Get Your Free Father’s Day Card Here

Hi, Creative Friends,

Here is a public service announcement. Sunday is Father’s Day! If you are a bit like me, it’s hard to think of a way to celebrate and honor all the father figures who have made a positive impact on our lives. They show up when we really need them like when the car tire is flat, when a raccoon scratches up the yard or the kitchen garbage is overflowing with two-week-old broccoli. Let's…

Tell Dad He Is Super With These 3 Last-Minute Creative Ideas.

1. DIY For Dad: Create a one-of-a-kind gift for any dad with these “40 Easy DIY Father’s Day Gifts” from Good Housekeeping. Each DIY idea is simple, thoughtful, and super!

2. Make Breakfast Memories Together: If food is the way to a dad’s heart, try this easy and delicious pancake recipe, Simply Perfect Pancakes by King Arthur Baking. This recipe makes the most buttery, fluffy pancakes and will create a meal fit for a Superman.

3. Tell Dad He’s The Best: Download this FREE Dad’s Day Card and drop Dad a note and tell him he is one rad dad because even the best dad needs to hear he is super.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how you create and celebrate with Dad!

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Get Your Free Father’s Day Card Here

Hi, Creative Friends,

Here is a public service announcement. Sunday is Father’s Day! That’s why…

This week, tell dad “I Love You With These 3 Last-Minute, creative ideas…

1. Give Dad The Joy of Learning: If dad is a lifelong learner who is always searching to expand his knowledge, sign dad up for an e-learning site such as Skillshare or Master Class.

2. Make Breakfast Memories Together: Baking in the kitchen and eating a meal together can create such joy! Try this easy and delicious pancake recipe, Simply Perfect Pancakes by King Arthur Baking. This recipe makes the most buttery, fluffy pancakes! Give dad a bottle Runamok Burbon Barrel Maple Syrup and share a beautiful breakfast together.

3. Tell Dad He’s The Best: Download this FREE Dad’s Day Card and drop dad a note and tell him he is one rad dad or order him this fun and dad-inspired La Moustache print on Society 6.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how you create and celebrate with dad!

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Day 171 - This is a special post for all the dads out there in the world that take on the very difficult and heroic role of being a dad. There are a few in particular that I need to thank. One has done and still does a great job of being a great dad to me. The other has done an amazing job of being a terrific dad to our two little bear cubs. My favorite thing about both these men? They always can find humor in the moment. I dug up some old and new photos of these two fathers. Here are a few of my favorites.

A rare photo my dad and I.  First, notice his shirt says "HOT." Second, notice his expression. The story goes, he held me for this photo and my diaper leaked. 

Next up is a great photo of my dad with the outboard motor that he stuffed in the trunk of our 1977 Green Ford Granada on the way to Three Lakes Wisconsin. He loved that outboard motor. 

Thanks Dad for being a terrific father by making sure I wanted for a nothing and laugh about life along the way.

---

Now, as for the other dad I need to thank. All dads like to take afternoon naps and walk their kids to get donuts after breakfast right?

No way! You are a super, rad dad and our kids are lucky to have a funny, grumpy old bear as their protector.

Now, for today's project, look through old or new dad photos. Remember the good stuff the dads in our lives provide us. Then create a real, honest-to-goodness thank you for a dad in your life. It can be anyone that makes you feel cared for, loved or helps you laugh. Call them up, go over to their house or send them a message about what makes them special.

Well, I'm going to get to celebrating dad today and drag everyone out for a donut. Have a great father's day. "Cheers & Beers" to all you dads out there!

Day 170 - Morning! It's Saturday! I don't want to keep you from your game of lawn darts and impromptu BBQ plans, so let's talk today's project. Since Father's Day is tomorrow, simply create a card for Dad. Draw some doodles, make a short video or write a funny note. If you find yourself stumped, here is a free printable card just for dear old dad. PDF file here: Cool Dad Card.

Well, have fun creating that special greeting for dad, stay cool and see you tomorrow kiddos!

Day 169 - Helllllloooooo Friday! Since this Sunday is Father's Day, I have been thinking about my dad today, especially since it is summertime. My dad worked his buns off during most of the year but every summer, he made sure to take us on a luxury vacation to the beautiful and remote Three Lakes Wisconsin!

I remember being a kid and my dad packing a weeks worth of everything into the trunk of our glorious 1977 Green Ford Granada. Go ahead and Google it. The car is stunning. It had vinyl seats, no air conditioning and a manual transmission that no one could ever get out of reverse. Anyway, my dad would fill that car to the brim. The contents included three kids, a half a dozen fishing poles, bags of clothes and shoes for five people, a weeks worth of food in a cooler, 20 beach towels, five people and a full size outboard motor. Until this day, I am confident my dad plays a ruthless game of Tetris. 

We would spend an entire week in Three Lakes. As a kid, it was an amazing place, minus the leaches. There was fishing, boating and fun times. Fun times also included lots and lots of ice cream. My favorite flavor was bubble gum. It was an amazing summer scoop. Dear old dad always made sure to buy me a few dollops of the sugary, cold, sweet treat but only on summer vacation. In my dad's words, we aren't millionaires for crying out loud.

