What is your artistic vision? The way you see the world is completely different than everyone else. And how incredible is that? As creative individuals, we have this great capacity to grow and heal through our art. This podcast celebrates the triumphs we as artists create, and I cannot think of a better person to celebrate with than today’s guest.

Tracey Clark is a photographer, first and foremost, but in reality, she is so much more than that! Tracey is an author, teacher, speaker, and founder of Shutter Sisters. I first learned about Tracey through her classes, but then soon discovered Shutter Sisters and was immediately on board with all that she does. Tracey lives and breathes the small moments of her life that she captures in so many fun ways. Whether you are a mom, a creative, or someone looking to add a little love to their life, you have a lot to learn from Tracey!

Tracey is all about creating safe spaces through her classes and with Shutter Sisters so that artists feel encouraged and empowered to share their vision. She challenges the idea that some people are not creative. Creative expression is more than photography and paintings. Listen today to hear us chat about what energizes Tracey, from her projects, her life’s story, and how photography is changing lives.

More in this episode:

• All about Tracey’s diverse interests that go beyond photography.
• Hear about Tracey’s teaching history and philosophy.
• Tracey loves to share with people how to see the world a little differently.
• Photography is accessible to everyone.
• Phones or DSLR? Tracey makes a case for both!
• Learning the artists skills are essential for boosting photography.
• Every artist has their own vision and perspective.
• Comparison is the worst killer of creativity.
• Shutter Sisters was a way for artists to share photography free from comparison.
• The work we make to please ourselves are some of the best expression of our artistic vision.
• Tracey’s dad had a camera around, so that meant she had so many family moments captured and saved.
• Motherhood and photography can go hand in hand.
• Hindsight is important for Tracey’s work.
• Join in the community events to push creativity.
• An exciting announcement is coming in 2018.

Links:

http://traceyclark.com/

Instagram @ShutterSisters

Today I am excited to bring to you a pioneer of online craft courses, and one of my personal scrapbooking and storytelling heroes. Stacy Julian is with me today, and we had ourselves a grand old time chatting about creativity, the boom of the online crafting community, and the kinds of projects that light a fire within us. If it were not for Stacy’s influence, this podcast might never have existed! She is one of my personal creative inspirations, and with that, I am delighted to introduce her to all of you.

When I think of Stacy, I think of color. Color and emotion are tied up together for Stacy, and that heart and vibrancy is present throughout everything she creates. Stacy is a published author, blogger, and presenter. Her passion for preserving family stories and histories has led her to develop systems for scrapbooking and organizing photos that have revolutionized the craft for so many.

Listen to this week’s episode to find out all about what Stacy has been up to lately, her new storytelling product launch, and the classes she will be teaching in the near future. I know you will enjoy her childhood stories that she has preserved so well. I hope it inspires you to follow your curiosity and learn a story or two of your own!

More in this episode:

• Hear all about Stacy’s journey from scrapbooking to an online creative.
• How Stacy became the founding editor of a magazine, the author of a book, and then the creator of an site that blew up overnight,
• Our shared love of Family History.
• Social Media can preserve some of your family history.
• Stacy grew up filled with opportunity for imagination.
• Stacy is synonymous with color.
• How Stacy’s books can help you expand your stories through scrapbooks and albums.
• The most important guiding principles of connection.
• The best stories from Stacy’s family history.
• How Stacy learned to write and edit on the job.

Links:

Find Stacy Online! 

http://www.stacyjulian.com/

Instagram

@StacyJulian

@StoryByStacy

Creativity rarely happens on an island by yourself. The crafting community is filled to bursting with strength, support, and heart, which is just what we need to celebrate during a season of gratitude. My guest today is Eileen Hall, and she has certainly discovered all of those things and more. Eileen is a Paper Trail traveling adventurer who crafts her way across the country. Through her digital media, Eileen also teaches and shares her inspiration with followers from all over the world. What makes Eileen’s teaching even better is that she considers her “followers” her friends. She has learned how to lean into the crafting community, and as a result, she has created wonderful work that inspires so many.

