This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission. For more info, please see my disclosure on my Connect page.

Do you remember when I fell in that creative funk last fall? To get the inspiration flowing again, I challenged myself to create something every single day of October. The experience ended up being SO MUCH FUN but also deeply informative. I keep going back over and over again to things I learned about myself from the process. I loved it so much that I decided to do it again and, this time, I’m inviting you to join me! Makeuary Make Month Challenge? It’s a tongue twister, but yes, ma’am!

First off, I’m sure you’ve got some questions.
Like, what the heck is a Make Month?

Simply put, a Make Month is a month where you do something creative every single day. That’s it. That’s the whole thing! The only rule. Not even kidding! For one whole month, we challenge ourselves to stretch our imaginations. To play. Craft. Build. Bake. Paint. Write. Dance. Dream. Create. Choosing to consume less and create more.

In whatever way fills your cup.

Create for You

This is about you and only you. It’s not about what anyone else is doing or has done. No comparison. In my experience, there is no quicker way to kill a creative buzz than comparing myself or what I’m doing to something or someone else. And, for the love, drop the perfection! Trust me, as a perfectionist in recovery, you’ll only make yourself sick. Art is whatever you want it to be. Do what brings YOU joy. Don’t worry about making it look just like someone else’s and definitely don’t stress over messing up. Have no expectations and embrace the wonkiness. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress or of fun! You aren’t getting graded, nobody even has to see it unless you want them to. All that matters is that put yourself out there and try.

Now, don’t @ me with some silly excuse about how you’re not creative. That’s garbage and whoever told you that is a liar. Creativity is a muscle. The more you work and build it, the stronger you become. We all have different strengths and talents. Focus more on you and less on everyone else. Besides, we aren’t painting Picassos here. This isn’t about making for the masses. This is creativity for YOU, for the sole purpose of creating.

Be brave, do new things, experiment and make mistakes.
That’s how we learn and grow.

This is your creative challenge and you get to personalize it to you. Being creative doesn’t have to or need to be a grand gesture or massive project. It can be simple, sentimental, and even free. If all you do one day is make a cup of tea, you’ve accomplished your goal.

You just created something.

Calendar

Like I said above, some days might just be cup of tea days and that is lovely. Other days, you might want to tackle something a little more robust. I created a free printable calendar that you can use to plan out some of the projects and activities you’d like to try. You can find a link to the printable PDF directly under the calendar photo below. I made it a universal calendar in hopes that it can be reused over and over again if the moods hits down the road.

Just write in the dates, pencil in a few ideas, and get creating!

Click here for FREE PRINTABLE PDF!

Not sure what to create?

I got you! Here is a list of ideas to get your juices flowing. Feel free to plug them into the provided Makeuary calendar, or create you own ideas. Like I said, this is yours. You get to decide what it looks and feels like.

Crafting:

Home:

Nature:

Health & Beauty:

More Makeuary Ideas:

Final Tips:

Keep it simple- If the thought of making something is overwhelming, remember that cup of tea.

No expectations- Just try. Like Drew Wagner said, “Thinking ‘Here goes nothing’ could be the start of everything.”

Set a timer or turn it into a game- Doodle for 15 min. Pretend you’re on a cooking show and bake a batch of cookies. See how many beads you can string before the next commercial comes up on your Amazon Prime movie. (I am a little salty over that recent change.)

Make it fun- Create things that bring you joy! If you hate itchy sweaters, don’t force yourself to knit one. Think of things you love, find fascinating, or have always wanted to try, and do that. Invite a friend if that makes you smile. Post it if it falls apart and you can’t stop laughing! Art is fun.

Embrace the imperfections- Don’t let perfectionism stop you from living your life to the fullest. Your creativity is unlimited when freed from the box of perfection. If it fills your cup, it is beautiful.

Try new things- If there is art you already enjoy, don’t stop! Keep it up! Just consider sprinkling in a little of the unknown here and there throughout the month too. Trying new things stretches us. It expands our world view and helps us grow. Use a color you’d normally never try. Taste a new ingredient. Take a class. Invent. Discover!

Set the mood- Having a hard time getting into the creative zone? Set the mood. Light some candles. Turn on some tunes and dance around the kitchen. Go for a walk or do an exercise video to release tension. Turn on your favorite movie in the background. Make creative time something you look forward to.

Bonus Tip, But Not Required:

Reward yourself- Obviously, the major award is internal here. But, don’t hesitate to set little rewards to motivate if that’s how your brain works. Dangle the proverbial carrot. Maybe a treat at the end of each week. Or a big one once you’ve completed the challenge. You know that something special you’ve had your eye on? The new watercolors or those pretty pillows for the sofa. Maybe it’s a massage or special day out. Totally up to you. Set your goal then mark it on the calendar to give it to yourself at the end of the month.

If that’s not your vibe, no biggie.
This is challenge belongs to you.

Welcome to Makeuary!

Art, creativity, making, doing. It’s a personal, intimate gift to ourselves and, if we desire to share, others. It’s like putting a little piece of yourself out into the ether. Being creative can help express emotion and heal heart wounds. It can relieve stress, ease fears, open our eyes, teach, and testify. Through doing, we learn and grow, develop and become.

And all it takes is a little courage and intention.

This is the season she will make beautiful things. Not perfect things but honest things that speak to who she is and who she is called to be.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

Welcome to Makeuary, dear friend! I hope it lifts your heart and inspires you find your brave. You, yes you, were born to create. It’s in you. Make time to reach down deep. You’ll find it. Never doubt or forget how wildly capable you are.

You’ve got this!

Want to join in? What are you going to do first? Please let me know in the comments! And do me a favor? If you make something and it brings a smile to your face, tag me if you post it. I’d be thrilled to see what you create and hear how Makeuary is going for you!