Writer’s struggle with writer’s block so why can’t crafter’s struggle with creator’s block? There will be times when you just can’t come up with things to make or the will to do it. Sometimes that creative streak just dries up. So what can you do to become more creative again?
I don’t know about you but usually after the holidays I struggle with not wanting to make anything. Or if there’s a craft I know how to do and am interested in, I lack the will to do it.
It makes sense. Over the holidays you make things non-stop. There’s pies that you feel you have to go all Martha Stewart on, gifts for everyone you’ve ever met to make and of course my favorite, christmas ornaments.
Our sewing machines, Kitchen Aid mixers, Cricuts have gotten a workout but our right brains have as well.
It might seem hopeless but you can get your artistic craftiness back. Don’t worry – it hasn’t gone too far.
How can you become creative again?
1. Take a break from your normal –
We get in ruts. There are days that you tend to do the same things over and over again. Get breakfast for the kids, do housework, make lunch, schedule appointments, take kids to events, and it just goes on and on. When you get stuck doing the same things you either leave out time to create or it becomes another chore to add to your list. Whatever your normal is, take a small break from it. Spend 30 minutes outside just walking and enjoying the scenery, visit a local museum or stroll through a farmer’s market. It might seem like this won’t help to build your creativity but you have to jumpstart your brain. If you look at the same 4 walls and visually see the same thing daily, your brain becomes immune. Act on it: Where’s one place in your town that you love to go but rarely make time for? Maybe you should squeeze in 20-30 minutes today to visit.2. Throw Caution To The Wind –
When we craft we have a perfect end goal in mind. We want the letters on our child’s Easter basket to be straight and cute, the wick in the candle needs to be straight to stay lit and we don’t want to embarrass our grandmother with mismatched seams. What if you make something without trying to be perfect? Now isn’t the time to pull out your expensive vinyl to make a tshirt or hand letter a sign. It’s the time to throw caution to the wind. Grab a plank of wood and discounted box store paint. See how many ways you can distress it or faux finish it. While you’re on your nature walk from suggestion #1, pick up small items to make a collage with. Just create. Go back to basics and try something you haven’t done in awhile. Your goal should not be to keep the item you make forever, it should be something that at the end of the day you can take apart and reuse later or recycle and be OK with that.3. Play With Color –
Color is fun. Since kindergarten we’ve loved to play with color so why did we ever stop? Adult coloring is becoming popular lately and it’s for good reason as it keeps our brain going. It’s an easy way to just sit and the end of the day and express your artistic side. (Grab a free Adult Coloring Printable Here) However if that’s not your speed, take it up a notch and grab some tubes of paint and a canvas and just paint. You can try different techniques for painting. Do a whimsical style painting on a dark background or paint on burlap. Doing a new style or technique will make it exciting and help you want to do it while simply playing with color will open your brain and get it moving again. Playing with color seems so juvenile but remember, they’re the creative ones and we’re the stuck ones.All these things may seem simple or overly basic but it will help. Trying to do complicated things will only make you more frustrated.
You have to get back to basics, look outside the walls you’ve made for yourself and most importantly, let go of your expectations. Creativity isn’t a prison, it’s a gift – let it go crazy.
Thank you! Great article and suggestions