Eileen isn’t just rambling about in her vintage trailer, Scotty; she is also creating die products for Sizzyx. Each die is designed and crafted with a team Eileen loves working with. These dies came about as a brilliant solution to a real crafting puzzle. Using both creativity and critical thinking, Eileen is determined to give you creative solutions to all of your problems.

I am so thankful to have been able to sit down and chat with Eileen today. Our conversation is filled with so much heart and compassion. If you are in need of a little pick-me-up, give this episode a listen, and make sure to check out all the ways you can be a part of Eileen’s creative community.

More in this episode:

• Eileen shares all about the products she creates for crafters and artists like me.
• What exactly is a design team? How did it turn into a fan club?
• Scotty the Vintage trailer is full of adventures!
• How Eileen uses Facebook Live to connect with everyone on all her adventures.
• The other craft adventures that Eileen teaches to others.
• From health care to crafting! Eileen shares how crafting became such a huge part of her life.
• How Eileen got involved creating dies.
• Share designs, even though the sad truth is that people steal.
• Eileen is motivated by deadlines, but she is rarely short on ideas.
• Crafters are kindred spirits.
• How to get your hands on Eileen’s designs.
• Last little thoughts on creativity.
• The beauty of community with Facebook Live.

Resources:

http://www.eileenhull.com/

Eileen Hull Designs on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eileenhulldesigns/

Do you have some kind creative outlet that you use, in order to express what's going on with you, and in your life? Did you know that creating art is really good for you, both emotionally and mentally? Today we are really excited to have Janaina Oliviera, of With2Worlds.Org as our guest on the show. Janaina uses Digital Art to tell her stories and she also teaches these skills online. She loves to share these skills with others because she really believes in using an artistic expression of our ideas, for maintaining good mental health, so listen in now, to find out more about Janaina and her creative approach to life.

Brazilian born Janaina, who started out, back in the day, as a Card Maker, is a Digital Scrapbooker and a Storyteller. She views herself as a Digital Artist because she's fascinated with all kinds of Digital Art and she really makes every effort to communicate and teach people some of the skills that she uses, in order to tell her stories. She has her blog, she has the classes that she teaches, where she shares her unique style of art and now she also writes a column for Scrapreneur.Com, about Digital Art. Listen in today, as Janaina speaks about the creativity in her life and she reflects on the topic of A Creative Approach. 

Show highlights:

• The Design work that Janaina does for others.
• Janaina's favorite Apps.
• You can download a PDF list, with a guide to all the apps that Janaina uses and what they do.
• Janaina has a Facebook Group called 2wards Digital Education. She goes live on Thursdays, so sign up!
• Janaina has a document, posted in her Facebook Group, about the apps that are for Androids, and the ones that are for iPhones.
• What 'artsy' means to Janaina.
• The therapeutic value of creating art mindfully.
• Janaina's recently completed studies, where she combined her creativity in art with her approach to solving problems.
• The reason behind the particular route that Janaina has taken, with her schooling.
• How Janaina got started with her Scrapbooking.
• Janaina's early life and how she got onto that path that she's on, currently.
• What it really takes, to become an artist and create great art.
• The importance of learning to use the things that you learn.
• Being fearless and having the courage to put your own twist on things, regardless of what others may think.
• Why Janaina really loves the work of Byron Katie.
• Some questions you could ask yourself, to discover your hidden creativity.
• How Janaina uses regular pictures of her life, to create her art.
• The different looks that Janaina creates, using different Digital Products.
• Why Janaina stopped doing Paper Scrapbooking.
• There is really something for everyone, in Digital Art.
• Hidden Journalling, with Digital.

Links:

For Janaina's Online Column, go to: www.scrapreneur.com

You can also find Janaina at www.getitscrapped.com or www.debbiehodge.com

For Janaina's blog (and also to find her PDF list of apps), go to www.with2worlds.org 

Today we are having a very first musician on the show! He is the delightful Canadian musician Forrest Eaglespeaker, founder of the band The North Sound and today he will be telling us about his storytelling, his music and the poetry of his lyrics, so listen in to find out more about Forrest and the wonderful music that he plays.

