Review

Creativebug Review – Is It Worth the Cost?

67 · Jun 26, 2022 · Leave a Comment

I want to mention that if you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. But, this wouldn’t ever stop me from giving my completely honest review of Creativebug.

If you’ve been a reader for a while you know I don’t hold back on giving my honest opinion.

Before joining Creativebug I had A LOT of questions, and I’m sure you do too.

Let me give you the short answer on Creativebug here in case you’re in a rush for time.

Overall, it’s great. If you are truly still on the fence after this article then you should sign up for the FREE TRIAL so you can get an idea for yourself though. When you sign up for a year of Unlimited Plus, the current price is just $5.95 per month.

Okay now, let’s get into the details so you can see why I’m recommending it.

So Exactly What is Creativebug?

Creativebug is an online learning platform for everything to do with arts and crafts. There are thousands of these classes. I was more interested in sewing, quilting, jewelry making, and recipes. But, I had a look at most of what they had to offer. I was really busy going through the website for the past three months. My husband was getting tired of me spending all of my time watching these videos haha.

So what compares to Creativebug? There are only two other options in my opinion. The first is YouTube and the other is Craftsy. YouTube is free but it’s less instructional. You can learn things but it’s more just for entertainment. There’s usually very little structure when it comes to teaching on YouTube because everyone has their own courses and classes they are trying to sell. The great thing about Creativebug and Craftsy is that you get access to very instructional and informative videos for such a low cost.

Is Creativebug Legit?

Creativebug is a legit company. They have a lot of online marketing and promotions which may get people asking questions, but overall, it’s a great company. I joined for 3 months and then canceled just to see if I could. The only reason I canceled was to be able to write this review and to make sure they honored their cancelation policy. I rejoined because I liked it so much though.

One thing that is good to know is that they offer a money-back guarantee. I always find this to be a good sign from a company when they offer a money-back guarantee.

Creativebug vs Craftsy – Which is Better?

The main difference between the two is you can buy Craftsy lessons individually. The best thing to do though is to become a member. On Creativebug, all you need is your membership. Both have great courses and lessons. I am going to write a full comparison between the two of these very soon.

How Many Classes Does Creativebug Have?

Creativebug has well over 1,000 classes and they are adding more every single month. It’s possible that they have over 2,000 classes by now. I can’t find an exact number but all of their classes are taught by experts in their respective fields. I think this is the most important part. It’s not really about the number of classes but about the quality of the classes.

Creativebug’s classes are informative and entertaining, and you KNOW you’re getting good information because the instructors are vetted. This is unlike YouTube or Skillshare for instance. On YouTube or Skillshare, you have no idea if the person is knowledgeable or not.

This isn’t to say that Creativebug doesn’t have many classes at all though. They do and you’ll never get bored. If for some reason you do get bored you can cancel your membership at any time.

How to Sign Up for Creativebug

It’s quite easy to sign up for the free trial. Click Here to start the free trial.

You should be able to get a 60-day free trial with the link above.

I strongly suggest going with the plus version of Creativebug for a year because you can end up getting a big discount. There’s so much inside your membership that you won’t get bored and it’s only $5.95 per month with the year-long version. If you decide you don’t like it before the free trial is up then you can simply cancel the membership.

How Much Does Creativebug Cost?

Creativebug offers three different pricing levels.

They have the basic version, the Unlimited, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Plus Annual.

The Unlimited plan is $7.95/mo and is the lowest tier.

The Unlimited Plus plan is $9.95/mo when you sign up monthly and only $5.95 per month when you sign up for the annual version.

The difference between Unlimited vs Unlimited Plus plan is at the bottom of the image. You get discounts on Joann fabrics and you also get to keep one class per month forever. Keeping the classes is valuable by itself. But, I like the Unlimited Plus plan the best because the annual version lets you save $23 per year or more on the cost. If you already like Joann, then it’s a great idea to go with the Unlimited Plus for that as well.

Is It Easy to Cancel Creativebug

It’s really easy to cancel. You don’t have to call them or do any tricks like some companies. Simply go to your account profile, click on Billing, and click Cancel.

The Final Verdict

If you’re on the fence about Creativebug, I say just do it. You won’t regret it. If you do regret it then you can simply cancel during your free trial period. I would also like to hear your thoughts on Creativebug. This wraps up my Joann Creativebug review!

