Benefits of Arts and Crafts for Students

You probably remember getting excited about doing arts and crafts in school as a child, but how long has it been since you’ve done something creative since starting college? If you’re ‘not the creative type’, there’s no need to miss out on all of the great benefits that making your own things by hand can provide. And, if you are artistic, then making arts and crafts a main hobby is a fun way to learn and develop new skills. We’ve listed some of the main benefits of getting involved in crafting.

Save Money

One of the main reasons that people learn to make their own things is in order to save money. Even if you’re not very artistic when it comes to things such as drawing and painting, you can learn new practical skills such as sewing, knitting, and restoring furniture, which will allow you to save money on decorating your home. You could even learn how to make your own clothes! For the more artistic, handmade gifts can be a lovely touch for a birthday or the holidays, and handmade greetings cards are simple and cheap to make, too.

Make Money

Students might not think that arts and crafts is going to help them find careers with an MBA after graduating from Villanova University, but handmade items can actually make some of the best business ideas. With more customers looking for personalized, unique gift ideas for the special people in their lives, handmade products of all kinds certainly fit the bill and often sell well. Once you’ve found something that you enjoy making and believe others will enjoy using or giving, you can get started right away with an e-commerce store.

De-stress

As a student, you’re probably left wondering ‘is an MBA worth it?’ at times when you’re really stressed out. Completing assignments and studying finals can take it out of even the best students, especially if you’re juggling your studies with other commitments. Art therapy is becoming a popular activity in a range of colleges, as many people find that arts and crafts are a very therapeutic activity that helps them to destress.

Make New Friends

Whether you’re at college or recently graduated, joining an arts or crafting class can be a fun way to meet new people and make friends who have something in common with you. At college, students can often find a range of student-led groups, clubs, societies and activities, and if there’s nothing available for crafters or artistic people, you might even be able to start one yourself with like-minded students from your campus.

Learn New Things

Even if art has never been your strongest point, with some practice you’ll quickly start seeing improvements. Taking part in arts and crafts is a fun way to learn new skills and improve your creative flow.


As kids, we’re huge fans of arts and crafts, but not many of us go on to take it seriously as adults. Whether you feel you’re an artist or not, getting crafty has tons of benefits.

No Genius Necessary: Crushing the Common Myths of Creativity

There are some common myths surrounding the topic of creativity in humans, including one that states a creative individual must be a genius or have a special talent set in order to do things like solving problems, thinking outside the box and creating works of art. Here are some of the prevailing myths and the truth behind them.

You Either Have it or you Don’t

Many people believe that not everyone is creative. This is not true. Everyone has some level of creativity, and you can even train yourself to become more creative. There are many ways you can do this, such as immersing yourself in art, taking a creative course such as writing, music or photography, learning a new skill, and even using this mandala coloring book on the Google App store.

You Must be an Artist to be Creative

This one can be cleared up pretty quickly. While artists such as Van Gogh, Mozart, and Vivaldi were most certainly creative, there are many other forms of creativity. Preparing a meal, writing a story, drawing a design, designing and making a dress and thinking outside the box are all acts of creativity.

To be Creative you Must be Right-brained

This harmful myth suggests that you can only be creative if you have the right type of brain. While it is true that the left and right hemispheres of the brain do function differently, let’s not forget that they are connected to a vast array of nerve fibers and both sides of the brain are used for different types of creativity. It is also incorrect to claim that some people are right-brained and some people left-brained, brain scans reveal no evidence to support this.

You Must be a Loner, an Eccentric or a Genius to be Creative

These are outmoded stereotypes which are unhelpful because they suggest that the route to creativity is to isolate yourself from others. On the other hand, discussion and collaboration are excellent stimulants for creativity. Don’t forget, Michelangelo did not paint the Sistine chapel single-handedly; he had a team of talented painters to help him. Similarly, the notion of creative people as geniuses is also a myth. Having a high IQ is not synonymous with being highly creative.

You Need Incentives to Be Creative

It doesn’t necessarily follow that if you promise someone a reward, they will be more creative. Research has shown that the opposite may, in fact, be true. Work that is driven by ambition and reward rather than the pleasure of doing it, is often less creative. When judged independently the work of artists created for their own pleasure was found to be better than the work they produced for a fee.