Forrest has been playing the guitar and singing in his band, The North Sound, for the last two and a half years.  In January of this year, they released their debut album, The Valley and one of the songs from that album, Sunshine, became a number one hit on the Indigenous Music charts in Canada. Since then, things have been going well and they have released another EP, titled SKAB. With those two albums out in the Universe, they're hanging out to see what comes next. Listen in to find out more!

Show highlights:

• Forrest talks about Earthsongs, an American Indigenous Music station based in Alaska and L.A., who ran a feature on Forrest's band.
• The current, modern, underground scene, with a vast amount musicians who happen to be indigenous, making tons of amazing music.
• The struggle for underground, indigenous musicians to get their music to reach the forefront.
• The goal of the Indigenous Music stations.
• Why it's so difficult for Forrest to characterize his really melodic, alternative, music.
• The biggest part of the music for Forrest- the storytelling.
• Where The North Sound is at right now.
• The really great group of musicians that Forrest has been playing with, in Calgary, over the last two years.
• How Forrest started out with his music.
• The influence of Forrest's indigenous identity on his music.
• The difficulties that Forrest used to experience, around his cultural identity.
• The influence of Hip Hop on Forrest and his music.
• What creativity means to Forrest.
• Forrest's creative vision for the future.

Links:

Forrest's website: www.thenrthsnd.com

Forrest on Instagram: thenrthsnd

You can also find Forrest's music on Bandcamp, Spotify and iTunes

What does it take to run a successful creative business? Crafters and Artists have a unique set of challenges to face once we decide to turn our hobbies and passions into something profitable. Of course, there’s the dreaded Imposter Syndrome. For some, it might be a challenge to monetize their creativity. Marketing to reach an audience can also be a struggle for many. It looks like we might need a Creative Approach to solving some common business problems. I cannot think of anyone more creative than Jennifer Priest, my guest today.

Jennifer’s love of the arts started with scrapbooking but has since bloomed into a love of all crafts. She’s been doing online business for many years, but she started out as a teacher. Jennifer never thought she’d quit her 9-5 job and pursue her creative passions as a career, but when she was let go, that decision was made for her. She hasn’t turned back since! Now, Jennifer helps other creative business owners and entrepreneurs strategize their efforts and reach their audiences through social media. Jennifer is going to share with us today how you can utilize online tools like Live Video to promote your business and put some of those fears at ease. You will leave this conversation ready to step out and take action!

Show Highlights:

• Jennifer shares how she has collected crafts over the years.
• Translating creative approaches into an industry like marketing.
• Problems many people have in promoting creativity.
• Jennifer shares her upcoming teaching course #Pro.
• Coming from a creative family influenced Jennifer’s pursuit of a creative career.
• Being fired allowed Jennifer to have a Creative Entrepreneurial career.
• Efficiency and organization on your best friends.
• Learn the #1 Way to Be Organized.
• The huge social benefits of joining into the crafting community.
• Jennifer loves private coaching and consulting!
• Our suggestions for Social Media Role Models.
• Going Live is easy and profitable.

Resources:

Check out Jennifer at all of her Online Homes!

https://www.smartcreativesocial.com/

https://www.smartfundiy.com/

Register for the Hashtag Pro course!

One of the best things about art and design is its playfulness. Have you ever stopped to see your latest project as a playground? Maybe you are like so many of us and you caught up in chronological order, the perfect edges, and the ideal composition? Take a breath, take a step back, and let my guest Anna Aspnes show you a thing or two about how to have fun with your work.

Anna is a self-proclaimed creator of Digital Artistry, a style that blends traditional paper craft and scrapbooking elements with the unlimited potential of digital art. Anna is passionate about capturing memories through storytelling with a point of view entirely her own. As an Army Wife always on the move and living so far away from her native England, Anna started using Digital Artistry as a way to capture memories her growing family. Over time, she developed templates and teaching modules to help you bring her flavor of Digital Artistry into your favorite stories. With just a little knowledge of Photoshop, Anna can help you take personal memories into a playful space where you can express yourself. I am excited to bring to you today her design process and emphasis on genuine creative passion. Allow yourself some Artplay today!

