Tag Archives: art

Feb24

Learning A New Craft In Lock Down

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Learning A New Craft In Lock Down

Hello! Life in lock down is, honestly, so boring at this point but the safety of ourselves, loved ones, and complete strangers is important and it makes all of the monotony worth it. If you have exhausted all of your ideas to keep you occupied at home, then it might be time to retire from your streaming services and try a new craft. There are so many amazing videos, kits, and how to guides out there to create something new and, today, we’re going to discuss a few of those options:

Knit Kits:

If you are interested in knitting, crochet, or macrame or would like to take the hobby up again, then there are so many websites that you can purchase kits from. Ranging in difficulty from beginner to intermediate and advanced, each kit provides you with the pattern, step by step guide, and materials needed for you to make a scarf, sweater, or blanket. Stitch & Story, We Are Knitters, and Wool And The Gang are all great websites to browse through for your next project! When the weather is nice, you could even host a social distanced knitting circle in your own backyard.

Restoring Old Furniture:

A trip to the local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or even shopping online through Facebook Marketplace can give you access to all kinds of gently used furniture just begging for a makeover. You could repair, repaint, or reupholster new life into secondhand items and redo your entire living room. Not to mention, make some extra cash if you ever want to turn your craft into a side hustle. Don’t forget garage sale style apps as well as Poshmark if you would like to profit from your new hobby.

Building With LEGO:

My boyfriend and I absolutely love building with LEGO and, although it isn’t a craft per se, I just had to include it on this list. Did you know that a LEGO replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night will soon be available for purchase? What about a botanical collection that boasts bouquets, bonsai trees, and succulents? LEGO is constantly adding new sets with unique pieces and colors and are always finding innovative ways to work surprises into each build, which makes it an exciting hobby to have.

You can showcase your creative side with LEGO through free building or incorporating different sets into your home decor. I would sure like to have a LEGO Starry Night hanging on my wall!

Homemade Products:

Making your own cleaning products, candles, and bath and body care can be a really fun hobby, makes great gifts, and helps save you money. Online guides will help you develop your new craft and you can even experiment with your own recipes once you have a better idea for the best ingredients and techniques. You will feel comforted in knowing exactly what is going into the products that you are using and, who knows, it could just turn into a side hustle in the future if you create something really good!

Don’t forget to check in with your local businesses and boutiques because some of the owners might be offering online workshops for homemaking different products or art. For example, the local specialty knitting shop in my area, Harps & Thistles, offers knitting kits too and it’s always cool to shop local. 🙂

Have you learned a new craft during the pandemic? How about improved on any old hobbies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jan21

Let’s Paint!

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Let’s Paint!

Hi! One of the things that I love about my neck of the woods is all of the wonderful libraries. Prior to the pandemic, I would always take my clients to the fun programs being offered at different library branches. We were particularly fond of vinyl record club, crafts, and movie showings. Now in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the libraries in my area have turned all of their programs virtual and you can hop onto Zoom to join in.

The last time my dad was at the library to pick up some books for me and my mom, he also grabbed a craft kit complete with a mini canvas, paint, and brushes. Like so:

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Now, I am in no way shape or form an artist and I have absolutely no clue what to paint on my canvas. So, I am open to suggestions! I will make an attempt to paint the idea from the comments that I like the best and, what’s more, I will even send it your way if your comment was chosen so you can have a Lil Red Original. Who knows, maybe Johnny will even make a “celebrity” contribution to the painting too. Whether you’re crafting vinyl, sketching, or painting on a canvas it is such fun to get creative so let’s see what happens!

