Stop wondering if they're learning.

Start seeing the proof.

  • Bold letters in all caps with various colors saying art makes me smart. On top of this in smaller black text on the screen it says an art first approach to learning tm. At the bottom of the art makes me smart in black swirly font and all caps it says membership.
  • Two boys sitting at a dark wood table. The boy on the left has a red shirt and the boy on the right has a striped green shirt. On the table is a watercolor of a organ, a reference page with labels of that same organ, another page with another organ system paper, a watercolor palette, another watercolor painting, paper towels, paintbrushes, scissors, and a box of colored pencils
  • A picture two designs of pastel mosaic creatures. One design is a mosaic fish with orange, light blue, dark blue, and purple colors. The other is a mosaic insect with orange green and blue colors. Next to these two prints is a watercolor palette and a stack of papers.

As an intentional parent, you understand the importance of a well-rounded education and believe the arts are vital in nurturing young minds and hearts. With the Art Makes Me Smart Membership, you'll open the door to a journey that sparks imagination, cultivates talent, and fosters a love for learning!

  • On a dark wood table is a boy drawing on a brown paper rectangle. On the rectangle is designs of Egyptian symbols of white birds, light green zig zags, and red swirls all inside of of a drawing of a blue oval shaped stand. Next to this is another brown paper rectangle. Drawn on this are symbols of a blue snake, two round green sticks, and two red fox looking animals. These are also surrounded by a drawn oval shaped stand that is yellow. Next to these is white school glue, a paint palette, a mini egyptian flag, scissors, a jar of water, and an Egypt packet.
  • Girl sitting in front of green tall grass with a book that has a page with graphic outlines of various insects and another page with graphic outlines of butterflies. The girl is wearing a blue dress

At Lily & Thistle, we believe art isn’t just about drawing or painting—it’s about sparking curiosity, building connections, and making learning meaningful. The Art Makes Me Smart Membership is your all-in-one creative hub, with projects that blend art, music, nature, geography, math, science, and more. It’s hands-on learning that feels like play—for kids of all ages (and grown-ups, too). Are you ready to make creativity part of your family’s rhythm?

  • A boy is crafting three paper Koi fish. One Koi fish is light pink, the other is blue with a yellow tail, and the third koi fish is orange with a green tail. The pink koi fish has red, blue, purple, yellow, and pink pastel outlines. The blue koi fish has blue, white, and pink outlines. And the orange koi fish has black, green, white, and orange outlines. Each are whole punched near the top with either light blue or dark blue string strung through. This is all done on a dark wood table with a pastel palette, scissors, yarn, hole puncher, and mini flag next to it.
  • A girl in a red shirt is writing in an anatomy of a butterfly watercolor image. The butterfly is black, yellow, blue, and red. The anatomy image is sitting at a dark wood table and next to the image on a clipboard is an image of a watercolor vase of flowers and a butterfly on it. Next to these are also a pastel palette, a pencil, scissors, a cup of colored pencils, a watercolor palette, a book with pictures of butterflies and information about butterflies and an Art makes me smart butterfly booklet.

YES, but so many things get in the way!

SUPPLIES

“Do I need fancy paints? What paper should I buy? Is this brush good enough?”
You’re just STUCK, unsure where to start or what actually matters.

Time

The days are busy and long, and you feel EXHAUSTED. You want to include art and culture into their lives, but there never seems to be enough time.

research

Trying to find age-appropriate projects plus planning a lesson feels OVERWHELMING! There are too many options, you just don’t know where to start.

  • On a dark wood table, a girl is painting a white dotted outline of a hand on black paper with three white dotted circles inside. Hand is surrounded by dotted outline of dots in various colors starting with an outline of yellow and progressing through light orange, dark orange, pink, dark pink, purple, and blue- filling the whole page around the hand along with smaller white dots on top of the colors making up letter-like shapes around the hand. Next to her is a paint pallete with various colors and a water glass and a mini Australian flag and a stack of papers.
  • Kid drawing watercolored fish. The fish is pink and purple watercolor and the background is green and blue watercolor. Sitting at wood table with a watercolor palette and jar of water next to him.

That's exactly why we created the Art Makes Me Smart Membership!

Just like you, I spent years trying to find learning experiences that actually worked for all of my kids—each with their own styles, strengths, and challenges.

After lots of trial and error, I discovered something simple but powerful: when we started with art, my kids started to love learning.

