Prototyping
I've had a long love for using my hands and tools very early on.  At the age of 5 I was constructing Star Wars utility belts out of the styrofoam meat comes on.  By 15 I was constructing Transformers out of cardboard and foam-core.

I love constructing things.  My favorite design tools are the X-Acto Knife (Retract-A-Knife), the utility knife (Alltrade 150003 Auto-Loading Squeeze Utility Knife), cork back steel ruler, and any Dahle Rotary Trimmers

I've prototyped things such as gift card holders, packaging, mailers, flyers, 12-month calendars, catalogs, etc.  I even prototyped my deck out of balsa wood. 
For a designer, like myself, prototyping is second nature.  It's a way for me to work out the kinks, check composition, check the sizing of type/fonts, and see something in real life/size.  

A non-designer recently told me "Why do you have to cut things out?... just put away the cutter for a few weeks".  It became apparent that they really didn't understand designers, nor the rational of prototyping
Job:  Transformers Decepticon Mini-Cassettes
Type:  Prototyping (for fun)

Description:
Back in mid 80's, when the Transformers Mini-Cassettes were huge, I decided to have some fun and construct them out of cardboard and foam-core.  Needless to say I was not the type of girl who played with Barbies  :)
Decepticon Laserbeak - made out of cardboard
Decepticon Ravage - made out of foam-core
Deck Prototype, 2008

Anytime I can prototype something I do.  Even my own deck I prototyped out of balsa wood, just to make sure that as many kinks are worked out beforehand. 
 
Marker Holder, 1994

In college I constructed a marker holder out mat-board, because frankly the ones I had seen in stores were ridiculously priced.  Anything I could make myself, I did.  That continued on throughout college and my career.  Some of my colleagues even called me "MacGyver" :)
Prototyping
Published:

Prototyping

Throughout my career one thing remained the same, no matter what project I've worked on, there's always something that needs to be prototyped.

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Creative Fields