scarf necklace
Happy Monday Everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve posted (the Daily Creative 365 has been on hold) but I had a crafty itch and wanted to share with you a recent DIY I put together! I’m loving all the big necklace pieces with different fabrics and trinkets lately and found a quick, affordable, easy, and delightfully satisfying way to create a fun scarf necklace! The best part- most of what you need you probably have lying around the house!
via Pinterest
Happy Monday everyone! Slowly, yet surely, 2011 has come with a big bang and I cannot believe we are already half way through March! I have a confession… My creative’s have been put on hold a bit. There are a few feelings flowing through my veins with this crafter’s dilemma. Lying in bed after an exhausting day and knowing I didn’t set time aside for a prompt does not help one to fall asleep any faster. Although at the same time, if I got one done in a week I feel a slight pat on the back and hear a little voice say, “Well done Merryl, you’re one up from the day before!” There are big moves for me in the sense that in the near future I will have a day full of creative’s, kind of like that old show Super Market Sweep, and see how many days I can pull together into one to catch up! I can relate to all the writers out there who have so many ideas and so much to say but sit there with that wretched writer’s block. But I will knock that wall down and hopefully deliver to you some inspiration!
Here are a few new creative’s that slipped their way into my hectic life! Hope your week is full of wonder! Cheers!
Day 35: Create instructions for someone to make something/follow and have them try it out.
Countdown to Bubby!I work with a women at work that most of us consider the “house mom.” I call her Bubby and decided to make a chain link countdown for the next time I would see her (like the one I made every December for Christmas). There was a nice card with instruction to eliminate one paper ring a day, until she was down to only one, the day we were scheduled again together!
Day 35
Day 36: Take something old and make it look new. Hammer time!
Day 36
Day 37- Use a stapler/staples today!
(Try) To keep your ducks in a row, you never know what’s behind you…
Day 37
Follow Merryl for more prompts on Instagram @Merskies
It finally happened. The ambitious idea of a creative a day surrendered to the hectic schedule that is my life. If you think about having to set aside time for a creative a day, the task can sound daunting. There was a secret thought lingering in my head leading up to the busiest weeks of my work year, that I perhaps would not have time for my Instagram posts or creating. Luckily I was busy enough to be distracted from thinking about not being productive for my 365 project. Looking at the glass half full, I did make it through more than a month of creatives a day, which is more than I can say for last year! That’s the beauty of this project… Keeping your own personal pace and interpretation without the pressure. My 365 is rebuilding my crafters spirit, which is plenty to be thankful for! So here are another weeks worth of creatives that are behind, yes, but nonetheless made with love! Happy and creative week to you all!
Day 29: Can you make a disguise and fool anyone? “They’ll Neva Know!”
Day 29
Day 30- Work with toys or even work with kids!
The heart balloon and monkey were made by a balloon artist at a fair, I was his “assistant” in handing him the next balloon he needed. Most rewarding after seeing the smile on that little girls face!
Day 30
Day 31- Make a path for someone to follow and invite people to try it out.
Chalking on a sidewalk. Instead of physically making a path this prompt spoke a little different to me, the paths we take in life and the one I want to take. In the simple, poetic words of Bob Dylan “May you stay, forever young.”
Day 31
Day 32-Create something that will dissipate but displays quickly like soap, smoke, butter, etc. “Smile like you mean it.”
Day 32
Day 33-Use pens as your tools today. A hoop earring and pens turned into a “pendelear” lampshade.
Day 33
Day 34- Use wire today, thin gauge wire, paper clips even.
Two wire hangers with a side of heart.
Day 34
Congrats to Merryl for reaching week 4 of her creative journey! They just keep on getting better 
I can’t wait to see next week’s creatives…
Day 22: Create a bridge. Thanks to Alisia and the inventory closet. Rough terrain for those sour patch kids!
Day 22
Day 23: Waste not! Use materials from the recycling bin today! I made a journal using the book backs from Day 8, bottle labels, and pop cans.
Day 23
Day 24: It’s not easy being green. Use green materials and maybe even create with a green background! These are friendship bracelets with letter charms for my 365 friends on Instagram!
