How to Stay Creative Every Day: Tips from 3 Years of DE Fun-A-Day | July is Maker's Month for DE Fun-A-Day 2025

I am excited to be jumping into DE Fun-A-Day again this year—my third time participating! I haven’t nailed down my project yet, but in past years I’ve done POV self-portraits in pen and ink and mini acrylic tornado paintings. I always try to challenge myself to explore something other than photography!

DE Fun-A-Day is a community art challenge where makers create one piece of art every day for a month. This year, we’re making in July, which is perfect if you’re looking for a fun way to keep your school-age kids creatively engaged over summer break, or add a little structure to thier days.

Sloane and I at DE Fun-A-Day 2022.

I’ve had at least one of my kids participate with me every year. In 2023, Bard was the youngest participant at just 3 years old. He created a “monster a day” using simple materials-- colourful markers and paper. His artwork was displayed at the community showcase—right alongside pieces created by the oldest participant, a women who was 89 years old! Getting to share this creative journey with my children has been one of the most fulfilling parts of DE Fun-A-Day. Watching them express themselves and feel included in a larger art community is something that, as an artsy mom, I’ll always treasure.

My kids checking out a project that was a "Lego Build A Day" at the 2023 DE Fun-A-Day.

One of the best things about DE Fun-A-Day is how open-ended it is—any kind of creative expression counts. You don’t have to be a watercolorist or a great illustrator to participate-- you don’t have to be a trained artist at all or work in a traditional medium to participate. Over the years, I’ve seen people explore everything from origami to embroidery, and collage to film making, songwriting, and poetry. Some may write haikus, others take one photo a day based on a theme. The beauty of the challenge is in choosing a medium that excites you—or even trying something completely new (Every year I have tried to challenge myself with a different medium). There’s no right or wrong way to create.

An example of watercolor leaves, turned into a mobile at the 2023 DE Fun-A-Day.

Whether you're a parent, a full-time artist, or someone who hasn't picked up a paintbrush (or pen or camera) in years, daily creativity is possible—and deeply rewarding. Here are some tips that have helped me stay inspired and show up to make something every day:

1. Keep Your Project Simple

Don’t overcomplicate it! Some of the best projects come from a simple prompt: "a monster a day," "one drawing before bed," "30 days of blue." Limiting your scope helps remove decision fatigue and lowers the barrier to starting. There are many examples of simple prompts on the DE Fun-A-Day BLOG that might help inspire you to come up with your own ideas!

Tornado a Day from 2023. These were all about 3"X3" in size.

2. Work in a Small Format

Tiny art is still art. Index cards, mini canvases, or even the backs of receipts can become your daily canvas. Working small makes it easier to complete something each day—especially during the busy, often unpredictable rhythm of summer with kids. DE Fun-A-Day also recommends using smaller formats for practical reasons: the community showcase has limited space, so each piece should not exceed 4"x4" or 4"x6" dimensions.

3. Build It Into an Existing Routine

Link your daily making with something that already happens—your morning coffee, your lunch break, your wind-down before bed. A creative habit is easier to keep when it’s nestled alongside a habit that is already well established.

4. Let Go of Perfection

Some days you’ll make something you love. Some days you’ll just show up. That’s okay. The point of a daily challenge isn’t to make masterpieces—it’s to practice, experiment, and stretch your creative muscles.

5. Involve Your Kids (If You Want!)

Art-making can become a beautiful family ritual when everyone is invited to join in. Try setting up a shared space for creating, or let your child choose their own daily challenge—something that feels fun and self-directed. You might be surprised by the conversations, bursts of creativity, and moments of connection that unfold along the way.

Sloane is a firebug, so when she said she wanted to create with fire for her Fun-A-Day project, we brainstormed. She ended up distressing a Treasure Map with a candle. Notice how there are only 8 pieces? I didn't push her too hard to make a part of her map everyday-- which means she still had fun!

That said, it’s important to follow your child’s lead. Don’t worry about pushing them to make something every day, even if they are participating in the DE Fun-A-Day art challenge with you. When Bard participated at age three, some days he wanted to create a dozen monsters, and other days he wasn’t interested in making any at all—and that was totally okay. The goal is to make space for joy and expression, not to create resentment and frustration.

6. Share (or Don’t)

Posting your daily work online can help with accountability and foster a sense of community. But it’s totally okay to keep your creations private. This is your journey—you get to choose how visible it is. I personally enjoyed sharing my work in instragram stories and plan on doing so again, because I felt it motivated me to keep going.

Organizers, Meredith and Brandon Boss, at De Fun-A-Day 2023.

Feeling inspired? If you're local, check out @delawarefunaday on instagram or delawarefunday.com for more information on how to participate. You can register through June 30th. There’s even an interview where I talk about motherhood, creativity, and what it’s like doing this challenge with kids by my side.

This little challenge has become a bright spot in my year. . However messy or magical it turns out, I’m always grateful I showed up.

Let me know if you’re thinking about joining in—I’d love to cheer you on!

Raku Pottery a Day!

A Cartoon a Day.