EP 212: Permission to Play

02/24/25 • 49 min

In This Episode

I want to keep it simple: play is about curiosity, not perfection. It’s about scribbling in a notebook or messing around with stickers just because it feels good. Even if things look weird at first, you’re building the kind of momentum that leads to authentic ideas later on. So let’s hang out, share stories, and see what happens when we give ourselves space to roam creatively.

Big Takeaways

1) Play Boosts Creativity

Playful time is a chance to wander away from “serious” projects. You never know what random scraps or doodles might spark a new idea. Little moments of silliness can keep you inspired in a way that nothing else does.

2) Process Over Product

Letting yourself make mistakes can lead to unexpected discoveries. Each messy attempt becomes a lesson, a baby step toward figuring out your style. This approach is kinder to your creative spirit and makes the whole journey more fun.

3) Permission & Practice

Give yourself a dedicated space to just fool around. Maybe it’s a daily mini-journal or 10 minutes before bed. Consistency creates confidence, and before you know it, you’ve got a sustainable habit that fits your life.

What We Talked About

How to Make Room for Spontaneity

I mentioned how I used Daily Pages to shake myself out of a creative rut. One sentence to open: journaling with no rules saved me from that “stuck” feeling. Three sentences to build on that: it gave me a way to use the stickers that never made it onto my scrapbook pages. It encouraged me to doodle without worrying if the colors were “off.” It reminded me that creativity should feel like exploration, not a chore. One sentence to wrap it up: the freedom to play is often where our best ideas find us.

Embracing Mistakes and Odd Experiments

Sometimes, I love testing out random materials—like gluing magazine scraps on cheap card stock. It doesn’t always come out pretty, but I learn a ton. Treat mistakes like playful stepping stones, and you might stumble on a new style you’d never have tried otherwise.

Celebrating Every Little Win

It’s easy to obsess over grand finishes, but your everyday progress deserves a spotlight, too. A single doodle, a sticker in your journal, a color test on scrap paper—all of it counts. Over time, those small moves pile up into something powerful.

Take a minute to notice something ordinary on your desk. Maybe it’s a random sticky note or a mismatched pencil. Ask yourself if it can spark a tiny burst of play. One surprising scribble or collage might become the most meaningful thing you do all week.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rukristin.com/subscribe

In This Episode

Big Takeaways

1) Play Boosts Creativity

2) Process Over Product

3) Permission & Practice

What We Talked About

How to Make Room for Spontaneity

Embracing Mistakes and Odd Experiments

Celebrating Every Little Win

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rukristin.com/subscribe

Previous Episode

EP 211: Creativity Builds Confidence

In this week’s episode, we are diving into how to build your creative confidence. No pressure, no perfection—just showing up, finding what works for you, and leveling up as an artist. If you’re ready to explore how embracing imperfection and owning your story fuel your self-confidence, this episode is absolutely for you.

This episode is all about harnessing your creativity to feel more confident in both your artistry and your everyday life. We’re chatting about embracing imperfection, celebrating your story, and fusing creativity with self-care. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen the relationship you have with yourself, there’s something here for you.

Big Takeaways

1. Owning Your Story

Your story matters, and no one else can tell those stories quite like you. The more you show up—bad pages, brilliant pages, and everything in between—the more you’ll realize (and internalize) how much your voice matters.

2. Imperfection Fuels Growth

We all have “off” days and projects that don’t turn out how we’d imagined. But every misstep can teach you something new. Trusting yourself enough to experiment builds creative resilience and helps you level up your art skills.

3. Community & Self-Care Go Hand-in-Hand

Finding a supportive space (like the Awesome Ladies Project!) helps you stay motivated. More importantly, viewing creativity as a form of self-care helps you to keep the joy front and center. It’s a reminder that prioritizing self-care is always worth it.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by talking about how embracing your own story—even the tiny, everyday, only-you-care-about parts—can make a huge difference in your confidence. It’s all about seeing the value in who you are, your everyday life, and letting go of any pressure to be perfect. No rigid rules; just ideas and inspiration to help you along the way.

We also explored the idea of experimenting with new techniques, and how its really the small steps that actually lead to big, meaningful changes. Sometimes it’s as simple as playing around with some new supplies, or trying out a new way of sticking stuff down on the page. Other times, it’s about figuring out what is really lighting you up right now and going for it—even if it feels a little scary.

And we finished up the conversation talking about the importance of celebrating your progress. It’s so easy to focus on the end result (especially when that’s what we see on social media from everyone else), but every little step counts. Whether it’s finishing a page, using up a full sheet of stickers, starting a fresh notebook, or just cleaning up your desk, it all adds up to meaningful creativity.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rukristin.com/subscribe

Next Episode

CAF Podcast: EP 213 | Scrapbook? Art Journal? Who Cares!

What You’ll Get from This Episode

This episode is all about the many paths you can take to tell your story, without worrying about fitting into just one method. We’re chatting about:

Why there’s no single “correct” way to document your life

How overlapping creative styles can spark new ideas

Why your story deserves to be told—imperfections and all

Whether you’re brand new or looking to shake up your routine, you’ll find something here to inspire you.

Big Takeaways

1. There’s No “Right Way” to Do This Sometimes we feel pressure to follow a strict format, but the reality is you can blend scrapbooking, art journaling, and more in whatever way speaks to you. Let yourself explore!

2. Overlapping Methods Can Spark Fresh Ideas It might be a scrapbook page with a little paint, or an art journal that includes photographs. Combining different techniques often leads to the most exciting (and freeing) creative moments.

3. Your Story Matters, No Matter How It’s Told Whether it’s finished pages or a half-complete layout, the imperfect bits still hold meaning. Those real, raw details are a powerful way to capture who you are right now.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by diving into the four pillars of creative documenting—pictures, words, supplies, and bits of life—and how each style uses them differently. It’s all about giving yourself permission to follow what feels genuinely fun and inspiring.

We also explored how simple steps can add up to big creative wins. Maybe that’s cutting out a random photo and sticking it into your junk journal, or trying out a new color palette for your Daily Pages. Little actions can totally shift your creative energy over time.

And of course, we talked about celebrating progress instead of waiting for perfection. Even an unfinished page can become a treasured peek into your life right now, especially if it shows the real, unpolished moments that make your story unique.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rukristin.com/subscribe