Show Highlights:

• Anna shares her design process with me.
• How Anna’s Digital Artistry has transformed over time.
• Teaching others how to master the concepts of Digital Artistry, including Photoshop.
• Anna is an advocate for Artplay; no perfectionism here.
• A bit of photography advice.
• The unsung power of capturing memories in a scrapbook.
• Fighting the sense of obligation by choosing projects that bring you joy.
• How Anna’s Military upbringing and marriage shaped her career in artistry.

Anna's Bio:

Anna Aspnes creates DigitalART for people who want to create dynamic and effortless art.

Her passion is to help you commemorate and honor your life by helping you to flex your creative muscles in a way that is both unique and truly exhilarating.

Before she could walk, Anna spent endless hours at a coffee table intent on creating magic with a crayon in hand. Today, she shares this same magic at a different table by creating sophisticated contemporary DigitalART designed to be used by creatives and non-creatives alike.

Anna Aspnes offers digital art elements, mentorship, and education support through more than a decade of experience in modern memory keeping and DigitalART creation. As a pioneer in this industry, she breaks the rules and provides a unique approach to story-telling.

Anna is British native living in Colorado with her husband, 2 children, and dogs, enjoying the outdoors whenever possible.

Resources:

A Creative Approach Podcast on Facebook:

Anna’s Website

https://www.annaaspnesdesigns.com/

Find Anna’s designs at Oscraps

https://www.oscraps.com/shop/home.php

Thanks to our Patreon Members for their support of the show!

Public health is a topic many of us aren’t sufficiently informed on, and should be. We aren’t aware of the work that’s going on behind the scenes, or the benefits we’re missing out on due to the lack of attentiveness to the world around us. Dr. Mary Guinan has written a book on the subject, traveled the world for vaccination work, and helped women recover rights that should be basic human rights. Tune into this episode of a Creative Approach podcast, with your host, Karen Poirier-Brode, in order to become more informed on women’s vigor and public health. 

Show Highlights:

• Writing a book about public health 
• Informing people on public health 
• Becoming a part of the worldwide small-pox organization 
• Women physicians being banned from going to India 
• Vaccinating children 
• Women being traditional healers, but not being as widely accepted 
• Traveling to different villages to vaccinate people from disease 
• Traveling by elephant 
• Studying herpes 
• Being recruited back to CDC 
• Treating and researching women’s STD’s 
• Studying experimental factors of AIDS in San Francisco 
• America’s STD epidemic 
• Taking a moral stance 
• Having an actress portray a part after Mary 
• Difficulties for gay men when STD info was released 
• The need for keeping people updated 
• Founding a school for public health 
• Women being in charge of their own health 
• Ways to prevent abortion 
• Preventing unplanned pregnancy 
• Influences that pushed Mary into her profession 
• The difficulties of finding a career as a woman 
• Equality advancing for women 
• Creative advice 
• Women getting the equality and access they deserve 

Resources: 

Adventures of a female Medical Detective  by Mary Guinan

Many of us are oblivious to the underlying history and culture in everything. We fail to notice the details and technicalities within our everyday life. In a “Creative Approach Podcast”, we will explore the anthropology of many different cultures and how it correlates with us today. Professor William Doonan is a professor at Sacramento City College, Archaeologist, Cruise line speaker, and published novelist. Over his travels and personal explorations, he has acquired immense knowledge on subjects involving civilization and cultural awareness, which he uses as inspiration for his own novels and others. Tune into this episode, with your host Karen Poirier-Brode, in order to be enlightened on the culture around you.

 Show highlights:

• The inspiration drawn from daily life in order to create novels
• Meeting fascinating people on cruise ships
• Traveling to Costa Rica to work as an archeologist
• Where Professor Doonan grew up and got to where he is today
• Exploring different aspects of archaeology
• Studying Mayan archeology and writing a book on it
• Irish language revitalization and helping people learn the native language
• Genealogy
• The melting pot of cultures
• Getting involved in cruise ships
• Teaching forensic anthropology and understanding culture
• Learning to determine different aspects of people in the past and learning to respect all the individual people
• Finding culture and diversity from people around you
• The gravitational pull towards the topics Professor Doonans books are about
• How cruise ships regulate and manage security
• Anthropology being incorporated into literature
• The meaning of creativity and developing others ideas
• Broadening culture awareness and being confident
• Selective listening

Links:

http://www.williamdoonan.com

Grave Passage

Do you believe that travel makes your life richer and inspires your creativity? Well, I certainly do and today, I'm going to tell my travel story. I think that if you take every opportunity to explore as far and as often as your time and money allow, you will truly improve your life. Please visit the Facebook page of A Creative Approach Podcast and the Patreon page on the Podcast website, www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com to access the photos. Listen in now, to hear the first part of my story.

