Camp Lacee: Paper Gem Cuff
7.25.2022
Just in time for hot summer weather and you want to stay cool inside and keep your kids off line….I’ve got you covered! I created these easy and super fun paper gem cuffs. 
Supplies you need:
~toilet paper roll or paper towel roll
~glue
~markers and colored pencils, watercolor paint to color I love this watercolor set and also using posca markers
~paint brushes
~printing paper or I like using ink jet card stock best
~gem printable (click here to download)
~ribbon or string, I love this rainbow ribbon
Step by Step
Cut toilet paper roll in half and cut on the side to make a bracelet cuff.
Paint the paper roll cuff any color of your choice.
While that dries have fun cutting and coloring the gems.
Pick the gems of your choice and then have fun designing your bracelet! Have lots of fun being creative with this part. Glue each gem on and let it dry.
You can also add a ribbon or string to the cuff end to tie on to secure. And ta-da! you have an adorable gem cuff!
This is a fantastic craft for slumber parties, birthday parties and any get togethers with friends!
Cute Dorm Room Decor
7.6.2022
Looking for an inexpensive and super cute way to decorate your dorm room? This printable planner is a great way to plan for the best year and look cook and chic at the same time!
Goal Setting: Write down your goals so they are plain as day right in front of you to remind you what you are chasing. The Goal Digger page is so adorable to print and plan, you can use it as decor and print for your binder too!
Weekly Schedule: Write down your weekly schedule on the weekly planner to hang at your desk. There is a fashion girl for every season. You can also use to plan your weekly to-do’s!
Bucket List: So cute to print out and use it as a bucket list to where you want to go in a new city, your college adventures or as a life bucket list!
Habit Tracker: You will need to build to study habits and this habit tracker will help you do just that!
Mastering Skills: This will help you with your personal and academic goals and narrow down what to focus on.
Brain Dump List: Use this for any kind of list you will need! Lists help get things out of your head and focus on what you need to!
Monthly Planner: Plan for the best month with this cute planning page. Write down your goals and put it in front of your desk to remind you daily.
Includes a really cute graphic you can use for your space or in your binder! Shop the 20+ printable here to level up your dorm room today!
My Art Supply List
7.4.2022
I thought I would share with you some of my favorite art supplies. I have experimented with lots of different kinds and I have found my true loves in the world of art supplies that never fail me. If you have a little artist underneath your wings or want to have some fun yourself, these are all my go to’s! *I do make an affiliate from these products listed below.
Watercolor Supplies:
1.Arches Watercolor Blocks: I like using watercolor blocks because it holds the watercolor paper down without getting wrinkly. The quality of Arches papers is amazing. I use such bright colors it really holds the pigment. I use Arches for all my really bright paintings as well as all of my custom portraits. I like this large 14×20 size as well as the 9×12 size perfect for portraits!
2. Strathmore Watercolor Blocks: These watercolor blocks are not as high quality as Arches, but also not as expensive. I recommend it to all new beginner watercolorist. I also use them for all my fashion girls that I scan in to create digitals and use for my fashion stationery.
3.Talens Angora Opaque Watercolor Pan Set: This 36 set of colors of the rainbow has all the basic colors I need. And it’s great for travel too!
4.Dr. Ph. Martin’s Concentrated Watercolors: I am obsessed with these! I use them a lot in my really bright paintings. You can add a little of water and they last a long time! This 14 set is a perfect way to get started!
5. White Watercolor: I love to mix this with the Dr. Ph. Martin’s to give that pastel look. The Chinese White from Winsor + Newton is my go to for white opaque watercolor.
6. Black Ink: I love how this Dr. Ph. Martins Star India Ink is so thick. I use a lot of black lines in my art, it is a part of my style. So it’s really important to me that it is nice and thick!
7. Princeton Mini Brush – These Mini Brushes are amazing!! They are so soft to hold and are so small for all those little details. These are my go to sizes, Round, Mini Handle, 3/0 + Liner, Mini Handle, 20/0.
