1. Go for a walk. Draw or list things you find on the the sidewalk. 2. Write a letter to yourself in the future. 3. Buy something inexpensive as a symbol for your need to create, (new pen, a tea cup, journal). Use it everyday. 4. Draw your dinner. 5. Find a piece of poetry you respond to. Rewrite it and glue it into your journal. 6. Glue an envelope into your journal. For one week collect items you find on the street. 7. Expose yourself to a new artist, (go to a gallery, or in a book.) Write about what moves you about it. 8. Find a photo of a person you do not know. Write a brief bio about them. 9. Spend a day drawing only red things. 10. Draw your bike. 11. Make a list of everything you buy in the next week. 12. Make a map of everywhere you went in one day. 13. Draw a map of the creases on your hand, (knuckles, palm) 14. Trace your footsteps with chalk. 15. Record an overheard conversation. 16. Trace the path of the moon in relation to where you live. 17. Go to a paint store. Collect ‘chips’ of all your favorite colors. 18. Draw your favorite tree. 19. Take 15 minutes to eat an orange. 20. Write a haiku. 21. Hang upside down for five minutes. 22. Hang found objects from tree branches. 23. Make a puppet. 24. Create an outdoor room from things you find in nature. 25. Read a book in one day. 26. Illustrate your grocery list. 27. Read a story out loud to a friend. 28. Write a letter to someone you admire. 29. Study the face of someone you do not like. 30. Make a meal based on a color theme. (i.e. all white). 31. Creat a museum of very small things. 32. List the smells in your neighborhood. 33. List 100 uses for a tin can. 34. Fill an entire page in your journal with small circles. Color them in. 35. Give away something you love. 36. Choose an object, draw the side you can’t see. 37. List all of the places you’ve ever lived. 38. Describe your favourite room in detail. 39. Write about your relationship with your washing machine. 40. Draw all of the things in your purse/bag. 41. Make a mini book based on the theme, “my grocery list”. 42. Create a character based on someone you know. Write a list of personality traits. 43. Recall your favorite childhood game. 44. Put postcards of art pieces/painting on the inside of your kitchen cupboard doors, so you can see them everyday (but not become deaf to them.) 45. Draw the same object every day for a week. 46. Write in your journal using a different medium (brush & ink, charcoal, old typewriter, crayons, fat markers. 47. Draw the individual items of your favorite outfit. 48. Make a useful item using only paper & tape. 49. Research a celebration or ritual from another culture. 50. Do a temporary art installation using a pad of post it notes & a pen. 51. Draw a map of your favorite sitting spots in your town/city. (photocopy it and give it to someone you like.) 52. Record all of the sounds you hear in the course of one hours. 53. Using a grid, collect various textures from magazine and play them off of each other. 54. Cut out all media for one day. Write about the effects. 55. Make pencil rubbings of six different surfaces. 56. Draw your garbage. 57. Do a morning collage. 58. List your ten most important things, (not including animals or people.) 59. List ten things you would like to do every day. 60. Glue a photo of yourself as a child into your journal. 61. Trasform some garbage. 62. Write an entry in your journal in really LARGE letters. 63. Collect some ‘flat’ things in nature (leaves, flowers). Glue or tape them into your journal. 64. Physically alter a page. (i.e. cut a hole, pour tea on it, burn it, fold it, etc.) 65. Find several color combinations you respond to in public. Document them using swatches, write where you found them. 66. Write a journal entry describing something “secret”. Cut it up into several pieces and glue them back in scrambled. 67. Record descriptions or definitions of subjects or words you are interested in, found in encyclopedias or dictionaries. 68. Draw the outline of an object without looking at the page. (contour drawing). 69. What were you thinking just now? write it down. 70. Do nothing. 71. Write a list of ten things you could to do. Do the last thing on the list. 72. Create an image using dots. 73. Do 3 drawings at different speeds. 74. Put a small object in your left pocket (or in a bag), Put your left hand in the pocket. Draw it by feel. 75. Create a graph documenting or measuring something in your life. 76. Draw the sun. 77. Create instructions for a simple everyday task. 78. Make prints using food. (fruit and vegetables cut in half, fish, etc.) 79. Find a photo. Alter it by drawing over it. 80. Write a letter using an unconventional medium. 81. Draw one object for twenty minutes. 82. Combine two activities that have not been combined before. 83. Write about your day in an encyclopedic fashion. (i.e. organize by subject.) 84. Write a list of all the things you do to escape. 85. Cut a random shape out of several layers of a magazine. Make a collage out of the results. 86. Write an entry in code. 87. Make a painting using tools from the bathroom. 88. Work with a medium that is subtractive. 89. Write about or draw some of the doors in your life. 90. Make a postcard that has some kind of activity on it. 91. Divise a journal entry using “layers”. 92. Divise an entry using “layers”. 93. Write your own definition of one of the following concepts, sitting, waiting, sleeping (without using the actual word.) 94. List 10 of your habits. 95. Illustrate the concept of “simplicity”.
