Tag Archives: arts and crafts

Jun23

Paint By Numbers Misfortune

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Paint By Numbers Misfortune

Hello! My best friend, Lea, gifted me with everything that I needed for my own personal wine and paint night for my birthday. She got me a paint by numbers kit, which I have heard of before but never tried and was eager to give it a shot. This past weekend, I decided that I would get started on my project before a friend showed up for a game night. Unfortunately, it was way harder than I could have ever imagined:

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After unboxing the paint by numbers kit, I was surprised by how difficult it looked but was hopeful that I would be able to complete it. The kit included the canvas, three paint brushes of various sizes, numbered paints, and supplies for hanging it up. With everything that I needed provided, I was still under the impression that once I got the hang of it, it would be easy. That was, however, far from the case.

I had a few hours to kill and I thought that I would start with the biggest task on the canvas first, painting the background and small details white. I began working on one of the vases and even with the smallest paint brush available, I was getting paint in the wrong places and covering up numbers I would need later left and right. After the epic failure of attempting one color on a vase, I started painting the background because that should be easy, right?

WRONG!!!!

The biggest paint brush that the kit had was hardly making a dent in the vast spaces on the canvas that needed covered up. Not to mention that you had to perfectly outline the vases and flowers with the white paint too. I switched back and forth between the biggest and smallest brush to accomplish this and was constantly covering up other spaces that needed painted. You seriously almost needed a toothpick small brush to get into all of the tiny nooks and crannies and the smallest brush was way too big for the task.

Of course, I am so thankful to Lea for her super thoughtful gift but I can’t say that this project is one that I plan on finishing. After my first effort, I essentially shot myself in the foot since so many areas got painted over. I am sure that other easier paint by numbers kits are a lot of fun and would happily try one of them. I just don’t have the surgeon steady hands to successfully complete this canvas!

Have you tried a paint by numbers kit before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun18

Best Friend Birthday Gift

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Best Friend Birthday Gift

Hello! I had a blast celebrating my birthday last week and had plans to hang out with people almost every night. Needless to say, I am exhausted and am done socializing for the next couple of weeks lol! On Friday, my best friend and her husband came over for a game night and I was gifted with this super thoughtful prezzie from Lea:

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Lea and I have been best friends since freshman year of high school, which is fourteen years of celebrating birthdays and holidays together. We absolutely love to spoil each other for special occasions and it has been that way for as long as I can remember. For my birthday, Lea outdid herself with a paint by numbers kit and a delicious looking bottle of blueberry moscato. Yum!

I have heard of paint by numbers projects before but have never tried one and I can’t wait. It looks like such fun and is a delightful nod to the many craft nights that Lea and I have shared together. In fact, several of the canvases on my apartment’s art wall are from said best friend craft nights and I can’t wait to complete and hang up my new painting… If it turns out good lol. And, of course, the bottle of wine is the perfect compliment to make it a wine and paint night – which we have also participated in together! 😀

Lea is one of the most incredible people and we have been there for each other through thick and thin. Boyfriends, college, new jobs, and marriage are all things that we have tackled together and I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side. Fourteen birthdays are almost officially in the books after her special day in late August and I can’t wait for fourteen more. I love you!!!

How long have you and your best friend been friends for? Have you ever tried a paint by numbers kit before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

May25

Completed Art Wall!

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Completed Art Wall!

Hello! At mine and Johnny’s old apartment, I had a vision of an art wall going up the staircase. It never fully came to fruition because I ran out of Command strips, never bothered to get more, and didn’t want to put nails in the wall to hang things up with. Fast forward into our new digs and I began the art wall project once more with the full intention of completing it. And, I am pleased to say that it is finally done with Johnny’s help! It only took about three and a half years but, hey, better late than never:

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Johnny and I have been working hard in the new apartment to prepare for our housewarming/birthaversary party and have been diligently checking things off of our to do list. Completing the art wall was a huge win because it cleared up lots of space where all of the pictures you see above were just sitting there. In fact, this masterpiece allowed us to fully move the furniture we wanted to put in the game room, making us about eighty percent done with our unpacking.

I was so tickled that Johnny helped me finish this project that I started and I could not have done it without him. It also went by much quicker than when I was trying to hang everything up by myself! Johnny was my handy helper and he basically did everything, which was very nice for me. All I did was come up with the layout I wanted and he did the rest. What a guy!

