April Instagram Challenge(s)!!!!

Posted onMarch 28, 2016
Blog

Here I was, getting all geared up to put myself through a Doctor Who challenge on Instagram for April when Kerry Hishon comes up with a challenge for Creative Types for TLTDAY to sponsor for April!!!

What’s a girl to do?

Both, I guess! Here’s Kerry’s exciting list of Creative Challenges for April – we do hope you will join us and hopefully follow all my Doctor Who posts as well!!! It’s going to be an Instagram kind of month, I think!

#CreativeApril Challenge!

We are excited to announce that we are bringing back a creative challenge for you: The TLTDAY #CreativeApril Challenge on Instagram!

Last year we ran the #top10challenge in March. Since it was the first time we’d created our own Instagram challenge, we started with baby steps: a 10 day Instagram challenge right in the middle of March. Now we’re upping the ante and going to try a full month of Insta-inspiration! Again, the focus is creativity and the arts, and it’s going to be FUN!

Please put your Instagram name in the comments if you want to join in, so we can follow you and others can follow you, too! Use the hashtag #CreativeApril so everyone can find you. Show us your creativity… anything goes! Read on for more details and how to get in on the fun!

April 1: Fool Us!

It’s April Fools Day, but we ain’t foolin’! In tarot, the Fool is the first card in the deck and symbolizes a new beginning or a journey. Sounds like a great way to begin this challenge. So we’re going to play “Two Truths and a Lie.” Introduce yourself and tell us two things about you that are true and one that’s a lie. We’ll try to guess which is which in the comments!

April 2: Happy Saturday

Share with us something that makes you happy today!

April 3: Feeling Magical

Abracadabra! Share something with us that you think is magical. Rabbits in hats? Stars and cosmos? Sparkles and ice cream? (Why not?) Bring that magic out and show it to us!

April 4: I’m Gonna Wreck It!

Some of the most creative work comes out of destruction. Show us something destructive or that you’ve destroyed, and tell us how you’re going to build it back up again.

April 5: OOTD

We love creative fashion and costumes, so today, share with us your “outfit of the day” and something creative about it! Where did you get it? Is there a story behind it? Is it formal, functional, fabulous (or all three?!).

April 6: A Colourful Life

What’s your favourite colour? Share it with us and let us know why it’s your favourite.

April 7: Thankful Thursday

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Share something you’re thankful for today.

April 8: Foodie Friday

I don’t know about you, but the TLTDAY team loves food. Today, share with us a delicious dish that’ll have us drooling. Bonus points if you share the recipe!

April 9: Spring Cleaning

It’s time to chase away the winter doldrums and start fresh. Today, get your clean on or declutter some junk from your place that’s holding you down. Share a before and after pic of your work!

April 10: Home Sweet Home

Do you have a special place or area in your home devoted to creativity? Show it to us so we can be inspired!

April 11: Make A Wish

What are you wishing for these days? Share with us one of your wishes or dreams… and brainstorm up a way that you can take a baby step towards achieving that dream!

April 12: Beauty In The World

Today’s prompt is simple – show us something you think is beautiful.

April 13: Very Superstitious
Inspired by a favourite song by Stevie Wonder! Today, show us something superstitious. Rituals, your rehearsal process, ghosts, a lucky talisman…

April 14: Inspiring Words
Stories, monologues, speeches… what gets your mojo flowing?

April 15: TBT

It’s Throwback Thursday! Show us a pic of you as a tot doing something creative!

April 16: Poetry Slam

Share a favourite poetry piece, or try your hand at writing a poem!

April 17: Your Lucky Charm
Share something lucky! Could be an object, a person, a place… bonus points if it’s green!

April 18: Play It, Sam
Share your favourite play or film, maybe a quote… or misquote!

April 19: Lights, Camera, Acting!
We’re leaving this one intentionally vague. Show us what you can do!

April 20: Something To Fight For!
Put up your dukes! Show us something worth fighting for. A cause, a friend, a role, or even a real (or “reel”) life fight!

April 21: And The Award Goes To…
Share your favourite actor/actress/performer, living or not, award-winning or not! Why are they your favourite, and what award should they win?

April 22: Dress Rehearsal
Time to put on your best dress! Show us your costumes, dress up, cosplay… let’s see those fancy pants!

April 23: Sing! Sing A Song!
Today’s all about music. Show us your favourite singer, lyrics from your favourite song, images from your favourite musical… or get brave and make us a video of you singing or playing music!

April 24: Furry Friends

Pets, stuffed animals, puppets… share with us something (or someone!) furry and loveable today!

April 25: Travel Tuesday

Got plans to get out of town and go somewhere? Or are you dreaming of white sandy beaches, amusement parks, or foreign lands? Share some travel pics with us and send us a postcard with “wish you were here” while you’re away.