Art lit the spark. It captured their attention, made lessons stick, and turned school time into connection time. (And honestly? It worked on me, too!) 😉

That’s why I created this art-first approach—to help you bring creativity and meaningful learning together in one simple, open-and-go resource. No more overwhelm. Just more joy, connection, and curiosity.

That's what Art Makes Me Smart is ALL about!

READY TO GET STARTED? CLICK TO ENROLL NOW!
  • Bold letters in all caps with various colors saying art makes me smart. On top of this in smaller black text on the screen it says an art first approach to learning tm. At the bottom of the art makes me smart in black swirly font and all caps it says membership.

What's Included in Art Makes Me Smart?

  • A hand painting a watercolor of a round vase with blue flower and leaves on it. In the vase are red tulips with thick green leaves. This is on a marble surface with a watercolor paint tray and a smudged paper towel.

Art Classes

Our art classes are at the heart of the membership—approachable, beautiful, and fun for all ages. You’ll find step-by-step lessons in watercolor basics, color theory, landscapes, florals, drawing, and colored pencil techniques. These projects are designed to give kids the confidence to create, but they’re also a wonderful opportunity for moms to grow new skills too. Whether it’s trying watercolor for the first time, practicing drawing basics, or finally making space to explore your own creativity again, our art classes are always waiting for you inside the membership.




  • A wooden table with a art makes me smart paper booklet that has a self portrait of vincent van gogh on the cover. Next to this booklet is a printed out image of a vincent van gogh painting of sunflowers in a glass vase on a wooden table. In front of both of these is a hand drawn replica of the sunflower painting on a small canvas with pastel chalk. Also on the table are various colors of pastel chalk

Artist Studies

Our Artist Studies invite your family to step into the world of master artists—exploring their lives, unique styles, and creative legacies. You’ll start with Van Gogh, Carl Larsson, Beatrix Potter, and Leonardo da Vinci, with new studies on Mary Cassatt, Monet, Matisse, Louis Wain, and William and May Morris, and more coming soon. Each study introduces a Master Copy project, so your kids can try out the techniques and styles of these iconic artists for themselves. It’s a beautiful way to connect with art history—and grow as creators along the way.

  • On a dark wood table a girl is drawing on a design that has a blue paper background with a drawn on woman in an old french aristocratic dress wearing earrings. She is shown from her shoulders up taking over most of the paper. She also has lots of paper scrolls glued on for her wig. Next to her is a design that has an orange paper background with a drawn man in old french aristocratic clothing shown from his chest up also taking over most of the paper with glued on white paper scrolls for his wig. Next to the designs on the table are strips of white paper, scissors, a glue stick, a mini French flag, and a pastel crayon pallet.

Country Studies

Our Around the World offering takes your family on a creative journey through 26 countries: Egypt, Madagascar, South Africa, China, India, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Polynesia, and Australia. Each country includes two hands-on art projects (52 projects in total), plus stories, music, recipes, and cultural learning to help your kids connect deeply with the people and traditions of each place. It’s a rich, art-filled adventure—no passport required.

  • Girl in blue dress with a blue bow in her hair holding two girl paper cut outs in front of her face. One girl has blond short hair and light skin and has a light green dress with a cut skirt and blue wings and red shoes. The other paper doll has dark brown curly hair and light brown skin and is wearing a light pink regency dress with white gloves.

Imaginative Play

Our Paper Play section brings storytelling and creativity to life with printable paper dolls, dress-up outfits, and imaginative play sets. You’ll find classic nursery rhyme packets, fairy tale-inspired cutouts, and a full Paper Doll Camp designed to spark hours of open-ended play. Whether your kids are acting out nursery rhymes or creating their own characters, these printables make it easy to blend art, storytelling, and hands-on fun—all with scissors, glue, and a little imagination.

  • Girl coloring warped checkered squares at wood table. She is using a t ruler and has a grey moldable erasure, sharpie marker, and pencil palette next to her

Math Studies

The Math and Art Connection helps kids see math in a whole new way—through hands-on, visual projects that make concepts click. Designed with middle-grade learners in mind, these lessons cover topics like symmetry, patterns, geometry, and the Fibonacci sequence, all explored through creative art projects. Younger artists can follow along too, with simplified activities that keep them engaged and confident. It’s a beautiful way to make math feel approachable, memorable, and actually fun!

