Make a Difference!
Did you know that March is National Craft Month? Neither did I. What does National Craft Month have to do with cake you ask? Well, this year, quite a bit. Because I am lucky enough to work for Chef Nicholas, I am also lucky to work with Craftsy and deliver you not only Chef Nicholas’ wonderful cake decorating classes, but also classes in food and cooking, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, photography, jewelry making, painting…. the list goes on and on. Each of these fields help you to hone different crafts in your life, and each instructor is an artist.
Craftsy is celebrating National Craft Month in the most generous of ways. Giving back. Sure, Craftsy could run some glitzy sale and entice you with deals, but sometimes helping others is more important. For the next two weeks (now through March 13, 2016), every time a student purchases a Craftsy class, they will be entered to win $1000 for the craft-focused charity of choice! Think of how much $1000 could help a charity and change a life!
I’ll give you an example:Icing Smiles. Icing Smiles is a non-profit organization that provides custom cakes and other goodies to families that have a child (or children) battling critical illnesses. High medical costs can make a special cake a luxury that some families cannot afford, and Icing Smiles provides not only cakes to these families, but also some joy and happiness in a trying time. Over 10,000 cakes have been delivered to sick children or one of their sibling (entire families cope with illness, not just the patient!!). Icing Smiles can provide a custom cake for only $35. That means a $1000 donation would ensure over 28 children and their families could have a delicious and beautiful cake. Making happy memories is so important during such a difficult time in these children’s lives. Oh, and with 78 requests for cakes per day, 28 cakes could cover a third of all requests for a single day! (Photo at the top is Elijah with his Sugar Angel, Cheri Ross Sarner. Photo: Icing Smiles)
Icing Smiles Mission Statement:
Icing Smiles is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child. We understand that the simple things, like a birthday cake, are luxuries to a family battling illness. Our goal is to create a custom cake for the ill child, or their sibling, that provides a temporary escape from worry and creates a positive memory during a difficult time.
Memories have magical powers. Long after the cake is gone, the memories linger – memories of the kindness of a stranger, of the art of the design, of the sweet smells of a special treat, of the smiles and laughs, of a normal childhood experience so often stolen from these children. These memories are why we say, “It is so much more than a cake.”
We are Baking a Difference®.
Hunter with his Sugar Angel, Mark Lie. Photo: Icing Smiles
I spoke with the people at Icing Smiles earlier this week and they were so excited to be featured here on our blog! I just have to share that there are over 8,000 volunteers (with about 40 new volunteers each week), and they all love being involved with Icing Smiles. That brings me to one last point before I get back to Craftsy. I know every one of you reading this is a caker. Maybe you are a stay at home mom who creates fantastic cakes for your kid’s birthday parties and for holiday dinners. Maybe you went to culinary school and you’re a classically trained pastry chef and cake artists. Doesn’t matter, you can become a volunteer bakes for Icing Smiles! You can be in the United States or you can live abroad. You can become a part of a greater cause too!
Ben with his Sugar Angel, Kate Sullivan. Photo: Icing Smiles
If you would like to consider becoming a volunteer you can click here if you are inside the US or click here if you live outside the US. To learn more about what being a volunteer is like, you can read more on the Icing Smiles website here. I hope everyone considers donating to Icing Smiles (time or cake) whether or not you win the $1000 donation from Craftsy!
Coming full circle, let’s get back to Craftsy. A few weeks ago, on the blog and on Facebook, we asked why you love Craftsy classes. I thought this would be a great time to share some of your responses. I learned at the Craftsy Instructor Summit that out of all crafters in the US, about 30% know about Craftsy but have never taken a class. In the name of charity (and Icing Smiles and kids battling serious illnesses), I am hoping that some of these comments from seasoned Craftsy students will inspire some of you out there that have been hesitant to take a Craftsy class.
“I love the interaction with the instructors. I think I fell on the floor in disbelief when I asked my first question and I got a helpful response in return soon after, from the actual instructor! You don’t just film a class, you teach and hold our hands along the way. I feel like I’m learning in person, not just watching a show.” -Whitney Mathis
“The prices are great. The classes are very informative and if we need help it’s just a question away. Whenever I need to go back to something it’s right there. Unlike a normal class where once the class is over its over.” -Alexis Moore
“I am a slow learner and do not do well in the classroom situation as too much is thrown at you in a short time. With the Craftsy classes I can learn at my own speed and re-watch as many times as I need. The best part is the quality of instructors is outstanding.” – Kathy Moore
“I love the versatility of classes on Craftsy! While I have never used it, I like the money back guarantee. I like that I can go back as many times as I want to a class and watch what I want when I want to watch it.” -Kathleen Kousins
“My dear Chef, you are truly my favorite instructor! My first class was Joshua John Russell’s free buttercream class. I was instantly addicted to the style and format of the class. I started purchasing other classes right away. Your class followed until I had purchased every one you had on there. Your style is impeccable and your compassion supersedes! To date I have purchased about 75 classes. I watch closely on Facebook for your posts that announces one of your newest classes going live so that I can purchase right away.
I use your gumpaste daily. It was this style that I have learned from you that helped me land my dream job of teaching a cake class at our local college in which I named “Designer and Sculpted Cake Class” where I use a sugar flower on almost every cake that I teach or demo. My most loved feature with the Craftsy classes is the lifetime viewing and taking notes. If I have a special cake order and need help, you are always there to show a certain technique or flair that I can use to complete my special orders.
Someday, when time allows, I will be taking your 3 classes consecutively for the Master certification in Atlanta!
You are an inspiration to all of us Cakers and I can’t thank you enough.” -Mona Timonere
These are just a FEW of the response that we received! To encourage everyone to try a new Craftsy class (or classes) I am going to make you all a deal. Until March 13, 2016 you can email me (stephanie@nicholaslodge.com), or comment here on the blog, and tell me what Craftsy class(es) you want to try. If it is a Chef Nicholas class I will send you a 50% off link. If it is a class by another instructor (and it doesn’t have to be cake decorating class, all categories are a go!), I will send you a discounted link (not a set discount, but it will still be a sweet deal!). You can click here for a link for all of Chef Nicholas’ classes for 50% off.
I think since Craftsy is being so generous to donate $1000 dollars to a craft-focused charity, I should be generous too! If you have a friend who has been on the fence about trying Craftsy, send him/her my way! If there is a Craftsy class you have been thinking about trying, you just let me know!
Let’s all help each other. I’ll help you score some Craftsy classes. You could win $1000 for a charity by trying a new Craftsy class. And I think EVERYONE should consider donating to Icing Smiles! Yay!
So, which class do you want?! Any class at all…
Sweetly yours,
Stephanie
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Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog
