The Amazings Online Classes Review

Have you heard of The Amazings yet? I just recently learned about their classes and I'm in love with the idea!

 

 

 

The idea behind The Amazings is that there are some amazing elders out there who have perfected their craft - and we can learn so much from them! These expert elders (and others that aren't so elder) create their own video "classes" to teach their craft to others. It's kind of like attending a class at Michaels, Joann's, or any other craft store, but you're learning online! You have access to the class video forever - anytime or anywhere! If you're unsure of a step, you can watch the video again as many times as you need.

And these aren't just amateur videos like you would find on YouTube. These are professional videos with expert filmmakers!

 

The classes are split into chapters so you can go through the class at your own pace or easily access any specific section that you need to review. The sections are typically short. The longest section I saw was just over 10 minutes. The chapter lengths may vary in length in other classes, however.

 

 

They also offer the ability to comment on the class or have a conversation with the teacher. The class list is in the left sidebar, so you have access to it any time. There are also files included that you might need (like patterns) for the class.

 

 

The price for the classes are very reasonable, especially considering that you have access to the classes forever. If you take a class at a craft store, they're typically between $20-$40. You have the notes and books from the class, but no videos to refer to or teacher to contact after the class is over. With The Amazings, the classes range from $12-$28 - and you get the unlimited viewing and teacher availability forever!

 

The offers from The Amazings are also very unique. Most of them aren't the traditional craft store classes - like scrapbooking, beading, or cake decorating. Instead, they offer classes like:

 

-Make Home-Dyed Jewellery

-Machine Embroider a Textile Necklace

-Needle Felt a Furry Friend

-Big Knit a Weekend Bag

-Loom Knit Your Own Beanie and Bobble Hat

-Make a Butterfly Pendant from Silver Metal Clay

-How to Make an Altered Book

-Make Your Own Natural Beauty Products

-Make a Mosaic Flower Pot

 

And others, too! What's so great is that the skills you learn can be applied to other projects. In the Home-Dyed Jewellery class, you learn how to properly dye your own yarns, which can be used for other projects! You can learn how to needle felt and make your own dryer balls instead of a furry friend. Or, you can apply the mosaic making skills to making a stepping stone.  

 

Another thing that I loved about this idea is that they have the classes set up so that you can start from any point. In the Make Home-Made Dyed Jewellery class, if you're not ready to start dying and spinning your own yarn, you can just start with store-bought yarn and create the jewelry. I also love all the insider tips that you gain from a video class like this. Things like how to remove air bubbles from the dye and to just collect (or keep) old spoons for mixing.  In this video that I watched, the class was taught by Helen and Anna. I don't know if they were friends or not off screen, but watching them teaching and learning was like sitting with two of my dear friends. It was fun, lively, and entertaining, but I was also learning something new!

 

The one downside of the classes is that since this is a London-based company, the teachers in the videos all have an accent. It can be hard to understand some of the words they say or to know what the terms they're using mean. It's not a bad thing and I don't think they should try to change the way they speak, it's just something to be aware of. I was able to get used to listening to them and figure out the meanings of the words they used. For instance, "cling fill" is what we refer to as plastic wrap or saran wrap.

 

All in all, I loved the classes that I was able to review. It's such a fun concept and they have such unique class offerings. I love the idea of being able to review a video (from an expert) at any time or any place! What class are you most interested in taking?

 

 

(I was contacted by The Amazings and asked to review their website and classes. I was provided with access to 2 classes in exchange for giving my unbiased opinion. All opinions and thoughts expressed in this post are my own.)

Passport To Imagination Classes at Michaels

Remember the Passport to Imagination Crafting Adventures that I wrote about in my Unplugged Summer Pact post a couple weeks ago? Well, part of my partnership with Michaels included taking my little guy over to participate in one of the Passport to Imagination classes.

I took my Andy-roo over to Michaels and got him registered for the class. It was a really easy process! You just go to the register, tell them you want to pay for the Passport to Imagination class, and you're quickly on your way.

They have you sign your child in and out of the class, so you're not required to stay in the store. However, I had to go grab something for an upcoming kid's craft post, so I stuck around. I wasn't intending to wander around the store for 2 hours, but I did! Lots of inspiration and projects to work on!

The class goes from 10:00am - 12:00pm, but they ended up getting done almost 30 minutes early. I walked back up to the front of the store to check on him around 11:30 and he was standing quietly by the door waiting for me. Such a sweet boy!

They made these two projects:


A paper lizard


And a pipe cleaner soccer goal.

He loves soccer, so when we were looking through the book, this class was on his must-go-to list!

Here is what he ended up creating.

I was going to take pictures of him during the class, but it was full and I didn't want to infringe on the privacy of anyone else in the class. So instead I snapped a couple quick pics while we were waiting to pay for all of my goodies.

He's really excited about the soccer goal. He was hoping it would be one where you could hit the soccer ball into it, but it wasn't. I told him that we could put some more pipe cleaner onto it to make it stand up and then he could play with his tiny, soft soccer ball. That made him really happy!

After class I asked him what he thought. He said that the class was a lot of fun and that he wants to go back and do some more projects. I asked him if his teacher was nice and helpful and he said she was.

To see the full schedule of classes, you can check out the online Lookbook. It gives you all the details about the project and has lots of ideas for projects to create at home, too!

Be sure to come back on Friday when I'll be posting a patriotic kid's craft for you!






All of the opinions in this post are my own. I received a gift card in exchange for taking my child to a Passport to Imagination class and creating a kid's craft.

Fondant Cake Class

I know you've wanted to take a class on decorating cakes with fondant, but just have never got around to it. (It's on your "someday" list.) Well, today is the day to learn how to make amazing cakes. Go HERE to take a virtual cake class (read the tutorial) using marshmallow fondant - recipe and all. Thank you, Blooming Mommy! Very fun! I would love to see the cakes you make.

My Creative Classroom!!!

Today we have a new sponsor with an amazing giveaway!

Welcome, My Creative Classroom. My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. This spring, MCC will be offering over 70 courses, including 35 brand new courses. From the Cricut to Copics to mixed media to rubber stamping to scrapbooking, they have something for everyone!!!

As I looked over some of the classes, I was excited at the variety, the techniques taught and the supplies I want to learn to use better. I definitely wanted to take any and all Cricut classes, but then I decided I should probably have a Cricut first:( They will have to wait for SOMEDAY later. I also want to learn how to use a brayer. They have a class for that!!! My Creative Classroom is definitely something to check out and see what they have to offer! (Seriously, who doesn't want to learn to use their tools and supplies better?)
My Creative Classroom is giving away TWO scholarships worth $25 each. These are good towards any class of your choice before the end of the year!!! SWEET!
How to enter:
1. Visit My Creative Classroom and decide which class you would choose if you one. Write the class in your comment along with your email address.
2. Add yourself again if you "follow" Someday Crafts (in anyway of the 4 ways.) Please don't become a follower just to enter again.
3. Add another entry when you sign up for the My Creative Classroom newsletter.
The winners will be chosen next Monday evening (April 19) and be announced on Tuesday.