Testing Out New Supplies
How I like to break the seal on my happy mail
Behind the Page
Have you ever gone through a period of time where you’d get new arts and crafts supplies and then you’d wait forever to use them? Whether they were intimidating or you wanted to wait for the perfect project or you just had no idea where to start?
That used to be me, all the time.
I’d just let things pile up on the side of my studio and they’d get more and more intimidating with every passing day. It was absolutely terrible for my creative self-esteem. Luckily, Daily Pages gave me a safe space to try stuff out and play around without feeling like I’ve got to create something perfect.
And for me, once I’ve opened up the package and made something — no matter how small — the pressure is really off when it comes to the rest of the stuff. It’s just one more way that having this creative habit really works to make me a better overall creative person.
Technique of the Day
I got a big box of Ali Edwards scrapbooking supplies today. Inside were a few kits, and a new stamp set. This is one of the last story themes that Ali is doing, and I’m glad it’s sports-themed. I would use a lot more sport stuff if it worked with my general style. Most of the sporty stuff just doesn’t feel “me” at all. So I’m glad that I pulled out the stamp set today and mixed the new stamp with some gel print scraps that I’ve got around my desk.
It wasn’t really about telling any specific story (although there’s like a million stories it could be about — especially now that my football team has benched Danny Dimes for Tommy Cutlets). I’ll definitely be putting this to good use next month for my December album when I always document a ton of great sports moments.
How It’s Made
Supply List
Stamp — Ali Edwards
Scraps — Gel print stash
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Tips & Creative Wisdom
Make Your First Try a Playful Experiment
Treat every new tool or supply like a toy—something to play with and explore. Instead of focusing on making something “good,” let your first experiment be messy and fun. Try different strokes, colors, or applications just to see what the tool can do.
Pro Tip: Dedicate a page to swatches, scribbles, or sample applications of the new supply. How does seeing its full range inspire ideas for future pages?
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