Believe it or not, you were born with a creative spirit… but many of us lose it over time. In this guide, you’ll learn how to be creative and rock it!
How to Be Creative: A Beginner’s Guide
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I grew up in a very creative family.
In one form or another, my whole family were and are artists. Parents, grandparents, siblings, all of us. In our house, we had bins upon bins of art supplies–they filled the closet shelves above my sister’s and my clothes–everything from beadmaking materials to polymer clay to coloring books and markers. Fabric, glue, rubber stamps, scrapbooking stickers… And I remember sitting around the dining table with my brother and sister making things. All the time. If we weren’t making ornaments out of clay, we were painting canvases, decorating eggs at Easter, painting pumpkins for Halloween, creating jewelry, or any other number of activities.
And I just figured that’s how everyone grew up.
Well, I soon learned. I had friends who would say they wished they were as creative as me. Or that they wished they were creative at all. And these comments used to unsettle my spirit, though at the time, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. Looking back, I’m sure it had to do with the fact that creativity was so important to me, and I felt sad that some people had to live their lives without it.
But a few years ago, I came across a discovery that has since rocked my world in the best way. Two Bible verses I had read hundreds of times suddenly had new meaning I’d never noticed before.
- Ephesians 2:10 says that ‘we are His workmanship’ who are ‘created for good works.’
- Genesis 1:26 says, ‘God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”‘
These two verses struck me and for the first time, I realized why those old comments about creativity had always unsettled me. Because we were not only created by God, but we were created by a CREATIVE God… in His image and likeness.
Surely that means we’re creative, too.
That kind of information can open up your eyes and change your approach to life forever. So, girl, we’re not off the hook. 🙂 We were created with a creative spirit meant for great things.
What is Creativity?
Suddenly I knew that my childhood friends had been blessed creatively just as I had. But how was that possible? They couldn’t paint or draw well (and some didn’t want to). There must be something to creativity that doesn’t have to do with the visual arts.
Creativity, simply put, means to use your imagination or original ideas. Similar words include innovation, artistry, vision, inventiveness, resourcefulness, and ingenuity.
In other words, creativity isn’t the same thing as being artistic. It’s so much bigger than that.
3 Myths About How to be Creative
MYTH 1: Creativity is only for right-brained people.
Definitely not! Whether you’re an accountant, a business executive, an artist, or a kindergarten teacher, you have the power to use creativity. For example, you can think outside the box. You can look at all the problems in front of you and find a solution. Left-brained or right-brained inclined, it doesn’t matter. It was given to you as a gift.
MYTH 2: Creativity is static. You’re only given so much.
You’ve heard people say it: “I’m not very creative.” (Maybe you’ve even said it yourself.)
But girl, I want to encourage you. That’s not how creativity works!
Creativity isn’t a static lump doled out at birth. It’s fluid. It can be molded, shaped, and grown over time. Great musicians aren’t born playing the piano well. Artists aren’t born able to paint a scene so realistically that it looks like a photograph. Equally, mathematicians aren’t born computing numbers. They are skills that we take hold of and develop.
MYTH 3: You have to have talent to be creative.
False. 🙂 In fact, talent and creativity aren’t the same thing. They’re barely related.
Yes, there are people out there who are both talented and creative at what they do. But listen… those people still work hard to hone their craft and get better. Some people have all the talent in the world, but they stop trying and wind up resting on their laurels. When this happens, their creativity dies away.
Others have no apparent talent, but they work hard and focus their energies on practicing their craft, whatever it is. Or they simply have fun and let go of their inhibitions. These people use their creativity, and it flourishes.
So, please be encouraged! You are meant to be creative. You are meant to love your life and flourish in it. Create something new, whether it’s artwork, a recipe, a mom’s group, a devotional, a game for your toddlers, or any other number of things. God gave you a precious gift, so use it.
Janette Foreman @ thecreativehomemaker.com
Getting Started: How to be Creative
So, hopefully now you see that everyone has been born with the ability to be creative, because that’s how we were designed.
Now that we’ve established that, you may be one of two women:
- You’ve always considered yourself as unoriginal and may still be questioning how to be creative.
- Or you already think of yourself as a creative person and now want to use that creativity better.
How do you get started using your creativity?
Here at The Creative Homemaker, we talk about all of that. More specifically, we like to talk about how to be creative as homemakers… how we can create cozy and creative homes for ourselves and our families.
We talk about…
- Artistic projects just for you, such as journaling, drawing, and working with your hands.
- Empowering self-improvement activities such as organizing your life, productivity tips for creative people, and making money online.
- Fun crafts for toddlers that are easy, little-to-no mess, and stimulating for their young minds… to encourage their own creativity!
- Tips for making a creative and cozy home environment, such as decor, organization, and entertaining guests.
- Technical programs and machines that use creativity, such as the Cricut and Adobe Illustrator.
- Anything festive and fun that has to do with holidays and special events.
Whatever you need to fan your creativity into a flame, we’ve got you covered here at The Creative Homemaker. All you need to bring is your willingness to try and to have fun!
Janette Foreman @ TheCreativeHomemaker.com
Common Questions About Cultivating Creativity in the Home
How do I cultivate more creativity in my kids?