100 ideas (pdf)
7:28 pm
Oh no what happen to the rest!?
2:19 pm
Emma, you’re supposed to make the last 5 yourself! This is fun. I found it in the Dutch Flow magazine and have been doing a number of the ideas, at random. I love your work Keri!
5:23 pm
Great list! But…what’s the difference between # 91 and #92? :)
8:34 pm
no difference
10:35 am
i luv ur work keri
when people call me weird im proud i love drawing my dream life is to be an auther illustrator who owns a coffe shop i love the ideas on this page and it inspired me to make my own
thx !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
3:52 am
I happened to stumble on this blog… and I love this list =) I’ll definitely do a few of them.
Haha, I do 70. all the time
8:30 pm
this definetely inspired to make my own and do it all on this list! by the way im paula recart’s son.
10:53 pm
you inspire me. make me feel optimistic and happy :) thank you
1:26 pm
# 99. write a song about a letter of the alfabet that you did choose at random. sing it, or play it.
5:51 pm
You give me hope…. Thanks! :)
1:41 pm
just stumbled over ur blog today and went through most of it..two words…loved it!! orginal and fresh with beautiful child like lightness
. thank you for inspiration
god bless
4:56 pm
will be putting list to work with my son- he’s always up for an adventure! :)
12:25 pm
In eighth grade I discovered your website and was influenced to write poetry every day whilst riding the school bus. You caused me to realize that everybody contains a spark, which in truth can be cultivated quite simply. I am now skimming through your lovely posts once again, and I believe I have realized my inspiration. Which admittedly happens from time to time but rarely lasts if my mind falls idle. Your work has caused me to attempt to understand the complexities of myself rather than consuming myself in grief and frustration. Many thanks.
2:30 pm
I always wanted to tear up that book. I would walk past it in the bookstore and stare at it. But I couldn’t tear it up. Now that I have my own means of buying it, I believe I shall go tear it up.
6:57 am
i think everybody should have this list!!! it is magnanimous!!! loveliest thoughts for you
4:41 am
wow, so weirdly lighthearted :) and such a great idea. we are making our own list with my boyfriend. Today we decided to draw a caricature of ourselves…we’ll see how we do :) thanks for being so inspiring
6:18 pm
i love this list: i will definitely try some of these!
i love your work keri~ it always makes me think.
#96: find a mini zen garden (look it up)… try different designs.
#97: learn the alphabet backwards
#98: contemplate why most maps show north america on the top. who said it was that way?
#99: learn to lucidly dream (control your dreams)
just a few ideas. thanks!
1:28 pm
This is site is great, just great! I love the choice of type, I love the the wire scribble, hell, I love everything about it. You should be designing every site on the web — it needs your help.
Thanks, I needed that.
K
8:28 am
I’m a dutch girl, and I love this! I have your book; Wreck this Journal. I don’t use it every day because I don’t have a lot of sparetime. But somethimes, when I have class.. I take the book with me and instead of learning stuff and listening to the teacher. I draw things in your book, that’s really more exciting! And now I have english homework. I have to find a few texts in english. We have to read them, and aswer a few questions about it. My second text I’m gonna make is about one of yours!!! Called 10 ways to (…). And it has to be 1000 words but it’s only 999 words. :’) But that’s ok, the teacher told me a few days ago. Thank you for doing this amazing work and keep making history! I’m sorry for my bad english, I’m only 15, but I hope you can read it as well. Keep on the good work. Love, E.
11:34 am
I love you ideas they are just soo creative i now no what to do for my new journal :)
4:21 pm
I think I’m going to print off this list and put it in my room to remind myself and make myself want to spend my time creatively, rather than sitting in front of facebook all afternoon.
2:27 am
I bought your journal for my 14 year old daughter and she loves it! Browsing through it I got inspired…I’m in medical school and neck deep in memorization and terminology and other people’s facts…Starting tomorrow I’m going to start doing this list, one a day, in order, just to force myself to keep the creativity flowing. A doctor needs to be able to think creatively and not just spew the transmission routes of disease…
3:52 pm
For #25 “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach is a really good one.
1:59 pm
Hi from Brazil. I’m jornalist and I have one blog where for 30 days, I try somethings diferents. Next month, I try your Ideas. Hope you learne. kisses (and sorry my english…). Natália
12:05 pm
you could learn how to write with your feet
learn how to write with your weaker hand (if you’ve got one)
draw smiley faces everywhere you write for a day
make a list of your secrets and hide them in a friends/family members room
learn at least 1 sentence in a different language
smile at random people and see how many people smile back
10:06 pm
for #25 a great one is Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke.
Thanks for creating a fab site, Keri.
7:27 pm
when senior thesis is over, i’m keeping the ball rolling with this one!
1:09 pm
I wrote a message, yesterday,,, but I can’t find it back here…. I like your blog very much and I linked this post on my facebook…hope you don’t mind
lasja
9:41 am
I think you work hard on discovering ways people can use to draw.
Jenny Lamburg
8:43 am
Olá! Adorei suas 100 ideias. Até postei sobre elas no meu blog. Vou fazer um caderninho e coloca-las em prática. Sucesso, Keri!
10:32 pm
you are my role model.
10:33 pm
you are sosososososo awesome.
10:37 pm
this is a picture that i have drawn of my self (manga style) :
you inspire me!!!
7:50 am
you have great ideas kere
7:52 am
you inspired me,you gave me great ideas of what to draw,thanks keri and sorry if i spelt your name wrong before x
4:58 am
Starting to list projects on my facebook page… These are really fun and I enjoy your books very much. Thank you.
6:37 am
i am going to do this in my summer break! :)
12:48 pm
I Simply love Keri Smith :))
9:49 am
Hi Keri,
I’m about to start an art course & was referred to your website by the course tutor. Little does he know but I’m a blog addict so a browse through wasn’t enough… I’m now totally hooked, ha ha!
Love this list & will be having a go.
#96 draw the alphabet with food (apple, banana, carrot, doughnut etc….) started this last night.
Thanks!
12:53 pm
I simply love these 100 ideas… Just started a few days ago, but love it. Makes me so creative. I am now busy with listing 100 uses for a tin can.
Thank you for inspiring me!
6:19 pm
I will start with these… You are just totally awesome!!!
3:50 pm
This is so awesome. I have this little journal and i wanted to do something fun with it. Now i know! Thanks :D
3:49 pm
Hi Keri. I was having such a dull and down day until I stumbled on your blog. I’ve been called childish and a daydreamer all my life (not in a flattering way) and have struggled to fit in, and have a normal job – I do like it, because I create things, design furniture, work with CAD (which I absolutely love)- but at the end of the day all I want to do is rest and switch off my mind!! WHAT A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. Just reading your blog has awaken that little monster that makes me awe at everything and everyone around me, because the world it’s a fantastic place to be in. I can’t thank you enough. My best to you Keri.
3:48 am
away from cliche and on to inspiration!
as wasitjohnlennon said life is what happens to you while you are planning other things – we’ll all have to stay awake and open to everything around us!
best thing i read here was “anti-advertising”
love it.
btw i work for a so called top advertising company in seoul………..:-)
please update us with more “real stuff”
thankyou
5:52 pm
Keri Smith you are my hero.
Wreck This Journal saved my life.
Then came How to be a Guerilla Artist, and I was smitten by its simplicity all over again.
Please continue inspiring us poor mortals to see the beautiful and extraordinary in everything we do.
12:56 am
I’m glad I found this blog that I’m grateful thanks
8:51 pm
I love this so much! I am the newest fan of your blog, I love it. Can’t wait to explore some more. :)
2:56 am
Like everyone else, I love this post. I’m going to print out the sheet and give my two girls a copy for Christmas, along with a new journal…
Thank you for the ideas and the motivation :)
8:43 pm
Keri is cool.
1:15 am
this is exactly what i was looking for! will do this for sure. thanks a lot keri :)
10:28 pm
101. Make up your own list of 100 creative things to do.
Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
7:36 am
Oh this is just awesome. I am so doing this :)
12:08 am
ask random questions on the internet. Who invented what anything
4:21 am
Keri Smith is the greatest author/illustrator I’ve ever seen! Thanks for so many ideas (:
2:47 pm
Hi, Keri. I loved your 100 ideas and I transformed it in a book hahaha here’s the image. You can find the image on my instagram -> lopeslucas. Love you and your books. I don’t have them cause I live in brazil and it’s hard to find here, but I really love. And sorry for my bad English, it’s cause I’m Brazilian.
Keep that way. With love, Lucas ;*
9:58 pm
think bout what u want to draw then wright a note of what u want to draw about the think in dreams of other things that go together with the drawing
8:17 pm
Thank you sooo much Keri! I am NEVER bored anymore! I have every single book of yours your great! The first book i ever got from you was at my birthday party. I kept telling my mom “Please get me one of Keri Smiths books?”