I am beyond thrilled with how our art wall turned out and it is exactly what I had pictured in my head. I catch myself admiring our effort constantly when I’m at home and I am so happy to have our art collection on display. Thanks to Goodwill hauls, crafting nights with my bestie, and the pieces that Johnny contributed, we have a wide assortment for all of our guests to see. My personal favorite? The autographed picture of Randy and Mr. Lahey from Trailer Park Boys! Can you find it?

What kind of art work do you have hanging up at home? What is your favorite thing on my art wall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May23

Turning Your Art Hobby Into A Side Hustle

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Turning Your Art Hobby Into A Side Hustle

So you’re looking for a side hustle, and you love art. Or, perhaps, you need to find ways to inject more creativity into your life while also bringing in some money. If either of those statements rings true, then maybe an arts and crafts side hustle could give you the creative outlet you’re looking for while also helping you create a financial plan for the future. Here are five ways that you can turn your passion into a cash cow side hustle:

Create And Sell Digital Art:

This is one of the most straightforward arts and crafts side hustles to start. You don’t need to buy any fancy equipment to create digital art, and you can sell it online to clients from anywhere in the world. In fact, there are tons of digital art marketplaces out there, including Etsy, Zazzle, and Society6. You can also take your digital art a step further by creating video tutorials that show your clients how they can use their new products. This not only allows you to get some extra content out there but also gives your clients added value.

Turn Your Art Into Home Decor:

If you create more traditional art, you can still sell it to customers as home decor. Frame Your Art allows you to list your art pieces for sale online and each frame comes with a free print of your art. You can also partner with local shops that sell home decor to display your framed art in their stores or sell your art on Amazon through the Merch by Amazon program. The catch is that you’ll have to print it yourself (or outsource it to a company), box it, and ship it out to customers. But if you have the time, this is a great way to instantly create passive income from your art.

If you make art yourself, stock up on supplies from King’s printmaking supplies and get to creating. It’s an easy way to turn your hobby into a side hustle.

Start An Etsy Store:

Art is a great way to keep yourself busy. It can also make you money and Etsy has become a go-to marketplace for handmade goods. There are plenty of ways for artists to sell their artwork and crafts to the public. However, if you want to start an Etsy store as a side hustle, make sure that you’re abiding by the company’s guidelines.

If you’re a creative person, chances are you have plenty of ideas for new products to sell. You can either create your own designs or source items from other designers. No matter what, you’ll need to make sure that your product is high quality. People tend to be very selective when purchasing handmade items. Take the time to do things right so you don’t have to worry about returns or poor reviews on your page. Doing things right also means having the right equipment for your craft. For example, you will want an excellent mug press if you are creating customized mugs for your customers as well as proper packaging to avoid breaks.

Create Handmade Jewelry:

If you love to make jewelry but don’t want to sell your creations online, you can still make money with them as a side hustle. You can turn your jewelry-making hobby into a profit-making business by hosting small craft fairs in your neighborhood. Just make sure that you have permission to sell goods on public property.

In addition to craft fairs, you can also sell your goods online through marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and ArtFire. Keep in mind that this side hustle is more than just creating jewelry. You’ll need to set up your booth or display, attend events, and promote your business. You can also sell your jewelry at local shops. This allows you to get more visibility for your products, and you may even be able to negotiate a percentage of the sales.

Open A Print Shop:

Are you a Photoshop pro? If so, you can use your skills to create all sorts of designs for clients. Many companies outsource their printing to individuals who have the necessary software and knowledge to create the perfect design. You can find these jobs on sites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour. There are also online print shops that allow you to design customizable products such as T-shirts, posters, tote bags, and more. First, you’ll need to have a medium to sell your product at like a website or vendor fair booth. Then, you can upload your art on a website like dtftransfersnow.com to heat transfer your designs on cool stickers or summer ready tank tops. You usually have the option to use a template as well. Once you have everything up and running, all you have to do is wait for customers to order your products.

If you have a passion for arts and crafts and are looking for some extra cash, a side hustle will be just right for you. How cool will it be to see other people enjoying your one of a kind pieces?!

Featured Image By: Jess Bailey Designs via Pexels

May15

Moving On Up: Art Wall

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Moving On Up: Art Wall

Hello! This past Wednesday, I was hanging out at home while Johnny was at band practice and wanted to spend the evening relaxing instead of unpacking. That changed tunes pretty quickly, though, because of an unfortunate mishap with the video game I was playing. Basically, I accidentally loaded a previous save point and everything I did after that point got deleted. I was SO upset!!

