The Ugliest Craft I’ve Ever Made (so far)
And how sometimes, making plans can lead to disappointment.
Flashback to a few weeks ago… and me thinking. Thinking that I had a great plan for my mantel this year!
I knew just what I was going to do. I’d make a pallet sign, a big one. Nothing too fancy, just in my own writing with the words “U and Cut”, Christmas Trees, hours and directions. And a big tree right in the middle. Then I’d drape the mantel with fresh Cedar and Holly, maybe add some lights… and I’d be done. Nothing to elaborate and it would go with everything else. Yes, that was what I was going to do.
I’d already finished decorating most of the house, my plan this year being to complete my holiday decor early in order to live in the moment and enjoy the upcoming season.
I set about making the perfectly pictured in my head Christmas mantel 2015 pallet sign.
… then this happened.
And it was just all kinds of wrong.
The scale was off, the shade of green was all wrong, the tree shape… all wrong… the lettering?
Wrong.
It didn’t have the feel I wanted at all. In fact, I didn’t even complete it. I knew it had gone all… wrong. lol.
It looked great in my head, great sketched out… but in reality, not so much. I wanted vintage, road sign… full of flavor and nostalgia.
I’d say it looked like an 8 year old did it… but I’d be insulting 8 year old children the world over!
This is perfect example of why I gravitate towards the simple.
I can’t tell you how many times I set out to decorate with a picture in my head and get about as far from it as I can with my final result. Some people are great at seeing a look and re creating it. I say bravo to them/you!
As for me, not so much. It seems the more I limit my own style from coming out or my creativity from doing it’s own thing, the worse off I am. I’ll do nothing but struggle if I try too hard.
I’m not to say that I could not have given the sign in my head another shot, or persevered. I’m not normally a giver-upper. I’m just learning to pick my battles. Sometimes, it’s good to stretch, or try new or harder things.
This time though, my time was limited, my stress was building… and I knew the smartest thing for me to do was go a simpler route. Because I have to stay true to myself, and to you as well! I’m not going to share my Christmas mantle and fib… telling you how it was diy… and so easy… when it was a let-down, frustrating and frankly, a three hour waste of my time!
I will tell you though, that mantel take two?
Yeah… took about 15 minutes.
Now, I know it’s just a sign, a silly sign, but I felt like I wanted to share that it’s not always magical, or effortless. Not even glossy or perfect in blog land. At least, not in the land I blog in!
The moral of my story is to be you, trust your instincts, decorate for you, your family , your budget and circumstances… now, more than ever, it is so easy to get caught-up in everything our eyes can see… from blogs, to magazines, catalogs, store displays, facebook feeds, pinterest, decorating books, tv, etc…
Total honesty? Sure, I would have liked it, but I was a little bit trying to make an extra special sign to do something different for the blog, just to have something I hadn’t seen elsewhere. I had to ask myself; “If you were not sharing this, would it be a priority right now?”
The answer was no. We were leaving for Seattle, I had other projects and obligations, and the fun was being sucked away.
It can be overwhelming and easy to lose the joy of the season, and the simply act of adorning your home. I never want to lose my lifetime love of decorating by feeling I’m in race with everything else out there. At the end of the day, it needs to make sense for me. What I ended up with was natural for me. It might not be earth shattering, but if I did not have a blog, it’s what I would have done.
So it’s real.
Shannon
PS: wishing you every wonderful thing the holidays have to offer, and balance too. xo
PPS: If you follow along on social media, you’ll know I’ve been sick. As soon as I get the new mantel photographed I’ll be sharing it! Hopefully soon.
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Hello! I like the tree and U Cut, I have never found the perfect tree , so going to a tree farm, I am sure your painted tree would of been the first to go
I have a picture of my daughter when she was about 6 and she picked out this huge tree and not the loveliest; but the smile on her face revealed how proud she was of her tree she chose for our Christmas that year.
Love the little story about your daughter and the tree! Thanks for sharing that (:
Your honesty is one of the reasons I love ya! The funniest part about this post to me? That you would insult 8 year olds the world over–lol! And a key point: “It can be overwhelming and easy to lose the joy of the season, and the simple act of adorning your home” You know, just yesterday I had a major fail in the kitchen, which is NOT uncommon, but this was a doozy. I thought I should share the same lesson you did, so I thought about taking a picture, but my hands were heavily coated with the disastrous candy fail and all I could do was get to the sink to wash them!
You have been too hard on yourself. It was cute, but I agree with you— the printing was off. Valiant
effort if you have been sick. Rest and recharge your battery. I will be waiting to see your newest
creation. Happy Holidays.
Yep. It was too small, and scrolly. I’m fired. lol
I think the pallet sign looks fine! Everything can’t be perfect or it wouldn’t be any fun!! lol At least it wasn’t an expensive thing you made. I would go wth it like it is. Everyone will like it if you don’t point it out to them that you think it is a failure. Hope you are feeling bettr soon. Have a great holiday season and try to get some rest. Love your blog!!
I like the fact that it’s “just” paint…and can be redone!!!!
Yes, pretty much the only thing wasted was my time, not valuable materials! Whew. 😉
Hello! First of all I hope you feel better soon! Secondly, I love your pallet but even what you consider a fail for you would be a win for me. You are so talented. I am right there with u about how easy it is to feel like it’s a race, but I can’t afford to enter it but I do love to see what you crafty talented bloggers come up with. Occasionally something is simple and inexpensive enough for me to do if I am feeling well. I love this real post and can’t wait to see your mantle when you are feeling up to it!!!! Xoxo
Thanks so much! Me too. I have zero sick patients. haha – I thinks the race is something all we humans struggle with, at least sometimes. It’s how we balance and process it that maters. I like to feel happy and content, so I adjust my thinking and actions to stay on track as much as possible. I look forward to sahring the house at Christmas this year. Should be up to it in a few days (: Blessings!!
See how inspiring you are…. I’m looking around right now to find a blooper to post about. The potential at my house is limitless!
Says she of the best painted signs ever :)!! Maybe I should stop trying to do them all free-hand? Nah, that would be smart! bwah hahahaha.
Aww Shannon! I thought the pallet was cute! I get it though, if you just are not feeling it and being as my kids would say a try hard lol, we have to let it go!