of a project kit that might have included glass. Thanks.

anonymous on October 03, 2013:

My grandmother, now deceased, was a member of the Fad of the Month Club. How fun it was to see her open those little boxes of supplies and instructions--such excitement and anticipation for a child! I hadn't thought of it in years until recently while working on a pottery project with one of my sisters. After painting the frog she was working on, they asked if she wanted to put glass into the concaves. As we shook out those little glass shards, I had a strange sense of deja vu. My sister suggested that it might be memories of crafting with our grandmother. This brought to mind the "Fad of the Month Club." Just wondering if anyone out there knows of a project kit that might have included glass. Thanks.

anonymous on July 21, 2013:

@anonymous: I just listed a Foam Fun with the Gay Blade kit (the one for cutting styrofoam) on eBay, if you're desperate to have one again. :)

anonymous on July 14, 2013:

I found one at a thrift shop for $.10. It's the Turtle Trivet 1973. Back in the early 80s, my friend's mom let us pick a project from a stash she had and I made the 1964 Copper Trivet for my grandma. She still has it!

anonymous on July 13, 2013:

@anonymous: Neat! Which one did you find?

anonymous on July 13, 2013:

I just found a kit at a yard sale! This website is great! Very glad to have found some information.

anonymous on May 31, 2013:

@anonymous: Foam Fun with the Gay Blade - November, 1965.

And Coppertrim Trivet - July 1964.

Some others from around that time:

1964 January HEAD 'N' SHOULDERS RING

1964 February GILDED CAGE

1963 March CHICK-A-BIDDIES

1964 April WOOD BLOOMS Arrangement 1

1964 May VINETIME HANDBAG

1964 June PIERRE PANHANDLER

1964 July COPPERTRIM TRIVET

1964 August INDIAN SUMMER BRAID BOUQUET

1964 September AUTUMN SET (honeycomb candle craft)

1964 October FILIGREE FANTASY

1964 November SANTA'S DREAMBOOT

1964 December TOLE ART "CRUMB CHUMS"

1964 December FALL FLIGHT (perhaps an earlier kit bonus gift?)

1965 ? STYLE-STITCH HANDBAG

1965 January RUS-TIC-TOCK PLANTER

1965 February HI HATS

1965 March TREAT TOTE (Blue)

1965 April "WONDER WEAVE" HANDBAG

1965? ? PARTY SMARTY

1965 May FRUITIQUE

1965 June VINE DIAMONDS

1965 July "MISS HAMCRAFT" (pink)

1965 August GEM-TOP CHARM CHEST (Shades of Autumn)

1965 September "PEBBLE POINT" PICTURE (Roses)

1965? October? HERE'S CHEERS CARDS

1965 November FOAM FUN WITH THE GAY BLADE KIT

1965 December LEOPARD STEPPERS

1966 January PHONO PLANTER

1966 February BONNIE BONNETS

1966 March VANITY FAIR (BLUE)

1966 April? AR-TIQUES (gesso bookends)

1966 May "LATTICE LOOK" HANDBAG

1966 June SAVORY SET

1966 July KEEP-KASE

1966 August FLEMISH FROSTING Flowerscape #1

1966 September FRINGE FANCY STITCHCRAFT PILLOW

1966 October EMBER-GLO hurricane lamp

1966 November JOLLY V.I.P.

1966 December PEEK-A-BLOOM SCARF

anonymous on May 31, 2013:

I belonged to Fad of the Month in the sixties (my mother got me the membership) and the whole family got interested in all the cute things -- you could even give some of them as gifts depending on the subject matter. I remember a styrofoam project which came with a battery operated wire cutter that heated up to melt the styrofoam so you could cut it! We used that cutter on multiple other projects that we were involved in around the house! A trivet with copper tooled embellishment was really great and useful! So many holiday decorations that we kept for years. Sewing was my least favorite, but on those my grandmother would chip in and help. Memories, memories!

anonymous on May 07, 2013:

