Wednesday, 18 November 2015

Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers

Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
If you follow me on Snapchat (@happinessisblog), this is the unboxing blog post I mentioned last week! Artsnacks is a really cool subscription box that I've posted about before but only signed up for earlier this year. If you're an arty type and into stationery tools and trying new things, you'll love this! I'm going to share two of the most recent boxes with you today.

So if you aren't familiar with the subscription box model, it involves you signing up to receive a monthly box of mixed goodies. Like a little surprise gift to yourself every month! I love surprises, so I really look forward to it. The subscription box has become a pretty popular model and these days you can get one for pretty much anything (specific types of food, jewellery, beauty products, etc). 

Box #1
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers

Each box comes with a little sweet (a different one each month), an Artsnacks goodie (sticker, temporary tattoo, etc) and a varying quantity of full sized, high quality art materials from all over the world. You also get a little card with an explanation of each product, its features and its retail value. In the case of this particular box, there was even a brand new product from Winsor & Newton that isn't even in stores yet! How cool is that? So here's what was in the September box: 

• Winsor & Newton Pigment Marker and White Blender (exclusive brand new product)
• Caran d'Ache Swiss Wood 348 Pencil
• MOO Eraser by Weber Co.
You can read the detailed descriptions on the image below...

Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Quick review of these markers: I wasn't terribly impressed, unfortunately. It might be a great tool for people who work specifically with markers, but I found that they didn't blend very well, as you can see above, and I couldn't see how I'd use it myself. Checking out Youtube videos from other users didn't shed much light either. Still glad I got to try them out though, I get such fomo for new art materials so I know I'd be lusting after it If I hadn't had the opportunity to try them here.


Box #2
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers

This was a Halloween themed box for October aptly dubbed "The Midnight Snack", hence the black paper and brain sweets. In this box there was:
• Higgins Black Magic Ink (right on theme, love that!)
• Caran d'Ache Black Wood Pencil
• 2 x Cretacolor Artist Studio Line Colored Pencils
• Pigma Professional Brush Pen by Sakura
• Connoisseur Bamboo Watercolor Brush
Read the detailed descriptions on the image below...

Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers
Artsnacks, a Subscription Box for Art Lovers

All great products in this box! The bamboo brush is very soft, very different to the brushes I usually use or have tried before, am looking forward to playing around with it more. The brush pen is great, always love experimenting with those. The pencils and ink are great, too. Yay!

Even with the exchange rate and shipping for us in SA (they're based in the US), it works out to a reasonable price if you consider the normal retail price of these materials, many of which aren't readily available in SA, or at least not in any store in Durban, so would have to be imported anyway. Quality art materials are pricey!

Another great point is that they have excellent customer service. I had an issue once or twice with shipping and it was handled so promptly and efficiently that it was no problem at all. You can also cancel whenever you want, so you're not locked into anything.

If you're an art lover, or know one, this would make a great gift for the holiday season! Visit Artsnacks and see what it's all about for yourself :)

** Please note, this is not a sponsored post, I'm just that excited about the product ;) **


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Thursday, 12 November 2015

The Happiness is... 2016 Calendar

the Happiness is... 2016 Hand Lettered Botanical Calendar
The Happiness is... 2016 Calendar is here! Just in time for holiday gifting and to get prepared early for next year. It's full of hand lettered goodness and watercolour botanical illustrations, all handmade by me. Click here to find out more, sign up for product updates and place your order! :)

Order the Happiness is... 2016 Calendar

the Happiness is... 2016 Hand Lettered Botanical Calendar

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Friday, 30 October 2015

November 2015 Free Printable Calendar + Brand New Planner Pack & Desktop Wallpaper

Happiness is... November 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner

Two more months left of 2015, peeps! Went for a looser look for the November calendar, which I quite like. What do you think of it? Let me know in the comments below! 
(Seriously, I really appreciate the feedback ;)

Get your copy now and share this post with your friends!
And check out my brand new planner pack below!

Happiness is... November 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner
Happiness is... September 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner
Happiness is... September 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner (black and white)

Get your calendars earlier PLUS extra exclusive freebies 
by subscribing to the Happiness is... Lucky Packet!

So many people have been letting me know how much they love and use the monthly calendars regularly. This makes me so happy, to know that so many people find it useful and have made it a part of their daily lives - last month's calendar had almost 2000 downloads!

People have also been saying that I should charge for them because they provide such great value. Don't worry though, I have no plans for that. Although I spend a lot of time and effort on them, I have always intended for them to be free as my way of offering you something of value. However, for those who would like to get even more value and show their support, I've created a complementary planner pack that I'm excited to share with you...

Happiness is... November 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner Pack
Happiness is... November 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner Pack with Desktop wallpaper
This pack contains five high quality items to go with your calendar and help keep you organised:
• a weekly planner, for more detailed planning
• 
a line-a-day journal page, great for noting anything important or memorable from each day. I like to use it as a gratitude journal.
• 
a mini calendar to stick up wherever you need to keep track of dates
• 
a habit calendar, for those of us trying to start new habits or keep up with existing ones. Fill in the circle on each day that you complete your "daily"  habit
• 
a desktop wallpaper, to mix things up each month and keep you inspired 


How does that sound? There'll be more of these with varied content, so if there's something you'd like that isn't included here let me know and you might see it in the next pack! I'll also be working on packs that are not month specific, so you can reuse them as much as you'd like.

This bundle can be purchased on my Etsy store - it's definitely for you if you've been appreciating the free calendars, love adding some pretty hand lettered goodness to your daily life and supporting handmade products and small businesses :)


I love when people share pics of their calendars in use! Share yours via twitter, facebook, instagram or pinterest using the hashtag #happinessis_calendars. 

Have a great November! 


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Tuesday, 13 October 2015

A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement & Watercolour Illustrations

A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada

I realised recently that I haven't been sharing much of my work on here anymore! Not intentionally, it kind of just got buried in the busyness. So today I'm sharing a project I really enjoyed: a hand lettered birth announcement and some illustrations for little Samuel...

Marni contacted me a few months before her due date with a commission request for some illustrations for her baby's room, and a birth announcement for when he arrived. She liked this one that I had done previously and wanted something similar. She requested three woodland animal illustrations, and although animals aren't quite my forté I enjoyed creating these and Marni loved them. Here's a look at the full set and some details...
A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada
A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada
A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada


Then, a few months later, it was getting close to the due date for Marni's little one. She had given me most of the wording beforehand so I could do some planning, and the other surprise info (weight, height, time and photo) would be provided once the baby arrived. Of course with this being a birth announcement, it all needed to be done pretty quickly after his arrival, so it was rather exciting. Marni let me know when she was going into hospital so I knew when to allow time to get it done. It felt like I was part of their whole exciting experience, which I loved! Once they were all healthy and happy and home, they sent through some pics, which we'd discussed earlier, and the additional info, and I got it to her the next day to send out to her friends and family.  I'm told they all loved it! 
Here's a look at some process and details and the final piece...

A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada
A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada
A Hand Lettered Birth Announcement by fathima kathrada

How amazing to be able to have a part in such a special occasion! I love this hand lettering style and am so glad everyone was happy with the end result.
The birth announcement is a great way of creating a memorable and functional piece of art to mark the special day. It can be sent out as an informational piece, and then also printed and framed as a special memory of that day.
Drop me a mail if you'd like to commission an illustration or lettering piece ;)


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Thursday, 1 October 2015

October 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner

Happiness is... October 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner - watercolour hand lettering and botanical illustration
It's all lush, green happiness for the October calendar! This one was created using watercolour hand lettering and botanical illustration. Like it? Let me know in the comments below! 
(Seriously, I really appreciate the feedback ;)

Get your copy now and share this post with your friends!

Happiness is... October 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner - watercolour hand lettering and botanical illustration
Happiness is... September 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner
Happiness is... September 2015 Free Printable Calendar and Planner (black and white)

Get your calendars earlier PLUS extra exclusive freebies 
by subscribing to the Happiness is... Lucky Packet!

I love when people share pics of their calendars in use! Share yours via twitter, facebook, instagram or pinterest using the hashtag #happinessis_calendars. 

Here's wishing you a calm 
and happy October! 


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