  • A paper spiral bound booklet that is titled with rainbow art makes me smart letters that are bold and in all caps. On the cover is a portrait of frederic chopin. This is on a brown wooden table that has a guitar, scissors, books, a container with chalk pastels, a jar of water with a paintbrush in it, a paper that has the outline of a graphic jar, and a watercolor palette.

Music Studies

The Music Connection invites your family to dive into music with classes on music history, how music shapes emotion, and even how to write a song. Composer Studies packets feature Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, John Williams, Disney’s Sherman Brothers, and more—paired with listening guides and art prompts that bring their music to life. It’s a hands-on, approachable way to learn, create, and experience the power of music together.

  • A woman and a girl outside looking at a nature journal book with drawings of a bird and a cat in it. The woman is wearing a white shirt and the girl is wearing a red shirt with embellishments on it.

Nature Studies

Our Nature Studies section helps your family slow down and connect with the world right outside your door. Inside, you’ll find a backyard bird calendar, Birding 101 lessons, creative nature activities and crafts, and a complete guide to nature journaling. These resources make it easy to notice, record, and celebrate the beauty of the seasons—while building a lifelong sense of wonder for the natural world.

  • Boy using a water dropper to put water on watercolor of the anatomy of an organ. He is doing this on a dark wood table. Next to the organ watercolor is a Anatomy of the Digestive system paper, a little cup of water, a paintbrush, a pencil, a watercolor palette, a sharpie pen, a dirty paper towel, a jar of paint water, and another anatomy of the organ reference page.

Science Studies

Our Science Studies bring learning to life through hands-on creativity, starting with Anatomy Adventures—a full curriculum that explores 11 of the body’s systems. Kids will dive into the Skeletal, Circulatory, Muscular, Digestive, Nervous, Respiratory, Integumentary, Reproductive, Urinary, Endocrine, and Immune Systems through art projects, STEM activities, booklists, recipes, and more. It’s a rich and engaging way to understand how the body works—one creative lesson at a time.

  • A girl sitting at a dark brown wood table drawing on a paper that has a watercolor thistle branch on it and she is writing on labels next to it. Also on the table is a booklet titled with rainbow bold art makes me smart text in all caps with the same watercolor thistle. Also on the table is a clipboard with a painting of thistles and butterflies, a jar of water, a watercolor palette, paint tubes, and tin cups filled with colored pencils and colored markers

Unit Studies

Our Unit Studies take everyday subjects and turn them into meaningful, creative learning. Each study begins with a watercolor project and expands with booklists, picture studies, poetry, STEM activities, recipes, and more. With over 80 topics to explore—from animals and plants to holidays, history, and science—you can go as deep or as light as you like. It’s a flexible way to spark curiosity and build connections across subjects, all through the lens of art.

Ready to EXPLORE? enroll now!

Here's what others are saying....

I wanted to personally thank you for how well you break everything down, my 12 and 10-year-olds were engaged and it made sense to them as well as me! Thank you so much!

CHANDA L.

Lily and Thistle has provided an easy stress-free way for the whole family to enjoy making art with beautiful results. You have given all of us the courage to try a new experience and also the confidence to continue creating. Thank you so much!

caryne D.

Lily and Thistle has been nothing short of a blessing for us. My daughter is ASD, EDS, and is visually impaired following an accident. Her self-esteem and confidence with any art was non-existent. My daughter has very complex needs and was suffering with anxiety and depression as a result of being at school, constantly told 'you can't'. Although I had purchased the subscription for my younger home-educated daughter, my older daughter, despite her difficulties, was intrigued to 'try'...Slowly she joined in, at first reluctant, self-critical; and slowly her confidence grew. She said she felt having the classes available at home created a 'safe space' to learn, practice and produce art which she can feel proud of. The 'you cant' turned into 'I can' and, as a result, has now enrolled in an art course at a SEN provisional college and starts this coming September. None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for trying with Lily and Thistle; I am truly grateful.

TRACY H.
  • Dark wood table that has art makes me smart beatrix potter unit study cover with a photograph of beatrix potter on it. Next to this is an outline of a Beatrix Potter painting of two mice hiding behind a sugar cup on a shelf. One mouse is wearing a white dress with a white hat, the other has a small hat on it. Parts of it are colored in with pencil. Next to this is the same painting but with color. This one is the original. Also on the table is a tea cup with a orange drink in it, a cup with colored pencils, a book that has beatrix potter illustrations on the top, a glass vase with flowers in it, two tea pots with flower designs on them and another beatrix potter original illustration that has a mouse on a white and pink fabric with flowers on the fabric.

