Day Twelve of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Twelve of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!
Check out Day Eleven: Encouragement here!
Check out Day Ten: Strength here!
Check out Day Nine: Positivity here!
Check out Day Eight: Balance here!
Check out Day Seven: Appreciation here!
Check out Day Six: Patience here!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 

On the Twelfth Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: ENJOYMENT!

 

 

This is our last day together in our 12 Days of Creativity!!! Thank you so much for joining me through this journey to embracing your creativity!!

TIP 12 - ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT! The point of this whole journey was to embrace your creativity in a way that you want to continue creating and don't burn yourself out or get frustrated.

Don't be afraid to be tacky - remember there's a market for everything. Just pick up a project for the pure enjoyment of it! Sometimes when I am in between projects I will pick up my needlework. I love cross-stitching. I mean LOVE. I think they turn out beautifully and I am totally entranced by the process. I am by no means knocking cross-stitching. As I have previously stated, I LOVE it. I love all types of embroidery - cross-stitching, creweling, anything. With that said, cross-stitched items aren't easy to decorate with most of the times. Yes, a beautiful cross-stitched decorative pillow can really set off a couch, but in general you aren't going to hang your cross-stitching on the wall like a tapestry. A lot of times I will do cross-stitched Christmas stockings so that I can get in my fix.

You would be surprised though at all the folks that will find something to do with cross-stitched items. Cross-stiching isn't tacky but that was just an example of doing something just because you enjoy it. Don't just chose a project because you think it's cool, or rather, don't turn down a project because you think it borders on tacky. I have a friend that will buy some weird crafted things online.

You always see that house in the home decor magazine with a sea shell framed mirror. It may not be your style, you may look at it and gasp, but they have made it work in their space, and someone crafted and sold it to them.

Sometimes you need to do a craft just because you enjoy it. Don't worry about pleasing people. But you will be surprised at the amount of buyers for some of the projects you didn't think anyone else would enjoy.


TASK 12 - Think of a project that you've been really wanting to do but haven't been able to think of what to do with it when you're done. Go ahead and do that one now. Get those seashells you've been collecting and make that seashell mirror. Go to the holiday expo shows with all those amazingly tacky crafts and get ideas. A lot of those are so tacky they're cute. Plus, hell, look how many folks are there buying! The holidays (Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc.) are the perfect time to create some awesomely tacky crafts and not only get away with it but enjoy it!!


ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!!


Share your one day projects with me!
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Twelve.

Thank you again for joining me through this journey!!!

Day Eleven of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Eleven of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!
Check out Day Ten: Strength here!
Check out Day Nine: Positivity here!
Check out Day Eight: Balance here!
Check out Day Seven: Appreciation here!
Check out Day Six: Patience here!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 


On the Eleventh Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: ENCOURAGEMENT.

TIP 11 - Start small. You don't have to start with the Sistine Chapel. Start small with your projects. Start by painting a little picture frame, creating a wreath for your front door, making a holiday craft.

Check out Pinterest for some smaller ideas that you are inspired by. Finishing a fun little craft keeps your enthusiasm going for the next project!

A lot of people have these grand ideas for their first craft project - I admire your artistic inspiration and hutzpah, but don't start something that you will be overwhelmed by and lose your steam halfway through. Once you build your skillset and your love for the craft you can choose larger projects that you will work on over time.

We all have those half finished projects laying around that we work on little by little. That's fine as long as you haven't burnt yourself on crafting before you even began!

The important part is being motivated to keep going!



TASK 11 - Pick a project that you can get done in an afternoon or one weekend day. Think about a small project you've been meaning to get done and start on it. Make a little holiday craft that you can display and immediately be proud of.

As I said, you don't have to create a Louvre-worthy piece of art to feel artsy and accomplished. Just the pride that comes with getting something done and displaying it is worth it.


Share your one day projects with me!
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Eleven.
AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Twelve: ENJOYMENT! 

Day Ten of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Ten of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!
Check out Day Nine: Positivity here!
Check out Day Eight: Balance here!
Check out Day Seven: Appreciation here!
Check out Day Six: Patience here!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 


On the Tenth Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: STRENGTH.

