I just have to get this off my chest...

[sthoeny]

but I miss paper crafting. There I said it. I had to step back last June, life got in the way. I haven't had a chance to get back into the swing of things...but now I'm missing it. Please tell me I'm not the only one who had to step away for awhile and is struggling to get back into being creative.

[LaLatty]

Nope, you're not the only one. I took about 6 weeks off last year. Sometimes we need a break. Things just get busy with kids, work, family, etc and it happens. Enjoy your crafting time getting back into the swing of things

[kmatuschka]

Definitely not the only one. I've had to take several breaks.

[happigirlcorgi]

You are not alone! But now that I am back, I LOVE it. I do the challenges - I think it guides my un-creativity sometimes. Hang in there!

[weims]

Absolutely. Took about a year off from any crafting to speak of to start a business that took over my space. I have now reclaimed part of it and have been creative a few times. It felt good. I didn't even know where to start again. I began by loking on here to get back into the groove, found a few cards to CASE and went from there. I also acquired a few new-to-me stamps to help get things moving again.

[cnsteele]

Usually I take the whole summer off from crafting as my three daughters are out of school and I have to plan kids' crafts for a week long family church camp we go to. At first I miss it, but it's so fun to have my kids home all day all summer (I don't like schedules and school is filled with those!) that I soon forget about it. Then when fall comes, my creativity has been recharged and I'm ready to papercraft! Breaks are good, no matter what it is a break from.

[Brightdays]

I do. I find that I am a much happier person when I get in some crafting time each week. Even if I just do one quick card.

[JoBear2]

In Feb last year, I became a Full-time Carer for a family member who was suddenly diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Apart from a couple of cards which I wasn't overly happy with, I had the whole year off and really only got back into my cardmaking over January this year as my loved one had recovered sufficiently enough that I could have some "me" time. Oh, how I missed my cardmaking over last year and boy, was it a struggle to get back into it. I wasn't happy with anything I coloured, I couldn't get my layouts to work - it was like I had forgotten what to do! And it frustrated me and made me want to toss in the towel numerous times. But then I remembered that like my piano playing, if I don't practice regularly, my playing is pretty awful and I make lots of mistakes and I get grumpy because of it. Now that I have been "practicing" my cardmaking over Jan/Feb, I am back in the swing of things and I feel so much more confident and happy with what I am creating. You just need to give yourself some time "practicing" to loosen up your rusty skills. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen....hope this helps

[jessthenurse]

Definitely not the only one! I've taken several breaks over the years; whether just b/c I "wasn't feeling it" or life got in the way. My craft stuff didn't even get unpacked for months after my divorce. I find I'm much happier when I let myself craft when I want and not force myself to do it.