You all know that I am a class junkie. I love the experience of getting together with a group of like-minded individuals and exploring the limits of my creativity learning new tricks and soaking up the knowledge from a talented Master artist. If I could, I would travel all around the country seeking out those opportunities. But more often than not, my imagination is greater than my wallet and sometimes I forget how vast this country really is, so traveling great distances and footing the bill for all the expense that that entails is not reality for me, and it likely isn’t for most of you.
But that doesn’t mean the quest for knowledge has to end! Of course there are some wonderful books out there, and I have shelves of them, but it just isn’t the same as seeing someone with your own eyes showing you the way. The internet has become my best friend if I want to learn something.
There are a lot of videos floating around out there. But not all videos are created equal. That is why I am excited to share with you a new (to me) service that taps into my need for creative play at a price, location and time that works for anyone on any budget, anywhere and at anytime.
I was just introduced to CraftArtEdu.com, an online portal and e-learning community filled with over 300 classes from renowned instructors that are hand selected for their high quality and commitment to excellence. The subjects range from jewelry, polymer clay and fiber to wood, mixed media and even fine art. Each class offered comes with step by step instructions, handouts and even feedback from the instructors. You can even watch a little teaser of the class which is helpful to know if you would like to invest your time and money into it.
I like that there is such a wide variety of subjects. I am not a one-note creative, and I am sure that most of you dabble in other inspiring pursuits. Obviously, I could learn a lot from the Jewelry section, but I am most intrigued by the Polymer Clay section. And I have my eye on the Carve Your Own Rubber Stamp class. You see, I work in polymer clay every day, but I am completely self-taught. And I have so many ideas for things I would like to do with my Simple Truths, if only I could carve it myself. It would be good to have some Polymer Clay classes under my belt if only to understand the wide ranges of this medium. And it would be awesome to come up with my own designs!
The website is very clean and easy to use. Each section has sub-sections that make it easy to find something you want to learn. I like that I can take the class at my leisure, and watch it again any time I want. The prices are reasonable as well. The average cost of a class is $28 but I found more intensive classes that were in the $70-125 range or as little as $10 or even FREE. Yes, I said FREE. They offer beginning level sample classes for free in all their sections. A great way to test out their service and get a taste of something new.
The generous folks at CraftArtEdu.com shared two things with me that I think you are going to love:
1::They would like to gift a class to one of our readers.
and
2::They are hosting a Dream Jewelry Studio sweepstakes with up to $4500 in prizes.
The grand prize is a custom CraftOptics Rx telescope valued at $475 (a must for my aging beader eyes!), a $150 gift certificate to RioGrande.com (sweet!) and $125 in CraftArtEdu.com classes (let the learning begin!). But that is not all! An additional nine winners will receive $150 Rio Grand give certiciates and $50 in classes at CraftArtEdu.com. Plus, twenty more winners will each receive a free class from CraftArtEdu.com. A total of 30 chances to win… Amazing!
Don’t wait! The sweepstakes is open until September 30th! Follow this link to sign up:
Cheryl W.
September 20, 2012 at 5:31 pmWell, there are so many things I'd like to learn but I guess the most current thing would be to crochet. My oldest son and his wife are expecting their first child in March (my first grandchild) and I just have to crochet a baby blanket. Here's to hoping I can get one made before he or she starts school!
Jane Perala
September 20, 2012 at 5:37 pmI would love to take a class in either painting or soldering – I know, two completely different subjects!
Alice
September 20, 2012 at 6:08 pmWow, great prizes! This looks like a great place to learn something new. I've been wanting to make my own rubber stamp for my biz logo, but then again, I really need to learn better photography skills. Right now I mostly point, shoot, and hope for the best.
I'm headed now to enter the huge studio prize. Thanks for the head's up!
SummersStudio
September 20, 2012 at 6:23 pmThanks for the information. I will check this out. Other than jewelry or jewelry related classes, I would take a class in surface design. You know like fabric or wall paper type design.
Skye
September 20, 2012 at 6:44 pmwow.. well so many of the things I'd love to learn would require my buying things or making more room to do it >.< but that stamp making… THAT sounds cool 🙂 I've tried crocheting.. my Nana taught me when I was a kid..I remember very little and I suppose it might be something to relearn, too…>.< I hate decisions lol
Melinda Abrahamson
September 20, 2012 at 7:39 pmI am like you and an "all around" crafter, I refer to it as craft ADD. I would really like a class I can apply to all my endeavors like a color theory class. I can use that in beading, papercrafting, sewing and fiber work.
