(Note: This post may contain affiliate links, including those from Amazon. This means if you click and buy a tool to save your own sanity, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep my Crafty Mom Bin stocked! See my full disclosure policy here.)
I see you. I hear you. I hope you see me.
I became a mom. I dreamed of becoming a mom. I lost myself in being a mom because it was so amazing. Now, I’m rebuilding myself—one project at a time.
This isn’t a blog about perfect, Pinterest-worthy nurseries. This is about survival. It’s about the 5 AM glue gun sessions and the realization that maintaining my own identity is the best thing I can do for my family.
Here is why I am Irrationally Crafty, and why I think you should be, too.
The Maker Before the Mom (My Origin Story)
I have always crafted my way through life. I’m just that person who sees things a little differently. I look at a product and think, “If there was only X, it would work better,” or “Why don’t they make Y?”
I try it. Sometimes I wow my family. Sometimes I never show that attempt in public again. (#PinterestFail).
I grew up in the generation of latch hooks and crocheting (thank you, Aunt Kay!). My toolkit grew as I did:
- The Sewing Phase: From custom patio covers to a poorly fitting witch Halloween costume in high school.
- The Silhouette Era: I got the original machine and still use it today—sometimes for intricate designs, sometimes just because I can’t cut a perfect circle with scissors.
- The “Pro” Tools: I built my office desk with my Dad (great Daddy-daughter time), bought a laser for custom tumblers, and eventually leveled up to a CNC machine.
I even tried a failed Etsy shop to unload my extra projects.
Enter the “Toddlernado”
Then came the whirlwind. The dog. The pregnancy. The baby.
I spent every minute I could with my son. He is active, fun, and an absolute “Toddlernado.” But as I poured myself into him and my day job, my high-tech tools started collecting dust.
My CNC machine sat silent. I had failed attempts at shirts for friends and missed wedding gifts because I just didn’t have the time. There were too many stops and starts. I felt like I was losing the “Maker” part of my soul.
Reclaiming My Sanity (The 5 AM Club)
So here I am. A mom with big hobbies, big tools, and very little time. What do you do with all this crafty chaos?
I started carving out time by getting up around 5 AM. (Yes, it’s irrational. That’s the point.)
I realized that while I love learning about my son’s development and supporting his needs, sometimes I just need time to be me.
I used my Silhouette to make a Valentine’s shirt for my little guy. I laser-engraved some tumblers (and yes, I forgot some settings and had to redo them—the faint shadow of failure is still there if you look close enough).
But I got pieces of myself back.
The Concept of the “Crafty Mom Bin”
This is my new mission.
We spend hours creating “sensory bins” and “busy bins” for our toddlers to keep them happy and regulated. Why don’t we have a Crafty Mom Bin?
I am setting out on a journey to find my crew—the moms who need a creative outlet to survive the chaos.
- Expect Reality: I don’t have time for fancy photo setups or lengthy posts with my whole life story.
- Expect Imperfection: We will share the successes and the failures.
- Expect Sanity: The crafts will be short. The supplies will be used.
Join the Creative Crafty Crew
I’m inviting you to be “Irrationally Crafty” with me. We are going to trade perfection for sanity.
I am here for my sanity and to connect with other moms like me.
We are going to start by building our own Busy Mom Bins so we have our supplies in one place when that rare 15-minute window opens up.
Tell me in the comments below: What is the one crafting tool or project you miss the most since becoming a mom? Let’s reclaim it together.