It seems like ages since I began blogging at The Stampin’ Schach.  Even though I was still teaching, I had time to create several cards a week.  Now to be sure…I have evolved in my role as a cardmaker.

In the beginning, photos were taken on the kitchen counter, and I had no idea what a light tent did.  My supplies were very, very limited.  I didn’t even have ribbon.  Yet, I was happy and proud of what I created. My mother loved birds and flowers, and although she had passed many years ago, she was in my thoughts as I stamped the above card.  I am not sure what happened to it.  Maybe I gave it away, or maybe it is tucked away in a box someplace, a souvenir of my very first challenge card.

I lost myself in the sheer joy of creating.  I found the time-made the time-to stamp, with Missy the Boxer curled up contentedly at my feet.  A week never passed that I didn’t create.  My goal-my mission-was to simply become someone who could make a good card.

From clean and simple one layer cards to…

simple and distressed.

From undersea confections…
to confections of a different kind, I created.  I worked hard. I paid attention to details…and yes, I added tons of pearls.

I think I bought just about every designer paper, embellishment and ribbon Stampin’ Up! sold in my quest to create what I felt were the best cards possible.  But things began to change.  Instead of being a fun hobby, stamping became the “be all-end all”.   It became a job.  My creative life began to smother my family life.

Countless evenings have been spent meeting design team deadlines instead of meeting friends.  I have promised walks to faithful canines which were never taken.  Conversations have been left unspoken. At a time when I should be happy with my husband’s retirement, there was no time to do the things we always said we would do…things which, at our ages, should not be placed on the back burner.  There was no time.  I realized that not having the time to do these things had made me incredibly unhappy.  Others had seen it, but it took me until today to realize that  somewhere along the way, I had lost my Joy.

This morning I took a huge step in finding my Joy again.  Steps that were painful, and saddened me, but which were necessary.  I stepped down from both The Paper Players and Pals Paper Arts Design Team.  The designers at The Paper Players are like sisters to me, and I love them dearly. If and when the time ever occurs, they will welcome me back to the fold with open arms.  As for Pals Paper Arts, I have been a part of this team since day 1.  In many ways, it is as if I have lost a piece of my heart…

But through the pain, I know I did the right thing. This evening I took the puppies out for a much needed walk.  I called my son and my friend Gena.  Kim and I were able to pick out fall flowers to plant.  We went out for a Dairy Queen, which I definitely did not need.  And not once did I say, “I’m sorry…I have a card due tomorrow and a blog post to write.”

Things will be changing on the blog, but in a good way.  I am getting back to my roots…stamping simply for the sheer delight of expressing my creativity.  Entering challenges when I have the time.  Giving freely of my expertise.  I don’t know when my next post will be, other than my final Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop goes live Sunday night.  But know that I will be keeping you in my thoughts.  Until next time…