Learn to watercolor for free this summer with Giveaways!

I don't know about you but June was a crazy busy month for our family, I hardly had time to turn around let alone to paint/craft! I have no idea what it's like to raise a family sometimes, my kids needed my attention a lot this month. It is with this thought in mind, that I hope to let my kids have some unstructured time (playing with toys, using their imagination) so I can maybe have time to be in the "art room" to create or to practice my painting muscle memory. 

My favorite Artist: Angela Fehr is running a month long challenge to help out her students: hobbyist, professional(wanna be), or Card Crafter (that's me) learn techniques and tips in watercolor through Angela's youtube channel or Here is a playlist of some of her best classes I also have a youtube playlist of tutorials that I thought helped me learn watercolor! Art doesn't have to be expensive, and if you are looking to learn more this is the month to try, July is National Watercolor Month!

Need a good challenge to help you "create" in watercolor?Angela's Prompts are sure to help you feel inspire you for each day of July! I printed it out and have it on my Art Room wall to cross off each day (I like to cross off things from a list...)

To learn more and enter into her challenge each week go here, WITH WEEKLY GIVEAWAYS AND A GRAND PRZE!

watercolor resist for a card (not finished yet).

HERE IS HOW TO GET STARTED:

enter into her challenge by enrolling in the course

 you will need to log in into her class website, and while you are logged in if you haven't yet, enroll in her free Joy of Watercolor Class you should! This is where you learn some simple demonstrations to florals, and landscapes that are explained a bit more than in her YouTube channel.

DON'T forget to enroll in the summer challenge, that way when you are ready to post to the challenge all you have to do is upload a photo to her class website.

 I can't wait to see what you post, I have a bunch of watercolors waiting to be "finished" hopefully I can find some time to do finish them off this month!Good luck at winning some fabulous art materials! 

Teaching Food and STEM together

What? you don't let your kids play with food? I love letting my kids play with their food if it's a learning opportunity, I think you will agree, MY KIDS LOVE THIS activity!  It's a two materials activity that you most likely have on hand!

Are your kids like mine and cheese balls are the first and only thing they want to eat right now? I thought so! I came up with a way to "teach" my kids while they eat their cheese balls. All you need is toothpicks, cheese balls and, some engineering skills and you got yourself a fun playful snack, We had fun building a little house, but I like using this as a way to teach math and shapes, and curiosity: how long is the table with cheese balls and toothpicks? You get the idea, the sky's the limit with cheeseballs and toothpicks! We also like to make shapes and talk about the shape.

I get my toothpicks and cheese balls at our local Hy-Vee. ( I have a love obsession with finding stuff at the grocery store that makes for fun toys for my kids.

Enjoy creating and playing with your food!

Stand Out In A Popular Marketplace with CreativeLive Food Photography class

Business of Commercial Food Photography 

is broadcasting live today and tomorrow, You know I am a big a fan of Andrew Scrivani, I loved his last class, go here for that post  Here is what is going to be taught today and tomorrow (march 1-2 2017) 

Being confident in your photography is only the start of growing your success as a food photographer. Knowing how to pitch yourself to clients, communicate with vendors, and set yourself apart from a populated market are just some of the business techniques that are essential in seeing you profit from your work. Andrew Scrivani joins CreativeLive to help you take your photography and business to a place where you can start making it a successful career. He’ll cover: 

• How to get work in the Food Photography Industry 
• How to promote and network yourself to grow your client list 
• Techniques on communicating with your vendors and clients on set and off 

Make your photography work for you and make money while shooting what you love. 

We are blessed to have CreativeLive bring in some amazing talent! 

CreativeLive broadcast their classes live every single day so you can really learn and understand the business of art and photography!

This blog post does have affiliate links, by clicking the links you are supporting my blog.

A free tool that changed my life

Morning pages saved my life!

I love how I feel after a 3-page writing session, it's my crack if I were a drug addict.

Here are some of the reason's why I love writing

I get to the other side of things, You may ask, what is the other side? It's when something isn't sitting right with you, maybe it was a thought that you just can't get out of your head, or maybe it was words that someone said that didn't sit well with you, maybe it's an idea that is wonderful but you have no idea how to implement that idea. Simply put you get all your frustrations on a page and then realize the real meaning behind why you feel the way you do. It's life changing, I think the world would be a better place if everyone took 30 minutes a day or even 30 mins. twice a week to get to the other side of things.

I often go back and re-read my morning pages and highlight ideas that I want to remember.

Writing helps you dream. It gets dreams out of your brain and into a place that you can see what you are thinking. I may never get to have my dream blog that I want, but at least I can dream and write about it in my morning pages. Morning pages can give me hope and faith in my dreams. It's a place to dream up the craziest dreams. I remember writing about 9 months ago about wanting to just go do Disney world, and how that won't happen, a powerful thing happened: 9 months later we surprised our children at Christmas that we are going to Disney World, and I can't wait... Dreaming is a powerful thing, and writing it out is even more powerful.

