Creative Experimentation: No Rules, Just Play

Finding Joy in the Mess and Embracing Play in Your Creative Practice

Hey friends! How’s your week going? We are really in the thick of the holiday season now, and life can definitely start to rachet up. Schedules fill, to-do lists grow longer, and sometimes our creative energy has legitimately no where to go.

Today, we’re gonna talk about leaning into experimentation within your creative practice — whether that’s Daily Pages like me, or something else entirely. Let’s embrace the idea of play, judgment-free creativity, and the joy of trying something new—because your story deserves a little space to breathe and grow.

The Power of Creative Experimentation

One of the things I love most about my Daily Pages is how they give me permission to explore without any pressure. Over the years, I’ve tried new tools, techniques, and styles that have completely changed how I see my creative practice (I’m in my painty gel-print era right now). Sometimes these experiments work beautifully, and sometimes they’re just a fun mess—but they always teach me something valuable.

Here are a few recent Daily Pages where I gave myself room to play. Each one is a little snapshot of just having fun, and I hope they inspire you to carve out some time this weekend to do the same.

Daily Pages Highlights with Commentary

1. Doodle + Paint

This page started with Sharpie Creative Markers and a simple concept: one shape, one color, repeated in a playful pattern. I filled an entire plate with those marks and layered it on a background of purple and grey paint. The result is a mix of order and whimsy that makes me smile every time I see it.

Takeaway: Limiting yourself to one shape and one color can spark creativity by removing decision fatigue. What’s a simple design you could repeat today to turn your page into a joyful pattern?

2. Playing Around with Stickerscapes

This stickerscape is all about creating tiny sticker worlds. I picked stickers with a mix of focal points (a fridge and sink), theme ties (plants and books), and little accents to fill the gaps. By blending two different sticker sheets, I ended up with a playful kitchen-themed scene with just enough whimsy to feel special.

Takeaway: Stickers can tell a story on their own when you layer them thoughtfully. Grab a couple of sticker sheets, mix themes, and see what new worlds you can build.

3. Tissue Paper + Gel Plate – Trying a New Medium

Experimenting with black tissue paper on my gel plate led to a surprising discovery: the magic of layering with white paint. I used fluorescent pink paint as a base, and when I added white on top, it brought out an unexpected vibrancy in the tissue print. A little A/B testing confirmed the difference: white backing creates a brighter pop, while layering without it gives a moody, rich tone.

Takeaway: Playing with layering paints can dramatically change the look of your prints. Try backing your next gel print experiment with a layer of white or grey paint to see what effects you can create!

4. Foam Stamps + Color Block Collage

I combined foam stamps, tissue paper, and paint to create a page full of texture and movement. By painting the stamps before pressing them onto the tissue, I added extra dimension, then cut the tissue into shapes for layering. The roll adhesive I used made sticking everything down a breeze—definitely my new go-to.

Takeaway: Foam stamps are a simple way to add bold texture. Pair them with tissue paper or collage materials for layers that feel dynamic and unique.

5. Color Collage

This monochromatic green collage came together like a game of Tetris. I worked with scraps and leftover bits, trying to fit them together in a way that felt cohesive but still playful. Having my bits and pieces organized made it so much easier to pull this page together without overthinking.

Takeaway: Monochromatic collages are a great way to simplify decisions while still creating bold, impactful pages. Try sticking to one color family and see how your scraps come to life.

Looking at these pages together, what stands out most is the fun of it all. Creative experimentation isn’t about making perfect pages—it’s about finding the courage to try, play, and embrace the weird stuff. Especially during busy times, these little moments of play can ground us and remind us why we love telling our stories in the first place.

What’s a tool, technique, or supply you’ve been curious about but haven’t tried yet? This weekend, I challenge you to grab it, experiment with it, and let the process be messy and fun. Share your experiments with me in the comments or tag me on social—I’d love to cheer you on!

Until next time, happy experimenting! You’ve got this.
xoxo,
Kristin