Hello world… Bon is back

It has been a long time since I last sat down to create something with my hands.

Not because I didn’t want to… but because somewhere along the way, crafting became less about creating and more about collecting. The joy got buried under “just one more thing”, and before I knew it, I had everything I needed… and nothing to show for it.

So this time, I’m doing it differently.

No new supplies.
No chasing the next best thing.
Just me, what I already have… and a quiet decision to begin again.

The starting point

I found an old favourite in the shed: “In the Jungle” by Francoise Read.
A retired Woodware stamp set that still makes me smile.

There is something about it… playful, a little quirky, full of personality.

It felt like the right place to start. 

The process

I began with three simple ATC backgrounds using my gelli plate and Distress inks.

No pre-made papers.
No shortcuts.

Just layers of colour, texture, and small stamped details built slowly until the backgrounds felt like they had a story of their own. 

From there, I stamped and coloured the images using Caran d’Ache crayons, blending them gently with a water brush before fussy cutting each piece.

 

Each card developed in its own way:

• One became about movement and story, with the frog reaching upward.
• One settled into balance and grounding, finding its place through small adjustments.
• And the final piece… found its rhythm almost naturally, with the dragonfly floating above and the sentiment unfolding below.

 

What I learned (again)

The biggest lesson wasn’t technical.

It was this:

Sometimes less really is more.
Sometimes stopping before it feels “finished” is exactly what it needs.
And sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Most importantly… I remembered how it feels to create something instead of just thinking about it.

Moving forward

This is not about perfection.

It’s about consistency.
About using what I have.
About letting the process lead instead of the pressure.

Three small cards might not seem like much.

But for me, they are something far bigger:

A quiet return.

Hello world…
Bon is back. 🖤