25 Ways to Be Creative Without a Paintbrush
Okay. When I hear people say things like “I’m not creative,” I always smile. Creativity isn’t just about paint or clay - it’s about how you solve problems, find joy, and bring new ideas to life. When creativity includes art, that is super fun for me. I LOVE it! But, when it doesn’t, that’s okay, too. There are thousands of ways to exercise your creativity without being artistic.
Below, I’m giving you twenty-five ways to be creative without a paintbrush. Read them. Soak them in. Embrace a few of them.
Write a tiny poem or haiku about something you see out your window.
Arrange a few fresh flowers (or even a few weeds from your yard) in a unique way.
Try a new recipe or invent your own dish with whatever is in your fridge.
Make up a bedtime story and tell it to your kiddos, or your partner, or just yourself.
Rearrange a room or a shelf to make it feel brand new.
Dance wildly in your kitchen (like no one is watching - even if they are) to a favorite song.
Design a playlist that fits a mood (I have many different playlists for things like cooking dinner, writing blog entries, cleaning, etc.).
Write a letter by hand to someone you love - then decorate the envelope.
Start a journal and fill it with lists, doodles, or snippets of your day.
Build a fort with blankets and pillows - like you did when you were a kid - and hang out in there with a book.
Make shadow puppets on the wall with a flashlight.
Take a walk, and stack rocks in different formations.
Use cookie cutters on fruit or sandwiches to make playful shapes.
Create a family crest or personal logo using simple symbols that you feel represent your family or you.
Rewrite the lyrics of a favorite song to be all about your day.
16. Decorate cupcakes or cookies in silly, unexpected designs.
17. Make jewelry from buttons, yarn, or beads.
18. Carve shapes into soap or potatoes to make playful stamps.
19. Take unusual photos using weird angles, close-ups, or re-
flections. (We like doing this with shadows on walks down
0ur country road.)
20. Write a list of “what-ifs” like “What if dogs gave advice?”
21. Build something with LEGOs or blocks.
22. Start a windowsill garden with herbs in old mugs or jars.
23. Invent a new game to play with your kids or friends.
24. Use sidewalk chalk to leave surprise art or kind words for
neighbors.
25. Collage with magazine cutouts and glue.
I formally challenge you to pick three things from this list and exercise your creativity this week. Also, photograph the evidence, put it on social media, and hashtag it #keepyourearandcreate.
During Covid, my boys and I would visit a river near our campsite (Yes, we were stuck in a camper during those first several months, but that’s a longer story, and I’ll tell you more later.), and my boys LOVED getting out into the water and creating these rock sculptures.