Getting Started Guide
and
Class Troubleshooting

GETTING STARTED GUIDE ​1 - Open your class email and take a read through everything first Your Monthly Classes are simply emailed to you so you do not need to go on to the website for anything. Simply keep the class email so you can access at any time. Can't find your class email? There's a chance it may be in your Junk or Deleted folder! Please take a look here on your email provider website (don't use a phone or mail app in case this hasn't transferred over). I would recommend creating a folder in your email inbox titled Kit and Clowder or Colouring Classes and moving the emails to this folder. This will prevent them from being mistakenly deleted and means you will have an easy to view list of your classes in one place. Don't know how to do this? Try googling "create an email folder on (insert your email provider name here)". If you don't like keeping emails, you can simply download the videos and booklets (more information below). ​ Reading through everything first will just allow you to get in the mindset of your classes and to see where everything is located before going to the next step. I usually find when we rush, this is when things feel confusing or overwhelming and this can be a great way to ground ourselves when we feel nervous :)

2 - Download or Purchase your class image Most classes come with free images for you to download. Some of our older classes may involve purchasing the image directly from the artist as noted on the class purchase page. Please scroll down through the email to find the CLASS STAMP area for all of the links and information on how to download the image. If the image is included free, the link will take you to Dropbox. Dropbox is a storage facility that I use to host the images. You do not need a dropbox account: please simply click the download button at the top of the page to download the files directly to your computer. If you are on a phone or tablet, the download button may look like a down arrow.

3 - Download or open the class booklet The next step is to download your class booklet. Scroll down to the CLASS MATERIALS portion of your email. Click the STEP BY STEP BOOKLET button to open the booklet. You can simply view online, download to your device (view the troubleshooting instructions below), or print out. At a minimum, I would suggest printing out the colour blends page so you have this with you. The colours are listed in order for each blend so it will help you if we are working from light to dark or dark to light.​

​4 - Navigate to the PAGE SETUP page in your class booklet for image instructions Open the booklet to the PAGE SETUP page. This will have the size of the class image that I've used in the video. I recommend starting with this size - I've chosen it especially to make the techniques the easiest to learn on for all levels. Sometimes people will print larger thinking it will be easier but this can make a technique a lot harder, longer to recreate, and means you have to scale up what you see on the video. I would only recommend cchanging the image size if you have a bit of experience with colouring or if it is for a health reason (eg. trouble seeing or with hand control). If you'd like more advice, please do get in touch! Most of the times I have the overall rectangle that the image fits in sit at 5x7". This is standard international photo frame size so it allows you to frame your colouring, or still be able to use it for a larger papercraft project such as a card. I highly recommend to print your image the day you receive your class, or soon after, so all of your setup prep is done. This makes it easier to jump in whenever you get a spare 10 minutes during the month. Don't know how to resize images? Check out the VIDEO tutorial on our FAQs page!

5 - Get your class colours ready The best tip I can give you for getting started is to get your colours ready early (the day you are sent the class if possible!). Grab them all out and put them in something portable like a cup. This way all of your prep is done, and you won't need to set up or pack up any time you wish to jump in to your classes when you have a spare 10 minutes (this makes it a lot easier to jump in with limited time). Setting up can be our biggest procrastinator so make it easy for yourself! :) ​ The start of the booklet will have all of the colours listed for you over multiple brands. Don't have all of the colours? Please use blends that you do have (eg. If I have used a green blend for a dress and you only have two of those markers, please just swap for a green blend that you do have - or really any hue that you are comfortable with!. This will not affect your learning experience - the techniques will stay the same and all that will change is the hue or tone of the colour at the end). We have people do entire classes in just ONE colour blend. It's truly all you need to get started on your learning journey! For some colour blend ideas, please view the Colour Blend Chart tab above.

6 - You are now ready to colour! All you need to do now is just get started :) Click the video button to open your class videos. I highly recommend to watch and colour at the same time. I know some people like to familiarise themselves by watching first but you are then doubling up on your class time and you likely won't remember the steps when it comes to colouring. Trust the process and remove any expectations - it's time to press play and just have a go :) Remember to press pause and rewind as much as you need - this is very common! With your videos, you can either watch online or download to watch offline. Please only download if you really need to though to help with saving on bandwidth. The classes won't be going anywhere :) For details on how to do this on different devices, please scroll down to the Troubleshooting sections below. ​ Please note that the video password is located ABOVE the video button. Feeling nervous and find yourself putting off this step? Please read the important tips below or get in touch at alyce@kitandclowder.com :) We are in this together!

This is a really important tip, especially if you feel nervous to make a mistake or you are hoping to do a perfect practice Set your expectations and goals before starting a class ​ Your class video is broken into chapters, making it easy to watch in small sections. Set a small goal, like coloring just the skin, a part of an outfit, or one petal of a flower. You don’t need to color for hours—just 10 minutes a week can help you learn and grow while also giving you some time to relax and de-stress. You are doing this as something special for you, to practice mindfulness, to step back from stress. If you find you put off starting, please really do think about why as there is often a reason more than just being busy (really, 10 mintues is a great amount of time to receive the wonderful benefits of this hobby!). So let's chat together anytime to help you feel comfortable :) ​ ​ Remember, this is about experimenting, not perfection. Each piece you create is a practice. I like to encourage everyone to write "PRACTICE" on your page before starting - that way anytime we make a mistake, we see this word and remind ourselves that class time is practice time... it's not about creating a perfect project. ​​ Don't pressure yourself to match the class sample. I have years of practice, and my work has come from many mistakes and learning moments. Your goal is not for your colouring to look identical to mine when you do a class - it's for you to learn atleast one new thing or start to refine or improve upon one skill you already have. Focus on your progress, not perfection and you will go far :). ​ If you need any help with technology, confidence with getting started, have questions, or want additional tips specific to your colouring then feel free to reach out to me (Alyce) anytime. I'm here to support you every step of the way!

Unsure about what paper is best? Pencils breaking and want a new sharpener? Or want to expand your marker or pencil collection? I have a very comprehensive Colouring FAQs page where I've answered all of your questions! :) Please check it out here or via the Colouring FAQs tab above!

Struggling with a technique in the class or not getting the results you'd expect? Remember, all of our Colouring Classes include free, one-on-one private tutoring! Whether you need tips on your colouring, help with technology, a boost in confidence, or just someone to chat with, I'm here for you. When learning something new, self-critiquing can be tough because we may not yet fully understand the concepts. That’s why getting feedback is one of the best ways to improve both your skills and confidence. If you’re ever struggling, feeling dissatisfied with your progress, or just curious about where you could improve, don’t hesitate to use this valuable resource. You can access free private tutoring through email at alyce@kitandclowder.com or via private messenger to Alyce Keegan (https://www.facebook.com/alyce.keegan ). It's just me behind the scenes here, so every response is personal and focused on helping you - no one else will see your work. I've made every mistake possible aswell so feedback is never about judgement but just about passing on my experience to help :) Thank you for supporting my small business and choosing to take a colouring class with me. I hope you find joy in every step of your creative journey!

How to view the videos from your class email To watch the class videos, click the VIDEOS button in your class email. You will be prompted for a password that you can find directly above it. Please make sure this is typed exactly as shown as it is case sensitive and if copying and pasting please ensure you haven't accidentally pasted any spaces. ​ You can view the class videos on any device: computer/laptop, phone, tablet, tv (through hdmi cable, smart tv, google chrome casting, etc.). If you need help with any of these please get in touch! ​ How to download videos on a computer/laptop 1 - Click the VIDEOS button in the CLASS MATERIALS section of your class email and input the password that is located above the video button. This will open the video channel in Vimeo. Vimeo is a viewing program like Youtube but for longer uploads. You do not need a Vimeo account to view the videos. ​ 2 - Click play to watch! The video is broken down into chapters with the timestamps located at the start of the video. ​ 3 - If you wish to download, click the Download button below the video player. There will be several options - these are the sizes and different quality levels. The higher the quality, the better the video will look but it will take longer to download and take up more computer space. Smaller devices don't need bigger files because it will be scaled down. For a phone or tablet, the smaller size is more than fine! I would only recommend the largest size for a tv. ​ Please remember it is not ok to share your class links/passwords. IP addresses are logged to prevent sharing and I will be notified if your access is coming from multiple locations. Please support the companies you love by recommending to others instead of sharing so I can continue to make these4 classes for you:) An important note on downloading: Please only download the video if you really need to. The video will not be deleted and it is best to just save your class email and stream the video from there which will also save your computer space and internet bandwidth. I understand if people need to for travelling or remote internet access, but please if it's not necessary, please reconsider :) It's important to note that our classes offer lifetime access through streaming (our classes never expire once you purchase them), eliminating the need for immediate offline downloads, unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, excessive downloads consume substantial bandwidth data, and this has recently become a pressing concern for our account. Despite having fewer class members, the associated costs have increased significantly, to the point where I am faced with a choice of increasing our account costs from $1000 to paying $10,000, which is not financially feasible for me at this time, or significantly reducing bandwidth. Any questions? Please message me directly so I can assist. Thank you for helping me to keep Kit and Clowder here during this difficult time - I am trying my best to sustain our classes and really rely on your support, word of mouth, and enjoyment of the classes for them to continue.

Downloading videos to an Ipad / Tablet / Phone for offline viewing There are several options when downloading to these devices. ​ - Stream the video through the class link as above - Download via your pc and upload to your device - Download the Vimeo app and follow instructions below: Vimeo has the ability to create offline viewing on your devices through the Vimeo App. This is done by adding videos to the Watch Later portion of the app. You can do this by clicking the clock icon on the class video page. For more information and troubleshooting on how to do this, please visit the Vimeo website here.

​​​​Trouble with playback? Stopping and starting: If you experience the video stopping and starting regularly, this is called Buffering, where the video is only loading at the speed your internet connection will allow. As everyone has different internet speeds and bandwidth allowances, this is unfortunately out of our control. However, a good tip is to press Play and then once it starts press Pause and leave it sit for about 10 minutes. This will give the video a chance to load while in Pause mode so that when you press Play it should not be loading as you watch.

How to view and download class booklet 1 - Click the STEP BY STEP BOOKLET button in your class email to be taken to Google Drive where you can view or download the booklet file. Google Drive is just a hosting platform - you do not need a Google Drive account to view or download. ​ 2 - ​​​​​Once you have opened the link, you should be able to view the class booklet. If you wish to also download it, you can click the Down Arrow at the top of the page to download the booklet directly to your computer. ​ If on an ipad or phone please click the icons above the image that appear as they may be different to a PC. You may need to try an alternative browser like Google Chrome if you get an error message. ​ Printing For printing, I recommend not to print from the website. As it is a very large booklet, errors may occur with the formatting. Instead, download the file to your computer following the instructions above, and then reopen in Adobe PDF Viewer (or similar) and print from there.

Don't know how to resize images? Check out the VIDEO tutorial on our FAQs page under the Resizing Images section!