The Idea Pocket is a tool for helping you tap into your creativity.

Making Your Idea Pocket

An Idea Pocket is an envelop (or part of an envelop) where you can carry items for inspiration.

Here's how you make one:

1. Take a standard #10 business envelops and seal the flap shut

2. Cut off the top 1/3 of the envelope. (You'll be cutting the short side of the envelop.)

3. Put a label with a short nonsense poem on the front of the envelope. This is one I've used on Idea Pockets for writers or artists.  

My Idea Pocket

I want to write.
I want to draw.

Try though I might,
I can’t think of anything at all!

I reach my hand in here
And find something very near.
It’s just what I need!

I’ll put it back or put in something new
So I can use it another time too.

4. Look through magazines and pictures for things to include in the pocket. When you're going about everyday life, if you see something you think would be interesting, put it in there as well.

A tip: When looking for pictures, try to avoid ones of people you know and/or of celebrities. You have preconceived ideas about them and might not be as open to the spark of inspiration as you might be otherwise.

Using Your Idea Pocket

How do you use it?

Here's another tip: Don't over-think it.

Take your Idea Pocket and -- without looking -- pull something out. Look at it from all angles. Turn it over and look at the back, even.

What colors are there? Shapes?

If it's a picture, who are the people and what are they doing?

Don't question why you pulled that one out.

Don't wish you had picked something else. Use it.

What is your creativity medium of choice?

Does the item you picked out inspire you to do anything? What? Do it.

If it's writing, write. Drawing, draw. Cooking, cook or at least write out a recipe.

Creativity does not discriminate by age, race, religion, location, or form. Be open to it.