I Could Make That!

Do you ever say that to yourself at a store? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out shopping or scrolling through a store display and thought to myself, “I think I could make that!” It’s almost a reflex at this point. I see something creative, useful, or decorative, and my brain immediately goes into problem-solving mode: how could I design it, what would I need, and how would I actually build it?

That spark has carried over into so many areas of my life—crafts, sewing projects, home décor, remodeling, and even tackling things like our backyard BBQ setup. Don’t get me wrong, there are a million things I can’t do (and honestly, I’m not naturally drawn to those projects anyway—haha). But when something catches my eye and feels “doable,” I just can’t resist the challenge of figuring it out.

Over the years, I’ve learned that sometimes my projects turn out beautifully, and sometimes they don’t—but most of the time, I end up feeling really happy with the results. For me, the joy is as much in the process as it is in the final product. There’s something so satisfying about taking an idea or an image and transforming it into something real with my own hands.

One of my favorite examples comes from the mid-2010s, when wooden lettering was quite popular in the crafting world. My sisters and I bought a kit, only to realize we had paid a bit more than we expected. Instead of buying more, we decided to take matters into our own hands: we bought a bandsaw (and spent a lot more than just getting a couple more sets!) and started cutting our own lettering. It was a bit messy, a touch chaotic, but surprisingly, it worked! Plus, it led to so many other projects.

I’ve had similar adventures with cookie and cake decorating, holiday decorations, sewing, and countless other projects. Every time I see something inspiring, I ask myself, “Could I make that?” And more often than not, the answer is yes.

In some upcoming posts, I’ll might share photos/stories of some of the things I’ve created after being inspired by something I saw. From whimsical holiday décor to practical sewing projects, each one tells the story of a little spark of creativity that started with, “I think I could make that!”