We’ve all made it half way through the year (yay us!). Whether the last six months were as creative as you had hoped or a little lacking, why not aim to take a bit more time for your wellbeing this month and try something different. Here are our 5 ideas for a creative July…
1. Customise your choc ice. Think a humble choc ice is boring? Think again! Get creative and turn something so simple into something really indulgent and special. Half-dip the bar in melted chocolate, or just drizzle some over (either way, be quick so it doesn’t melt the ice cream), and then sprinkle on your choice of toppings… freeze-dried fruit, crumbled cookies, chopped nuts, edible flowers, crushed meringues… you get the idea.
2. Create a summer sound collage. Go for a mindful walk in your area, or your favourite place, and record snippets of summer. Birdsong, leaves rustling, children playing, people laughing and eating outside, ice cream vans… sometimes, the simpler the better. Then, using a free app (a quick search for a music or audio editor should find you something), piece them together to make a calm or joyful track. Later in the year, when the sun and warmth have disappeared, you can listen back and embrace those summer feelings.
3. Make a mosaic planter. Whether you have a big garden or simple windowsill, you can create a colourful and unique planter to make you smile this summer. Use a terracotta pot or recycled container as a base, then attach broken crockery and tiles, tiny pebbles, or even sections of old jewellery, using tile adhesive – and add grout, once dry. Some crafts stores also sell mosaic tile pieces if you want more choice to play with.
4. Naturally dye a set of napkins. Want something special to elevate your picnics and barbecues? Using ingredients like red cabbage, turmeric, avocado skins, or hibiscus tea, you can naturally dye cotton or linen napkins yourself. Use rubber bands or string for tie-dye patterns, or even experiment with botanical prints. Check online for full instructions to get the best results and set the colours.
5. Make a folding fan. Using hand-painted paper or lightweight fabric, wooden sticks (like coffee stirrers), a split pin (to create a pivot point at the bottom), and glue, piece together your own folding fan. Go plain with a single colour, or go pretty and paint strawberries and florals.
At this time of year it can be really easy to get overwhelmed by… well… everything. The nicer weather usually means more social things to attend, work projects might be coming to a head or just kicking off, kids have end-of-school ‘stuff’, everyone is too hot (or bored of rain if we get one of those summers). It’s a lot. But that’s why it’s even more important to look after yourself and give yourself a little space in the month for some creativity. We hope at least one of these ideas sparks your imagination.
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