creating daily - day 9 -16

 

white doodles on black card stock

Time is going really quickly right now! I was hoping that January would slow down a bit, but no, it is just not happening! So many things on my desk...!
Anyway I wanted to talk a little about this project. I had some comments, saying things like: "You are completely crazy to do this!" 
I actually I do not think so. Let me explain: the projects are really small, mostly. And I am enjoying to be creative. I feel good when I do things and enjoy experimenting and see the results I am getting. Unfortunately I often feel I need to do other things first and end up not being creative at all at some days. After a while I feel really bad, because I have not taken the time for this very important outlet for me. Not a good situation!

 

art journal page - first part

But since I started the 365 project, I know I will do something each day, even if it is just a small thing. And that gives me so much good energy and the more I do, the more ideas I get. It is like a positive spiral going up, instead of going down! Every morning I wake up and now I will do some fun creative project on this day How cool is that? ;-)

 

Sketch - "winter birds"

You might say: "365 days in a row is a lot! And what if miss one day?" Well I did not say it is always easy! Especially when things get hectic (which is very often) or when I do not feel well. Unfortunately that also happens. The only way to deal with that, is to do an even smaller project, something really tiny (like the earrings wires! It only took me 10 minutes altogether) and to plan a bit ahead when you know there will be busy times ( like the weekends or when I need to travel) also helps a lot.

 

testing a new jig - earring wires

I am selecting creative projects I can take with me or that only needs very little material. The black and white doodle is something like that: only one piece of card stock and one white pen!. I do not have to finish things, if it does not go how I want it. The art journaling page is something like that. The first part was not really that great, but after adding the second part (at another day!) I liked it much more. And that is another thing: there will be days when I make something, that I actually do not like. But that is okay. No need to stress out about it. There is always another day...;-))

 

art journal - 2nd part of this page

So all in all: yes it is a commitment, and yes it takes time to do it, but the reward is great! And that in itself is enough reason for me to keep going! And as with all things: the more you practice the better you get at it. That is definitely also true for this project!

 

striped pattern stamp

 Has anyone of you also started a 365 project? I would love to hear about what you are doing, and your tricks for staying motivated. Please leave me a comment and tell me about it! ;-))

 

simple plant stamp

 Okay, I got to go and have some fun with my daily project...!

 

ribbon banner stamps - idea from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer´s book "Carve Stamp Play"