Show highlights:

• My trip started in San Francisco, with a talk by Neil deGrasse Tyson, the host of Star Talk Radio, at the elegant Davies Symphony Hall, where he spoke about his latest book, Astro Physics For People In A Hurry. Science really can be a lot of fun!
• We spent a night at the legendary Mark Hopkins Hotel, at the top of Nob Hill. The charming little touches of old time elegance are so unlike the stark finishes of contemporary hotels.
• Off to Chinatown to explore and have lunch the next day. It's always so bustling and colorful!
• After an overnight flight with United, we landed in London and took an Uber to The Houston Hilton, which is just across from the British Medical Association and the Greek Revival style St Pancras Church. The excursion began with London in mind, because of the celebration of the centenary of The Medical Women's Federation of England. As a member of the Medical Women International Association, I wanted to celebrate with my physician sisterhood.
• The first event of the conference that I attended, was a reception at an office building that incorporates the former Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital. The historic sites of the Royal College of Medicine and The Royal College of Surgeons also served as meeting venues. Go to karenscorneroftheweb.blogspot.com to see the photos of these buildings.
• The Hunterian Museum, at the Royal College of Surgeons, features collections of anatomical and pathological specimens of humans and animals, as well as models, instruments, and art of surgery, from the 1800's to the present.
• We attended an evening of lectures at the Royal College Of Medicine, where Princess Anne was a speaker and she discussed her work with Save The Children.
• The female guests at the conference were invited by Baronness Von ???, a physician and peer in government, to attend a banquet at The House Of Lords for a celebration of the Medical Women's Federation's Centennial. Princess Sophie, the Duchess of Gloucester attended the dinner, as she is Patroness of the Medical Women's Federation.
• The London Eye is opposite The House Of Lords.
• The Medical Women's Federation arranged a private boat tour, for the attendees to travel from London to Greenwich, on the Thames.
• It was a delight for us to stop at the historic Trafalgar Tavern.
• I was treated to The London Eye, for Mother's Day. It's a tourist attraction that I unequivocally recommend!
• We became acquainted with the National Health Service, due to a minor health emergency.
• Cal became curious about a bar, which was in a yarn shop, so the proprietress informed him, of course, there was a wide selection of beverages, as many ladies came to her boutique for knitting groups!

We dined at La Barca, an Italian Restaurant which became our favorite restaurant of our entire vacation.

Are you someone who really likes to tell stories? Are you analytical and would you like to leave a legacy and your history behind one day? If so, you're going to love today's show, with Debbie Hodge. Debbie is a really steadfast pal to Karen and she's also Karen's boss in her Scrapbook work.  Karen contributes to Debbie's site, Get It Scrapped, although she actually reports there to her assistant and team mate, Amy Kingsford. The focus of Get It Scrapped is on teaching both Layout Design and Storytelling on the Scrapbook Page, which is done either visually, or with words.  Listen in to find out more about Debbie and the really inspiring work that she does.

Karen is really excited to have Debbie on the show today, as they really go back quite a way. She's fun to tease, laughs often and really values her family. Her scrapbook pages really are a true reflection of her life as a wife, mother, daughter and extended family member.  She is also a superlative teacher, with a real ability to analyze and summarize a topic and then present it in such a way that it really switches all your lights on! Debbie leads a number of people to successful online teaching, through her other online class site, Teach What You Do. Listen in now, as we share Debbie Hodge and her creative approach. 

