What to do with this blog?

Hi friends! As 2025 comes to a close, I am reflecting on what is and is not working in my business. Since social media became a thing, my blog has received fewer and fewer views, with people opting to engage on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. For many years, I maintained the blog, but it has become a struggle with an increasing number of responsibilities, so I am asking you: Do you rely on the blog to stay up-to-date with me, or do you follow me on other platforms? I think I want to do a weekly newsletter on Substack, and I could post that here too, I suppose. Or if enough people love the blog, I can prioritize posting more frequently. I publish 4 videos a week on YouTube, but I just seem to run out of time to get everything posted here. I don’t know if I am looking for an excuse to let the blog go or a motivation to be a better blogger. I just know that I am ending this year feeling tired LOL!

Regardless of what I decide to do on the blog, the most reliable places to see my work are:

• Youtube
• Instagram
• Substack (A free weekly newsletter where I let you know about free livestreams and videos, classes, etc). This page has a lot of options where I can add podcasts and videos, and I think it will grow with me and my business much better than this blog.
• Facebook: My Official page and the Frugalites group
• My Teachable school for Art Courses
• And my Critique Club Membership for 2 new long-form art lessons and monthly prompts every month, plus an archive of over 160 past mixed media lessons for $7.50 a month.

I am having difficulty prioritizing how I spend my time promoting my work while still having the time to create the art, which is the whole point. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you, Happy New Year, and as always, Happy crafting!

Let’s Paint a Christmas Bauble!

Do you need a Christmas card idea or maybe a cute last-minute gift or decoration? Why not paint this cute Christmas Ball on a tree!

View this post on Instagram

Please enjoy the replay of yesterday’s live painting lesson in the player below!

Supplies: Affiliate links used

• Watercolors
• Watercolor Greeting Cards or Sketchbook *also available directly from Funto *use code LINDSAY15 for 15% off your order at Funto
• Meeden watercolor blocks on Amazon, Or save 15% at Meeden with the coupon code Lindsay15
• Brass clips
• Big chip clips
• Something round to trace or compass or a circle template
• Brushes
• White Gel Pens

Last Chance! 50% off Handpainted Holiday Class! *Use coupon code HH2025 if the discount doesn’t automatically appear. Offer good through 12/30/2025

Happy crafting!

I Like to Paint the Ordinary (Nectarines in a Produce Bag)

Hi friends! Just a quick heads up: we are having our last painting livestream today at 12 pm ET on YouTube. If you’d like to join in on the fun or catch the replay, feel free to stop by. You can see the full materials list and link to the reference photo on that post. Here tho, I want to share my latest oil painting I did from a reference photo I took this summer (PS you can follow me on Instagram to see more frequent art!)

View this post on Instagram

If you want a real-time version of this art lesson, you can find it up now in Critique Club, along with 160 other real-time art lessons featuring a variety of art media. I hope to see you there! Enjoy the time-lapse in the video player below.

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

• 12″x16″ stretched canvas
• Gel prints for collage
• *Video on how I store my gel prints so I can find them and use them for collage
• Acrylic paint for toning canvas
• Liquatex Clear Gesso
• Oil Paint Sticks, DIY, R&F Drawing oils or Phoenix
• Gamsol
• Oil Paint
• Brushes (I used more than this, but it is a nice starter set)
• Linseed oil (optional, I used Artisan because I used watermiable oil paint)

I loved creating this painting, and I hope it inspires you to paint the ordinary from your life too! Happy crafting!

Letting Art Dice Decide my Paintings!

Hi friends! Yesterday I used Art Dice and the Color Cubes to help me decide what to paint! It was fun and a great way to break out of a creative rut.

Supplies (affiliate links used)

• Art Dice
• Color Cube
• Gray markers
• Copic Markers *This is an excellent price!
• Watercolors (mine came in the pink tin, but I moved them to this palette)
• Watercolor block
• Fuumuui watercolor brush set
• Ohuhu marker pad
• White gel pens
• Black fineliners
• Conte charcoal pencils

I hope you enjoyed this bizarre little artsy time! Happy crafting!