Every single individual holds the potential for creative imagination. All you need to do is to tap into it, nurture it and stimulate it and you will soon be rewarded with new and inspiring ideas.



William Macdonald is a wellness coach who inspires people to lead a better life, whether that's through pursuing a new hobby and/or managing their stress so that they can enjoy more of life's smaller moments.

Jobs For Creative People

Everyone has their own talents developed at an early stage in their life. Some people do not tap their talents until later on. However, what ever the case may be, some jobs are perfect fit for people with certain skills and talents especially for the creative ones.

If you are creative and loves to write, create stuff, draw, daydream, imagine, appreciate colours and patterns and have eyes for beautiful things that can easily inspire you then here are some jobs that will fit the mould of a creative person.

Art teacher

If you love to make artsy projects and have the knack to create objects out of stuff then this profession will help you in unleashing your creative juices. You can teach arts class to young kids or even adults who will benefit from learning the basics of what arts is all about and what they can do to tap on their own creative talents.

Novelist/Writer/Journalist/Editor

A creative person has the ability to imagine plenty of things and writing about them will be a good way to present their creative side. Most creative people enjoy writing novels or they engage in story telling.

Illustrator

An illustrator is good in depicting those ideas into visible objects through their drawings. Their illustrations can be used in books, magazines, DIY paper projects, diagrams, presentations and so much more.

Fashion Designer

Who creates those fabulous clothing styles you in on the runway, in the boutique displays, in the clothes' rack in the malls? The fashion industry is teeming with creative people who makes the fashion world colourful, bright, fun, modern, classic and everything in the whole spectrum of things.

If you have the knack to make beautiful clothes, and start a fashion trend then be a fashion designer and learn the tricks of the trade.

Thespian

Be it on stage or in the reel, acting is one of the many creative ways to show your talent. Being able to acquire a character that is completely not yours and magically transform yourself to another era and/or persona is a challenge many thespians face in their craft. A creative person will be able to find ways on living a "character" to portray successfully, making viewers believe they are watching the real deal.

Teacher

Being an educator is one of the noblest profession in the planet. Imagine dealing with so many young thinkers who are oozing with lots of bright ideas? A teacher is one way of showcasing your love for creativity.  A teacher faces so many challenges every day on how to deal with various personalities with varying degrees of learning capacity and energy. A teacher finds way to creatively stir young minds towards learning and being able to come up of ways to engage inquisitive minds is not an easy feat.

Event Organiser/Wedding Planner

A person with a creative flair will thrive well in this field. People who are creative have lots of energy and limitless ideas on how to make an event pop and succeed, adding touches that will surely propel the event to a fine shindig.

Photographer/Videographer

photo credit: totaljobs.com

Creative people see so much beauty and inspiration around them. A photographer and a videographer can capture them in still or in video.

Dance instructor

Graceful or upbeat, a creative person can dwell in this genre and create movements good enough to be a choreography to a dance presentation.

Song writer

Whether it is from experience or sheer genius, a creative person can create lyrics stemming from within. The creative person has a knack for words and can either rhyme them or play around to make beautiful lyrics to a song.

Make-up artists

The face is the canvas of make-up artists. Making people look like superstars and interesting subjects are the works of creative make-up artists. They play with colours and have tons of ideas to combine colours, patterns, strokes and styles to apply their artistry on a person's face.


There are more jobs suited for creative folks. Feel free to share them in the comments field.

Losing My Creative Streak

It's been a while since I last created a card or scrapbook project. I just stare at my numerous patterned papers, paper flowers, various glues, embellishments, ribbons, art pens, electronic cutter and so much more. They are gathering dust and I cannot bring myself to use any of them nor sell them.

I think and feel that my creative streak is slowly seeping out of my system. I am just too preoccupied with many pressing matters that I don't have time to sit on my desk and really think hard on what I can create out of my passion. And speaking of passion, it's one thing that also scares me right now. I don't have the urge to create anything.