A Boy and His New Beddy’s Bed

11 · Aug 2, 2018 · 1 Comment

We’re getting ready for school here in these parts. With that comes the resurrection of old routines whether good or bad. Some routines stand the test of time like brushing your teeth, getting dressed and such. Others like making the bed could stand for a little improvement! Let’s be real here… How many of our kiddos or, us even, regularly make our beds? When the back-to-school routines truly kick-in, how many of our kiddos are skipping this one task because it’s just a pain and they would rather move on to bigger and better things? I have one little guy that generally skips this task or takes FOREVER making his bed thus making us late for school each morning. Anyone else in this boat? Yea, I thought so! That’s when I was introduced to Beddy’s Beds by a good friend of mine and my little guy has been using his new bedding all summer and we are super in love with this whole system!!! Come learn all about Beddy’s along with this fun room makeover for Gage.

+ This post brought to you by Beddy’s Beds +

Boys Room Makeover

SEVERAL months ago we embarked on a room makeover for our little guy. He had been living in a pink and purple room since our move last year and it was high time to make some changes. An eight-year-old boy will put up with a pink room for only so long. We don’t even know Ashley & Alexa and why they even had an attic!

We settled on an Explorer room packed full with all kinds of great inspiration to explore our world. We found an old discarded library book that was filled with copies of the maps from the Lewis & Clark expedition. The library was just throwing it out! We pulled it apart and Decoupaged the pages onto Gage’s wall.

The very last step that needed to be completed was, new bedding! Like I said before… His bed NEVER looks like the photo above. If it is made, it looks like Salvador Dalí made the bed rather than Martha Stewart. Granted, I know… It’s a little boys room but, there has to be something smarter & easier. Check out this video to see the genius of what we found!

The Genius of Beddy’s Bedding

Did you see that? How easy it was for Gage to just zip-up his bed when he got up? This bedding is brilliant! Here are my top 5 reasons why I love Beddy’s bedding…

1. First off, it’s dang cute! I love the fabric that we selected for Gage’s room. We picked the Checked Out bedding and it looks great in his explorer room. They have all kinds of styles that are perfect for toddlers on up to Mom & Dad, both boys, and girls, along with college-age kiddos. Plus, the options keep expanding each year.
2. His bed is so easy to make! The bedding is somewhat like a sleeping bag that has a fitted sheet element sewn on the bottom. The whole system fits right onto the bed and grips nicely to the mattress. Now, if you have hot sleepers like Gage is, don’t worry, the top blanket unzips at the bottom if you’d like and down each side, you can even remove the whole top blanket for washing. Gage is a hot sleeper and he likes to keep the side unzipped and then zips it right back up in the morning.
3. I love that this is a product created by Moms for Moms! You know how Beddy’s came to be? It was out of the frustration of trying to make bunk beds. Have you ever tried to make a bunk bed? It’s impossible even for adults let alone kids. Beddy’s are handmade with fabulous fabric. The top fabric is 100% cotton and the inside is a scrumptious Minky fabric that all kiddos love. Gage has been using his bedding for a few months now and I’m thrilled with the quality of the materials & workmanship.
4. Beddy’s bedding is easy to wash! I’ll be honest, when I first saw a Beddy’s system I thought it looked like a bear to wash. I was so wrong! Gage who struggled to gather all of his bedding on wash days in the past now has no problem stripping his bed and loading it into the washer all by himself.
5. I love that his product empowers everyone to start their day on the right foot! When I was a kiddo, I received a pillowcase that said, “Start each day in a happy way.” It was actually a Strawberry Shortcake pillowcase. The first morning I used it, I was 6 or 7, I read the quote and it really hit me. I did need to start each day in a happy way! That morning I felt empowered to make my bed (the old fashioned way) starting my day on the right foot and then moving forward with confidence that I could handle whatever came my way that day. It sounds silly, right? Can making your bed empower you, of course it can. If you aren’t a bed maker, give it a go. Commit to making your bed for a week and see how that little change will change your day. We need to give that gift to our kiddos. A good breakfast and a made bed, that’s a good recipe for a great start to the day!

What are you going to do this new school year to help your kiddos to feel successful right from the start? I highly recommend investing in some Beddy’s bedding for the kiddos. I’m thrilled with how Gage loves his new bedding and how his room looks with the bedding.

+ Disclaimer – This post has been sponsored by Beddy’s Beds. They sent product for my family to review however, I was not paid for my review or for this post. Remeber, I only share what I love and truly use in my everyday life. +

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5 Ways to Beat the Heat this Summer at Home

1 · May 11, 2018 · Leave a Comment

I will have to admit, I’m a baby when it comes to heat. I LOVE summer but I hate to be hot. It’s partly because I have a condition (among others) called Hyperhidrosis that causes excesses sweating. Some people have excessive sweating under their arms or on their hands and feet. They literally have to change clothes several times a day like “Southern Charm” star Cameran Eubanks. My dermatologist says that she has met people who’s hands literally drip sweat. I can’t even imagine… Oh, wait, I can! That’s why coming up with ways to beat the heat has always really important to me.

