This is the brief but definitive guide to collard greens: broccoli likes high collars, asparagus tend to go more conservative, and green peppers go for the spiked dog collar look. Any questions? Stretch the literal to hilarious limits in your creativity today and astound yourself with the great ideas you come up with. To start, what do you think the veggies in this cartoon are thinking?

Ever notice how it’s so much easier to think of ideas that won’t work for a project? I’m currently designing a high-end brochure for an antique rug gallery (i.e. cartoon rugs are a big no-no). So, it’s incredibly refreshing to switch gears and think in a completely different creative light. It’s also a great brainstorming tool to get unstuck in a creative block.

Set the intention to think of the most outrageously WRONG solutions for your project. You’ll not only crack yourself up with your ideas (and imagining how your client would react if you actually presented them), but it’s also a great technique that (eventually) will lead to the right creative solution.

To get started, what’s the most hilarious caption you can think of for this cartoon?

It’s true – some birds have really bad voices and drive all the other birds bonkers with their crazy, off-pitch chirps. So why keep singing if it’s so painful to the ear? Maybe they absolutely love doing it and don’t care if they’re good or not (or maybe they’re completely tone deaf and can’t tell the difference). Either way, allow yourself to do something for the pure enjoyment of it today…even if you suck at it! The creativity stage is not about being good or bad, right or wrong. It’s about exploring the options and seeing where your imagination will take you. So let’s get started: what’s the silliest commentary you can think of for the birds in this cartoon?

Recent studies (and hidden cameras) have finally revealed why dogs really have wet noses. As it turns out, cats have been using them as toilet plungers for centuries! It’s so fun to brainstorm our own “illogically logical” explanations for why things are the way they are. To get started on your absurdly clever thinking today: what do you imagine the wiener dog in this cartoon is thinking right now?

Imagine if we could simply erase and redraw our fannies and other body parts we didn’t like? From the beginning of time (and many hilarious episodes of “I Love Lucy”), man has come up with some wacky weight loss schemes. Keeping in that theme – what crazy, wacky, creative commentary can you think of for the woman in this cartoon?

The celery stalk infatuated with the peanut butter jar – a classic love story. Step into the world of the absurd where creativity is king. Have fun thinking up totally bizarre ideas today…you never know, one of those crazy ideas could be perfect for your project. To get started, what do you think the peanut butter is thinking right now?

Who isn’t on a shoestring budget these days? But rather than complaining or moping about, finding the humor and lightness in tough times is a great way to keep our spirits high. So crack yourself up today! Let’s start: what is the funniest dialogue you can think of for this cartoon?

What if the Backwards Restaurant existed? What would it look like? Would we ask the waiter for more hair in our soup? Or to kindly bring the screaming child closer to our table because our section is too quiet? Asking “what if” questions is not only a good way to get the creative juices flowing but also a great way to seek solutions in everyday life. Challenge yourself to think backwards today and see what happens!