I am already contemplating of selling my unused and barely used craft items to some people who deserves them. I feel bad to put them in a box and label "craft items" only to be put into oblivion later on. I'm really sad that this is happening to me but I can't explain what it is nor have an iota of a doubt why it's happening. All I know is that, I don't have the time, the energy and the creative mojo to make something. If this is a phase, I don't know how long I will be in this hiatus. I'm concerned and a bit worried because it's not me. I always have the drive and energy to commit to something I am deeply passionate about. If this is the case, does this mean, I no longer have the passion to be creative? Bummer...

Etsy Shop - VectoriaDesigns

I love shopping at Etsy! I like to support micro-businesses and ones run by SAHMs because when I buy stuff from them, I feel I help in a way in adding something in their coffer.

I like the stuff you can find in Etsy. There are digital stuff you can download and there are tangible goods you can buy. Whatever they are, there is so much creativity flowing around Etsy's community. And to start my series of Etsy finds and shop profile posts, here is one of the pretty downloadable clipart designs I found there.  The shop is called VectoriaDesigns.

VectoriaDesigns is run by Tinne from Belgium. She opened her Etsy shop in 2011 and her main products are digital stuff you can download and print.

I love her designs a lot. I like the vintage, steampunk, grunge and gothic designs and those rich old paper look because I love incorporating them in my handmade cards.

Her shop sells invitations, envelopes, tags, paper packs, collage sheets, party packs and even wedding invitations. Right now,  she is offering Christmas printables so if you want something unique or want to put vintage-looking tags on your precious gifts and projects, do visit her Etsy shop to check more of her products.

Halloween Dessert

Re-posting to share this cute and spooky Halloween dessert to everyone. This is easy to make and great with kids around to help you decorate your scary Halloween dessert! Enjoy!

oOo

Well, my daughter and I were up to something very ghoulish, if not scary, for our halloween dessert. Halloween is not observed in this part of the world. It is recognized but not really celebrated as we would back home and in the US/Canada areas where you can trick or treat with delight!

So, to make our own Happy Halloween happy as it can be in the Middle East, we decided to make this very easy halloween dessert.

Here are the ingredients:
2 pcs. Gelatin (strawberry or any flavor you like)
15 pcs. of Oreo (crushed including the cream)
Some nice shaped biscuits
Baker's gel for writing stuff
Some gummy candies and sour candy tape (to be cut as grass)
Whipped cream

The how to:
1. Cook the gelatin according to the packaging instructions
2. Pour in a rectangle dish and refrigerate to harden
3. When the gelatin is already firm, put the crushed Oreo on top.
4. Write the word "RIP" on some of the cookies using the baker's edible gel. Just don't crowd the plate.
5. Cut the green sour candy tape to look like grass
6. Put some whipped cream and shape them like ghoulish ghosts and dot some eyes for effects.

So what do you have now??? A nice Happy Halloween dessert complete with ghosts! Boooo! Happy Halloween everyone!

Re-post: Handmade Wedding Card

This is the stuff that I miss so much! If you have been following this blog, I have reiterated my desire to get my sleeping monster (a.k.a. CREATIVITY) to wake up from its slumber. It's been sleeping for the last 5 months and that's not good. I normally don't have a lull moment when it comes to creating crafty cards and scrapbook pages. This is different. So, to re-live that moment when inspiration comes in and I create something fancy, here is a re-post of one of the handmade wedding cards I have made for a colleague.

oOoOo

My colleague will soon tie the knot. I am not really sure what she likes for her wedding so I decided to make a card for her. As usual, a handmade with love kind of card.

I used a champagne bottle template and traced it on a card stock. Then I used patterned papers from http://www.making-handmade-cards.com/. I love the way the doodles are done on the patterned sheets. Looked so whimsical and I love whimsical stuff!

I also used ribbon rosettes and flat-back pearls as embellishments. The cork-like top is a scrap of card stock which I distressed using Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink to make it look like a cork. Well, I hope I did justice on that one :)

I just wrote the sentiment using a slightly pearlized felt pen. I couldn't find my glittery gel pens so I settled on this one. I outlined the words with a fine-tip permanent marker to bring out the letters. I used the remaining piece of the card stock as mat for my card's sentiment. It i glued to the card with square foam adhesives for the 3-d effect.

