Entry 3

Here is the third installment of the Creativity Challenge.  I randomly picked these three items from the box.  I wasn’t even sure if the red ribbon was one of the items or part of the packaging, but I think it might be fun to use it in the process.  The ribbon is somewhat stiff with a light velvety feel to it.  The little case is kind of cute on its own, but the challenge is to use it creatively – and I think that can be a wide open form of creativity.  The little metal piece is something I have never seen and so hopefully its uniqueness will be inspiring.  So start thinking and share some ideas with me.   I definitely have no clue on how to even begin with these three items. 

Entry 2 - Results

Here are the results of the second Creativity Box Challenge.  Thanks for all of your comments.  I got some great ideas and used them to lead to these two projects.  The first one I made yesterday based on  Dad’s idea of stringing the beads.  I used the beads from the bag with some extra beads I had at home that actually matched the ones in the challenge, some scrap wire and the key ring from the dream catcher.   I call him Bendy Bead Man.  Here is his natural position.

 Here are a few of his other poses.

 

I was going to use Rachel’s idea to put something on the beads and tried to transfer a face onto the head bead.  I didn’t plan for the curve of the bead and the transfer did not go on well and luckily I was able to wipe it off.

 

For my next project, the tin, I think I knew I wanted to make it a display box of some type since the day I saw it.  I loved the idea of making a magnet game though.  However the beads were too big in this case.  If there is another metal case in the Creativity Box, I will be very tempted to go the game route.  The outside and insides of the box were covered with four different color from paint chips I had picked up somewhere.  The saying on the outside is something that someone told me once that I really liked.  

The inside is the dream catcher (the sign perhaps) mounted with a 1/4 piece of foam to give it depth and the turtle (go slow) mounted with gel medium on the feet.  I had to do a little “surgery” on both pieces to remove excess jewelry pieces and I really liked how it turned out. 

I do have one little confession though.  In my vision for the box it stands up just like it does in the picture.  However in real life, this little tin does not like to stand upright on it’s own and so there is a small wood piece holding it up for the photo.  I will be able to prop it, but I may just carry it around with me for a while to remember the message and look for the signs.  

Hopefully tomorrow I will post the items for the next Creativity Challenge.

An Idea for Entry 2

My dad commented about including an idea for the second group of items on his blog “Stuff”.  He even created a visual example on that page.  Here is the link:

Ernie's Stuff Blog

Let him know what you think of it if you get a chance. I have already gotten a couple of good ideas just from the picture.  :)   Thanks Dad!

 

Entry 2

Time for the next challenge!  I only picked two items to unwrap from the Creativity Box and ended up with these three (possibly four) items.  This looks like a fun group of things to work with.  There is a small tin container.  It was in this container that I found the metal dream catcher key chain.  There is a plastic bag of 11 wooden beads.  The question is whether or not I count the plastic bag as an item as well.  What do you think?

Remember that you do not have to use all of the pieces together as you come up with creative ideas for how to use the different items.  I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments - so please play along even if you don't think you have a good idea.  You might provide the spark of an idea that I need.  :)  Also let me know if you have any questions about this entries items.    Have fun!

Entry 1 - Results

Thanks for the great ideas.  I was excited to read what everyone suggested and I look forward to your further inspirations.  Here is what I have come up with for the first three items.  I don’t think it was clear in the first post that they do not have to all be a part of one creation (that would be a bit too rigid for me) so feel free to have ideas about the items separately or together in whatever combination that sparks your creativity.  They also don’t necessarily have to be “useful” – they can be decorative too. 

The first item I created using the sponge part of the paint brush and the plastic tube was this heart shaped paint stamp.  (I tried it with regular stamping ink, but it wasn’t strong enough to collect the stamp pad ink well, but paint worked great.)  I removed the sponge from the brush base and cut it in half.  I secured the tube into one part of the sponge by cutting a circular slit in the back of the sponge and then using both white glue and hot glue affixing the tube to the sponge.  I then cut the heart shape and glued it to the other sponge and voila! – a stamp. 

Here are some hearts that I stamped with it.

 I was even able to clean it gently in water after making the paint designs.

 The little silver balls were a bit of a challenge.  Since they didn’t have holes in them, they couldn’t be strung.  I liked the ideas of making a game with them, but they are small and very hard to toss or control in any way.  I did two things with them though.  I put a few in a little tiny glass jar which I will later use in one of my three dimensional inspiration boxes.  (If you don't know what my inspiration boxes are, ask in the comments section and maybe I will be "inspired" to do a post about those.)  :)

I also decided to make a maraca or sound shaker with them.  My first attempt was with a clear plastic Christmas ornament.  Not only did they sound fun, they looked cool swirling around the edge of the ball.  But just as I was thinking that I would need to make a video to show you how they looked in motion, they popped through the thin plastic and started spraying everywhere.  I was able to limit the damage and retrieve the balls, but had to throw the ornament away.  I then found a clear round makeup container that someone had given me. This was made of much thicker plastic. I put the balls inside and they made a pretty good maraca-like sound.  I needed to cover the make-up logo and punched a colorful piece of art scrap.  I was going to glue it inside, but when I shook it before I glued it, the circle spun with the balls and made an interesting pattern so I decided to leave it the way it was – at least for now.

I could have decided that I was done since I had used every item at least once, but I still had the paint brush handle.  Again, I tried to figure out how to use it for a game, but was not successful.  I finally decided to make a stick puppet – a two faced puppet actually of my favorite Internet star Tardar Sauce aka Grumpy Cat.  Here is one side:

Here is the other.

Let me know what you think.

I will post the next items for the Creative Challenge in a separate post.  Soon.  I can't wait to see what we all come up with next.  :)