art – Page 2 – Keeping it creative

art, bullet journal, Bullet journaling, creativity, Cricut, lifestyle, planner girl, planner lifestyle, Planning and journaling

Setting up my Bullet Journal for May 2024: Gardening quotes and flowers theme

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Laura

This month, it’s time for me to start a new bullet journal and the one I’ve chosen is the Tsuki ‘suzume’ from Notebook Therapy. Suzume is Japanese for sparrow and, as a bird lover, this was the perfect choice for me. The notebook features gold embossing of a sparrow carrying a flower in its beak plus a crescent moon, shooting star and sparkles on the front of the gorgeous pink linen cover. There’s also small details such as the same flower to the spine, plus gold edges to the pages which are really special touches too.

For my theme this time, I’ve chosen a combination of gardening quotes and pretty flowers. I’ve mainly used stickers to decorate my pages but I did take the time to create a hand drawn and coloured in image for my front cover. Hopefully, this month the weather will be a little warmer (and drier) and there will be a few more opportunities to get outside to tend to our flower beds and pots and see our bright blooms appear. We’re also hoping to spend some time relaxing on our garden bench (including after dark looking for our hedgehog visitor) and I might even get to enjoy my morning coffee in the sunshine. Fingers crossed!

So, here are my pages for the month of May. I hope you enjoy looking at them and I would love to hear your thoughts or questions about any aspect of my set up in the comments below.

Front cover

I enjoyed using a combination of Tombow Dual Brush pens and Crayola Supertips to colour in my hand drawn design. I then added the spots to the watering can using a Sakura gelly roll pen to add more interest.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Month on two pages

The sticker decor for this page was all created using images from Cricut Design Space and turning them into print and cut images. I couldn’t resist adding a few sparkles using a Uniball Signo gold glitter pen.

Finances

My usual chart to record my incomings and outgoings.

Weekly plans

I’ve done the same set up for each of my weeklies and used flower decor throughout. This is for the first week which I’ve already started to fill in. I’ve been busy making tiny icon stickers to use to represent different activities and I’m continuing to add to my collection. This will make my planning process quicker and more visual.

Final words…

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post and look at my bullet journal spreads today. I appreciate any form of support or encouragement towards my blog whether that’s reading my content, liking my posts, making comments or asking questions – especially as things seem to have gone a little quiet over the last few months (sob!).

Wishing you a joy filled May whatever your plans are for the month. I’m hoping to get the rest of my Spring bucket list ticked off as there are still quite a few items left including a waterfall walk and a bike ride!

art, bullet journal, Bullet journaling, creativity, Cricut, lifestyle, Planning and journaling, watercolour painting

Setting up my Bullet Journal for April 2024: Houseplants theme

Posted on Apr 11, 2024Apr 11, 2024 by Laura

For this month’s BuJo theme, I took inspiration from a cute little gift bag I found in one of my local garden centres. I made stickers to decorate most of my spreads but wanted to do some watercolouring for the front cover. Unfortunately, I’ve been ill with a bad chest infection so, although most of my pages have been set up since the beginning of the month, I was only well enough to work on my painting for the last few days. I was really pleased with the finished design and wanted the gold effects to be seen in my bullet journal so I’ve actually trimmed the watercolour paper and stuck it in. Usually, I wouldn’t do this, but as I’m nearly at the end of my notebook, I’m not so bothered with the bulk it has added.

The front cover

My finished cover image had to be trimmed down slightly to make it fit in my bullet journal which was a shame but I hadn’t intended to glue it in so I didn’t check the paper size. When I scan my paintings in, it’s easy enough to shrink them to fit so I always use an A5 watercolour piece of paper.

I had great fun mixing the colours for the pots and leaves and I loved using my Finetec palette to add some gold detailing. The shimmering effect is so pretty and I’m excited to open my BuJo each morning to check my schedule for the day. To get the shelves looking super sharp and straight, I applied washi tape to the bottom of each and then used a light sand Tombow marker to colour in. You can probably see that it’s not watercolour but I really don’t mind! The April title is a little sticker I made using a font I found on Canva.