Your Life BEFORE Enrolling in Art Makes Me Smart:

  • You feel constant pressure to make learning meaningful—but also manageable. It’s hard to balance depth with simplicity, and sometimes it feels like you’re falling short on both.
  • You’re tired of piecing together lessons from random Pinterest boards, YouTube videos, and outdated curriculum. You just want everything in one place, ready to go.
  • You’ve lost count of how many times your kids said, “This is boring.” You want them to light up with curiosity—not zone out.
  • You’re stretched thin, emotionally and mentally. Some days, it’s all you can do to keep the household running, let alone plan a meaningful, multi-subject unit study.
  • You want your kids to remember what they’re learning—not just get through it. You’ve tried the check-the-box style of learning... and you know it doesn’t stick.
  • You’ve spent good money on resources that didn’t fit your family. Whether it was too rigid, too messy, or just too much work to figure out, it ended up sitting on the shelf.
  • You worry your creative child isn’t being fully engaged—or that your not-so-into-art child might be missing out. You're looking for something that invites everyone in, regardless of their strengths or preferences.
  • You long to enjoy homeschooling again. You didn’t choose this path to feel constantly behind, frazzled, or uninspired.
  • A child is painting an elephant on a red background. The elephant is a light grey color with traditional Thai decorations on the elephant's trunk, tusks, head, neck, and body. The decorations are pink, green, blue, yellow, purple, orange, colors. In the red background are little red suns. Next to this painting is a paint palette, a glue stick, various markers, a jar of water, and scissors.

Your Life AFTER Enrolling in Art Makes Me Smart:

  • You feel confident and supported, with open-and-go lessons that are already beautifully organized for you. No more late-night lesson planning or Pinterest rabbit holes. Everything you need is ready to use—simple, clear, and stress-free.
  • You have one home base for creative, meaningful learning across subjects—art, music, science, history, math, and more. Instead of juggling a dozen programs, you’ve got one simple place for hands-on projects that connect learning in real, memorable ways.
  • Your kids are actually excited about what they’re learning (and you’re kind of shocked at how much they’re remembering)! When kids create, they retain. Art sparks curiosity, and suddenly learning sticks—without anyone feeling forced.
  • You can adapt everything to fit your day—whether you have 15 minutes or a full afternoon. With flexible lessons, you can squeeze in creativity when it works best for your family.
  • You’ve got creative projects that are doable, low-mess, and deeply engaging—for everyone at the table. Simple supplies, no-fuss setup, and projects that keep everyone (yes, even you!) excited to join in.
  • You no longer dread "fitting in" enrichment. It’s naturally woven into your rhythm—and it feels life-giving.
  • Your family is connecting more—through shared creativity, conversation, and discovery.
  • You’ve reclaimed the joy of homeschooling. Not because it’s perfect—but because now, it’s deeply meaningful.

Begin Your Journey with the Art Makes Me Smart Membership Today!

MONTHLY

$40 $35

Renews every month
Limited Time Offer to Save an extra $5 per month!
Flexible access that works for your family, cancel anytime.
Enroll in monthly membership

QUARTERLY

$114 $99

Renews every 3 months
Limited Time Offer to lock in this quarterly offer and save!
Save $2 per month and renew every quarter ($33 / month)
Enroll in quarterly membership

YEARLY

$400 $350

Renews annually
Limited Time Offer to save an extra $50 on the yearly plan!
Purchase annually and save the cost of 2 months with this deal!
enroll
yearly membership

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP

$897 $697

One-time payment

Limited Time Offer to save $200 today!

Get access to everything added to the Membership for life

ENROLL IN LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s your one-stop library of joyful, art-first learning for the whole family.  Inside, you’ll find all our most-loved programs—like Around the World, Math + Art, Watercolor School, and Nature’s Art Club—plus brand-new content like The Music Connection and Composer Studies, Unit Studies on over 80 subjects, Artist Studies, Paper Play Nursery Rhymes, and more being added regularly. Everything is easily searchable, self-paced, open-and-go, and designed to support a real-life homeschool rhythm (even on your busiest days).

This Membership was designed with whole families in mind, especially those juggling different ages, learning styles, and personalities. Most projects are perfect for ages 6+, but younger kids can join in with a little help (and older kids love them too!). Whether your child is a hands-on learner, a deep thinker, a creative spirit, or someone who needs a little extra support, these low-pressure, open-ended lessons are made to meet them where they are—and help them thrive.

