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INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE. The problem is that many of us are too busy at any given moment to notice. We’re running in every direction, trying to keep up with the frantic pace of our busy lives. The beauty is that if you stop, take a deep breath and look around, you’ll be amazed at the hundreds of ideas screaming to be noticed.
Here’s more good news: Gathering those ideas is easy. Just keep a pen and sketchbook within reach. Your notes and sketches will serve as a creative road map.
anniversary project ideas
In honor of my parents’ 35th wedding anniversary, I wanted to use a favorite photo from when they first started dating. My mom was 19 and my dad was 23. I love that this special moment was captured inside an old photo booth at a shopping mall in Calgary, Alberta. (I enlarged the tiny, one-inch photo to a larger size.)
I then challenged myself to find design inspiration from my immediate surroundings, my home. I looked for ideas that could easily be translated into something playful and fun and, above all, that represented young hearts in love.
I found myself drawn to the red, pink and blue color combination of a vintage floral handkerchief I’d picked up at a local flea market. This palette served as my guide as I selected everything from paper to embellishments. I also liked the detail on two tea towels. I wanted to copy the hand-embroidered flowers and the border stitching from one of the towels onto my layout.I also liked the cutout flowers that were part of the other towel. By pulling these elements together and adding a bit of my own creativity, I came up with an eye-catching border.
While working on this project, I looked through a 1935 edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac and came across an ad for a bank on the back cover. The subhead, “For 80 years,” caught my attention. I knew it would be perfect for my layout. I made a few revisions to the original advertisement and added the year my parents were married plus the number 35 to tie into my anniversary theme.
one from many
From four distinctly different elements, I created one unified piece. The technique is what I call “a little of this and a little of that.” Don’t be afraid to pull ideas from multiple places. The more ideas you generate, the better chance you’ll have of finding something that really works for you.
Your surroundings are your greatest source of inspiration. I challenge you to stop right now, put your magazine down and look around. Really look. What do you see? Look beyond the obvious. Yes, it’s a lovely pillow that perfectly matches your living room décor, but are there patterns or small details sewn onto that pillow? What about the shape or the color combination? What one element (or several) can you take from that pillow and translate into an idea you can use on your next layout? Pull out your sketchbook and get the ideas down on paper. Next time you’re in a creative rut, you’ll have loads of ideas waiting to inspire you!
supplies: Patterned papers (Anna Griffin, SEI, Autumn Leaves) • Rubber stamps (Hero Arts, Limited Edition Rubber Stamps) • Ink pad (Paper Salon) • Stickers (K&Co., 7gypsies) • Rub-ons (Heidi Swapp, BasicGrey, 7gypsies) • Heart bead (MAMBI) • Paper flower (7gypsies) • Embroidery floss (DMC) • Chipboard letter E (Pressed Petals) • Rhinestones (Hero Arts) • Ghost letters, ghost heart shape (Heidi Swapp) • Blue file folder, Old math flash card, old book pages, The Old Farmer’s Almanac page, vintage jewelry for rhinestones and sequins (flea market finds)
