creativity and time managment- Case Study allert!


In this blog post I am going to answer these questions:
How do we create more opportunities to use our creativity?
Why we need creativity in our life right now?


these cards are all ones I have colored from stamping
ahead of time and coloring them during jury duty! 
Do you stamp things on card panels and then stuff them in an envelope so that when you have a chance to paint or color you can whip a card panel out and color it? Yep, that is what I did with this card.

I actually got called to Jury Duty, and while preparing for the long day I brought my envelope with card panels and off I went. The jury selection took 3 days! I was not chosen and can home with some panels that Ic ould embellish and make into cards.

So often I hear: I want to create, but don't know how? or I go into my craft room or studio with plans to create and I just end up "watching TV or killing an hour on Facebook or Pinterest. I get it. totally get it! Been there, done that a lot!

I love vintage garage sale stamps!
this is one of my favorite garage sale finds!
When I hear of other card makers that are more doer's than thinkers, I started studying what they do to be more like the doers than the Thinkers. I believe it's in time management.

I looked back at my Jury selection days (very long 3 days) and when I first busted out my watercolor markers I was sitting by an older lady that is a retired school teacher. she didn't want to color but wanted to watch me, ok I said and that was that. I was a bit fearful of getting out my colors like a little girl and started coloring. I was fearful of what others may have thought. (so silly right?) and yet I had started more conversations, It started to turn into talking about creativity and it broke the ice in so many levels I was convinced that if we all carried around colors and a sketchbook the world would be a better place!

The second day, I ended up sitting next to business gentlemen. In my mind I was thinking, well, he isn't going to be much of a conversation starter, I might as well color. He starts talking to me about creativity and asks me questions and we had a lovely conversation.

I really believe that creativity breaks down walls.  Creativity is so much part of humanity that when we are in the act of creating it connects each other just by drawing, or sketching or coloring. Creativity is a wonderful way to break the ice. It's as if you are breaking the ice for other's to see that life is really sweet even if you are waiting for days for the jury selection to be selected! hah!




Why we need creativity in our life right now?

How can we create more opportunities to use our creativity?

Loads of studies have shown that we need to be using our creativity for mental and brain growth and function.
Basically, the more creativity that we use the better our mental state will be.

Or heaven forbid creativity is an outlet for so many people.
Creativity plays a huge part in being mindful.

Take my simple example of busting out my well-loved envelope of card panels with my watercolor markers, I opened doors to communication faster than trying to make small talk with strangers. I was very mindful at the time of coloring, that mindfulness helped pass the time not just for me but for the people that were watching me. It helped make light of a situation that no one wanted to be in.

We need that well-loved manila envelope that has card panels to color because it brings joy into our lives and others. Creativity is meant to be shared.

Day 3- I sat by two nice ladies and offered to let them color along with me. Creativity is meant to be shared! Share Joy- right?

How do we create more opportunities to use our creativity?

1. Go to a family gathering- have a reason to make a card or a painting for a family member You might be surprised that the next time you see them they say- I framed that small card or painting you gave me, I love it so much, thanks for thinking of me. That will give you more momentum to paint more, and share more. I love what Julie Cameron
 says in Walking in this world:
Contemplating a piece of work, we do better to think who is this work for? Whom will it serve? rather than How will it serve me? Once we find a path for our work to be of service—even if that path is merely to create a wonderful role for a friend—then our work goes smoothly forward. It is not about “us” anymore. We have retired as self-conscious creator and aligned ourselves again with all of creation, a worker among workers, a friend among friends. When we do so, our work is less buffered by our own harsh fears. Our fears are set aside every time we simply ask again, “How can I make this work more serviceable?”
Cameron, Julia. Walking in This World (Artist's Way). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

This is one of the many reasons I love to make cards to give to others!

2. Having the end in mind. When creating more Opportunites to be creative and to use our creativity what we are really saying is that I have something to say that needs to be put into an art form. So be strategic about it. You bought a stamp, or a tube of paint for a reason- use it! I love the quote that says, the only Paint wasted is when it's left inside the tube. So paint, draw, art journal it! You will be glad you did. Don't let your materials go unused! 

3. Plan.  I knew that I was going to have a whole day of waiting around for the jury selection. So I brought my stamped panels in my well-loved manila envelope to pull out and color. I planed on having some time to create even when it wasn't the perfect place. (I doubt there is ever a perfect place to create at.)

Other ideas to help facilitate creativity: 
cut paper to the size you need, before you want to make a project. I can't tell you how helpful, liberating, and freeing it has been to cut up a whole package of 12x12 paper for cards! or how helpful it has been to paint 5x7's when the paper is already cut for you!
  Doing a little bit of prep work goes a long way.
Another best practice to create more Opportunites to be creative is to have your creative space always clean and ready to go!

I hope this blog post has given you back some mojo and you are feeling excited to get back into stamping and coloring! I know I sure am!

Happy Creating!




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