A big part of my process in “Making Things Happen in 2015” has been carving out time to be creative and be inspired by others’ creativity. I don’t consider myself an artist or a designer by any means, but putting materials and objects together to create something beautiful and fun is an activity I very much enjoy. I have found that taking the time to exercise my creative side lifts my spirits, reminds me of the good and simple things in life, and spurs me on to encourage and help others find joy as well.
Here are a few ways I’ve been cultivating creativity this year …
Bible Journaling
Using embellishments, stickers, markers, and washi tape to capture the truth of God’s Word in a meaningful and purposeful way.
Decorating
I recently had the opportunity to move offices at work and decided to go for the one with the window. Even though the space is small, I’ve made it work, using the natural light and some fun, bright colors and accents to have it be a nice sanctuary for me to get my work done and have others come in when they need to take a break or meet. I’ve received a lot of compliments on my decor, and the freshness of a new space has done wonders for my spirits in what can be an often challenging environment.
Hand Lettering
I started dabbling in hand lettering as part of the #letteritmarch challenge on Instagram after a fellow blogger and Influence Network member invited others to participate with her, and I’m so glad I did. I love to write, obviously, but I’m a sucker for markers and paper, as evidenced in home office where I have just about every kind of colored pen, sharpie, marker and type of paper you could imagine – it’s the inner child in me (LOL)! For the 31 days of March, we had a phrase we would hand letter in any way we felt inspired to do so, and then we shared our creations on social media. So fun!
Photography
I had the honor of bringing two of my Pure Michigan photos to my friend / stylist’s salon to be put on display and advertised for sale. I so appreciate the opportunity to share one of my favorite places (Ludington) with others in this way, and am grateful to my friend for inviting me to participate in the decor of her beloved business. It’s so cool to walk in every six weeks and see my work on the wall!
PowerSheets
I’ve mentioned on here previously that I received the 2015 PowerSheets from my hubby for Christmas and what a fabulous tool these have been to encourage me with accomplishing my goals for this year and bringing meaning and purpose to my days! There’s plenty of opportunity to get creative with writing and vision-casting each month, and I have really appreciated this process of being intentional to go after the desires that God has placed in my heart.
Style
This year I’m also learning to be more creative when it comes to my personal style. Because I’m a person who LOVES bright splashes of color, I decided to be brave and add a little hot pink to my hair last week when I was at the salon, and I couldn’t be happier with it! It felt freeing in a way to do this, and it’s amazing how many compliments I’ve received, even from strangers, proof that boldness and creativity inspire others!
Travel
Adventuring to places near and far (and capturing the world’s beauty via camera) always fuels my creativity. Getting away from the normal routine, seeing new places, and experiencing different things enhances my perspective and is just plain good for the soul. Whenever I return from a getaway, I’m always fired up to move forward in a more positive and productive way, and doing creative projects is often one of the results.
How do you cultivate creativity in your days? What creative projects do you enjoy doing?
itsallaboutsonia says
Such a nice post. good for you for doing things that make you happy. I love to walk i try to go every couple of days by the beach because solitude is important it helps to clear you mind and thats when my mind wonders and becomes most creative because I’m happy.