Hiiiii!
With the New Year right around the corner, it’s time to talk about creative dreams and goals. Today, let’s build a Creative Board.
What is a Creative Board? It’s basically writing out our creative dreams and goals for the year. With this project, we’ll be making something super simple. If you want to decorate it and go all out, by all means, create this to match your vibe. But all you really need is a piece of paper and some pens.
Let’s get into it!
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The Idea Behind This Project
It’s about to be a New Year so that means it’s a great time to reflect on the current year and how life has played out thus far. Talking from a creative perspective, it’s a great time to ask yourself, did you like what you made this year and how you’ve grown? Do you have any goals or plans to grow next year? Where can you improve in the next year and pivot to learn from past projects?
I start by asking these questions because I think as creative people we tend to look at the year ahead and all the little moments in life where it would be exciting to sew or paint or crochet – or whatever you fancy – for X*. That we get caught up in individual projects, or the abundance of things to do, and it can be easy to get lost in the rush of just completing the projects in a year.
X* being any of the following, or others, you fill in the blank:
- A wedding
- A party
- Your Birthday
- Holiday events
- Gifts for others
- Special events
This year I created…I don’t know how many projects, it feels like a lot. Some I am so proud of, some really taught me something, some were a real struggle, and some are still unfinished.
While simply making things is fun and great, I want to help you build a Creative Board so that you can find focus and grow in your art heading into another year of creativity. Because let’s be honest, it’s not just “new year, new me,” it’s also new life experiences. So let’s make some goals to help us become our best selves and create the life we want, however we want.
Thinking Outside the Box
I would encourage you to think outside the box here. Because I’m sure you already have a Pinterest board or something somewhere with all your creative ideas. There’s no reason for us to compete with that or exhaust our efforts by making a new one.
We creative people tend to always have things in the back of our heads of what we want to create next. Personally, I already know a lot of things I want to make, so there’s no need to create a list for the upcoming year. I have that list in my Pinterest board and in my mind.
Ahem, I have 900+ art ideas in my Pinterest board…
Okay but, in my defense, some of those pins are multiple ideas for one project. Like maybe I could do this thing with that strap, and maybe I should take the design of the pocket placement from that pin. And the next thing you know, I have 10 pins for every idea, and well, that ends with 900+ ideas in your art board…
Case in point, clearly I need to do some tidying of my Pinterest board. Do you understand now though why I don’t need to build a Creative Board with pictures? Let’s keep things simple and create something that helps us to grow and focus in 2024.
To start, get a blank piece of paper and draw a tic-tac-toe board on it.
Think about things you can put in these boxes that will help you build a new habit or try something new.
I would encourage you to make one of your goals something that challenges you! Something that you’ve always wanted to attempt but haven’t tackled yet. For example, if bras are intimidating to you but you’ve always wanted to make one. Or if you’ve been eyeballing a $2,000 coat for years that you want to create. Put that on your goal list! This is still a one-and-done thing for your Creative Board, but it’s not just a simple sewing project, it’s a challenge that will grow you – and tics something off your dream list that you’ve always wanted to do.
Say no to fear this New Year – we’re going to tackle the big dreams!
Most importantly with this Creative Board – have fun! It doesn’t have to be complicated or over the top, but it does need to be something that you enjoy. So whether you take some ideas from the list below, or you put some simpler ideas on your board, be creative, have fun, and get a little crazy with it!
This is going to be your best creative year yet! I believe in you!
Some ideas for your board could include:
Don’t Buy Anything New
Consider only thrifting your main materials.
At thrift stores, you can find sheets and blankets or old knit/crocheted pieces that you can take apart for the materials.
I understand that can be a little tricky if you’re making things to sell, maybe make a little exception for yourself with this. You could avoid buying anything new for yourself this year, and next year you can try to do this for your whole business. Baby steps lead to growth.
Also maybe include with this goal/new habit of yours, to only buy something if you have a project in mind. I tend to go into a store and want to buy all the pretty things. The next thing I know I have a huge collection of materials on hand with no plan of how to use them.
Finish Un-finished Projects
One of my goals this year is definitely going to be to finish some half-made projects. Sadly, a lot of these projects are for myself. I got started on them and was interrupted by other projects that needed to be completed sooner. Maybe that means I need to set a boundary so that I don’t neglect myself or get burnt out and lose the joy in my hobby.
Going into this New Year, I’m going to push myself to finish six of these half-complete projects before the next year starts. Hypothetically, this shouldn’t be that hard to do and it shouldn’t take that long to complete these, since the projects are half done already. I hope…?
Use Up Old Materials
Another idea, you set a goal to use up your scrap fabrics/yarn or other supplies you no longer use. Or at least have a goal to go through a good portion of it. Make sure you quantify how much that is. For example, if you have 10 boxes do you want to use up five of them by the end of the year?
I cannot tell you how many half-used craft items I have. Half-used notebooks, unused canvases from when I was younger, paint that will probably dry up soon if I don’t do something with it + a dozen other artsy things. These are clearly in desperate need of some attention.
Perhaps one of your goals can be to focus on other forms of art for a bit so you can use things up, or donate them to a niece or nephew who is trying to learn one of these techniques.
Teach and Share Your Art
On that note, a goal you could set is to teach or share what you’ve learned with someone in your life. It’s great to donate your old materials to a family member so they don’t go to waste, but it’s also special to share some techniques with them as well.
You can share your knowledge and supplies, and of course, you can always gift finished projects to people. For Christmas, I made my sister-in-law this reversible vest from some unused materials.
Upcycling and Total Transformations
Upcycles are a great goal to put on your on your list! I have a pile of clothes in my house that just aren’t quite right and need a little facelift. What about you? Do you save your clothes that don’t quite make you happy or fit the right way?
Also – you can upcycle more things than just clothes. If you paint, transforming an old canvas from the thrift store is a great place to get cheap materials.
Consider embroidering old pillows, clothes, blankets, and even some shoes to bring a transformation to unwanted things in your house.
Mending
Mending what you have in your closet instead of buying replacements is one of the best things you could add to your Creative Board this year. If you’ve got something similar at home that needs a little fixing, don’t go out and replace it. Instead, give it a little love and restore it.
“Clean Out” Your Pinterest Board
Another thing I’m definitely putting on my Creative Board for the New Year is to clean out my Pinterest board.
I have made some projects from my art board on Pinterest, like this Anthropologie-inspired top. But I haven’t gone back to remove the pin from the board since I completed the project. By the end of this next year, I want to be below a certain number – maybe below 750? Is that asking too much?
To hit that goal, I’ll need to create some of these projects and look for things I’m no longer interested in making. If I just saved it because it was cute for a season but it’s not really my style, it needs to go.
Create From What You’ve Got and Reuse
I would encourage you to create not only with the materials you currently have on hand but also to use all the items you have.
Reuse patterns you’ve bought or downloaded for free. Make the same item if you need multiple or adjust current patterns to create new things. You can even create similar items for friends and family using a pattern you have.
Patterns are just a guide that’s supposed to get you started in the right direction. But then you’re supposed to whip out your creative imagination and make it custom and special to you
Removing the Pressure
Now that you have your complete list of nine things, I know, it can feel like a lot! Especially when there are only 12 months in the year to complete them in.
To help remove a little bit of that pressure and the possible stress that you just added to yourself after having these big aspirations. I want to remind you that this is a game of tic-tac-toe. The goal does not need to be to cross off every box, only to get three in a row – in any direction of course.
In a perfect world, you’d be able to do them all, but there’s no pressure to actually do it all. Calm down, everything is okay.
If by the end of the year, you have completed only three or four of these things, you will still have created new habits and accomplished goals. The accomplishment won’t be in having sewn just one thing – unless that’s your goal – or in feeling like you failed for missing one day of creating.
It’s not about the number of completed projects, it’s about the new habits and the new practices that you built. The goal is to grow and become a better you and become better at your art.
I hope you dare to create and dream and chase your inspirations this New Year.
What would you put on your Creative Board? Let me know in the comments!
If you decide to build a Creative Board share yours on Instagram with me. Tag me @doorsandfloorsblog and use the hashtag #DoorsAndFloorsBlog.
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P.S. Looking for a fun activity you can do with a friend while working on tedious crafty tasks, download our free trivia here.
Playing trivia is a great way to keep your mind active and have fun with your crafty friends and family while busting out those seam ripping, crocheting, and other time-consuming, but necessary, crafty tasks.
