Spoonful of Imagination

Add it to a Family for Something Beautiful

  • Home
  • Our Family
    • Our Home
  • Courses
  • Shop
  • Contact

What to do with the nerves that come with trying something new!

April 11, 2023 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Those pesky nervous butterflies come at us just when we have gotten the courage to try something new. Do you know the ones I am talking about? As if trying something different, new, or stretching isn’t hard enough to overcome the mental hurdle-those butterflies then show up!  I have come to learn that those butterflies that get in our nervous system is our bodies way of warning us. It’s saying, “Hey, we haven’t done this a lot. I’m not sure how it’s going to go, so I can’t warn you in all the feels and triggers yet”. They make you more alert. It can be helpful to be aware of the nervous feelings emerging, but I have also learned a few tricks of how to deal with the nerves that come with trying something new.

In this post, we are going to dive into 5 things I have learned over the years from leading an art studio, stepping into leadership, and having the courage to try something new or grow in something that makes you uncomfortable. These tips might sounds basic, and I hope they do. Don’t think too much and over analyze as the butterflies come. Just prepare and act. You can do this. Let’s dive in…

For me, going on camera is still something that is stretching.

I’m not sure exactly why. I have been doing marketing, teaching, and brand vision casting for years in videos. I’m not super self conscious by how I look, yet I get those pesky butterflies every time it’s ‘go time’. For me, I think it is that there isn’t any audience to really read in the video setting. I love to teach. I love to connect with people. When you are doing a video, it’s just you talking to a camera. There is no audience to read to know if they are tracking with you. There is no head nodding, staring off, or encouraging words immediately after to know if what you did was right and you hit the gauge of the assignment.

As much as I don’t like the nervous feelings going live on video, I know it’s part of my job and I have gotten better at it. I have learned to picture the audience on the other side in my mind. Maybe you can relate to being nervous for videos? Or maybe for you it is simply picking up the phone and calling someone? Having to do an interview or conduct a presentation are all things that can bring the butterflies your way as well.

I recently went live to teach an art workshop online, and was reminded that although I’m not super comfortable with it, the nervousness no longer controls me.

I sleep fine the night before. There is more excitement than stress. I am able to be present in the situation so I can think on the spot, remember it, and be present to feel the wander of it. For me, I see/feel growth and there’s tricks that helped me get there. Let me share these with you on what to do with your nerves, so you too can tell your body that you are ok and prepare mentally and physically to do a stretching thing.

1. Wear clothes that are you.

In our excitement or maybe even in our attempt to prepare, we may buy something new to wear for the occasion. It can be looked at as we are thinking ahead and want to be ready for the part for this new, stretching activity. My advice is wear something you already own. Our bodies hold memories. If you can wear that favorite hoodie, pair of jeans, or flip flops, do it. If the occasion calls for something fancier and you have to buy something new, buy something you know you will wear again. Make sure it is something when your friends see you in it, they think you either already owned it or it just screams that it is you.

If you are able to be comfortable in your clothes, you will feel the most like you. That is the goal. For you to be present in the situation and activity, we want you to be YOU. So, go ahead and give yourself a win from the beginning by wearing something that is you.

2. Eat before the event.

Often we have those nervous feelings, we don’t want to eat. What I have come to find is we still NEED to eat something. Try to eat the meal before your event or at least eat some kind of healthy snack. Be smart about what you eat. Maybe a sugary donut is not the thing to eat, but try eating something like a banana, egg, granola bar or cheese stick. These are a few things that are my go to items to grab.

It’s helpful to have something in your stomach, so you don’t begin to feel sick or have only caffeine in your body and get the shakes. Remember food is fuel and your body needs fuel to keep going, especially at a time when it is working in overdrive with extra feelings and fears at bay.

