A few weeks ago I saw a friend, who is also an artist from “Dryden Brothers Art,” post an awesome link onto facebook about a comic book called “From the Dust” by an amazing and talented artist, Michael Mercer.  He has a website currently up right now with KickStart.  As a small business owner myself, I love to support other people that are trying to get their dreams out the door and this one is worthly of your support!  When I first got onto the “From the Dust” website, I was captivated by the artwork.  Truly amazing!  I started to read more about Michael Mercer and “From the Dust” and his awesome talent.  I wanted to jump on board and help spread the word.  My boys love to read comic books, but many times the comics are too violent and so they are unable to read them.  “From the Dust” is a series based on the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  Whether you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, your kids and family will LOVE this series.  I just read the first book in the series for FREE online.  It is free for anyone to read until the end of this year.  Not only are the images breathtaking, but the history found in the Bible are explained and laid out for all to understand.  “If there is anything… praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”  This is my motto when looking for media for myself as well as my children.  With so much filth in the world, it is refreshing and a blessing to find those around the world that use their God-given talents to bless others.  This series is one of those.  When I showed my kids the below video, my 10 year old said, “I want that for Christmas!”  Well, we ordered him the first book and are waiting for it’s arrival this week!  I can’t wait to see it in print and to see how excited my son, who LOVES to read books, reacts when he opens it on Christmas morning.  I highly recommend you take a few minutes and check out the website, read and make a pledge so that “From the Dust” can get the rest of the series finished!  This is definitely what I want on my kid’s bookshelf!!  How about you?

At the end of the book, Michael has added some drawing tips and samples!  I am soooooo excited since I have tried to start to pick up drawing like I use to do has a child.  I am no way even close to how talented the artist from “From the Dust” is, but it is fun and I love to create something from nothing.  My second oldest son loves to draw and so this will be a great resource for him.  

Check out that “A” on this assignment!

As I was looking through the papers my mom saved for me when I was a child, I came across a Christmas story I wrote when I was in middle school as well as a picture of “Jolly Bells” elf that I drew for my story.  (original drawing from over 20 years ago to the right)  I scanned it into the computer.  Colorized it in photoshop, fixed just a couple drawing errors but left it pretty much as is to maintain the integrity of a child’s drawing.  Your freebie today is not only the awesome book “From the Dust” to read online, but the below “Christmas Elf Tags” that I designed of “Jolly Bells.”  I hope you enjoy it!  The freebie includes 4 tags that you can print and attach to your homemade goodies you might be delivering to your family, friends and neighbors.  To get the custom tag you see in the center with the family name on it, just follow these 3 steps.  It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1.  Subscribe to our website just enter your email address here on the Right where it says SUBSCRIBE.

2.  Comment on this post or any of our other posts from the month of December.

3.  Go to our “PINTEREST” page (link on the left side) and RE-PIN anything you see of interest to you.

That’s it!  We’ll email you your custom tag within 48 hours.  Make sure to email us at melia@brightlystreet.com with your last name and which tag number from below you want.  (One tag per family.)  **Don’t forget to “Like” our Facebook Page.**  We will be giving away an extra freebie sometime this month on facebook so make sure we are on your Newsfeed.  Click on the image below to download today’s freebie.  Grab it before it expires!!