by Melissa McClain

Happy Thursday, Scribblers!  

It’s my first “official” day blogging for Scribble Blog and I couldn’t be MORE excited!  Guess what we’re launching today?

Scribble Jam!™

What, you might ask, is Scribble Jam?  It’s a creative activity just for you!  It’s an opportunity for you to get creative, have some fun, play with color, and connect with your “inner Scribbler”.  I know, I know…I can hear you now, “But I’m not creative.”  Or maybe you’re saying “I can’t draw.”  Maybe the thought of creating something artistic takes you back to childhood and an art teacher, classmates, or parent who belittled your artistic abilities.  Don’t go there!

Creativity Isn’t Learned, It Is Released

This isn’t about being an artist!  It’s not about doing it “right”.  THIS is about YOU.  Scribble Jam is about tapping into YOUR creativity in a new way and discovering what happens in your life because of it.  I listened to a wonderful interview with Brene Brown this week.  In it she talked about one of my core beliefs that everyone is creative, “but, there are people who use creativity…and people who don’t.”  If you’ve got it, you should use it.  Right?

Right!

Scribble Jam is your chance to get creative.  In the privacy of your home, office, local park, favorite coffee shop…wherever you want!  Here’s how it works and what you’ll need.

Make a Scribble a Day!

Make a commitment to set aside time just for you to get creative every day.  5-10 minutes a day to  connect with your thoughts and open your mind to creativity and new ideas. I Scribble first thing in the morning.  Before my day gets started.  It helps me set a tone for the day.

If you think you can’t find time to dedicate just for you then make it a family activity and get everyone Scribbling together!  Set a goal:  “I’m going to Scribble for…7 days, 14 days, 30 days.”  You choose.  I started this pledge for myself almost 60 days ago (it started as a 30 day challenge…it’s hard to let go of something so wonderful) and I’ve only missed ONE day!

Get a “Scribble Journal.”  This is great fun!  Your Scribble Journal is your private, creative oasis (unless you want to share of course…which I HOPE you do!).  It will hold all the thoughts, feelings, and ideas that you will be expressing creatively and colorfully.  Your Scribble Journal can be anything; a notebook, a sketch pad, or a bound journal.  Find something that inspires you and makes you feel special.  Purchase something new as a gift to your inner Scribbler.  My inner Scribbler LOVES to get gifts!

I use a 5 ½ x 5 ½” unlined journal with heavy paper.  It’s easy to carry around in my bag and the pages aren’t big and intimidating.

Excited yet?  Wait…there’s more!

Colors!  Of course if you are going to Scribble, you are going to need LOTS of colors.  Start with what feels comfortable.  My original Scribble started with crayons.  Then I moved to colored pencils.  Now I’m a pastel fanatic with the occasional mix of colored pencils.  Start with whatever you have available.  Markers, crayons, colored pencils…or go buy something new and exciting that you’ve always wanted to try.

Set aside Your Scribble Time and Start Coloring.  Start Expressing.  Get Creative!

Scared of the blank page?  I understand…I was too!  Just start with something,  anything…a shape…a line…a word!  There are no rules.  There is no right or wrong.  It’s just you and your colors and your thoughts.  If you ask me, the world needs a lot more of that!

I’ll be writing about the Scribble Jam  once a month here on Scribble Blog and sharing my own Journal pages…and even some of yours!  We’ll talk about the benefits of activating your right brain through the Scribble, inspiration that comes from sharing our Scribbles, and much much more.

I encourage you to share your Scribbles on the page or here on the blog. You can do this!  I know you can!  So start Scribbling!

 Scribbles are inspiring. Sharing is brave!