If you had asked me in high school if I ever thought I would be creating craft projects for adults and kids, I would have said no. I’ve loved art since I can remember. When I was in elementary school I always had plenty of coloring books. I loved coloring inside the lines, outlining my pictures with a crayon by pressing harder than the rest of the picture. I would carefully color the picture in to make it just right. As I went through junior high and high school, my love for drawing animals was obvious. My dad had taken me to a hobby shop when I was 11 and bought me a book on how to draw horses. Every notebook and folder that I owned had a horse on it. I loved horses and drew them all the time. Funny thing was, I never dreamt of having a career as an artist.
Later, I thought I would become a veterinarian when I was a preteen. In high school I really wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic. College wasn’t in the cards for me. My family had moved here from England when I was a toddler, a few years later my parents divorced. Both parents worked long hours and we were latchkey kids in a shared custody arrangement. My dad didn’t really know that financial aid was available, so my dreams of attending Columbia College in Chicago were just that… dreams.
Instead, I went to work at a bank just out of high school (circa 1985). That’s when the sketching stopped. I worked my way up through different positions in finance, moving on to corporations, eventually becoming a staff accountant. I was a young 20-ish, newly married and ready to start a family. I was far too busy for drawing. Tragedy struck when I was 23 when my mom passed away. It was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through in my entire life. A couple years later my first child was born. Five years after that my third child was just a few months old and I decided to end my 12-year career in finance to be a stay at home mom and raise my children. That was in 1997.
Birdhouse 2002, bridled horse 2002, horse 2002, cat 1993
You would think at that point I would have started drawing and crafting again. But I didn’t. At least not right away. Instead I poured my creativity into a website, just a few months after I decided to stay home with the kids. A year or so later is when I really began doing crafty things with my kids. Still not much drawing, but we made things and I posted them on my website. I sketched occasionally while sitting at the park with the kids, but mostly horses. I took up tole painting too in the early 2000’s (you can see some of my paintings here). I would sketch out designs to paint, mostly on jars. I even had my own craft store for a little while, before the dismal economy shut me down.
I had been running my website for 9 years when in 2006 I was hired by Kaboose to make crafts for their site. That site was later acquired by Disney, the crafts were moved to Spoonful and the rest is history. In 2007 I sold the website and started blogging in 2008.
Over the years I have worked for numerous websites such as Disney, Parents, General Mills and Family Fun, have crafted for print magazines, had a Chicago Tribune craft column and have designed projects for numerous craft brands and catalogs. I’ve written four books, am currently working on my fifth and have just signed a deal to create my own Crafts by Amanda branded craft kits for kids!
To go from dreaming about being a veterinarian or a photographer to having a career in finance, then switching gears completely to webmaster, blogger and craft designer, I never would have guessed it. But this is where my creative process has taken me. From sketching horses when I was a child to creating projects and consequent tutorials that others can follow and make in their own homes.
When I come up with an idea, I usually sketch it our first. It helps me to visualize the project, bringing it from my head to something visual. I had this idea for some zoo animal clothespin magnets. I decided on a zebra and a hippo.
In order to turn the sketch into a clothespin magnet, I started with the clothespin. I just traced the shape of the clothespin onto paper to act as my skeleton.
Then I sketched the basic shape of the head onto the clothespin and then erased the clothespin marks.
Next I used another piece of paper to trace the outline of the hippo’s head with a black marker to create the pattern to be used in the tutorial. I filled in the basic facial features too.
I followed the same process for the zebra. Adding in his details with pencil then tracing with black marker.
Then I test out the pattern shapes to make sure they will work by cutting them out just like someone would if using my tutorial.
Next I trace that pattern onto the colored paper and cut that out. I make sure it fits onto the clothespin as I’m directing in the instructions of my tutorial. I want to make sure that my readers will be able to recreate the craft as intended!
The end result is my finished patterns, which I turn into a PDF for everyone to easily print.
get the tutorial and free pattern for these Hippo and Zebra Clothespin Magnets here
So I guess my point in this post is that you never know where life will take you. You just don’t. I do know that if you can earn a living doing what you love, you can’t ask for much more than that! If you would like to know a little more about me, click here.
Do you have a creative process that you go through when making a project? Tell me about it. :)
Have fun!
