Things I have Learned In 8 Months

HELLO CRAFTY PEOPLES!!! (and family members:hi mom!)

So. It's been a rough August, physically. For those of you who don't know, I have an autoimmune disease and sometimes, well sometimes it kicks ma butt. That means I get the privilege of spending a LOT of time in bed, watching Youtube videos, learning how to do things I didn't formerly know how to do. And getting to know other people in the crafting community. I do "sick things" too, but frankly, those are boring and all y'all don't want to hear about them. At some point, I may do a blog post on what it's like to have an invisible disability, but today is not the day. I am finally feeling PERKY. I spent the morning swatching out ALL THE LOVELY COLORS of Spectrum Noir markers I got at the Consumer Crafts sale this month (I have wholesetitis), and MADE MYSELF get up and come in here and write a blog while I have energy. 

I have learned an amazing number of things, crafting over the last 8 months. I fell at work in December, and haven't worked since. While cardmaking was a hobby before January, it's become a sanity keeper. I have been making a version of Artist Trading Cards since . . .I think 2012, and believe it or not, carving my own stamps. While that's not possible any more (finger joints), that led me to discover the WORLD OF CLEAR STAMPS (insert booming voice, with reverb). I already used Marvy Markers (which, by the way, were once the equivalent of Tombow. So There). And then, well, then there was Youtube, and my friend Jen (not Maguire), and the Wonderful World of Cardmaking. . . 

What have I learned??? They fall in two categories: the practical/absurd and Life Lessons. Let's start with the practical/absurd, because *that* is way more fun. 

1. Glitter and embossing powder will take over your life. As in, they will get in your TEETH. No, I don't know how that happens, I promise you I am NOT licking my desktop. They also creep out of your craft room and down the hall and all over your house. They will cover your dogs and your small children. The mailman will sigh when picking up the mail. Yeah, that. 

2. You NEED some sort of stamping apparatus. You will tell yourself you can line up that stamp again. You will tell yourself you can see through that block. You will tell yourself it's perfect. YOU LIE. 

3. ALWAYS cut/stamp/color two - maybe three of whatever it is.  I never do it right the first time. Luckily, mistakes often produce cool cards. . .or multiples. I think it was Jennifer Maguire who said, "it's not supposed to be perfect, it's handmade." (Then she made a perfect card. sigh)

4. Small dies are possessed by Satan. They have lives of their own and hop around your craft room. 

5. DO NOT (i repeat) DO NOT LEAVE INK PADS OPEN ON YOUR DESK. Even if you "are going to use it again in just a minute." This is an obvious invitation to The Universe to bounce that work in progress INTO that Rich Cocoa color, just for giggles. Especially if it's white/cream/pale yellow/really good cardstock you only have one sheet of. 

6. In the same vein, DO NOT LEAVE A TALL, OPEN TOPPED GLASS OF SWEET TEA ON YOUR WORK SURFACE, EITHER.  Especially if you have two small Jack Russell terrierists who want to have a snarfle fight at your feet, because you've been making cards all day and not paying attention to them, and thus 31 pounds of dog will hit one leg of your work table. Yea, that. Cover that liquid. 

7. You can never have enough stamps. You never have the right image. There are always more colors of paper/ink/cardstock/markers/watercolor you need. There is more cuteness in the stamp world than you can collect.  Basically, cardmakers are just really, really REALLY REALLY well-organized hoarders. 

8. WASH YOUR HANDS. A LOT. OFTEN. See #5. I am not sure how I manage to get Love Bug all over the side of my left hand, but yeah. And then it's all over the piggy I'm gluing on the card. Or there's Grapefruit/Morrocan Red on top of the Cantaloupe flowers. Sigh. Or LIQUID GLUE -what the fig, people????? HOW does this stuff get ALL OVER me?? IN MY HAIR?? Seriously?? Just - scortape. that. which leads me to. . .

9. There are little gnomes in my drawer who mess up my scortape when i'm not looking. They add extra bits to the roll, and giggle when i try to put it down. They let it slop out the MIDDLE (wha? it's Not Supposed To Do That). Or my other favorite. I pull up the release paper and the tape comes too. In a long stringy sticky bit, that i'm then trying to use my tweezers to put in place. Then there's just sticky. Everywhere. Oh. What. Fun. 

10. Don't bother putting away that project for later. It ain't happening. 

And now onto the Life Lessons learned from all of that: 

1. Remember it's paper. And glue. And tape. It ain't gold. My guess is, no matter how great the artwork, eventually my cards are gonna end up in the trash. I gotta remember that, and stay right-sized. It's fun, I am proud of my work - and it's paper. Nothing in this world is permanent. 

2. Laugh. When there's ink on the card and glue in your hair and a sea of sweet tea all over your hippos, just laugh. Life is life and it's beautiful. One of my favorite cardmakers is Koren Wiskman (spotlight coming soon): her kids wander in and out, her hubby photobombs the videos. I am so grateful for the laughter and joy she brings to this hobby.  After all, why am I making this cards, anyway?? TO SPREAD JOY.

3. It's supposed to be fun!! If I am getting frustrated, I need to step away. Go play with the terrierists. Go watch the Tube of You. Go for a walk. Sit in the sun. Smell some flowers. Hug the hubby. 

4. Remember not to be someone else. YOU DO YOU. It's great to copy someone else's work, to get an idea on how to do something. However, YOU DO YOU. If you don't wanna do foil, don't do foil. If you don't wanna emboss, don't. Maybe pencils are your thing, or embossing goop. Or patterned paper. Me? I LOVE playing with ink. Plain old ink. And dies. . . and glitter. . .

5. Keep learning. Keep growing. Improve. Don't settle for crooked. Don't settle for good enough. Step out of your comfort zone. Play. Learn. Grow. It keeps us all from getting old. 

Peace, Joy, Creativity, Cindyellen