Creativity, Crafting, and Cash

I'm fairly artistic and I like crafts. But I have a low success rate for crafting. One reason is because I am much better at duplication than creation. Someone shows me how to do something and I can pick it up pretty quickly. But coming up with creative solutions from scratch...not my forte. I don't necessarily have an eye for seeing the end product either. I have friends that can spend $15 at a yard sale and redecorate an entire room (and it looks amazing!). I try to do that and I end up with pieces that don't quite fit or too much money spent.

And that's the other side of it. Crafting in theory is a great way to save some cash in areas like decorating, party planning, or gift making. Crafting has always seemed to be an expensive hobby for me. Maybe I just don't have the knack for it. When I get a project in my head, I immediately go out and end up spending $40 on supplies to execute the craft.

Is it a matter of just slowly building up your supplies/tools? Or am I just getting it all wrong?

And how do you organize/store all of these accumulating crafting supplies? Mine have a tendency to come in and out of storage because I don't have a great space to keep them out.

Now I'm not a total failure. I did my own invitations and flowers for my wedding and loved how they turned out (and saved a ton of cash!). I'm pretty creative in general. I've designed t-shirts as gifts. I can write a cheesy poem for your birthday card in about 2 minutes. I can execute a recipe off pinterest with ease. I just can't seem to get out of the cycle of..."Ooo! I could do this...let me run to Michael's and buy $40 worth of supplies" followed by a new box labelled "art supplies" in my basement.

How do you creative ladies do it so well?!

Some Pre-Valentine's Day Goodness

Well I'm due for a crafty post and I have always been a fan of Valentine's Day. It's one of my favorite holidays. In fact, it's my third favorite holiday. The list goes something like this:

1. Superbowl

2. Thanksgiving

3. Valentine's Day

4. Christmas

5. 4th of July

Valentine's Day doesn't seem to be all that popular nowadays what with all the cynicism, S.A.D. nonsense, and depression associated with failed or non existent relationships. Oh and then there's the expense. There's a lot of talk about it being a holiday created for greeting card companies and florists. Well, I believe it is whatever you want it to be, and to me, what better thing is there to celebrate than love? It doesn't have to be romantic love, show love to everyone you encounter. Celebrate the love in your friendships and family.

I probably love it because I've always had good experiences with Valentines Day. I hardly ever had a boyfriend but my dad would always get me a card and often flowers or a stuffed animal. Sometimes my brothers even did this. I'd exchange Valentine's and candy with my friends at school when I was younger. Into college and high school I had amazing guy friends who gave out valentine notes and gifts to their female friends, and I made a habit of baking and distributing heart shaped goodness to as many people as possible.

So, I know it's a little early for a Valentine's Day post, but I wanted to share some project inspiration for Valentine's day.

These are my favorite Pinterest finds for cheesy ways to share candy and sentiment for Valentines day:

And lastly, I thought these handmade cards were really adorable. Have you ever thought about giving cards anonymously? Not in a misleading way (no "From your Secret Admirer" stuff), but in a "Hey, I admire you and you don't even know me" sort of way. It could make someone's day.

Five Finds for Friday

I've been posting a lot of lengthy serious posts lately, so in the spirit of simplicity I'd like to "simply" share a few of my most recent "finds" aka new discoveries that I find awesome. :)

Newest Blog Find

Simply Vintage Girl

Faith. Photography. Vintage. Handmade. Recipes.

Lots of my favorite things and an incredible layout.

Crafts

Page Corner Bookmarks.

*Chomp*

Design/Decor

In home library with "reading nook"

(Though, I'd settle for an oversized chair)

Style

Hair Envy.

Hmm...Mermaid Hair.

Food/Recipe

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

.....yum!

T-Shirts.

There are days when I wish very much that I'd been an art major in college. I love crafting, creating, and art in general. In fashion, sometimes those who are creative are also thrifty...another of my favorite qualities. As far as clothing goes, I'm not quite skilled enough (yet) to take something I already have and alter it into something new. And so I am all that more impressed by the creative thrifty people who can.

T-shirts. Pretty boring and oversized. Until this girl got a hold of them. The following are examples of oversized cotton t-shirts transformed. And frankly, I'm impressed.

Kind of makes you want to learn to sew, yes?