Creative Challenge: Back-to-School Words

Creative Challenge: Back-to-School Words

This month’s creative challenge is all about words that make us think about going back to school. I have to admit, this time of year is my favorite. Don’t you agree that something about a fresh start to a new school year amps up the excitement? And of course, I can’t forget about buying new school supplies (one of my favorite pastimes)!

The challenge this month is to create something every day using these back-to-school words. Paint, letter, draw, doodle – it doesn’t have to be large or perfect. And you don’t have to do the same thing every day. The object is to create and build a creative habit where you let your mind relax for a few minutes. I know my mind functions better when I give it a creative rest every so often.

If you’ve ever heard of the 7 Habits by Stephen Covey, he talks about sharpening the saw – and that’s exactly what a creative practice does – it renews your mind and gives it a chance to rest between all the other activities you throw at it. So take a minute, sharpen your saw, and make time to create!

Back to School Words Challenge List

For more tricks about doodling different back-to-school-related words, check out these posts!

• 6 Fun & Easy-to-Draw School Doodles
• Planning: School Lunches
• Have too much on your mind? Do a brain dump! What is a Brain Dump?
• Plan With Me: Dutch Door Book Bullet Journal Theme
• Planner: Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas

How to Participate:

Not sure how to participate in a creative challenge? No worries. These are not hard or fast rules – the challenge is to inspire you and remove the art block we sometimes feel when creating.

1. If you’re on Instagram – find me & follow me @ChocolateMusingsCreates
2. Download the creative challenge prompts list (right-click on the image to save it and print it for reference). Or do a screenshot on your phone to save the prompts.
3. Every day letter, draw, paint or create something to do with the daily prompt.
4. You can use your regular style or add a bit of flair and try a new doodle or style!
5. Snap a picture and post your creation to Instagram – tag me @ChocolateMusingsCreates and use the hashtag #FindYourCreativeMuse – I’ll choose a few of my favorites and share them!
   • I’m also on Facebook so that you can post and tag my page. Find me at facebook.com/ChocolateMusings.
6. Follow the hashtag and like and comment on others’ creations as well. I LOVE the community that these lettering challenges create.
7. Choose a few back-to-school words from the challenge, or do them all! It’s meant to challenge you and expand your creativity.
8. Most importantly, have fun!

Bonus Back to School Words Not in the Challenge

Here are a few bonus back-to-school words that didn’t quite fit into the challenge (there are only 31 days!) But that doesn’t mean you can’t use these words in a challenge of your own. What other words make you think of freshly sharpened pencils, new school supplies, and heading on that bus to go back to school?

What to Do & Ideas for Creating

Here are some ideas to get you started with this challenge creating using these back-to-school-themed words.

Remember: you can try to create all or some of them, or choose one prompt that inspires you and work on it all month. The idea is to expand your creativity and inspiration and get you to try new styles or techniques that you might not use regularly.

Use the challenge word as a background for your art or lettering. You can always use art as an overlay for your other creations. Try to create as many as you like or spend a few days experimenting with a particular word.

Create monograms with the various back-to-school words painted or drawn embedded as a design or create an overlay for another design like squares or circles.

It’s not all about handlettering. These prompts are perfect for doodles or full-page creations. These prompts are the ideal starting point if you’ve ever wanted to improve your drawing skills. Because it doesn’t matter how they turn out, what’s important is that you tried something new. And you don’t have to sit and wonder what to draw because the prompts are provided for you!

For the challenge example below from a few years ago, I set some additional rules for myself.

• I used only black ink
• Each doodle would be (mostly) contained within a circle frame
• One part of the circle would be part of the design
• The design would extend beyond the circle’s outer edge in another part.

The outcome of that challenge is one of my favorites, even now. It’s interesting how guidelines help create a more creative environment.

Handlettering Styles to Try

If you handletter or want to start handlettering, here are some new styles to incorporate into your challenge. Focus on one type all month or use a variety of lettering techniques!

What I Love About Creative Challenges

What I love about creative challenges like this ‘back-to-school’ words challenge – even if you happen on this challenge after it’s posted and finished on Instagram, nothing says you can’t use these prompts as inspiration later on.

Using a combination of daily and style prompts is one of my favorite ways to experiment and try new techniques. A few years ago, when I started to handletter, prompts like this got me to try flourishing when I never would before.

Use this ‘back-to-school’ words challenge to look at color, patterns, and values and add a bit of flair to your projects.

Happy creating, and remember to have fun!

Find Other Creative Challenges

Supplies Perfect for this Creative Challenge

Crayola Markers

• Crayola Super Tips 100 Count | 50 Count | 20 Count
• Crayola Broad Line Markers

Here are a few of my favorite watercolor papers.

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