Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2015 Creative Challenge!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!


Out with the old, in with the new!


I hope your 2014 was filled with wonder, happiness, joy and other great things and that the new year brings you more of the same and also a lot of opportunity to be creative! I talk about creativity a lot here on my blog, because I think the word artistry scares people. More often than not people tell me they can't draw or they aren't artistic and so often they are so very wrong. 

Last year I made a pact with myself that I was going to create 300 or more pieces of creativity. It sounded like a really big goal, until I realized something. I'm basically creative EVERY day... 300 things is just doing what I'm doing while taking over 2 months off!!!

Wait, what?

No, really. Let me say that again. I bet you do something creative every day without even realizing it. It might be a small doodle in your margin, it might be a silly song you make up in the car or something you draw for your kids. It might be making a spectacular dinner you found on Pinterest, or it might be a much larger work of art. So, why would you stop? Why not push yourself to do it a little bit more and then document it so you can see how much you really do?


My main personal focus these days is Zentangle® because of many reasons, one of which is that I can create a piece of Zentangle inspired artwork in a very short period of time, relax and really enjoy myself all at the same time.  I'm not asking you to use that method unless it's what you would like to, although you will probably see a lot of it here, you should work in whatever makes you happy. 

So how is this going to work?

Those that participated in my June challenge know that I put up a Mr Linkey thing for each post, you simply add your link to it. Please link directly to your piece of art, whether it be on your blog, your Pinterest, your Instagram, facebook is tricky and doesn't always work in the Mr Linkey so if need be you can send to me via email at whimsybykelly@gmail.com and I'll add it in for you.
Please add in the site specific url, don't just link to your pinterest or your blog, because I won't be able to find you.
Please use #whimsybykelly2015 when you post stuff, that makes it easier to find things if I'm searching

Make friends with those participating! Encourage one another too!

I am going to post 1 prompt or "challenge" per week for ideas, you are free to use it, or to not use it. You can do several variations on the same thing or not. That will most likely be on Thursdays.

Works in progress count, you don't have to finish something every day, you can post part of it, but... don't use that as an excuse to not challenge yourself either. :)

You can add art to any day throughout the year, if you miss say, March 13, but you know you did something on March 13th and finally get time to go back and post it in August, go for it! (But know that it won't count towards any monthly prizes unless it gets posted by the end of that week it just gets too hard) It will count towards your total goal!

Be nice. If you can't say something nice about someone else's art, don't say anything.

That's it I think. 

Here's MY personal goal. I am striving to create something for all 365 days.
Now, I've done a couple things here to hopefully help me suceed. I've ordered a daily calendar, which will encourage me to create a tangle every day. I've joined an art journaling group, because that's something I've always wanted to do, and I will continue to work on The Diva's weekly challenges as well.

In addition to that I'm going to keep creating, because that's where I find my happiness.

I'm not going to ask all of you to create something every day, that's asking a lot. I am going to ask if you could create something 300 times this year though and every time you do, to come share it with me. Remember, that's over 2 months of the year that you don't have to do anything! LOL
Some ideas are...
  • Completed challenges (for mine or other blogs or groups you belong to)
  • Practice pieces as you perfect a skill
  • Gifts you make for others
  • Music. :) I love to get music!
  • Pictures of incredible baked goods or great meals! (YES, cooking is creativity!)
  • Paintings
  • Knitting
  • Videos
  • Sewing
  • Scrapbooking
  • Decorating
  • Stamping
  • Sketches

That's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creativity everyone. I could list millions of ideas, but I don't want you to feel confined by what I'm asking for. Only rule is no porn. Something tasteful with some nudity would be acceptable, but please remember, I'm family friendly and kids may be participating too.

If you need help posting, please don't hesitate to ask, I'll be happy to walk you through it. If it's easier for you to post 1 time a week, then please do it that way.
I do ask that if you want your entries to "count" that you have them uploaded by each Sunday night at midnight (EST) because I will be compiling entries on Mondays.

I will make a piece of Zentangle inspired art with your name on it for everyone that completes this challenge. There will be a small prize every month for those that have participated the most each month.
And there will be a bigger prize at the end as well for the top 3 participants of the year.
Please note I am waiting on confirmation about product availability at the end of 2015 before I announce prizes. :) They WILL be fun stuff though!

Come play with me. The more you create, the more creative you get. 




40 comments:

  1. Ok Kelly! I'm in! Looking forward to this challenge!
    Terry

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  2. Sounds interesting. Good luck with it! I am good at creating. Not so good at documenting. I will often spend way more time blogging about something than it took me to do it!

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    1. LOL! Thanks Chris... I'm going to make the effort NOT to do more blogging than creating :)

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  3. I have a horrible track record when it comes to sticking to challenges, but your post is inspiring me. I'm going to give this my best shot!

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    1. Yay! You have totally got this! Remember, anything you do for your journal counts (so that's 52 things already!!!!)
      Also, if you do Laura's diva dare, that's ANOTHER 52.... You're already over a 3rd there! :D

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  4. I'm always wishing I'd find more time to be creative. That is a great new years promise. :-)

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  5. I'm not sure how this will go for me as I'm a terrible procrastinator but I'm gonna try!

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    1. I am too... but I find that sometimes I work best under pressure! :D

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  6. I'm willing to take a shot at this. I'll be posting on my Pinterest and linking. Thanks for doing this.

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  7. Sounds like a nice way to keep motivated...and find some inspiration....I will give it a try! Thanks!!

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  8. Looking forward to it. I need some advice and inspiration 😉🎆

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  9. I' in! I never have too many projects that I can't squeeze another on it. Thanks

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    1. Great!!!! Glad to have you here!!!! (Those other projects count too!)

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    1. Every day I will be posting, here's the first one http://whimsyandzen.blogspot.com/2015/01/whimsybykelly2015-challenge-begin-as.html
      If you look at the top of my blog there is a tab that says "Whimsy by Kelly" that is the blog itself, and my posts are listed last first, so the first one to pop up should be the most recent. :)
      Welcome!

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  11. Thank you for offering another challenge for 2015. Will try to participate.

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  12. I'm in. I just posted my project of today from my FB page with the #whimsybykelly2015 attached to it. I hope that is how you share it. :) If not, please advice. Thanks for the challenge, it will be a great motivator.

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    1. If you can make sure any items are public that will make it easier. :) I couldn't see it. If that doesn't work you can post the pics on my whimsybykelly facebook page as well. :)

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  13. Thank you. Will adjust the privacy setting on that photo and/or try to post on your page.

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    1. The first few days there will probably be some wrinkles we'll need to work out. :) I expected that ,but we'll figure it out and make it work! :D

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  14. Thank you for the invite, I will TRY to participate. I am horrible at challenges though... the 365feministselfie? was probably more like 222feministselfie project last year!

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  15. Sounds like fun! Looking forward to the challenge!

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  16. I am going to give this a go. At least I can say I did something different in 2015.

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  17. Kelly, this sounds fun! Is it too late to join?

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    1. Not at all too late! If you look towards the top of the page, you will see where it says "WhimsybyKelly" on a little tab (next to where it says shop) if you click there it will take you to the main blog page. This will let you see the post I make each day (I'll be making one daily unless I tell you in advance)
      You'll be able to access the past posts by clicking on the days in the archives.
      Glad you found your way here! Welcome!

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