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Inspiration Prompt – Healing Words Of Wisdom

Monday, March 9th, 2009
Healing Words Of Wisdom
[Photo by: Tapperboy}
Click on the picture to read all
about the photographer’s great story

Sometimes the right words at the right time, combined with divine music, can get your tears to well up and your heart to beat faster.

Sometimes words can be healing.

It doesn’t take much to remind you what’s important and to lead you back onto the golden path. It takes a big and kind heart and an observant eye on one end and an open heart and attentive ear on the other end.

The right words let your mind wander into a serene place where everything is just a little bit better. Your burdens a little bit lighter. Your hurdles a little bit shorter and your sunshine a little bit brighter. This is where this video by Mccabe has taken me.

Sit back, relax, open your heart and watch this fantastic video:

If you recognize whose music is it, please share,
as I would like to buy this track and listen to it a million times.

Share –

I’d love you to share your thoughts and feelings with me by leaving a comment on this post!

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Posted in Inspiration prompt | 6 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – Recycle Styrofoam Into A Bulletin Board

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Recycled Bulletin Board This week I have another quick and easy, and most importantly – recycling – project for you.

Saying styrofoam is bad for the environment is quite an understatement. Nevertheless it is widely used for packaging and some other “really important” (NOT) purposes. Changing the world is done one step at a time, right? So our baby step today is reusing the styrofoam.

The styrofoam is light weight as well as soft enough to be pierced repeatedly (while chanting: “Bad styrofoam. Bad. Bad. Bad”) what makes it perfect to serve as a magnetic bulletin board! By salvaging a never-has-been-no-longer-will-be in use pillow cover we got ourselves the perfect recycling project and quite a nice addition to the fridge. (This looks much neater than a bunch of scraps scattered around).

If you recognize the fabric from the easy peasy hardbound journal tutorial, you are right… (and I haven’t used the rest of the sheets yet, so stay tuned).

Tools & Supply

How To –

Step By step Instructions –

  1. Measure a piece of fabric, about 3 inches larger than the styrofoam, both lengthwise and widthwise.
  2. Cut the fabric to size. You can use your scissors or cut a small slit ant rip along.
  3. Put the fabric on your desktop – right side down – and straighten it. You can use an iron if you feel much inclined. I don’t.
  4. Adhere the fabric flaps to the back of the styrofoam. I used Thermoweb’s Clear adhesive Lines but you can use a stapler, just as well (probably better). Start with the long flaps and then move to the shorter ones. Make sure they are pulled tight before adhering or stapling them.
  5. Tuck the edges of the small flaps in, as if you are wrapping a present. Then adhere or staple them to the back of the styrofoam.
  6. To embellish the bulletin board I threaded a string through some buttons and adhered the buttons to some paper flowers. I then adhered the flowers to the board with pop-up glue dots.

Recycled Bulletin Board
[Click on the picture above for a better view]

Share –

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share 🙂

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 4 Comments »

Journaling Prompt – Write A Memory That Has Never Been

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
Memories
[Photo by: Angela Marie]

One semester I took a course on the human mind. The professor was a clinical psychologist and the purpose of this class was to give us a glimpse into the mind of potential witnesses. I’ll let you know it was not my strongest subject… I excelled at taxation and business law. Please do not hold that against me… However, it was one of the more interesting courses I took (Along with modern physics and forensic medicine 101).

One of the more fascinating facts I have learned in that class is that the human memory is quite flimsy. A person can paint a picture of something that has never happened in his head, yet if the picture is detailed and vivid enough, this person will be able to embed it into his memory and won’t be able to tell the difference between this made up memory and an event he actually experienced. Scary, huh?

For this week’s journaling prompt I would like to play and write down a detailed memory which has never been… Play along with me – AT YOUR OWN RISK.

My fictional memory is:

It was 7pm. I had just come back home. All day long my belly had been tossing and turning ever since I had heard about their absence. I was sitting in the porch with my mother and her friend when I heard: “They’re back. They got dehydrated and lost their way – but they are back now”. I was filled with joy and the knot in my belly had finally untied. They were found. They are alive!

Related posts:

  1. The Key To The Kingdom Of My Dreams
  2. Write a Fairy tale

share –

What is your fictional memory? Leave a comment on this post.

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Posted in Journaling Prompt | 2 Comments »

Inspiration Prompt – Embrace Your Creativity

Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Embrace Creativity
[Photo by: alicepopkorn]

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of: Eat, Pray, Love is talking about the basic fear every creative soul is stricken by. The fear of not being good enough. Not living up to your own success or expectations. In her talk, she is not only talking about the problem but also offers a solution.

Gilbert’s solution appeals to me so much, that I felt I had to share it in this week’s inspiration prompt. Gilbert is taking us back to the ancient Greek and Roman times, where “creativity” and “genius” were not considered human qualities but rather a glimpse of divine entities.

Embracing creativity and accepting your genius is not only humbling, as Gilbert explains, but also a great tool to take the fear and self criticism away and get focused on doing the job. Writing. Painting. Dancing.

I absolutely LOVE this idea.

Watch Elizabeth Gilbert talk and get charmed and fascinated:

Share –

How do you feel about embracing the genius? Leave a comment on this post and share your valued thoughts!

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Posted in Inspiration prompt | 6 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – Make A Fabric Covered Hardbound Journal

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Fabric Covered Hardbound Journal

This week I want to suggest another quick and easy way for making an hardbound journal. Covering the thick chipboard with fabric adds additional appeal, the coveted and elusive “je ne sais quoi” 🙂 . Yet, it is soooooo easy to do (provided you did not cut your finger in the process).

Unfortunately, I DID cut my finger in the process, therefore my journal isn’t really as beautiful as I would like it to be (see the frayed edges in the corners)… So please ignore the imperfections and see the hidden potential in it… Considering you can see this raw potential read on for the full (video) tutorial.

Tools & Supply –

Tools & Supply

Measurements –

measurements
[Click on the picture for a better view]

  • Fabric – 12″ by 5.5″
  • Patterned cardstock & copier paper – 7 1/2″ by 4 1/2″
  • Chipboard: spine – 1/4″ by 4 5/8″ cover – 2 (3 7/8″ by 4 5/8″)

How To –


[Click twice on the video to get to You Tube and watch in high quality.
While you’re there, feel free to rate and comment 🙂 ]

Step By Step Instructions –

[I hope it is helpful for those of you who cannot watch the video]

  1. Adhere the chipboard pieces to the fabric with a glue-stick.
  2. Start at the middle with the spine. Then attach the cover pieces – one on each side of the spine. Use a brayer to insure a strong bond.
  3. Cut all 4 corners of the fabric in an angle. Leave a 1/8″ gap between the fabric and the chipboard edges.
  4. Adhere the fabric’s flaps with a glue stick. Tuck in the corners, for a nice fold.
  5. Fold the patterned paper (heavy weight) and copier paper stack in half. Crease well with the bone folder.
  6. Straighten up the copier paper stack with a sharp craft knife. To avoid falling finger tips… don’t press hard on your knife, but rather use repeated soft strokes.
  7. Lay your signature (patterned paper + copier paper stack) on a soft mat (I’m using salvaged styrofoam) and staple together. Use your bone folder to flatten the lil’ prongs.
  8. Cover the signature with strong double sided tape. Some added glue stick doesn’t hurt…
  9. Carefully adhere the signature to your chipboard cover.
  10. Voilà! Enjoy!

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share 🙂

In an effort to make you share more, I want to show you the FABULOUS notebooks the talented Robin Gibson made, following this notebook tutorial. [Click on the picture to go to her Flickr photo page]:

Readers Gallery

Aren’t her notebooks fantastic?

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Posted in creativity prompt, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 13 Comments »

Journaling Prompt – Capture An Unforgettable Moment With Words

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
A picture I did not take
[Photo by: Kevin N. Murphy]

A while back I have stumbled upon an interesting blog by the photographer Michael David Murphy, called: Unphotographable. In this website Murphy writes about a bunch of unforgettable moments he has not had the chance to snap with his camera. He beautifully explains the idea here.

This idea of capturing snap-shots of life and experiences with words is tremendously appealing to me. As I see it there are two main reasons for capturing moments with words:

  1. Commemoration. The camera is not always there when we need it. There are so many treasured moments we will never-ever want to forget, which are passing by us when we are unprepared or just cameraless. Using words is the best way to insure that all those moments are perpetuated.

  2. Elaboration. A camera is a marvelous tool with which you can hold back time and reminisce. Many times a picture is really better then a thousand words, but sometimes the words can add so much more value. Words can convey feelings, background, secrets or a different outlook, details that cannot always get communicated by the photo itself.

For this week’s journaling prompt try to capture with words an unforgettable moment in time you have not had the chance to snap with your camera.

I recommend to make a habit out of “snap-shooting” moments of your life in writing. Make an “unphotographable” journal and keep it in your pocket or your handbag. Start each entry with the words: “This is a picture I did not take of…”

My take:

This a picture I did not take of my nephew approaching my husband (then fiance) and caressing his chin softly with his whitish little hands, his sheepish eyes are looking down and with a slightly shaken voice he’s asking ‘how are you?’.

Share –

Leave a comment and share a picture you did not take…
You are also very welcome to share your general thoughts about the idea of the “unphotographable”.

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Posted in Journaling Prompt | 5 Comments »

Inspiration Prompt – Give Yourself Permission To Make Art

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

We are busy people. So busy that we forget ourselves. Our passions. Our will.

Our attention is divided so thinly there is nothing left for ourselves. We are torn apart.

For this week’s inspiration prompt I ask you to give yourself permission to make art. Allow yourself a couple hours, an hour, half an hour, 15 minutes… whatever you can spare to make something creative. Be it a short story. An art journal entry. a painting. a scrapbook. A card. A sculpture. A summer dress – just give yourself the gift of time and indulge.

For further motivation, I want to share another video from my You Tube’s favorites list. This video is by: Jan Phillips:

Enjoy!

Share –

Leave a comment on this post and share your thoughts about this week’s inspiration prompt.

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Posted in Inspiration prompt | 6 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – Try Scrapbooking On Canvas

Friday, February 20th, 2009

scrapbook on a canvas Thinking outside the box is one of the best creativity exercises. In scrapbooking it is manifested by getting out of the traditional 12″ by 12″ page protectors and experimenting with other mediums and sizes.

For this week’s creativity prompt I am taking scrapbooking out of the post-bound album and onto our wall, with “scrapcanvasing“, which means scrapbooking on canvas.

My experience with scrapcanvasing has been great. Getting out of the boundaries of my cardstock stash had made me pull out my art supply that had been waiting untouched, patiently, for a loooooong time. Playing on a canvas means playing with my acrylic paints, my water colors and other mixed-media art goodies – the sky is the limit…

This week’s video isn’t a tutorial – PER SE – but rather me playing around with my canvas. I truly love the results. (You can click on the picture above, for a closer look at the finished project).

So if you want to watch me playin’, stay tuned:
(and if you feel much inclined, please rate and comment on You Tube, where you can also watch the video in higher resolution)

The great music on the video is by non other than Josh Woodward – his music is available (for free) here.

Tools & Supply –

Share –

Are you feeling like creating your own scrapcanvas? Share your thoughts with me!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

Please let me see your scrapcanvasing creations, by dropping a link at the comments section on this post 🙂

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Posted in creativity prompt, Video Tutorial | 2 Comments »

Journaling Prompt – Childhood Dreams

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Childhood Dreams The imagination of children is highly developed. It actually seems to degenerate as we grow older… For that reason, childhood dreams tend to be grand and out of this world. We feel that everything is possible if we just want it strongly enough.

childhood dreams can involve figments of our imagination as well as feasible goals and aspirations. So were my childhood dreams. I had so many of them. I can hardly remember most of them, but I do recall a few. Some has actually come true and some not. It is fabulous to go through them and find out which actually came to reality.

For this week’s journaling prompt set aside a few moments and try to remember what were your childhood dreams. Write a list of every dream you manage to call to mind and make a note about the ones that actually came true.

The layout above showcases my childhood dreams. The picture was taken at the kindergarten in the summer of 1984… The journaling reads:I had so many dreams… having a puppy, a pony, finding a fairy, catching the rainbow, getting new stickers, stumbling upon a mountain of ice-cream, getting chocolate milk straight from the tap, getting married, being a nurse, a fashion designer, a lawyer… Some came true. Some not.

You may click on the picture for a closer view.Share –

Share your childhood dreams. Has any of them come true? Leave a comment on this post.

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Posted in Journaling Prompt | 4 Comments »

Inspiration Prompt – Dare

Monday, February 16th, 2009

I have stumbled upon this video on YouTube and it took my breath away. This video is powerful and inspiring and I wanted to share it with you guys!

Dare!!!

Please leave a comment – I’d love to hear what was your reaction to this fabulous video by Sara Pozzetti.

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Posted in Inspiration prompt | 20 Comments »

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