+ this post is brought to you by the kind folks at Honeywell +

My Sweaty Story

My particular condition is on my FACE! It could be forty below and if I’m nervous or moving, my face will be dripping sweat. Yea, it’s AWESOME! I’ve tried botox and medication to help but, so far nothing has worked. My Mom says that even as a newborn, I would have little beads of sweat on my nose when I was upset. I don’t know if you know this but, newborns don’t sweat on their nose. So, this issue has been a long and somewhat embarrassing one. Not to mention the fact that being embarrassed makes it even worse. Ugh!

Summer is even worse. When others are merely “glowing” (as my mother would say) I’m dripping buckets. With a history like that, I’ve become quite adept at making sure I stay as cool as possible so that I too, can enjoy the Summer.

How to Beat the Heat at Home

Throughout the course of my life, I’ve lived in homes with and without air conditioning so, I understand the issues on both sides of the fence. I’ve also lived in high heat index areas like Las Vegas and lower heat index areas like Denver. Again, I’ve experienced heat on both sides of the spectrum. Here are a few tips and tricks that I’ve worked out to help beat the heat at home during the hotter months.

Make sure, if you have air conditioning, that you have it serviced once a year by a trained professional. This has saved us a countless number of times especially when we were living in Las Vegas. It’s more than just spraying off the dirt and grime that has accumulated over the winter months. Find someone who knows their stuff, one who can detect even the tiniest of issues so that you can tackle them before they become huge issues. When we lived in Vegas, we had a fan blade in one of our units that was a little off kilter and basically chewed through some very important cables causing us to have to totally replace our unit at a rather large expense. Not only did we have to pay to replace a rather new unit, we were in the depths of Summer and had to fork over for a hotel room for a couple of days. With small children, there was no way we could stay in our house when it was over 110˚ each day. That was an expensive lesson learned. photo credit • unknown
Find all of those hidden heat vents into your home. For example, many people work to Winterize their homes, why not “Summerize” your home?
1. Check all of your windows and doors to see if you have sneaky little heat vents coming into your home that you weren’t even aware of.
2. If you have a gas fireplace, turn of your pilot light for the summer. You would be surprised at how much heat even that little pilot light will give off. They are easy to relight when the weather turns colder.
3. Limit the amount of time when cooking indoors. Summer is the perfect time to work on your outdoor cooking skills. Think outside of the box… My Mom would fry chicken at least once a summer when I was growing up. We lived in an unairconditioned house and she would take her electric skillet out on the back porch and fry our chicken out there so as to not heat up the house. With all of our fabulous electric gadgets these days, air fryers, Instant Pots, Instant Pot Sous Vide, electric skillets and so much more. Take those electric appliances outdoors, in a safe spot, and work your Summer cooking magic without heating up the house.
Take advantage of those cooler mornings and evenings. If you live in a climate that has those glorious cooler mornings and evenings like in Colorado, take advantage of those times of the day. Open your windows in the morning and cool down the house. Make sure to close them before the day starts to heat-up.photo credit • unknown
Balance out your home with a portable air conditioner. Every house we’ve ever owned, our bedroom has been the hottest room in the house. If we would turn up our air so that our bedroom felt comfortable, the rest of the house was like a meat locker. If we kept the house at a normal temperature our room would be nice and toasty every night. No Bueno in my world, I can’t sleep if I am hot. We had looked at adding an additional air conditioning unit to our current house, one for upstairs and one for down and that is SUPER expensive. That involves relocated ductwork and all kinds of invasive modifications to the home. That’s not really in the cards right now so, my husband suggested we get one of those window units for our bedroom. That quite honestly made my design and style loving heart cry a little. Those window units look like a parasite living on the side of your house. They work great, these just look terrible. Then we were introduced to a portable air conditioner that we really come to love from Honeywell. This portable air conditioner is fabulous! We are able to keep our house at a manageable temperature and then we can cool our room separately at night when we need it the most. It’s fantastic and it is saving us on the cost of cooling our home. It’s far more aesthetically pleasing inside and outside the home. It does have a vent that vents outside but it’s easy to conceal when in use. The vent is more noticeable inside than it is outside. I love that my home still has the nice character without being marred by a window air conditioning unit. This particular unit comes with a remote, the fan has three settings (low, medium & high), it has a timer, it’s on casters so it easy to move and store and it has a dehumidifier. We are really happy with it! You can find it at:
1. Amazon
2. Walmart
3. Lowes
4. Best Buy
5. Home Depot
6. Target
If you’re in a dry climate (which we are not) you can use an air cooler which is awesome!! These little portable gems can be taken outside to cool your outdoor Summer gatherings. Wouldn’t be heaven, outside in the summer enjoying the sun and yet, still cool. This great machine uses a combination of water and air movement to keep your area cool. Whether inside or outside, this is another great way to keep your home cool in the warmer months.

