Create Scout

We scout around to find and share creative ideas to inspire you to create

Lynn Leusch

Best Watercolor Brush Pens – Review 2021

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Selecting the right Watercoloring brush pen can truly be a trial and error process that could be costly for someone wanting to venture into watercoloring for the first time. Especially, if they invest in an inferior product or one that doesn’t accomplish what they want.

There are so many factors to consider. Thankfully we can learn from expert artists who use these types of tools on a daily basis.

With confidence, I would say I’m creative, but in that same confidence, I don’t consider myself an artist. Some people would say that all creativity is artistic. Well, I value the expertise and experience of others so decided to do some research to find quality information to help me make a better decision on which watercoloring product I might want to invest in.

I found a great resource to share with you.

In my research, I discovered Anita HartCarroll from Very Create, who is an artist in many creative areas, especially watercolor painting.

Evaluating Artist Quality In Brush Pen Format

A true watercolorist will typically use direct watercolor pigment inks and specific brushes to paint with. Thankfully the artisan and crafting industry have combined technology and now the beginning and advanced crafter has the ability to use quality watercolor inks in a brush pen format.

Anita shares:

A new invention for artists, illustrators, and craftspeople in the last decade or so are watercolor brush pens. The ingenious aspect of these pens is that you don’t need to keep a container of rinse water handy in order to create watercolors!  They so versatile and fun to create with. Everything from calligraphy to coloring to portraiture to landscape painting can be accomplished with the best watercolor brush pens.

Anita’s blog post titled 11 Best Watercolor Brush Pens Review in 2021 is exactly what I was looking for. She rates 11 different watercolor brush pen brands on six different evaluation points and then gives them a star rating based on these points. Each of these evaluation points plays a factor in the final outcome of the projects that are created. So being able to select a quality product that is a good value for the price can be very helpful.

Evaluation Points:

  • Ability to rewet when dry
  • Value for price
  • Consistent brush tips
  • Vibrant pigments
  • Useful color selection in kit
  • Easy release of color ink

Anita provides Pro Tips of things to think about when selecting a brand product to invest in as well as how the different brands work on different watercolor papers.

I believe you will find great value in this blog post about selecting the right watercolor brush pen brand for your next creative investment.

 

 

Creative Ways To Decorate Envelope Fronts

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After spending time on making just the right card for that special someone, why not go the extra mile and put a little pizzaz on the envelope you are sending it in.

According to Connie Stewart from Simply Simple Stamping we can just say no to naked envelopes.

In her post 10 Ways to Decorate the Front of Envelopes, Connie shares multiple ways to use your stash of stamps, inks, markers, and more to accent and embellish the fronts of envelopes.

Connie says;

Check out the stamp sets you own. Do you have some that you could use on the sides or edges of your envelopes?

GET CREATIVE with the stamps that you own.

Super Simple Creative Ideas

The 10 envelope creations Connie shares are super simple and offer inspiration to easily create your own by using:
Basic Stamping Techniques
Hand Drawn Address Box
Accented Address Box
Full-Color Bloom Accents
Four Corners
Faux Hand Lettering
Embossed Envelopes
Printed Paper Accents

I love it when creatives share lots of photos to showcase their artistry and there are many pictures supplied to inspire you. However, Connie goes the extra mile by offering a detailed step-by-step video on creating her envelope ideas.

I like this idea so much! If I’m going to spend a lot of time creating a handmade card, why not spend just a bit more time to dress up the envelope as well.

Mailing Note:

I want to also point out that there were some good advisory comments on this post indicating the importance of following the mailing service guidelines when addressing envelopes that you will want to take note of if you are putting these envelopes through the mail service.

If you are decorating the envelopes for hand-delivery then let your creativity fly.

Visit Connie’s site to get a closer look at her beautifully decorated envelope fronts.

Thank you, Connie, for inspiring us creatives with your beautiful envelope ideas.

Now let’s go add some color and flair on those envelopes.

 

 

Chalkboard Technique And Card Tutorial

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Some of the most simple stamping techniques can offer a multitude of creative ideas. One of my all-time stamping favorites is the Chalkboard Technique.

Couple that with one of my favorite card designers, Becky Roberts from Inking Idaho, and I’m sure to love the creative possibilities that she shares.

In one of her 2013 blog posts, Becky shares a simple visual tutorial on how to create an easel card using the chalkboard process.