I plan, I explore other ideas, and just like that as if it were truly a magical experience, I get ideas, thoughts to problems that can be solved, an a-hah a hah moment, a way to deal with whatever issue I am facing. Recently my two sons are boycotting everything I make for them, words were exchanged by DH and I, I cried, and felt miserable for two days, After writing about it on the third morning, I figured out what to do... (spoilers for an upcoming blog post.)

Sometimes When writing I stare at a blank page, I know what I have to write about it, but it doesn't make it any easier. You see I have pride, lots of it, and I know that when I start writing my pride goes away and I am left feeling vulnerable. Yup, that's why it took me 3 days to write about the meal issue in our house. It happens every time but I am better off, and can usually get to the root of the problem with problem-solving strategies.

I can vent, seriously no one likes to hear me vent, I save that for my morning pages while venting I take stock of my emotions, and it's almost like a therapy, I can validate my feelings, and my injustice and then get to the other side of it. And it feels really good to just say what I want to say without hurting someone. Most often I can offend my family because I didn't have tact, I really like to tell it like it is, and I have hurt the ones I love the most with unkind words. Since I don't plan on sharing these morning pages with anyone in the near feature I  can be as tactful as I would like. (although I do hope that my children will get a good laugh when they are older and read them.)

some of the journals I have kept. Nothing spactacular!

Writing helps you heal! Mental abuse and other Abuse doesn't go away just by writing, but writing it out, can manage some of the hurt and pain that comes from the abuse.  There are days when I feel like I am just like my parents (mentally abusive.) I know I am not, but that ghost of the Nursery is real and it's enough to drive anyone crazy, Especially me. I don't like talking about it, I feel like no one can relate to me, so I write about it. Sometimes at the end of the writing session my soul feels nourished and free. It doesn't change the fact that it happened but by perspective has changed, and so has my soul, Writing helps me feel grounded to the world that I have created with my loving husband.


When you are in the healing process your sense of self is altered a bit, Writing helps you feel grounded, and have a sense of who you really are, Last year I wrote five affirmations to help me become more creative and find joy in my artistic talents, I wrote out five of the affirmations 3 times each day, for two weeks, It changed my life. If you are feeling less than your best, try it, you may be amazed at what comes next.  Try it, This is a great way to start journaling. I remember thinking to myself, I probably even wrote it before I wrote my affirmations for the day; with a thought like "this isn't really going to work, this is a waste of time". Maybe it was until the last couple days when I mentally saw my thoughts change to: I am glad I painted today, I really am able to bless the world by using my artistic talents! (one of my affirmations I wrote down 3 times for two weeks.)

I would love to know:  Do you journal? Does writing prompts help you? I love reading comments, please comment below!

Craftsy's Bogo Event going on this weekend

I love getting things free, and amazing classes are perfect for winter days. Learning and doing things keeps me out of trouble. So I am so excited to get a new class for those long winter months. I thought I would share a couple pair ups with you since Friday Craftsy is starting their BOGO class event. see the bottom of my post for all the details or click here



Here are some of my pair-ups: For Craftsy's BOGO event on all classes!

For a sweet treat:

Celebrate with cookies And The Perfect Cupcake once you know how to make the perfect cupcake and cookie, you will never ever have to buy them in the store, and they are both worth the money, it has saved me money not to buy cupcakes for birthday parties, and cookies for celebrations! both classes are really good choices if you like being in the kitchen. My kids love watching these two classes also and then helping me in the kitchen. Here is my class review for The Perfect Cupcake. Look for my class review for Celebrate with cookies in February!

For healthy fun in the kitchen I recommend:

Make the Most of your Food Processor with Greorge Geary and Guilt-Free Comfort food with Anna Bullett You will be using your food processor a lot in these classes! Both instructors are amazing at what they do, and I was so captivated by the content and knowledge that they taught! These two classes can really help you eat healthier with lots of flavors. With the help of a food processor, it makes short work of eating healthier! These classes also make cooking in the kitchen fun! Here is my blog post for Making the most of your food processor, and Creating Guilt Free Comfort Food with Anna

For watercolor: I have 3 pair ups

Luminous Watercolor and Simple and stunning watercolor techniques If you are thinking about starting watercolor, or need a push to get out of a rut, these classes are perfect, I learned so much from both instructors, It's tricky to get the right color in watercolor, but with a limited pallet you can do so much, Kateri teaches that for you! Mary Murphy does such a great job explaining in-depth about brushes, pigment, styles, and unique ways to stretch yourself as an artist.Both are wonderful for any skill level that wants to take their paintings to the next level. Here is my class review link for Luminous Watercolor and Simple and Stunning Watercolor Techniques. 