8. Prismacolor Premier Illustration Marker: I had used Micron for many years but then I switched to Prismacolor, they just seem to last longer. I use these to outline all my illustrations. The sizes I use most are 1 + 3
9. Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser: My favorite eraser
10. Prismacolor Brush Pen: I use this around my illustrations to get that thick line and make the illustration “pop”.
11. Staedtler Lumograph Pencils – love these pencils and have used them forever! I especially love the 2h pencil, since it is so light and perfect to sketch out my illustrations.
Tag me on Instagram @laceeswan with your lovely creations!
5 Benefits of Coloring!
4.18.2022
Inspires calm. Coloring is not only therapeutic for adults but also for kids! Coloring is a great way for kids to feel calm, meditate, and practice patience. With the simple stroke of a crayon they can share their emotions, frustrations, and feelings. It will help them to sit and relax while they create their art.
Sparks imagination. Starting with a coloring page is like giving them a blank canvas because they can do so much with it. They can go out of the lines, or stay in the lines! They can color people purple with hot pink hair if they like….or unicorn hair! It is a great way to encourage uniqueness to your child. In my own coloring book series The Color Tribe
I left some spaces with more white space than others so they can dream up the place they want the character to be in. Coloring is a fabulous way to spark their imagination!
Helps them for school. Coloring can help kids with school with all kinds of skills, like eye/hand coordination, the beginning stages of hand-writing, and the ability to just sit in a chair longer than they’re used to!
Nurtures self-expression. Coloring is a great way to share emotions through colors and pictures. It also allows kids to express their feelings in pictures when they may not have the words to explain how they feel. I was definitely the kid who preferred to express through art, and I still do today! You can learn a lot about your little one by the images they draw or the colors they use.
Boosts confidence and self-esteem. Finally, coloring can give kids the confidence to be true to themselves. It is a great way to own their own style. It will also give them confidence to go to the next step in their creativity. Once they go from feeling good about coloring they will be more likely to want to draw, paint, or take on whatever art that inspires them!
How to start a Letter Writing Habit….
4.13.2022
Did you know April is National Card and Letter writing month? The perfect month to start a letter writing habit if you do not have one yet. When we spend so much time online, taking time off-line is so good for the soul. We will feel good writing the note and the recipient will too!! But it’s not like we need another thing to add to our to-do list. Right?! A hand-written note will make you stand out in a digital world! So here are some simple tips to make your personal note routine easy and fun!!
Gather Supplies.
Hello shopping therapy! There is something so luxurious about pen to paper and picking out supplies that are personal and so you is a lot of fun!! Gather pens, envelopes, cards, papers, stamps and an address book.
Have a special place.
Have a writing nook and a place where you store your stationery supplies. It can be next to your desk, on a shelf or a special drawer. If you don’t have a large space you can have a large envelope or you keep everything in a box. This step will make everything so much easier and you can just grab your stationery kit and sit down when you are ready.
Start Small.
Write one short note inside a greeting card or a little flat note like these. See how good it feels to write, seal, stamp, and send a simple note.
Keep an ongoing list.
Have a special list of recipients next to your stationery station and whenever someone comes to mind jot it down. It could be a thank you, someone you have been thinking about, someone you want to reconnect with, somebody who is recovering or healing, someone about to graduate or start a new job, or a special occasion coming up. Address books always have a list by month where you can put Birthdays, special dates down. A also have this one here you can just print it out!
Make it special.
Letter writing is the perfect time to unplug. Brew your favorite tea or coffee, or sit down with a glass of wine. Light up a candle in your favorite scent. Turn on some relaxing music, I love this Parisian cafe one. Bring your stationery kit to your local coffee shop or park. And let the birds be your music! Make this time fun!!
Do what you love!
Do you like making your own cards? Do that! If you like cards that are so you like the ones I create (wink wink), do that!
Give yourself a challenge.
For #NationalCardandLetterWritingMonth give yourself a challenge! If you are just beginning your new habit, start with one! If you can do three, I love doing a thank you, encouragement and thinking of you, read more here. Pick the # that feels good for you as a challenge.
Most importantly just be kind to yourself, building a card and letter-writing habit is an extra sweet way to reach out to the people we love. It should feel good to you, too.
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