Creativity Strikes Again!!!

I'm on an inner journey trying to explore and "find" what my purpose is. Expressing myself is a big part of that. I'm trying to figure out what i'm good at and develop it. I LOVE nature and find much to stitch about by just walking out into my garden! I am intrigued with textures and colors and love to see how the plants all blend together into one harmonious symphony of color! I often find myself looking at things differently. Through a different set of glasses as it were. I'm in a more creative mode and I "see" faces or flowers or animals in the swirls of plaster on the wall, horses chasing the wind in the clouds. The colors of a flower share the emotion of their incredible ability to burst with life! Does anyone else see things this way? Anyway.... through all this rambling, I came across a blurb I had saved that was given to me bya friend. I thought that i'd share it. Its a great way to help get past a block and unleash all that talent stored up inside! I especially like trying to draw with my non-dominant hand! WOW!!! The things you can discover about yourself! LOL!! Have fun!!


10 Ways to Cultivate Creativity: A WildChild Primer for Kids of All Ages

1. Color. Buy crayons and a coloring book, and purposefully,intentionally, color outside the lines. Scribble, break the crayons in half,smash them into the page. Write in the margins how it feels to break therules.
2. Spend some time thinking about what you loved as a child. Whatcolors, clothes, games, toys, activities, dreams do you enjoy? Which arecurrently in your life? Which have you not seen or enjoyed in years? Make aplan to rekindle some of your childhood loves in your daily life, today.
3. Create with your body. Take a break from the gym and work out at alocal playground. Playing hopscotch, pumping legs on the swings and climbingjungle gyms aren't just for kids! Or try gardening or hiking to cultivate akid-like connection with nature.
4. Draw your goal. Grab some crayons, markers or colored pencils.Imagine a goal that you'd like to meet, and draw a picture of what it willlook like when you've reached this goal. Make it detailed, vivid andkid-like! This isn't about drawing skills - it's about representing a visionin a fun and uninhibited way. When you're done, hold it up proudly and sayout loud, "I DID THIS!" Tape it to your refrigerator!
5. Make a set of "trading cards." Cut out images that you love fromcatalogs, magazines or greeting cards. Focus on images that make you feelfull, alive and truly happy. Glue these images, collage-style, to an olddeck of playing cards. This is a project you can work on a little bit at atime until you have a whole deck of cards that inspire you to dream big andlive your fullest life! Don't forget to collage the outside of the pack!
6. Redecorate, kid-style. Walk through your living space and find areas- even small ones - that could use some Wild Child whimsy. Maybe achildren's book belongs with the serious coffee table books. Maybepipe-cleaner flowers belong in a vase on a kitchen shelf. Find corners wherea little smile goes a long way.
7. Imagine new pictures. Find an image from a magazine and tear it out.Place it on a flat surface and turn it upside down. Try to find an image,activity or story in the lines and spaces of the upside-down image. Ifyou're having trouble seeing anything, ask, "If I were a child, what might Isee in this picture?" Doodle with markers and pens to expand on andilluminate your image. Add words, if you are drawn to do so.
8. Write your to-do list on poster boards taped to a wall. Write withmarkers, and with your non-dominant hand (or put the marker in your fist andmake broad, childlike strokes). On one poster, write a list of things youneed to DO. On the other, write a list of things you dream to BE. Movebetween the two, allowing a free-flowing relationship to develop betweenthem. What do you learn about yourself and your priorities?
9. Find a board or card game from your childhood and change the rules.What if CLUE became a game about decorating rooms in Fun House style? Whatif Twister was a massive canvas for art? What if chess pieces were purple,pink and polka-dotted and the game was about cooperation instead ofcompetition? If possible, alter the actual game board and pieces tocelebrate your rebellion against the rules. If that's not possible, writeabout your new rules in a journal.
10. Go on a nature walk with child's eyes. Challenge yourself to makeeach of your senses more open and aware, in the way that a child takes inthe world. Gather interesting leaves, rocks or little flowers. Bring themhome and arrange them to create your own little nature shrine.