Creative Toolbox: The Random Word Generator

 

My new favorite journal tool is the random word generator at randomlists.com.  I click on the words button and the nouns button, and then 12 random words pop up on my screen.  When I click refresh, 12 new words pop up.  I love the challenge of choosing to work with ideas/words that did not come from my own brain.

This is a recent list of random words:

I decided to make word tags (an idea from my book, Show Me a Story), which are small little cards with a word and image.  Just cut a piece of card stock into small rectangles, and used the random words to inspire quick sketches.

 I filled them in with color because I love to fill things in with color. 

You can also try to draw a sketch of each word in 1 minutes, then try 45 seconds, then 30 seconds, and then 10 seconds.  I discovered this timing idea from Lynda Barry's book Syllabus.

Arrange them on a journal page and glue in place or maybe make a little envelope for them? Throw them in a jar for writing prompts? Anything goes.

Creative Toolbox - Cereal Box Board

Cereal box board is one of my favorite art materials in the whole wide world.  I mostly love to use it as my canvas.  It is great for sculpture and building things, which is often how my children use it, but I love to draw and paint onto the gorgeous, muted brown backdrop.

It makes colors pop.  Once you start deconstructing boxes, you'll notice that the insides of boxes are all different shades of brown -- some are more orange-y, some more tan, some a true kraft paper color.   They are all wonderful.

My tip for you is to find a nice sturdy bin, like an old milk crate or a canvas pop-up from IKEA, and store flattened cereal, tissue, what-have-you boxes inside.  When you are in need, you can just dig in.

This is a photo of my very unglamorous bin of flattened boxes (mixed with other recycled papers).  It doesn't have to be pretty, friends.

I made Francine on cereal box board in honor of Halloween:

Happy spooky Halloween night to you and your people! PSA: Beware of wandering elephants.

xo emily

Creative Toolbox: Wood

Today's creative tool is wood.  So simple, right?  It can bought or found, raw or finished, milled or fresh from the woods.  Pay attention to interesting shapes and textures as you walk through the woods, and watch for bags of scrap wood on deep discount at your hardware store.  It is a thrifty, and often beautiful, way to be creative and experimental. 

You can:
paint on wood
collage on wood
glue random things onto wood, like fabric

You can also make:
a hookboard out of wood
Story Blocks, a project from Show Me a Story
Altered Twigs and Driftwood

The possibilities are endless, really.  Just search Pinterest for wood + fabric or wood + felt or wood + paint.  You get the idea. 
 

Keep in mind that painting on wood can be a very different feeling than painting on canvas or paper.  It is porous and often textured, which means that your paintbrush needs to adjust for the bumps and ridges.

Happy hunting for wood!

Creative Toolbox: The Clipboard

Today's featured creative tool is a clipboard.  These handy hard surfaces make writing and drawing on-the-go a breeze.  Somehow, the purposefulness of the clip always makes me feel really clear that I am doing important, creative work.  Clip blank note cards or a stack of blank pieces of paper onto the board and give it to yourself or child as an invitation to write notes, draw, or doodle. 

A small clipboard is super affordable, but you can also find them in thrift stores or when family and friends have desk/office clean-outs.  You might even find 5+ in the office clean-out scenario (cough, cough).  I do love the plain, mute background of the standard masonite board because it makes colorful artwork pop.

My children like to display their work on clipboards.  In doing so, they become portable frames for showcasing the work they are most proud of.

I love to cozy up with a board on the couch, and then I can bring my drawing to my studio table for some finishing touches.  The visibility of the boards help me to keep my works in progress truly  works in progress.

You'll most likely find clipboards if you wander through your local office supply shop. Or, you can find them here (this is an Amazon Affiliate link).

Related:
I liked reading Austin Kleon's take on clipboards.
These DIY rustic clipboards on A Beautiful Mess.