When I sit down to craft, I almost always need to fix my crafting mistakes at some point during the project. Even though I design 3D paper pieces and SVGs for a living, I still find myself laughing at my own blunders—and honestly, those moments make crafting feel even more joyful.
Crafting Mistakes Are Normal (And Sometimes Funny)
Because I work in this cozy, chaotic little corner of the crafting world, I’ve learned to fix my crafting mistakes with curiosity rather than panic. Instead of assuming I ruined something, I’ve started asking, “What can I do with this?” Immediately, the whole experience feels lighter, warmer, and much more fun.
Recently, I had a very memorable oops moment while assembling my Tower project. Right after I glued the floor into place, I realized I had glued it completely upside down. The windows? Pointing straight toward the ground. The floor? Laughing at me. And me? Pausing in the middle of filming, giggling so hard I had to take a breath.
This is the moment I realized the floor was upside down… the laugh still gets me.
How I Fix My Crafting Mistakes Without Starting Over
Naturally, my first instinct was to start over. However, something in me whispered, “You can fix this crafting error.” So I challenged myself to recover from the project mishap without rebuilding the entire tower. Surprisingly, all I needed to do was cut a new floor piece and layer it right on top.
Then I added the roof where it belonged, and just like that, the tower recovered—and I had a delightful story to tell.
If you want to make your own tower, here are the files I used:
Because I craft often, I know that every single project brings surprises. Sometimes tabs tear, folds go wild, glue escapes, or a piece twists itself into a little paper pretzel. Nevertheless, these slip-ups don’t signal defeat. Instead, they invite problem-solving, play, and small discoveries you remember fondly.
Mistakes Lead to Creative Discoveries
Because misfits are at the heart of my work (you can learn more about that on my About page), I want to be extra clear: a mistake is something that happens during crafting—not something you are. Misfits don’t need correction. Misfits belong. They are brilliant, quirky, creative souls who thrive exactly as they are.
So when I talk about crafting mistakes, I’m talking about glue that wandered off, a tab that folded the wrong way, a roof that insisted on facing the moon instead of the sun—not the misfits who make the art.
In fact, one of the reasons I love crafting with chaos is that every project echoes the misfit journey. We don’t get everything perfect on the first try. We learn. We adapt. We try again. And the results—much like misfits themselves—have a resilience and charm that perfection could never create.
Perfection Isn’t the Goal
Ultimately, when I fix my crafting mistakes or you fix yours, we’re practicing something far more meaningful than perfection. We’re practicing patience, curiosity, humor, and the gentle belief that our hands can shape something lovely even when the path isn’t smooth.
So the next time your project shifts, tilts, tears, or takes a left turn into chaos, try pausing. Then breathe. Then smile if you can. And finally, repair the crafting slip-up with intention and imagination.
Because imperfect crafting is still beautiful crafting.
And misfits—whether people or paper projects—always make the best stories.
If you want more cozy, chaotic creative stories and behind-the-scenes peeks, you can join my creative community.
Resources from This Post
Before you dive into your next creative adventure, here are all the resources mentioned in this cozy crafting story:
