giveaway week: creativity

Posted on 29. Jun, 2011 by in giveaway

This week I’m doing a different giveaway every day based on a daily theme. Today’s prize will be a package with some supplies and materials to inspire you to create something yourself. Maybe it will be a kit, or a collection of inspiring photos, or a CD of new music. Or something different…it’s all just for fun. Comment below to enter and win!

Top 5 ways that I love to gather new inspiration:

1. Ask a friend who I haven’t caught up with in a while out to lunch or tea or a midnight snack.

Hearing about what others are doing and succeeding at is motivating for me, and having another mind to work through my creative dilemmas with makes me feel freer and unburdened. I just love to listen to others who I admire and later reflect on what I can learn from them.

2. Imagine myself as my own reader/customer/friend/etc and ask myself what would make me happy to read or do as a consumer of my own content.

Does that make sense? Sometimes I close my eyes and visualize myself reading a magazine, and try to fill in–in my imagination–what would be on the pages. A recipe? A tutorial? An inspirational story? About what? What am I looking for as a consumer? This week I have two tutorial deadlines for other publications and I came up with the ideas using this process.

3. Look online and find something happening in my community that I would never normally go to.

Things I’ve gone to in the past for the first time: An Omaha Community Playhouse production, a Chamber of Commerce networking event, a blues show at The Slowdown, the Omaha Farmers Market, a foreign film at Film Streams, Slowdown pub quiz
Things I want to try in the future: A poetry slam, an art opening at The New Blk, an Ok Party comedy show, a show at the Kent Bellows Studio, storytime at the library

4. Look at pictures of workspaces on Pinterest or Flickr, and then rearrange or redecorate or reorganize something in my studio to emulate something in another space I admire.

Cleaning and starting fresh in a place that is physically different than the workspace I’m used to tends to put me into creative overdrive.

5. Give myself permission to give up–temporarily.

Clearing my mind and mentally releasing myself from the pressure to preform or impress sometimes opens the window for a great idea to breeze right in.

What unconventional things do you do when you just need a fresh idea?
When was the last time you found yourself at a loss for inspiration?
What did you do about it? Did you learn anything?

Food for thought–you can weigh in or just say hi. Comment to win a package of something inspirational.

xo
meg

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97 Responses to “giveaway week: creativity”

  1. Kate

    04. Jul, 2011
    4:58 pm

    i like to talk it out. if i’m stuck usually just starting to talk with a good friend helps get the creativity flowing again.

    kate

    Reply to this comment

  2. Kristy

    03. Jul, 2011
    6:35 pm

    I recently discovered an Australian Scrapbooking Magazine. While I’m not an avid scrapbooker, this magazine has a 30 day photography challenge every month.

    It always challenges to find something new and exciting. Some things I can incorporate my kids in which is great to be out with them doing fun things.

    I find going through the lists and thinking about how I could capture each challenge really gets the creative juices flowing.

    Reply to this comment

  3. corinne

    03. Jul, 2011
    3:53 pm

    i have recently been uninspired creatively, and i found that by reading books, magazines, looking online at blogs, and talking ideas out with my husband helped a lot! as well, getting my craft/art room set up to be organized and efficient helped motivate and inspire me.

    Reply to this comment

  4. marienkafer

    03. Jul, 2011
    2:51 pm

    I love hitting an antique store for interior design inspiration. I LOVE old things. They have former lives and it’s always amusing to me to think of who might have owned them before.

    Reply to this comment

  5. Jamie Elizabeth

    03. Jul, 2011
    12:34 pm

    I’ve recently found myself with too much inspiration that just swirls around in my head, making me dizzy. It’s like a form of creative ADD. I blame Pintrest.