Show highlights:

• Debbie gives a rundown on the things that she's doing right now and what's happening with Getting It Scrapped.
• What you will find on Debbie's Get It Scrapped Face book Group, which was set up at the end of last year.
• Debbie's free Webinars, of crops, where you can Scrapbook at home and either share it or just watch people Scrapbooking online. A great way to get to know people!
• How do you find your tribe? Debbie ends up hanging around with the people who come to her crops.
• Debbie discusses the things that are taught on her online class site, Teach What You Do.
• What prompted Debbie to create Teach What You Do.com.
• Debbie's collaboration with Amy Kingsford, which has really been good for her in many ways.
• How Chat Box has really helped Debbie with what she does. She's always trying the newest marketing techniques at Get It Scrapped and then teaching them at Teach What You Do.
• Debbie chats about her Podcasts, which you can find at getitscrapped.com. She really loves storytelling and wanted to do something different.
• Debbie, who has an M.B.A. talks about her background in writing and tech.
• Debbie explains where she comes from, with her really creative Mom, and how she came to be where she finds herself today, with Scrapbooking and Online Teaching.
• Debbie's current passion- teaching people how to teach artistic and creative processes.
• Debbie shares her thoughts about creativity.
• Debbie really encourages you to create something and find a community to share what you've made.

Links:

Debbie's websites: www.debbiehodge.com

Karen's website: www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com

What is your creativity quotient in YOUR chosen career? Have you ever thought about it? Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that only certain careers allow for creativity, but, in reality, there is room for a creative approach almost everywhere! My guest today shares how she finds creativity in her work as a physician, and how women through generations have been creative in their endeavors to make a difference in the field of medicine.

Dr. Eliza Chin is a past president and current Executive Director of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA). I’ve known her for several years and have been privileged to work on projects with her. She is an active physician, author, and leader with many skills and ideas. Her interests include mentoring young women in medicine, geriatric medicine, women’s health, medical humanities, women’s leadership, and the history of women in medicine. Join me to learn more about Eliza’s creative approach!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How Eliza began her work with AMWA as she wrote her first book
• The challenges of balancing motherhood and being a physician
• Her dream: to collect and publish stories of women in medicine
• How the different divisions of AMWA help young women in the medical field
• Eliza’s current practice and her work in different medical fields in her career
• Initiatives and the mission of AMWA, covering the spectrum of women’s health and sex/gender issues
• The recent focus of AMWA on arts and humanities
• Coming soon to AMWA: a literary focus on written works by women in medicine and the launch of a Music in Medicine division
• The creative influences on Eliza’s life
• One of Eliza’s current projects: an exhibition of women physicians in WWI
• How AMWA grants support medical clinics around the world
• Why AMWA is still going strong after 102 years!
• Why Eliza and her twin sister both became physicians
• The important connection between medicine and creativity: it’s all about relationships!

Resources:

www.amwa-doc.org

This Side of Doctoring: Reflections from Women in Medicine by Eliza Chin

Has anyone ever tried to limit your creativity? Have you been criticized for "jumping from one thing to another"? My guest today is proof that varied interests and endeavors can enrich and enhance your innate creativity. Don't be afraid to let your creative efforts flow in different directions!

Margot Potter is three notches too loud, five notches too sparkly, and is aging disgracefully. She’s either a Renaissance woman or a “Jill of All Trades,” depending on which day you ask her. She’s a woman of diverse interests and talents who is a jewelry-maker and designer, author, actor, singer and has entertained in bands, in theater, and on television. Her colorful personality goes far beyond her bright pink hair! It’s always a delight to speak with Margot and hear her lively, intelligent, and occasionally provocative opinions. Join me to hear more about Margot and her creative life!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Margot’s background in theater, her acting and musical career, and her time at QVC
• Margot’s books about jewelry-making and design, branding, and her upcoming book about life after 50
• Margot’s life outside of crafting and her weekly live Facebook event, The Lady Party
• The influences in Margot’s life: “finding joy in creativity”
• How everything around us is connected to art and music
• How nurturing teachers helped develop Margot’s creativity
• How reading everything as a kid led to endless interest and endless inspiration
• Find your spark and go with it!
• How a new direction for Margot unlocked what was already there
• Margot’s guiding force and mission: to arm people with the best products and techniques for discovering their own creativity

Resources:

www.margotpotter.com

www.cocktailscupcakescrafts.com

www.theimpatientcrafter.com

www.icanmakestampedmetaljewelry.com

Find Margot on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter: Margot Potter

Find Margot on Snapchat: the margot potter

Find Margot Potter’s books on Amazon 

Art, in whatever form it may take, is all about telling a story. What story do you have to share? What are the passions and interests that make you who you are? How can you share your own personal point of view with the rest of the world? Christy Stickler might know a thing or two about that.

