I have this motto that has stood me well:
I think it's a good motto. I think it's a true motto.
Sometimes I have a tendency to stop when something is "good enough" or "fine." This motto reminds me to take the risk; to dare to do it.
What is the "it" in that sentence?
Cut a hole in my quilt.
Glop paint all over it.
Stamp directly onto my cardstock with abandon!
Cover up a perfectly good piece of art with a new idea:
It' also a good reminder to use my supplies. And stop worrying about ruining them!
I remember buying Basic Grey paper and hoarding it. It was simply far too pretty to cut up. I mean, look at that:
And yet, I kept *hating* all the layouts I did with it. It took me a while, but using my motto, I started cutting it up. And now I am a happy girl! I've used the same motto to conquer my fear of Sassafras Lass and other densely patterned papers, like the one below:
Or how about spraying that gorgeous flower above all sorts of colors and potentially "ruining" it? Or pulling this flower apart…
…and only using half of it.
And I've been feeling very proud of myself for doing it. Sometimes the results are great and sometimes the results are…well, less than great. But I've always figured that I'd rather have 2 art projects that are jaw droppingly amazing and 8 that kind of stink, than 10 that are "fine."
Of course, the reason I'm writing this post is to make myself feel better about ruining the most gorgeous piece of Hambly paper.
I had been keeping it for something special. And now, alas, it's disfigured and permanently ruined.
Sigh.
But, I suppose that means something lovely is coming down the pipeline, right? You have to fail gloriously over and over in order to find that one little moment of genius.
Thanks for stopping by!
I love this post! So so true! I have a stupid little trick to play on myself. When I reach the point that I feel scared to add something, or stamp directly, or add stuff, I take a photo of the page as it is. That way I have it digitally, just in case! :-))
I love this post! So so true! I have a stupid little trick to play on myself. When I reach the point that I feel scared to add something, or stamp directly, or add stuff, I take a photo of the page as it is. That way I have it digitally, just in case! :-))
I love this post! So so true! I have a stupid little trick to play on myself. When I reach the point that I feel scared to add something, or stamp directly, or add stuff, I take a photo of the page as it is. That way I have it digitally, just in case! :-))
I love this post! So so true! I have a stupid little trick to play on myself. When I reach the point that I feel scared to add something, or stamp directly, or add stuff, I take a photo of the page as it is. That way I have it digitally, just in case! :-))
I suffer from this too. Big time. I have a huge dollhouse in my garage that I plan on doing something way artsy cool with that I am afraid to “ruin”. I paid 25 dollars for it at thrift store, but to find it somewhere else it would be hundreds. I’m afraid to ruin it. Paper.. yup check do that too. I might as well just frame the sheets at this point. haha. Love seeing this!
I suffer from this too. Big time. I have a huge dollhouse in my garage that I plan on doing something way artsy cool with that I am afraid to “ruin”. I paid 25 dollars for it at thrift store, but to find it somewhere else it would be hundreds. I’m afraid to ruin it. Paper.. yup check do that too. I might as well just frame the sheets at this point. haha. Love seeing this!
I suffer from this too. Big time. I have a huge dollhouse in my garage that I plan on doing something way artsy cool with that I am afraid to “ruin”. I paid 25 dollars for it at thrift store, but to find it somewhere else it would be hundreds. I’m afraid to ruin it. Paper.. yup check do that too. I might as well just frame the sheets at this point. haha. Love seeing this!
I suffer from this too. Big time. I have a huge dollhouse in my garage that I plan on doing something way artsy cool with that I am afraid to “ruin”. I paid 25 dollars for it at thrift store, but to find it somewhere else it would be hundreds. I’m afraid to ruin it. Paper.. yup check do that too. I might as well just frame the sheets at this point. haha. Love seeing this!
ooh I just read hagit’s comment. Very true! I like that!
ooh I just read hagit’s comment. Very true! I like that!
ooh I just read hagit’s comment. Very true! I like that!
ooh I just read hagit’s comment. Very true! I like that!