    Reply to this comment

  6. Brittan

    02. Jul, 2011
    9:09 am

    I sit in a darkened theater and watch a great movie. The last few movie watching experiences that inspired me and ignited my creativity were Now, Voyager (1942) and Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman (1928), which I saw at the TCM Classic Film Festival in L.A., and then Tree of Life, which is still out and EVERYONE should see it. Sometimes I like to read Tennyson or Woolf as well. And I read your blog and troll Tumblr just about daily. I suppose I am most inspired by other creative people.

    Reply to this comment

  7. Ellen

    02. Jul, 2011
    6:58 am

    I found myself at a loss of inspiration my senior year in college. 2 years out, and I am at my most creative state yet!

    Reply to this comment

  8. Rachael

    02. Jul, 2011
    12:32 am

    What unconventional things do you do when you just need a fresh idea?
    When was the last time you found yourself at a loss for inspiration?
    What did you do about it? Did you learn anything?

    When I get in a hole, I like to go for a walk and calm down my mind. I’ve also found that traveling crazy inspires me – I really really enjoy exploring new cities and places and finding all the absurdly wonderful things in them. (one of the reasons I’m trying to visit all 50 states in a year for a new project – here’s hoping i can do it!)

    Reply to this comment

  9. Erin

    01. Jul, 2011
    10:28 pm

    I am a reader, a podcast junkie, and a visual artist, but when I feel uninspired it’s good for me to tune out the info overload and rock out to my favorite music. I like to drive around listening to music and singing really loud in the car!

    Reply to this comment

  10. Sarah

    01. Jul, 2011
    4:02 pm

    When I need some inspiration I read a book on my fav architects, reading their thoughts on design/architecture always helps me out.

    Reply to this comment

  11. Katie

    01. Jul, 2011
    1:25 pm

    I need help being more creative!

    Reply to this comment

  12. Lexie

    01. Jul, 2011
    11:23 am

    This week, I found creativity in an unexpected place. Normally I thrive among hot glue guns and crochet hooks, but I started making all of the videos I take of my 6 month old daughter more interesting by editing them in iMovie. I was able to take a painfully boring, ten minute long video of the first time she tried solids and edit it down to just a couple of hilarious minutes of all of the disgusted faces she made. I think it’s incredible that with some determination and patience, a person can accomplish pretty much anything.

    Reply to this comment

  13. Cara

    01. Jul, 2011
    4:42 am

    I don’t know if it’s unconventional or not but when I need creative inspiration I like to read books outside of my field of expertise or normal study.

    I also try to experience something new. A new resturaunt or cuisine, explore a new part of town or hike a different trail at my local park. Something that will jumpstart or recaptivate my imagination.

    Reply to this comment

  14. Claire

    30. Jun, 2011
    11:51 pm

    What unconventional things do you do when you just need a fresh idea?
    I like to do some cartwheels and get the blood (and hopefully creativity) flowing to get out of a rut, or just go on a walk (if location and time allow.)

    When was the last time you found yourself at a loss for inspiration?
    Not a specific time but I have really been lacking the motivation to finish an embroidery portrait of Dolly Parton that I started a few months ago.

    What did you do about it? Did you learn anything?
    Once I sat down and forced myself to work on it, I got my motivation back.

    Reply to this comment

  15. Rachel

    30. Jun, 2011
    11:50 pm

    I love when you have these posts where you walk through your thoughts on big things like these. They make ME think, too!

    I’ve been feeling in a creative rut for a long time. The thing that always gets me back on the path of making things and being creative is, oddly, taking classes in doing something creative. It helps me renew the foundation of whatever skill I’m re-learning, and also helps me form new ideas. AND, most importantly, coursework holds me accountable to spending time doing creative things!

    Reply to this comment

  16. Kelly

    30. Jun, 2011
    10:36 pm

    When I am in a creative rut, I am inspired by my friends and my son.

    Reply to this comment

  17. Jen B

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:42 pm

    This is such a fun idea!

