2/3/15

Easy Valentine Boxes

Hello! This has been the longest break from blogging I have taken in 5 years. Christmas came and went. Then the New Year rolled around. And I just never sat down to blog. I felt like I didn't have anything to say. There are so many talented bloggers now and their projects are so amazing. The photography is flawless, the ideas are original, it is all so good. I didn't think the Internet needed anything that I had to say or make. So I stopped writing.


I still posted on Instagram @craftytexasgirl a lot. Because that is easy and fun.


But I gave up coming here and writing. It seemed like too much fuss for really no reason. What did I have to say that was 'so important' it should be published online??

Now this lady! She had some things to say that are worth reading. 
So weeks and weeks passed and no blog posts... Then over the weekend, my girls and I worked on a holiday project. Nothing huge, just something for fun.  I helped my girls make their Valentine boxes. The weather was dreary and we were stuck in the house. Crafting is one of my favorite ways to pass the time.

While we were working, I realized why I hadn't been posting about crafts much anymore.
To do a really good craft post, one with great lighting and fabulous photos, you need to stage everything. You need to look at the light, the background, the composition. You need to dress your kids in a cute Valentine outfit and situate things 'just so'.

Source
And honestly, I am just not in the mood to do that much right now.

So I decided to take photos with my iPhone instead and enjoy the moment with my kids. They did most of the work themselves, like real kids do. These are not 'Pinterest-looking' Valentines boxes. These are real Valentine boxes. The kind most people make. The kind that don't go viral on the Internet or get featured on Craft Gawker.

These are shoe boxes covered with craft paper from Target and globs of Elmer's glue.



This is a box 'designed' by an 8 year old who loves neon stripes and sticker letters.


These are hearts cut out by a five year old who is working on her 'scissor skills'.




I am hoping the Internet still needs this kind of craft blogging. Because this is all I am really wanting to do anymore. It isn't shiny or fancy. It isn't the stuff 'craft dreams' are made of. It is messy and it is sticky. And when it was all over, I had to clean it all up.


But this is what I like to do now. Spend time with my kids. Make stuff with them. And take iphotos of us having fun.



The sun will rise. The sun will set. THIS is all there really is...


The rest is just stuff.

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17 comments:

  1. Samantha....u took the words right out of my mouth!! Great post and cute boxes!!

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    Replies
    1. Hey Missy! I have missed you! Thanks for the kind words and support :)

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    2. I think you hit a home run with this post...that's why I quit instagram forever ago..hated the way it made me feel bc I was always comparing myself and so one day I just deleted my account and never looked back but I don't want to do that with blogging..I love sharing.

      It's been a hard year...My mother passed away from cancer..It is still so hard bc she was my very best friend...4 months and 2 days is how long she fought. Made it even harder bc I live in Canada...I miss her every second so the ole blog is put on the back burner until I feel like it again.

      Your girls are so cute and getting so big!!! Stay warm...will be back in Texas before too long!

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    3. Oh Missy! I am so sorry!! I can't even imagine. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

      The comparison game takes all the fun out of sharing. You were smart to cut out Instagram. That's how I have been with all those link parties.

      Your blog will be there when you are ready for it. Let me know when you are back in town and we can grab a coffee :)

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  2. Great post. You've been missed.

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  3. I've missed your posts! Not the perfect, shiny photo op ones - but the real life mom ones like this. This type of post inspires me to try something new with my kids and not feel like I'm not enough because I'm not a super star crafter. Keep it up please!!!

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    Replies
    1. Your comment hits home. Thank you so much for being so honest. I feel like the need to be perfect has kept me from enjoying and sharing crafting. Hearing from you makes me feel like I should be sharing more of those 'real mom' moments . Thank you!

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  4. This is the real, reality! My kind of "perfection!"
    Xo-
    Mom

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mom! I keep getting held up on the need for perfection. I get moments of clarity, but they seem to be fleeting. Maybe this time it will stick! :) xoxo

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  5. Thanks for this! The Internet, and moms, need the Real stuff:)

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  6. One of my favorite posts. Thank you!

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  7. Thank you for posting this. I have been following you on instagram and reading your blog for over a year now and I have to say I have always loved your "real" approach to things. Perfect is overrated! I don't know you personally and we live on opposite sides of the country, but I find myself connecting with you through your sincere posts. Please continue to just be you, because it is a refreshing change. You make me feel like I can try things and I don't feel bad if they don't come out perfect. I actually end up liking the imperfect version better.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I love to hear from you and will do my best to answer questions and comments by 'replying via email'.
:) Samantha

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