Rather than wallow in my frustration, I decided to get started on a new unpacking project: Creating an art wall. It’s looking very nice so far, if I do say so myself:

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^^^ There’s still a ways to go but it’s getting there!

Between an endless supply of paintings from Goodwill, crafts with my bestie, and Johnny’s own artwork collection, I had a lot to work with for my art wall. This was a project that I had wanted to do in my old apartment and just never got around to finishing it… Probably because I never bought more Command strips to hang the paintings with lol. Johnny had actually bought several packs of them during his last trip to Walmart, which is how this first go at the art wall was possible.

The end result will have artwork hanging up all the way along the stairs and it is going to look so cool! I’m really happy with how it’s looking so far, though, and it was the perfect project to sink my teeth into after an epic gaming failure. The concentration it took to hang everything just so definitely kept my mind off of three hours of Paper Mario getting lost in oblivion!

Progress with unpacking has been pretty good but it has slowed down because we need more shelving for a lot of the remainders. In fact, I was feeling a bit down about it and this project helped perk me up and kicked my motivation back into high gear – especially with our housewarming/birthaversary party right around the corner. 😀

Although my project isn’t complete yet, I can already picture the end result and I can’t wait to show all of you. This is how I always wanted the staircase in my old apartment to look and it feels good for that vision to finally come to life!

What have you been crafting lately? Have you been working on any home decor projects? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

5 Tips For Creating The Perfect Jack-O-Lantern

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5 Tips For Creating The Perfect Jack-O-Lantern

Before we visit a pumpkin patch or farm, we might want to brush up on our pumpkin decorating skills. A well decorated front yard for Halloween is a joy for children and adults alike so why not go all out? If you are looking for an activity that extends beyond choosing a pumpkin and decorating it, which will happen too, then click here. Let’s get started:

Select the Right Pumpkin:

A thorough inspection of the pumpkin should include checking for soft spots. This is to make sure that you do not end up choosing a pumpkin that has already begun to spoil. Also avoid pumpkins with deep ridges and go for a smooth-surfaced one. At pumpkin farms, there will be plenty of choices as opposed to you trying to pick the best among limited options within a grocery store, when customers have already bought the best ones.

The design that you have in mind should also dictate the pumpkin that you choose. In other words, do you need a short and round pumpkin or one that is skinnier and taller in terms of its shape? Know in advance what you are looking for.

Prepare Your Design Before Applying to the Pumpkin:

Draw out your design and then use tracing paper to transfer it onto the pumpkin. This can be a design that you have approved yourself or that has been checked with someone else first. However, it is nice to surprise people by not showing them your design until it is carved on your finished pumpkin.

With your design, think beyond just a traditional triangular face and consider creating other Halloween symbols such as bats, stars, or moons. More adventurous still, you could attempt a graveyard scene or a spooky forest. If designing your pumpkin further down the line, perhaps at Thanksgiving in November, then think about alternative creations of say puppies, cats, or rabbits. Children tend to prefer animals because of their familiarity and the cute factor.

Know How to Hold Your Pumpkin:

It is a good idea to hold the pumpkin in your lap as you are carving it. This is the most supportive and safest way to carve a pumpkin. Have the right equipment of a serrated kitchen knife for the main carving and a small saw for the more intricate parts of the design.

Consider Shaving:

We are not talking shaving your legs or facial hair, but the alternative of not cutting right through the pumpkin with every stroke. Instead, sometimes deciding to just scrape pieces of pumpkin away to allow just enough light to glow through your open-design creations. It is always important to be patient when creating any pumpkin design. The best designs have taken much thought and a good deal of carving, and your other technique of shaving should make for a design that is more dynamic than it might otherwise have been.

Incorporating Scraps Within the Design:

Do not waste anything because you can incorporate your scraps or discarded pieces of pumpkin within your design. The ones that you do not intend to cook, that is. For example, you could make hair, a tongue, a pipe, or a chimney from these spare pieces. This will make your pumpkin into more of a character with a personality, a more sophisticated structure, or make it more three dimensional in form. You can be as artistic as you like, creating something for your pumpkin that merely started as a basic idea on paper. Think as creatively about your scraps as you do about the main part of your creation.

Turn your ordinary pumpkin into something extraordinary with the tips above and you will delight your whole neighborhood with your creation!