    Reply to this comment

  18. Jenny

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:16 pm

    I’m like you in that one ofthe best ways for me to clear my mind and think better I reorganize myself. I love nohin more than a newly organized office! Good thing I love to organize! :)

    Reply to this comment

  19. Lisa

    30. Jun, 2011
    4:25 pm

    I am always inspired by a walk on a beach…but mainly from my surroundings…flowers

    Reply to this comment

  20. AmyC83

    30. Jun, 2011
    3:03 pm

    I’m one of those people who thinks I’m not very creative. I know that’s not possible, but I have a hard time coming up with new ideas and not just copying someone else’s. I could definitely use some inspiration!

    Reply to this comment

  21. Luann

    30. Jun, 2011
    2:08 pm

    I can’t make it happen. I can’t make myself inspired. It is a gifting of our Lord. Just recently i was wondering what to do for the husbends birthday. i will NOT do or gift something just for the sake of doing it. i prayed and ask our Lord to give me inspiration in how to best bless my man. He did. I now have a fun filled day planned for husbend complete with chuck e cheese!

    Reply to this comment

  22. Kelsey

    30. Jun, 2011
    1:33 pm

    A walk in the park always helps clear my mind. Also, I work in a position where I have to coordinate a lot of volunteers and prepare lessons for kids. I love to devour books on crafts, games, and leadership when I am in need of new ideas. Often times reading others’ ideas helps get my own flowing :-)

    Reply to this comment

  23. Beth J

    30. Jun, 2011
    12:51 pm

    I take a break and just take a walk or go play with my 2 year old.

    Reply to this comment

  24. Megan H.

    30. Jun, 2011
    12:28 pm

    I found myself at a loss for inspiration last week. I scrapbook almost every night of the week. I LOVE it, but sometimes I get stuck. Last week I got stuck because I only two pictures to put on a page. That didn’t seem like enough to fill up a page, so I did what I do when I need inspiration, I went to facebook! I LOVE http://www.scrapbooksteals.com! On their facebook they have tons of pictures and supportive women who will help you get your mojo back! They also have weekly challenges that REALLY inspire me and keep my excited about scrapbooking!

    Reply to this comment

  25. Samantha

    30. Jun, 2011
    11:52 am

    After I spend a lot of time crafting and creating I sometimes get stuck, so if I keep going I end up doing the same thing over and over again instead of something new and different. I like to go hang out with my best friend and talk and dream about the future and all the things we want to do. We ride our bikes and take pictures and show each other what we’ve created. After that I get excited about creating new things and finishing what I’ve started.

    Reply to this comment

  26. taryn

    30. Jun, 2011
    11:28 am

    when i’m in a creative rutt i generally cut myself off from everything and keep to myself…i’m always worried that if i’m in a rutt i will try and bring someone down with me…so best to keep it to myself…and this is when i check blogs and pinterest and twitter and facebook to draw inspiration from amazing bloggers and friends…

    i work through problems during my 45 minute commute…i LOVE LOVE LOVE that time…it’s literally the only time i am alone and i can really think or let loose (think amazing chair dancing).

    and then there’s my best friend kasey who i can always tell anything too and she’s always there to bounce ideas off of.

    Reply to this comment

  27. CaLynn

    30. Jun, 2011
    11:06 am

    I usually go all in on a project and then become at a loss for a while before starting a new one. While I have a thousand ideas in my head for things like book covers or scrapping, sometimes I don’t have the creative motivation to get to it. I’ll go so far as getting everything out but usually end up distracted on something else. I don’t know what to do about that per say, but I’ve accepted that that’s just me:)

    Reply to this comment

  28. Anne

    30. Jun, 2011
    10:59 am

    Thanks for the mention! (warning, shameless self-promotion) There is an opening tonight at KBS.

    I often call an old friend that lives far away to get my brain straight and figured out. I also work on something that will allow my mind to wander.

    I work through my best problems while running, though.

    Reply to this comment

  29. Lindsay

    30. Jun, 2011
    10:40 am

    I actually love looking at my favorite blogs and websites for inspiration. It is so helpful to find out what others are doing and gives me great ideas for my own home/style!

