The (Creative) Struggle Bus

Over the weekend I had a front row seat on the creative struggle bus.  I threw three cards in the trash (only to later fish out yesterday's after much thought).  I jabbed my index finger with the paper piercer.  I flipped over an ink pad that ruined the scalloped corner of a finished card that I actually liked!  And, this wasn't my first ride on the struggle bus.  Oh no. . . I'm perfectly imperfect, just like you.  So, hop on and share the ride with me. 

 I've narrowly avoided impaling my big toe with scissors.  You should have seen the wonky Irish jig I did to avoid that one.  I've had Smurf blue inky manicures free of cost.  I've got random ink stains on more than one white sock from every ink pad I've ever dropped.  I've spilled chai tea, Bigelow hot lemon tea and even Long Island iced tea on my craft desk.  Hey, don't judge.  I've had faded cardstock, warped cardstock and my cat even peed on the cardstock I left lying on the floor once.  We had a long talk after that one.  I've accidentally thrown away teeny-tiny thin steel dies and garbage dived for them.  On more than one occasion.  Sometimes I score, sometimes I wince at whatever squishy gelatinous goo I've manhandled.  I've bought the same stamp set twice only because I couldn't decide if I really liked it the first time, sold it, and then decided I wanted it again.  Hi, I'm looking at you stupid Daisy Delight.  

I've dropped $18 punches on a cement floor and broken their mechanical hearts, and with each one a little bit of mine too.  I've ripped a brand new photopolymer stamp in half when pulling it off the acetate sheet.  Not proud to admit that I decapitated that poor raccoon.  I've spent WAY too much money indulging in my hobby, but rationalize it by saying "well, at least it's better than crack!"  Still not sure which would have been more expensive. . .

I've purchased embarrassingly ridiculous expensive "rare" stamp sets on Ebay, that I tired of too quickly and tossed them into a donate bin.  My mother's cloying "that's money down the drain" voice still haunts me in my sleep.  I'm in the possession of over 37 stamps sets in my craft room that have NEVER been used.  P.S - if there were that many Oreo cookies lingering in the house, they'd be hoovered.  I've got dust bunnies on stamp shelves and, as annoying as it is, I have three stamp sets that are missing one itty-bitty stamp from each.  I'm not holding onto much hope that they will ever be reunited.

Oh yes, all the things you've done, I've done them too.  Gasp!  I've colored outside the lines.  I've burnt my finger(s) on the embossing heat gun.  I've dumped entire Tupperware containers of embossing powder into plush carpeting.  #Nightmare.  I wear Ultrafine Prisma Glitter E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E I go.  It's an artist's signature look.  I've lost the caps to every glue tube known to man.  And oh, the beautiful COMPLETED cards I've ruined by inky wet thumbprints and my hand-stamped signature UPSIDE DOWN on the back.  %$#@&*%$!

I have made cards that I've loved and I've made cards that I've hated.  I'm even still undecided about a few of them.  Some days I've even threatened to never make another card again. 
Is this even a threat if it's directed at no one?!  Who am I scaring, really?

Please friends, while today's post is my attempt at humor, know that the creative struggle is real and I ride the same bus as you some days.  I just don't share it openly.  But, in a good faith effort at transparency, I recognize that many of you see "perfection."  You see a vibrant and inspiring website and pretty social media pages, but behind the intentionally curated facade is a girl who has organized and re-organized her craft room at 6 AM more times than I can count.  I am human just like you.  I have struggled with layout, technique, color, inspiration and the root of all evil - comparison. 

So, just remember on the days when every card you make seems to be crap and you have a Hansel and Gretel trail of pop dot backs around your house that it's just a bad day.  Not a bad life. 
Take a deep breath and start creating again tomorrow. 

XO, Crystal