All this nostalgia, made me realize that I haven't seen bubble gum ice cream since those glorious summers in 1985. Today, I thought it would be fun to recreate the recipe for my kids. You can find the recipe below. However, today's project isn't to make bubble gum ice cream. Today's project is to pass on a good memory of dad to someone important to you or call dad and relive the memory. Create a connection of the past to the present. If you, however, would rather make dad something EXTRA special, let me introduce Bubble Gum Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

Bubble Gum Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (using Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream vanilla bean ice cream recipe originally featured in "Food and Wine" magazine) 

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened (3 tablespoons)
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• Wilton Rainbow Bubble Gum Sprinkles

1. Fill a large bowl with ice water. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch. In another large bowl, whisk the cream cheese until smooth.
2. In a large saucepan, combine the remaining milk with the heavy cream, sugar, corn syrup and vanilla bean and seeds. Bring the milk mixture to a boil and cook over moderate heat until the sugar dissolves and the vanilla flavors the milk, about 4 minutes. Off the heat, gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to a boil and cook over moderately high heat until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
3. Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese until smooth. Whisk in the salt. Set the bowl in the ice water bath and let stand, stirring occasionally, until cold, about 20 minutes.
4. Strain the ice cream base into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pack the ice cream into a plastic container.
5. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the ice cream and close with an airtight lid. Freeze the vanilla ice cream until firm, about 4 hours. Add copious amount of bubble gum sprinkles and enjoy!

For the record, this was hands down the best homemade vanilla ice cream recipe ever! A big thanks to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream for the stellar recipe. Well, I've got to get back to eating ice cream and telling my kids about their grandpa. Enjoy your cool summer scoop and reliving old times with a dad. See you tomorrow kids!

This post contains an affiliate link.

Day 168 - Hey! Can you believe it's June? I just looked up at my calendar. I have lost a month. When did May roll out and June roll in?  Maybe it's the cloudy weather here in California or the fact that life never seems to offer downtime, but I just realized it's June and this weekend is Father's Day!

Well, shoot! Let's make dear old dad feel special by making him something extra special today. My dad always use to, and still does, carry around a little keychain full of coins. When he would empty out his pockets at the end of the day, he would open the keychain and give me quarter. He would tell me to save it for a rainy day. He always said some day I might need that quarter. Yep, wise words Dad.

Today's project is inspired by that keychain memory. Let's create an extra special keychain for the any dad in your life. Here is what you will need:

• Oven Baked Clay {affiliate link}
• 1 1/2 - 1 3/4" round shape cutter (I used a shot glass)
• rolling pin
• cutting board
• a disposable straw
• parchment paper
• baking sheet
• 25mm split keyrings {affiliate link}

Step 1: Sketch out the keyring design. 

Step 2: Pick your clay colors and place the cutting board on a solid work surface. Pick the base color for the design and roll into a ball. Flatten the clay ball with the rolling pin until approximately 1/3 inch thick. 

Step 3: Add other colors to create your design. You will be rolling the clay to 1/4 inch thickness so any design you do will be pressed and bleed into the base. Remember to leave room for the split ring hole. Once the design is complete, roll to 1/4 inch thickness and use your round shape cutter to cut the circle around the design. If you want add text to the keyring, use stamps to create the text at this point of the process.

Step 4: Use the straw to add a hole for the split ring. Bake according to the clay's manufacturers directions. Slip the split ring into the hole on the keyring.

Step 5: Proudly present the custom rad keyring to dad.

Well, I need to get back to sketching up some more designs for the dads in my life. Take care of dad this weekend and see you tomorrow kids!

Day 106 - Aloha! Friday is here. For me, the end of this week doesn't feel like a dreamy day in Hawaii. For some reason, today feels more like a hot humid summer day in the midwest. The feeling is kind of oppressive and uncomfortable sorry Chicago. Perhaps it's because this weekend starts an avalanche of doing, making and thinking for the next few weeks for me. In other words, it's about to get crazy around here. When life gets crazy I always look to wise people in my life for advice. Advice makes me think of one person, my dad. 

It doesn't matter if you are the pharmacist behind the counter at the CVS or the an award winning New York Times novelist, my dad has advice for whoever is standing next to him. His advice is usually on point, kinda funny and never requested. With permission, as long as I never publish the list, he has granted me a top 11 to share.

1. If there is something in the road...don't hit it.
2. If you try really, really, hard you will probably pull something.
3. It's not how good you look but how good you look compared to the person next to you.
4. Reinventing the wheel is not all bad...at least it works.
5. Save the pieces.
6. Sometimes you have to feed the dog.
7. You can't out run a bear.
8. If you base your life on winning and losing, choose your opponent carefully.
9. Very few people are the voice of reason.
10. Buying a hot water heater just seems silly.
11.  

Number eleven is my favorite. There is nothing like driving a car and with no steering. Thank goodness for horns an thank goodness for wise people.

Today, reach out to someone wise in your life. Ask them for one or eleven bits of advice. Create a list. I read once that when someone gives you advice, it's a story of their lives. We should learn from their stories even if it's unsolicited. Someday we may need that list.

If you have a few moments, it would be great to hear advice that was pass on to you. Go ahead and add comment on today's post. Don't be shy. Looking forward to reading the list tomorrow.

Day 29 - Hey Folks! It's Friday. TGFMJ! In other words, Thank Goodness For Mom Jeans because it's time to pull them on and soak up Friday. Men, this post is for you too because there are some terrific Dad jeans out there. Where am I going with this post you ask?

We are going to fire up the creative juices by pulling out our LBNB and sketching something that makes us giggle. For some reason the phrase Mom or Dad jeans just gives me a good belly laugh. Try googling "Mom Jeans" or "Dad Jeans" adorable right? Now, take 7 min or so to think of something that makes you chuckle and draw it. Now let's hear from you. What gives you a Friday laugh?