Help! I don't feel creative! Where can I find inspiration? I have paper, scissors, glue, stamps, ink and no idea what to do with them -- I feel the need to create, but I'm stuck!
Does this sound like you?
Every card maker, artist, rubber stamper, scrapbooker, and paper crafter I know has experienced this. I like to call it a 'creative slump' or losing my 'creative mojo.' So what can you do to overcome the inevitable?
First, a few things that you may have already thought about:
Print Magazines - There are fabulous Crafting Magazines available that are packed with ideas. But don't stop there. What about other magazines you have lying around? Use the colors or even a pattern in print ads as your inspiration. I've found great color combinations from ads displaying a newly decorated bedroom or living room!
Online Resources - At your fingertips are hundreds of thousands (if not more) ideas for you.
There are millions of blogs and thousands more created every day. Odds are that a good percentage of them showcase other crafter's ideas. Of course there are websites with forums filled with uploaded images from crafter's around the world.Your Own Creations - Go through your own stash of past projects. You most likely have cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects that might pull you out of your creative slump.
A Project CD - If you don't have access to the Internet, but do have a computer, pop in a CD with project images stored on it. Set your laptop up in your craft room or craft area and thumb through images, this way you'll be in the right place when an idea catches your fancy.
A few ideas that might be new:
Doodle - If you're a crafter, then you probably like to doodle too. Pick up your favorite marker, some nice paper, and start drawing. It doesn't matter what you draw, but often the process of doodling will bring other creative ideas into your mind. Who knows, maybe your masterpiece of a doodle will end up being part of your next creation!
Clean Your Craft Room - Seriously? Yes, one thing you may not have thought about is to clean your craft room! I know, it's not the first thing you might think to do, but I've had more ideas while just cleaning and organizing my crafting stash. Turn on your favorite 'cleaning music' and jump right in, you may find goodies hidden on your table that will give you an idea. You might also find that when everything is in its place, your brain isn't as cluttered and ideas will start to flow again.
Whatever you do to get past your 'creative slump,' ideas and inspiration can be found just about anywhere. Keep your eyes open and you'll be surprised what you might find. Additional resources can be found at http://stampmonkeys.typepad.com/product/creativeslump.html.
Jump Start Your Creativity - Six Ways to Inspire Your Crafting