Creating A Masterpiece ~ A Review

We have really enjoying the Drawing Program from Creating a Masterpiece. There are 4 levels included in the drawing program: Beginning Drawing, Drawing Level 1, Drawing Level 2, and Drawing Level 3. Within the 4 levels there are 30 projects and a total of 48 lessons. Three drawing mediums are utilized; colored pencils, pencil, and charcoal. Children as young as 5 and as old as seniors can enjoy the Drawing Program. You truly do not have to have an art background in order to learn how to draw. You only have to have a willing attitude and patience. Sharon takes student's step-by-step through the drawing process with each project via her online videos. 

I was able to get the art supplies that we needed at a local art supply store and online.

This is a few of the art supplies that I purchased. 

You can also purchase the art supplies on the Creating a Masterpiece website.

Each project tells you exactly what art supplies you will need. 

Each project has the following components.

Lesson Videos

Project Supplies and Downloads

Supplies Used in this Lesson

Helpful Tips

Project Images

Lesson Highlights

Drumroll...

Beginning Drawing

Lesson in Pencil ~ Hoot Owl

My 13 and 16-year-old daughter's had so much fun drawing this 

HOOT Owl. There was a lot of giggling and laughing going on. 

I was very impressed with their owls and so were they. 

Beginning Drawing

Lesson in Pencil ~ Simplicity

For this project three of my daughter's and my mother got in on the action. 

There was a lot of pausing going on while different individuals at different times

needed time to catch up, or redo a section. 

My mom was "tickled pink" that she was actually drawing! This was the first

time in her life that she actually successfully drew anything. 

PRETTY HUGE FOR BEING 70!!

My 11-year-old's

My 13-year-old's

My 16-year-old's 

70-year-old's 

Beginning Drawing 

Lesson in Pencil ~ Giraffe in Cartoon

Drawing Level 1

Lesson in Pencil ~ Tuckered Out Turtle 

I drew this cute turtle. I was shocked that I actually did this! 

I cannot even draw a stick figure. Seriously! It was quite relaxing 

working through the lessons and coming out with this at the end. 

Drawing Level 1

Lesson in Pencil ~ Penguin Family

Beginning Drawing

Lesson in Charcoal ~ Field of Daisies 

Working with charcoal was definitely a bit tricky but fun. 

I would HIGHLY recommended this curriculum to parents and homeschoolers searching for an art curriculum that actually works. If you cannot even draw a stick figure DO NOT WORRY, you can succeed at Creating a Masterpiece. Definitely check out all of the amazing media forms that Sharon teaches on her site such as: Wood Burning, Balsa Carving, Glass Mosaic, Glass Etching, Gouache, Faux Stained Glass, Acrylic Painting, Oil Pastel, Sculpting, Alcohol Inks, and Watercolor.

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createamasterpiece 

WorthyKids Books ~ A Review

The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls: The Shepherd's Stone (Book 5)  and The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls: The Lion's Roar (Book 6) from WorthyKids Books are written by M.J. Thomas. The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Series is about two children, Peter and Mary, and their dog, Hank. Nine-year-old Peter and ten-year-old Mary are spending the month with their Great-Uncle Solomon who is an archaeologist. He has scrolls that he got a long time ago. These scrolls take the kids back in time where they meet Bible characters and experience stories from the Bible. They have to solve the secret of the scroll before it is too late with clues that they are given. The books are written for ages 6-9 years old but children older will enjoy them too.

This is what my 11-year-old daughter had to say about the books.

"The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, The Shepherd's Stone tells the story of Goliath. In book five Peter and Mary met David. David taught Peter how to use a sling shot. Peter and Mary found a lot of ancient stuff that was also in their uncle Solomon's library. David took Peter and Mary to meet his family and took food to his brother's in the battlefield. On the way they get into a fight with a bear but God protects them. The two opposing armies are on opposite hills. The Israelites and the Philistines preparing for battle. Everyone knows the rest of the story." 

"The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, The Lion's Roar tells the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den. In book six Peter and Mary meet Hannah, Shadrach's granddaughter. Shadrach tells them about when he and his friends, Meshach and Abednego are placed into the fiery furnace and God saved them. The high priest tried to make Peter and Mary bow down and worship his idol. Peter and Mary also met Daniel who was only of the top three governors of Babylon. The high priest and the other two governors of Babylon did not like Daniel so they set up an evil plan against him. A new law was enacted that no one could pray to any god or man for the next 30 days for they would be thrown into the lion's den." 

Here is my review of Books 1 and 2.
Here is my review of Books 3 and 4.

I would recommend this series to both parents and educators. The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls is a fun series that transports readers back to exciting moments in Bible history. Be sure to check out what my Crew Members had to say about the books by clicking on the link below.

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorthyKidsBooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthykidsbooks/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/worthykidsideals/

Brain Blox ~ A Review

Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks from Brain Blox are chemical-free, non-toxic, natural wooden building planks that will engage your child in imaginative play. Brain Blox come in 100, 200, and 300 count building sets.

Brain Blox has a YouTube Channel where they have some videos showing how to build some of the building ideas in their guide that comes with their sets. For Halloween they have a fun Spooky Spider  that your child can build.

They challenge your child by suggesting COOL ideas such as:

1. Building a wide structure using only 1 plank as a base! 
2. Build a SKYSCRAPER! How HIGH can you go?
3. Create a marble run.
4. Design a MAZE!
5. Build the longest bridge you can build using only 2 support structures! 

As you can see Brain Blox can definitely be used for all ages. For the younger child they can be used for building gross motor skills and dexterity as they build. They are using their imagination as they build. They can build small and you can slowly challenge them to add on. For instance you can challenge your young child to think of 10 shapes to create.

For the older child they begin to use problem solving skills as they contemplate and strategically build. They are learning engineering concepts of structure. Brain Blox would be great in a school or co-op setting for math, science, or engineering classes for building. 

Without further ado here is imagination at work!

Each Building Set comes with a Red Canvas Drawstring Backpack for storage or 

building on the go. 

My 12-year-old was not impressed with Brain Blox. I was a bit shocked because she loves building sets of all kinds. She said that the one shaped blocks just did not do it for her and didn't excite her. My 16-year-old enjoyed building with them. She was able to construct the building ideas with little effort. I was shocked at how fast she was able to construct things. She enjoys putting together 1000 and 2000 piece puzzles. I wonder if putting puzzles together carries over to her ability to construct? My 11-year-old was indifferent when it came to building with Brain Blox. She build with them but they were not a huge hit. She found trying to construct the stuff in the guide too hard and so she decided to use her imagination and create her own things.

I definitely would recommend Brain Blox. Even though they were not a huge hit in our house, I love the concept behind the product. Anytime you can get your children away from technology and using their imaginations I am all for it! Be sure to check out what my fellow crew members had to say about Brain Blox by clicking the link below.

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybrainblox
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainblox
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUttakNtthj_haX8LwRlwA
To read more reviews click here.