Aug27

Self Care Hobbies That Can Be Done From Home

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Self Care Hobbies That Can Be Done From Home

Hobbies that can be done from home are so much more likely to be practiced often. And if they are much more likely to happen, then it can be such a good thing for your self care and mental health. Looking after yourself and finding something that you love to do, outside of work or school is important. So with that in mind, here are some hobbies that you can try from home to help you relax. Which are you going to try first?

Knitting:

Knitting is a wonderful hobby to try. The reason being, is that it is not only a mindful and relaxing activity, but it also gives you an end result. Want to create a scarf or make something for your friend’s new baby? Then get knitting. Seeing that you have created something by yourself can be a real confidence boost. Not only is the act of knitting relaxing but it’s also fun to find new colors of yarn for your projects! You can shop sustainable supplies for knitting and crochet for an eco friendly approach without sacrificing quality. This is another way that your hobby can make you feel good because you will be doing good for the planet too.

Painting:

Painting is something that can be really relaxing and mindful, and you don’t need very much equipment to get you started. You can go wherever your imagination takes you or take inspiration from your favorite artist or pieces of artwork. You could look here for some inspiration: https://davidhartgalleries.com.au/pro-hart/. You could choose paint, acrylics, watercolors, chalks, or other mediums, it is all about being creative and making it up as you go.

Baking Bread:

Another hobby that is practical, as you get something good to eat at the end of it, but that is calming and relaxing at the same time. Baking bread in a traditional way, such as by kneading the dough by hand and waiting for it to rise can be therapeutic and so, so rewarding. You can get creative with the types of bread and the flavors like sourdough, which will need a starter, as stated here: https://feastingathome.com/sourdough-starter/. So there are a lot of options for you to play around with.

Reading:

If you don’t think that you have much time for reading, then you might not have been putting as much emphasis on it as you have in the past. Reading can be pure escapism, as well as a way to learn new things. If you want to read more, then block out the time in your schedule and it will make sure that it happens.

LEGO:

Building with LEGO is not just for kids! You can get proper sets and kits to create something as it is meant to be or you can use what you have to create anything else that you can imagine. Some kits can take a while to build, so it can be a real labor of love. The perfect solution when you’re looking for something to do to relax at the end of the day.

Everyone needs a hobby to enjoy so why not try some of these ideas? Have fun!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Aug18

Keep Yourself Busy With These Ideas

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Keep Yourself Busy With These Ideas

Hi there! Idle hands are the devil’s play thing or however that saying goes and, if you’re like me, then you might like to keep your hands busy too. There are so many amazing things that can be created with our own two hands from building with LEGO to constructing a house! Today, we are going to look at a few ideas that will definitely keep your hands busy when you are feeling fidgety or need to destress. Let’s get to it:

Build Something New:

People who are gifted in the art of construction, wood working, and welding simply blow me away and it is an awesome skill to continue to practice if you are so inclined. Being able to make something out of nothing must be so satisfying and is a great way to get creative as well as decompress. Before starting your next project, make sure you have all of the proper building supplies and tools and see what magic you can work to make it happen!

LEGO:

So maybe actual construction isn’t your thing and that’s okay! But have you ever tried building with LEGO bricks, instead? My husband and I absolutely love to build with LEGO and are very much looking forward to receiving our Seinfeld set in the mail any day now. Building with LEGO takes time, focus, and a lot of imagination if you are not building an actual set. It is a great way to break up the monotony of your regularly scheduled programming as you spend some time building something brick by brick. Be sure to check out the competition show, LEGO Masters, too because it is a hoot. 😀

Puzzles:

I really enjoy putting puzzles together and there is nothing better than when you get into a good flow and the pieces just seem to come together themselves. While I couldn’t imagine doing anything beyond a five hundred piece puzzle, some people are gifted enough to put together one thousand plus puzzle pieces! Put on your favorite tunes and see how much puzzle progress you can make in one sitting.

Arts & Crafts:

Knitting, crochet, needlepoint, and sewing are all fabulous skills to have and it can be done anywhere! You can dream up something knew while you’re killing time on a long car, train, or plane ride or just hanging out at home and watching a movie. I live for the scarf that my mom knitted for me and can’t wait for the weather to cool down so I can wear it once again!

Creating something new is exciting, fulfilling, and can be done with your own two hands! What will you make today?