9:25 am
This is really great!
Big thanks to you Keri!
I’m doing this list and share it on my blog :)
6:25 pm
Have rediscovered this :) My poor Journal has been forgotten for about 3 years now, it’s time to bring it out again :)
5:38 am
Please – explain ‘divise’
9:33 pm
I have a journal and I’m not sure what to do with it. But your ideas sound like a lot of fun. I’m so using them. : )
2:00 pm
Hi! We are 15 years old and We have just started doing this. As far, we love it!
Keri Smith: YOU ARE THE BEST. You really inspire us to see the world in a different way!
Greets from Argentina!! xoxo
3:58 pm
Thanks a lot! Now I have a lot of things to do.
3:48 am
I’ve always found creativity to be something I take pride in having and so when I see most people are not creative, I sort of feel superior. Keri is the opposite and so inspirational! I’m 14 and from Pakistan – thank you, thank you, thank you
7:37 am
oh my gosh keri you are a genius! I adore you’re work, definetely gonna do all of thes things! fabulous! :)
4:20 pm
Sor profesor de Historia, el año pasado fui a San Francisco y me llamó la atención tu obra This is not a book la he revisado con atención y con la intención de encontrar algunas ideas para elaborar algunas actividades que ayuden a interesar a los estudiantes en temas históricos; ojalá pudieras contestarme en español, y me envíes algunas ideas a este respecto. Saludos.
5:50 pm
Thank you so much for this list. My plan is to buy a journal and use these ideas. :)
I’m almost finished my wreck this journal!
thanks for being a creative light in this world.
7:23 pm
What a great list loved it I would like to do an 100 ideas list of my own, I am glad that Bubbles added a like to your blog it was worth the visit.
http://burstsofbubbles.blogspot.com.au/
10:26 am
I am an eighth grader and an artist/writer wannabe thanks to keri. I will do all of these things :)
4:04 am
A post like this one got me taking pictures every day. I’m hooked now.
I’m afraid to read all of them. Who knows how many I can do?
1:21 am
Great tips , thanks
1:45 am
This is great! I just got done making my journal and I’m going to keep track off all these ideas!
11:13 am
It’s one of those things that make you realize that you actually are alive. Everything you do, even the little things are felt. It’s like meditating. Love it! :)
10:26 am
Keri you’re my idol:’) i recently bought your book and i turned the first page and went blank-_- so these ideas gave me a brief start:) i wont be using these ideas exactly, i’ll interpret my own artwork but using these ideas as a backup? if that makes sense;) thankyou:)
-emillie.
4:11 am
I LIKE EVERYTHING YOU ARE SO CREATIVES..
3:00 pm
100 ideas of yours socks.
7:53 am
Hi Keri…i hope you read this….:) I recently read your list and ever since i have been pondering about wheter to write a letter to my future self…and today i have decided i will! I just wanted you to know that i really appreciate your work and although some people may view it as weird amd pointless…I view it and colourful and creative. Keep up the good work…And greetings from Northern Ireland!
11:13 am
i love my wreck this journal it helps me so much with ideas and i go to art collage so it helps me with that to thanks so much
11:33 pm
seriously, you’re creation was so much fun and i loved the way you create things onto this book for art and boredness. thank you so much for giving us such a good memory for our future :) xoxo
11:14 am
in #88, what does a subtractive medium mean ?
10:48 pm
I love your book so much it gives me so much inner inerperation, it also teaches me to see the beauty in everything. This book as changes me in ways i never thought a book could. It is my outlet when im sad, mad, bored, frustraited, and even when im happy. It lets me know that the silwnce of being alone and listening to myself is good for my soul. It really makes me focus more on myself, in ways that aren’t selfish.
~thank you :)
12:49 pm
Keri, you have inspired me so much. You have recently saved my life. And I am so thankful for you
9:20 pm
I have wrecked your book:) I am looking forward to going over your journal prompts. Thank you.
7:16 am
you made my day, you’re inspirational in a wonderful way. thank you for doing this :) xoxo
12:43 pm
I am in love with these ideas! Can’t wait to start my own wreck this journal soon!
7:43 pm
Thank you Keri :) You are an inspiration for adults, as well as children. Please keep sharing your beautiful spirit with us!
8:37 pm
Keri, I love all your books and someday hope to own them all! I have made my own Wreck This Journal, because at the time, we couldn’t go out of town. My friend then saw mine, and bought both of us one! Thank you so much for writing these books, they’ve brought out SO MUCH of my creativity. :)
11:08 pm
You have absolutely too much time in your hands!
2:30 pm
thanks keri your books give me inspiration when i need it say in my art work or if i’m writing a story!!i’ve just got one question how do you come up with all of this??
3:25 am
I have always loved woody guthrie & from his list I found your quirky list…inspiring me to keep making them daily to record a bit of each day…today racquetball 5:30 am & 5:00 pm..meet friend for lunch 12:00…take Perrier, my bird, to jewelry store to visit Kent to evaluate a sparkly piece of glass handed to me ten years ago by my stepson as he brought HIS child back to school..drive back to Lake Michigan..pick up more pale pink geraniums & blue moon lobilia…have a Dewars & soda..check if mast was uprooted
Have leftover spare ribs..1/2 hr. Jimmy kimmel.. bed
1:03 pm
Hi Keri!
I REALLY love Your books and Your blog and everything you do! I have 3 of Your books and I am so inspired. I want to buy ALL the other books too. But I don’t know if they ship to Norway.. I really really think everything you do is amazing and that you are a great person! I love spending time on the books. Im so inspirated that I don’t even know how I am gonna Express myself. But I hope you read this Message and understand that you are my Idol. When I grow up I want to inspire People just like you do! And I will be an Author and try to Write good books. You are my inspiration and I adore Your work. I can’t thank you enough for making my boring moments not boring anymore :) When I grow up I wanna move to a big farm in Ireland and Write Magic stories and maybe I still have one of Your books in my hands. Mess, Wreck this Journal and This is not a book, is great so far!
I really hope you appreciate this! (Sorry if my English is bad, Im just 13 and from Norway)
3:39 pm
Omg I need 1 of these books. Plus I think it would be a good idea if my teacher got one and each child in the class got to do a page or 2
7:12 am
I absolutely love this book sooo much but I am not allowed to buy my own Wreck it journal or any of your other books :’( My parents say it is a waste of money but noooo :’(
4:46 pm
I just heard about Wreck This Journal for the first time and I think your ideas may just be the thing to get me out of my rut. I am by no means a creative person, just usually very motivated and currently NOT.
With my country’s weak currency I can’t afford it right now but I am saving for it. Til then, I’ll try to use some of these ideas.
6:30 am
Thanks for the inspiration :)
12:28 am
You’re amazing Keri! Love your ideas and my dad just ordered my Wreck this Journal and I’m sooo excited to get it! You helped bring out the creative side of me… thanks :D
~Erika :)
8:40 pm
I just purchased several of your books and love them!!!….. I’ve always been an “Explorer” but you inspired to actually organized my photos etc. into a large notebook. Years ago I had gone around a small Arkansas town and photographed cracked sidewalks because I saw faces in them…. same thing with swamps…. I see faces in everything!!! Thanks for all that you share!
6:46 pm
Completely amazing! I especially liked #49
10:35 pm
Keri is such an inspiration.
11:26 am
thankyou so much for this list i am about to do a “Wreck this Journal” to. Its so addicting!
7:55 pm
i just got finish this book
really cute!
can’t wait to finish it!
11:01 pm
Okay so i love this idea! i wanna make one for myself but everything that people say for page 1 and page 2 and page 3 are different and posts on instagram and tumblr that people took pictures of are all different like it always says different things for pages 1 and 2 and 3 I am just really confused and im also confused on how many pages there are exactly the last thing i was wondering was how did u get this inspiration to start all of this i love this idea and really want to read your boks that actually have writing in them! so excited cute idea and overall i love it i am inspired
11:19 am
Very nice ideas! going to give them a try!
3:25 pm
Please please please turn this list into a book available for purchase. The tasks are so fun that I’m desperate to do them but I feel stuck without a ready done book to do them in. I’m not good at starting things myself so this list in a book like “wreck this journal” would be so handy and so fab for people like me who need just that little helping hand to get off the starting block. Love your work. Thank you :)
1:30 am
TO TRAR UK GAL: I like this book too~ if you want it you can buy it on the internet, it is called “THIS IS NOT A BOOK”. :)
1:50 pm
I’m going to start this project this summer, i love working on this kind of stuff, it’s beautiful of what keri smith could make. I LOVE HER. i currently am finishing “Wreck this journal” It’s amazing, my creativity sparks every time.
1:27 pm
You’re amazing Keri! Love your ideas and my dad just ordered my Wreck this Journal and I’m sooo excited to get it! You helped bring out the creative side of me… thanks :D
10:09 am
I found your website today! And I have to say I fall in love with it Keri!
