February 28: Creativity

We have about three inches of snow on the ground but the snow is covered with ice...walking outside is not an option today.  It is sunny but it will only climb out of freezing by a degree or two if at all.  But the rest of the week looks much warmer.

Before we begin a new focus, how are you coming with your goals?  My goals begin with 'Always be open to wonder' with specific areas of Spirituality, Exercise, Creativity, Weight, Meditation & Finances.  I am not sure that I advanced very much in any of the areas except Creativity.  I need to be more intentional in all the rest of the areas this month.  So, again, how are you doing with your goals?  Be sure to check in with yourself and see where you need to pay more attention so that you can reach those goals.

Today is the beginning of a new monthly focus (Inspiration) and a new weekly focus (Creativity).  Along with taking a look at creativity, there will also be specific crafts each day this week.

First of all, what is creativity?  The dictionary meaning is the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of artistic work .  Wikipedia defines creativity as a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed.  I like to define creativity as 'thinking outside the box' to solve a variety of situations'.  And those situations do not have to be artistic or crafty.  

One way to inspire creativity is to try something new.  Today we will try quilling.  What is quilling, you ask?  Basically, it rolling strips of paper into different shapes to make a picture.  Supplies needed are strips of paper, rolling tool, although you can roll the paper on a long pin or needle, background on which to create your picture and glue.  Nice to have is a scissor, tweezer, pick, mat to pin to and measuring tool.  Check this picture out...

The tool on the left with the strip of paper is the rolling tool.  Smaller versions come with many of the paper strips.  It simply has a slit for the paper to slide though.  Below is the tool to make your paper rolls the same size.

Strips come in two sizes, narrow and wide.  The narrow strip is easier to work with.

To begin quilling, simply slide one end of the strip of paper through the slit on the rolling tool and roll the tool.   When you have finished rolling and the paper roll is the right size, apply a dot of glue to hold it in place.

It's very easy.  And you can get a set of strips with the smaller version of the rolling tool for as little as three dollars.  Kits with all the tools range from seventeen to thirty dollars.  I suggest you start with the least amount ($3) and see if you enjoy quilling.  You can always find lots of instructions on YouTube.

So here's a picture of quilling in process...

The flowers are made up of same sizes of paper rolls that are pinched on one side creating the leaf shape.  The stems are paper rolls that I pulled out creating the stem.   Here's the finished picture...

All the shapes begin with a paper roll and then pinched a certain way.

There are 3-d quilling kits that are cute.  I love the flower shop one.  I think, though, that you could create your own 3-d designs.

Try quilling at least once to see if it is the craft you would like to continue working in.

Talk with you tomorrow...