10 easier than easy ways to get creative at home
Creativity is all about expressing yourself and using your imagination to create or invent something.
It has nothing to do with talent; you don’t need to be a master painter to get creative, and at it’s most basic level it’s not all that different to the problem solving you do at work.
Even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush in your life, there’s plenty of opportunities to get creative at home, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. We all have the ability to be creative, and taking time out of our busy lives to do something for the sake of it is a great way to distress and help increase focus in other parts of life.
Need inspiration? Read our list of ten easier than easy ways to get creative at home…
1. Make a collage – Vision boards have become popular in the last few years as a motivational tool. But why not take the concept right back to basics and just make a collage for no other reason than that it’s visually appealing. Instead of throwing away your old magazines, sit down with some scissors, glue and a large piece of paper and get to work browsing the pages and picking out the images you like.
2. Write postcards – These days most of the mail people get through their letterbox are bills and marketing materials. Get some postcards – or make your own using a photograph and some cardstock or the back of a cereal box – and write to someone in your life you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. The message doesn’t need to be about anything; you can talk about what you’re doing or just simply say you’ve been thinking of them. It’s an easy way to get the creative juices flowing and offers the added bonus of brightening up someone else’s day.
3. Cook without a recipe – Making dinner without a recipe book will force you to focus on flavours and use your imagination. You could make your own spice blend for a curry, invent your own pasta dish or dream up some new flavour combinations in lieu of a classic cake. The options are endless, and giving yourself permission to try something new can be incredibly liberating. Not to mention you might even discover a fantastic new dish, just based on your own instincts.
4. Build a scrapbook – Scrapbooking is a proper hobby in its own right and a great on-going project you can pick up in the evenings or when you have a few moments to yourself. Print off some of your favourite photos that have been stuck on your digital camera or smartphone and arrange them any way you like, adding notes, decorative touches and other mementos like ticket stubs. You’ll be amazed at how vividly those memories come to life each time you look through your scrapbook.
5. Upcycle furniture – Do you have an old piece of furniture at home that you’re thinking of getting rid of or just plain sick of looking at? Try upcycling. The idea here is to take a piece of furniture and give it a new life – paint your desk a different colour, add new cushions to a chair, or add more interesting handles to a chest of drawers. Many of these projects are quick enough that you can finish them in an afternoon and then enjoy long after.
6. Paint by numbers – Picking up a paintbrush is a great way to clear your mind and get creative. If you’re not comfortable drawing on a blank page, try a paint by numbers set. There are plenty of adult versions with intricate designs and instructions to help get you started.
7. Try creative writing – Ever thought about creative writing? You don’t have to flesh out the plot of a murder-mystery novel to start writing, and in fact, many writers use simple exercises and prompts to help get their creative juices flowing. Try for example a stream of consciousness exercise; set 20 minutes on a timer and sit down with a pen and paper, and write down anything and everything that comes to mind. You never know what might pop out.
8. Make your own candle holders – Instead of recycling old glass jars, give them a new lease in life by creating your own candle holders. All you’ll need is a few jars, some white glue and glitter or tissue paper. Spread a layer of glue around the outside of the jar and roll in glitter or cover in a tissue paper design and let it dry. You’ll have some beautiful new candle holders for the dinner table, by the bath or along the mantle.
9. Build a house of cards – Grab a deck of cards and balance them to build your very own house of cards. If you’ve never built one before, start on carpet because this tends to give a better hold. There’s no rules with this one; simply stack the cards and let your imagination guide your design.
10. Make your own mug – This is a quick and easy gift idea as well. Take a plain white ceramic mug – the kind you often see at the supermarket – and a sharpie marker. Draw directly onto the mug in any design you like, or write a name or message. Once you’re finished, pop them in the oven at 175C for 30 minutes. Pull them out, allow them to cool and voila! You have a dishwasher safe mug in your very own design.
How do you like to get creative?
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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