Hands On

Sometimes, I feel really disconnected to paper crafting.

I tend to have a love-like relationship with it that comes and goes. On the one hand, I enjoy making cards. On the other hand, I'm not the best at getting them mailed out, and they can pile up, unused, for  quite a while.

I like new products and techniques, but I also get frustrated with "trends" and the need to keep purchasing the next big wish list item while neglecting the items I already possess. Honestly, the spendy side of this hobby convicts me.

Does anyone else struggle with this?

In a way, stamping often feels like a shortcut to me, as if I'm missing something in the process in a rush to get to the end product.

I rely heavily on stamps and papers, which is fine. But I really want to start designing my own images. I need to explore my own style, and stop borrowing from the style of the moment.

Hands-on. That's what I'm after right now.

It's funny, because I got really "hands-on" with some water coloring recently. Who needs a palette when you can mix colors right on the back of your hand?

{Today's Brew: Beautiful Bouquet: Ranunculus (WPlus9), PTI paper and card stock, doily, seam binding}