Aug5

Educational Ideas To Amuse The Kids Over The Summer

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Educational Ideas To Amuse The Kids Over The Summer

The school summer holidays can be tricky for parents. How do you keep your kids amused for all that time without turning them into couch potatoes? Remember that learning shouldn’t stop during summer break, so try out the following activities:

Make screen time count:

Parents are always being told not to give their kids too much screen time. But it can be hard to stick to this sometimes, especially when you have work calls and the kids need to be entertained. Rather than feel bad about it, try and find ways to make screen time educational. Not necessarily by putting on a documentary but by using the screen time to develop other skills in your children.

There are plenty of online schooling programs that might be worth looking into in order to help those who are struggling with their education and may need some help. It’s a great way to encourage and aid your children’s knowledge.

For example, say you’ve let them watch a movie. Afterwards, depending on their age, get them to draw some characters from the movie or explain what happened in it to you. You could even have them write a story about what happens next when the movie is over. By doing this, you’re encouraging your children to think creatively and develop their language and drawing skills too. If they have toys that come from the programs they watch, like the Super Wings transforming vehicle toys, then they can act out the show with these afterwards.

Create busy bags:

Stop the “there’s nothing to do” complaints by creating busy bags for the kids. You simply put a selection of arts and crafts materials, print outs, and toys in a bag. Make a big deal out of it so that they are excited when they get their next busy bag to avoid the boredom blues.

Have them train for the mini-Olympics:

Even though the Olympics have been very different this year due to the pandemic, they still inspire people all over the world to get involved with sports and games. Why not try and get your kids excited about sports and have them train for their own mini Olympics in the backyard. Not only will it keep them occupied but it will keep them fit too. You can hold a competition and give out medals to help achieve more Olympic vibes.

Arrange virtual play dates:

Chances are, some of your children’s friends have parents working from home too. Arrange with them to have a virtual play date, where you can set up a Zoom call and just let them talk or do parallel play for a while. It will keep them occupied and give them much-needed social interaction too.

Let them amuse themselves:

Obviously, we’re not recommending you just leave your kids without supervision. But there is something to be said about letting kids use their own imaginations to play. We seem to be in a world where people are telling us that we have to keep children stimulated with planned activities every day. Free play is very important for children and helps them to develop a lot of important skills and their imaginations.

Summer break is not over yet. Use the ideas above to make the rest of summer vacation the best for your kids!

Featured Image By: Sigmund on Unsplash

Jul16

Let’s Find You A Nice, Relaxing Hobby

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Let’s Find You A Nice, Relaxing Hobby

If you are in need of a new hobby, then you might want to try something that is relaxing after a long day. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the nice, chill hobbies that you can take up, so keep reading if you would like to find out more:

Arts And Crafts:

The first thing that we are going to look at is arts and crafts. There is nothing stressful about this hobby, except when things start to go wrong! But, you might find that this is actually extremely therapeutic for you as it gives you something to do with your hands. You are creating brand new things and, the best part, is that there are so many different types of arts and crafts that you’re not just stuck with one. For example, if you find that painting isn’t for you, then you can move onto crochet or scrapbooking until you find your favorite.

Arts and crafts provides you with a creative outlet that helps you to convey how you are feeling. It could be exactly what you need to get rid of the stress of the day.

Chess:

Chess is a game of intelligence and patience. It’s a game that has been around for a long time and many people enjoy sitting down to play. Whether you want to get into a computer game and play by yourself or play with someone else, it certainly is a relaxing hobby. Mikhail Solodovnikov talks about chess and how the latest happenings at the international chess world have gone.

Of course, chess isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay! There is sure to be a game that you can enjoy playing in your downtime. From puzzles and board games to Bubblepop, your new favorite game is just a search or two away.

Reading:

Another thing that you can think about is reading. People don’t really see reading as a hobby, but it is and it is a fantastic one. You can get yourself lost in a range of different worlds, become someone else for a little while, and escape your own reality. The best books are the ones that you can’t put down no matter how hard you try and we suggest you try out an assortment of books to find what you like the most. There is a list of books for emergent readers if you are looking for ideas. Just prepare yourself, because the feelings that you experience when you read are real.

Swimming:

Finally, if you want to do something that keeps you active but that can be relaxing, swimming is your best option. This is a great option as you can just leisurely swim up and down until you feel as though you have had enough. The water relaxes your body and there is nothing but you and the water out in front of you in these moments. It’s a lovely feeling and you can feel your stresses melt away as you glide up and down the pool.

Trial and error is always going to be the best way forward when it comes to a new hobby. If none of the above examples are speaking to you – there are countless more activities to try! We wish you the best of luck finding what you’re looking for.

Featured Image By: Pexels