Honestly, I've been there with following plans too closely. It started to feel like paint by numbers, not real craft. What helped me was using the book as a rough guide but trusting my hands for the finish. Like on a table leg, the printout had strict angles, but I smoothed the edges by feel and it just looked right. That little bit of freedom made the work mine again. So now I always leave room for my own touch, even with a printout in front of me.

Had a similar issue with ranunculus last season. Started dipping the stems in boiling water for a few seconds before putting them in the vase. Sounds crazy, but it seals the ends and they last way longer. The tape trick is good for support, but the hot water bath stops the snapping from happening in the first place.

Ugh, I've been there, it sucks.

Why do people even use spoiler tags if they're just gonna write the spoiler right in the plain text title lol? I got the end of a show ruined last week because someone did that. It totally kills the fun for anyone trying to catch up.

Absolutely lost more than just tips, that daily oversight stopped bad habits from forming. Now a guy can mess up a technique for months before anyone catches it, and safety stuff slips through way easier. You end up with more rework and hidden problems nobody notices until it's too late.