Day 24
Day 25: Work with nature. Walk outside in the yard or a park and find your materials. “The weather is here, wish you were beautiful.”
Day 25
Day 26: Make something portable that usually isn’t. I don’t live in the same town as my family, and I think the idea of them being “portable” (even the ones not pictured) at any moment would be quite a blessing. So instead I put them in my mini wallet, and heart of course! Home is where the heart is!
Day 26
Day 27: Use an event dream as an inspiration. I often times, can not remember my dreams. So instead, I used this photo I took recently at the beach one night. It was so dark and so beautiful out, it almost felt like a dream. There is a quote I LOVE by Neil Gaiman that speaks perfectly on this photo, the way I feel about this project, and life in general. I wish you all good madness, and make art!
Day 27
Day 28: Use traditional school supplies like a number 2 pencil and lined notebook paper to make something not so traditional. A couple of paper chimes!
Day 28
To see Merryl’s daily prompts follow her on Instagram @Merskies
Merryl Magnuson is a weekly contributor on 8Balloons, sharing her journey of daily creatives from Noah Scalin’s book, 365: A Daily Creative Journal-Make Something Everyday and Change Your Life.
In the beginning of this Daily Creative Journal, I was having an inner struggle on where I thought this adventure was heading. Certain ideas were attainable, yet sometimes the final product was not what my original intentions were to be. This project has become such a wonderful outlet, why was I feeling frustrated? Almost instantly I became my own worst critic putting pressure and too much thought into the process. I inhaled the word creative and spun it into this synonym for crafting, finding myself confused on what was sitting right in front of me. What direction am I taking and why am I finding it difficult to make a decision? I couldn’t just “do” my creative prompt. The motivation was abundant but the jumping right in felt stalled. I read Scalin’s message on how this was supposed to be a stress free, fun, small moment of my day and pretty much chose to ignore it. Until I re-read why he created this book in the first place and the break through happened. I was thrown into this parallel universe of the Creative vs. the Craft. My ideas were fighting my ability to construct. This was all wrong. They coincide together and should work as a team. Having a creative idea is where the craft originates. So after taking all of this into consideration I threw my arms up took a deep breath and just worked. The heavy feeling was released and the next couple of prompts came easily, without any hesitation! I hope you enjoy this week’s batch!
Day 15: Use a dollar bill as your inspiration today. New readers and a bookmark for 6 bucks, beat that big chain bookstores 
Day 15
Day 16: Use a potato/ sponge to create a stamp! 8 Balloons was my inspiration!
Day 16
Day 17: Make something that’s inspired by or goes over the eye! Mum mum mum mum p p p poker face!
Day 17
Day 18: Work with things you find in your car(or a friends.) Time was limited today, although, I had enough earrings in the car for a mini chandelier
Day 18
Day 19: Create something that floats on water. Foam locket necklace. Give hope a chance to float up, and it will…
Day 19
Day 20: Use clay today! Separate pieces of clay rolled up here. It ended up pink and the perfect little pen holder on my desk.
Day 20
Day 21: Write a 10 word love story. You look good wearing my future.. I’ll take size forever.
Day 21
To see more of Merryl’s daily prompts follow her on instagram @ Merskies
Resources:
Noah Scalin’s 365: A Daily Creative Journal-Make Something Everyday and Change Your Life
Last week was the beginning of Merryl’s creative journey with the book, 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!
. Below are the second week prompts with her creations! I just love seeing how she is improving. Last week she felt a bit outside her comfort zone, so her creations seemed to be pushed a little. This week you could start seeing Merryl releasing her inner artist! It really is all about pushing yourself at first and then watching the magic happen innately.
Day 8: Transform an old book into something new. Book vase!
Day 9
Day 9: Make something with your breakfast before you eat it. Clementines, “A sunrise has no stage fright.”
Day 9
Day 10: Use water as your medium today. Mr. and Mrs. Salt and Pepper walk the plank!
Day 10
Day 11: Work with the other hand, your non-dominant hand. Writing with my left hand looks like a 6 year olds, so I chose a great Shel Silverstein poem Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas and made a fridge ornament (in honor of the elementary theme and all )
Day 11
Day 12: Camouflage. White picket polka dot dream <3
Day 12
Day 13: Use tea bags/leaves/liquid to create something today. White fabric and newspaper soaked in tea water for a dye job.
