Crafted from natural wool felt, this sewn play food will transport your child straight into their culinary dreams. In this class, Sanae Ishida, a Seattle-based maker of many things, shares her three-dimensional designs for a bevy of cozy teatime treats. With a simple mix-and-match, your little ones can combine mugs and drink inserts, whipped toppings, and adorable tea bags. But that's not all – let their creativity run wild, as they transform inserts and toppings into delectable cupcakes and muffins. Sweeten snack time with chocolate chip cookies that magically appear on a mini plate with just a few circles. Nurture your child's imagination and creativity with this fun, handcrafted class.

Wrap yourself in cozy, stretchy goodness with this relaxed cardigan - so comfy, you might just find yourself reaching for it every day. Join Sanae Ishida, illustrator, author of Sewing Love, and all-around creative, as she teaches you how to draft and sew this versatile wardrobe staple. You'll learn how to modify the torso and sleeve slopers constructed in her sloper classes to create a cardigan pattern tailored just for you. Sanae also shares her go-to techniques for sewing with stretchy fabrics, helping you build both your skills and your confidence. By the end, you’ll be well on your way to growing your pattern drafting know-how and your cozy cardigan collection.

If you love bookmaking, collage, and sending snail mail then this is the project for you! Incorporating all these fun elements, paper artist Dawn M. Cardona teaches you her design for this mailable paper art book. These cute handmade books are created from paper scraps, employ sewn or glued pages, and are designed to close like an envelope that is ready to be sent through the post, as is. Whip one up for a gift or slowly add to one over time, filling it like a scrapbook, and drop it in the mail!

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

Who let the dogs out? Creativebug artists! In this selection of classes pulled from Daily Practices, you’ll see plenty of Pup Charlie - Courtney’s beloved dog and Creativebug’s unofficial mascot - along with a few other treasured friends. And if you’re feeling inspired, check out the full Daily Practice series of each artist below:

Sustainable Play: Upcycled Alphabet with Suzy Ultman
Spooky Monoprints with Courtney Cerruti
Everyday Sketching with Jon Stich
28 Acrylic Studies with Courtney Cerruti
31 Animals with August Wren
Daily Portrait Challenge with Charlotte Hamilton

This unique and striking project is a simple way to embellish any window or mirror in your home. Artist and Children's book author Dawn M. Cardona shows you how to cut a bounty of paper shapes to create a mini installation of silhouettes. Using an easy to remove starch glue, learn how to make a work of art that plays with shadow and light. Dawn shares a template of her designs but encourages you to explore other shapes and to combine it with other projects such as her woven star.

Artist Dawn M. Cardona loves finding magic in the everyday, and in this class, she shows you how to turn a humble gift tag into a tiny piece of art. With two sweet, customizable papercut birds and a clever perforated design, this tag is made to be admired—not tossed. It can be gently removed and framed, turning a simple gesture into a keepsake that’s meant to last.

Illustrator, toymaker, and storyteller Suzy Ultman’s whimsical designs spark imagination and connection in kids. The Book About Me is a personalized journal packed with guided prompts to help children fill the pages with their own words and drawings. In this class Suzy shows how to create and decorate a face-shaped book with markers and pencils to make it totally customized. Inside the book, she walks you through playful activities like turning  personal stats into flower petals, drawing a heart as a self-portrait, or imagining the family as scoops of ice cream. It’s a joyful project that builds creativity, self-awareness, and a love of making art.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

She sees seashells - and pebbles - at the seashore, and then renders them in pen and paint! Come see how Creativebug painters and crafters develop and interpret the prompt to create rocks and shells. If you're feeling inspired, check out the full Daily Practice series of each artist below:

Color In and Out of the Garden with Lorene Edwards Forkner
Inktober Daily Challenge with Lisa Congdon
Inky Monoprints with Courtney Cerruti 
Daily Drawing Challenge with Lisa Congdon
Daily Observations: Drawing Objects from Life with Mou Saha 
Daily Painting Challenge - 30 Things to Paint with August Wren

Many traditional deodorants contain harsh chemicals, so it’s understandable to want a simpler, more natural option. Arina from BellaCreme shares two easy, all-natural deodorant recipes you can make at home. One uses shea butter, lemon, and rose, while the other is made with cocoa butter and peppermint. These DIY deodorants let you control the ingredients, keep things gentle on your skin, and still smell fresh all day.
 

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

Whether chewy, crunchy, or melt-in-your-mouth, candy satisfies the sweet tooth of artists everywhere. See how these six Creativebug artists paint, doodle, sketch, and draw candy. And if that’s whet your appetite, check out the full Daily Practice series of each artist below:

31 Things to Draw with Pam Garrison
31 Pattern Motifs with Courtney Cerruti
Tracing Shadows with Lisa Solomon
31 Patterns to Paint with Lisa Congdon
Oil Painting Daily Challenge with Erika Lee Sears
Daily Observations: Drawing Objects from Life with Mou Saha

If there’s one thing crocheters and knitters can agree on, it’s this: weaving in yarn tails is no one’s favorite task, especially when adding new yarn mid-project. In this technique class, crochet designer and author Twinkie Chan teaches four tail-free ways to join yarn invisibly: the magic knot, the weaver’s knot, the Russian join, and the braided join. These methods work best when joining the same color yarn and aren’t ideal for precise color changes in colorwork, but with a bit of practice, you can get pretty close. Each join has its own strengths, and everyone tends to find a favorite. Come discover which one works best for you.

Nikki Furlong of Simply Quilled Designs lives in the Pacific Northwest and is inspired by nature and all its colors and textures. She brings this inspiration to the art of paper quilling. Paper quilling is a traditional and little-known art form. She takes long thin paper strips, coils them tightly, and then bends and shapes the coiils into intricate designs. In this class, Nikki will teach you how to paper quill a mini pot of flowers. You'll learn how to use a quilling tool and transform paper strips into tiny circles, cups, teardrops, petals, and scrolls. Then you’ll assemble these paper shapes into a tiny, charming bouquet with touches of paper greenery. Even the soil is paper! You have the option of placing your potted flowers under a glass dome for protection, and Nikki will also show you how to make a wire clip to add a photo or note. This project is easy to personalize for the perfect gift, and you'll have a lot of fun playing with paper shapes and colors to create your own flowers and arrangements.

A handy little pouch that's cleverly constructed and useful to boot? Yes please! In this Creativebug class, you’ll learn how to draft your very own vintage-inspired accordion pouch from scratch, then sew it together step by step. With its layered compartments and compact design, this project is as functional as it is fun to make. The finished pouch is perfect for travel, or for keeping your favorite jewelry, sewing notions, or tiny treasures organized at home. Get ready to stitch up something both charming and practical!

Discover how to prevent strain injuries during prolonged art sessions with Liza Laird, an avid knitter, author, and yogi. Liza understands the toll that artmaking can take on the body and has developed a routine of simple, accessible movements that can be done right from your seat. Whether you're a painter, crafter, or creator of any kind, you'll learn techniques to build strength, flexibility, and mental clarity while addressing common areas of tension like shoulders and hips. Liza also guides you through a luxurious self-massage practice that'll leave you limber. Use these essential motions to warm up, improve blood flow and coordination, or integrate them as short movement breaks during your creative sessions for longer-lasting comfort and productivity.

How many colors can you make using only the three primary colors? Artist David Tenorio seeks to answer the question by mixing different amounts of each color, creating a wide range of shades, tints, and tones. By continuing to mix colors together, you can create compound colors with a wider range of hues and shades. From vivid reds to neutral gray tones, it's important to experiment to achieve the desired effect in your artwork.

Have you ever been curious about what it takes to make and pitch a picture book? In this Creativebug class, Sanae Ishida uses examples of her own published books and takes you step-by-step through the process of designing an illustrated book for children. She discusses creating lovable characters, developing a compelling story, and pairing illustrations to bring it all to life. Sanae also shares her tips on how to structure your book and craft a pitch that feels both professional and personal. By the end of the class, you’ll be ready to confidently share your picture book idea with the world.

Cindy Willingham is a painter, potter, and everything in between. Her work is often inspired by nature, and when she used to spend six months of winter living in Maine, she would always dream of flowers. Join Cindy as she teaches you how to create beautifully textured peonies with air-dry clay. Air-dry clay shares many similarities with kiln-fired clay, and all the hand-building you'll learn in this class applies to both. Cindy demonstrates how to condition air-dry clay, form a slab - which is the foundation of many clay projects - and sculpt a flower using unexpected but accessible household tools. You'll then learn how to paint the clay with a dreamy watercolor-inspired technique and seal it to protect your work. No kiln is needed with air-dry clay, just patience and time for your clay flower garden to grow.

