Looking for a little creative inspiration? Need a little jolt of creativity?
It can happen to the most creative people on the planet! I’ve found that creativity feeds on creativity.
Here are a few quick ideas to jump start your creative side in minutes…
- Get outside! Cold, hot, rainy…whatever. Get outside and enjoy a little nature or the busy city full of energy. It won’t take long once you start soaking in the creativity that’s all around you everyday. From the smallest leaf on a tree to an old brick wall…there’s inspiration…you just have to go out and find it!
- Pinterest can help if you use it right. Use keywords in the search box to find inspiration without getting lost in a little of this a that. I love to use Pinterest for color inspiration. This morning I found myself searching through beautiful yarn and crochet pins. The colors alone were enough to inspire me to plan a few more projects that will stretch my creativity.
- Coffee Break Time. If you’ve been working on a project for quite awhile, you need a break. Visit your local coffee shop or bookstore for a little time away from your work. Enjoy a book or just sip your coffee {or tea…I’m an equal opportunity caffeine lover.} and people watch for a bit. You’re sure to feel a little lighter when you get back to work on your project. Sometimes just a change of location can make all the difference…you can even take your work with you.
- Try a something totally different! I recently started taking pottery classes, and it has made my head start spinning with creative ideas. I’ve always wanted to try pottery, but there was never enough time, or the class times weren’t just right for me…the list of excuses goes on and on. It just happened that our new office is right next to a very talented potter that offers lessons. My husband still had to give me that extra nudge to stop and go take classes. I’m so glad he did…I’m loving it and learning something new has helped in my other creative projects.
- Art festivals rock! Don’t miss any art festival that’s in driving distance…just sayin’! They are creative caffeine like you’ve never seen. Just being around all that creativity has to rub off on you. It’s the perfect way to get outside, catch up with friends, and have a little fun at the same time.
- Flip through a stack of crafty magazines! I save my favorites for a little dose of inspiration. Sometimes you only need 15 minutes of an inspiration break to feel recharged and ready to finish up an old project…or get started on something awesome.
- Photography…capture pretty things with your camera. They don’t have to be perfect, just snap a photo of everyday things that are beautiful and inspiring. My phone works great for this! There’s something about capturing something in just the right light or angle that can be so inspiring.
Try one of these ideas the next time you need a boost of inspiration.
What about you? What do you do when you need a little inspiration? I’m always open to new ideas and I’m sure you have more than a few you could share!
~Kim
I keep a running list in a sketchbook ideas I have. Sometimes they come to be, but usually, the more I look at them, the more ideas I get. It’s like a snowball effect of creativity.
Hi Meredith! That soooo works…I have a little notebook or two! You can forget those creative ideas if you don’t have something to help you keep track of them. 🙂
~Kim
I have been on a LONG, dry spell for the since the last of August. I felt like I was in labor trying to come up with ideas for autumn and I’m really not pleased with my results. Maybe I am over thinking and wearing myself down. Honest to goodness, I was really NEEDING to do something last Saturday and almost went into a panic when I couldn’t think of anything. So what did I do? I took my giant metal 1950’s medicine cabinet out of the wall, cleaned it and gave it a fresh coat of white spray paint. How depressing.
I just love this post I had to share it on my blog. Pinterest is my “Go to” for inspiration. Instagram is my second. 🙂
Jennifer – Thanks so much for sharing it! 🙂
~Kim
Great post!! Thank you for the advices!
Great tips, Kim—and I use all of them! In addition, I go to craft stores and stores like Target and go up and down all the aisles. You never know what might spark an idea. But one of my best methods is talking to other crafty/artsy people. Whether in a group, on the phone, or over coffee, such a conversation never fails to excite that creative part of my brain.
I have a question about starting an Etsy shop, and I couldn’t find anything about it on your site. I’m concerned about other, lazy people copying (stealing) my creations. Have you addressed this subject? Or is the best advice to just suck it up because it will happen anyway? I don’t think watermarks would help.
Thanks for any help or advice you can give.