Painting florals in Watercolor
Kristy Rice's Getting Started Watercolor Fresh Florals and Anna Mason's step by step Painting Realistic florals. I love painting and creating flowers, and watercolor is the perfect medium to paint florals. These two teachers teach their unique style in painting their florals and pairing them together, learning from them will help you become a better floral watercolorist. Art is a process, and I love each style, taking these two classes helped me with my techniques and skills. My best advice is to keep practicing! This is a class you could practice over and over until you get it right! You can see my two class reviews for Kristy's Class and for Anna's Class both have great youtube channels too!




Angela Fehr's Better Paintings with watercolor Sketching and Watercolor Flower Bouquet with Mary Murphy. I like these two classes together because they teach you about creating the whole painting, it's not technique based, it's looking and painting with the whole picture in mind, from start to finish. They expect you to know your style, or to have a knowledge of how to paint and then take you through from start to finish, this is a very open-ended class that can really jump start your finished painting! Here is my Class review for Angela's Class, Look for my blog post review from Mary soon!


If you love mixed media, I have the perfect pair up!

Painting With Water Based Media with Nina Weiss and Mix it up Mixed Media Step by Step with Lindsay Weirich aka The Frugal Crafter Both instructors are amazing at mixed media, I love both of their styles, I have really enjoyed learning from them. There is a ton of information that you can branch of off with these two classes, They are worth your time and money!

Paper Crafting: With Pigment:
Water Color Cards with Depti Malik and Wild Cards with Catherine Pooler
These two classes go very well together, I find using watercolor and ink can really make your cards look amazing! Both classes offer unique styles to help you use your supplies is ways that are stunning! Both classes have about the same material list or are very open ended to the materials, You can get away with using all inks, or watercolor. Both have great ideas to make your cards look amazing! My best advice for these two classes would be to use what you have, most times one medium or tool can be used in different ways! I have a class review for both: Depti's Watercolor Cards and Catherine Poolers Wild Cards Both classes are excellent resourcesfor paper crafters!

Paper Crafting with paper and tools

Cards with Dimension with Daniel Flanders and Fresh Eyes on your Card Making supplies with Mariam Prantner. Both teachers really love layers, and using supplies in their own exclusive style that you can imitate to make it yours! They both love paper and layering it, and making cards into really neat works of art that you can be proud of! Here is a blog post that was inspired by Daniel's Cards with Dimension, and here is my blog post for Mariam's Fresh Eyes on your Card making supplies

Quick Washi Tape Christmas Cards

Need that last minute Christmas card done like now? look no farther than your Silhoute software (free program even if you don't own a Silhouette) a color printer with card stock ready to go, and washi tape

I used a free Merry Christmas file from the Silhouette Design store, printed it on to card-stock as a the base for my card. I already had the Christmas Trees cut out from a previous card I did. (used the negative part, left the positive part for this project.)  Once the sentiment is printed and the base card is cut to size add your favorite Christmas type washi tape to it as a background, and then add your embellishment (white tree) onto the washi tape back ground you created, and you whipped up a card in like 5 min. Super awesome right? I suppose you could stamp a sentiment too, but I realized why stamp sentiments?

For a non software/printer card, you can still make a cute card, in even less time.. you just need some washi tape, a printed sentiment (usually from a sticker or from a paper pack to help with layers.) 

The key to this is to plan where you want the washi tape at, do you plan on using the whole card base and use washi tape as more of a pattern that is part of the card, or just a couple lines of tape at the bottom?

 I actually sat down on a Saturday afternoon and just played with some washi tape, with out an image/sentiment in mind and just played with the washi tape, but if you are a planner, you could have your printed sentiments out and decide how it would work out. I just love the freedom of playing with your paper crafting supplies,  and seeing what comes from just playing around. 

Keep like colors together, and use the golden design rules when it comes to using washi tape. For example: Use the rules of thirds, a small, medium and large pattern goes well. 

So there you have it some easy last minute card ideas, I suppose these would also work for tags too, if you wanted too. 

I really think that if you were to go out and buy 3 rolls of washi tape, and use your printer for a sentiment, buy some specialty paper that you can cut the sentiments out. I estimate you could get about 50 cards for about $10, which is really not bad!  

CreativeLive Gift Giving

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

My husband recently said:  I haven't gotten you anything fun yet for Christmas... So what do you want? By the end of my quick brainstorming session, I knew I wanted to take some online art classes, CreativeLive does this well, and it's really easy to give a gift to a "creative." with CreativeLive.

If you haven't gotten a membership, it's free, and worth it. There is always a free class on at CreativeLive!

