Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
It’s hard to believe, but in less than a month, we’ll be ringing in a New Year. So, while we prepare for the upcoming festive holidays, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the past year and create goals for the coming year. While most people choose to lose weight, or quit smoking in the New Year, we believe you should choose a goal or goals that you’re passionate about and know you’ll keep throughout the year. We’re a creative bunch at Papertrey Ink and we know you are as well. So, in 2018, why don’t you make your New Year’s resolution to be more creative?
The Many Benefits of Being Creative
Embracing our inner child and being creative is good for our mind, body, and soul. It doesn’t matter if you enjoy painting, drawing, sculpting, or sewing, using your right-brain and creating something, can make you a healthier person. Being creative can help you become a better problem solver as you’ll have to use your creativity to solve problems in your artwork. Creativity and using your hands and minds to create art is a major stress relief. Painting a beautiful sunset or crafting the perfect holiday card can bring you lots of joy that reduces your stress levels.
Being creative can also help you become more self-aware and allow to express your true thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in your art. A 2015 medical study conducted by the Mayo Clinic discovered that people who engaged in creative art activities in middle and old age showed delays in cognitive decline in very old age. But, you probably don’t need any science studies to back up what you already knew – being creative is good for you.
Sample Creative New Year’s Resolutions
It’s time to make a different New Year’s resolution this year! Organize your craft room and break out all your new supplies and it’s time to get started on your creative goals in 2018. Not sure where to start? Here are a few sample New Year’s Resolutions that will get your creative juices flowing in 2018.
Make Your Own Handmade Wedding Invitations
Did you know that the average couple spends about $650 on wedding invitations and some spend upwards of $3000? If you or one of your friends or family members is crafty, then make your own handmade wedding invitations and save some serious dough! Not only can you save a lot of money, but you can create a truly unique invitation that is special to both you and your partner.
Send One Handwritten Card a Week
We correspond so much by email these day that the only thing we get in the mailbox is junk mail and bills. Surprise your friends, families, and other people with a beautifully handcrafted card or letter just from you. It doesn’t have to be a birthday card or a “get well” card. A “just because” card is always a welcomed surprise. As Betsy mentioned, “it’s a great time to use products you haven’t used yet.” If you run out of people to send cards to, why not send them to the troops overseas or a charity!
Finally Finish That Scrapbook You Started Two Years Ago
Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to preserve your memories for years to come. However, it can be a very time-consuming pastime and perhaps life just got in the way of finishing your first book. Now is the perfect time to finish your scrapbook. Set some monthly goals and just get started. We have tons of scrapbooking supplies to get you moving again.
Start a Creative Business
In the new world of “side hustling” and the “gig economy,” millions of people are making extra money outside their jobs by doing something they love. You don’t have to become an Uber driver or rent your craft room out on Airbnb to make some extra cash. Perhaps all your friends and family keep saying your handmade cards are incredible and that you should sell them? It’s time to take the wise words of Nike and just do it! Start selling your handcrafted goods on Facebook, local craft fairs, or even on Etsy.
Create a Journal to Help You Achieve Your 2018 Goals
No matter what your New Year’s resolution, it’s important to track your goals to keep yourself accountable. Creating a customized journal or agenda can help you achieve those goals. Maybe you want to put your green thumb to good use and turn your hobby garden into the blue ribbon winning garden at the local home and garden show or maybe you are meal planning to help you lose those last stubborn pounds. No matter what your 2018 New Year’s resolution is, our ambassadors and team contributors have some great ideas for you.
Papertrey Ink Team 2018 Resolutions
“I plan to use more colors that I don’t normally use on my designs.”
“I plan to organize all my stamps, supplies, and my craft room this year!”
“I plan to use all my unopened supplies that I bought and haven’t used yet.”
Make 2018 Your Most Creative Year Yet
Once the clock strikes 12 on January 1st, it’s time to welcome in the new year and all the hopes and wishes it brings. The New Year is a great time to finish some projects or start new ones. Set some dedicated creative time aside each week and you never know what you may achieve in 2018. Whether it’s stamps, cards, scrapbooking, or more, we’re always here to supply you with all your creative needs and provide a little inspiration.
Happy New Year from our family to yours!
I like Betsy’s resolution…should me mine as well. And good luck to Ashley in organizing her craft room and supplies!
Great post. I need to do Ashley’s goal. Then I need to do Betsy’s.
What a sweet and uplifting blog post this morning. Your words of encouragement looking towards the new year are so appreciated. I am going to make creative resolutions this year thanks to PTI.
