Too many unfinished projects ... how and why I finished this one

How a simple idea grew in something (almost) too much to handle .. and why I didn't give up

When I started my Solitaire project, the idea was to create a simple book from a poem I wrote.

What I ended up with was far more complicated ...

When I decided to use the poem to create a small book, it was an exercise in bookmaking. A one-off experiment.

Once I decided to make the book, I thought it might be nice to make a box to hold it.

And then ... if there's a box, why not include a deck of cards. This is about a card game after all.

And then ... what if someone opens the box, reads the story and wants to play a game of Solitaire but doesn't know how?

I must include instructions.

But I can't just copy the instructions, that would be plagiarism. I'd have to write them in my own words.

And then ... written instructions are good, but a diagram would be helpful.

It seemed with each problem solved, I created more work for myself.

What have I gotten myself into?

It was a lot.

But there was still one unanswered question. What about illustrations? There are minimal pages in the book ... illustrations would add bulk and make it more visually interesting. But this time, my go-to art of collage didn't seem like the best option.

Some recent explorations in doodling provided the answer. Simple black and white drawings of the playing card symbols: ace, club, diamond, heart.

Why I didn't give up ...

It's simple, really. I've got too many unfinished projects on hand already.

I wanted to finish this one.

How I did it ...

When I became frustrated with one bit, I turned to another.

Building the clamshell box was the most difficult element. When I got frustrated with the box, I moved to work on the book.

When the book hit a standstill. I switched to writing and illustrating the instructions.
 

Serendipity in the form of a deadline ...

Each week I create the Story Starters calendar and looking ahead in February, I spotted Play More Cards Day ... on the 26th. It was weeks out and I decided it offered the incentive and deadline needed to get the job done.

I almost gave up ...

There was so much about this project that was new to me, that fought me, that made me doubt myself, made me ask, Why bother?

So why did I finish it?

Well, I shared it with you early on and wanted to be able to say I did it. Finished the job.

And, it was important to me.

Like I mentioned earlier, I have lots of half-finished and half-baked ideas sitting idle. Some I want to finish, others I know I'll never go back to.

This one holds special meaning.

It wasn't easy, but it's done  ... and yes, it was close ... I finished it late in the afternoon on the 26th.

Will I make another? Hmmm, not so sure.

Is it perfect? Far from it.

But wow, doesn't it feel good open the box and see what's inside.

Is there a project you've started but haven't finished? Is it time to give it up ... or finish it?

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