Working with creatives, I’ve found that: a) many wish they had more time for creative activities b) it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and forget why you started your business in the first place which is usually because you love to make stuff c) many daydream about finding time for creative hobbies unrelated to their business.

I’ve found that the best way to be more creative {and up your happiness} is to build habits. Pick your most favorite creative pursuits and do them regularly—daily, weekly or even monthly.

When you constantly practice being creative, you tend to explode with new ideas, find inspiration for your work and feel more fulfilled.

I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s a new year. It’s time to make changes and focus on what makes you feel giddy like you used to feel when you were five and you opened up a new box of crayons. Don’t you want more of that?

I do. That’s why I made a commitment to play in my art journal every day for the next year, and I can already tell it’s making a difference.

Want some ideas of creative habits you can build in 2014? I thought you might. Find 101 of them below! Now you don’t have anymore “but I’m not sure what to do” excuses.

1. Use your daily planner to art journal a little bit each day.

2. Follow this pattern, knitting one hexagon a day for a year and you’ll have a quilt at the end. {I’m gonna try this pattern and I can’t wait!}

3. Take one picture every day for 365 days. At the end, compile them in a book for a great memory.

4. For relaxation, Zentangle in the evening.

5. Try a new recipe every day. {Wanna invite me over for dinner?}

6. Publish a blog post every Tuesday {or Wednesday or Friday or Sunday…}.

7. Complete one home project {like painting your bathroom, re-arranging the furniture in your living room, constructing honeycomb shelves or custom stenciling a wall} every month.

8. Go somewhere new every week and take pictures or sketch your surroundings.

9. Create an artist trading card every day. {Remember to carry some with you at all times.}

10. Write in a journal for ten minutes in the morning while sipping tea or coffee.

11. Work on a piece of clothing with appliqué each evening.

12. If you keep a food journal, sketch the food each day.

13. Complete one knitted project every month.

14. Write one page of a novel every day for a year.

15. Find a good quote each day and keep a list of them. At the end, you’ll have a list of amazing quotes to pull from. {Maybe share them on Facebook or Twitter?}

16. While watching tv in the evening, knit or crochet.

17. Invent a new DIY project each month and publish step-by-step directions on your blog.

18. Film a video the same day each week for a year. {And share them on your blog!}

19. Write a short poem in bed when you first wake up.

20. Switch out the decorations in your living room every month.

21. Create a mini painting {like the size of a playing card} every day.

22. Write a note or send a card to someone every Friday. It’ll brighten up their Mondays.

23. Carefully select your outfits each and every day.

24. Create a weekly collage.

25. Listen to a TED talk every Monday morning to start your week inspired and motivated. {Some of my favorites: Simon Sinek, Brene Brown, Susan Cain, and Elizabeth Gilbert.}

26. Learn a new word each day.

27. Read one new book each week. If you picked one subject, you’d be an expert by the end of the year. Pretty cool.

28. Learn a new language by practicing for fifteen minutes each day.

29. Listen to podcasts on your daily walks.

30. Practice the piano each day for thirty minutes.

31. Sew something new every week.

32. Collect stuff on your daily walks and make monthly shadowboxes.

33. Make a batch of your own lip balm, facial toner, oil and cleanser and hair spray each month. Don’t forget to add fun labels.

34. Use washi tape in a new way every day. {I love black and white polka dot.}

35. Carve a rubber stamp every Tuesday.

36. Take a weekly ceramics class.

37. Make a sock monkey each week.

38. Try to recreate a famous artist’s piece of work every week for a year–just to learn, not to copycat.

39. Take a picture of your pet every day for the next year and combine them all into a book.

40. Create a new pattern each day.

41. Post a new illustration on your blog every day.

42. Practice calligraphy every day.

43. Take part in Project Life.

44. Spend $10 a week to put together a rocking outfit from your local thrift stores. {That’s 52 outfits for $520! Pretty rad. I’m not sure the last time I said the word, “rad.” Moving on…}

45. Give handmade cards for every holiday this year.

46. Cook a luxurious meal for your man every Saturday night.

47. Try out different types of image transfers every Wednesday afternoon.

48. Practice embroidery every evening while watching tv with your spouse.

49. Take a weekly sewing course.

50. Bind your own journals.

51. Make your own gift wrapping.

52. Complete a DIY decorating project for your home every week.

53. Make one new piece of jewelry each week.

54. Work on a quilt for thirty minutes every day.

55. Create a new floral arrangement for your home every Friday, so you have a beautiful centerpiece to look at all weekend.

56. Work on a craft with your child every Sunday afternoon.

57. Learn a new Illustrator technique each day and practice it.

58. Learn a new Photoshop technique each day and practice it.

59. Sketch something you come across on your daily walks.

60. Take up needle felting.

61. Make your own art journals.

62. Take a weekly watercolor class.

63. Learn about printmaking.

64. Work your way through an entire book of recipes ala Julie an Julia.

65. Draw a flower every day.

66. Draw an animal every day.

67. Paint a memory from your week every Sunday.

68. Take yourself on an artist’s date every week.

69. Make a card every day.

70. Use stamps every day.

71. Practice creative lettering every day.

72. Bake a different type of cupcakes every week. {Just make sure you keep your gym membership, too!}

73. Bake a different batch of cookies every week.

74. Bake a different type of pie every week.

75. Work your way through this book or this book.

76. Learn how to make candles and make a batch every month to give to friends and family. {They’ll love you.}

77. Post a picture on Facebook every day.

78. Post a picture on Instagram every day.

79. Color in a grownup coloring book every evening.

80. Go to a museum every month.

81. Scour the fabric store every Tuesday. Look for inspiring patterns and color combinations that you love.

82. Get the latest edition of this magazine and pick twelve projects to complete–one for each month of the year.

83. Subscribe to this magazine for regular blogging inspiration.

84. Read one blog post on copywriting every day and practice the technique or use the idea.

85. Crochet a doll every month.

86. Learn a new hairstyle every Saturday morning.

87. Knit a scarf every week.

88. Learn to make soap and make a new batch for your family every month.

89. Take a weekly photography class.

90. Make one Christmas present every week over the next year and you won’t have any shopping to do!

91. Make a DIY project every month for your kids–like this one and this one.

92. Write one chapter of your book each month {or week if you’re super ambitious!}.

93. Upcycle something every week.

94. Turn on the radio and sketch while three songs play.

95. Try a new recipe from Pinterest every weekend.

96. Create a piece of jewelry for a friend’s birthday every month.

97. Sew something made of tulle every month.

98. Paint {or decorate} every package that you send to friends and family.

99. Sketch the weather every day in your planner.

100. Take a picture of your baby every day for the year. Combine them into a book for all the grandparents for Christmas.

101. Create your own creative habit!

What are your creative habits? Are you trying something new this year? Anything from the list above spark your interest? Any creative habit that you’ve thought about but haven’t put into practice yet? Please share in the comments below!

Every day last week, you could find me knitting some gifts! I’ve got lots more to go…

I went yarn shopping last month, so I could stock up for the Christmas gifts I’m making this season. I love yarn shopping–almost as much as I love shopping at Anthropologie.

Each year I like to make something different for Christmas presents for my family. I’ve knitted, created black and white canvas transfers, made yummy smelling body scrubs and put together scrapbooks. This year, I wanted to incorporate embroidery into some gifts, and I’m really excited. I started by completing this embroidery sampler, because I only knew a couple stitches and wanted to learn more to use on the gifts.

If you want to learn embroidery, you can take this class at Creative Bug and use this same sampler.