I had this crazy idea, while this is a blog where I write to you, I wanted a little feedback...if you feel like giving it. I'm going to write about some of the things that inspire me to be creative, and I'd really like to hear back from you about what are some of the things that inspire YOU to be creative. You can respond to me here, in the "comments" section, or if you don't want your comments to be seen out there by everyone, you can respond to my email snipsoftime@yahoo.com and I'll just paraphrase you and you can remain nameless! I love to hear about people's creativity and where it comes from.
First off, let me explain to you that outside of a few scrapbooking classes here and there and maybe a card making class or two, I've had no art education. I've never taken a graphic design class, a color theory class, or anything like that...I don't think I even took an art class past elementary school. I cannot draw a stick figure, decorate my house or even really match my clothes (those that know me know that I wear khaki or jeans...everything matches then!!) My point in explaining that, is just the fact that there is no formal training in my creativity.
To become "inspired" I read magazines about what I enjoy doing...card making and scrapbooking. I think I have a subscription to ALL of them LOL!! I've learned a lot from all of them. I also watch a lot of webisodes and (thanks to my dad who video tapes them for me) PBS shows on my paper passions. Whenever I feel "out of ideas" I go to my favorite websites and browse the galleries and see what everyone else is doing. Sometimes it's a color combination or the way they used a picture, a stamp, or even a piece of paper that gets me going. I've been known to clean up my work table to get me "going" or even just rearranging or reorganizing my stash (that's my crafting stuff to those who aren't die hard crafters) to get jump started again.
Sometimes I see a picture of one of my kids and I think...."this is PERFECT for a layout" and that's all it takes. Sometimes I have a product I'm dying to use or a technique I want to try.
I will be honest, I don't get scrapper's block or card maker's cramp (okay I made the last one up) very often. I seem to have more ideas than I have time, but sometimes I feel like I'm in a rut (everything looks the same) or that I could "do better." Those are the times I go to my "inspiration" websites, magazines, idea books, DVDs and so on. There are also a few friends I have that inspire me as well. Here's another thing that tends to get the ideas flowing...help someone ELSE do a layout or make a card. It seems like when you are teaching/helping someone else, you forget about what YOU can't do while you are encouraging them in what THEY can do. Does that make sense?
So enough about what I do...what do YOU do? Let me hear from YOU and tell me your tricks to get motivated, to get inspired, to get CREATIVE!!! Leave a comment or email me at snipsoftime@yahoo.com
God Bless,
LeighAnn
2 comments:
My inspiration comes from others. I've taken on scrapbooking class and one card making class. I wouldn't have done as well as I did had the teacher not helped me. Sometimes an idea will come to me. But usually it's by watching others that I get ideas.
I love that you'll be sharing ideas on your blog! Thanks for introducing yourself here - I find that I can relate to where you're coming from quite easily. I don't have any formal "art" training, but I just love to scrap. Like making cards too, but mostly I scrap. (Selfish thing I guess - cards I give away, scrappin I mostly keep.) ;-) I get my inspiration from my 2 boys AND my lovely home - Alaska! The boys are an endless source of ideas. And the beauty of where I live is indescribable. I was born here and still feel this way. :-)
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