Cutting squares out of misprints and print scraps from her own vibrant work, printmaker and book artist Sarah Matthews pays tribute to the quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Hailed as “some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced,” the quilting tradition of Gee's Bend was created by a group of Black women and their ancestors. Sarah makes the half log cabin Inspired by Lucy Pettway's 1950's "Housetop" quilt pattern, but as a paper artist, she of course makes her quilt blocks out of paper.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

Whether coniferous, deciduous, or evergreen, trees capture the imagination of artists everywhere. See how Creativebug painters and crafters develop and interpret the prompt to create a tree. If you're feeling inspired, check out the full Daily Practice series of each artist below:

Color In and Out Of The Garden with Lorene Edwards Forkner
Inktober Daily Challenge: 31 Days of Drawing with Lisa Congdon
Celebrate the Seasons: A Daily Holiday Painting Practice with Maria Carluccio
Sustainable Play: Upcycled Alphabet Daily Practice with Suzy Ultman
Everyday Sketching: 31 Still Life Prompts with Jon Stich
Watercolor Painting in the Garden with Yao Cheng
Daily Drawing Challenge: Tracing Shadows with Lisa Solomon

Add a pop of personality to any room by adding a decorative ruffled pillow. In this class, artist and sewist Faith Hale demonstrates how to make a custom size envelope-style pillow cover complete with a classic, romantic ruffle. Faith’s clear step-by-step instructions make this project excellent for both beginners and seasoned sewist looking for a creative refresh. Once completed, you’ll have a fun, handmade pillow in the fabric of your choosing. 

This 15-day practice will be released every other day this month.
 

Procreate is a versatile tool for digital painting that offers a range of benefits. Its diverse selection of brushes and tools allows for experimentation with endless colors, textures, and styles, while offering the freedom to instantly correct any mistakes. David Tenorio, a skilled illustrator and art instructor, shows you how this program can be used to enhance creativity and produce remarkable results. Designed to guide you through the stages of a painting, from initial sketch to the rendering and refining, he leads you through the traditional principles of art and design, such as "mother color" and "thick to thin" techniques. By synthesizing all of these elements, students learn how to create a digitally painted portrait that achieves accurate proportions and likeness.

In this adventurous class, artist Twinkie Chan shows you how to design and crochet your very own top-down sweater with a circular yoke and cute bobble sleeves. Forget following a pattern—Twinkie gives you all the tools to make your sweater uniquely yours. You’ll learn how to choose the yarn and hooks, determine out your gauge, and take the necessary measurements. Then, decide on fit, sleeve length, and top length, and translate all that info into the right number of stitches and rounds. The stitch pattern is super simple—half double crochet—so you can focus on the fun part: designing and building your garment. If you’re familiar with basic stitches and shaping, you’re all set! Get ready to sketch out your dream sweater and start crocheting it up.

Add a touch of retro charm to any outfit with this easy-to-knit bow scarf. Knitter Faith Hale has returned to this classic pattern over and over again and is excited to share with you this simple yet clever design. Featuring increases, decreases, a long garter panel and two ribbed tubes, this versatile accessory knits up quickly and makes for a satisfying gift. Her formula can be adapted for virtually any size yarn so you can use it to knit up a special skein in a weekend.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

The scavenger-hunt aspect of collage is irresistible to so many Creativebug artists. Whether using it as their primary artistic medium or as an exercise to loosen up stuck creativity, the eight artists in this collection bring their own unique take on the medium. If you're feeling inspired, check out the full Daily Practice series of each artist below:

Inspired by Picture Books: A Daily Practice of Creative Prompts with Constance Moore
Altered Book Daily Practice with Courtney Cerruti and Faith Hale
Altered Books: The Sequel with Courtney Cerruti and Faith Hale
Get Unstuck: 31 Days of Overcoming Your Creative Block with Danielle Krysa
31 Creative Prompts From Modern and Contemporary Artists with Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh
Words Inform Images: 31 Prompts Using Writing as Inspiration for Art with e bond
Push Your Creative Boundaries: 31 Mixed Media Explorations with Risa Iwasaki Culbertson
Daily Art Journal Challenge: 30 Prompts with Get Messy

To celebrate Women's History Month we've compiled candid stories from Creativebug artists about what it means to persevere. Watch how our leading ladies are conquering their fears, overcoming adversity, and paving the path forward for an equitable - and creative - future. Watch, get inspired, and start making with their classes here.

