We have all been there. You see the cutest felt and burlap
Advent calendar or those ice globe thingies on Pinterest and you are sure
it is a project that will be a piece of cake to put together. The idea of going
out and buying supplies and
spending time with your children suddenly sounds like an overwhelmingly
positive idea. The kids will do most of it. It will look just like the
photographs, and your friends and family will stand in awe. You might even post
your own picture when it’s done.
Advent calendar or those ice globe thingies on Pinterest and you are sure
it is a project that will be a piece of cake to put together. The idea of going
out and buying supplies and
spending time with your children suddenly sounds like an overwhelmingly
positive idea. The kids will do most of it. It will look just like the
photographs, and your friends and family will stand in awe. You might even post
your own picture when it’s done.
Only, it turns out to be an epic fail.
You are still tempted to post a picture, but instead of the
over-achiever site you are thinking of the hilarious and empathetic
craftfail.com. Here is where would-be Martha Stewarts come to be absolved of
their craft hubris by displaying the wreckage for all to see. The best part of
this site is that crafters often go into some detail about how, why and where
things went so terribly wrong. This information often inspires the courage to
try again.
over-achiever site you are thinking of the hilarious and empathetic
craftfail.com. Here is where would-be Martha Stewarts come to be absolved of
their craft hubris by displaying the wreckage for all to see. The best part of
this site is that crafters often go into some detail about how, why and where
things went so terribly wrong. This information often inspires the courage to
try again.
Common Crafting
Mistakes
Mistakes
There are times when a craft will not come together no
matter the circumstances. Other times, though, some element was off or missing.
Here are some typical crafting missteps:
matter the circumstances. Other times, though, some element was off or missing.
Here are some typical crafting missteps:
·
The scope is too large. A wall-sized fresco on
your child’s bedroom ceiling may not be a first-timer or week-end project.
The scope is too large. A wall-sized fresco on
your child’s bedroom ceiling may not be a first-timer or week-end project.
·
Too many steps for very young people, or you.
Attention spans have limits.
Too many steps for very young people, or you.
Attention spans have limits.
·
Too much or too intricate detail work for
participating crafters.
Too much or too intricate detail work for
participating crafters.
·
Demanding materials. Gold leaf, anyone?
Demanding materials. Gold leaf, anyone?
·
Hasty substitutions. Baby powder cannot stand in
for glitter.
Hasty substitutions. Baby powder cannot stand in
for glitter.
·
Not enough time. This can be time to complete or
time to dry or set.
Not enough time. This can be time to complete or
time to dry or set.
Failure may stem from elements beyond control, such as the
weather. Trying to make those ice globes in freezing temperatures or leaving
wet tie-dye out in a summer thunderstorm poses challenges to success.
weather. Trying to make those ice globes in freezing temperatures or leaving
wet tie-dye out in a summer thunderstorm poses challenges to success.
The Sunny Side of
Failure
Failure
Posting a failed craft online can be very liberating. It is
freeing to throw up one’s hands and say, “Well! Not even close!” When little
kids do crafts, they are generally not as invested in the idea of the perfect
outcome as some adults may be. There is pleasure in the process. There is joy in
the mess. Just the act of taking the time to create and experiment is valuable.
Which is not to say that kids do not experience frustration when things do not
turn out as hoped. This is where the real benefit of the epic craft fail kicks
in. When crafters respond to failure with good humor and a willingness to craft
again another day, they model
good sportsmanship to anyone who might be paying attention.
freeing to throw up one’s hands and say, “Well! Not even close!” When little
kids do crafts, they are generally not as invested in the idea of the perfect
outcome as some adults may be. There is pleasure in the process. There is joy in
the mess. Just the act of taking the time to create and experiment is valuable.
Which is not to say that kids do not experience frustration when things do not
turn out as hoped. This is where the real benefit of the epic craft fail kicks
in. When crafters respond to failure with good humor and a willingness to craft
again another day, they model
good sportsmanship to anyone who might be paying attention.
