Where to go when your mojo runs low

Today Lisa Harris is here to point us in the direction of the most inspirational sites she's found online. I think we can all do with a mojo boost every now and again!

It may not have happened to you – yet. But if you’re anything like me (and most of the scrapbookers I know), there have been days when you had the time to scrap, you had everything you needed on hand, but you just didn’t have the motivation to get yourself started. If this describes you, you are in the right place! Today I’d like to share with you five challenge blogs that never fail to give me instant inspiration when I’m struggling and staring at an empty page.

1. Layout A Day – I’ll admit, I’m a latecomer to the whole LOAD craze, but boy, is there an abundance of inspiration in the Layout A Day challenges! Here’s how it works: You sign up for one of the challenges (so far in 2014, there’s been one in February and one in May – subscribe to Lain’s email list to get notifications and other fun stuff). Each day of the challenge, you’ll receive a video prompt in your email inbox. The prompts are there to jumpstart your storytelling process – you do NOT have to stick with them strictly. In fact you are encouraged to spin them, twist them, or do whatever you feel led to do on that particular day. The prompts are awesome, but even better is the community of scrappers that you become a part of when you join the group’s Flickr gallery. Seeing how others interpret the prompts can be just the ticket for getting you into your scrappy zone.
2. CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration – This website is actually hosted on ning, and you do have to create an account to join. But, oh my, when you do, a whole new world will be opened to you! There is some serious talent to be found in this challenge group. The site is themed as though you, the participant, are being hired as a special investigator to solve a new case file each week. You are provided with “The Scene,” a photograph from which the color scheme is chosen, “Evidence,” a list of embellishments and techniques from which to choose, and “Testimony,” a list of journaling ideas. Each week members are featured as “Most Wanted,” which is a fun twist on the usual gallery shout-out. There are also chances to win weekly prizes for participation.
3. S.W.A.T. Scrap Warriors Advanced Training – This basic training themed blog is a lot of fun to play along with. There are two challenges, called Drills, each month, one on the first Saturday and the other on the third Saturday. In between, on the second Saturday, there is a Basic Training – a tutorial of some sort, or a tip, trick, or technique to try on your next project. On the fourth Saturday, there is a Special Ops – a tutorial for an off-the-page or three dimensional project. Prizes are awarded to random participants for the two Drills.
4. Scrap Our Stash – The mission of the S.O.S. blog is to inspire scrappers to use more of our stash and supplies on hand. To do this, they provide a stash challenge on the 1^st of each month and a sketch challenge on the 15^th of each month. Participants link challenge entries before the 29^th of each month to be eligible for sponsor prizes. Winners are chosen at random, but three layouts are chosen to be featured by the design team. And speaking of the design team, they are what really sets this blog apart. They consistently deliver beautiful inspiration and encouragement to followers of this site.
5. Stuck?! Sketches – Everyone has their own ideas and opinions about sketches. To use or not to use a sketch, what makes a sketch appealing, etc. etc. Wherever you land in the debate, I would just encourage you to think of sketches as an easy way to get your scrappy mojo flowing when it seems to have dried up and blown away. And a great place to find a variety of sketches is the Stuck?! Sketches blog. Each month, two new sketches are posted, one on the 1^st and one on the 15^th. Challenge participants post a link to projects created based on the sketches and are entered to win prizes from the blog’s many sponsors. This is another blog that boasts an awesome design team, and the sketches, in my opinion, are versatile and easy to use with almost any photos.
6. ***BONUS*** My Kreative Pursuits - I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my own little weekly roundup of mojo. Each Monday I post a series of images collected that week on my Pin Boards. I try to choose the best of the best – a color scheme, a sketch, a technique, an embellishment, and lately, a topic prompt. The series is called Monday Mojo, and I’d love for you to take a look!

Now you may be thinking, “That’s great, Lisa, but I’m really not the type to get involved in blog challenges.” To be honest, I’m not the type, either. But these are the places I return to again and again when I need a quick fix of inspiration, an idea to jumpstart me, or just some good, old fashioned eye-candy, and they may serve just that purpose for you as well. I’d also love to hear about the places YOU go for mojo.

Please leave a comment below describing your favorite places to go on the web for inspiration -  we can't wait to discover them!

 

 

All about Lisa: I've been a scrapper for about 15 years, and I've never lost my original passion for the hobby. The thing I love most about scrapbooking is that it enables me to tell my family's stories and preserve precious memories in a way that marries two of my favorite things: photos and the written word. The only thing I love more than scrapping is talking about it with others who are as crazy about it as I am. Come talk to me at mykreativepursuits.com.