There are several ways, and you’ll see several of them sprinkled throughout The Creative Homemaker blog. But let me just say that one of the most important ways of cultivating creativity in your kids is having the space for imaginative play. I don’t mean “space” in the physical sense… kids have the ability to play in a cubical under a desk–they don’t need oodles of square footage to use their imaginations. I mean space in the day and space in the mind. Giving them the time to play and then the mental space to go off and explore all the things their imagination can do. That’s what will cultivate your kids’ creativity the most.
Are there no-mess art projects for kids?
Of course! Now, I want to preface this by saying there are also low-mess art projects and messy art projects that are still super fun and engaging for kids–and totally worthwhile even though they might involve more cleanup. But as a mom myself, I also realize the joy that comes with no-mess art projects! Think of materials that have the potential of staying relatively mess free. Paper, for example. And drawing with a pencil. Other ideas include stickers, squish paint, coloring books, and more! The sky is the limit, and you’ll find all sorts of ideas here on The Creative Homemaker.
How do I find time to be creative as a mom?
This is a tough one that I asked myself for the first couple years of my kids’ lives. I was totally lost with how to be creative like I used to be. Do you find yourself in that situation? There are several ways you can figure out how to be creative as a busy mom. One way is to do it during your kids’ sleeping hours, such as an hour before they wake or after they go to sleep, or during nap times. Another idea is to involve the kids in whatever creative endeavor you’re doing (And they’ll surprise you. They can do more than you think!). Or you can simultaneously do creative projects–while they do something that is hands-off for you, you can be doing something creative, too (nearby, even, so you can keep an eye on things and discuss ideas and build relationships with your kids).
How do I become a more intentional homemaker?
Part of being an intentional homemaker is to make routines. That way, the things that don’t need to take up room in your brain can happen on autopilot, leaving you more mental space to live creatively. Also, being intentional means being present. It means taking the time to figure out what needs to happen next and then executing it with care and attention. I believe it’s possible to be intentional in both areas of your life–in your creativity and in being a mom and homemaker. It’s not easy… it takes thought, conscious effort, and usually some planning. But I honestly believe it’s possible to have both worlds, at least in some form. If one of your goals is to become more intentional as a homemaker, then being present and planning/executing with care and attention are your main focus. Refining that process should certainly help you learn how to be creative! 🙂
Why is it important to be creative?
Creativity is an extremely useful skill. And I’m guessing you believe that, and that’s partially how you wound up on The Creative Homemaker blog. 🙂 But why is it a useful skill? One way is that it helps you problem solve–a task we moms and homemakers do a lot of every day, right? We constantly try to multitask and make wise decisions about the well being of our home and family. For example, we likely are the ones to plan the meals, do the shopping, clean the house, foster our children’s creativity, watch the clock and keep everyone on a schedule for naps, appointments, and bedtime, and so much more. None of these things happen on autopilot (at least not initially). You need a creative mindset to think through the problems set before you on a daily basis and to then discover the best route in which to tackle them all.
How to be Successful as a Creative Homemaker
Like anything else, it takes time and practice to learn how to be creative as a homemaker. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Tip 1: “Success” is defined by you.
Only you can know what it looks like to be successful as a creative homemaker. Keep in mind that your definition of success will look different from others’. And that’s a good thing! None of us proclaim to have it all together, to have the ideal home, and be the perfect homemaker.
Girl, there’s no such thing! 🙂 (Hooray!)
Take a minute and plan out what looks to you like a successful creative homemaker. Is she someone who tries out a few new recipes each month? Or someone who sits with her toddler and completes an art project every week? Or is she someone who creates beautiful decor for her home with her Cricut, or sends homemade cards to far-away family and friends?
Success is up to you. It’s not about perfection. The point is to have fun doing whatever it is and letting it feed your soul…. as well as the souls of those in your family.
Tip 2: Learning how to be creative is a forgiving skill.
Here’s the truth… Some weeks will be harder than others, and certain creative skills might be easy to learn while other are challenging. So have grace with yourself, my friend! 🙂 It’ll be so worth it. Again, success is how you define it, so don’t let the pressure of unattainable perfection keep you from learning how to be creative in your home. You may find that it takes some time. You may try some activities and realize they’re not your cup of tea, while others really inspire you. That’s great! Don’t be afraid to try new things and enjoy the beginning, messy stages of learning a new skill. (Don’t let frustration or defeat steal your joy.)
Tip 3: Fostering creativity within your home is an art worth cultivating.
Want to know how to be creative within your home? The only way to know is to do it. (And I’m here to help!)
Think about what you want for yourself, your family, and your home, and then figure out a way to make it happen! While making it happen, enjoy the ride. In this sense, creativity (and homemaking) is an art form that takes time to cultivate, but the results are so worth it!
The Last Thing You Need to Know about How to be Creative in Your Life and in Your Home
Being a creative person while also being a mom and homemaker is hard sometimes. But there are certainly ways to accomplish it. Because to be filled with satisfaction in a job well done, in something you or your kids created… there’s no other feeling like it!
At The Creative Homemaker, I’m here every step of the way to give you ideas, tips, and any additional help you may need in the process. You can do it, Mama!
Did you find this post helpful? Don’t forget to pin it for future reference. Stay inspired, friend!
You’ve been given a beautiful gift from God. Now go make great things!
XO,