Day 13
Day 14: Make something microscopic. I used the stippling technique and it created really small dots. Chanel inspired. Les Femmes de Paris!
Day 14
Sneak Peak into Week 3! I love her creation for Day 15!
Day 15: Use a dollar bill as your inspiration today. New readers and a bookmark for 6 bucks, beat that big chain bookstores
Day 15
Follow Merryl to see more of her daily prompts on Instagram @Merskies
Resources:
365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!
As I was discussing last week, my best friend Merryl decided to put creativity back in her life daily with Noah Scalin’s, “365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Everyday and Change Your Life!”. Each Monday I will be posting Merryl’s weekly journal of her creations. Here is the first week of her journey in her own words…
Every first day of the New Year, I find myself sifting through my mental notes of all the ideas or projects I wanted to accomplish from the previous year. At the end of 2010 I felt those echoes louder than ever. The little things I enjoyed doing, such as crafting, became completely isolated. You know, “life happens” and “there aren’t enough hours in the day” syndrome. Then I fell upon a fun, creative iPhone app (Instagram) and a girl’s photo about a book, and her idea for the New Year.
The book Julie mentioned earlier, 365: A Daily Creative Journal- Make Something Everyday and Change Your Life spoke to me. My inner crafter started dancing with motivation and two hours later I was at the book store. I felt like the stars aligned and this was exactly what I needed. The idea is to make an original creation everyday, and in return feel the sense of accomplishment. No stress, no restrictions, and no pressure for the next Mona Lisa. A simple and inventive prompt for each day of the year and you step into adult recess; a tiny break from your hectic day to have fun and be creative! Ironically, on the first day of 2011, what I was yearning for so long, fell right into my lap!
Julie invited me to post some of my daily creatives here on her blog. I’m exited to see where this new creative adventure leads! Here are Days 1-7!
Day 1: Make something that fits into the palms of your hands using materials only in your immediate enviorment. Velcro and a button in the shape of a heart. (from my flip-flop) All you need is love!
Day 1
Day 2: what is your favorite animal? Use that as your inspiration today. A basset hound named Tank. Paper weaving of a pop art pup, I like to call it “basset weaving!”
Day 2
Day 3: make something out of paper but don’t use scissors, glue, or draw on it. Monogram post it’s paper sun 365.
Day 3
Day: 4 Take a five minute walk and where you end up, use whatever materials available. Then, leave it there for someone else to discover. “amour, period” This was in a local park.
Day 4
Day 5: What do you collect? I felt my home grown roots and chose a selected group of UI garb! Each save a great memory and remind me of a place I really, love.
Day 5
Day 6: look in the kitchen and use the first fruit/ veg you see. “The Berry Bunch”
Day 6
Day 7: Make a stencil. A favorite classic in rotation lately, Auntie Mame. She’s fabulous and inspiring.
I also gifted a bottle of wine and used it for the bag. “Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
Day 7
Day 7 extended
Follow Merryl on Instagram for more updates @ Merskies
To purchase the book go to:
http://www.amazon.com/365-Creativity-Journal-Something-Change/dp/0760339961/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I have never been one to Love the idea of “New Year’s Resolutions”. I find them to place too much pressure on one’s self and usually they die out fast. I always am trying for self-actualization (aren’t we all?), and for the most part when I commit to something, I follow through. However, I never define these resolutions I make to myself on New Year’s. It kind of reminds me of the lover’s name tattoo curse. You always seem to hear the same story of one of the lover’s getting their significant other’s name tattooed, only to have their relationship break up the following week. Now that I have gone on a tangent, let’s get back to the purpose of this post.
One of my best friend’s Merryl decided this was going to be her new year of Creativity. And although I ranted (see above) about New Year’s Resolutions, this one resonated with me. I applauded her for it and because she took action on this I could only see the positives with it. How was she going to go about living her new year with creativity you ask? With one of the best books I have seen to date for helping release your creative side. Noah Scalin’s, 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!
365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!
To purchase go to:
365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!
I am 8Balloons curator Julie Reif and I love all things paper and other beautiful creations. I am not the artist but rather the admirer. read more...
