My Go-to Creative Resources and Fav’ Tools (that I actually use):

Digital, Analog, and Everything In-between!

Not ALL of my favorites come with logins.

Have you ever wondered what tools fuel a creator’s daily practice?

This is my living, breathing collection of tools, rituals, and idea-catalysts that help me make more, dream bigger, and stay focused through the creative fog.

Some live in my backpack...

Others drift through my window on rainy weekend mornings...

A few even hide in my coffee. 😄

Steal what clicks with you. And leave what doesn’t.

And I would FOR SURE love if you shared YOUR favorite creative resources with me!

My Digital Toolkit

DESIGN & VISUAL CREATION

Adobe Creative Cloud
The classics: Illustrator for vector-based visuals, InDesign for layouts (from zines to ebooks), and Photoshop for edit-magic, collages, and textural play.

Canva + Adobe Express
For quick mockups, reels, or whenever I need to communicate visually—and fast—with students, clients, or collaborators.

Brizy Pro
My go-to WordPress builder (Also worth exploring: Figma for pros, Squarespace for portfolios)

Pixieset
Where I host and deliver photography galleries and run my photo-focused business. (Bonus: appointment booking + invoicing built in = SUPER helpful to have “all in one subscription”)

ORGANIZATION & IDEATION

Milanote
A recent, intern-recommended miracle! Like a digital corkboard for planning, storyboarding, mind-mapping and organizing idea-seeds in a visual way.
I “got it” immediately—and now it’s where everything lives.

Google Docs + Drive
Still my go-to for collaboration, notes, and sharing resources with clients.

ChatGPT
My organizational co-pilot. Helps me categorize my creative chaos, spark new insights, and make marketing strategies a bit more navigable.

Otter.ai (voice-to-text)
Whenever I’m out walking or talking to myself while lying on my office floor after a project sprint, this app captures (at least—some of) the good stuff—WAY more than my Voice Recorder app, for sure!

PUBLISHING & INCOME

Printify + Etsy & Redbubble
For turning zine graphics, poetic typography, and sketchbook ideas into stickers, shirts, and wall art. Passive income meets playful self-expression!

Ghost
My new writing space (and home of Unfolding!)—clean, focused, and built for publishing, email lists, and even, sustainable creative income.

Gumroad
Where I host + share zines, digital downloads, creative tools, and workshops.
Easy setup and a great entry point for igniting new ideas and opening new streams of creative income.

Embodied Tools (a.k.a. The Real Ones)

TACTILE CREATION

Black Ink + Cheap Paper
Give me a Pilot G2 and a scrap of anything slightly crinkled, and I’ll write myself back into being. Notebooks, junk mail, napkins—all become sacred fodder with a good pen in hand.

iPhone Camera
Always in my pocket—especially when the clouds turn dramatic (or the dogs look extra cute). Photography is my favorite way create (and to pray).

Zines, Old Journals, Underlined Books
Physical inspiration anchors that remind me of my artistic lineage and and inspire me to take messy first steps.

BODY & ENVIRONMENT

Mushroom Coffee
Brain focus without the jitters!

Lit Sage or Incense
My creative reset button. Clears energy and opens space. Reminds me this moment is fresh and new.

Rainy Sundays
A creative portal where time moves a bit slower and inspiration flows.
Ideally paired with a soft hoodie, fav’ playlist, curled-up pup, and Mom reading in her chair post-lunch.

Walking Alone With (Open) Earbuds
Where SOOO many of my creative ideas are born, transformed, and re-seeded. Movement = creative clarity. The double-exposure/MAGIC of nature sounds + fav’ podcasts = THE birthplace of ideas!

MY SECRET CREATIVE WEAPONS

My DIY Creative Action Oracle (a.k.a. The Dollar Tree Muse Bag)
Hand-torn paper prompts pulled like tarot cards when I need some playful direction. Sometimes it sparks a new idea. Other times, it ignites a whole, brainstorm. It’s always a fun, creative surprise!

🐾 The Pups (Giji + Nisha)!
My living reminders TO PLAY for no reason!

💛 My Mom
She calls ME her caregiver, but she’s always here being Mom.
The MOM behind the maker, and the steady light behind everything I create. p.s. Happy Birthday to her today!

Magical Inputs

INNER GUIDANCE

Human Design + Gene Keys
My creative roadmaps for creative decision making, energy, timing, and flow.
• Gene Keys
• Human Design

EFT Tapping + Guided Meditations
For realignment and grounding before diving into creative sessions or connections.

OUTSIDE INSPIRATION

Chase Jarvis – Practical + expansive interviews
Chris Do & The Futur – Design & branding brilliance
Digital Spaghetti – Artists actually doing the thing
David Lynch on Creativity – Always worth a rewatch
Lee Harris – Energy updates like soul hugs

THE UNSEEN ESSENTIALS

PLAYING = and making something for no reason (other than FUN).
STARTING before feeling ready.
RETURNING to mySelf (again and again).
FORGIVING myself for not doing more.
CREATING a life that supports my creativity—not the other way around.

Your turn!

What tools—physical, digital, emotional, or mystical—help YOU show up to the page, the project, or the messy middle?

I’d love to know and learn more about what works for you!

Drop me a note or share in our private Wild Creating Facebook Group.

Let's build a collective resource library of what actually WORKS!

Much love, more soon,
Aaron