The Christoffersen's: Creative Escape

I love the process of creating. I cannot paint a picture, draw, or sculpt, but give me some paper, pictures, and glue, and I'm in heaven! I can get lost for hours scrapbooking, and yet, it is so hard to make it a priority in my everyday life. That's why I was grateful for another chance to attend Heidi Swapp's Creative Escape in Chandler, AZ a couple of weekends ago. It isn't a "scrapbook convention" but it isn't just a little "crop" either! (That's scrapbook talk, sorry) It was an opportunity to be instructed by some of the best teachers, designers, and artists in the paper crafting industry. We left with about 10 different projects in just 2 1/2 days. But it wasn't just about scrapbooking or how many project we could make. It was about allowing yourself to be inspired by simple things such as a tea bag or your son's face. It was about learning as many different techniques as possible to have for the future of creating. Something that stuck with me was a message given by Heidi Swapp when she said scrapbooking isn't just a craft, we are creating ways to remember or past, our family, our thoughts, and our dreams. I could just write about the time this past weekend that Wyatt picked me sunflowers and how it made me feel, OR I could scrapbook a page with the pictures of my sweet little boy, sunflowers in hand, and then record my feelings. I guess it all appeals to me because I am a very visual person. Images can have an emotional connection for me.

Needless-to-say, it was a wonderful weekend. I went with good friends, became closer with new friends, and had a weekend just for me. Below are some great pictures, taken by Ginger, because my pictures suck! She's got more pictures on her blog, check them out. Also below are links to some of the designers. Take a peek at them and expand your creative horizons!

Anjuli, Ginger, HEIDI SWAPP, Heidi, and Me!

Heidi Swapp is a awesome, sincere woman who genuinely wants to meet you and talk with you. For 2 years now, we've waited until the whole shin dig was over and then would visit with her. She talks to you like you are an old friend. She's a great lady!

The lamp Heidi designed to auction off for the Lymphoma Foundation went for $8,000!

This is designer Heather Bailey, her project was my favorite. Heather has a little old Hollywood glam, rockabilly style to her. And she's also super nice. She has these amazing hair accessories called "Trash Ties" which I am fascinated with since I have long hair for once in my life. Here she is taking time away from her adorable family just to show us how to use them!

"Mr. Bazzil" owns Bazzil Paper and is partners with Heidi in putting on Creative Escape. He's a sweetheart!

Some of these crafters a little nuts! You would think the norm would be stay-at-home moms from Provo, UT, but that is not the case. They are pear-shaped ladies from Georgia. The color theme for this year was pink, green and that's right, zebra. Frightening, isn't it? There was a lot of this going around. Us "normal" girls had to quickly find each other and cling on to avoid being body-snatched and turned into pear-shaped zebra ladies ourselves. Message of the day, crafting all day and no exercise is NOT a good combination.

Anjuli and Ginger after a long 2nd day of crafting! Only one more class to go!

What project shall me make next?

Yes, Byron, I was Facebooking, again!

Hiedi and I coveting our new zebra camera bags. ($80 here in town, got mine for $46! Neaner neaner neaner!)

This is Tim Holtz, if you do any type of paper crafting and you don't know who he is, you are living in the dark ages and its time to wake up. He's huge. His projects are messy, different, and just cool. What's sooo funny is that because he is the only guy designer, pretty much anywhere, dealing with paper crafts and scrapbooking, the pear-shaped ladies throw themselves at him. They could lick him like a lollipop, but the thing is, woman are clearly not his attraction, catch my drift? He's more flaming than a campfire! But those old ladies love him! Tim also designed a lamp for the Lymphoma Foundation. Last year a shirt he designed for the same cause was auctioned off for $12,000. That's right. He stood there, dumbfounded. This year, he was just plain brought to tears when his lamp went for , are you ready?....$29,000! Some lamp, huh!

I was going to post my TERRIBLE video of the action, but thank heavens for YouTube. Here's a much better video.