Monday I told you about my word for 2012: create. Today I’d like to highlight some blogs that inspired me to think outside of my own natural set of “tools” and experiment with new ideas and mediums in 2011.

Easter Grass Table Decor

These posts from Your Homebased Mom and Urban Comfort gave me the idea of growing grass in an Easter centerpiece. I purchased this wooden bowl at Walmart and lined it with plastic wrap so that I wouldn’t damage it with the dirt and water. After Easter—when the grass kept getting taller and looked like it needed mowing—I emptied the arrangement and filled the bowl with decorative balls similar to these at V & Co. (I actually purchased the supplies for this project, however I saw a pre-made set at T.J. Maxx and bought them, so I never completed it).

Magnetic Chalkboard

This post at Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss showed me how to make a magnetic chalkboard, which lead to my own creation: our Instagallery.

Painted Canvas

This post at Two Girls Being Crafty showed me how to paint a knock-off of a $100+ canvas. I gave three of them to family as Christmas gifts!

Paint Drop Cloth Curtains

This post at A Soft Place to Land showed me how to make curtains from an inexpensive pack of pain drop cloths. Making these curtains actually killed our iron, which had to be replaced, but I love the fact that I actually made curtains and for such a low price.

I initially selected trim which turned out to be $17 per yard (ouch!), so I checked the clearance section and found a good choice for under $2 a yard. We needed an extra long curtain rod, which I found at Ross for much less than a comparable size elsewhere. Also, I got the clip rings for 40% off at Jo Ann.

It seems like whatever supplies I need—from blank canvases to backless picture frames to curtain clip rings—are always on sale at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or Jo-Ann when I need them. I like to think of this as more than coincidence, but rather God’s way of encouraging my creativity and enabling me in these projects.

What about you? Are you a natural at crafts and projects or do you need a little inspiration? Have you stepped outside your comfort zone and made anything based on a blog post, tutorial, or other form of creative nudge?