Hearts can symbolize strong emotions such as love, strength, and happiness. Artitst Courtney Cerruti shares how easy it is to fold an origami heart. Even if you've never folded paper like this before, your origami self-confidence will go up the charts with this very easy piece. Make it for Valentines, Mother's Day, or any occasion to share some love.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

Embroidery is practiced all over the world using a seemingly limetless variety of stitches. Here we've gathered together the very basics. If you're feeling inspired, check out the full Daily Practice series of each artist below:

Story Quilt Top: A Daily Practice in Hand Stitching with Heidi Parkes
Schoolhouse Sampler: A Daily Embroidery Practice with Rebecca Ringquist
Embroidery Sampler with Rebecca Ringquist
Daily Embroidery Challenge: Stitch-A-Day sampler with Rebecca Ringquist
Love Letter Quilt Top: A Daily Practice with Heidi Parkes

Make your lips feel soft as rose petals! Arina of BellaCreme is here to show you how to make an all-natural lip balm with a subtle hint of color using alkanet root to create a soft, rosy hue. Learn how to melt down beeswax and add invigorating essential oils, such as eucalyptus, to create a wholesome remedy for dry, chapped lips. You'll want to make one for each of your friends which is easy with this step-by-step and the inexpensively priced organic and natural products. Arina explains how to make it with or without the colorant, giving you the option for a truly customized product.

Unlock the potential of everyday materials by transforming food packaging into printmaking plates that yield beautiful, accessible results. Courtney Cerruti, artist and Creativebug Editor-In-Chief, fell in love with this technique because it is similar to etching on metal plates but has a convenient twist—the materials you’ll use are recycled, readily available, and easy to work with. This approach encourages free and spontaneous exploration, without the worry of “ruining a plate.” In this class, learn how to upcycle a TetraPak into a printing plate, create abstract images from organic shapes, etch prints by drawing directly onto the surface, and cut away spaces that will print in black. This sustainable method offers a creative and attainable way to dive into printmaking.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. 

Eyes are, of course, “the windows to the soul,” and while we love portraiture, representing just an eye can be an efficient way to represent a person. These classes are taught by different artists and use a variety of media to draw, sketch, paint, and capture eyes.

The foundational sketches for Sasha's chapters can be found in the PDF download in each of her classes below. 

Inspired to keep creating? You can watch the full Daily Practice classes with each artists here:
Sustainable Play: Upcycled Alphabet Daily Practice with Suzy Ultman
Colored Pencil Workshop with Sasha Prood 
Inktober Daily Challenge with Lisa Congdon
Daily Drawing Challenge: 31 Pattern Motifs with Courtney Cerruti
Marker Workshop with Sasha Prood
Goddess Sketchbook: A Daily Practice with Lily Sol

There's no need to fret if you find a hole in your clothes. Mending with natural wool felt is not only practical but also decorative, fun, and possibly easier than you might think. Fiber artist and handwork teacher Melissa of Hex House Crowns demonstrates two ways to mend clothing with needle felting. First, mend directly onto the fabric, which is a good method for lighter, more delicate fabrics - Melissa demonstrates a sweet heart shape as well as a sun. Then, learn to needle felt a patch, which is best for thicker fabrics like canvas and denim. Melissa walks you through making a rainbow patch and a mushroom, and also how to use the blanket stitch to finish the edge of a patch and sew it to a garment. You'll soon see that you have the freedom to create any shape or design that you want, and that you've learned a new way to repair your clothes to make them as unique as you.

Darning is an artful technique that goes far beyond simple mending. Heidi Parkes, a skilled fiber artist from Milwaukee, often uses darning to embellish her beautiful and unique quilts. She adds texture to her creations by weaving threads in neat, straight lines or manipulating the warp and weft to form intricate, decorative shapes. With just a needle and thread, Heidi demonstrates how darning can be a quick and effective way to add dimension to any textile art, or even just a piece of clothing.

As creators, our bodies are essential tools that deserve careful attention. Join Liza Laird, a knitter and yogi, as she explores beautiful ways to integrate body, mind, and spirit into artmaking. You don't need a yoga practice or prior knowledge of knitting to benefit from this distinctive daily practice. While Liza demonstrates knitting up the Mala Cowl, a luscious two-color brioche stitch project from her book Yoga of Yarn, feel free to participate with any project of your choosing. Throughout the month, she shares mindfulness techniques and simple, adaptable movements that can be done right from your seat. Whether you're interested in taking a spiritual journey with your craft or simply aiming to keep your body limber for extended art sessions, this class provides the tools for mindful making.