What should I paint on my canvas? What kind of programs does your local library offer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Alina Vilchenko from Pexels

Dec30

5 Small Touches To Make Your House Feel Homely

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5 Small Touches To Make Your House Feel Homely

Whether you are just moving into your first home or are looking to revamp your existing one, making your house a home is not something that happens without your input. It can be hard to know how to make your space look and feel homely. To help you out, we have listed a few small changes that you can make to your home below. Follow these simple steps and your house will start to feel like a home in no time:

Hang some artwork:

Hanging up artwork or photos of loved ones can instantly change your room’s personality. If you have a lot of bare neutral walls in your home, then consider hanging some colorful artwork in its space. Try not to go overboard and clutter up your walls, simple displays scattered across your home will leave it feeling cozy and very chic. For inspiration on how to display your artwork, it’s always helpful to browse on sites like Pinterest.

Declutter:

When trying to make our houses feel homely, we tend to go a little over the top and often end up cluttering up our space. Clutter and untidiness can cause stress and sometimes keep us from getting motivated about revamping our homes. Spend a small bit of time each day decluttering and giving your home a good ‘spring clean’. If you find yourself running out of storage space, then there are many clever storage hacks out there that you can try to keep things neat and tidy.

Bring in the outdoors:

Any room can be made to feel brighter and homier by adding some flowers to it. Not only do they change your aesthetic but they also purify the air. A simple vase full of colorful flowers will do the trick but if you are feeling more creative, then why not create your own terrarium? For a low maintenance terrarium, add in your favorite succulents and place on a shelf or sideboard for everyone to admire.

Plants aren’t the only bit of the outside you could bring in – you could consider incorporating an aquarium into your decor. Having a small aquarium in your home can bring it to life. Don’t forget to decorate Aquarium Plant Earth Bed with bright exotic colors to make it a focal point in your home. If you are thinking about having an aquarium in your home, it is so crucial to do your research beforehand. There is a lot of gear to buy so that your fish can thrive including aquarium air pumps, lighting, water filters, and so much more. It is also important to know the environment and water type that the fish you plan on buying will be healthy and happy in.

Indeed, a bustling aquarium with colorful live fish can create a beautiful focal point in the home. This is also a great opportunity to switch up the decor surrounding the tank. You could go for a classic nautical vibe, use lakefront inspired pieces, or invoke the rain forest with plants and flowers. As mentioned above, there is a lot that goes into a thriving aquarium and it will be more work than you might have originally thought. However, if you are serious about it you will have entertainment, new fish friends, and a revitalized space in your home.

Decorate with pillows and throws:

Every home becomes way cozier when you add in a few pillows and throws. Opt for seasonal colors such as browns, oranges, and blues for winter and autumn and yellows, pinks, and greens for summer and spring. Having these in your living room and bedroom will make you A-okay with curling up for the afternoon with a movie marathon.

Choose a natural palette:

When choosing colors to add comfort into your home, we recommend sticking with natural earthy hues on your walls and floors. This way, you can add small splashes of color within your decor which is easily changeable when you want to switch up the room’s look.

Implement a few of these tips into your design gradually and you will have a house that feels like a home in no time. If you feel inspired to continue working on your home, then find your next project with Quick And Affordable Mini Home Makeovers.

Featured Image By: Manja Vitolic on Unsplash

Dec29

6 Creative Careers You Should Research Now

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6 Creative Careers You Should Research Now

If you have an artistic personality, you’re going to understand the struggle when it comes to being hemmed into the nine to five working day. Everyone is expected to hold down a job and if there is no creative outlet, the suffocation of that job is very real. You need to be able to be creative and think outside of the box. You have to get your artistic muscles warmed up and ready to go and you should consider indulging in a creative career to make it happen. So, with that in mind, here are six creative careers you should consider today:

Tattoo Artist:

Do you love to draw? Some people choose to unleash their art on other people, especially those people who love to interact with others at the same time. With the right needles, ink, and tattoo gloves, you can get your drawing on and impress the masses with your skills. Tattoos are a creative outlet for others, too, so you’re going to be helping others to express themselves by implementing your skills. Not only can tattooing create art, but it can also be used by your clients to boost self confidence. If you were to Get Certified in Medial Tattooing, you could camouflage scarring, discoloration, or other imperfections that you can help resolve. This can be more impactful than you might realize for those who feel unhappy in their own skin.

