Many years ago (read: before kids), I liked to do craft projects, and was big into rubber stamping. So much so that I headed up to Boston every year for an annual rubber stamp convention. Yes, such things exist. Hey, any excuse to visit Boston … I still like doing craft projects and stamping, but now it’s more just a lack of time.
This past Christmas, I decided it was time to get some of the creative juices going again, and I made a few things for our family. Truth be told, I actually had a list of things I was going to make, and then that darn Christmas flu took hold and I actually only got to complete two things, but I was pretty pleased with myself nonetheless.
Much like cooking and baking, it’s nice to have a hobby or project that quiets your mind and just lets you breathe, you know? I waited until everyone was asleep, which isn’t hard since I’m always the last one to bed anyway, headed downstairs to my office and started work.
I ended up making a personal bookmark for everyone in the family. I didn’t have a plan going in on how I was going to do it, but as I made each one, I learned what worked and what didn’t and made changes along the way. I used scrapbooking paper for the fronts and backs of the actual bookmarks, and assorted stickers and supplies for decoration. Once they were done, I laminated them, sticking a coordinating ribbon at the top of each one. I was pretty happy with the way they came out (the pink one I made for my sister with Sophie was my favorite), and since everyone in our family reads pretty voraciously, I thought they would be a perfect small gift.
A few months before Christmas, Nick was busy coloring and I took a peek to see what he was drawing. He was making freehand cupcakes. He definitely gets that artistic bent from my mom and grandmother (even my sister), but definitely not me. I was so impressed with how well he was drawing them that they became the inspiration for another gift, hand-drawn framed cupcake prints. Once we finish renovating our kitchen, I’m going to put his artistic abilities to work again and have him make me a series of the cupcake art to put on the wall. A boy after my own heart.
It felt good to get the creative juices flowing again, but in a very different way than cooking or baking does. I recently reconnected with an old friend from grammar school, and she’s very immersed in the world of scrapbooking, something that I would love to get in to, if only to finally get all our pictures put in photo albums, once and for all.
So now that the crafting bug is back, I plan to drag everyone with me to this year’s rubber stamp show in June. I figure I can bribe The Husband with a meal at The Union Oyster House, one of our favorite restaurants in Boston and a frequent stop of John F. Kennedy on his way to and from Washington DC in his politicking days, and Nick is easy … mention a road trip and he is in.
These are so cute! I never would have thought of this…apparently your creative juices ARE flowing!
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What exactly does one do at a rubber stamp convention?
I love, love, love Nicholas’s cupcakes! They would be awesome for a kitchen series!
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These are great! I have no artistic ability whatsoever.
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I used to love craft projects too! (Except for me, it’s read: before blog). I like to knit because you can do something you enjoy and at the end you have a new product!
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Claire – LOL, ebbs and flows, Claire, ebbs and flows.
Maris – I would love to be able to knit, but I know that I am in no way coordinated enough to do it. So for now, I’m going to live vicariously through you. ;)
Sara – thanks. :)
Sarah – visit all the vendors and see the latest products and supplies to buy, take classes on the latest techniques and projects, talk with other likeminded people, discover new craft ideas … you name it. ;)
The cupcakes are really great and what a wonderful idea to decorate a kitchen with a series of these. I may have to steal the inspiration from you and have my own little artist do some for my kitchen!