Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A Card, Some News, and a Confession

Okay, so I know it was a few days ago, that I promised a card, but my life has just been insanely busy. It seems like the only spare time I have to sit down, I'm nursing a baby!

Here is a card I made a while back when I was messing around with some ideas for a CAS challenge using bling!
And now for some news.....some of you may already know this, but after 7 years with Stampin' UP, my days as a demonstrator with them are sadly over. This was a long thought out process, and in the end, although I love the company and I love their product, I just need that change in my life. The day I made the decision, a HUGE weight was lifted off of me. I will still be teaching/hosting card class, because I still love doing that, and I have come to truly love and enjoy the ladies who come regularly.....I may supply the paper and the designs, but you girls really make card class what it is!!! (Tear!)

And now for my confession. What could it be, you are wondering? Well, for the past 6 weeks or so that it has been since I have crafted, or made any cards, I have been really happy! For the past 8 or more years now, paper crafting has been a big passion of mine and a huge stress outlet for me. This past year, dealing with a difficult pregnancy, and bringing my 4th child into the world, and trying to "keep up with the Jones" so to speak in the card/blog world, I just wasn't happy. I think I got away from why I started in the first place. I like to make card and paper craft for me. I got really bogged down with trying to keep up with different challenges, feeling like I had to make a card every week for every challenge that I had ever taken part in. I felt so inferior to all you other paper crafters out there who create AMAZING things, who seemed to craft all the time, win challenges, get published, and have an amazing life for themselves and their families as well. I just couldn't do it. I was beginning to feel like I could barely keep my head above water. Crazy I know, but I have a very intense and competitive personality....it is what it is.
So towards the end of the summer, I decided to take a break. In the past, if I haven't crafted in a while (like 2 or 3 days) it was like I went crazy! But this long break for me has been great! I hate to admit it, but I have really enjoyed not crafting. I was able to really focus on my kids being home from school, and spend time with them and ENJOY them....especially Kellan!

Well, I'm back now, I don't know that I'm going to be as intense as I was before, but we'll just have to see how things go. I started up card class again this month, and I'm really excited about that. I'm also working on a card for a Moxie Fab Challenge......so check back!

Lastly, thank you to all of you who stop by and visit this blog....I originally started it just for me, to document my crafting, so I'm trying to get back to that.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

3 comments:

Karen B. said...

Amen! I think you've said everything that I've needed to say for a while. Good luck on your new outlook.

Kelley Eubanks said...

Hey girl... You know from reading my blog that I have gone back and forth and back and forth with blogging/blog hopping, etc. Now... I just try to really focus on what I want to do and do it when I want to do it. I struggled with 'keeping up' and it wasn't enjoyable! Sometimes it still isn't but I don't want to give it up all together. Still working to find the happy medium... good for you for doing the same! :)

artfuldelight said...

We are super glad to have you back but I completely agree, FAMILY comes first. I read all too often ladies stressing on hitting one deadline or another and crafting should not be so stressful. For me it's a hobby and I don't ever want it to take over my daily life with my family. Do I feel bad when I don't have a post, yeah, mostly because I feel people won't keep stopping by if I don't. But I think you have made a fabulous decision. I am however happy to see you posting again though. I may not comment all the time but I certainly check your blog daily. Hope your kids are doing well!