Say you can’t draw but are still interested in working in the world of tattooing. You could always work reception or social media at a tattoo shop. There are also plenty of tattoo supply stores that you will find a great range tattoo essentials at. These are the places that the tattoo artists go to get everything they need to create magic. Managing or working your way up in one of these shops is a great way to dip your toe into the industry while still being able to get creative with marketing, sales, and decor.

Hairdressing:

Styling, coloring and cutting hair is a form of artistic expression. You can go to school to learn how to get your clients looking their absolute best and be a part of ensuring that they feel great at the same time. You will gain so much joy when you interact with other people, too, as this is a very sociable position to be in.

Art Director:

Bringing your creative vision to life is a big part of choosing to work in a creative role. Art directors are in charge of creating and executing what they envision with the help of a team around them. They can also use Art And Brand Collaborations to showcase amazing pieces of art even further and expand the art community. Part creative, part business, and so fulfilling – this could be the perfect job for you if you want to see the pictures in your mind brought to life properly!

Graphic Design:

Graphic designers have a big role and for those who love technology and art, this is the ultimate mishmash of skills. Producing graphics, from stickers to posters and more, will allow you to make a huge contribution to the workplace. Everyone is going digital, which means that graphic designers are a needed part of today’s society.

Landscaping:

Putting together nature with art allows you to be outdoors and show off your creative side in the way that you coordinate colors and shapes. It could be the perfect remedy for those who feel cooped up in their tiny office.

Makeup Artist:

Many creative people love to work with faces, and you can too! To change and enhance the features of another is a skill that not many possess. However, you can watch your subject blossom as a result under your practiced and capable hands.

If you have a creative personality, then a career in design, art, or making is the way to go. You can watch your skills come to life and you get the satisfaction that you need in your job. Welcome to a much more rewarding future!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov3

Monster Mash

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Hello! A few days ago, I posted about a Halloween craft that I made with my client out of Popsicle sticks. They turned out like this:

While the Barney sticks were for my client, the ghosts, Jack-O-Lantern, and Frankenstein were for Johnny who wanted to decorate his space at work for Halloween. Despite forgetting to bring his flat friends with him on the job for the first few days, my sweetie finally remembered and he claims that he is never going to take them down. 🙂

The day that Johnny brought the Popsicle sticks into work, he took a picture of his decorated area WITHOUT ME EVEN ASKING! Check it out:

I was not expecting my fairly simple crafts to be the crowning jewel of Johnny’s display and it made me so proud that he liked them that much. His little paper cut out ghosts make me smile and that applies for basically everything he does, lol.

While we are all worried about the outcome of Election Day today, I just had to post some mushy nonsense to help take the edge off. And I am so thankful to get through whatever the results will be together with my Johnny. ❤

How did you decorate for Halloween? How is your work space decorated? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

Simple Popsicle Stick Halloween Craft

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Simple Popsicle Stick Halloween Craft

Hi! Lil Red may not be the craftiest gal in the bunch but, I’ll be damned if I don’t try my best with my clients when we’re creating something together. One of my pals had a plethora of Popsicle sticks so I figured we could try to do a Halloween craft with them by painting them into little ghosts. While my client opted for making names of his loved ones out of the sticks (So sweet!), I made the following for Johnny’s desk at work and something special for my crafting partner. Check it out:

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I started my crafting palooza with something easy by painting the Popsicle sticks white and making little ghost faces with Sharpie markers once the paint was dry. Simple, yes, but they turned out so cute I decided to try my hand at a few more designs even though they were going to be much harder for my non crafty self.