Monthly Calendar pages

Last month, I had another free trial of Canva Pro so I typed in ‘watercolour houseplants’ and chose my favourite images to use as stickers. Cricut have finally fixed the issue with their print and cut sticker offset in Design Space so I was able to print my sticker sheets straightaway without having to reboot my computer. I’m so pleased they eventually sorted the problem as it saves so much time.

Expenses

I decided to use a mid green Tombow brush pen to highlight every other line in my expenses chart this month. It takes a while to do them, as I use washi tape strips to get the bottom of the lines perfectly straight, but I think it adds more interest to the spread. I left enough room to add three pot plants as decor too.

Weekly plans

April is another busy month so I wanted plenty of space to record daily events and to do lists but also a little room to add some plant stickers. I decided not to do a Dutch door layout this time but stuck with the horizontal days. I’ve added my running task lists to the pages after my weeklies like I did in March. The leaves across the top were created using a single leaf shape spaced out and in different orientations to make a kind of border to fill the space. I created one for each week and I think it finishes the pages nicely.

Final words…

Thank you for taking the time to look at my bullet journal pages for this month – I hope you like my chosen theme and my designs. I apologise for sharing them so late but I’ve been feeling completely wiped out for several weeks. I’m still not totally better but I managed to go to Clubbercise yesterday and Zumba today, so my energy levels have certainly improved.

I hope you’re all having a lovely April and that the weather where you are is better than it is here in Sunderland – we’ve had so much rain recently and one of the flower beds in our back garden is completely flooded and has been that way for weeks.

Much love,

art, creativity, lifestyle

Tips to Unlocking the Full Spectrum of Your Creativity – Guest post by Linda Chase

Posted on Mar 12, 2024 by Laura

Today, I’m sharing another guest post from Linda Chase where she considers ways in which you can unlock the full range of your creativity. I hope you find the tips useful and, as always, I would love to hear any feedback you have, which I will be sure to pass on to Linda.

Nowadays, maintaining a steady flow of creativity can be a challenge. However, rejuvenating your creative spirit is not only possible but crucial for personal growth. This article, courtesy of Keeping it Creative, offers practical advice to help you rediscover your creative spark so you can flourish in all your endeavors.

Seek Inspiration from the World

Observation is a powerful tool for creative inspiration. By paying close attention to your environment and experiences, you uncover unique insights and ideas that can transform your creative endeavors. The world around you is a constant source of inspiration, from the intricate patterns of nature to the dynamic expressions of urban life. Engaging with this diversity encourages you to see the ordinary in extraordinary ways, fueling your imagination and enriching your creative output.

Harness the Power of Photography

Expanding your creativity through photography opens new avenues for artistic expression, especially by colorizing your photos to breathe new life into them. Utilizing Photoshop allows for the meticulous editing of old black-and-white photographs, transforming them into vibrant pieces of art. Additionally, specialized tools that add color to black-and-white photos offer the ability to revive cherished family portraits or infuse them with artistic flair, featuring automatically selected colors and customizable settings for a personalized touch.

Foster a Curious Mind

Curiosity is the engine of creativity. By nurturing a constant desire to learn and understand the world in more profound ways, you uncover a wealth of new ideas and possibilities. This relentless pursuit of knowledge keeps your mind active and open to innovation, inspiring you to explore beyond the surface and discover the unseen connections that spark creative thought.

Cultivate a Rich Literary Palette

Broadening your literary horizons is a foundational step toward enriching your creative well. Exposure to a diverse array of genres and styles introduces you to new ideas, perspectives, and sources of inspiration. Each book, article, or poem you engage with adds depth to your understanding and appreciation of the world, thereby expanding your creative potential. This practice encourages you to draw from a vast pool of knowledge, fueling your imagination and pushing your creative boundaries.

Unleash Thoughts Through Writing

Setting aside time for unrestricted writing is a powerful technique to unlock your creative potential. This practice allows thoughts and ideas to flow freely, without judgment or restriction. By writing down whatever comes to mind, you tap into your subconscious, uncovering insights and perspectives that can inspire new creative projects. This unfiltered exploration of thoughts serves as a catalyst for innovation, encouraging you to think outside the box and approach challenges with fresh eyes.

