Creating...

Another CHA is right around the corner. I can't believe that time has flown by so quickly, and here we are just a month away from another CHA show. While I've made the decision to not attend this show, I have been busy working on samples for the Maya Road booth. It really has been SO good for me to have the creative release from everything else to work on creating. I can let all of the work stress, heath stress, and financial stress and just play.

Maya Road really has some awesome new items on their release list. I honestly can't wait to share them with you. I know you'll fall in love with them just as much as I have. Some of the new releases are both items you'll instantly recognize as being true Maya Road style,. Some of the others though, are totally new. I really can't wait to share them with you, and hear your opinions and thoughts on them.

Teresa McFayden has added a new e-Zine to her Paper Bella Studio collection of fun and had titled it "Winter-Bella." As always, Teresa has provided an awesome source of inspiration. So far, I've been greatly inspired and have really REALLY enjoyed reading everyone else's comments and creations. If you're looking for something to inspire you, or to perhaps turn you in a different creative direction, I highly encourage you to check out her e-Zine. She will provide you with projects, templates, techniques, humor, creativity and so much more. You provide the supplies! How great is that?! I am sure you're a lot like me and have more supplies than you can possibly use in a lifetime (or 12). I love that I can follow her instructions and templates - but use MY stash. Brilliant idea!

Last month I joined in for "The 12 Days of Comfort & Joy" e-Zine and had a blast reading all of her creative ideas, and enjoying the gorgeous creations she shared and that the other participants shared in our Flickr group. While I didn't have the time to create most of the projects, I did make sure to save them and all of the templates so that I can set them aside to and make them later.

With the other craziness going on in my life, I am still planning and am scheduling to teach my classes at The Pad. I will continue to teach "Beyond Basics" and am adding another series called "Beyond the Page". Every once in a while I also participate in our team teaching events, like Cardapalooza. Beyond Basics is a very basic, introductory level class. It's designed for scrappers who have taken an introductory scrapbooking class, and want to learn more. We usually create a two page layout (and most of the time a bonus project) and I generally focus on how to use basic tools, and introduce basic techniques. My new class, Beyond the Page, will be generally be project based and will share ways to use your scrapbooking supplies, but not on scrapbook pages.

Another exciting turn in my creating life, is Something Splendid. On a handful of occasions I've been invited to come and create with friends at scrapbooking retreats. I love being able to get away from home and create for a night or a weekend with friends. A few friends shared that while they love to go to retreats to get away and enjoy catching up on their scrapbooking, they would love to have the opportunity to take a class and learn additional skills/techniques while they're away at the retreat. After much thought and consideration, I've accepted a few private teaching appointments and will continue to book classes as requests and my schedule allows.

Creating, whether it be crafting or cooking, is super important to me. I find that when I create, I have a release. I know you know what I mean. While there can also be a significant amount of stress involved in creating, it's generally stress I put upon myself. It's nothing like the stress that regular life issues can bring. I can definitely handle creating stress. Can't you?

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