Sites of the week

Happy Friday, Friends!

It’s been a pretty fun and creative week over here! I got a lot of projects done ahead of time {gasp!} and I tried some new things {to me} in the kitchen. I don’t usually stamp/create too far ahead of time, as I feel that it kind of drains my mojo. It’s almost as the need to create something in time brings out the creative side of me…most of the time. Although, forget about it if it’s late at night. I have the absolute worst lighting in my stamp room at night and I have a lot of trouble gettin’ going after the sun goes down. Good thing I’m not a vampire stamper, I guess! LOL! That’s just the kind of thing that will put me into a creative slump! More about that after the pics…

One of the things that I got done ahead of time {last week, actually!} was this card for this Your Next Stamp FUN FRIDAY post…

This card uses the image and sentiment from Ellie Loves Sunflowers. I love this set for all sorts of occasions: birthdays, friendship, thinking of you, congratulations, etc. Detail shots…

Back to that mention of a “creative slump.” Is there anything that you can pick out/recoginize that gets you into a creative slump? What do you do when you hit one?

Working in my space at night with poor lighting will drain my creative juices, as it seems I have to work twice as hard to make something look right. Oh, and if there’s coloring involved, I’m really in trouble.

Sometimes, I just don’t feel connected to a project or I might just not want to create at that moment. So, what’s a girl to do? How do you work through a creative slump? Here’s a few tips I have to pull your mojo back into the green…

1. Step away from the project. Sitting there staring at it is not the answer. Take a minute to have a cuppa and think about something else. Or take a day {or two!} to separate yourself from it. I find that some of the best ideas that I have for a project come when I don’t have it right in front of me.

2. Look for inspiration. Browse through a magazine or Pinterest for creative ideas. You may just come across a color combination or design element you can make your own. Even though I swear I don’t scrapbook, I have a subscription to 2 scrapbooking magazines. I find myself looking at things a little differently and it helps get the creative juices flowing.

3. Look back through your sketch book. Some nights I bring out my sketch book and it seems that I can’t think of anything to jot down on the pages. When that happens, I start at the beginning of that book or go back to an older book and see what inspired me before. I can usually take something from the past and twist it into something new for the present. Use new trends and colors to update your ideas.

4. Use something familiar. If you are using a product or image that you haven’t worked with before and a divine design isn’t coming along as planned, add a product or design element that you are familiar with to bring you back into your comfort zone. I have a go-to sketch/layout that I will fall back on if I can’t make a card work for me. I have used it a number of times, but I also have brainstormed a bunch of different ways to make it “unique” each time. It brings me back to my comfort zone and then stretches me a little by having/wanting to make it original.

5. Just the opposite of #4…stretch your creativity and try something new. I am a self proclaimed “not a technique person.” However, sometimes trying something new will bring out more creative ideas. Don’t set yourself up for failure, though. Be sure you are creating with techniques at you feel are within your skill set. If you try something that requires lots of new knowledge {or product}, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed and sink deeper into that slump.

6. Last, but not least…ask for input from someone. It doesn’t have to be one of your creative pals, either. My 5 year old {Ellie!} has come up with great ideas that I didn’t even begin to think of. Often a fresh eye can help us take our projects to the next level. Even if you don’t like their input/ideas, it might help you brainstorm some of your own.

–Karen is having a fun give away on the YNS blog. Be sure to check it out HERE.–

Have a great weekend!