Deep down all designers want to express their creativity without the limits of client opinions or the need to justify the business reason they are using the color blue.
One of my creative outlets is scrapbooking. Right now I’m working on my wedding scrapbook (yeah, from three years ago…)
I also enjoy letterpress printing. Below are a few of things I’ve done.
Other Friends
Lots of other designers I know from the Web have creative outlets, too!
Kelly of Purple Lemon recognized her need to create for the sake of creating and decided to sell her products on Etsy. She enjoys making cards and stamps.
Rashell, the author of doodlage, lets her creativity flow through her gel pens onto all sorts of things from rocks to paper. She also experiments with paper “doodles” and has done some beautiful collages. Doodlage is also on Etsy.
Alex from retinart sheds the weight of designing for others by experimenting with grunge type and creating the awesome headers for his articles on retinart. He is also a letterpress addict like me! And his creative writing on his blog is so full of experiences for all the senses (I tried to sound creative like he is… I don’t think it works as well!)
I’m addicted to paper that has been kissed by metal type. And, sometimes.. sometimes it doesn’t even need to be metal type—it can be photopolymer plates, which is sort of like metal type but… different…Even wood type will flame my passions. Oh, blissful wood type. However it’s pressed, I love paper that’s been squashed; that’s been impressed upon by inked letters and… ohhh… but… yes, yes, even on the dark, quiet nights, when I just need my fix, I’ll even go as far as to enjoy the sweet, naked bliss of a blind emboss. That’s right! I’m a print designer who loves the look of paper that’s been printed without ink! It just feels so good and I am not afraid to admit it so.
Alex, from Letterpress Addict
What do you do to simply let your creativity out? Is there a special art or craft that is your place to create and enjoy expressing your inner artist, free from criticism or demands to change? Share links to your work if you want to!
this was a very enjoyable read. I had a similar post in mind some time ago, so glad to see that I’m not the only one interested in designers’ creative outlets.
Last year I got addicted to jewellery design, unfortunately don’t have that much time to design new things lately, but can’t wait to get back to it. And this spring I got a hang of gardening (never gardened before in my life), must admit it’s also a very addictive hobby, but enjoying it and my new ‘office’ outdoors, surrounded by luscious greenery
inspirationbit´s last blog post: Striking Web Sites with Font Stacks that Inspire
All I have to say about you, Lauren, is you rock my socks! Thank you so much for posting about my designs.
This post is a great idea. Great read!
Currently I am designing a sled dog training cart. I find that after evaluating colors and fonts and images all day, I need to get completely away from the world of theory and work with something extremely concrete and practical.
Very inspiring! For years I’ve kept promising myself that I would start scrapbooking, and have only just started the last few weeks.
Nice to see I’m not the only one lol
Lol, I haven’t done my wedding album yet, and it’s been 7 years (on Monday)!!
Although, when I do compile it, it’ll be in iPhoto to send to the printers, and wont be as alluring as yours
Great job…
Andrew Kelsall´s last blog post: How I (in theory) increased my Google Pagerank
I like to play around with paper model airplanes. I haven’t actually designed any yet but I’ve built a few; they’re fun, pretty easy and dirt cheap. Most of the ones I have I got from Fiddlers’ Green: http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/
Vivien,
You could totally do this for Inspiration Bit! I’ve only profiled 4 designers here (and I have other scrapbook images, if you want to use me in your article). I remember your jewelery designs, yeah! My mom-in-law likes gardening… if I had a yard, I might try it myself
Kelly,
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed.
Tim,
Like a real sled dog cart? For training the dogs for races? Wow!
Caroline,
I always have a set amount I’m allowed to spend when I go supplies shopping.
My advice for new scrapbookers: limit yourself on new supplies. It’s sooo easy to buy a ton of stuff because it’s cute without having a specific page in mind to use it on. However, if you do a lot of the same themed pages (like love or friendship), then those are ok to buy
Andrew,
Congrats on 7 years!!!
Ah, well I guess I don’t feel so bad now
Warren,
Cool! Thanks for sharing your creative outlet! Some of those models are really detailed.
Yes, I might as well feature other designers and their passions, and of course I’ll feature your there.
The reason why I didn’t get into scrapbooking yet is because I know myself – I’m such an addictive person when it comes to all things cute and beautiful, I’d easily go overboard with all those supplies and then end up not using them all for the lack of time. I still haven’t put together any photo albums, note a single one, with my daughter’s photos, they’re still all either in boxes or in computer. I’m so bad with it
One day… *sigh*
inspirationbit´s last blog post: Striking Web Sites with Font Stacks that Inspire
I’ve really enjoyed reading this! I think I can say I have my outlets too: right now I’m learnig crochet and patchwork, but still soing some digital scrapbooking and designing my blog… Maybe too many things…
Pat Anzanello´s last blog post: Imagination
Vivien,
Hehe, scrapbooking is way too addicting 
I’m looking forward to your feature
Pat,
Thanks! I know how you feel about too many things keeping your attention. I feel that way too sometimes!
wow those are really great!. My wife is really into crafts so I have to show her this page. Can I ask how long do you spend on a particular project? My wife works a lot so she always says that she doesn’t have time. I know she would love to spend time to do it though. Can’t wait to see more!!
template,
erm, are you Ryan from your site? Kinda weird to call you “template.” Anyway, most of the time pages take me anywhere from 45-90 minutes depending on how inspired I feel. For me, the goal is not “get as many pages done as I can” but rather, to enjoy the process of making art. I could probably knock out simple pages in a half hour or less, but that’s not the point!
wow those are really great!. i m really interested into crafts so I know i would love to spend time to do it though. Can’t wait to see more!! thanks for sharing
Everything looks really well done. You definitely have some talented friends. My creative outlet is scrapbooking, which I enjoy doing not only for the creativity aspect, but also the story-telling. It definitely looks like you have spent a lot of time designing your scrapbook pages, and it also looked like you have enjoyed creating them.
Great for artist like me. I already read on the info and i think I’m interested.
Your creative outlets on scrapbooking is really very creative. I find some great wedding scrapbooking ideas for my project. Thanks.
Nice wedding scrapbook design.