Papier-mâché has a long history of being used for decorative objects, and people have been making paper maché trays since the 18th Century. Corrie Beth Hogg is a multi-media maker and author, and she teaches you how to make your own paper maché tray. This is a kid-friendly craft, easy to make, and great to gift, plus a fun opportunity to upcycle cardboard and paper. Corrie provides a template and teaches you how to cut and score a flat piece of cardboard and turn it into a three-dimensional tray. Learn Corrie's tips for preparing paper strips, her favorite paper maché paste, and her method of applying paper maché. When you're ready to decorate your project, Corrie teaches you how to transfer a design template onto your tray and how to create your designs with paint pens. These paper maché trays are long lasting, and you can put them in your entryway, on your bedside table, or hang them on the wall.

The most fun puzzle you'll construct all holiday season, these cute ornaments are made out of scraps of fabric or even bias tape. Artist and ornament enthusiast Faith Hale talks you through preparing your fabric for folding, constructing the woven star, and then adding a tie for hanging. They're irresistable to make and cute as can be and you'll want to make a dozen.

The art of image transfers is ethereal, subtle, and surprising—lingering between painterly and photographic, yet completely distinct. Author and artist, Courtney Cerruti leads you through experimentation with various transfer techniques on paper and fabric, layering them onto a foundational cloth to create a unique piece. Inspired by a theme and driven by curiosity, you'll blend language and imagery to craft a story, adding embellishments with found objects and threads. Gather images, words, and phrases from literature or any sources that inspire you, then select materials that resonate with your creative vision. Without a strict plan, the process unfolds organically, with each piece surprising and delighting in its own way.

Want to learn more image transfer techniques? Check out Courtney's other Image Transfers and Color Image Transfers on Wood classes! 

Pique your clay curiosity by working with an air-dry variety, which doesn't require expensive tools or a kiln. Texas-based painter and potter Cindy Willingham finds inspiration in nature and in this class, she teaches how to sculpt three different kinds of mushrooms. These mushrooms are so whimsical and enchanting, and in the process of making them, you'll learn how to condition, shape, paint, and seal air-dry clay. Plus, add a wire hanging loop to turn your mushrooms into charming ornaments. If you prefer to work with kiln-fired clay, all the hand-building techniques are applicable, and you'll swap out air-drying for kiln-firing and paint/seal for glaze. Discover the secrets of the forest as well as your love of clay.

Explore the art of surface design and storytelling with fabric as your medium. Delve into a world of rich textures and techniques—painting, dyeing, printing, stitching, and more—to craft four distinctive sampler book structures. Jody Alexander, a renowned book and textile artist, showcases many bookmaking and fabric art techniques to help shape narratives using your unique style and mark making. With suggested sizes accommodating diverse structures, seamlessly transition from page creation to book assembly, embracing experimentation as inspiration for future creative endeavors.

Introducing CbMixtapes: playlists made of specific bits from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape.​

Here at Creativebug we love to take the theme of Thanksgiving - gratitude - and reflect upon it all month long. In this selection of classes you'll find exercises, sketchbook activities, and projects all devoted to the theme.

If these mini lessons inspire you to dig deeper, check out the full classes listed here:
Daily Gratitude Journal with Mou Saha
Living a More Thankful Life: 30 Days of Gratitude with Creativebug
Daily Lettering Challenge: 31 Creative Lettering Ideas with Pam Garrison
 

Elevate your abstract painting practice with fine artist Abby Houston. Before diving into this intermediate course, we recommend exploring Abby's Abstract Art Making Daily Practice, where you'll build a solid foundation of techniques. In this class, Abby guides you through the creation of two finished abstract artworks. You’ll begin by learning how to stretch your own canvas, then follow her as she works on two paintings side by side—one in warm tones and one in cool tones. She leads you through building layers of color, intention, and decision-making to achieve your desired result. This practice-based approach encourages curiosity and risk-taking while staying grounded, embracing mistakes, and trusting the creative process.