April 26: A Day In The Life

Sometimes our lives are not so creative and inspiring every second, but it’s always cool to peek behind the curtain and see the day-to-day doings of peoples’ lives. Share with us a moment of your day, magical or mundane.

April 27: Work In Progress

What creative project(s) are you currently working on? Share your work in progress with us and tell us about your creative process.

April 28: Black & White

Today, you can share anything you like… but in black and white!

April 29: May Flowers

It’s not May yet, but it’s close enough! Share some beautiful flowers with us today… maybe by the time this post goes up, they’ll have invented smell-o-vision for Instagram!

April 30: Closing Night
Party time… it’s a celebration! Let’s throw an Insta-party! Confetti, tunes and party hats are HIGHLY encouraged!

How do I get in on the fun?
You should definitely save the image above — or like it on Instagram (follow The Lovers, The Dreamers and You on Instagram at @tltday) — so you have a reminder of the prompts. Then use the prompts to inspire you! Take photos, upload them to Instagram, and be sure to tag them with #CreativeApril! If you are not on Instagram, then join in the fun on Twitter! We’re @LoversDreamersU over there.
You can also follow anyone from the TLTDAY team on Instagram, they are:
@matty.what
@midnightluke
@kerryhishon

How do I get the most out of this experience?
You will get so much out of the #CreativeApril challenge if you reach out to others participating: like and comment on their pictures, and add them as friends! Write something meaningful as your caption too. Share your creativity with images AND words!

What if I miss a day?
No worries! Just catch up whenever you can.

Can I post the challenge graphic on my Instagram?
Yes, of course! That way you’ll have it to refer back to. Don’t forget the hashtag!

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Follow along with us at @tltday on Instagram!

Special Guest Post: Kerry Hishon!!!! Challenge Accepted!!!!!!

Posted onJanuary 24, 2016
Blog

50 Art Challenges To Try This Winter

Two years ago I wrote a post here on the TLTDAY blog called 10 Ways to Reinvigorate Your Creativity. Well, it’s January again, and it’s pretty darn cold here in Ontario (as always!). I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to hibernate. But don’t give in to temptation! Shake off the “winter blahs” and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. You need to CREATE! The world needs your art! Thus… I bring to you… Art Challenges!

Art Challenges are little prompts to get your creative juices flowing and make you smile. Many are silly. Many are challenging. All are fun! And most of them won’t cost a thing, other than your time and brainpower.

Some of the prompts will say “create a piece of art…” which doesn’t have to be limited to visual art. These challenges are not to be taking WITH MUCH SERIOSITY. Use them as a starting point. Bend or break the rules. Use them in any kind of art medium, style or form you wish – the sky is the limit! Make the challenges your own!

Here are 50 Art Challenges to get you started! Happy creating!

Embrace your foodie side and create or consume some culinary art! Make or find some gorgeous nibbles, and share them with friends.
Take a photo of something you think is beautiful.
Try making some blackout poetry! (Check out @cassyfry for inspiration!)
Buy a pack of markers or crayons and having fun colouring.
Affix glitter to something.
Get some sidewalk chalk and draw a picture someplace unusual.
Write a story starting with “It was a dark and stormy night!”
Go to a thrift store and create a costume for your alter ego (bonus points if you spend less than $10!).
Take a photo a day and create a blog, Tumblr or Instagram to show off your photos.
Make a cover of your favourite song.
Sign up for a new class – printmaking, trapeze, photography, ukulele, sketching, Highland dancing… the sky’s the limit!
Try your hand at sewing something – a costume piece, a pillow, doll clothes, a puppet…
Create a dance piece using “opposite” music. Try ballet dancing to Marilyn Manson, or hip-hop to Beethoven, or lyrical to the Ramones.
Create a comic strip of your day.
Make a ‘zine devoted to your favourite form of art.
Try reading or writing different kinds of poetry – acrostic, haiku, tanka, limerick, couplet, sonnet…
Create a decorative table setting using items from around your house.
De-clutter 5 items from your home, right now (you can’t create if you are surrounded by crap).
Draw a picture with your non-dominant hand.
Have a friend make a scribble on a paper, and turn it into a drawing or design.
Incorporate the four elements into a piece (earth, air, fire, water).
Create a piece based on a single colour.
Finish your current work in progress.
Create a piece of art featuring a candle.
Create a new piece, and give it away.
Create a new way of wearing your hair or makeup.
Create a piece of digital art, or figure out a way to digitize an “analogue” art.
Free write for 15 minutes.
Design a coat of arms that represents you and your artistic endeavours.
Create a postcard, write a note and mail it to a friend. (Check out @leftysmudges for inspiration!)
Go to com and purchase a piece you’ve been admiring.
Create something with glitter.
Colour an entire page. Leave no part uncoloured.
Invent & design your own board game or card game. Share it with others.
Get your mixologist on and create a new, delicious, colourful drink.
Decorate cookies or cake with icing and candy.
Make a list of all the artistic venues you’d like to explore (Tap dancing! Calligraphy! Flute! Making YouTube videos! Burlesque! Stage combat!). Now figure out a way to take a baby step in the direction of exploring that venue.
Go to a museum. Find a piece that speaks to you. Sketch it.
Create a piece of art using office supplies (staples, tape, post-it notes, paperclips…).
Go to a dollar store and create a piece of art using supplies that equal to $5 or less.
Write a story that is only one page long.
Write a story that is only one paragraph long.
Write a story that is only one sentence long.
Write a story using only dialogue.
Turn a story you’ve written into a script for stage or screen.
Write a stage adaptation of your favourite television show or film.
Write a musical adaptation of a favourite play or book.
Create your own “adult colouring book.”
Grab a friend and dance wildly. If there’s no music playing, create your own.
Come up with a list of 50 more Art Challenges.

