By Sara Naumann

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~Pablo Picasso

I visited my six-year-old niece Molly the other day. She was working industriously at the kitchen table, surrounded by patterned scissors, paper doilies, a giant box of markers and lots and lots of stickers. I asked what she was working on and she told me, "I'm doing my art."

When you work on your creative endeavors— a scrapbook page, a handmade card, a beaded necklace—do you think you're creating art? It seems that as we grow up, the art we did in grade school somehow turns into a "hobby" or "being crafty". When did we stop doing art?

Now is the time to reclaim your art. You don't have to have a degree in it. You don't even have to create your own designs. Art is all about touching someone, and affecting them emotionally. When you create something, you're not just gluing paper or cutting photos. You're adding heart, soul, and a little piece of yourself. That's art! And that gives you the perfect right to call yourself an artist. Really!

Try the tips below and for ways to "do your art":

Seven Simple Ways to Do Your Art:

Validate your art. If you have a room where you create, pin a sign to the door that says "Art Room", "Artist at Work" or "Art in Progress". Refer to this workroom as your Studio. If you don't have a room of your own, designate an area of your home (even if this is your kitchen table!). And next time someone asks you what you do in your spare time, tell them you're an artist: a Scrapbook Artist, a Collage Artist, a Paper Artist.

Take a sensory walk. Pick one of your five senses (sight, sound, smell, etc.) and pay special attention to your surroundings in relation to this sense. If you choose sound, take note of the sounds you hear as you walk: birds singing, a lawnmower humming, horns honking, frogs croaking. If you choose sight, pay attention to the colors, shapes, sights both unusual and everyday. How can you use the things you notice in your next creation?

Try a new color. It's easy to get stuck in a "color rut", using our favorite colors on every project we create. Try a new color next time—one you don't normally use. Do you love those sepia tones? Experiment with red and see what happens. Love bright primaries? Try a pastel palette next time.

Keep an Artist's Notebook. This can be a simple spiral-bound book where you jot down notes,, sketch layouts, or collect images from home decorating or fashion magazines that inspire you. You'll find, over time, that this notebook becomes a record of your artistic progress.

Make time with yourself. Trying to squeeze creative time into a hectic schedule can be tough. Why not dedicate a block of time to your art, on a regular basis? Shut the door, if you can. Hire a babysitter, if you have to. You'll find that the simple act of dedicating this time will validate your art—for yourself, and for the others in your life.

Try a brand-new art form. This can be something close to what you do now (scrapbookers try rubber stamping) or something completely different (card-makers try beading). See how working with different materials gives you a new perspective on your favorite art form.

Enjoy a compliment. We often discount the compliments people pay us, especially when it comes to our art. Next time someone compliments you, pay attention to your immediate reaction. Do you say, "Oh, it's not really that great," and point out all the "mistakes" you made? Catch yourself—instead, say a simple, "Thank you."

How does it feel? You may want to include these actions in your Artist's Notebook and chart your progress. Have fun—and remember, you are “doing your art”!