Watch FREE online courses live at CreativeLive.com

There are lots of classes that are broadcast, and it's free, I like to RSVP them, so when the time comes that they are on, it will email me saying it's free right now to view.  Creativelive classes are usually priced well, you get a lot of info in one class for your money. Click here to get started!

Here are some of the other deals going on:

Best of 2016 Sale - Top 100 Classes Starting at $22 at CreativeLive

Here is how you can give a Gift to your "creative" from CreativeLive once there, pick on a class that you think the receiver might like, and click Give as gift, then it will ask you when you want it delivered to them.

The New Craftsy Website

So this week Craftsy has done a complete overhaul of their website, and I enjoy all the new free content. If you are a painter, cook, baker, or does anything with the knitting crocheting, or sewing, then this place is worth your time to cheek out. They have countless ways to help you learn, either with free patterns, or recipes from skilled instructors from their trade, or a blog to learn about the trends in crafting, color, design, and materials, it's all there. Here are some of the freebies worth cheeking out:

Loads of free mini classes, to many to number, but Craftsy has something for everyone, I loved the baking ones, the stamping,  paper crafting ones, Painting with acrylics, and portrait photography. Cheek them all out here

There are tons of great recipes and free resources classes to help with feeding your family for any occasions, cheek it out here   my favorite that you must watch is the pizza class I learned a ton, and the pizza I make are restaurant quality!

And because I can't not eat healthy, there's this recipe Zoë's Decadent Chocolate Brownie Recipe here

Or if you just want to see all the free classes that are offered, go here

Happy Crafting! The gift giving season is right around the corner, and now's the perfect time to learn or brush up on a craft you love!

Free Night photography Class from CreativeLive

There is still time to watch this! I hope you all get a second to watch some of this, it's really good!

RSVP For The Free Live Broadcast of CreativeLive's Night Photography Week
Calling all night owls that love photography, CreativeLive is broadcasting their night photography class ALL this week. Cheek it out, it's looks like a really good one!

Get your Flu shot and Hy-Vee deal

So I got my flu shot today, and they paid me to get it! No Joke! Since my insurance covers preventative care It was free, and then they gave me 20 cents on a fuel saver, so $4.00 off of gas! Can't beat that, so Get your flu shot, it takes about two weeks for your immune system to make it effective So GET YOUR FLU SHOT NOW, before you really need it!

Free Live Photography and scrapbook classes this weekend! Something for everyone!

Watch live photography classes for free this weekend! Creative Live also has a bunch of marketingclasses to watch for free.

Check Out CreativeLive's Free On-Air Courses

 I found a really cool new website. As a stay at home mom I always find myself with thoughts of instead of watching netflix, I should see if I couldn't feed my "art" addiction that I totally have! So enter CreativeLive.

They are an online class website that has wonderful classes to help you become a better "artist."

This weekend is the weekend to pick up a new or dust of a passion you once had, as they are broadcasting or showing some classes live! Cheek it out, you will be sorry you didn't, there are some really good photography classes you can watch!

Also they have a free paper craft class that seems full of great ideas... perfect for the upcoming christmas season! Close to My Heart paper crafts, scrapbooking and stamping

FamilySearch.org

Something that you might not know about me is the fact that I love Family History, LOVE IT, along with preserving family memories and so on. So I thought I would just mention one of my favorite things that is free that I couldn't live with out. FamilySearch.org.

If you ever want to learn more about your family history this is a great place to start, unlike Ancestory.com this website lets you view any census record, documents, county records and more that they have in their systems (ancestory.com) gets these records also, but this site is free to view, you can create your family tree, it's really cool! This site also has some fantastic tutorials as to how to start a family history, and tutorials for getting more information from around the world, a huge library right at your finger tips, you don't have to leave the house to find your ancestors!

Go to FamilySearch.org, and click getting started, to get loged in. Or go here to start an account.



 Happy Searching!

This is what I have been working on! Awesome stuff right?

coloring pages to print

FREE Coloring Pages

Free Grandparents Day Greeting Card

Papersnaps.com is offering a FREE Grandparents Day Greeting Card with the code GDAY11. Shipping is also FREE. This offer is available to the US, for a limited time.

Grill with free coupons!

Do you have a really bad looking grill?

um, I Do and I want to grill with a grill that I don't have to use a match or a lighter to get it started, so look no further than you local Hy-Vee! The grill is awesome and the coupons are even better! ( all the coupons are to get free products! woa Hoo! Go here to look at their local add, I hope to type up the best coupons from the packet they give you... with deal scenarios soon

Free Healthy Eating for life book

I love freebies, and this is one that is near and dear to my heart, anything that can help educate on eating right and taking preventive measures to a healthy lifestyle is something I try to promote, so click on this link or you might have to copy and paste this link in your browser, and fill out the form. If you would like a digital copy of it instead you can download it at this link also!

http://www.cancerproject.org/resources/hefl/hefl_handbook.php