Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Artterro Eco Art Kits. In Forrest Espinoza's words:
"Artterro eco art kits inspire you to explore your creativity with natural materials—wool felt, recycled handmade paper & more. We make it easy to unplug and enjoy art with family & friends! Assembled by hand in Madison, WI.
We write about creativity, project ideas, sustainability and more at the Spark blog. You can also follow us on Facebook and Pinterest!"
SouleMama: What does a typical day at work look like for you?
Forrest: Our workspace is both an office and a warehouse, so there is always a lot going on! Right now, a typical day involves lots of big decisions and brainstorming sessions, because we’re revamping our whole line with new and improved projects, more materials and packaging that is as beautiful as it is eco-friendly. So while Jen (co-owner and creative director) is in nonstop design mode, creating lovely new graphics and arranging the layout of our boxes to include plenty of product sample images, I might be working on creating new wording for the packaging and inserts or thinking through the logistics of how each one will be assembled, stored and shipped. And that happens in between the usual sales calls and production planning. Never a dull moment at Artterro!
SouleMama: How do you keep yourself motivated, and avoid burnout?
Forrest: It helps that we get frequent feedback (or love letters, as I like to call them) from customers and retailers who are so happy to have discovered our kits. They appreciate how unique the product is, the fun hours they spend with friends and family, the gifts, cards and holiday decorations that they make for the special people in their life. They also say that they love to give Artterro kits as gifts because they know that the parents will appreciate the creative projects and the quality materials. So, knowing that we’re helping people tap into their creativity and unplug with art really helps keep me going. Also, having a supportive husband, business partner and work environment. Those three things help quite a bit, and so does crafting, gardening and biking in my free time.
SouleMama: What advice do you have for people wanting to be more creative?
Forrest: It’s so important to make creativity convenient and easy! For busy families, it can seem like a huge undertaking to plan a project, get the supplies, clear a big work space, supervise and clean up. That’s why I recommend stocking a mini art supply area that’s easily accessible to kids, like a low shelf in the kitchen or a bin under the coffee table. That way kids can grab what they need to draw or collage without needing help. Here’s a good starter list: blank and colored paper, pencils, scissors, glue, tape, crayons and recycled materials like magazine pages, newspaper and small cardboard boxes. You can also keep an actual folder or a virtual Pinterest board stuffed with easy project ideas from magazines and blogs. For adults who want to be more creative, it’s always a good idea to start small, with one project that you work on for a little while everyday. I have a little “mobile art station,” which is just a bamboo tray with a nice lip around it, where I can keep a knitting project or a beading project, moving from the dining room table to the couch as needed without having to pack and unpack a bunch of materials each time I work on it. I love crafting with a TV show on in the background, or while my kids are busy with a board game. The key is not having to go out of your way to grab a little relaxing, creative time to yourself. Of course, adding a few Artterro kits to your other supplies can be a good way to make sure you always have something beautiful on hand to use when your inspired!
For today's giveaway, Artterro Eco Art Kits is generously offering the following gifts to TWO winners:
Mix and match materials from these three kits and you have hours of creative fun for group of kids (or adults!) to enjoy. The Wire & Bead Art Kit is full of US-made copper wire and marbles, plus our signature glass, wood and shell bead mix, perfect for making wire sculptures, mobiles, ornaments and more. The Bookmaking Kit includes our gorgeous handmade, recycled paper in several colors and patterns, plus colorful craft thread and beads. The Creativity Kit has a little bit of everything—handmade paper, natural wool felt shapes, copper wire, beads, sequins and craft thread. Add glue and scissors, and you have everything you need for an art party!
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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8:00 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are...
I'm currently looking for things to get my son interested in crafting with me. These kits are lovely!
Posted by: Heather
an art kit is a great idea for a gift! all in one, no running around looking for all the materials needed.
Posted by: Melissa R
Thank you, Artterro Eco Art Kits!