Craft a truly joyful wreath that can be enjoyed year-round. Designed by artist and Dropcloth Embroidery Samplers owner Rebecca Ringquist, this unique project utilizes two embroidery hoops to create that districtive wreath shape. You’ll explore various thread thicknesses and a range of stitches, including satin stitch, French knots, and seed stitch, to add rich texture and depth to your design. Perfect for hanging as a timeless decoration or repurposing as a creative frame for photos or artwork, this class is ideal for both seasoned embroiderers and beginners.

For years, Portland-based artist and designer Rebecca Ringquist has encouraged embroiderers to pre-thread their needles as a gift to their future selves. By keeping a pincushion or needlebook full of ready-to-use needles, you can start stitching anytime, anywhere. In this class, you'll work with one of Rebecca's unique embroidery samplers, designed with two panels to be sewn into two styles of pincushions that keep your needles organized. Rebecca will guide you in constructing a distinctive pyramid-shaped pincushion and an easy-to-tote needle book. Stay inspired by showcasing all your pre-threaded needles—create one set for yourself and another as a gift for a friend!

Artist Suzy Ultman is an illustrator, toy maker, story teller, and an avid birder. One of her favorite activities is bird watching in her backyard and connecting to nature. Now you can turn into your favorite bird as Suzy teaches you how to upcycle everyday paper grocery bags into a full-fledged, fabulous bird costume. You'll learn how to print and assemble a paper template, cut paper bags to create a mask as well as a cape for wings, add paint and color to bring your bird to life, and make and attach paper feathers. Not only is this costume fun for little ones to play in, but they will delight in the painting and gluing process, too. The next time you go shopping, remember to hang on to your paper bags, because there is still an entire world of make-believe in there.

Once you're comfortable with the basics of garment sewing, it's time to explore design details. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator with Ditto patterns, demonstrates an array of techniques to add to your clothes-making toolkit: making straps, sewing facings, sewing buttonholes and buttons, creating skirt vents, attaching a lining to a zipper, sewing swing tacks, and making shirt collars. Feel confident about implementing these skills when you come across them in sewing patterns, and consider how to use them creatively to make your garments unique to you.

For professional-looking garments, you'll want the inside to look as fabulous as the outside. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator from Ditto patterns, teaches you how to finish your seams with a sewing machine or a serger as well as four ways to sew hems, including making and applying your own bias tape. Not only will your projects look neat and tidy, but you'll also be giving them greater durability and longevity.

Introducing CbMixtapes: playlists made of specific bits from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape.​

It's spooky season and time to conjure up all things witchy, spooky, and magical.  Begin your multimedia exploration by crocheting a witch's hat with Twinkie Chan. Paint a frog in gouache with Jen Orkin Lewis, then try your hand at stamp carving by making a magical starbust with Lisa Solomon. Lisa Congdon demonstrates how to paint an inky moth, and learn a gorgeous monoprint technique by painting flickering candles with Courtney Cerruti.

If these mini lessons inspire you to dig deeper, check out the full classes listed here:
Crochet Halloween Appliqués with Twinkie Chan
Daily Painting Challenge: 31 Animals with August Wren
Carve a Rubber Stamp Kit: A Daily Practice with Lisa Solomon
Inktober Daily Challenge: 31 Days of Drawing and Painting with Ink by Lisa Congdon
Artober: 31 Days of Spooky Monoprints with Courtney Cerruti

Sewing with stretchy knit fabrics is a bit different than sewing with wovens. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator from Ditto patterns, gives you an introduction to creating garments with knits, beginning with learning about the different stretches in fabrics, sewing your projects, setting in a shirt sleeve, finishing hems with mock cover stitch, and adding a finished neckband. And while a serger is a knit garment's best friend, learn how you can create most knit garments using only your sewing machine.

Zippers are a common way to close garments, but sewing them can sometimes seem tricky. Amanda Todaro is a sewing educator from Ditto patterns and has been sewing clothing for herself and others for over 20 years. She demonstrates three of the most common types of zippers for garments: lapped zippers, invisible zippers, and fly front zippers. With a little practice, you'll be able to sew any of these zippers with ease.

Made with pockets for bits of ephemera, spacers for postcards or tickets, and pages for writing, drawing or gluing in to, this Kraft-tex Stitched Envelope Journal is ready to join you on your travels, near or far! Book artist Bel Mills of Scrap Paper Circus offers an exercise in measuring, structure, and form as she leads you through the construction of a journal designed to safely enclose your memorabilia. It has artful details including torn edge pages, a window in the spine, and a handstitched flap with a tidy closure. This class also introduces you to the wonders of Kraft-tex paper, a material more akin to fabric or leather, that ensures your journal is able to accompany you on all your adventures for years to come.

