Oh Creative Energy...

For me, creativity ebbs and flows.  Sometimes it seems like it's gone more than it is here...  I get asked a lot by sweet readers how I deal with the "lack" of creativity and what I do to push through.  This question always really stumps me because, so often, I feel like there is no way to get out of that rut.  I think I've learned over the years that this feeling comes, and there is really no way around it.  I try not to stress about it, but ultimately, creating is my outlet, so if I can't create I usually start to feel pretty crazy.  Finding other creative options sometimes works (like knitting or weaving), but usually I find myself with two options when it comes to paper: either wait it out or work through it.  They both have their pros and cons.  Waiting it out can give you fresh perspective and time to "regroup"...it can also take a loooooong time!  Working through it allows me the opportunity to (possibly) find my creativity.....but it can also leave me a little frustrated if everything is just blah.

This page is a "work through it" page.  I wouldn't say it's a work of art, but it is something and something is better than nothing in my book!! 

To do something a little different, I switched my size to 8x8.  I typically use 12x12 so I kind of liked having the smaller canvas.  And there wasn't this large white space staring right back at me, so that helped too.

I also decided to use my Open Book scraps (because I love them AND they coordinate.  Win. Win).  Scraps are great because you don't feel like you are wasting paper or products.  And if the end result is blah and trash-worthy, then you can just toss it and move on (and maybe save the photo for another time).

I also decided to stick with a "gird" type of design just to make the process a little easier.  I used my photo as the guide for my paper sizes on one side of the page and then eyeballed the other half. 

The little extras really made the page for me....and that's about the point I felt like I was actually being "creative"....not just sticking things on a piece of paper.  I stitched everything into place and called this attempt at creativity finished.

And do you know what, I actually kind of like it.  It's a little different from what I've created lately and I think that's a good thing.  Sometimes a rut comes from doing the same thing over and over, you know!  Trying something new (new size, new products, new technique) can often be just the right thing for getting your creativity back.  Here's to hoping this page brews up my mojo!!!  

What are you strategies for working through a loss of creativity??  Please share below in the comments if you have a minute!  I'd love to hear them....and I know others would love to as well!!  

Whew....

For the Love of Creative Energy

One of my favorite things to do when I finish one layout is to utilize my scraps for another (or several other) pages.  Both of these pages were created using what was left on my table after completing this and this layout.  And oftentimes, these "extra" pages are my favorite.  I feel like these pages come after I'm in my groove and the ideas flow freely.  Sometimes it takes cutting up paper or shuffling things around to spark my creative energy (which is why I usually end up creating several pages at a time with a certain kit or collection, rather than just one and moving on.).  There usually is no rhyme or reason, or really any purpose behind the beginnings of these pages (other than just to create).  And I'm totally ok with that!  Find and using my creative energy tends to come in waves and I try to grab on when I feel I'm in a groove!

For this first layout, I began by stacking up a few of the extra papers on my background.  I really didn't want to print a new photo for the page, so I used the photos I had on hand in my photo basket (stopping to print photos sometimes kills all that creative energy).  From my photos, I decided to use this one of my daughter and husband from a birthday party.  

To fill up the lower half of my page, I added this quote, which was printed on my Silhouette (you can download this one here).

The final touches were a few little embellishments scattered around my page.

The page is rather simple, but with the die cut quote, it becomes pretty striking, I think.

This second page is the perfect example of how I like to use my scraps!  Creating a layout using a grid design is so fun and so easy.  The idea for this page started after I cut out the "lovely" card  you see above (these were all on one sheet of 6x6 paper from the Shimelle paper pad). 

After I trimmed out the different cards, I just began laying them on my page trying to balance out the colors and hues on the paper. 

After these were adhered, I started adding in a few handmade embellishments, thickers and other embellishments on the cards.  This gives the page a little more depth and dimension.  I broke the design of the grid up a little and added a photo of my daughter (also which I just grabbed right out of my photo box) on a few horizontal paper layers. 

I felt like the grid looked a little random in the middle of the page, so I decided to quickly add a few stitched lines around the cards/photo.  This helped to ground the page and made the cards pop from the center.  

These pages definitely took more of a "creative outlet" rather than a "storytelling theme" and I'm totally fine with that.  I find that when I get in a groove, creating pages doesn't always mean that I'm telling stories, but more of an expression of myself and my creative energy.  Often I find that I start one page with a story, and then finish off with several other creative pages!  So what about you??  Do you find that once you get started, the ideas start pouring out and you just keep creating?  Sometimes starting is the hardest part, right??

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!!  Hope you have an awesome Friday!

xoxo