3. Don’t try something new for the event.

Buying new high heals for the event, is not the time to practice walking and standing in high heels, if that isn’t something you already do. Trying a new hair do or a new makeup technique is not ideal either. Be yourself and do what you know. If you do things you are already comfortable at, even when your body might begin to get locked up you wont have a freeze moment. Your body will kick in and do what it always does.

For example, I love to teach about the creative process. When on video and teaching live, I teach the project or tips I know that helped me create the sample craft. I might experiment a little with the supplies, but only as it applies to the project. Breaking out a circuit, stencil machine for the first time, while teaching on a live video would not be smart. So, in this new lesson, I will show how to cut a heart the good-old fashion way that I know. Do what your body has done lots of times.

4. Arrive Early for it.

Give yourself the gift of time. Wake up a little earlier if need be, but definitely get to the event early. You don’t need any extra stress of walking in at go time and having to quickly switch gears. Allow yourself to get there early, walk around, use the restroom, get accustomed to the space, and be alert to any thing that might have changed in your planning.

5. Be yourself.

This last tip is my favorite. Be yourself. I’m quirky. With my dyslexia, I mess my words up a lot. I think I am using the right word, but it’s totally the wrong usage of it. My family will call it my “Erica-isms” as if I have my own language. It’s just part of me. It use to stress me out and I would want to practice what I was going to say to prevent these mess ups, but now I just roll with it. I might ask out loud, “did i say that right?” or “what is the word I am looking to use here?” I engage the audience. I will even catch it, laugh at myself, and fix it live. I think when we are the most ourselves, we are the most comfortable, and it gives everyone around us permission to be themselves too.

People like to know you are real, and if you aren’t all polished and smooth- that’s ok.

When painting our snow room, I stepped into a bucket of paint. Instead of hiding it in the room reveal video or blog post, I just laughed about it and pointed it out. If you are polished and smooth naturally, that’s amazing too. Just be you! People can read through the fake and know when you aren’t being genuine. At the core, we all just want to connect to what’s real.

Whew, do these tips help you feel a little more empowered to try that new task or to do that stretching activity? I hope they do. We were made to be life long learners and it’s never too late to try something new. Just take note of a few tips to get you through it. You will be so proud of yourself after you do that stretching thing. You can do hard things!

I still don’t love to film, but on this day (the pictures were taken), I took my kids and showed them I could do something I don’t love. Isn’t that a good trait to model always!? It did help to film to be at the beautiful, DreamOn Studios and have their amazing team do all the video components. Yet, in their professional amazing-ness, I psyched myself out a bit by that too.

In all the nerves though, I was more excited than nervous.

I wore my favorite jeans and flip flops. I had a banana and drank water. I arrived 20 minutes early, and I told everyone live that I love cutting cardboard. Is that a quirk? Maybe. I went with it. It was honest and me. If you would like to see the video from this shoot, you can pick up the craft kit + lesson here. I’d love to encourage your imagination in this online workshop! 

There are nerves that come with trying something new, but we can deal with them and teach our body that it’s ok to grow.

It’s ok to change and be stretched. Otherwise, what all could we be missing out on? Allow yourself to be stretched. You will be so proud of the YOU you are becoming.

Which tip sounds like it would be the most helpful to you? Please leave me a comment or find me on social media to let me know. I’d love to encourage you on!

If this post was helpful to you, it would mean so much if you would share it with someone you know or post it somewhere others can find it. Thank you for allowing me to encourage your journey, and I will be back again soon!  

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Family Paint Night Activity

February 23, 2023 By Erica Deuel 2 Comments

Playing as a family is one of the essential ways to build a connection with one another. Do you know what are some of your favorite ways to play together? For our family, having a family paint night is something we all enjoy. As the kids get older, it might not be what they suggest anymore, but if I do the work to set it all up, they still get into it.

Do you feel like your evenings can be a mash up of running kids to their activities, someone working late, homework, filming projects, school board meetings, and it’s rare to be all home on an evening together? That can’t be just me, right!?

