Incorporate more creative practices into your everyday and you’ll end up with more creative ideas. 

For some, the idea of taking more time to be creative can be daunting. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to have 8 hours every day to devote to creating a masterpiece to bring more creativity into your life. Creative ideas don’t just come to you, they take cultivation, which is why it’s important to make time for artistic and creative practices in your everyday.

Here are 7 things you can do to ensure that you’re doing all you can to get the creative juices flowing.

1. Sketch

Plan time, 5 or 10 minutes, for a daily sketch. Capture what’s happening around you. Put pen (or pencil) to paper and let your mind and hand work simultaneously. Planning small amounts of drawing or sketching every day is good for anyone, whether or not you’re an artist.

2. Use a creative prompt

Whether you’re writing, drawing, sculpting or thinking, sometimes you need to kickstart the creative flow. A creative prompt can be good for that and breaking through a moment when you feel blocked.

3. Write a haiku

5-7-5, go.

4. Do something new

This one may sound simple, but it’s all a part of having new experiences, something that is essential to being more creative. Take a new route to work for example. A new route to work forces your brain to think a little more than usual as it’s out of its usual routine. It may lead you to see something different. Because insight can come from any experience, so you want to make sure you have a lot of them.

5. Write a six word story

Inspired by Hemingway, six word stories force you to think creatively, yet succinctly, and it’s an easy enough task to do in a matter of minutes if you need to get the wheels turning for other creative ideas.

6. Allow yourself to be messy

A study published in Psychological Science found that while a clean working space is good for some things, a messy working space may actually help promote creativity. Being in a clean room made people tend towards behaving in a way that was expected of them. In a messy room, they had an easier time breaking out of the box. So, if you want more creative ideas then allow for a little mess on your desk.

7. Get outside

In need of a creative idea for work or for a project? Go on a walk. A new study by researchers at Stanford linked walking with creativity, much needed scientific evidence that backs up what many creatives have known for a long time: if you need to come up with a new idea, get outside and get some exercise.

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Image: mark sebastian

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Creativity isn’t something that just happens – it needs fostering. In fact, everyone has a well of creativity, it’s just about doing the things that help that creative side really develop.

Even the most creative people will tell you that they have moments when they freeze up, and when they do they work hard at pushing through and getting their creativity back.

Wanting to foster more creativity in your own life? Try these 11 ideas for getting your creative side going.

1. Put. Down. The. Phone.

Want to be more creative? Start taking in your surroundings. That of course means putting down your phone. Waiting for the bus? Don’t text, look around you instead. See who’s standing next to you. Think about what color they’re wearing. Look at the trees. Do they have leaves? What shape are they? Being open to the world around you will bring plenty of inspiration.

2. Get off your computer.

Nothing kills creativity like sitting in front of a computer, so if you’re feeling like you’re drained in terms of creativity, step away from the screen. If you need to write or draw, pick up a real pen and paper.

3. Pick a specific moment in your life and write about it.

It doesn’t need to turn into a specific story or essay – just let yourself write the thoughts and memories that come to mind. You want to make your brain work. The other benefit? This practice can actually make you feel happier with your life.

4. Play.

This goes back to #1 and #2, but it also relates to work in general: if you don’t allow yourself time off from working, you don’t give your time to wander. So play.

5. Set aside a specific time every day to write.

Set aside 30 minutes that are solely devoted to free-writing. Julia Cameron in “The Artist’s Way” calls these “morning pages.” They’re not really writing, they’re simply a way to document everything that comes across your mind.

6. Do something just for you.

If you work in a creative industry, there often becomes a certain pressure to only produce when it’s for work. But in order to stay creative, you have to encourage yourself to produce even when it’s not for anyone but yourself. Draw a picture. Paint a landscape. Write a story. And keep it just for yourself.

7. Get active.

Some studies show that exercise helps boost creativity. What better reason do you need to go out for a run or a bike ride?

8. Get rid of distractions.

If you’re wanting to create a space that’s conducive to creativity, make sure it’s one where you’re not bothered. That means phone calls, emails, even visitors. You want to devote time and energy to your creative space, physically and mentally, and that means focusing on what you’re doing 100 percent.

9. Embrace your morning time.

That time before the entire day starts rolling? The golden hour. Don’t check your email right away. Don’t start reading the news. Use that time wisely. Write. Read. Dance. Think.

10. Use your hands.

We so rarely use our hands to do things anymore, and actively using your hands to do something engages your brain in a very different way than our usual tasks. Dig in the garden. Build something. Bake something.

11. Find an accountability partner.

Need to make sure you’re making time to be creative? Have a friend to do it with. Nothing makes us do something like being held accountable. So find someone else that needs to devote a few more hours a week to creative time and make sure you both do it. Better yet: set aside that time to do something creative together.

Related on EcoSalon

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Image: Nanagyei

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Is it ever appropriate to work for free? Even if you’re a freelancer?

If you’re a creative, there is a 99.9 percent chance that you have at one point or another worked for free. Sure, you were “paid” in coffee or some other barter system, but there was no cash transaction. And even if you have never worked for free, it’s 99.99 percent certain that you have worked for less money then you deserved to earn.

It has been said that we are the slaves of the internet, and in a culture of content creation, the value of content has gone down. The market is saturated, and when there are so many wanting to make it and offering up their services for free, the chance that you will get paid for your content goes down.

Of course this is an oversimplification of a problem that ultimately comes down to a vicious cycle: individuals undervalue their own work, which in turn makes other people undervalue it as well. If you want your work to be seen as valuable, then you have to see it as valuable first, especially if you’re embarking on a career as a freelancer.

Should you work for free?

No. Well, sometimes yes. But, no, really you should always try to say no. Except for in those situations where you should say yes.

You can see why this is complicated.

Working for free sets a precedent, and while you may just want to get your name out there, if you’re trying to build a client list and a respectable reputation, taking jobs that don’t pay anything doesn’t help you do that.

On the other hand, sometimes doing something for free isn’t necessarily about the payment, it’s about the promotion, or about spreading a certain idea.

As marketing expert and author Seth Godin says, “The more generous you are with your ideas, and the more they spread, the more likely it is your perceived value goes up.” This means, however, that you need to gauge the level at which your ideas are being spread. Free work for www.noonehaseverbeentothiswebsite.com is one thing, and an opinion piece in a nationally acclaimed newspaper, is quite another.

Need some direction in establishing whether or not you should work for free? Illustrator Jessica Hische designed the Should I Work for Free? flow chart. It’s a bit tongue in cheek and yet I have found myself referencing it regularly. In a nutshell: your mother deserves your free labor, but the established business that promises you “a good portfolio piece” doesn’t.

Talk to anyone that works in the freelance business and the likelihood is that at some point during their career they assessed a situation to evaluate whether or not they should work for free. Often times, when people have weighed the pros and cons, and know what the potential benefits of free work will be, they will go ahead and do it. Everyone has a “well, I did this for free, and then it lead to this and then it lead to this and now I am doing this other great paying project.”

And unfortunately, we live in a society where money equals success.

As Tim Kreider points out in The New York Times, “Practicalities aside, money is also how our culture defines value, and being told that what you do is of no ($0.00) value to the society you live in is, frankly, demoralizing. Even sort of insulting. And of course when you live in a culture that treats your work as frivolous you can’t help but internalize some of that devaluation and think of yourself as something less than a bona fide grown-up.”

Ultimately, it comes down to the value question: do you truly feel that your own work is being valued? And to add on the that question, have you thought about the value of the work of other people in your industry, and are you helping or hindering it?

Decide your value and do your best so that others understand that value as well.

Related on EcoSalon

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Images: Jessica Hische, Anonymous

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We’ve already discussed the obsession of pairing your wines and appetizers with your DSLR. In sifting through old photos recently, I was shocked to realize that my photographic theme is about 80/20, food vs. other. When something looks good and tastes good it’s hard to not want to document it. But photography is a quick fix. In only a few seconds you’ve snapped what’s probably taken you (or someone else) a significant time to prep. So just like many food trends have started to incorporate “slow” elements, so has documenting them.

The new food porn? Drawing. Taking the old fashioned, hand-made mode of documentation and using it to highlight culinary works. I’ve seen several food-focused sketchbooks over the last few months, and much like well done travel journals make you want to drop everything and book a plane ticket, these works of art inspire a new-found love of food.

And although drawings and sketchbooks are a throwback to a time when we were less consumed by digital media, the internet is an excellent place to indulge in this new food porn. In fact, there’s an entire Flickr group devoted to it. Last summer, Etsy hosted a Competition for Food Art. This isn’t just sketching your wine glass on your dinner napkin; this is serious business.

My personal favorite source of creative inspiration is They Draw and Cook, a blog that focuses on depicting entire recipes through illustrations. And then there are artists like Emily Katz who take simple concoctions and turn them into masterpieces by drawing, painting and then outlining with the help of her sewing machine. The results are stunning. Illustrator Claudia Pearson is another, that not only draws greeting cards with recipes, but also has a “Buy Local” inspired calendar.

Why is food illustration taking off? Maybe it’s the combination of the love of food and art. Maybe it’s simply wanting to document the beauty of fresh vegetables. Or maybe it’s partnering DIY food culture with DIY art. Whatever it is, that sketchbook is certainly much more inconspicuous than a bright flash in the midst of dinner. Time to get to drawing.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground. Each week, Anna will be taking a look at something new and different that’s taking place in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to culinary avant garde.

Images: Claudia Pearson, Laura Cooke

The post Foodie Underground: The Other Food Porn appeared first on EcoSalon.

Stuck inside on a rainy, dreary day? Have a hankering to start a new, crafty project? Using random objects and materials from around your home, these fun and eco-friendly DIY projects will cost you little to nothing.

Scrap Paper Notebook

You have a scrap paper galore in the drawer next to your desk, but this clutter is starting to get out of control. No problem! Stack your scrap paper to make all of the edges line up neatly. Punch three holes along the length of the paper an inch from the left margin. (You may want to divide the stack to make this step a little easier.) Cut the front and back sides from a cereal box and punch three holes in each side to align with your stack of scrap paper. You can cover the box panels in anything you like – get creative. Use decorative ribbon to tie together the individual sheet and the cardboard cover.

Portable Scrap Paper Pad

Need something more portable for taking notes on the go? Remove the staple from an empty matchbook and slip out the piece of cardboard that mounted the matches. Measure the matchbook and cut pieces of scrap paper to fit neatly inside. Tuck them underneath the bottom lip and staple them down.

Magazine Envelopes

After flipping through your magazines dozens of times, what else can you do with them? Take apart an envelope to use as a template and trace this outline onto a cover or page of an outdated issue. (If you plan on sending this envelope in the mail, use pages with images instead of copy. This way, the address will stand out more clearly.) Cut along the lines and fold it along the creases that match that of the original envelope. Use non-toxic flue to seal down the flaps.

CD/DVD Coasters

When your favorite tunes or films start skipping too much to enjoy, just turn them into coasters. This one is a cinch. To cover up the images and text with something a little more decorative, trace the outline of the CD/DVD onto contact paper leftover from lining drawers and cut along the lines. Seal it to the surface with non-toxic glue.

Scented Drawer Satchels

Who wears nylons anymore? I know I don’t, but they’re still lurking in the lingerie drawer. But, just because they are no longer wearable doesn’t mean you have to toss them. Cut them up into sections and seal one end with a decorative ribbon. Fill each makeshift pouch with dried herbs, tie the other end shut and put them in your drawers for a fresh fragrance.

Magnetic Dry Erase Board

Measure the outline of a broken CD case and cut a piece of blank white paper down to the same dimensions. Slip it inside and use non-toxic glue to secure the front and back of the CD case together. Secure a magnet to the back and hang it on your refrigerator for quick notes.

Homemade Drip System

Interested in conserving water in your garden? Use a pin to punch tiny holes into a plastic bottle. Shred pieces of scrap fabric and stuff them in through the neck of the bottle. (This absorbent material will cause the water to drain gradually.) Bury the bottle in the soil up to the neck next to plants in your garden, so that it releases water almost directly to the roots. Use a funnel to fill the bottle with water.

Reusable Shopping Tote

Dig through your pajama drawer to find an old, baggy t-shirt. Flip it inside out and remove the sleeves. Cut around the neck hole, making it several inches wider. Stitch the bottom hems of the shirt together. (You may want to sew a reinforcement seam for extra strength.) Flip your new reusable shopping tote right side out and use the sleeve holes as handles.

Tea Tin Candle

Following these steps, turn empty tea tins into decorative soy candles.

Bird Feeder

Rinse out an empty milk carton. Cut out two ample-sized openings on parallel sides and, about an inch below each, poke a hole using the tip of a pencil. Insert a rod through both holes to act as a perch for your feathered friends. Run a wire or string through the top of the carton to hang from a tree branch. To make it a bit more ornamental, embellish the carton with milk paint and secure popsicle sticks on the top slopes with non-toxic glue to look like shingles.

Upcycled Picture Frames

Rinse out some glass jars and completely remove any labels. With the images on the outside, roll up pictures of your friends and family, and insert them upside-down into the openings of the jars. Flip the jars over and display them on tabletops and shelves around your home.

Drawer Dividers

Do you cringe at the thought of organizing your infamous junk drawer? With some homemade cardboard dividers, it’s easy to keep it orderly. Just measure the length, width and height of your drawers. Break down a cardboard box and, based on your measurements, cut enough strips to create as many compartments as you want. Slice a slit halfway through the width of each strip to easily interconnect these pieces.

Bonus idea: taking inspiration from the image at the top of the post, why not spend an hour at the park or in the garden collecting seeds, nuts, flower bulbs, twigs, leaves or other pretty organic items to make a seasonal still life? All you need is a favorite dish or bowl and a spot to place it.

For more projects, check out Mike’s ideas.

Images: Er.We, adiything, ♥ellie♥, thebittenword.com, ***FanchTheSystem!***, How can I recycle this, Mulad, Niffty.., Indie Bands With A Mission, Edgar Zuniga Jnr., sfllaw, Idle Type, Vali….

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After major holidays and lifetime milestones, you clear your mantle of thoughtful cards from your family and friends and hesitate on the way to the recycling bin. After all, such artsy stationary could be put to some better use, right? You bet! Here’s a list of creative projects to reinvent your stack of old greeting cards.

Learn how to give old greeting cards new life as a small gift box.
Cut the front side of the card into strips and use them to hold your place in your latest reads. Never again will you have to fold over the edge of a page in absence of a bookmark.

Use these instructions to create handmade ornaments from old greeting cards.

All you need to transform the front side of a greeting card into a postcard is an address and some stamps. Pretty resourceful, huh?

When your grandmother, the Food Network or a colleague passes on a new recipe, jot it down on the back of a greeting cards beautiful imagery for a visually appealing cookbook.

Using the front side of a variety of greeting cards, follow these steps to make a uniquely colorful journal.

Set the cover of an elaborate greeting card on a cutting board and use an exacto knife to slice it into pieces of different shapes and sizes. Wondering what you could possibly do with these? Give them to the little ones as a homemade puzzle.

Make your own luminary from old greeting cards.

Image: vieux bandit

The post 8 Clever, Crafty & Creative Ways to Reuse Greeting Cards appeared first on EcoSalon.

I love big rings, but sometimes big rings don’t love me – making my fingers spread uncomfortably or being so top-heavy they swirl upside down. Don’t get me animated lest I go clocking someone in the head with my hand. It’s happened before and it can happen again.

If you wear big rings, you know what I’m talking about. So when I came across Patchwork Pillow rings by Raeburn Ink I was elated.

Raeburn Ink designer Jenn Cooke says at her site: “I’ve been saving odds and ends of fabric for a while now. I recently started collaging them together, and loving the results. These became my Patchwork Collection.

They are pieced together from linen, cotton, and silk fabrics, and filled with ultra soft stuffing. The printed fabric pieces are original screen prints from my Macro/Micro and Geographic collections – the placement of the print varies a little bit on each ring, so they won’t all look exactly like the picture. I’ve added contrast stitching in a stripe pattern with orange thread. The finger loop is made from a soft and stretchy material that is super comfortable.”

Choose from smaller chunky to totally funky big pillow rings that spice up an outfit or, for you designers, serve as a place to put your pins while working.

The designer pads her cushy line with other accessories as well as organic t-shirts, pillows and bags.

By surrounding yourself with Raeburn Ink pieces there’s the potential to make your life that much softer. And people will absolutely be transfixed at parties when you talk. Not to mention you’ll avert potential injuries as you gab.

Now that’s a way to keep friends.

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