Day 61: Art Attack

Do you remember this? It used to be my favourite TV show when I was a kid, but I don't think I ever made any of the things he made (I am ashamed to call myself creative). This is obviously a big confession for me to make on a blog such as this, but I wonder if you are the same?

Morph, Smart, Blue Peter, they all had arty bits, but how many things actually got made? i feel I missed out a bit here, but there's no time like the present! Luckily I have found a craft that is ready for us all to try.

Are you up for the challenge? You might not be afraid of things lurching under your bed anymore, but I thought these were pretty cute. So try it in the holidays and see if you can get yours as good as Neil's!

Why not use his methods to make your own inventions. I know you've got the skills. Get your thinking caps on and start creating!



Don't fancy this one? Check out these ones too!

Day 60: Say what?

Okay, today's (hopefully) creative inspiration is a bit random, I must admit, but go with me.

If you're into film, writing for film, writing dialogue or if you just want to have a bit of fun, try this...

Watch this clip, just the first few minutes or so. I have completely NO idea what these guys are talking about or what the video is even about and that's the joy of it. My challenge to you is to write their script in English. What are they talking about? Can you tell from their body language? It can be about anything you like...

YOU decide!

Day 59: Photoshop wonders

I have found these amazing pictures on the web that were all made with the help of Photoshop. Now, I don't know much about Photoshop but just look at all the amazing things you can do with it. Photographers, get a load of this...

What would you do with the help of Photoshop? I hope these inspire you. Perhaps making pictures isn't your thing. Instead see what's around and be inspired to do your own thing with them. Could they inspire your stories, songs, plays, art, fashion...?

Whatever it is, make it creative!

Day 58: Smilie

Today, I have dedicated this blog to a very special 'person' in my life. His name is Smilie. I bought him from a Christmas bazaar when I was 6 years old with my first ever pocket money (50p). We've been inseparable ever since, even to this day.

Here he is with a smile on his face, ready for every occasion. He has shared in my joys and my sadder times, always with a smile to greet each one. Happy, dependable and reliable. That's Smilie.

Why am I talking to you about a panda bear? Well, I have just been to see Toy Story 3 and if you haven't seen it then GO! It's really all about toys and their loyalty to their owners which is a nice idea. I like to think Smilie is loyal to me. I can tell you that it's because of the Jesse scene in Toy Story 2 (where her owner abandoned and forgot about her) that Smilie has never left my bed. Do you have a special toy like Smilie that you used to play with?

Smilie's getting a little old now, so he spends most of the time sitting on my bed chillin' out, but when we were young we would get up to all sorts. I remember making him a drum kit out of plastic pots and lolly sticks, playing make believe all the time, and I even made the scarf he is fashioning in this picture.

Creativity is in my past, shown through the life of my favourite childhood toy. What do your toys show? Childhood is full of creativity (which I spoke about on Day 13). There's a great scene in Toy Story 3 where the growing up Andy and a little girl called Bonnie play with his toys. Playtime was and is full of imagination and fun. Do YOU remember? Go back to your play days and see what you can find. You never know what you might rediscover...how will it inspire you now?

Day 57: Campervans

Aren't they just great! It's basically a house AND a car! What more could you want? There is so much I could say about campervans, but for today, I will try to stick to their creative element (but it'll be hard!).

Think of a colour, and then another. Maybe a pattern or two. Then a curtain design and a seat pattern. Hey, why not chuck in a personalised logo too. Throw them all together and the chances are, you could probably find a campervan which covers the whole lot. They are all sooo different with their own unique style. You really can be as creative as you like with a camper!

When I was a teenager, we had a campervan. It wasn't quite as cool as a T1 or T2 like the ones above (yes I'm a campervan geek and know all the models!), but boy did we try. Instead of your average white T3 (which was the model they made after the cool ones above), we had it dark blue with a light blue Celtic boarder around it. We had carpet, curtains and seat covers to match and it was the coolest thing ever!

I want one now! You can tour the world in them in style and everything...

Anyway (I told you I'd get carried away!), this is your creative challenge for the day. Have a look at all the designs and choose your own. Have a think. What would you choose for your camper? Pick your own colours, curtains, patterns, hubcaps, seat covers, door knobs...and don't forget the accessories; cups, plates, tea towels, awning...I even found a template you can practise your designs on!

If that's not your thing, then maybe you could think about designing campervan merchandise. There's tons! Mugs, keyrings, clocks, pads, clothing, bags, bookends...

Go for a ride with it and see where you end up!

Day 56: All those patterns

Are you the same as me? Most of the time I don't even realise I'm doing it. I'll be staring at the clouds absentmindedly and before I know it I've turned a cloud into a huge foot or a praying mantis. You know what I mean?

Takes the past two days for example;

Yesterday I woke up in a tent and the outside had got wet and stuck to the inside. After looking at the strange shapes it made, I decided it looked like 2 vicious sea creatures. One was attacking a (smaller) human and the other was trying to stop the attach. Story?

Today I saw the shape of a crouching boy in the middle of the clouds. His skin stood out because it was made of dark cloud, whereas the thing n his lap (a book, towel, map, scroll..fill it with whatever you like), was shining white. It was so cool!

Sometimes it's raindrops falling down a window. Their positions make a word or an interesting pattern which reminds me of a cat's face. Even when I was a little girl, I would think the raindrops on the outside of a moving car were having races...

Creases in fabric, bobbles in the ceiling, holes in rocks, ridges in a tree...I do it with everything!

I have decided that this all part of being creative. If you know what I'm going on about then you are one of those creative thinkers too.

Luckily for you, you're in the right place. All of these 'sightings' got me thinking, there must be something we could do with all of this...

The next time you catch yourself doing such a thing, write it down. The crouching boy I saw today could definitely become an interesting character and the thing in his lap, the perfect plot opener! And two ferocious sea monsters, well...

So, there you have it. Don't waste this creative gift, use it to inspire your own creations.

I wonder what you will see...

Day 55: The draw!

As is the tradition with uni students, every summer brings about a change, whether it be to a completely new house or back to the comforts of home. To be honest, most of this 'change' brings about all sorts of annoyances. Everything has to be put into boxes and carted from here to there. You have to clean everything and generally it's just a big pain in the butt!

Speaking of buts, there is ONE thing which I have decided is a plus (kind of). It makes you sort out that draw/cupboard (even entire rooms in some cases) which you've been avoiding for ages and getting worse is the process. We all have one, student or not, that gets filled with 'things'. Birthday cards from 3 years ago, old ticket stubs, keys, buttons, paperwork, an odd sock...you know what I'm on about.

What has this got to do with inspiring creativity, I hear you ask? Well, if you have got anything from this blog so far, it should be that creativity can be sparked by anything. Even a minial task such as clearing out a forgotten draw. (Doesn't that just scream creative possibility to you!)

This is my challenge for you today. GO to that draw, delve right in and sort it out! Is this the challenge? No! The challenge is to enter it with your creative thinking cap on. What will you find? How will it inspire you? Who knows! The only way to find out, is to do it.

Better yet (or simply to avoid that dark place), why not do someone else a favour? Offer to sort out your nan's draw. That big dresser in the hall where she keeps stuff from decades ago. Now that would be an interesting draw!

What will you find to spark your imagination today...?