You rock! Thanks for the encouragement!
You rock! Thanks for the encouragement!
You rock! Thanks for the encouragement!
You rock! Thanks for the encouragement!
Oh yeah! I know the feeling well. Funny, I never considered cutting up that patterned paper. I will now. Thanks!
Oh yeah! I know the feeling well. Funny, I never considered cutting up that patterned paper. I will now. Thanks!
Oh yeah! I know the feeling well. Funny, I never considered cutting up that patterned paper. I will now. Thanks!
Oh yeah! I know the feeling well. Funny, I never considered cutting up that patterned paper. I will now. Thanks!
I haven’t told you this yet…but I just LOVE your blog. I read so many blogs, but yours is seriously one of the most inspiring. You always have the best content and your projects are amazing. 🙂
I haven’t told you this yet…but I just LOVE your blog. I read so many blogs, but yours is seriously one of the most inspiring. You always have the best content and your projects are amazing. 🙂
I haven’t told you this yet…but I just LOVE your blog. I read so many blogs, but yours is seriously one of the most inspiring. You always have the best content and your projects are amazing. 🙂
I haven’t told you this yet…but I just LOVE your blog. I read so many blogs, but yours is seriously one of the most inspiring. You always have the best content and your projects are amazing. 🙂
My friend Carol – retired art teacher and mixed media quilter says “Use the good stuff first!”
Maggie, who was my first collage teacher says, “The world is full of MORE.”
Good lessons for artists/quilters and hoarders of all kinds of Stuff!
My friend Carol – retired art teacher and mixed media quilter says “Use the good stuff first!”
Maggie, who was my first collage teacher says, “The world is full of MORE.”
Good lessons for artists/quilters and hoarders of all kinds of Stuff!
My friend Carol – retired art teacher and mixed media quilter says “Use the good stuff first!”
Maggie, who was my first collage teacher says, “The world is full of MORE.”
Good lessons for artists/quilters and hoarders of all kinds of Stuff!
My friend Carol – retired art teacher and mixed media quilter says “Use the good stuff first!”
Maggie, who was my first collage teacher says, “The world is full of MORE.”
Good lessons for artists/quilters and hoarders of all kinds of Stuff!
I just recently found your blog … and I am so glad I did! I suffer from this same problem … I have sort of gotten over it though …I went digital for about three years, so I kind of gotten used to altering things! Taking a picture … now that is a great idea!
Also, the whole reason I won’t by Hambly … I would hoard it… I mean it is perfect! Actually I WOULD frame it if I could find any around me (NO, I don’t need to hear it is online … no I really don’t ….)
I just recently found your blog … and I am so glad I did! I suffer from this same problem … I have sort of gotten over it though …I went digital for about three years, so I kind of gotten used to altering things! Taking a picture … now that is a great idea!
Also, the whole reason I won’t by Hambly … I would hoard it… I mean it is perfect! Actually I WOULD frame it if I could find any around me (NO, I don’t need to hear it is online … no I really don’t ….)
I just recently found your blog … and I am so glad I did! I suffer from this same problem … I have sort of gotten over it though …I went digital for about three years, so I kind of gotten used to altering things! Taking a picture … now that is a great idea!
Also, the whole reason I won’t by Hambly … I would hoard it… I mean it is perfect! Actually I WOULD frame it if I could find any around me (NO, I don’t need to hear it is online … no I really don’t ….)
I just recently found your blog … and I am so glad I did! I suffer from this same problem … I have sort of gotten over it though …I went digital for about three years, so I kind of gotten used to altering things! Taking a picture … now that is a great idea!
Also, the whole reason I won’t by Hambly … I would hoard it… I mean it is perfect! Actually I WOULD frame it if I could find any around me (NO, I don’t need to hear it is online … no I really don’t ….)
ooooh you give me soo much inspiration my head SPINS!! TA-HEEE !!