I used shiny ribbon for the bottle and the bucket too. Speaking of bucket, the champagne holder is also made from scrap card stocks. I glued two of them but left the back bare (I couldn't use too much patterned paper or else, the entire design will look too loaded and I am trying to avoid that). For me, simplicity is still the best. The slit is about 6 inches and .5 cms so I can slightly tilt the bottle-card. The tag is one of the flower-doodle patterned papers. The tiny flower affixed to it is a ready-made foam sticker I bought for my scrapbook stuff many moons ago. I have finally found a good use for it! The back of the card also carries my trademark logo - Handmade with Love by Ria Cervantes.

It's a blank card so I can write my sentiments inside. I wonder what to write though...

Hope you like this creation. It's made out of love.

Encouraging Creativity

My creativity is still in hiatus for some months now. I am not sure when it will come back but I am looking forward to the day where I can create handmade cards and beautiful scrapbook pages again. I am also excited to get that Silhouette Cameo machine so I better have this creative juice flowing soon.

I am trying my level best to get it back but not being too forceful that will affect the passion I have with my projects. As of now, I have started the "rehabilitation" of my creativity by subscribing to my favorite crafty magazines. I have also browsed endless projects of crafty people for inspiration and I see a small spark right there in my brain. Yes, that little spark might just ignite the sleeping monster that I call "creativity."

Apart from the online activities, I am also looking at beautiful scenery and thinking of happy thoughts so at least I draw some inspiration from them. I feel it will come. I just don't have an iota of idea when.

Holiday season is creeping up fast and I just hope that I get this juice cranking before then so I can come up with pretty little crafty things to give to my family and friends.

Struggle With Creativity

It has been 5 months since I last did a crafty project and my creative juice is still out. I am getting a bit worried now because no matter how hard I try and refer to plenty crafty magazines for inspiration, I still cannot crank up my creative juice. Nothing. Just a void...

I wonder what happened to me. I am not like this before. Usually, I don't get dry spells when it comes to creativity. Most of the time I will just look at colorful and artsy objects and I will instantly get an inspiration. I have done that but still no luck. I even read my previous edition of crafty magazines for some project ideas but I am not feeling it. My question is, have I really lost my creativity? That sudden? And why?

I know I have a lot in my plate these days. I am so pre-occupied with so many things which have no relation to anything crafty. Aside from that, I am busy with activities concerning wealth-building and securing our future that I feel I may have unconsciously diverted my creative energy on those matters.

What ever the case may be and the reason for this dry creative spell, I just want it to come back, even in trickles or drops. I just want a speck of creative juice to flow in my think tank because I miss making cards and scrapbook pages. I don't know where to begin.

The Last Project

I have mentioned in my previous post about my lack of creative mojo these days. I had it few months ago before it went into hibernation without prior notice. I am quite worried because I don't know when I'll have it back or if it will come back. That's the biggest worry I have about this dilemma.

I am glad I already finished the special scrapbook page I made for my friend's 50th birthday last April. Imagine if I had lost it then; it would really break my heart because I had set my mind (and heart) to create the page for her as a special birthday memento. I am so happy I finished it in the nick of time.

Here are the pictures of the last project I made. I do pray and hope it's not the last because I seriously miss making handmade cards for my family and friends. I still have tons of patterned papers and other craft supplies in my cabinet and I don't want to spoil them.

Please, please creative mojo, come back! I miss you!!! I will welcome you with open arms... and mind.

Lost Creativity

I woke up one day and realized I don't feel like making handmade cards nor anything crafty. The last scrapbook page I made was a gift to a friend last May and ever since that time, I can't spew anything out of my think-tank. I rested for a while, diverted my attention to something else, went on a vacation and when I came back, nada! Still empty.

My daughter said it must be a creativity-block. I just feel empty there when it comes to creativity. Am I not exploring my brain's right hemisphere more than I used to? Or I am just pre-occupied with other matters that I cannot think of anything creative to do?

I hope this creativity comes back. If not now at least soon because Christmas is just around the corner and I need to make great handmade Christmas cards. Aside from that, I am planning to put into full swing my plan to make a small business out of my craftiness.

