How to be creative on a shoestring budget

As part of our ongoing efforts to create, curate and share important wellness resources with employees across the organization during this difficult time, we will be releasing weekly “Wellness Wednesday” videos via our employee portal.

This initiative, created for staff, by staff, aims to share practical wellness tips, resources and challenges to help keep employees well. Weekly topics will range from home workouts to nutrition, mindfulness, connectivity, mental health and more.

A new video will be released each Wednesday morning.

Wellness Wednesday: How to be creative on a shoestring budget

Many studies have shown that creating art can have significant mental health and wellness benefits: it can relieve stress, encourage out-of-the-box thinking and allow us to express ourselves and our experiences in ways that are sometimes too difficult to put into words. 

Let’s be honest, though – art can sometimes be intimidating for those of us who feel a bit clueless when it comes to the creative.  

That’s why Julia Deacon, Coordinator, Philanthropy is here this Wellness Wednesday to share a fool-proof art technique that anyone can use to tap into their creative side.   

Whether you’re experimenting with art for the first time during COVID-19 – or you’re simply looking for a new way to distract your kids this weekend – pulled string art is a fun and captivating process that anyone can master.   

The best part of this easy technique? You likely won’t even need to go out to get supplies – you can create something beautiful simply by using everyday items you have lying around the house.  

Don’t forget — an important part of wellness is connectivity and community.    

During this difficult time, we encourage you to go on Yammer and connect with your team mates and other staff across the organization, using the hashtag #WellnessWednesday.    

Share your own videos, photos or tips about what you’re doing to stay well while working from home — or bravely working on the frontlines – and help inspire and motivate others.      

You can also email communications@blood.ca with your ideas for future Wellness Wednesday videos. 

 

What you need  

To make your pulled string art, you just need a few simple supplies: 

  • A flat canvas (paper, wood, fabric, cardboard, etc. – anything goes!) 

  • Some sort of string (twine, yarn, old shoelaces, broken earbuds…again, get creative!) 

  • Paint (no paint at home? Try making your own out of flour, water and food colouring)  

  • Paint brush (optional)