Encaustic, an ancient artistic technique, involves painting with hot wax to create tremendous textural possibilities. Lisa Solomon, a multi-disciplinary artist and educator, guides you through an exploration of this unique medium. The wax, sometimes infused with colored pigments, is applied to surfaces, typically wooden panels, and manipulated using various tools. During the process, experiment with techniques such as embedding, mark making, layering, carving, and incorporating natural and 3D elements. The resulting encaustic paintings often exhibit a lustrous and translucent quality, providing a means for creative expression through the fusion of wax, pigments, and heat. 

When you make your own clothing, there are so many decisions to make along the way - you choose the fabrics, style details, and how each garment fits. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator from Ditto patterns, has been sewing clothing for herself and others for over 20 years and helps simplify some of these choices for you. In this class, Amanda will show you some fundamental garment sewing techniques - how to sew and press curved seams, sew darts, set in a sleeve, make in-seam pockets, and sew a flat-felled seam - empowering you to make the wardrobe you are proud to wear.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape.​

Apples are part of the classic still-life and are inspiring for artists of all levels. They have the same basic shapes but can be so different in color and texture, and are easy to find in the grocery store. Learn how five artists draw, sketch, and paint apples in this CbMixtape.

Inspired to keep creating? You can watch the full classes with each artist here:
Sustainable Play: Upcycled Alphabet Daily Practice with Suzy Ultman
Daily Drawing Challenge with Lisa Congdon
​28 Acrylic Studies with Courtney Cerruti
Everyday Sketching with Jon Stitch
Drawing and Illustration Baisics with Molly Hatch




 

The batwing lounge top is so comfortable to wear and quick to sew up that you'll definitely want to make more than one. Depending on the fabric you choose, your look can range from laid-back loungewear to dressy statement piece, and the ample, curved sleeves add fun, stylistic interest. Sanae Ishida - illustrator, author, and maker of many things - will show you how to draft and sew this versatile garment adapted from her book Sewing Love. You'll learn how to modify your front torso sloper - which you can learn to make in her torso sloper class - and draft the one and only pattern piece that you'll need to sew this top together. She also offers her tips for sewing with stretchy fabric. After finishing your first batwing top, see how easy it is to modify and personalize it even more by playing with hem and sleeve length, body width, armhole size, or even adding a patch pocket.

Knitting is not just for yarn anymore! Learn how to make a faux knit texture with polymer clay. While you won't actually be knitting with clay, Faheema Chaudhury of Unicorn Crafts demonstrates a fun technique for creating a texture inspired by your favorite sweater which you can use to make unique earrings. Play with various tools like a pasta machine, clay extruder, and hand drill, and learn some basic techniques for working with polymer clay such as making a slab, cutting shapes, and adding jewelry hardware.

CbMixtapes are playlists made of specific bits taken from different classes and grouped together by a common theme. It's a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape.​

Whether you have a green thumb or prefer a zero-care faux plant, houseplants exude comfort and elegance.
 
Inspired to keep creating? You can watch the full classes with each artist here:
REPLAY Daily Drawing Challenge with Lisa Congdon
Color Play in Watercolor and Colored Pencil with Joy Ting
Inspired by Botanicals with Sharon Virtue
28 Acrylic Studies with Courtney Cerruti 
31 Things to Draw with Pam Garrison

Upcycling fanatic, sewist, and toddler mom Faith Hale loves the transformation of secondhand materials into cute and tiny clothes for kids. Dressing your kids in clothes you’ve made is especially rewarding but dressing them in recycled clothes potentially destined for a landfill is even more so. Using well-fitting clothes as a template, Faith encourages you to forego making a pattern and demonstrates how to boldly approach your materials with courage and curiosity. In this class, begin by making leggings out of a long-sleeved shirt or sweater, using the existing hems as a shortcut to skip the hemming portion altogether. Next, make the coziest beanie out of a square of knit fabric taken from a shirt or sweater. Finally, make a vest out of a placemat, pillow sham, or other piece of quilted material, binding with bias tape. Once you get the hang of her techniques, a world of upcycling exploration awaits.