I first became a member of NHS/FMC when I was only 12 years old! (I did not read the fine print that indicated that I should have been an adult.) Anyway, the would have been from 1967-around 1971, then again in the late 70's - early 80's. I have about 30 of my old postcards. I loved it so much! I am now a serious "crafter," and it all began with NHS.

anonymous on May 01, 2013:

I belonged to The National Handcraft Society in the 1960s. I so enjoyed the kits that I received. I could not wait to get the next one in the mail. It was so enjoyable to get the box with everything in it to make the craft. My favorite fad was the Steam Punk Antique Cars. I got so many compliments on that fad. I was thinking about the Society and wandered if I could find it on the internet. It appears that it is no longer in existence. Hopefully, I will find more information the more I look. If I fine any information that will be helpful to this page I will be back. I am so happy to have found this site. Thank you. Brought back memories.

anonymous on May 01, 2013:

@anonymous: I've been keeping an eye out but haven't seen the listing. Have I missed it?

kathysart on May 01, 2013:

OMG.. I have sooo much to learn.. thanks for the info.

anonymous on April 20, 2013:

I am going to sell 20 boxes from fad of the month club on ebay under norquistsales2011. The 2 with dates are from 1969 and 1970. 1 item was a free gift as I assume from reading above information. It is an Itailan made coin purse.

anonymous on March 14, 2013:

Oh, and I forgot to ask: Do you think it would make more sense for me to list the kits individually, or grouped together? I listed one set of three trivets, and a couple of kits as a set because I knew one person wanted to buy them all; but most I've done individually. If you were buying them, how would you want them listed?

anonymous on March 14, 2013:

I'm listing a bunch of old Fad of the Month kits on eBay - I've done maybe 25 so far, and have maybe 75 to 100 to go. If there's a particular kit you're trying to find, post it here and if I have it I'll bump it up to the top of the "list first!" line. These are duplicates and triplicates from my own collection.

Meanwhile, I'm making Bunny 'n' Beau, two little fluffy bunnies with flowers on them. The balloon around which their bodies are supposed to be built is long gone, so I substituted one that seemed like approximately the right shape, and it has worked out all right so far.

anonymous on February 20, 2013:

back in the early 60's when I was a young homemaker i belonged to this club for a couple of years.I really loved making the different crafts.The wishing well planter, The wheelbarrow planter, rolly polly santa, aprons, all sorts of things. It was great.

anonymous on January 25, 2013:

I was a member of the Fad of the Month Club years ago. How I enjoyed it!!!! I learned from it how to stain wood with the little packs of stain and/or varnish. How excited I was when the box came in the mail. I still have one item I still use to this day and it's a wood letter holder that goes on the wall and has a plastic scrolling front to it. I have glued the plastic several times over the years as I still cherish this little bit of the past. It helped me later in life to get into doll house miniatures, start a club and do doll houses to give to charity. I loved the Fad of the Month Club!!! p.s. I just recently found a post card of a foam Easter egg with an oval opening where plastic flowers peek out....called Eggs-Quisite Egg.

anonymous on January 16, 2013:

I just took down my Christmas tree which had several ornaments made with Fad of the Month kits. My mom and I made these many, many years ago. Also, a Christmas door hanging that I still use (although it has had some "redressing" over the years) and a sleigh and reindeer, and a Santa playing the piano on a musical stand, and..... Still have lots of other decorations from the club. Remember when they went to an "enhanced" membership when you could get the month's craft and its accompanying items all at once. Heaven!

anonymous on December 20, 2012:

I have a bunch of these and am going to list them on etsy soon! (my shop is moxiethrift) THANK YOU for the info on them!!

anonymous on December 10, 2012:

@anonymous: thank you for responding so quickly. the angel airies has a booklet says copyright 1975 so i amagine they are all around the same date. i have a matchbox planter1975,party pup 1976, merry meleodeon 1975, and crystal glo grapes 1976 i am looking to sell them as a lot could you tell me what they would be worth? none of the boxes have labels all have been opened but all the pieces are there.