Creative Resources

My Favorite Tools & Resources

If you are looking for creative assets and tools, these are my faves! P.S. Some of these may be affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you buy through them. (But you won’t be charged any more.) (And I really do use all this stuff!)

Blick

I head straight to Blick for my art supplies. Strangely, I usually find their prices are cheaper for art supplies than Amazon, they have a better selection, and I don’t have to wade through all the weird off-brands.

FloDesk

Y’all need an email service provider? Flodesk gives you beautiful designs, they make setting up and sending emails a piece of cake, and they charge a flat monthly fee instead of hundreds upon hundreds of dollars like other providers. Get your first whole year at 50% off with my link:

Creative Market

I could spend days on the Creative Market site, and my shopping cart is filled to the brim with little illustrations, patterns, and fonts I want. This is where I go first whenever I’m looking for any graphic goods.

Tech Stuff

  • Restored 316 Theme – I use and love WordPress for my blog, and I will only use Restored316 themes with Kadence. These are clean, beautiful, and ultra-customizeable for those of us who like to tweak every little detail.
  • LyricalHost – This is my by far favorite website host I’ve ever used. They are reasonably priced, sooooo helpful, and offer an amazing service. I can’t stress enough to keep away from the “big” hosting companies. (Bluehost, GoDaddy, Hostgator)
  • Shopify – Shopify is where I have my gorgeous, beloved shop now, and it is just a pleasure to use. From their knowledge base and support, to the delicious themes you can choose, and even the extremely fair pricing, Shopify is a no-brainer.

Essential Reading

Austin Kleon

Technically not a book, Austin Kleon has written a little treasure trove of books for creative people. Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work and Keep Going are the art Dad who’s always full of encouragement and creative wisdom.

The Artist’s Way

A freaking classic. If you are a creative of any sort and you have ever felt even a bit stuck, working through The Artist’s Way will open you back on up to creative flow. Don’t skip doing the morning pages!

The War of Art

Steven Pressfield’s book is a read-every-year guidebook for creative people. This short book infuses you with a hit of get-off-your-ass masculine energy. If you tend to be more flowy like I am, you will welcome the reminder.

Big Magic

Elizabeth Gilbert came along and dropped a doozy of a masterpiece for creative people. This one I read bits of here and there and am always massively inspired by her words. It’s the kind of book you need to sit and process while reading.

Creative Learning

A world of learning at our fingertips, from expert teachers and artists! Discover a new art technique, learn to use design programs, or turn your hobby into a business.

  • Domestika – Not gonna lie; I’ve not taken anything on Domestika yet! Most of the classes are in Spanish with English subtitles, but the classes are really cheap (perpetually on “sale”), so you can try out a class without much risk. Also some of the classes look amazing and are taught by some really vibrant, creative experts.
  • CreativeBug – CreativeBug has been around a while now, so they have built up a nice library of thousands of classes. Their $7.95/month membership fee is ridiculously low if you love to learn and experiment with art and craft techniques. I love CreativeBug because of their endlessly colorful, experimental, joyful vibe. (P.S. They have free trial links at the top of their homepage.)
  • Skillshare – Skillshare takes some navigating because there is every sort of class imaginable on there. Browse through the categories or scroll to find something that catches your eye (there will be plenty). This is a great platform to dabble in a new technique all the way up to building on your creative career skills. (I am excited to incorporate Skillshare classes into my son’s homeschooling curriculum!)

Random Favorites