THANKS 🙂
I’M GETTING OUT MY SCISSORS RIGHT NOW!! LOL
;0)
WITH AGRIN,
STEFFOGAL1
ooooh you give me soo much inspiration my head SPINS!! TA-HEEE !!
THANKS 🙂
I’M GETTING OUT MY SCISSORS RIGHT NOW!! LOL
;0)
WITH AGRIN,
STEFFOGAL1
ooooh you give me soo much inspiration my head SPINS!! TA-HEEE !!
THANKS 🙂
I’M GETTING OUT MY SCISSORS RIGHT NOW!! LOL
;0)
WITH AGRIN,
STEFFOGAL1
ooooh you give me soo much inspiration my head SPINS!! TA-HEEE !!
THANKS 🙂
I’M GETTING OUT MY SCISSORS RIGHT NOW!! LOL
;0)
WITH AGRIN,
STEFFOGAL1
words of wisdom – words to live by. Thanks for sharing!
words of wisdom – words to live by. Thanks for sharing!
words of wisdom – words to live by. Thanks for sharing!
words of wisdom – words to live by. Thanks for sharing!
Thank-you that’s just what I needed to hear today!
Thank-you that’s just what I needed to hear today!
Thank-you that’s just what I needed to hear today!
Thank-you that’s just what I needed to hear today!
Amazing work as usual!
Amazing work as usual!
Amazing work as usual!
Amazing work as usual!
that is so true and certanly why we buy many pappers, just to look at, not use … but to make some you have to brake (sorry for my swedish spelling)some right thank for sharing, love your art
piau.
that is so true and certanly why we buy many pappers, just to look at, not use … but to make some you have to brake (sorry for my swedish spelling)some right thank for sharing, love your art
piau.
that is so true and certanly why we buy many pappers, just to look at, not use … but to make some you have to brake (sorry for my swedish spelling)some right thank for sharing, love your art
piau.
that is so true and certanly why we buy many pappers, just to look at, not use … but to make some you have to brake (sorry for my swedish spelling)some right thank for sharing, love your art
piau.
Such wonderful words of wisdom, and ones I need to hear right now. I have been struggling to create this past week, and now I feel inspired – thanks Julie!
Such wonderful words of wisdom, and ones I need to hear right now. I have been struggling to create this past week, and now I feel inspired – thanks Julie!
Such wonderful words of wisdom, and ones I need to hear right now. I have been struggling to create this past week, and now I feel inspired – thanks Julie!
Such wonderful words of wisdom, and ones I need to hear right now. I have been struggling to create this past week, and now I feel inspired – thanks Julie!
You are great !
I love every thing you do !!
You are great !
I love every thing you do !!
You are great !
I love every thing you do !!
You are great !
I love every thing you do !!
awesome post…I am trying to start using instead of collecting…when I go through my older papers its amazing to see what i HAD to HAVE, now it’s just average…new styles will come along that will knock our socks off so we might as well use up what we have now. I am also finding I can save some fugly paper from 10 years ago with some creative painting or spritzing,stencilling or masking!
awesome post…I am trying to start using instead of collecting…when I go through my older papers its amazing to see what i HAD to HAVE, now it’s just average…new styles will come along that will knock our socks off so we might as well use up what we have now. I am also finding I can save some fugly paper from 10 years ago with some creative painting or spritzing,stencilling or masking!
awesome post…I am trying to start using instead of collecting…when I go through my older papers its amazing to see what i HAD to HAVE, now it’s just average…new styles will come along that will knock our socks off so we might as well use up what we have now. I am also finding I can save some fugly paper from 10 years ago with some creative painting or spritzing,stencilling or masking!
awesome post…I am trying to start using instead of collecting…when I go through my older papers its amazing to see what i HAD to HAVE, now it’s just average…new styles will come along that will knock our socks off so we might as well use up what we have now. I am also finding I can save some fugly paper from 10 years ago with some creative painting or spritzing,stencilling or masking!