Think of this as your flexible unit study playground.  You’ll explore art, culture, science, music, nature, history, and even math through creativity. While it’s not a full “boxed” curriculum for each subject, it’s designed to integrate beautifully into what you’re already doing and bring learning to life in a way that’s fun, meaningful, and memorable.

Here's a peek at what's inside with more to come!

  • 60+ unit studies with learning packets (history, poetry, STEM, recipes, book lists)
  • 150+ watercolor projects with step-by-step video tutorials
  • Nature studies with over 50 outdoor-inspired projects + journaling resources
  • Math + Art Connection projects that make numbers visual and fun
  • Around the World studies for 26 countries with 50+ art projects, food, music, dance, and stories
  • The Music Connection with composer studies and hands-on activities
  • Artist Studies with monthly master-copy projects
  • Paper Play + Paper Dolls for storytelling and pretend play
  • Anatomy Adventures exploring 11 systems of the human body through creative discovery
  • Road Trip Around America takes you on an adventure through all 50 states and Washington D.C.

And YES— with a team of certified curriculum writers and artists, you can be sure that new content is being added regularly! You’ll be the first to know when new adventures arrive (like United States Study that just released in 2026!) Want to see inside our latest curriculum study added. Check out the Anatomy Adventures preview here!

Flexible Options for Your Homeschooling Family
We want the Art Makes Me Smart Membership to fit seamlessly into your homeschool life. That’s why we offer flexible subscription options, one simple price per family!

Choose the plan that works best for you:

  • Monthly Membership – $35 per month (regular $40/month)
  • Quarterly Membership – $99 every 3 months (regular $114/quarter)
  • Yearly Membership – $350/year (regular $400/year)
  • Lifetime Membership – $697 one-time payment (regular $897)

No matter which option you choose, your entire family gets full access to the Membership as long as you are a member!

A Commitment-Free Experience
All Memberships renew automatically, except for the Lifetime Access Membership, which is a one-time payment. All automatic renewal Memberships can be cancelled at anytime!

Still unsure if it’s the right fit? We offer a 14-day refund policy so you can try it out on your own with no questions asked.

Of course! We have special access packages just for you! Choose a 6-month or 12-month plan and decide whether you’d like access for all participating families or just for you as the facilitator.

  • Small Group Co-Op (3-5 families)
  • Medium Group Co-Op (6-10 families)
  • Large Group Co-Op (11-15 families)
  • Facilitator Access Only (Any group size)

To learn more and get your custom pricing, reach out to our team at support@lilyandthistle.com. We’re here to help!

Many of the essential art supplies you'll need may already be available in your home, such as crayons, markers, and watercolor paints. Additionally, we'll introduce your family to new and exciting materials like gouache paint and oil pastels.

We provide a detailed budget-friendly supply lists with convenient links to all the required materials. So, whether you're utilizing familiar tools or trying out new techniques, you'll be well-prepared for a fulfilling artistic experience with the Art Makes Me Smart Membership.

We’ve got you covered. If the Membership isn’t what you hoped for, just email us within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. No guilt. No hassle. We want this to be a true yes for your family. Email us at support@lilyandthistle.com.

If you’re on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan, you’ll keep full access to the Membership until the end of your billing period—even if you cancel.

If you choose the Lifetime plan, you'll be able to access the all current and future content inside the Membership at no additional cost.

You’ll still have lifetime access to any courses you’ve already purchased—that won’t change!

The Art Makes Me Smart Membership includes everything we’ve ever created, plus so much more—like our newest addition of Anatomy Adventures, The Music Connection and Composer Studies, Unit Studies on over 80 subjects, Artist Studies, Paper Play, Nursery Rhymes, and new content added regularly (like the United States Study coming 2026!)

It’s all organized in one easy-to-navigate, searchable space—designed to support your whole family with creative, open-and-go learning across every subject. So even if you already own a course or two, the Membership gives you access to a whole world of resources you’ve never seen before.

We would love to help you convert to the Art Makes Me Smart Membership and get you switched over.  Just send us an email at support@lilyandthistle.com and we will get you taken care of! 

Yes! You’ll be part of our private online community inside the Mighty Networks app, where you can ask questions, share your family’s work, and get encouragement from our team and fellow members. Whether you’re feeling unsure or celebrating a big win, you’ll have a whole community cheering you on.

We would be happy to answer any other questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out to us at support@lilyandthistle.com.

Subscribe Today and Get Access Now!

enroll now to become a member!

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