Embrace the Art of Experimentation

Exploring the depths of creativity invites you to venture beyond familiar boundaries and immerse yourself in diverse artistic expressions, igniting a spark of innovation. Experimenting with various mediums is less about acquiring new skills and more about uncovering hidden talents and passions, awakening a sense of discovery. This journey, free from the pursuit of perfection, encourages the creation of unique and groundbreaking ideas, celebrating the freedom to innovate without constraints.

Embrace Unconventional Thinking

Taking risks is integral to the creative process. Stepping out of your comfort zone to explore unconventional ideas can lead to innovative solutions and artistic breakthroughs. The courage to pursue the path less traveled not only distinguishes your creative work but also propels you towards personal and professional growth. It’s in these moments of uncertainty and experimentation that true creativity flourishes, revealing new perspectives and challenging the status quo.

Design Your Creative Sanctuary

Creating a space dedicated to your artistic endeavors is crucial for achieving deep creative work. A focused environment, free from distractions, allows you to immerse yourself fully in the creative process. This sanctuary is not just a physical space but a mental one as well, where you can explore your thoughts and ideas without interruption. Such an environment fosters concentration, facilitating a flow state where creativity can thrive.

As you embark on this journey to rejuvenate your creativity, remember that every step you take is a move toward unlocking your full potential. Embrace the process with an open mind and a willing heart, knowing that creativity is not just a skill, but a way of life. Your renewed creative spirit will not only enrich your life but also inspire those around you.

Don’t miss out on the latest creative strategies. Join the Keeping It Creative community today and get inspired!

art, bullet journal, Bullet journaling, creativity, lifestyle, Planning and journaling, watercolour painting

Setting up my Bullet Journal for February 2024: Valentine’s roses and hearts theme

Posted on Jan 25, 2024Jan 30, 2024 by Laura

For the month of February, I decided to do some more watercolour painting. There’s lots of tutorials online for loose watercolour roses, so I thought I’d give it a try and then use my new skill to create a front cover. I searched for easy and beginner tutorials but I used more than ten A5 sheets of watercolour paper developing my technique so it definately wasn’t a breeze for me and my perfectionist self!

For the rest of my spreads I made stickers using my Cricut Joy Xtra. I would love to turn my watercolour images into stickers but I’m not sure how easy it is to do, so, for now, I’m just using pictures from Cricut Design Studio which I subscribe to. I hope you like my finished pages and I look forward to seeing everyone else’s themes and approaches on WordPress, YouTube and Instagram.

Watercolour rose

My intention for the front cover was to paint three roses in different colours – pink, red and peach, and add leaves. However, every time I attempted the final piece, I would create two lovely roses that I was happy with and one which went completely wrong! In the end, I decided to do just one rose to place in the centre of my page. In a bid to save watercolour paper, I used a piece that I’d already practised on. Unfortunately, I didn’t watch where I was putting the leaves and had to fix my mistake with a carefully placed title on my cover page as you will see shortly!

Front cover

After my painting session, I scanned my artwork and printed it using my Canon Pixma printer. The colours aren’t quite the same but they look okay. I added the image to a page in MS Publisher and hid the top part of the other rose by adding a title using a text box with white background. As I eventually opted for just one rose and some leaf decoration, I had some space at the top and bottom of the page. I found a washi tape that worked perfectly. This one is from MT which are always superb quality.

The monthly calendar

When I popped to Hobbycraft the other week, they were having a 20% off Cricut consumables sale so I treated myself to some transparent sticker paper to use with my Cricut Joy Xtra. Unfortunately, when I got to the till, I discovered that the product I had chosen was one of the only items that wasn’t part of the offer – typically eh! Needless to say, I bought it anyway. I love how bright and colourful this double page turned out and it was super quick to create all of the stickers as both the roses and the hearts had a white border offset on them already!

Finances record

I absolutely loved the watercolour heart envelope so I made it into a large sticker. Of course, it means that I’ll have to try not to have too many expenses for February or I’ll run out of room to record them!