It’s been a bit crazy over here. As I saw a night approaching where we would all be home (and knew we had all been carrying a lot), I wanted to create a fun moment for us to connect, play and recharge together. Here I give you our family paint night!


I love a good collaborative project.

When we all start with the same base shape or project, it’s fun to brainstorm and see the similarities and differences each of us comes up with. This is a fun way to see how each other’s mind thinks, portray individual interests into the project, and see the different styles and techniques emerge. The energy given off is usually lighthearted and playful, as the goal is to just have fun.

This egg garland project allows us to each have our own project, but they will be strung up together. It’s always fun to work towards something as a ‘team’.


The set up is part of the fun for me.

It’s been a while, since I have set up a paint workshop. I had so much fun picking out paint colors and pulling everything together. I have learned that although art can be freeing and messy, we still have a lot of power and control in what supplies we break out.

I choose to use just paint and only certain spring colors of paint. Even though my creative heart thought of glue and sequins. I decided to not break those out, and keep it more simple. As a result, it was…

  1. Less intimidating for artists to decide what they want to do.
  2. Less clean up for me.

Reagan did end up pulling out the black paint. Her creative heart needed it 🙂

Having the set up ready to go is helpful when you are inviting and asking for participation. It makes the start easier and you don’t lose any way-ward artists to distraction while you gather it all together.

The goal is to have fun.

We laughed and painted that night. I know the moods in our house were more uplifting, light-hearted and connected after this playful activity. It was a break in the fast pace of life. We slowed down and did something intentional together. It’s important to remember the goal is to have fun. If we put too much pressure on the results then it becomes stressful and we didn’t need anymore of that.

After all the eggs dried, I strung them up and added some fabric and yarn for extra texture fun. I love looking at it hung up now.

  • I see my Caleb and his forever love of basketball.
  • I see my Jeremiah in his blending and mixing of all kinds of colors to make his “perfect” purple shade.
  • I see my Reagan having a vision and searching up how to paint a jellyfish and bunny.
  • I see my husband putting so much care into his focused pieces, as he slows down from a busy day.
  • I see my simple designs, because I had more fun watching and connecting everyone else.

 

 

 

 

Having a physical piece as part of this night’s memory makes the memory and connection that much stronger. If you haven’t played by a having a paint night with your family recently, I highly recommend it!

If you want to do this project, I may have a few of the kits I created left for sale in our store. It’s worth jumping over to check!

In summary, these are a few tips that help guide our family paint nights. I hope they can help you too!

We had so much painting.

Occasionally, we still reference jokes from that night, as we enjoy our new spring decoration together.

Having this activity right after dinner one night, made for a fun evening. After all the eggs were painted, I used the leftover paint to paint the paper that had been a part of our set up. I painted big swirls and smalls dots, as Matt told me about his day and the kids got going with the rest of their night. Having my hands creating, while talking has always been something I enjoy!

Those scrap papers became their own creation, as you can see below and snatch up in the store as well.

Now, what about you? Will you have a family paint night soon?

Remember, the most important part is to have fun. Protect your table, embrace the process, and watch your artists unplug as you connect together. It will be an experience you tuck away in the long term memories.

If you love this little imagination starter, you might enjoy my list of 30 Ways to Play as well. Enjoy!

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Transitioning

November 15, 2014 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

packing_a_moving_truckWe have moved!!

In my last moving post, I shared how things were moving fast, and we were trying to hang on. In some ways it’s hard to believe we actually got moved and are now in Indiana! We couldn’t have done it without the help of so many friends and family. Last Thursday we emptied our house and on Friday we closed on the house and started our travels north.

moving_boxes

moving truck

moving_day

moving_muscles

empty_houseThis house was a part of a very special season in our lives. It is where we began being foster parents and was the house we found when we started pursuing this calling. Everything in me knows we lived in that house for 18 months, so we could get to know and love on one very special boy. It was sad to leave. On top of leaving this house, unlike our last house move, we were moving hundred of miles from most of our family and friends.

