Personal Development

How this non-crafty girl found solace in crafting

I was the girl who in Girl Scouts always tried to hide my craft projects under the table so nobody else could see them. They were always a mess and never (ever!) looked anything like the sample project.

So you could imagine how I felt when I was invited to my first card-making seminar at a co-workers house. Intimidated.

But, I went. We made a birthday card. I remember watching the demonstrator easily pick out the perfect different markers, stamps and pretty papers and make a cute little card in four minutes flat. Of course, I was thinking: yeah, right.

Admittedly, I was not only intimidated, I also couldn’t help wonder what was wrong with these women. Did they really find joy in coordinating paper colors? I was kind of in shock by their fervor for something that seemed so trivial. Making greeting cards was certainly not how I saw myself spending my time.

That night, though, as I was staring at the ceiling in my bed, I couldn’t help but come up with different designs in my head. I thought of the cute cards I could make with that heart stamp.

Heart stamp. Are you kidding me?

Apparently not. Four years later, after hundreds of dollars spent on buying punches, markers, stamp pads and, yes, coordinating paper, I realize just how important it is to have a creative hobby. (Sure, I’ve been writing forever, but I’ve always found that slightly frustrating because I expect what I come up with in my head - which sounds so good - to be better translated onto paper. Doesn’t usually happen that way.)

A creative hobby is an outlet. It lets me think about things besides work and life. I can come up with a nice little design for someone’s birthday or baby shower. And, no, they are not perfect. At times, I find myself hiding them under the craft table just like in Girl Scouts. But, they’re something that I’ve created, and yes, I do enjoy making them.

The best part is giving the cards to others, who, no matter how terrible they look (nothing is ever straight on my cards. That adds character, right?), always appreciate them.

Nobody would’ve thought that I would turn “crafty,” but sometimes you surprise yourself.