Prompt #23 - Teenage Crafts

Get out those wooden beads, scooby doos, and friendship bracelets.

Photo by Karly Santiago on Unsplash

When I was a teenager, back in the day before smart phones and Netflix, feeling bored was a real thing. Of course, I hung out with my friends, went to school, but there was still a lot of time sitting around at home with nothing to do.

I filled that time either consuming ridiculous amounts of books, or drawing and crafting for hours on end.

I created things for my friends, and proudly wore what they had made for me. Apart from all the teenage angst, it was a glorious time of making, and gifting, and being creative.

That all went out the window, when I discovered capital-P-Partying. My new love, that I would be loyal to for the next two decades. It was only after I quit drinking, that my creativity came back. I guess I was too busy being hungover to be creative.

Connecting back to my first love has brought back the creativity and joy to my life. I still enjoy rediscovering things I used to do/make/draw, which brings back some great memories as well. And it’s a double whammy of happiness, because 1) creating and 2) savouring those happy memories.

So today, we’ll rediscover and reconnect to our creative teenange selves.

The Activity: Rediscover a craft you used to do as a teenager

Step 1: Choose your craft

Think back to your teenange years, whenever those were. What were your hobbies? How did you kill time? Maybe you and your friends made each other bracelets? Maybe you used to fold napkins or made origami? Woodworking? Beaded jewellery?

You don’t have to choose something that you were good at. Just something that used to bring you happiness.

Step 2: Get inspired again

If you don’t remember exactly how to get started, look it up on Youtube. EVERYthing has a tutorial on Youtube. You can also browse Pinterest for some inspiration.

Step 3: Get crafting

Assemble your materials and get crafting. Make one for yourself. And if you’re really getting into it, make some more for your friends. Christmas is coming up ;)

My Example

I’m at a Christmas market this weekend, selling my Creative Planner to the lovely people in this small Swedish town. I’m sharing the table with two of my creative friends, an artist and a jewellery maker. The latter has a very cute raindbow string in her supply bag.

Since my hands aren’t very busy between customers, I used some of that string to make a friendship bracelet. Like the ones I used to create for my friends. Tadaa:

It’s not the best bracelet I’ve ever created, but it brought up quite a lot of memories, such as:

• Making endless amounts of friendship bracelets for my friends during summer camps

• Making wooden bead necklaces for friends.

• Two of the boys I had a crush on, that I exchanged those necklaces with.

• How to make Scooby Doos.

• My best friend.

• Making crocodiles out of beads and wire.

All of those are very happy memories, even if we were totally cringe at the time. And for those of you having gone through this time in the 90s: Yes, that’s totally a Baby G I’m wearing!

And you? What did you create?

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