Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

I want to start sharing some fun projects with you once in a while that are simply reminders to use your creativity as a fun outlet.

Even if you have a business or career where you are using your creative skills, choose something that is different than what you do on a day to day basis.

And if you work in an office all day or in an environment that doesn’t promote creativity, it is all the more important to exercise your creativity” muscles.

I find something very therapeutic about making things whether it involves making jewelry, painting,  sewing, cooking, doodling, or cutting and gluing.

As a bonus, you can enjoy or give away the results of your play time.

This week’s Creativity Just For Fun project is Embellished Slippers.

I toyed with the idea of making slippers but what sounded the best was to embellish them.

I found some great cloth slippers by Vera Wang on sale at Kohl’s.  I bought a few pair to make one for myself and for gifts for my Mom and my sister.

Before

After

I had fun looking through “my stash” to find the right ribbon and cloth bias tape.  I had previously made some bias tape from some nice cotton print fabrics.

One the purple and black pair, I used a fun black and purple ribbon with button shapes on it that I bought when my husband and I were in Orcas Island, Washington in a cool little bookstore.

And I used some lace on the maroon pair.

I hand sewed everything  so it took a while but was very relaxing.

If you want some other easy ideas to exercise your creativity just for the fun of it, visit my website for a few more ideas

http://embracingcreativity.com/creativity-just-for-fun.html

I’ll be adding more in the weeks to come.

Review of Sherri Haab Resin Jewelry DVD – Guest Post by Susan Volpe

From the very start of this information packed DVD – I knew what had caused problems for me in my previous attempts at casting resin jewelry. It was like taking a class where you are the only student – and all of your questions are answered.

For example, I did not know that I could sand a hardened piece of resin to remove unsightly edges – I thought I had done something wrong.

I learned the differences in types of resin – which ones are good for shallow (less than ¼”) and what to use for deeper and larger molds. Again, this explained another project that I made and why it did not turn out!

Haab details everything to make a project successful – from safety tips to temperature, to making your own molds. She also discusses the differences between toner and ink jet copies, plus how to seal what you use properly for the best results.

I found the object section was fun and informative where Sherri used game pieces and other objects as jewelry bezels.  The 15 projects presented are well done.

I had almost given up hope that this was something I could do successfully.  But, now I can’t wait to make some resin jewelry, knowing that my results will be so much better after watching this artist at work.

Click here to get more information about this how to resin jewelry DVD taught by Sherri Haab and other great art and craft how to videos.

Susan Volpe
Interior Designer and Instructor, and Professional Organizer
www.homeandorganizing.com

There are some fundamental steps in creating your life as a work of art.  The hard part might be that we forget that it is an ongoing process.

© 2010 Sally Evans “The Sky is the Limit”

1. Define YOUR success
What would make you happy?

What do you love to do?

How can you use the things that inspire you to benefit others?

Don’t be afraid to choose something to move toward and to use as a guideline.

Create a goal by naming a specific outcome you want.

Is this in line with your values and what is meaningful to you?

2. Write it down
Even if you think you know what will make you happy and you’ll remember it, there is power in writing down your aspirations and intentions

Write your goals down with the outcome you really want.

3. Keep Your Inspiration Visible
Keep inspired every day by using reminders of your goal.

Create a vision board with pictures and words of the successful outcome.

Have a meaningful phrase or word that inspires you.

Write down empowering statements or affirmations that you say, write, or read each day.

Write a story about how you feel, as if your goal has been realized, and use that as a basis for visualization

Keep a notebook, file, or box of inspiring stories, mentors, quotes, and ideas.

4. Be Persistent and Take Action
Take consistent action toward your goal.  Do something every day.

Take small steps.  Break things down into very small manageable tasks.

For some people, it works really well to make this one of the first things you do to start your day.

And no matter how compelling your vision is, if you don’t take small steps and action, it will remain on your wish list.

5. Notice the Good Stuff
See what you already have and the things that are working well for you.  Be grateful for what you have in all areas of your life.

It helps to make a habit of writing down at least a few things you are grateful for every day.  When you make this a habit, you will start to appreciate and look for the good things.

6. Enjoy the Process
If you enjoy the process, you will already have a successful outcome.

Sometimes people focus so much on the end result that they aren’t open to the possibilities that may come along the way.

I think the way you go about achieving your goals is often overlooked as insignificant compared to the outcome but a lot of lessons can be learned along the way.

7. Keep Track of Your Progress
One way to be open to possibilities and opportunities is to keep track of your progress.

You might have a daily or weekly simple question or two that lets you see your progress and make notes of any aha moments that you might have along the way.

8. Celebrate Along the Way
Don’t just wait until you have accomplished your goal.  Give yourself rewards for working on it.

Have you ever worked for someone that gave you the pats on the back and encouragement for doing a good job?  Didn’t that make you want to keep doing a good job?  Use that same strategy on yourself.

9. Keep on Going
If you are stretching yourself, you will run into obstacles.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, get some words of encouragement from the people who support you, and keep going.

It may not always turn out the way you expect, but sometimes things turn out in ways much better than you could have imagined.

Remember all those stories of people who have overcome the odds and obstacles to achieve something wonderful.

10. Get support
Not everybody is going to be supportive so choose wisely.

Things are so much easier when you can get help and encouragement.

Choose someone or a group that can help you through the challenges and keep you going.

If you are not quite ready for a group, or coaching, a good place to start is my Design Your Inspired Life e-course.

In order to make positive changes, the first step is to think about what you really want and to begin taking action toward it.