I love this chalkboard art we are seeing everywhere.  It brings me right back to my elementary school where Mrs. Sunderland used to leave little doodles on the well-worn boards that never quite came clean after erasing.

No need for a lot of supplies to make this adorable Chalkboard card:
Black Cardstock
White Ink
VersaMark Ink
White Embossing Powder
Cloth (for making chalk smudges)
Cardstock for the easel card base
and, basic card making supplies (adhesive, scissors, paper cutter, etc)

Chalkboard Stamping and Card Technique Tutorial

Go check out this timeless chalkboard stamping technique by Becky.

Thank you Becky for always creating such fun projects that inspire me to create.

Create Your Own Personal Vision Board

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Creating your own personal vision board is sort of magical.

Over the years I have created many vision boards. The more I do them, the more I believe in them.

At their core, vision boards are a collage of images, words, and phrases that capture your vision of the future. The future that you desire. The intent of this dream board is to make you feel truly excited and inspired and help you to stay focused and take action.

Vision boards work on many levels

  • Vision boards are an important part of an annual goal-setting process. They help set and prioritize your goals, values, and intentions.
  • Vision boards are fun to make and can be quite artistic and creative.
  • The process of making a vision board helps plant your goals and intentions in your head and sends them out to the universe.
  • Having your vision board front and center to your viewing is key — the images and words that represent your goals, wishes, and values will help remind you of what you want to do, be, and have. It helps to ensure that you continue to move towards those things, both consciously and unconsciously.

Individuals from all walks of life have shared stories of how their vision boards worked for them.

But they work on other levels as well. Besides just the fact that what I put on them becomes reality.

As mentioned before, the act of making them helps me with my goal setting. I also add values—things that are important to me that I want to focus on more.

With all that in mind, I thought I’d share my simplified board process on how to make a vision board that works for you.

  1. Write your dreams and desires down.
  2. Select images, words, phrases that best represent your goals and dreams.
  3. Select the base that you want for your board (poster board, frames, etc).
  4. Find images and words for your vision board. Use a variety of sources like magazines and books. Create your own, by using online resources.
  5. Sort and arrange the images and words onto your board.
  6. Glue down your images.
  7. Hang in a prominent place in your home.

UPDATE! I am collaborating with Pam Hamilton of Building Visibility to offer a vision board workshop! In this online workshop, we will walk you through the process of creating a vision board that works. Pam will walk you through the entire process of clarifying your dreams and goals and I will share all the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way for creating a vision board you will be proud of and inspired by. Together we will cover the importance of taking action and making your dreams come true. I hope you will join us for our workshop!

Imagine living your ideal and balanced life. Dare to dream the details of your job, your relationships, and the hobbies you pursue. These will form the basis of your vision board ideas.

Tips on Choosing A Word of the Year to Guide Your Endeavors in a New Year

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Tips on Choosing A Word of the Year to Guide Your Endeavors in a New Year

The concept of using the One Word concept instead of setting traditional goals in the New Year is simple. It’s about ditching the long list of resolutions and concentrating on one thing throughout the year instead of being overwhelmed and doing nothing about too many things.

It’s about choosing just one word that represents everything you want to focus on for an entire year. Focusing on one single idea gives you more clarity.

Choosing your Word of the Year isn’t just about checking off yet another goal from your long list of resolutions. It’s about selecting a word that embodies what will give you joy in the coming year can help focus both business and personal goals.

Have you already taken steps to come up with One Word that will help you become a better version of yourself in 2021? Or, are you struggling and not yet sure which word brings you pure excitement as you enter into the months ahead? If you have already selected your One Word, Great job!

If not, no worries, it’s not too late to find the right word for you. There are many resources online to stir your imagination and help you determine that One Word that will inspire you all year long.

My One Word for 2021

The word I selected for 2021 came to me in an unusual way. I was watching a movie from Amazon Prime called: Miracle Maker. Though it’s under the Christmas movie category, it’s message is inspirational all year long.

Without giving away the premise of the movie (you’ll have to watch it yourself), it had a beautiful story to tell with a message that I wasn’t expecting. In the end, it was the message that spoke to me. It made me wonder how and what I do impacts others. It made me wonder about how precious simple kindnesses are and realizing once again that everyone has a gift to share. It made me wonder what I could share with others that could impact the lives of my community of crafters and those I care about.

