You are probably wondering if I will ever be back to my normal blogging/creating self by now. Six weeks ago I had a completely different plan. Most of the time my well laid plans do not go as planned. This time it definitely didn't. I chuckle about this a lot lately. It's very therapeautic most days.
Over the past week I've sat quietly and reflected on a few of my decisions and in my heart I know they've been the right ones. Don't get me wrong, many days I think the opposite.
I always kick myself for making DUMB decisons. However, I will give myself a little pat on the back for a few of them I've made recently or over the last 6 weeks.
The first decision was not going to Founder's Circle, a free incentive trip for the Top 100 demonstrators in Stampin' Up!. It's always an amazing trip with amazing women. I knew in the beginning the dates would be hard to meet with this move.
I did think we would be in the house much sooner but man I'm thankful now I made the decision not to go. I would have left Russ and the kids in a disaster.
Umm.. actually the house is still a disaster.
I loved seeing pictures this week of everyone having a great time and happy faces as they celebrated. Quietly I had my own celebration and it wasn't about being in the Top 100 or missing the trip. I celebrated happiness of being where I am today with my family. I celebrated the process we are going through although PAINFUL at times.
We are exactly where we've wanted to be even if it's chaos.
This past week of unpacking has been challenging to say the least. I've finished most rooms except for my studio. I like to say I saved the best for last but once I started unpacking it I found myself so overwhelmed that all I could do was walk in circles. By mid day Friday I was almost to the point of tears.
Why? Why so overwhelmed?
Let me paint a picture for you…. Close your eyes…. Oh sugar biscuits… you can't do that. You are reading this!
Okay…. imagine this…
Take your entire paper crafting room and pack it in a few hours. Even those of you that have been paper crafters for 10+ years. My packing lady who packed my studio in Virginia did it in just a couple of hours. Not lying and we are NO longer friends! When you open boxes it appears she just started "shoving" things into the boxes whether it fit or not. The boxes are jammed pack. If you had any organization to your studio, you do not anymore.
Now turn the box upside down.
Now start opening them and go for it. Re-build the studio.
Cry? Yes, I cried. I felt much better. I made myself feel even MORE better (I know, terrible english) when I dropped everything, grabbed my swim suit, beach chair and head phones and headed out the door. 15 minutes later I was sitting on a white sandy beach. I didn't feel sorry for myself anymore and started re-thinking the process of re-building my studio again. Yes, once again I made the right decision. The packing lady and I will no longer be friends but I have the right frame of mind to continue on.
Making the right decision has not been easy lately, especially when it comes to business. In my heart I know I'm doing the right thing and each day I become more determined to get this place unpacked so my family and I can get back to the chaotic normal.
The really good news is I've found my paper, ink and stamps. However they are surrounded with TONS of boxes. I don't know about you but I am OCD when it comes to organization. If I am not organized I cannot create. PERIOD!! Any other organization freaks like me?
The really really good news is the only place I am organized is on my computer.
Today Heather and I have a new challenge for the Simply My Digital Studio Challenge and it's perfect on my topic of organization.
This week we challenge you to create a layout using ONE digital kit. This forces you to find your Digital Kits and open each of the elements (DSP, Stamps, Embellishments & Punches) to see what is in the kit.
One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is how to be better organized with downloads that you have purchased. The great news with My Digital Studio is having all your downloads in your program, but how do you find them?
When I purchase any digital kits I immediatly open the kit and go through each of the elements to see all of the images. This way I can see everything I can create with. I love using one digital kit for creating becasue I feel like I am getting my money's worth for the purchase.
The layout above uses the Outdoor Exploration kit. I started with a background color and then built the layout using the DSP from the kit.
Next I open the embellishments and stamps within the kit. By doing this I know the digital art will match perfectly as each piece will coordinate. This makes creating with MDS a breeze.
Are you up for the challenge this week?
Click HERE to join our Facebook Group and join in the fun. Be inspired and inspire others with your digital creativity.
Make sure to check out Heather's layout using one Digital kit and be INSPIRED.
What's next? Stay tuned… believe it or not I only have a *few* boxes left to open. Now it's time to organize. I have a crafty goal of making something pretty before the end of the week. I love a challenge and this is going to be a good one.
XOXOXO
10 thoughts on “Making the Right Decision…”
Oh, those packing people. They are THEEE worst! Our last move the packers damaged a portion of our home library by packing the books improperly. I regard books like personal friends, so it just made me so upset to see all these books mistreated (and at 60 boxes of books–what can I say, we are both academics!–it was a LOT of books!!)
Glad you are getting yourself sorted. Getting everything put away is just the best feeling. I've moved a lot (20 times in my life), so I feel your pain!!
I will be kissing the ground when you get back to stamping & mds
When we moved to Florida, I told my husband this was the last time I was moving and we've only moved 5 times in our married life. I bow to your resilience in popping back up and getting on with it. There is nothing like sitting on the beach to make everything else recede into the background!! I'm looking forward to seeing your creations whenever you get there.
You're almost there! Look back and realize how much you've accomplished in such a short period of time. Best of luck organizing your studio.
AW Kimberly, you are very much missed 🙂 Give yourself A LOT of credit girl, don't forget, you had to paint too. Unpacking takes time. That lady that packed for you had no regard for your stuff to just throw things in boxes. I mean, wouldn't you rather have had 50 boxes packed nice and neat, then 25 all thrown together? I am a neat freak and that would have sent me off the edge. LOL You will get there, one box at a time. 🙂 Do a little, walk away, come back after you've had a drink. LOL
Wow, very impressive and so agree with your choices! You have to nest your entire home and make it all as it always is! Sooo sorry about the mess that your packing lady created for you. Good for you to getaway from the house for awhile to relax and leave the craziness behind you. and be refreshed when you returned. Looking forward to you getting settled again and see what you will create. Welcome back to your normal craziness and so glad that you have your family all around you to keep you sane and balanced with their love and support!
Your story makes me laugh even if it made you cry.
Good luck with unpacking!
Eveline.
Moving is one of the most stressful things we can do in life. Glad you found your big girl panties to help you make some tough decisions. And, MDS to the creative rescue! I love it and your inspiration. Hope your week is going well.
Can relate to all you're going through, having been a military wife and moved 6 times in 4 yrs.. many, many years ago.. Now I dread the thought of moving!! But, time to clean out, purge, and go on.. Love reading all your posts.. keep it up…wonderful journaling!!!
I cannot imagine going from an established studio we have seen in your videos to building a new one from scratch and with boxes you didn't get to pack yourself. But I cannot wait to see the finished project since I faith that you create amazing things! I think that you are very inspiring and you have single-handedly made me fall in love with MDS and start sharing that love with all my customers. So thank you for what you have managed to do in the last few months even if you were going through a lot of transition.
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