The Gift of Creativity: How to Give Someone a Pause
- Rachel Kate Knapp
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve been around the blog, you know I’ve always loved gifting experiences.
A meal shared. A getaway weekend. A handwritten list of places to explore.
I love the idea that a gift can linger, not on a shelf that takes up space, but in someone’s memory.
Something that makes them feel something. Something they get to do.
And lately, I’ve been thinking about this simple idea: What if the experience we gifted… was a pause?
Not a sip-and-paint night. Not a ticketed event. Just quiet.
A slow evening.
Pen in hand.
A glue stick.
A stack of old magazines.
A glass of wine or a warm mug beside you.
And no expectation—other than to let your hands move, your mind wander, and your heart soften.
It’s not about making “art.”
It’s the joy of creating something for no one else but you.
This season, I keep coming back to the idea of creative rest.
Not rest as in “doing nothing,” but the kind that lets you put down the phone, stop doom scrolling, and reconnect with paper, photos, textures—anything that lets your hands move and your mind slow down.
A way to create, just for you.
Side note: if you're heading into this summer looking to be more intentional with your phone use, maybe block a few apps, carve out more time for presence and creativity,I can’t recommend Brick enough.
It’s a simple but powerful tool that helps you step away from your screen and step into your life. Think of it as your gentle accountability buddy for less scrolling and more doing.
It’s why I find Cut and Paste Magazine so special. It’s a publication filled with tangible inspiration—creative ideas, beautiful visuals, and quiet encouragement to pause and make.
It would make a thoughtful gift on its own:A reminder that slowness, creativity, and reflection are worth wrapping up with a bow.
Want to take it one step further? Make a simple Creative Starter Pack
This isn’t a craft kit. It’s not about productivity.It’s about offering someone a small invitation to play. To be alone. To create without judgment.
Here’s what you could include:
A small blank journal or sketchbook,I love this pack
A glue stick
Scissors (bonus if they’re vintage or quirky)
Torn pages from magazines, catalogs, or old books
Washi tape, few stickers and/or ribbon
Dried flowers or pressed leaves
A quote tucked inside, handwritten
Wrap it in tissue paper. Add a ribbon. Or simply place it in a shoebox or brown handled bag with a note that says, “This is your permission slip to pause.”
Because sometimes the most beautiful gifts are the quietest ones.
Not made to impress.
Not designed to fill time.
Just offered with love—a little nudge to unplug and come back to yourself.
If you’re looking for a gift that lingers long after the holidays are over, this might be it.
An experience.
A pause.
For more inspiration on how to use Cut and Paste when traveling, check out my blog on How to Use an Airbnb Stay as a Self-Care Reset This Spring