Based on the line at Michael’s over the weekend, I have a feeling everyone loves Christmas crafts as much as I do. There are SO many fun things to make for your home and it’s perfectly okay to go all out. At least that’s what I tell Ryan every time I start a new project. Seriously, we’re going to need a bigger apartment if I keep bringing home Christmas things. I spent this last weekend making a few things (results coming soon), but I’m also hoping to make these ten DIYS too. I mean, how can I/you/we not?! Continue reading…
Not-so-proud confession here: Ryan and I watched a scary movie over the weekend and it stressed me out the entire time. Not that I don’t like scary movies, because I do and have seen my fair share, but I realized that I’m so stressed from day to day world events, that I don’t need any more spooks in my life.
Instead of just not celebrating at all, I’ve decided to take the optimist route and focus on having a playful October. And what better way to do that than share with you these not-so-scary halloween DIYS that are sure to make to smile! If you’re looking for a great alternative to traditional decor here are ten projects to help get you started!
1. Spider String Lights by Make + Tell
2. Halloween Surprise Balls by Oh Happy Day Continue reading…
Now that it’s officially October, I can finally start to decorate for fall without feeling weird/guilty! Yahoo! I have a few pumpkin DIYS coming this year (stay tuned!), but man oh man do I want to make more after coming across these beauties. These tutorials prove that fall decor is totally possible without going the traditional black and orange color route. So if you don’t want to say goodbye to the vibrant colors of summer, but are excited about all things this season has to bring, here are 10 colorful ways to decorate pumpkins!
Pastel Pumpkin Faces by The House That Lars Built
Matisse-Inspired Pumpkins by Oh So Beautiful Paper Continue reading…
This post is sponsored by Workman Publishing. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep The Crafted Life making!
Okay so let’s chat. Is anyone else tired of creating for social media’s sake?! I feel more so than ever that I am feeling burnt out from creating within the limits and adhering to algorithms. Creating used to be so pure (anyone else remember how terrible DIY tutorial photos were 7 years ago?!), but now everything tends to feel a bit formulaic.
I’m trying my best to get back to that state of creating for fun instead of for likes. To help me do that, I picked up a copy of Creativity Takes Courage by Irene Smit and
Astrid Van der Hulst, the co-founders of Flow Magazine. Not only is it a book about creativity, but it’s also packed with prompts, tips and fun challenges to help you stretch those creative muscles.
The book is organized around a series of twelve “dares”—intended to break you out of your usual habits and approach to creating, and to give you a fresh perspective and leave your comfort zone. Here are just a few of the tips I picked up for recharging creatively:
Embrace failure. It’s a lot easier to let loose and just to create when you aren’t hyper focused on the end result coming out perfect. It’s totally okay to fail, and in fact, it’s what will push you to do better.
Tiny goals go a long way. Sometimes all it takes to complete a task is to set small, achieveable goals. You don’t have to do everything all at once, it’s okay to chip away piece by piece. Small steps add up.
Take care of yourself. Sleep more. Drink water. Eat a vegetable every now and then. It’s hard to be the best when you aren’t feeling the best, so respect your body. It seems so obvious but I know for certain many of us aren’t doing this because of how much work there is to do. Continue reading…