After watching this movie, my One Word came to me as a word of inspiration. I took the word that rattled in my head and looked up the definition to see the full meaning of its presence. After that…I was sold!

In case you are wondering my One Word for 2021 is, it’s: Wonder 

Definition:
Used as a verb (used without object)
to think or speculate curiously: to wonder about the origin of the solar system. to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed byat): He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.

Used a verb (used with object)
to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know: to wonder what happened. to feel wonder at: I wonder that you went.

Used as a noun
something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration: That building is a wonder. It is a wonder he declined such an offer.

the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration: He felt wonder at seeing the Grand Canyon.

miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.

I’m excited to see where WONDER will take me in 2021.

Selecting and Committing to Your One Word For The Year

Having just the right word to become a stronger, more confident, action-oriented person can help you in all areas of your life.

The perfect word can light a fire inside you and inspire you to do exciting things in the months ahead.

Take a look at this word list.

Is your One Word on this list? Is there a word on this list that you’d like to take and use as your own? Then, permission granted…it’s yours to use.

What lights your fire?

 

Think of your One Word fire like a campfire. If you do all the work to select just the right word and don’t tend to the fire it will fizzle out. If you don’t tend to your commitment to your One Word or keep your eye on it, it will fade away as well.

Too often we set ourselves up for great things at the beginning of the year and one or two months later find ourselves amid a myriad of distractions. So frustrating, right?

When we veer off our path, it can create a sense of being defeated and possibly limit our ability to focus on what we desire.

So here and now, let’s name the resolution struggles so that they do not sneak upon us.

Find Out a Bit More About the One Word Movement

The One Word movement has been around for many years. You can find out more about it with a bit of research. Authors Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen wrote the book My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word in 2012.

Their principles outlined in the book help solidify why switching from creating and writing down goals to selecting one word to concentrate on can alter the way you can inspire and motivate yourself to stay the course and become stronger, more confident, and focused.

Keeping the Word Selection Process Simple

I really like to make things simple. So, in searching around to get ideas on how others select their word of the year I came across Elizabeth Rider’s blog on the subject. She shares a very simple process that she suggests making your word selection easy:

Elizabeth says:

Grab a piece of paper and make two columns. write…

Review the side that lists what went well. How do these things make you feel? What do you want more of?

Choose one to five words that really speak to how you want your year to feel.

Review them all together, then narrow it down.

Check out Elizabeth’s blog post for the details.

Can you relate to any of the challenges below?

Have you ever set yourself a goal or decided to concentrate on your chosen One Word for the year and then months later it drifted from your mind?

Did you wish your One Word had more flair, pizazz, pop, fun, or made you happy every time you looked at it?

Have you struggled to keep your One Word top of mind throughout the year? Did it go ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and lose some juice/meaning for you?

Was your One Word written in a  journal or notebook in January and you never looked at it again?

If you can relate to any of the above questions, guess what? You aren’t alone.

How To Keep Your Word Alive All Year Long

There are three important things that you can do throughout the year to keep your fire burning bright for your One Word inspiration.

Embrace and commit to your word – The word you select must truly get you excited. It should drive enthusiasm and action in all areas of your life.

Make your word visible in a prominent place – by your bed, in your bathroom, on your mirror, in your daily planner, or incorporated into a piece of art.

Be intentional every morning with respect to your word. Reflect each night on how you showed up. Celebrate your wins. Learn from your challenges.

I like to craft and create something special using my One Word.

Creating around my word helps me reflect more deeply on my choices and allows me to create something that will keep me inspired throughout the year. This annual activity keeps me fired up and excited about what I want to create more of throughout the coming year.

I am planning a workshop around crafting my word for the year.

Interested? Then, please keep reading.

Wouldn’t it be great – and more meaningful – to have your One Word stand out and be something visually inspiring?

I have an annual crafting activity that I’ve been doing for years.
Each year I Craft My Word.

After deciding what my One Word will be, I create a canvas artboard using my word. I use a variety of simple and readily available art tools and mediums.

The act of creating the piece solidifies my choice and gives me an art piece that displays my One Word front and center, reminding me of my daily focus and intention throughout the year.

You don’t have to be “an artist” to do this. Anyone can tap into creativity to craft their word.