You know that feeling when you think you can’t cry anymore, but then you do cry more? I feel like I lived that for a week as we slowly said our good byes.

road_trip

happy_couple

candy

moving_caravanWe got to Indiana and were welcomed at an amazing country home with sweet, sweet friends and with a crew of strong guys to unload our stuff into storage.

We immediately started house shopping. It felt like we just ran a marathon and should crash, but we couldn’t. We didn’t.

storage

winter_woods

country_farm

country_girlAfter a few days, we started getting into a new routine. Matt started his new job at Mission Point Community Church. We came off “fall break” and started school back up. Oh, the beauty of homeschool!

We have already enjoyed a couple light snows, and I think the kids have finally gotten used to wearing shoes and coats.

homeschool

kids_board_game

dream_barn

playing_legos

winter_clothes

playing_in_snowNow, that we have officially been here for a week, I am coming up for air and finding rest. Without having a home, I can just enjoy my kids in a fun way without a huge to-do list. There’s definitely still some transitioning and learning, but I am enjoying it. Ask me again in January, but for now I have loved wearing layers. I love the small town. I feel so welcomed and supported as people I have never met are reaching out to me. I know we are where God wants us, and I have so much peace and strength in that fact.

I’m sure there are hard days ahead, but I’m living with the people who mean the most to me. We are on adventure. We have so much to be thankful for. Perspective does a lot for attitude. We have had some funny moments along the way though and want to share 10 tips for moving your family across the country. Enjoy these truthful moments.tips_for_moving

10.  Have family and friends that can pack a moving truck and accept Chick-fil-a nuggets as payment.

9.    Let the whole “we’re not buying any more pull-ups” thing slide for another month or three.

8.    When you start packing your 2nd moving truck, give up hope and consider burning all of your possessions.

7.     Make sure to schedule your move 700 miles north the week that the Polar Vortex is going to hit.

6.     When hubby is driving Uhaul towing one of your vehicles, make sure to follow him, so you can let him know every time he drifts into another lane. He loves that.

5.     Eat at every Chick-fil-a that you pass; it may be your last for a while.

4.     Convince yourself as the skies turn from bright blue to a hazy grey that it must just be an overcast day.

3.     Enlist the church to unpack your truck into storage while you are out house shopping. This will save your back when you need to move again in a month.

2.     Find friends that will graciously let you live in their basement while you are homeless…and keep giving your dogs drowsy pills so they give a good first impression.

1.     Figure out before you move that Old Navy does not ship winter coats to PO Boxes.

 

craft_suppliesWith more down time than I am used to, the reality that all my craft supplies were packed in storage hit hard. No worries, this small town has a Wal-mart and I was able to get some supplies and have picked my crafting back up. I can’t wait to show you what I have been working on. Hopefully, my next post will be back with the usual tutorial crafting.

Thank you so much for caring, journeying with us, helping to dream big and use our imaginations in every area of our life. This life is an adventure. Love you friends!

signature

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Reindeer Hands

December 12, 2013 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

reindeer_craftTis the season of crafting for one and all. Lots of us LOVE it, but I know for some it can be intimidating and scary. Especially kid crafts. They can be a lot of fun, but let’s just be honest…they can sometimes end up in a mess. It’s always a successful kid craft when it doesn’t end in tears or a destroyed house.

I love capturing my kids imagination and crafts so I brace myself, try to put some of my OCD tendencies on pause, and let them create. Here are a few tips to help you get through this season of glitter, paint, and glue.

1. Pick the a day and time, when you are not rushed and the kids are in good spirits.

2. Be ok with the crafts taking a few days to complete! For this craft, I got the hand prints and footprints one day and cut them out, added the embellishments, and glued it all together the next. Typically, one craft time per day is enough.