Craft Companies, We Need To Talk. (Sat Chat 12/6/25)

Hi friends, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend among papercrafting companies lately. Let’s talk about it.

Maybe I’m being too picky, but I don’t want AI-generated scrapbook paper and supplies. I want real human-made papers. What do you think? I know I got a bit ranty here, but these companies need to realize that we have been preparing for the zombie craft apocalypse for years, and we can craft for decades with our hoard. Don’t test us. And if they could bring back some of the really great older human-made Christmas papers, like K&Co Swell Noel, it would be super.

Happy crafting

Let’s Make cards & Use what we have!

Hi friends! If you make Christmas cards, you know time is running out if you want to get them made and sent before the holidays. I did a cardmaking livestream yesterday where we made 5 cards using our stash. If you want some ideas and inspiration for your cards this year, or some company while you craft, play the video!

A general list of supplies I will likely use (affiliate links used), but keep in mind I am using older stuff and non-Christmas papers. You can mix and match your supplies to get more use out of them. Use what you have, and if you need anything, refer to the list below.

• Vintage style Christmas rubber stamps. I am using some stamps by Crafty Individuals that I got from Top Flight Stamps, they still have some and you can use my code: thefrugalcrafter10 for 10% off: https://topflightstamps.com/search?q=crafty+individuals+christmas
• These stamps have a similar vibe: https://amzn.to/3Mf3ZcT and https://amzn.to/3MC1hOD
• The diamond set is called “Stampendous Christmas Diamonds Clear Stamps SSC1210 and you can find it on ebay for around $15
• Christmas sentiments (darkroom door) https://topflightstamps.com/products/darkroom-door-rubber-stamp-set-joyful-christmas?_pos=2&_sid=3aefc2aa9&_ss=r
• Other sentiments: https://amzn.to/4pG4KKj
• Ink pads:
• For stamping I used Archival ink because it is waterproof and I am using waterbased media on it: https://amzn.to/48BXAA4
• For inking I used a variety of waterbased inks: Gina K https://tidd.ly/48CoIin Memento: https://amzn.to/48ygEyY Distress: https://amzn.to/3MmiQlH Harmony & Prism work great too. Any dye inks are fine for the inking I will demonstrate so use what you have.
• Ink blending brushes Small: https://amzn.to/48BYLzu Medium: https://amzn.to/3KutMxc
• I made a pinecone embellishment with a die that is no longer available but this set is similar: https://amzn.to/48BBUEh
• Wax seals: https://amzn.to/4oxmXJd *You can get premade wax seal stickers too!
• Trims like: Vintage Lace: https://amzn.to/3K9uOi9 Pom-pom: https://amzn.to/48vdEnc (Dollar tree has it for $1.50/pack)
• Bakers twine: https://amzn.to/48vdEnc
• Cardstock Vintage papers https://amzn.to/48AHZ3K
• Double sided tape
• Liquid glue
• hot glue
• Stamp edge scissors
• Deckle tearing ruler: https://amzn.to/48hErVb
• Gold gilding paste: https://amzn.to/49TSKAy
• Metallic Markers https://amzn.to/3KzngFo
• Watercolor pencils: https://amzn.to/4pCE4Ko
• Watercolor brush pens: https://amzn.to/446SoCJ
• Wink of stella clear and gold glitter pens: https://amzn.to/4asndpn
• Stardust pen: https://amzn.to/3MjCvCP
• Washi sticker books: https://amzn.to/48hQKkj
• Washi postage https://amzn.to/44GXkyr
• Wax pick up tool: https://amzn.to/44O0X5E
• Teflon bone folder: https://amzn.to/4ixfOXU or single: https://amzn.to/3KecOTM

Don’t forget, my Hand-Painted Holiday class 50% off relaunch special is still going on. You can see all the projects, including the new projects for 2025 projects here. Til next time, happy crafting!