How do you handle a creative block?

[Former_Member]

I've recently been hearing a lot about 100 being the magic number of listings in your shop that will really increase your views and sales. I'm still only at about 30-something items and as hard as I've been trying lately, I can't seem to get myself back into a creative mode to design more.

How do you guys handle those blocks and get your creativity flowing again?

[Former_Member]

I try to do something in a different medium than normal. Get out of the house and take a sight seeing trip somewhere different and tell yourself you have an assignment to do a work related to your trip. I have a friend on here and I give her a list of ideas from time to time and she messages me with what she thinks I should put in my shop. That is kind of fun. Sometimes it takes another eye to say, "Hey, why don't you have this or that?" and it is something so obvious, but you never thought about it. and don't discard the ideas that you don't think are so great, because, heaven knows those might be the first to sell!

[NakedRatDestash]

i get away from crafting and pull out my craft books, relax and try to get inspiration.

[Former_Member]

When I have a creativity block I pull out the only name brand makeup palette that I own and look for colors that inspire me. Otherwise I honestly just throw things together. I think "hmmm... I'm going to make a green of some sort" and I go from there. I usually end up with some really nice colors!

[Former_Member]

Beautiful artwork is always inspiring to me. Whenever I go to an Arts & Crafts show I come back home energized with ideas. It is not that I am going to copy anybody, but their style enriches my style. Sometimes, a little detail is all I need. Looking at unrelated, but attractive items on Etsy might do the trick for you.

[Former_Member]

i either have to walk away for a while, or dive right in and just go for it. both work at different times. if i'm getting fustrated though, i know it's time to try again later or another day.

[spacefem]

zipper roulette! pull a zipper out of my too-vast collection, and sew a bag around it. works every time.

[Former_Member]

Hi, i have a creative work outside etsys so i have to constantly have ideas, and sometimes its not easy... to me it helps to give it some time, go to the beach or some place quiet in the nature, or sometimes i just go run.

A good trick is to have a little notebook were you can write some ideas you might have during the day, and review it at these times.

Also make some research on what other peolpe are doing, it might inspire your own work too.