How do you beat the heat in your home during the summer? I’m always looking for more suggestions! Leave a comment to help a sweaty girl out!

+ Disclaimer – This post has been sponsored by Honeywell. I did NOT receive payment for this post. However, I did recive product for review. I will only share products that I truly love and use in my everyday life.

Let’s Say Oui to ME Time • Oui by Yoplait

4 · Sep 4, 2017 · 2 Comments

As much as I adore my kiddos, there are times when I need a special ME treat! Do you ever feel that way? This post is brought to you by the amazing folks at Yoplait, because they know that sometimes, we need to say Oui (French for YES) to ME time!

Disclaimer + This post is sponsored by Yoplait. However, all thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own.

My kiddos are cute, they’re crazy, goofy and silly. Sometimes they’re grumpy and quite frankly they turn into pills at times. This little guy is a ball of energy, when that energy is directed towards good, he brings such light into our home. BUT… If that energy is a negative energy man-oh-man, his energy can turn negative rather quickly. It’s like it’s his super power. Jekyll & Hyde ring any bells? Toss him into a home with three teenage sister and it can turn into a powder keg for sure.

It’s true magic when we are all together and having fun just being together, but… When the wind is blowing from the east or someone’s foot touches someone else’s personal space, WATCH OUT! Think super collider!

We had one of those super collider days a few weeks ago, right before school started again. Actually, I believe it was the last Friday before school started the following Monday. We were all on each other’s last nerve. We had just returned home from a two week long road trip and we decided at the last minute to paint a couple of the girl’s rooms in our new house. Brilliant! Not our best move…

That afternoon, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I needed a break. I needed some ME time. I needed a treat. I didn’t know what. I didn’t want something full of sugar, but I still wanted it to feel decadent. I wanted it to be special.

The closest store to our home is Walmart and I decided to head there. I really don’t know why I chose Walmart, other than it was the closest place that was easy to escape to and I could wander the aisles aimlessly until I found that special something that could get me out of this bad attitude. Mom needed a timeout!

I wandered to the bakery, nothing looked tempting. I hit the candy aisle, again nothing hit the mark. Freezer section, nothing. I wanted something cool & creamy, not too sweet, something that tasted real.

I rounded the corner into the dairy section at Walmart and it hit me… I knew exactly what I wanted to help wash away the frustrations of the day, Oui by Yoplait.

I saw this new yogurt and before I even registered what it was, I knew that was what was going to hit the spot. It was so cute and you know how much I LOVE great branding. It was creamy French style yogurt in a little glass jar. I had found my ME moment with Oui by Yoplait without even trying! It was like this beautiful yogurt was created just for ME!

Of course, I immediately grabbed some of my favorite flavors; lemon, black cherry, vanilla & strawberry and headed home to enjoy my new found treat.

You may find it a little weird but, my children have been trained after 7 years of blogging, if Mom comes in the house with something and she says that, “it’s for the blog,” they WILL NOT touch it. In 7 years of blogging, I have never taken advantage of that… Until now! You guys, this yogurt is so good! Yoplait has hit it out of the park with this one. It’s thick, creamy and not too sweet and boy, I’m not going to share!

It’s made the traditional French way with simple, straight forward ingredients. The vanilla flavored Oui by Yoplait is made with; milk, cane sugar, yogurt cultures (L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus) and vanilla extract. That’s it!

Their cows that produce the whole milk are feed a Non-GMO diet. The fruit is REAL, nothing is artificial. The French believe the measure of good food is the pleasure and joy it brings to life. That is exactly what I needed at that moment. Something cool, creamy & subtly sweet to bring back the joy that I needed to go back home to be with my family, with the right attitude in tow.

Will I start to share? Nope, as far as I’m concerned… These little pots belong to me. They are extra special and for those times when I need something extra special to bring that joy back into my day. Yoplait knew exactly what you and I needed to make our days extra special!