    Reply to this comment

  30. rach

    30. Jun, 2011
    8:16 am

    One of the things I love about my current course is the way they teach us to find inspiration. You can’t just sit around and wait for it to hit. You have to hunt that sucker down!

    Reply to this comment

  31. Donna Bowes

    30. Jun, 2011
    8:09 am

    Great tips! Thanks for the week of giveaways!

    Reply to this comment

  32. Krissy @ Shiawase Life

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:44 am

    I like to look outside the box of my usual social plans and accept an invitation to an event that I probably wouldn’t have picked out. This week, I went to a Tupperware party – and despite easily being the youngest person there, I had fun chatting it up and hoping to win prizes ;)

    Reply to this comment

  33. Jill

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:38 am

    Flickr always inspires me. It’s not like every image I find there is amazing, but sometimes finding something you dislike is as inspiring as finding something love

    Reply to this comment

  34. erin

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:28 am

    i get inspired by finding ordinary things around the house that can be re-used to create things. i find it so energizing to “waste” something in order to create something else.

    Reply to this comment

  35. Deb Schlouch

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:23 am

    Thanks Megan, for your inspiring blog & all the creativity here! Just recently I joined a running class – with the help of my family, as they also joined in. Running has been out of my grasp until now. When I run, I am deeply inspired by the commitment I see & feel in other runners regardless of their skills & abilities. My husband of 35 years, always an amazing support, cheers me on and I watch him & other professionals & I am able to see, not what I want to do, but what is possible. As an artist, this is also a fine distinction for me when I paint or create, but it only works when I am OPEN to the inspiration!

    Thanks so much for the great questions. Have a magical day, Deb

    Reply to this comment

  36. chepkirui

    30. Jun, 2011
    7:06 am

    I walk and walk and walk. Also sit in coffee shops for a change of scenery. And clean.

    Reply to this comment

  37. kristi w

    30. Jun, 2011
    6:02 am

    what happens if you’ve given up completely? i was lacking creativity 3 years ago…. i haven’t been able to find it since then. i feel little things here and there when i listen to music, or see some amazing art but nothing sticks.

    Reply to this comment

    • Princess Lasertron

      30. Jun, 2011
      11:12 am

      I think that’s still okay. You surround yourself with creative people and do such amazing work in the community. People go through seasons–you will always be changing and a creative surge will come back around to you.

      Reply to this comment

  38. Renee

    30. Jun, 2011
    5:18 am

    I like to think back/look back at old stuff I’ve done and see it with fresh eyes. That often gives me that moment of “Hey this could be better!” I also like to keep track of my random ideas. Often my ideas have nothing to do with anything I’m good at but someday might like to try (mostly sewing; I have no skills in that area lol)

    I should take some cues from you and try somethings I’ve never tried before. I have an overwhelming fear of failing, so I often just don’t try at all. Unfortunate.

    Reply to this comment

  39. Lindsey

    30. Jun, 2011
    3:59 am

    Take the dog for a walk on the beaches in South Devon or on Dartmoor where the rugged tors and changing skies are always an inspiration

    Reply to this comment

  40. Karlene

    30. Jun, 2011
    12:23 am

    I find it inspiring to read a good book, gives me a new perspective.

    Reply to this comment

  41. Jess

    30. Jun, 2011
    12:06 am

    My greatest ideas come to me in a hot bath or shower. I have been feeling uninspired by my work environment for several months, but I have found much more inspiration in my home life so it balances out.

    Reply to this comment

  42. aimee bee

    30. Jun, 2011
    12:01 am

    Usually I take a blogging break and this gets me inspired.

    Reply to this comment

  43. Stacy G.

    29. Jun, 2011
    11:35 pm

    I recently discovered pinterest and I love it!! I’m always pinning things to my boards. So many really inspiring boards out there too!

    Reply to this comment
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