Over a year ago, one of my sons gifted me a pair of bright yellow–handled scissors. Nothing fancy. But like any good tool that finds its way into a gadget–lover’s heart, these scissors earned a permanent spot on my desk. I use them every day. They’re just the right size, with a comfortable grip and one finely serrated blade—perfect for grabbing and cutting materials that might otherwise slip away. I’ve come to appreciate well–made, well–designed products and these little guys hit the sweet spot.
So, I started wondering…if they were so good, could they, maybe, walk on water?!
Okay, not literally—I haven’t lost it (yet). But I like letting my imagination run wild now and then. And I was just learning about the new imaging features introduced last week in my digital sidekick: ChatGPT 4o. I love ChatGPT; I use it daily for all kinds of text–related tasks—writing, rewording, brainstorming, organizing—but this was one of the first times I leaned into its new and improved image creation capabilities.
It all started with a photo I snapped at my desk (with my trusty iPhone 16 Pro Max). Just me holding these special scissors in my hand. From there, I asked ChatGPT to give them the full luxury treatment: remove the cluttered background, set the scissors upright in a pool of rippling water, and paint in a glowing sunset behind them. I wanted drama. I wanted elegance. I wanted…scissors standing on water like they were born to be there.
And wow, did it deliver.
ChatGPT took my photo and my prompts and turned them into what I think is a stunning visual—rich tones, soft reflections, and that little glint of sunset light on the blade that makes it all feel just right. I was genuinely surprised at how beautifully it captured the mood I had in my head.
At the far right is the original photo as uploaded to ChatGPT. It’s a small project, sure, but also a reminder of how the tools we use every day—whether they’re physical or digital or a blend of the two—can inspire creativity in unexpected ways.
Can your scissors walk on water?
Mine can.
(If you’d like your own scissors (made in Japan by OLFA) that can “walk on water,” here’s an affiliate link to purchase them on Amazon (no water, no sunset): https://amzn.to/4iVMuJV)
