Stamping Ground

Last Wednesday, (WOYWW) you couldn't see this little cigar box on my worktable, but it was there..the gift I mentioned. I was still working on the tags to fill it. It's full of snippets of info about 1969, or wise words about being 40. Or rude words about being 40. OK, both. Now you already know that I'm not going to refer to this as an 'altered' cigar box. Because it's still a cigar box, I have painted it a couple of colours and stamped on it and stuck things to it. But it's still a box. And you can see that I can't quite get my head around the shabby chic 'altered' look that involves the grunge colours either; it's just not me. So if Mrs Parsnip, the recipient of this vintage 40 box looks carefully, she'll realise it's a project I enjoyed because I chose the content, colours, stamps, blah blah , and because I wanted to make something for her. Her happening to like it is a double whammy on the bonus front. Ultimately, if you're crafting to give away, you have to enjoy what you're doing, don't you? Otherwise the motivation is lacking and also the inspiration - if you're pleased with the result, giving it away is easy - you can make yourself a promise that you'll make another to keep. If you've done it in a style or colour series that isn't close to your heart, the chances are you'll just be glad to get it over with. A bit like the moment of becoming 40. Important, but in the grand scheme of things, better when it's over! Many happy returns Mrs Parsnip!