Carole Cornell
September 20, 2012 at 8:03 pmI would like a class in crochet. I have a rudimentary knowledge, mostly from memories of 35 years ago. But I certainly could benefit from real training!
Thanks,
Carole Cornell
Beaditi
September 20, 2012 at 8:25 pmThanks Erin – sounds like a great website to learn from – would love to win a class 🙂
So on my "learning" to do list are:
Ceramics, polymer clay, resin, and color theory…
[email protected]
carolynchenault
September 20, 2012 at 9:13 pmI would like to take a class about the business side of art…bookkeeping strategies, taxes & the financial information to be a successful artist.
Therese's Treasures
September 20, 2012 at 9:45 pmHi Erin,
Wow this is a wonderfully informative post and I will be checking out CraftArtEdu.com soon. If I could learn something new it would be Stain glass design. As far back as I could remember I have loved looking at the the stain glass windows in church, or anywhere that there is stain glass, so beautiful.
Therese
Boot ~C
September 21, 2012 at 12:43 amI have always wanted to do glassblowing, we do have a studio here in Tulsa, so maybe someday…
Thanks for the chance to win a class. 🙂
Kristi
September 21, 2012 at 12:47 amI would love to take a class in enamaling or playing with clay!
Tami
September 21, 2012 at 1:22 amI would love to take a class in photography, painting and yoga instruction.
Kathleen Welker
September 21, 2012 at 1:28 amI don't think I have the stamina to work at a glory hole, but I would love to learn how to sculpt in glass. Not to make more creative jewelry but to create figures from flameworked glass. I am fascinated by the flow of hot liquid glass, but I'd like it to shape and stiffen into a larger (but recognizable) form.
Karen Z
September 21, 2012 at 2:38 amWow–choices! For this very moment (and only this moment), I want to learn fabric dying techniques for multimedia/art quilting projects I have in mind. And then another, and another……
Meadowland Designs
September 21, 2012 at 2:53 amI already know how to knit & crochet (I do mostly premie hats for a nearby hospital)
I would love to learn more about making my own rubber stamps:
not only for use in polymer clay but also with stationary (I write {on paper imagine that!} a lot & make my own cards)
It looks like a neat place and I will be checking it out! Thank you for the tip!
~Catherine
Ghie
September 21, 2012 at 7:19 amI would love to learn making lampwork beads and metal clay jewelry. =)
Hurrundi
September 21, 2012 at 7:27 amI think I'd like to get into knitting!!
DESPINA
[email protected]
Joanna-Gloria
September 21, 2012 at 7:27 amFelting sounds awesome!!
I see many possibilities there!!
Joanna-Gloria, [email protected]
Unknown
September 21, 2012 at 8:43 ami would love to learn electroforming!….and cnc laser woodcutting!…and lampworking….and …..
Jen Judd
September 21, 2012 at 9:38 amCool! I want to learn more graphic design/photo manipulation. I'm going to go browse and see what that site has to offer! Thanks for sharing!
Jen
graypeape
September 21, 2012 at 10:14 ammy first choice would be a basic sewing class- sewing machines intimidate me, but i really want to learn how to sew and/or alter my own clothes. my second choice would be some type of painting, i've enjoyed it any time i tried it but i'd like to learn some actual technique rather than just swishing paint around with a brush ;p
April, [email protected]
Mackin-Art
September 21, 2012 at 12:07 pmI would love a class in metalworking, as I often can not find the pieces I need for my work.
TammyG
September 21, 2012 at 1:10 pmI'd love to take another lampwork class!
Bobbi Ann
September 21, 2012 at 1:55 pmHi, Thank you so much for all the wonderful info about CraftArtEdu.com! It sounds like a place I'm going to be spending a lot of my time at!
Hmm a class I would love to take…I would have to say any about Beading. Especially interested in Bead Embroidery/Bead Weaving. It absolutely fascinates me!
Thank you so much again! I hope you have a lovely day.
Many blessings…
Bobbi Ann Cook
[email protected]
Julie Lind
September 21, 2012 at 2:06 pmThis website IS everything Erin says! I found it about a month back through my search for Polymer Clay tutorials. If I were to take a class to learn another art, I really would like to learn more about metal stamping. I have seen some beautiful pieces and it really intrigues me.