We would love to see what you create. Share your creations on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #artchallenge so we can be inspired by you!

Photo Credit: Death to the Stock Photo

Kerry Hishon is part of the TLTDAY podcast team. She’s a director, actor, writer, and stage combatant. Check out her blog at www.kerryhishon.com.

10 Days of fun to come…. Join us!!!

Posted onMarch 5, 2015
Blog

Show Us Your Creative Side!!!

An Instagram Photo Challenge

We are thrilled to announce that we are starting a new creative challenge: The TLTDAY Top 10 Challenge on Instagram!

Since this is the first time we’ve created our own Instagram challenge, we’re starting with baby steps: a 10 day Instagram challenge right in the middle of March! The focus is creativity and the arts, and it’s going to be FUN!

Please put your Instagram name in the comments if you want to join in, so we can follow you and others can follow you, too!

Use the hashtag #top10challenge so everyone can find you! Show us your creativity… anything goes! Oh… and there’s a prize too!

Read on for more details and how to get in on the fun!

#top10challenge

March 13: Very Superstitious
Inspired by a favourite song by Stevie Wonder, since we’re starting on Friday the 13th, show us something superstitious. Rituals, your rehearsal process, ghosts, a lucky talisman…

March 14: Inspiring Words
Stories, monologues, speeches… what gets your mojo flowing?

March 15: Lights, Camera, Acting!
We’re leaving this one intentionally vague. Show us what you can do!

March 16: Play It, Sam
Share your favourite play or film, maybe a quote… or misquote!

March 17: Your Lucky Charm
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so let’s share the luck o’ the Irish! Share something lucky! Could be an object, a person, a place… bonus points if it’s green!

March 18: Something To Fight For!
Put up your dukes! Show us something worth fighting for. A cause, a friend, a role, or even a real (or “reel”) life fight!

March 19: And The Award Goes To…
Share your favourite actor/actress/performer, living or not, award-winning or not! Why are they your favourite, and what award should they win?

March 20: Dress Rehearsal
Time to put on your best dress! Show us your costumes, dress up, cosplay… let’s see those fancy pants!

March 21: Sing! Sing A Song!
Today’s all about music. Show us your favourite singer, lyrics from your favourite song, images from your favourite musical… or get brave and make us a video of you singing or playing music!

March 22: Closing Night
Party time… it’s a celebration! In honour of Kerry’s birthday, let’s throw an Insta-party! Confetti, tunes and party hats are HIGHLY encouraged!

How do I get in on the fun?
You should definitely save the image above — or like it on Instagram (follow The Lovers, The Dreamers and You on Instagram at @tltday) — so you have a reminder of the prompts. Then use the prompts to inspire you! Take photos, upload them to Instagram, and be sure to tag them with #top10challenge! If you are not on Instagram, then join in the fun on Twitter! We’re @LoversDreamersU

You can also follow anyone from the TLTDAY team on Instagram, they are:

@matty.what

@midnightluke

@kerryhishon

How do I get the most out of this experience?
You will get so much out of the #top10challenge if you reach out to others participating: like and comment on their pictures, and add them as friends! Write something meaningful as your caption too. Share your creativity with images AND words!

What if I miss a day?
No worries! Just catch up whenever you can.

Can I post the challenge graphic on my Instagram?
Yes, of course! That way you’ll have it to refer back to. Don’t forget the hashtag!

Did you say something about a prize?
Yessir! We will be awarding a special surprise prize (ha ha!) to one of our favourite photos during the #top10challenge! The prize winner will be chosen at the end of the challenge, and eligibility is worldwide. The more photos you post, the better chance you have of winning!

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Follow along with us at @tltday on Instagram!