It's a Good Thing

That's Martha's motto, no?  I don't know even know.  It's something stupid like that. 


I remember the first time I saw Martha crafting on the television.  It was Thanksgiving and she was, of course, doing holiday-related crafts.  In fact, she was going all out and dipping a dried turkey carcass into gold paint and then proceeded to recommend using it as your Thanksgiving centerpiece.  It was atrocious, disturbing, and downright ugly.  Awful.  I think that was the last time I ever tuned in.


Then, one day, my best friend made a comment in passing that I was 'Martha Stewart-y'.  The gold turkey flashed in front of my eyes and I shuddered at the thought of ever producing something so foul.  But when my stomach settled, I decided to explore why she'd thought that.  I started looking at her magazines and her website, and I discovered she had a whole lot of good things.  What the hell was with that turkey?!?  Sure, some of her ideas are a little out there, but there are great deal of things that are just so darn handy.  And I think she influenced me to be a more crafty person myself.


Now, while away in Taiwan, I started taking a stab at things I wouldn't necessarily have done here in Canada.  Card-making was one of those things.  I guess my interest in making cards (and the inevitable paper addiction that seems to accompany card-making) kind of started while creating decorations for my kindergarten classrooms.  Not to mention, the Taiwanese have this incredible knack for making the cutest things out paper.  So I took myself to a stationary store, bought some supplies and tools, and started to experiment.  It turned out, I loved the creative process of imagining up the perfect card for that special occasion.


There are countless companies that supply card-makers with paper, stamps, punches, stickers, ribbons, adhesives, machines, tools... you name it, they have it.  And Martha Stewart herself has one hell of an impressive stock of card-making ideas, techniques, tools, templates... the list goes on and on.  I could spend countless hours and gobs of money in the Martha Stewart aisle of Michael's and be a very happy woman.  It's a bit of a sickness, I think... the joy I get from new craft supplies.  But as it turns out, making cards makes me happy and that's not so bad.

Some of the first cards I tried my hands at....

I started to realize quickly that it wasn't important if the card looked professional, but rather more valuable if they didn't look like store-bought cards.  And quite frankly, they're nifty that way.

This card was particularly easy and yet turned out to be quite lovely, I think.

It may not sing when you open it, but it's way cooler!

I particularly like this card... I don't know why.  It's just cute.

Easier than you think ;)

I'm under no delusions that my cards are superior to what you might find at Hallmark, but they certainly have more heart.  Heck, maybe someday I might have a little custom-made card shop of my own ;)  Perhaps my friend was right.... maybe I am 'Martha Stewart-y.'  I'm starting to think that's a good thing!