Julie Lind
September 21, 2012 at 2:08 pmI think that I would love to learn more about the art of metal stamping. I have seen a lot of beautiful pieces online and in person and it really has me wondering if I could create like that.
CBH
September 21, 2012 at 2:09 pmThank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in Creative Busy Bee Craft Inspirations, under the Page 2 post on Sep. 21, 2012. Thanks again.
Creative Atelier
September 21, 2012 at 2:17 pmI would love to take some painting class, I could use some enlightment in that area. This was such a great post. Lots of information to check upon:)
Lynda
September 21, 2012 at 3:21 pmWatercolor paintings have always drawn my attention in galleries and at shows. I'd love to learn more about this art medium and take a class.Thanks so much for share about this site and the opportunity to win a class.
Linda Landig
September 21, 2012 at 3:29 pmI dabble in floral arranging, but would love to take a course on it. I', interested in learning how to do some abstract painting in acrylics, too.
Linda Landig
September 21, 2012 at 3:32 pmoops, forgot to include my email in my comment: llandig at msn.com
CreekHiker / HollysFolly
September 21, 2012 at 5:01 pmI'm always looking for new jewelry techniques and lampworking skills.
hf at HollysFolly dot com
sandi m
September 21, 2012 at 10:14 pmCraftArtEdu is a great site.
Would love to learn polymer clay to incorporte in my current metal work as well as learning more about soldering and bezeling.
Thanks to you and CraftArtEdu for offering the free class.
KayzKreationz
September 21, 2012 at 10:41 pmEither soldering or welding. I've been wanting to learn to weld for a while now to add to my glass kreationz.
Kellq
September 21, 2012 at 11:59 pmI would love to learn how to draw & paint.
beadrecipes
September 22, 2012 at 4:25 amI would like to do a class in Mosaics. I have dabbled on my own but I think I would learn a lot more about technique and composition from a class.
Carol Creech
September 22, 2012 at 11:47 amI would love to learn to sculpt!! Or work with clay doing ceramics.
Thanks!
Carol
Whimsy
September 22, 2012 at 2:46 pmI learned to crochet from my grandmother, but she didn't knit and I have always wanted to learn. I have taken lots of art classes, but I have never taken a pottery class. I would love to learn to make all those beautiful glazes.
Erin S
September 22, 2012 at 4:04 pmI'd love to take a ceramics class. This was always on my list in college, but I managed to never squeeze one in, which, in hind site, was pretty stupid of me.
Off the Beadin' Path
September 22, 2012 at 8:24 pmVery good information! Leave it to Erin to discover something new! I would love to be able to make my own shibuchi pieces. Also I think it would be great to have a large weaving loom and make scarves and quilts.
Carolyn
September 23, 2012 at 5:57 pmA class that is not jewelry, well I think it would have to be photography to get some good pictures, or maybe color theory to get some great but unusual color combinations, or maybe a business class.
Thank you Erin and Craftartedu for having this giveaway.
Carolyn
[email protected]
Kathy Lindemer
September 23, 2012 at 6:45 pmThanks for the information about online classes. I would love to learn about polymer clay.
If I could take a class having to do with nothing about jewelry, it would be ceramics. I took one class in it 30 years ago and loved it.
Anonymous
September 23, 2012 at 7:07 pmI love jewelry for my use
kim Idalski
September 24, 2012 at 9:24 amI would love to learn pmc3 metal clay. Second any new polymer classes I love love polymer. Third would be soldering. I love to learn and have been wanting to try craft edu. I know several artists that teach in there and they are amazing. I'd be thrilled to win. Thank you for the opportunity. Happy creating everyone.
Anke Humpert
September 24, 2012 at 10:53 amThank you for your mentioning of my class " Carve your own stamps" in you great post!!! I would be very honoured to have you taking the class…;-))
BTW: I love your blog and read it regularily…;-))
:-) MaryLou
September 24, 2012 at 3:21 pmI love love love making things, and I almost always learn new techniques by reading books. I've always been intrigued by ceramics, and the one short class I took at a local studio was enough to convince me I'd be dangerous if I had all the materials to go at it full force… so I think that would be my choice – yep. Ceramics. 🙂
Rachel
September 28, 2012 at 5:54 pmCool page indeed! Thanks a lot for the share. Brilliant!
Rachel @ http://www.ecarport.com.au/
Lucid Moon Studio
September 28, 2012 at 8:07 pmI would definitely like to take a class on ceramics because I would love to make ceramic beads some day. I would also like to take a sewing class. Thanks for the giveaway!