I thought a Frankenstein stick would look awesome and I knew Johnny would love it so I looked up a picture of ol’ Frank and did my best. While the green paint on the stick dried, I practiced drawing his face several times on paper before I Sharpied in the final effort and, frankly (lol), I couldn’t believe how good it turned out. In fact, it ended up being Johnny’s favorite creation.

After seeing my Frankenstein, my client asked me if I could make him a Barney one. I told him I’ll see what I can do and got to work on two Barney themed Popsicle sticks. In honor of the Barney Halloween episode that he loves, I painted a stick purple with green polka dots, just like the pumpkin Barney had in the show.

The real challenge, now, was going to be making Barney’s face because I can’t draw for crap. Lol, like with Frankenstein, I looked up a picture of Barney and practiced drawing his face while the purple base paint dried. Once I was satisfied, I Sharpied in the face of the friendly purple dinosaur and I thought it turned out great. I added a green tummy and his yellow toes and my client was so happy with what I made him, which is all that matters to me.

To wrap up our crafting, I made a Jack-O-Lantern stick to complete Johnny’s spooky set. Both my client and I had a blast with our arts and crafts hour and I was so happy to come up with something that was simple but we both enjoyed so much. Oh you crafty, huh?!

Would you consider yourself crafty? What is something that you have made that you are proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

Pumpkin Party

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Pumpkin Party

Hi! This past week, I thought I would bring the pumpkin patch to one of my clients so that we could paint them together. Painting pumpkins is one of my favorite activities to do with clients because for one: it’s a lot of fun and for two: I have never even carved a pumpkin before so I definitely don’t trust myself with that!

During the “pumpkin party”, we had Casper The Friendly Ghost playing on the TV while we worked on our masterpieces. We painted away until we were satisfied with our creations and then gave each other a grand reveal of the end results. They looked a little something like this:

While I opted for multicolored polka dots on my pumpkin, my client decided he wanted to make one with the likeness of yours truly. I’ve got to say, I can definitely see the similarities and I was so touched that that’s what he wanted to make with the pumpkin I brought him. We both gave each other the pumpkins we made at the end of the day and I have mine proudly displayed in my apartment.

Whether it be painting pumpkins, hand traced turkeys for Thanksgiving, or ornaments for the holiday season: Painting is a blast. Make an afternoon of your crafting by putting on a movie or music to fit the theme and get to stepping on your own handmade holiday decor. And, always remember, that fun times can still be had from the safety of your home – all it takes is a little creativity!

Do you have any holiday craft ideas? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep4

Tattoo You: Family Portraits Edition

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Tattoo You: Family Portraits Edition

Hello!! This past month, I treated myself to a tap out tattoo session AKA nine hours straight of getting work done. I prefer this method, as I can get a lot done at one time and my tattoo artist, Emily, completed nine tattoos and some touch ups during our time together. I love everything I got but I am particularly enamored with these family portraits I got on the side of my lower leg. Check it out:

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A lot of my tattoos are from comic books that I love but I also find inspiration when I’m scrolling through social media and see something cool. At some point, someone on my Facebook timeline posted the example picture that my tattoos are based on and I fell in love. I decided that I would like to do something similar with my own family and my tattoo artist made the perfect depictions with just lines and patterns.

My tattoos are in the following order:

  • Grandma, Grandpa (Dad’s side)
  • Grandma, Grandpa (Mom’s side)
  • Mom, Dad

Emily told me that the hardest part of sketching out these tattoos was making each silhouette look like the person despite not having a face. I say that she knocked it out of the park and I can see the likeness of all of my loved ones perfectly. In my parent’s house, all three of these pictures have been on the shelves in the living room for as long as I can remember and they have always been some of my favorites. I am proud to have something so beautiful to commemorate each family member and I have not been able to stop looking at my legs since I got the tattoos!! (PS: If you are considering getting tattooed, here is some useful information on: Which places hurt the most when getting tattooed).

