Craft-Therapy

I have had a very "off" week ... and it's only Wednesday!

Monday I received a ticket for driving without my lights in the rain. I had no idea that was an offense worthy of a ticket. Sure, a warning perhaps. I was driving below the speed limit (as indicated by the officer on the citation), and it was only spritzling, it wasn't even raining. Ugh! I'm over it!

Then on Tuesday I got bit in the face by a friend's dog. He's a little beagle, and we've met many times before. I was down at his level and he was lapping up the attention. Then all of a sudden he snapped me on the cheek. It's not a big bite. No medical attention needed. It was a big shock, though. It kinda rattled me.

So, the moral is for me NOT to leave the house. I'm staying home today and finishing up projects that need my attention ... like blogging! I never posted the crafty goodness that was created at our last craft group in February.

The assignment was to make TAGS for any occasion:


This is a deceiving picture. "J" made 2 different styles using the black and white. They are so cute and go with the b-day paper she brought to keep us coordinated as only she can. "C" made 6 different tag styles ... (overachiever! Ha!). Sadly, I haven't put them all together so I'll show the one I absolutely love! How cute is that little apron?!


These are my tags. I don't remember what was going on that week, but I didn't even get them finished. Cute paper that would have been finished off nicely with some fun baker's twine or jute.

Then we had The Challenge:


"J" found some fun packages of nature items in the dollar bin and was intrigued. Look at the variety in that one package! It was overwhelming at first.

What was most fun was to see what "J" came up with. She is not the "pretty" type of designer. She's all about cute and coordinating. Look at her card (on left) with the pretty ribbon and layers upon layers. It came out so nice. "C" was ingenious with her use of embossing (on right). So simple, but so pretty. Love them both!

I wasn't able to mass produce my cards since I used Bo Bunny paper, and couldn't find more in our area! So there was more variety in my offerings. Still I really like that paper! Very fun with very little work. Gotta love digital work!

Solution to Everything

While I know I'm behind in my blogging and should be focusing on important events, today I had an almost spiritual experience that I have to share.

I have been trying to dig the creative side of my brain out of storage for some time. My craft room in our new home is a great size and works fine, but I find my craft tools just aren't as easy to get to as they were before. I need things to be at my fingertips, while right now I'm running to the garage or mudroom for certain tools. I need to be more ORGANIZED. At my wits end, I decided I had to resort to going shopping. Ugh! I hate shopping! No really! I find it to be a waste of time and hate the idea of spending money. I have to work myself up days before to accept the fact that I must go shopping. And so off I went ...

As I walked through the sliding doors, my heart started beating faster and I felt a smile form on my lips. It was the wildest thing. I actually felt my spirits lift hearing the subtle music playing on the speakers. I was so excited to walk through the aisles and giddy with anticipation at the new treasures I'd find. I'm telling you, it was the first time I started understanding my friends who talk of "shop-therapy". It was awesome!!!

What was this super store of bliss??? None other than The Container Store. I do not lie when I say I truly believe they have the solution for every one of my personal stresses right there within their brightly lit shop. I love that place! I only spent $40 in my shopping spree, but I left with a feeling of hope and conquest!