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Agnes Hsu says
Hi Amanda, I love reading your story and process along the way! It’s always inspiring for me to hear other people’s creative stories and how they got there. Thank you so much for sharing! You’ve achieved so much and it’s clear it’s been through a ton of hard work. Kudos! I don’t have a creative process down pat, I tend to always have the final vision in my head first before the steps to get there. Then I work backwards. It can be haphazard at times, I need to be better about organizing my creative process! Thanks again for sharing your work and talent with us all.
Amanda Formaro says
No need to organize it if it works for you Agnes! That’s the beauty of being a creative ;)
Liza says
Thanks for your inspiration. I also drew a lot, did art classes in high school and my first job was in a bank. I went on to do many other things and left art behind. About 7 years ago I had a chance to teach an arts and craft program for kids ages 6-12 at the local community center. That grew to several classes including toddlers and adults and special themed ones for all ages. I have also started cooking classes. I have found many awesome ideas on your page. The kids love it and so do I.
Amanda Formaro says
I’ve always wondered if i would enjoy teaching art or crafting. :) Thank you for sharing your story!
Cindy deRosier says
I loved reading about how you got to where you are! When I was very young, my plan was to write and illustrate children’s books. Around 3rd grade, I decided to be a teacher (who would write and illustrate children’s books in her spare time). By 9th grade, I was convinced I’d study food science and develop new and interesting products. By 11th grade, I was going to be a diplomat. I graduated from college with an International Relations degree, despite realizing during my first trimester that what I really wanted to do was teach. I got a teaching credential, taught elementary school for 11 years, and worked art and/or crafting into our curricula as often as possible (pretty much daily). When I quit to be a SAHM, art became an even bigger part of my life. I took a job teaching after-school art and various Design Team jobs. I love blogging because it combines everything I love – writing, teaching, and creating. :)
jet says
Thank you for telling your story and how you work out your designs.
I was very bad in my own langues so my teacher told me in a very bad way , hum you allways can be a cartonist-S
After alot of studies i found finaly my roots the art academy.
I’m still glad that i can work in my own and in my own time, because of my heatlh problems.
And yes…. LOL i have made cartoons for magazins and some books.LOL
But i loved it.
When i was a child i wanted to be a pupeteer or a gp for dolls.
It’s allways funny to listen to other people story how they came to this job.
So thank you , i loved it, have a nice day!
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you Jet! And thank you for sharing your story too :) I’m glad you were able to find your space and that it worked out for you!
Pam says
I have tried all kinds of arts and crafts. I drew a lot in middle and high school and still have my sketchbook, but it’s not what I enjoyed the most. I loved anything with glue, pom poms, felt, ribbon, and pipe cleaners. My first job was in a craft and garden center. It was so much fun. I taught kids crafts and love creating.
Thanks for sharing your story. I enjoy all of the projects that you share on Facebook.
Pam
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Pam! I LOVE that your first job was actually doing something you loved :) My first job was something I was good at (numbers) but not my passion. ;)
Brenda Garcia says
I love crafting, only that at this moment i don’t have much time to craft. I would like to work on my own like you, but i was thinking it would be something difficult to do but reding at your story is inspiring and encouraging… i hope some day i will do it… thanks for sharing your experience :-)
Amanda Formaro says
Just always remember that you love it and some day it may happen for you! I hope that it does, keep at it! :)
Beth @ Hungry Happenings says
It is amazing where life can take you. I am often inspired by your crafts. Immediately as I looked at your zebra pattern I envisioned an egg shaped chocolate truffle decorated like a horse. I see everything in terms of edible crafts. I wish I had your ability to draw. It would make creating so much easier. You are incredibly talented and are definitely doing what you should be!
Amanda Formaro says
I LOVe that about you Beth, that you can see something edible as soon as you look at it! I hope someday we get the chance to meet :)
Lynne N says
Thanks, Amanda, for sharing your creativity story. I appreciated it.
Amanda Formaro says
Thank Lynne!
Courtney @ Crafts by Courtney says
Wow this is really cool to see your process with making your crafts! I grew up crafting as well. My mom always had projects for me and my sister to do, but I never would have thought I would be making a living doing craft projects. Thanks for sharing this!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Courtney! Other than drawing and coloring myself, and watching my brother draw, I don’t remember much crafting as a child. My brother used to do wood burning and it was always so cool!