Weeklies

I opted for a Dutch door layout again this month but there was still plenty of room for the stickers I created. My daily events are recorded in the boxes on this double page and then overleaf, I have a running task list.

A Valentine’s mood board

This is another decorative spread which I think turned out really nice. I found the middle image on Cricut Design Space but when I’d printed and cut it, I had no idea what do do with it! Then I though, I know, I’ll make a kind of mood board which makes me smile every time I see it.

Final words…

Thank you for taking the time to look at my bullet journal spreads for February. The pages took me quite a while to create, but I’m pleased with how they all turned out. I hope you like them too and they’ve given you some inspiration for your own BuJo.

Wishing you a happy and healthy February and a month filled with self love and kindness,

art, bullet journal, Bullet journaling, creativity, lifestyle, Planning and journaling, watercolour painting

Setting up my Bullet Journal for January 2024: Watercolour winter scene and snowflakes theme

Posted on Jan 5, 2024Jan 5, 2024 by Laura

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you’re all having a good 2024 so far. I’m very late sharing my bullet journal spreads for this month for several reasons – one, we were away for Christmas and so I didn’t get out my paints until NYE, and two, the print and cut hack for making stickers using the Cricut Joy doesn’t work anymore and so I’ve resorted to purchasing the Cricut Xtra which is due to arrive today, the 4th January, with a view to creating some text stickers for my spreads.

Anyway, I hope you like the theme and the watercolour bits and pieces which I had great fun creating. On to the pages…

Front cover

Having chosen the theme, I did a bit of Googling, looking for winter scene watercolour painting and I found this gorgeous design on a blog post from way back in 2014. This inspired my front cover but I changed the colours up a bit. The trees were painted first using Intense Green (AKA phthalo green) mixed with a small amount of Payne’s Grey and Vandyke brown and a tiny bit of grey. When that was completely dry, I created the snowy ground using very watered down grey. Then, after drying, I mixed a range of blues for the sky. Whilst still wet, I used coarse salt sprinkles to create the snowy effect. Finally, I used white gouache for the snow on the trees and then paint flicks to give the idea of falling snow.

The original watercolour was then scanned in using my printer and I pasted it into an MS Publisher A5 page and added the January 2024 title. The colours never look the same as the original, but I’m still happy with how it turned out.

The calendar

My husband and I had a go at creating a blue background with salt sprinkles on New Years Eve! We enjoyed experimenting, and it was a great, relaxing activity to do in the evening and helped us to stay awake to see in the new year. Again, the piece was scanned in and this time, it was used to cover the whole page. I then cut out the calendar shape using some dot grid paper which I then positioned in a location on the pages which was close to where it would have been if I could see the dot grid. The titles were created using Cricut Design Space and printed when my machine eventually arrived!

When I’d finished it, I felt like something was missing so I used Design Space again to make lots of snowflake stickers in different sizes. I’ve done a snowflake theme in January previously, but this one looks very different so I don’t feel like I’m repeating designs.

Finances spread

My finances record is still working really well so I’ve kept to the same layout but changed the decor to go with my theme for January. I love the little watercolour scene I found on Design Space to make into a sticker!

TV watched record

I create one of these every quarter or so to record the series that I’ve watched on TV. This time, I’ve added a date column so I can see, at a glance, when we started watching each series. There’s already some great stuff on TV for January and we’re loving the black comedy / drama of season 2 of The Tourist. The genres are taken from IMDB.

Weekly Plans

I went for another Dutch door layout this month and used a second print out of my watercolour background to create page borders to either side. I couldn’t resist adding some more snowflake stickers.

Veganuary meal planning

My husband and I have been doing Veganuary, where you go vegan for the month of January for quite a few years now. We try to create a meal plan each week as this helps when we go shopping. We also try to do more homemade meals which are packed with nutritious veggies.

Final words…

I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at my spreads for this month. At the moment, January is proving to be more wet than snowy and our little garden is looking a bit soggy and flooded. I must say, I love pretty winter scenes with snow and sparkling frost but it’s not so much fun trying to drive in such conditions so I have mixed feelings about the weather at this time of year.

Wishing you a fantastic 2024,