Picture nabbed from Flickr | Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library



TIP 10 - Play to your skills. I think it's important to try out all types of art and crafts to build your repertoire and skillset. But once you really find your niche of what you enjoy, what you are good at, what may come more naturally than others, hone in on that skill. That isn't to say once you find something never try anything else. It's amazing what random skills come in handy during another project, but play to your skills. Doing something that you not only like but are good at will continue to encourage you to keep going and keep trying new things.



TASK 10 - Identify three things that you really enjoy. Three things that you already enjoy or know you are good at. This is a great challenge to start NOT downplaying ......... You have to start believing in yourself. You have to start thinking bout things that you have done and think about what skills came from that. Think about CREATIVE TIP 9 - don't downplay your skills. If you recently did a Pinterest Christmas item think about what you had to do to do that. Were you particularly good at one part of that? keep it up!


Share your projects and accomplishments with me! Show off your work!
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Ten.
AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Eleven: ENCOURAGEMENT! 

Day Nine of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Nine of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!
Check out Day Eight: Balance here!
Check out Day Seven: Appreciation here!
Check out Day Six: Patience here!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 


On the Ninth Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: POSITIVITY.

Thumbs up, man!

TIP 9 - Don't downplay your skills or accomplishments. I hear people all the time after they complete a project say "oh, it's nothing." Be proud of what you've done! Even if it's "just" a wreath for your front door, "just" a flower arrangement for your kitchen table, or "just" a painted wooden letter for your child's bedroom door, you did it, and it's probably well done!

Just today my co-worker found out that I am crafty and sell things on Etsy. She said, "I wish I was artsy and did things like that." I reminded her that she's talked about the things she does and the presents she makes from things she sees on Pinterest. She said, "well I only copy things I see". And I told her that is a skill in and of itself and to not downplay that.

Even being willing to see something and be inspired enough to do something is great! The more you do it the more you will want to do it. The more you do it the more you will build your skill set and your own artistic voice.

Be proud of the work you do and don't downplay your skills!!!



TASK 9 - Create something and post it somewhere! Post it on your Facebook or Instagram page. Do a little fishing for compliments. Be proud of your accomplishment and relish in the moment!! ;)

Feed off the positivity you get from your friends and family to want to keep creating!



Share your projects and accomplishments with me! Show off your work!
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Nine.
AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Ten: STRENGTH! 

Day Eight of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Eight of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!


Check out Day Seven: Appreciation here!
Check out Day Six: Patience here!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 


On the Eighth Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: BALANCE.

Photo nabbed from Flick | HomeSpot HQ

TIP 8 - Take breaks when needed, and stay up all night when needed. There are times that you are working on something and nothing is turning out right. Everything is messing up, frustrating you, testing your last nerve. You are ready to rip it up and throw the project out. STEP AWAY FROM THE PROJECT! Take a moment away to regroup. It is no benefit to anyone or your project if you are forcing anything. If you are tired and over it, nothing good will get accomplished and you will start questioning yourself.

On the other hand, if you are in the groove and still working even as the clock ticks away, keep going! Some nights I'm done early, some nights I stay up extraordinarily late because I'm in the mood, and my juices are flowing. If you have an important meeting the next morning, I suggest you prioritize your responsibilities. But if you can get away with it, stay up and go as long as your mind and creativity will allow you.

If you try to stick to a schedule you will hinder your creativity a lot of times. Turn on the t.v., crank the tunes, take a Saturday and get to creating! Most importantly, though, listen to your body as you are working and keep going when you need, and stop when you need! It's important to listen to yourself so you want to continue creating and you don't burn yourself out.



TASK 8 - This task is a little less concrete than some of the others, but I want you to do an exercise in listening to your body! As I said before, the purpose of really listening to yourself is being able to enjoy the craft you are working on not burn yourself out.

The next project that you are working on, be it a holiday Pinterest gift, a picture frame, re-decorating your living room, anything artsy, I want you to really listen to your body. Make note, on paper and mentally, about when you were doing something that you just had to step away from, and when you were really in the groove and kept going.