Do you have any tattoos? Which one is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep1

Sweet Surprises: Sister Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Sister Edition

Hello all and welcome to the first post of September 2020 here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to discuss a sweet surprise from my big sister, Kristen. My sis is my ultimate BFF and I am proud to be the permanent fourth wheel to her, her boyfriend, and daughter. If I could I would be with them all of the time!

This past week, Kristen told me she had a gift waiting for me at my mom and dad’s and I could hardly wait to get over there for work to see what it was. I had no idea what it could have been and no hints were given to me so I went into the surprise blind… And discovered the following:

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As a “just because” prezzie, Kristen surprised me with this super cool skull and butterfly art by Marmont Hill that she found at TJMaxx. Kristen told me she thought it looked “very me” when she saw it and couldn’t pass it up… She was right! It is very me and if I weren’t almost out of blank space on my body I’d get it tattooed, lol.

Unfortunately, I see Kristen and her family nowhere near as much as I would like and we both want to make an effort to change that. However, we text each other pretty much every day. I am so excited to hang my new art up in my apartment and I am going to get the warm fuzzies every time I see it.

After returning home with my treasured new decor, I was in such a giving spirit that I decided to start my Christmas shopping way early. I have a ton of people to shop for, sue me for it! I just had to spoil my sister’s daughter rotten this year and I can’t wait to do the same for Kristen and her partner. Both are such hard working, loving, dedicated parents and friends and if anyone deserves gifts galore, it is most definitely them. ❤

How do you surprise your loved ones? When do you like to start your holiday shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Stay Sane In Quarantine With These Hobby Ideas

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Stay Sane In Quarantine With These Hobby Ideas

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that we are living in scary times. This global pandemic has pushed most of the world into lock down and quarantine, and even when working from home, it’s pretty boring! You’re unable to see friends and family, and you can’t even bounce off of the fun of the office to feel better about things. Instead, you get the chance to sit, twiddle your thumbs, and wait for life to resume in some kind of normality.

The thing is, this is not how it works. It doesn’t work like that because you have to consider your mental health. You need to keep busy, and for that, you need a hobby. This is especially true if you are in quarantine alone. So, let’s take a look at some of the best hobbies you could take up to stay sane through these unprecedented and unnerving times:

Visit National Parks – Virtually:

You may be desperate for a change of scenery, but you cannot leave the house. So, you need to get out virtually, instead. Make the use of your WiFi and get online to national parks and glaciers. You’ll be able to travel the world and view national parks without having to leave the house. Sure, it’s not quite the same, but it’s going to take the mystery out of the world you can’t explore properly!

Enjoy Puzzles:

You need to exercise the mind to keep the brain busy, and that starts with a PennyDell Puzzles crossword puzzle subscription. Puzzles are going to help you to keep your mind sharp and teach you new things. It’s also going to give you the chance to enjoy something in this quarantine that will continue long after.

YouTube Art Classes:

Did you know that there are drawing tutorials on YouTube? Most people aren’t aware of them and yet there they are, ready and waiting for you to learn from them. You may not be much of a drawer, or you may be an artist that requires a brush up on skills. Either way, drawing tutorials on YouTube are going to help you to hone your skills. If you are interested in learning a new hobby on YouTube, you will certainly want access to all of the content across the platform. A youtube vpn service can assist with that so you can always find the best creator that speaks to you.

Concert Films:

The musicians out there are going to love the chance to enjoy available concert films like these online. You can choose to go through the entire Netflix collection, of course, but consider branching out a little. Concert films and other musical elements are going to be the most fun option for you in quarantine!

Learn To Bake:

While the shops are selling out of basic baking ingredients, you can still learn to bake with any number of online video tutorials. You can also learn how to cook elaborate recipes that you can batch and freeze for later. It’s so important that you choose a course that inspires you, whether that’s lunch or cakes you want to bake.

Hobbies are important to help keep you sane right now so try some of the tips above while you’re stuck at home!

Featured Image By: Pexels