Month: September 2017

SITES FOR FREE ICONS & ILLUSTRATIONS

Posted on by admin

9/21/2017

ICONSET

https://www.iconfinder.com/free_icons

Pros:  These icon-style images are so easy to use!  Many of them can be re-colored black and white without much work (or already are B&W / grayscale).

Cons:  This site is not as searchable as some are.  It’s best to grab a bunch that you can just save and keep for when you may need them.

Tip:  Check underneath each image set for the terms of use / copyright info.

 

 

 

OPENCLIPART

https://openclipart.org/

Pros:  All images on this site are in the public domain, so it’s worry-free to go ahead and use these for anything at all!  There is a pretty wide selection here.

Cons:  Some can be tricky to convert to blackline images.  Scan through for simpler options that do not have too much background.

Tip:  Use the search box as much as possible! Try different phrasings to widen your search, or think of another image that will serve the same purpose if you can’t find exactly what you had in mind.

 

 

VECTEEZY

https://www.vecteezy.com/

Pros:  There are both icons and sketched illustrations available.

Cons:  Some images include many separate images all placed into one picture file.  You may have to crop to get the piece you want.

Tip:  Check copyright terms & info in each download.

 

 

PIXABAY

https://pixabay.com/

Pros:  There is a large selection, and all are in the public domain, so you do not have to be concerned with filtering by copyright terms.

Cons:  Many images are photos, which can be tricky to use in doodle note pages.  Be sure to sort.

Tip:  Filter by “illustrations” in the top tabs while searching.  You’ll eliminate many of the photos to get only the simpler images that are easier to crop, convert to grayscale, and remove background on.

 

 

PIXELSCRAPPER

https://www.pixelscrapper.com/

Pros:  There are some unique and different doodle-style images here.

Cons:  You’ll have to create a login, and free downloads are limited to 5 per day (usually enough to get those few images you need for one lesson plan per day, but you may want to plan ahead and download a few generic frames and arrows on a day you don’t need anything else — save up!)

Tip:  Use the word “doodle” before your search term to get the simple outlines of hand-drawn images.  example:  search for  “doodle arrows,”  “doodle leaf,” or “doodle book.”

 

 

 

NURTURING THE CREATIVE MIND

Posted on by admin

If you’re anything like me, you will sit for a while (maybe on a Sunday afternoon while lesson planning) trying to plan out your next doodle note.

You sit and think it through, but no creative ideas for a visual memory trigger or graphic analogy happen to come to you.  Your brain feels completely in standard lesson plan mode, and not at all creative.  It can be so tricky to get the inspiration flowing.

We know that the best doodle note pages come from a creative brain, but how do we activate that in order to develop stimulating and interactive sheets?  It requires getting into a creative mindset.  Once we get the imagination flowing, we can develop unique student tasks, a great graphic design, and a layout that allows for visual memory boosters.

How can we help get ourselves (and our students) into that inspired, creative place?

HOW TO GET THE CREATIVE SPARK IGNITED:

​Is it true that people are inherently creative or not?  Are some of us born with creative minds and others just lack that certain creative touch? Or is it more that all minds are creative and and we just need to know how to nurture the creative mind in order to harness its full potential?

Creativity is thought to come mostly from the subconscious mind. And it may be true that some people have a more natural ability to “tap” into that creative layer, it doesn’t mean that everyone doesn’t have it.

How does a creative mind spark? 

An article from Psychology Today puts it this way, “The reason we are often unaware of creative, inspirational and spontaneous thoughts is generally because the surface of the mind is constantly moving. The busy-ness of the mind creates ripples on the surface, in just the same way as throwing a stone into a pond creates ripples on the surface of the water. The problem is, most people get so caught up in the appearance of these ripples that the water never has a chance to settle. Again, just imagine looking into a pool of water… The calmer the water, the clearer the reflection. Again, the mind is no different, when the surface-thinking settles, it becomes much easier to see the contents of the mind – and therefore become conscious of the creative thoughts which you were previously not conscious of!”

This would easily explain why we seemed to get “struck” with creative thoughts when we are having downtime like walking, taking a shower, or relaxing. This is because your mind is quiet.  There aren’t a lot of other thoughts cluttering your mind and blocking your creativity (source).

So, how do we nurture this creative side of our minds? 

  • Do imagination exercises – Complete creative a challenge every day. It can be as simple as a game where you pick a random word and a then a random medium. Then you have to create something using both of those parameters. For example, take a word like “flower” and then a medium like “pipe cleaners.” Then see what it is you can make with the two ideas.

 

  • Take time for meditation and reflection – Meditation and creativity go hand in hand. Meditation helps to calm and clear your mind, allowing those creative thoughts to flow more easily. Your intuitive awareness is increased, and that helps you nurture your creative side.

 

  • Get plenty of sleep – A good night of rest ensures that your mind is running at full capacity the next day. You are less likely to get bogged down in thoughts because you will be sharper and be more open to creative thoughts during the day.

 

  • Spend time with nature – Getting out in nature is one of the best ways to nurture the creative mind. A simple walk in the park or your neighborhood could be enough to harness your creative side.

 

  • Pursue hobbies and interest that energize you – Picking up a simple hobby that you’ve always wanted to try will help you enjoy some downtime. They don’t necessarily have to have a goal or special outcome; but certain activities, like yoga or Tai Chi will help connect the body and mind. Whatever it is, you want to make sure to make time for yourself. This will improve your intuitive awareness, leaving you more creative than ever.

 

​It is great to know that we all have the ability to be wildly creative and imaginative. While some people have a more natural inclination to connect with creative thoughts, it’s something that is inside all of us. With a little bit of practice and relaxation, anyone can tap into a more creative place.

So this week, instead of sitting down to plan your next page, just quickly look over your content for an upcoming lesson, then switch gears and jump in the shower, enjoy a hobby, or take a nice walk.

As you go, just let your brain wander into a creative place, and hopefully the ideas will start flowing!  I often get out of the shower (or home from a walk) and have to immediately draft out my next doodle note page as soon as possible.  I call it a “brain dump,” where I get my flow of ideas out in a quick layout before I forget.  I hope this method works for you too!  Feel free to comment and share your own tips for getting the creative spark ignited.