There are many creative ways to make a unique art piece that you can be proud of, using your One Word.

-draw your word – bring it to life by using colored pencils, markers, and even crayons

-decoupage your word – use glue and a variety of different papers and ephemera

-stamp, stencil,  or paint your word – Oh yes, the options are endless

-mixed media – add depth, interest, and variety to your art piece

Need help creating your One Word art piece?
Want a supportive crafty friend?

I am offering a Craft Your Word workshop in February 2021 and would love to create with you. Just click the picture for more details:

Happy crafting and thank you for visiting,
Lynn

Virtual and In-Person Thanksgiving Holiday Ideas

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For many people the 2020 Thanksgiving Holiday will look a bit different than prior years due to being requested to limit travel and how many people they celebrate with.

I am likely not alone when I say…This totally sucks!

Choose How You Gather and Who You Gather With

If you chose to stay home and have a quiet time to celebrate what you are grateful for or choose to travel and spend time with family or friends outside your immediate household this year. I wish you well.

Technology Gives Us Many Opportunities To Connect

If you have opted to stay home this Thanksgiving there are still many ways you can connect with other loved ones. I am thankful for technology that allows many to connect with family and friends throughout the year and especially at a time when it is difficult to meet up in person. There are many virtual ways to connect with one another these days.

  • Phone: old fashioned I know, but it still works beautifully
  • Online Virtual Conference and Meeting Entities: this year the world has been introduced to many online connection tools that have regularly been used by business entities to connect together. However, 2020 out of necessity, has introduced these virtual connection spaces with all genres.
    • Zoom
    • Google Meet
    • Google Hangouts
    • Facetime – Facebook
    • Messenger chat
    • Skype

Military.com has put together a nice list of 5 ways to virtually connect with family this Thanksgiving. Some of these ideas I’ve never thought of before and I have to say: I love these ideas.

Sadly, our military men and women have been probably virtually connecting during the holidays, for many years.

 

Virtual Thanksgiving Ideas

I have curated a list of sites that offer a variety of ideas and activities that you can do to celebrate the holiday together, even if you are miles apart.

Some of the ideas may be similar, but I think there are enough differences in each posting and feel you will find multiple ways to help make your day of gratitude special.

The first two listed posts are from collogues that I have the pleasure of learning from in a business mastermind group I participate in weekly. I love what they have put together and happily share their ideas with you.

Helping Parents Parent
Dr Renee offers sage advice and ideas on how to interact with kiddos during this “not so normal” Thanksgiving season. These ideas include how parents can help ease the stress of things being different and focus on things that bring laughter and build memories. She has a true heart for helping parents and kiddos connect together.

 

 

True Clarity 4 You
Brenda Smith offers ways that grandparents and kids can connect together. In this post she offers a great 7-step instruction sheet (pdf download) on how to use Zoom if you aren’t already familiar with how to use that gathering platform. I’m especially  excited about the fun Family Memory Game that she provides as a download for. This game is a series of questions that each person can ask that can easily be played virtually or in person. Go grab your download today.

Parent Map 
Virtual Thanksgiving: 8 ways to connect this Thanksgiving season
Simple ideas to spread holiday cheer and be together with family and friends

L.A. Parent
Four ways to connect this Thanksgiving
This post provides a quick read of ideas you can use without a lot of planning

Cafe Mom
15 Creative ways to celebrate Thanksgiving if everyone can’t get together.
Creative and clever ways to keep the spirit of giving and gratitude alive.

In-Person and Virtual Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving Gratitude

The following site posts were written in 2019, but provide some good ideas to be mindful of.

The Family Dinner Project
New ways to connect at Thanksgiving (and beyond)
Great ideas on the importance of gathering around the dinner table everyday of the year, but especially during a special family Thanksgiving.

Relational Wisdom 360
10 ways to connect deeply at Thanksgiving
Provides a very special way to share gratitude by requesting attendees to tell a story about a person God placed in your life …
Now, this is a for sure way to connect deeply.

Parents-Together
Create connection around the Thanksgiving table
This post gives a unique take about how the hostess/host of the Thanksgiving meal can foster their own self-care during what tends to be a stressful day of making sure everything comes together.

As mentioned earlier, however you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving 2020, by either staying home or traveling, I wish you a a day and a lifetime of things to be grateful for.

Blessings and Hugs,

Lynn