When you are trying to re-create that awesome wall collage of mirrors and you just couldn't get it to look right and you are starting to get frustrated and down on yourself, take a break and make note of that moment. You will enjoy coming back to it once you are mentally refreshed.

On the other hand, when you are working on that holiday Pinterest exchange gift and it's going well and you are chugging through it, make note of how that feels and the excitement you have to keep going and creating. I bet you will feel empowered to do another craft and excited for the next one!



Share your moments of frustration and excitement and how you felt through them!
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Eight.
AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Nine: POSITIVITY!

Day Seven of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Seven of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!
Check out Day Six: Patience here!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 


On the Seventh Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: APPRECIATION.

Nabbed from Flickr | Loving Earth

TIP 7 - Don't be too hard on yourself. I have already been harping on this idea. Do not become your own worst enemy when it comes to creating and being artsy. Allow yourself mistakes and redos. Appreciate your own talents and understand that mistakes come with that!

My grandma taught me how to make dream catchers and how to weave baskets, and she always said the Native Americans said any mistake in your weaving is a place for the evil spirits to be released from your life. Whenever I mess up I just joke with her that I am releasing a lot of evil! Take that mindset when creating! Any "mistake" or unintentional move can be used to your advantage if you let it.

I understand it is easy to work on something for hours and then take a step back and say, "this looks terrible". Step away for a moment then and come back later. But do not start beating yourself up because you will create a mental block.

Also, do not base your success or accomplishments on others. As I said before, you are not the Picasso of art. You are not the Martha Stewart of home crafts. Don't try to be.

Be the YOU of YOUR WORK. Sounds cheese-tastic, I know. But do it. Allow yourself to become the expert of your own style and relish in your style. For all you know, there are people out there trying to replicate you!



TASK 7 - Find a project or idea that you like and make a gift for a friend this holiday season! This will force you to be creative and to appreciate your work enough to give it away to someone to let them enjoy it! This may be difficult because you will question yourself the whole way through and think, "maybe they won't like this", or "they'll think this is terrible", or any of the other negative thoughts you have about your work. POWER THROUGH THAT! :) Create something, appreciate it, and let someone else give you kudos and appreciate it.



Show me the gift you made! Let me give you kudos! :)
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Seven.
AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Eight: BALACE!

Day Six of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day Six of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!
Check out Day Five: Community here!
Check out Day Four: Inspiration here!
Check out Day Three: Imitation here!
Check out Day Two: Work Space here!
Check out Day One: Confidence here! 


On the Sixth Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: PATIENCE.

Nabbed from Fernando | Flickr - "Lulu Learns Patience"

TIP 6 - Give it time. Patience, patience patience, people!! Patience really is a virtue. One in which I don't typically possess. And I often have to step away from a project that I am losing patience with. But when I come back calmed down and ready, I am back at it with a totally new perspective.

99% of people (my stat, not "scientifically" proven ;) ) will not pick up a paint brush for the first time and paint a masterpiece. And if they do, it will take them some time to correct, and re-correct. Most art and crafts take time to hone the skill set. Even if you are a natural at something, your later work will often reflect all the time and effort you've put into it learning and improving.

Don't give up after your first attempt. Don't let yourself get defeated that quickly. Just go into it with the purpose of enjoying it and trying something out, and not to be perfect and amazing.

We learn best from our mistakes anyways. Some of the greatest things have stemmed from huge mistakes! Relish in your mistakes and work with them! Just don't give up because of a mistake.



TASK 6 - Take a 30-day art challenge. Go online and search for these challenges. Find one that speaks to you more than another - or like I'm going to do, pick pieces and parts from different ones and Frankenstein your own 30-day challenge that really excites you!

This challenge will force you to have some patience with improving your skills. Day 1 you may feel like you have no idea what you're doing - push through that!! By Day 30 you will feel much more comfortable with your skills and will have honed in on them a bit more.

Stay tuned to my blog - after my 12 Days of Creativity in the New Year I plan on doing a 30 Day Art Challenge and I'll be posting all my work plus my commentary :)



Start your 30 Day Art Challenge and show me your progress! Send me your stories of when patience was very important (or when you lost patience) while crafting!
Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day Six.
AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Seven: APPRECIATION!