SALE ALERT: Pick Your Price Sale At Craftsy

Pick your price! Choose from this tiered selection of popular online classes today and get better at what you love to do without breaking the bank! Enroll today to enjoy learning anytime, anywhere, forever. See what's on sale: Pick Your Price Sale at Craftsy (affiliate link)

Pick your price promotion runs from Sunday, 6/29 thru Monday 6/30 at 11:59PM MT 

Craftsy also offers FREE mini craft classes!

Fun and Educational Arts and Crafts Online Classes for the Family

Earlier this year, I mentioned that I love the concept of online arts and craft classes for mom's and kids. Being a mom with four kids and a husband who travels, it is really hard for me to participate in a weekly painting or other artsy-craftsy type class outside of my home. And I definitely have thought about it!

So this summer I found this company called Craftsy, which offers lots of online tutorial classes, like baking, sewing, knitting, painting and even photography. And I just recently learned they even sell products at a discount.

What they have created is something I've always wanted to do. At least, until I read how much time is involved in the creation of each class (read the Behind the Scenes part). Maybe someday! Right now I have a packed schedule writing, illustrating, and producing my children's books, while being a full-time mom.

Below is some info on Craftsy. Personally, I think it's a great way to keep your kids busy, especially over the holidays and school vacation, while teaching them a craft skill in the process.

What is Craftsy?
Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes.

The Making of a CraftsyClass
Before filming even begins, hours and hours are spent determining what content will be covered in each class, and how to best teach specific techniques to the camera. Instructors work with an instructional designer to create an in-depth outline of each lesson, and decide how to best prepare props or “step-outs” that show what your project should like at different steps.

Most Craftsy classes are filmed in one of five Craftsystudios in Denver, CO, assuring that every part of the production process goes off without a hitch. They fly in instructors from all over the world to spend several days filming, then spend several weeks turning hours of footage into a two to three hour class experience that has been watched, rewatched, and reviewed by industry experts.

Why I Like the Concept
You can retake the class as many times as you want, and the 30-second repeat feature allows you to watch the same section over and over again until you get every technique just right. Every class has a 100% money-back guarantee. Can't beat that!

FREE Online Arts, Crafts and Cooking Classes

I can't believe I have never heard of Craftsy, until a couple of days a go. I went to their website to check it out and couldn't believe all the artsy-craftsy type classes they have available. And they even had some for FREE! My twin daughter and I sat at the computer clicking away, trying to figure out which class we wanted to take first.

I think many of you know that my twin daughter has type 1 diabetes and isn't able to participate in all of the camps my boys can. The main reason is because she still isn't confident with the whole carb counting and figuring how much insulin she needs or doesn't need. I want to make her summer just as fun as her brothers. When I showed her a scrapbooking class that we could take together, her face lit up and she said, "Mom, I've always wanted to learn how to create a scrapbook! Maybe I can create one of my summer." I replied, "Definitely!"

Here are a few of their mini-classes, which they offer for FREE! You really can't beat that. I'm hoping to take the pizza and scrapbooking classes in the next couple of weeks. Once I've taken them, I'll share how they were. And please, if you take one before me, I'd love to hear how you enjoyed it.

•  Know Your Wool: Do you wonder where your yarn comes from? Learn about different types of wool and the individual characteristics of each.
• The Hand-Painted Cake: Elevate your cake with Erin Schaefgen's freehand painting techniques. Create beautiful and edible works of art with Erin's tips and tricks.
• Creative Quilt Backs: Make the back of your quilt just as interesting as the front! Oh, Fransson! blog author Elizabeth Hartman walks you through everything you need to know to make beautiful quilt backs.
• Modern Buttercream: Learn to use buttercream like a pro! Discover the tricks and tips to construct and create a beautifully finished buttercream cake.
• Micro Torch Basics: Go ahead, play with fire. Using a butane micro-torch, learn the basics of creating beautiful and unique metal jewelry in your own house.
• Perfect Pizza-Learn how to make pizza in this fresh, flavorful, FREE mini-class with baking guru Peter Reinhart!