3. Have LOTS of baby wipes on hand, if you are doing a paint project. I don’t trust my kids to go through the house to wash their hands at the sink without touching anything. And while I’m painting hands, I just need to keep going down the line as fast as I can, so I don’t stop to take one to the bathroom (and leave my open paint and brush out loose on the table). I paint a hand, press it down, and immediately start wiping it with baby wipes to get it clean. Once I have most of the paint off, I send that child on his/her merry little way to the bathroom to finish the washing. I think on this craft we finished off two already opened packages of baby wipes. No joke. They are a cheap cost to my sanity and my walls.

4. Bite your tongue. I often want to say, “sit still” “don’t touch that” “you missed a spot”, but I try to refrain. I want crafting together to be a memory they look back on and love, plus I want to give them a love and confidence to create and try new things. My goal with crafting is to be quiet. The excitement and fun for them is enough joy that I can sit and participate and not say much and they will have a blast. The encouragement and praise can happen later or if you trust yourself-say that stuff at the time, but nothing else. You can protect your walls and furniture while protecting their little hearts at the same time by moving fast and pretending you can’t talk. 🙂

5. My last goal with crafting is to try to bring out their creativity in as many ways as possible. Kids hear “no” a lot. No more sugar. No climbing on the couch. No more iPad time. No screaming in the library. Etc. etc. etc. Crafting and creating should be a time of saying “yes!” Although this reindeer craft is pretty standard, I let them choose every part of it.

  • which color paper they wanted (I had brown card stock, creme, dark red, red, lime green, dark green, and white paper to choose from.)
  • What color of paint they wanted for their hands (reindeer antlers)
  • What color of pant they wanted for their foot (reindeer face)
  • What size googly eyes they wanted
  • I handled the hot glue gun while adding the embellished eyes and nose, but they point to where they wanted them, so they choose spacing and placement.
  • I let them sign their names and be proud of their artwork right on the front
  • They could draw a mouth if they wanted (Caleb came up with that idea on his own)

My boys cut their hand prints and footprint out themselves. J’s is not cut as closely as I would have done and Caleb’s is cut more than I would have, but I let them do it. It might have grated on my OCD nerves a bit, but it gave them more ownership of their work and I love that it is THEIR work and not mine.

painting_footprint_with_kids

painting_with_kidsI love how this little craft turned out, and I love that I have a piece of their creativity and a way that captured their favorite colors and skill level. Matt always tells me we have energy and time to do the things we really want to do, so crafting with my kids is something that I just have to make time for in my schedule. Otherwise, I’ll push it off and miss these moments. It’s worth making memories like this and getting over the mess.

reindeer_handprint_craftI hung our reindeer herd up with my Joy Coaster Banner and you can see my little DIY Rope Balls tucked away in the can on the side. Christmas decor is so fun! I hope you are able to craft with some little ones this season, and that you have tons of FUN while doing it!

DIY Christmas Craft

signature

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Next Page »
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
YouTube-Channel
Erica Deuel

Subscribe for Weekly Updates!




Most Popular Posts

DIY Floral Wallpaper
Art from Tree Bark
Heartfelt Valentine's Finds
DIY {easy} Burlap Wreath
Cheap lamp to Industrial Beauty
How to Embrace Winter's Warmth
Recycled Old Dresser Makeover

Categories

  • All About the Kids
  • art journal
  • Blogging
  • Christmas
  • Craft Projects
  • Dancing Zebras
  • DIY
  • Eddy's postcards
  • Embroidery Journal
  • Family
  • Featured
  • Fireside Chat
  • Foster Care
  • Giveaways
  • Guest Posts
  • Home
  • Homeschooling
  • Kid Activities
  • Kid Craft
  • My Heart
  • Our Outings
  • Project Spotlight
  • Send Out Love
  • Shop
  • Sponsored Posts
  • Spoonful Lab
  • Spoonful Tribe
  • Tips + Tricks
  • Traveling
  • Uncategorized
  • Vlog

Favorite Categories

Subscribe for Weekly Updates!

Favorite Categories

© 2025 Spoonful of Imagination, Inc.