Last Friday I did something that I never do. Ever.
I went to Michaels (yes, the arts and crafts store), and, wait for it, I actually bought things. For crafting purposes. For fun.
It’s not that I don’t like fun. I’m a fun girl, bring on the fun, more fun I say. It’s that I’m not the greatest when it comes to the laid back, relaxing, quiet type of fun because fun, unlike the rest of my ultra scheduled, results-driven lifestyle, has no quantifiable purpose.
It’s just… fun.
And so, as a girl who likes (ahem, understatement) organization and purpose, it’s not too surprising that I don’t have any hobbies. Unless Twitter is a hobby. Or blogging. Okay, to be more specific: I don’t have any offline hobbies. Which is pathetic. Sad and pathetic and so very poster-child-of-the-internet-age of me.
So I went to Michaels.
In retrospect, I clearly should have gone in wearing a shirt that said “HOLY SHIT I DON’T BELONG HERE” on the front and “seriously, try to make me sew a loose button” on the back. Instead, I kept chasing down the employees with questions like “WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TYPES OF PAPER?” and “is this, like, normal stamp ink for, like, normal stamps?”
About an hour and thirty seven dollars later, I returned home with supplies to make my own greeting cards. Because who doesn’t love greeting cards? They’re real mail! The rationality behind the cards (God, who feels the need to rationalize a hobby??) is that after making them, I can actually send them. Ah ha! Crafting with a purpose. Perfect. 
While making the first few cards, I noticed that I was subconsciously putting certain colors and patterns together with certain people in mind. I realized that ultimately, what I’d love to do is make unique, personalized sets of cards for people based on something they provide for inspiration, like a photo.
From there, the ideas kept spinning. I imagined making four different cards for a freelance client of mine based on the wedding picture in her bathroom, one incorporating the gorgeous lace of her dress, one picking up on the sunset beach view, another using the sharp greens in her bouquet, and a final one playing up her and her husband’s pose.
I brought a copy of the picture home today and hope to have something for her by next week. And if those turn out well, who knows! I can see this getting really interesting though, because people (especially the people I know) have such a wide range of favorite photos.
Which could be a wonderful thing, or it could end up with my getting asked to create a set of cards inspired by someone’s favorite porn image.
“Oh this website? It’s research for this, uh, project I’m working on.”
Posted in: Uncategorized
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
You need to come hang out with me in my studio, homegirl. My life is about art and crafting for no purpose. The journey and the actual doing of it is the important part! When I do a shoot for a client, I always like to throw in something crafty yet elegant. I think it adds a nice touch. I'm proud of you for doing something crafty despite your analytical brain.
For someone who claims to not be very crafty, those are some beautiful cards you created!
Picture this: In about 3 months, I need to go to that very same store (along with several others) to gather inspiration and materials to make my own wedding invitations. Yes, you read that right. Scared? An understatement.
at least porn is fun.
Offline hobbies? What's that? Seriously though, those cards are super cute.
I totally don't have any hobbies either. I did scrapbooking for awhile but it got soooo expensive and I just couldn't afford it. I'm really thinking I'm going back to that and crafts but I'm stuck on what I should actually do.
Hobbies shouldn't be this hard
Put me down for one of the porn cards, please.
awesome cards and an even more awesome new picture
37 dollars at Michaels is like spending 2 dollars at the grocery store.
I commend you on not spending 150 bucks on pastels and stencils.
OOh those are gorgeous. I can’t wait to have time to do something like that. School can’t get over soon enough!
like you don't have enough to do!
love it!
Those cards look amazing! Don't know if you've ever looked but check out http://www.etsy.com, your cards would fit right in there!
Again with the soulmate thing. SERIOUSLY it is like you are in my head. I've been up to this since the start of the year and I've almost got an etsy shop up… Let's quit our lives and open a card/wine shop somewhere, k? Then we can happily merge our online and offline hobbies (I have two: card-making and drinking).
You've just inspired me to give it a shot. I love your ideas with incorporating the photo. Plus, with all these bachelorette parties, weddings, birthdays, etc., I think it could be a really cool, personal gift.
okay so random, i ended up going to michael's on saturday for paint and what not and spent $37 too! we were subconsciously being crafty together, i'm convinced.
that's a great idea!! i LOVE greeting cards – there's just something about knowing someone took the time to pick it out (or in your case, make it, EVEN BETTER) just for you
Omg, now THAT is a good crafting idea!
Love it! What a great idea, especially since you said you aren't a crafty girl. I love Michaels almost as much as I love Barnes and Noble. I can seriously wander around dreaming up projects for hours.
wow. those are REALLY nice!
Oooh, pretty! Of course, I could be a teensy bit jealous because me+crafts…not so much. What a cool idea though!
Your thoughts on a lack of hobbies and a purpose driven life are interesting. I used to be the same way until I ran myself into the ground and realized that I had to find a way to make time for myself, otherwise I risked losing a lot more than my productiveness. Now I find myself hanging out at the other end of the spectrum because I don't think I'd have the energy and patience to be so productive if not for the time I take to nurture hobbies. Whatever works!
If you ever decide to sell some of those beautiful cards, please let me know. I have an unhealthy obsession with handmade stationary and I'm getting bored with the selections on Etsy (I know, blasphemy!)
I just started making cards, and I'm not very good at it yet. What kind of glue do you use for your card-making?
hola she! i just want you to invite in my parks medical and personal blogs.. i am featuring FW (first walker/commenter) and TC (top commenter) in both medical and personal blogs of mine.. For FW and TC, you will have a permanent 125×125 ads in my blogs.. i am also welcoming EX LINKS (permanent listings on my two blogs),,ping me if whatever is ok with you.. for ex links, add my medical and personal blogs first, ping me back with the link/s where you linked my two blogs..
thank you and more powers bloggers!
Wow, that sounds like such a fun thing to do. I want to go out right now, return all the boring paint supplies I recently got, and go into the greeting card making thing. I think it'd be muchos fun!
You're awesome.
Nice work, creative lady. Soon you'll have an entire card business!
those are adorable!!! I would totes buy a set of those off you
Divorce is expensive! And who needs extra expenses these days?! Learning how to patch up a relationship is so important.
Super site! I am loving it! Will surely come back again – taking your feeds also, Thanks.
I know what you mean… my online hobby takes so much of my time that I have very little spare to work on my offline hobbies (like crafting)
-Sharon
Thanks this might be useful. I think i have a friend that would find this very interesting. Keep well
Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this particualr subject.
{ 5 trackbacks }