Super goals for this coming year! I am branching out to doing some sewing this year. I will still keep with making cards though, & plan on learning more techniques! 😉
Oh, I AM going to FINISH my SCRAPBOOKS. I have some fantastic PTI stamps to make my books look awesome.
Hmmmm…selling. Yes, I have heard that comment and just don’t know where to go with it or how to start the process. I will try to do some research this year on selling platforms. If anyone has ideas to share on this I would love to hear them. Thanks and hope you all have a happy productive year!!
I’m absolutely going with Lizzie’s Resolution. Whenever I participate in a color challenge, I almost ever like my creation, even if I would have never thought using the requested colors on my own.
In 2017 I remodeled and organized my craft space AND it’s still organized (even if I did the initial organizing in early spring). So much more fun to work with all my cute stuff.
Such wonderful inspiration!! My heart listened as I read… and just revealed my ‘word’ for 2018. Can’t wait to reveal my word in the New Year! Papertrey Ink products will play a key part, of course.? I’m looking forward to a great year overflowing with inspiration! ?
I made my wedding invitations, and thank you notes, back in 2010! It was so much fun to create a design, and go shopping for cardstock and envelopes. It took a lot of time, but I saved a lot of money, so it was all worth it. I love the goal of sending one card a week; too often I make cards for assignments — someone’s birthday, or anniversary, and not really just because. This would be a great lift for my creativity, I think. Thanks for the inspiration this year, and I can’t wait to see what 2018 brings!
It was very inspirational to read all the incouraging blogs. I love making cards gift boxes and many other paper crafts it is so relaxing to just go into my craft room and create! I made all our Christmas cards this year and last year I got so many rave reviews. I love all of your beautiful stamps and dies it makes it so much fun! With all the awful things going on in the world today this is a great way to escape it all.
Great post ladies! I #agreewitheverything! You all read my mind.. especially Ashley and Betsy. My main goal is to make cards for every family member this year and send it in the mail. A dear family friend used to send me Hallmark cards every year. In fact, Boots sent cards to any and everyone all her life. What a blessing! I’ve already started a plan to organize. Just need to execute! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love all these ideas. Now to just do them….
Great inspiration. Thanks ever so much for a push in the right direction. After moving and getting a bigger space all to myself, I’m still not organized. Trust me, I have tried and have changed configurations at least 3-4 times. Just can’t figure it out so it will work for me. Arrgghh! This just might be that push I needed.. Thanks! My wish for all is a safe and happy holiday season!
Wonderful posting and Ashley I am still organizing my craft area–hope to be finished by next Christmas ;>)
Thanks, Ladies, for the inspiration and goal-sharing. As I get ready for 2018, I’m trying to prepare my planner for the new year. Organization is key, since my daughter is getting married in July. I can’t find where to order my Moments Inked Memory Planner binder refill pages for 2018. Will someone please direct me to the right place? I’m starting to panic at the thought of not being organized by Jan 1st!
I plan on organizing my craft space (the storage room) too. And using new items never opened. Merry Christmas!
Enjoyed this post! Thanks for the inspiration!
My goal is to incorporate new techniques and take some classes. I also want to make a stash of cards to have on hand, instead of just having card orders to work on. I also want to work more on my card making business.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
My creative goal is to finish the scrapbook I started TWENTY FOUR years ago … really lol.
When might we see 2018 Moments Inked Calendar replacements? So many activities and goals to write in but no calendar yet???
I feel the same way but i contacted PTI and they said the calendars will not be continued.
I have decided to not buy any new stamps and dies until I use the new things I already have. It’s hard when I love all the new things that are coming out every month.
I’m going to start of the year with designing my new craft room. The first builder is coming this week to talk with me. Then my goal with be two fold. First to have a spot for everything and keep everything in its spot. And to buy supplies that I will actually use more then once. I gave away so much before we moved. It was crazy the amount of stuff I had just because I could. It’s time to make a plan and stick to it!
Happy Holidayd and a Happy, healthy prosperous New Year to all of my PTI friends!
Starting this year, I resolved to stop hoarding my really cool stuff. That is so crazy. I’ve had things that have gone out of style. So now, if I’m making a project and have something that would be perfect, I use it! Also, last year, I resolved to get rid of stuff I don’t use and don’t like anymore (in some cases). I took a bunch of stamps sets to my sister and niece and a gal at church. I took 300 stamps sets to GoodWill. It was very freeing!!! I’ve been collecting stamps for 25 years – it was time to “let go”!
This will be my favorite type of resolution! I would like to make all my Christmas cards. Maybe if I make some through out the year it will be 2018!
Using up all my accumulated supplies is key to my plans. How can I justify ‘just one more’ stamp or die, when the cottage is stuffed to the rafters already?