I have been researching lately on ways to monetize my hobby. I can sell my handiwork as long as this creative juice keeps flowing. I wanted to incorporate bead jewelry making using Swarovski crystals, Black Spinel Beads and other fancy beads but affordable which I can get back in the Philippines. I also want to create more kawaii plushies and other handmade accessories using cute, miniature food items which I can get from Japan.

I do know that to be able to go forward, I have to have my creativity back or else, there is nothing to make and sell. I am not worried about the e-commerce aspect as I have my own blogs and host which I can use as a platform for my small handicraft business. The problem lies on getting my brain revved up and let the creative juice flow or else. I will be stuck with this dream and plan that never materialize.

Let us learn all things from everybody

Ace of Cakes

I was casually browsing the Internet for floor plans and was not sure how I ended up checking Chef Duff's creative cake creations.

I checked pictures upon pictures of beautiful, spunky and very creative cake designs he had made with his team. I have not heard of him yet but he has a show in the FoodNetwork which I normally don't watch given my dislike for cooking and anything involving the use of the kitchen (except when I need to get food from the fridge to munch).

Check out  samples of their cakes and tell me who will not drool over these yummy-looking cakes! I wish I can taste one...

Handmade Card - 40th Birthday Card for Hubby

I didn't buy him commercial cards you just pick from the lot. I made him a special one from the heart and loaded with love. Here's the card I gave my hubby on his 40th birthday last Thursday. He loved it! One comment though from the celebrant, "Ma, it is so 'right in your face'!" Is it?!?

Instant Christmas Bowl Lamp

Need new Christmas decorations at home but you're strapped for cash? Don't fret! There's a solution for that.

If you have an old fish bowl (without the fish of course!) and some tangled and old but working Christmas lights that you want to throw but can't (because you have this inner voice telling you not to...hehehee) then follow what I will have to say.

• Clean the bowl with slightly damp newspaper. Here's a trivia, damp old newspaper cleans spots better than those chemical induced glass cleaner sprays in the market!
• Test your dangled Christmas lights if they are still working. If you need to replace some busted lights, do so.
• Place the tangled Christmas lights inside the bowl.
• Place the bowl on top of your coffee table or on the side table or even in the middle of your dining table!
• Keep an extension nearby if you don't have an electrical outlet near the bowl.
• Plug and switch on! Presto!!!

You're instant Christmas Bowl Lamp... Did it cost you that much? I don't think so :)

Enjoy your new and very easy to make Christmas Bowl Lamp.

My Photographer and Cameraman

My husband is very keen in photography and taking videos. He is always the photographer and cameraman during special occasions and holidays. So, in most of our videos and photos, 90% will be poses of myself and our daughter. I do not know why I never had the knack in photography and video-taking.

He has taken these artistic activities a great hobby to engage his time with. During his sister's recent wedding, he was gracious enough to pour his creative juice into action by making a personal video montage of the wedding ceremony. The video montage had the "silent movie" kind of theme taken in black and white. It was beautiful. He gave it to the bride and groom as a gift. His sister and brother-in-law loved his work that he is considering a corporate video production service on the side to augment our income. I think it is a great idea. He can put his passion to good use!

Amy Poehler is a "Smart Girl"

I find Amy Poehler a very comical lady with a great sense of humor. I watch her in Saturday Night Live with Tina Fey as they relentlessly make fun of iconic figures. And boy, they do deliver with aplomb and great laughter! To see her do comical takes and funny impersonation of some political and even famous people makes my day.

Well, Amy Poehler is not just a joke-cracker. She is also a good actress in the movies, although most roles she play are funny ones. Here, in Cozmo TV, she is one of the inspirations behind the Smart Girls at the Party. I get to see a more serious Amy Poehler in these web series that she created together with another Amy and Meridith. This web series is a great site for young people and their parents alike as it fosters the raw talents of young minds and establish good interaction for parents and kids as well. It is very wholesome and entertaining. It is like a breath of fresh air after watching programs in the media which only depict negativity and violence. This is something parents and their kids should be watching.

If you want to watch the episodes, you can get your own widget here or visit their site.

Below is a trailer of her web series: