Creativity does not have to wait for hours of free time.

In fact, you can get your creative juices flowing in as little as 10 minutes!

I have been on an impromptu content creating hiatus. For many reasons but if I were to pick just one it was me trying to be perfect.

Trying to create perfect journal pages. Trying to create perfect content. Trying to find perfect words.

Did I say perfect too much? Well I was definitely trying to create in a way that, if I am honest, I have never created before.

I like quick, I like to enjoy the act of creativity.

I love getting messy and for my space to be in total chaos around me as I pick up this thing then that thing and glue this and scribble that.

 

It makes me so, so happy!

Mess Can Be Part of the Creative Process

When you have a mess of supplies on your desk you can be called into the general sense of creativity.

• Seeing your favorite pens might inspire a scribble or a doodle
• A picture torn from a magazine might become the focal point of your page
• The general sense of chaos also can allow a letting go of the need to be perfect and to just have a play

Having supplies already out on your work space makes it so easy to dip in and out of your journal pages when you only have a few minutes to play!

Here are some tips for quick art journaling sessions:

1. Keep a small tin or bag filled with some yumminess to add layers and dimension to your pages
2. Keep some markers, paint pens, gel pens or colored pencils in your favorite colors. Choose 3 that are in the same color family-cools like blues and greens or warms like red, yellow and orange.
3. When in doubt-washi! Washi tape or even masking tape can add interest and be used to hold down some of your decorative elements.
4. Keep the trash! Got some junk mail or cool tags off that new maxi skirt? Keep them and add them to your ephemera tin or bag. Use them to make tags or just add a level of interest.
5. Leave perfectionism at the cover! You are here to be creative, to play and to enjoy the process. If at the end of it all you aren’t happy with the results, cover it over with a coat of paint or gesso and have a go another time! The added layers will make for even more creative magic!

Today I started out by glue down some ephemera only to quickly remove it. I decided to use some tempera paint sticks to add color and then a quote jumped out at me and I decided to make it my focal point. Highlighting it with color.

Some background papers and a few layers et voila! I had an art journal page complete!

If you want some company during your creative play time I have a video of me playing in my current junk journal.  Grab your goodies and let’s create a page together! I cannot wait to see what you make! Be sure to tag me on Instagram @dreamingdilettante

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante