Editorial Policy

Behind the Scenes at Craft Porch

Before a post goes live on Craft Porch, it goes through a process I’m happy to show you. Craft and party posts look simple on the surface, but a wrong drying time, a missing supply or a bad safety note can ruin someone’s afternoon or someone’s party. This page explains how I try to prevent that.

What Craft Porch Stands For

Craft Porch exists to publish crafts, party ideas and how-to guides that work for real people in real kitchens, living rooms and backyards. Every post is held to four commitments: it should be accurate, it should be useful, it should be clear enough for a beginner, and it should be honest about what it costs, what it needs and what can go wrong. If a post can’t meet those standards, it doesn’t get published.

How Every Article Comes Together

This is the actual workflow, from first idea to published post.

Choosing the topic. Topics come from reader messages, questions I see people asking about crafts and parties, and gaps I notice on the site. I check what people are searching for, but I also ask whether I can actually add something useful.
Research. I gather supply options, techniques, timing and common mistakes from several places, as described in the research sections below.
Drafting. I build the post around a clear supply list, numbered steps and realistic timing.
Fact-checking. Measurements, quantities, times, product details and safety notes are verified against my sources.
Image and formatting pass. Photos and graphics are chosen to show the real steps, not just a finished result. Headings, lists and supply sections are cleaned up so the post is easy to follow with messy hands.
Editorial review. Jennie Pearce, Craft Porch’s lead editor, reviews the full post for accuracy, clarity and usefulness.
Final read-through. I read it once more as a beginner would, checking that no step assumes knowledge the reader doesn’t have.
Publishing. Only then does the post go live.

The Final Quality Gate

Every article on Craft Porch is reviewed by a person before publishing. Craft Porch is a small operation, and I’d rather say so than invent a large editorial board. That review is the last step before a post goes live, and nothing skips it. If a post isn’t clear, accurate or helpful on that final read, it goes back for more work.

Research Standards for Crafts and Party Ideas

Research for Craft Porch combines hands-on experience with outside sources. For craft projects, that means working from direct experience with the materials, comparing techniques across trusted craft publications and instructors, and reading product documentation for adhesives, paints, tools and finishes. For party ideas, it means looking at what actually holds up at real events, like timing for setup, food that stays safe on a table, and decorations that survive a crowd.

I don’t rely on a single source for anything that matters. When a technique is mine, from my own trial and error, I say so. When it comes from somewhere else, I check it before passing it on.

Where Facts Come From

Craft Porch prefers primary sources over secondary ones. In practice, that means:

Manufacturer instructions and safety information for glues, paints, tools and craft equipment, rather than a blog’s summary of them
Food safety guidance from recognized authorities when a party post involves food or drink
Established craft and home publications, and experienced makers, for techniques
My own tested results, clearly described as such

Claims I can’t verify are left out. A tip that sounds good but has no support behind it doesn’t make the final post.

How Facts Get Checked

Every Craft Porch article is fact-checked before publishing. The check covers:

Quantities, measurements and supply counts
Time estimates, such as drying, baking, cooling and prep times
Product details, including materials, sizes and what a product is actually meant for
Safety notes and age recommendations
Names, dates and any quoted sources
Anything time-sensitive, like seasonal availability or discontinued products

If a number can’t be checked, it either gets verified or it comes out.

Who Writes Here

Craft Porch is written and edited by Jennie Pearce. She brings personal experience and dedicated research to every article, and she doesn’t publish projects or party advice she hasn’t looked into carefully. If other contributors join the site later, they’ll be chosen for real experience in crafts or party planning, and their work will go through the same review as everything else.

What Every Post Has to Pass

Before a post is published, it must meet this checklist:

It has a clear purpose, so you know what you’ll be able to make or plan by the end
It adds something useful, such as a tested tip, a budget swap or a mistake to avoid
It includes a full supply list and clear, ordered steps
The information has been checked and any safety notes are included
The structure is easy to scan
The images show something useful, not only decoration
Sources and credit are given where they’re owed

How AI Tools Fit In

AI tools may be used to assist with research and to improve the quality, clarity and readability of articles, including grammar checks. They are not used to automate publishing, and they are not used to produce low-effort content. Every piece of content on Craft Porch goes through human editorial review and fact-checking before it is published.

Editorial Independence

What I recommend on Craft Porch is separate from how the site earns money. Advertising, affiliate relationships and partnerships don’t decide which projects I feature, which products I mention or what I say about them. If I wouldn’t suggest something to a friend working on the same project, it doesn’t go in a post.

Keeping Posts Current

Crafts and party trends change, products get discontinued and better methods come along. Evergreen posts on Craft Porch are reviewed every 6 to 12 months. Seasonal and time-sensitive posts are checked before each season returns, and sooner when something changes. When I find an error myself, I fix it right away instead of waiting for someone to point it out.

Telling Me I Got Something Wrong

If you spot a mistake, an outdated product or a safety concern, please tell me. Send a note with the link to the post and what looks wrong. Valid corrections are made within 72 hours, and I read every message myself.

Hands-On Standards and Safety

Craft Porch is a low-risk niche, but not a no-risk one. Hot glue guns, craft knives, paints, candles and party food all carry real hazards. Every article is backed by hands-on experience or thorough research, and posts that involve heat, sharp tools, chemicals or food include safety notes and age guidance where they matter. Craft Porch is not a substitute for manufacturer instructions or food safety rules. When a product label or official guideline says something different from a post, follow the label.