The art and crafts of giving

Another Wednesday comes into landing, and here I am with my coffee in a teacup, placed delicately and strategically on the floor next to me, surrounded by bits and bobs.

Today I am making cards. Easter cards, to be precise.

On the floorboards, scattered around, are tiny snippings of paper, hundreds of beads, bits of discarded ribbon cut too short, and just about everything a crafty creature like myself needs to make something special, yet mediocre - average at best.

Probably the most organised I've ever been.

But hey, I’ve always loved giving. I am a giver.

Receiving?

Though tremendously grateful am I, accepting gifts and kind gestures has always been a task for me.

How do I react?

What if it seems like I’m not impressed, but I genuinely am?

What if I’m genuinely not?!

The thoughts swim through my frantic mind in that very moment, and there’s only so many ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ one can exclaim before it starts to become obnoxious and unbelievable.

Yup, I’m just really not that good at receiving. That said, though, I will be intently watching you open up the gifts that I have given you. #nopressure

I was never all that into crafts, growing up, but over the last year I have gained a love for making gifts, rather than buying them. Not only is it as fun as it is resourceful, but I believe it’s also more thoughtful in many ways, too.

I was finding myself just buying random things for the sake of it, because my unique gift ideas were either exhausted, or just plain pointless. No way was I going to give someone another bath set, when I’m pretty sure I saw the one I gave them two years ago, in their bathroom, unopened! What is it about bath sets that make them so giftable? Is it just a British thing?

Like I said, though, I am no professional artist or crafter. The things I make are imperfect. I had a hard time coming to terms with that, as I don’t really want to feel as though my gifts are the scribbles parents are obliged to display on their fridges, purely because their child drew it for them.

Usually, I am quite pleased with the results, however.

So what if there’s a tiny glue spot or ink splodge? I made something for you, and it took me hours. The whole time I was thinking of you and your likes, and my intentions were good.

I think it’s fair to say that that is one of the nicest gifts of all.

Your thoughts and your time in the physical form of a keepsake.

I like that.

I can show you this card as it's for my grandparents whom are not aware of the existance of the coffee in a teacup blog. I hope.

So if you’re stuck on what to give someone for Easter, rather than the usual chocolates and sweets, why not try making something? Whether you’re an arty-crafty person or not, you might just surprise yourself.

Happy Easter, everyone; and if you don't celebrate Easter, have a great weekend.

17.April.2019

Wednesday