Christy is a homeschooling mom who used to Co-Host the Digi-Scrap Geek Podcast. These days, she lends her considerable talent to so many fabulous online scrapbooking and art journaling resources. From designing page layouts at Get It Scrapped to showing off her own skills at her blog, Christy hopes to inspire and teach others to use the elements of design to tell beautiful stories. This week, Christy shares her personal story, full of so many unexpected and wonderful hidden gems of personality and inspiration.

Also in this episode:

• Fond memories about the Digi-Scrap Geek podcast
• Christy shares her current projects and passions beyond scrapbooking.
• Digging into the ins and outs of Getting It Scrapped!
• Simple Scrapper- learning how to tell a story on the page.
• Learning how to balance life and art.
• Fight creative burnout.
• Becoming an ex-pat, and how that lifestyle changes your perspective.
• Christy shares how her history impacts her creative process.
• Learning how to use your many “sides” to influence art.
• Be sure to stay tuned for an episode all about drawing inspiration from your travels!

Links

Enjoy Christy’s work at one of these fine places:

Oscraps

http://ozone.oscraps.com/author/christy/

Sustainable Souls

http://thesustainablesoulsproject.blogspot.com/

Get it Scrapped Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/getitscrapped.debbiehodge/

Simple Scrapper

http://www.simplescrapper.com/

Christy’s Blog

https://myscrapbookevolution.com/

Do you have clothes in your closet that you don't wear‘? Do all of your clothes fit your Personality? This is what Chantera Gunn is here for! In the episode of A Creative Approach Podcast, Chantera is going to talk to us about herself and what she does for a living. How do you know if what you are wearing “goes” or what do you do when you can't stop buying clothes but don‘t wear most of the ones that you already own‘? These are the questions that Chantera has the answer to!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• What Chantera does with your clothes
• Does everybody "deserve" a stylist?
• What a stylish like Chantera can do for you
• How Chantera got her start as a stylist
• What Chantera did to get her start as a personal stylist
• How Chantera juggles being a stylist and a mother
• Fashion tips from Chanter
• The difference between men and women when it comes to fashion
• How to be "authentically" yourself in your fashion choices

RESOUFCESI

Chantera Gunn  

Do you get a lot of joy from your experience of crafting? If so, you're really going to love today's episode, with Ursula Morgan, the Chief Executive Officer of Creative Bug. Ursula firmly believes in the joyfulness to be found in crafting, from the delight of making something to the pleasure derived from receiving a beautifully crafted, handmade gift. Listen in to find out more about Ursula and her joyfully creative approach to life.

Creative Bug, which will be turning five on the 15th of May, is the award winning DIY Art and Craft Instruction site, with over a thousand videos, for all skill levels. Before Creative Bug, Ursula had a successful career as an Art Editor. She was also an award-winning Magazine Publisher, for what is known by some to be the UK's favorite Knitting Magazine. Ursula was the Vice President of all the US operations through one of the United Kingdom's largest publishing houses. Listen in today and find how Ursula helps artists to spread more joy every time she grows the audience of Creative Bug.

Today, Ursula talks to Karen about:

• Creative Bug and what it has for creative people.
• The really inexpensive cost for getting instruction from the best experts in the country, at Creative Bug.
• The challenge of producing 2-4 shows per week.
• The creative atmosphere and the awesome team at Creative Bug.
• The hot off the press, great news about Creative Bug!
• That Joanne Fabric and Craft Stores have allowed Creative Bug to retain its full creative autonomy and awesomeness!
• Ursula's creative life, growing up.
• How Ursula ended up as the CEO of Creative Bug.
• How she found herself able to 'read' spreadsheets and see a picture with them.
• The huge craft portfolio that she built up, going from one to many pillars in crafting.
• What she was doing in her job, when she moved here, to the US.
• The risk she took, leaving her job and starting out on her own.
• The 'aha' moments and breakthroughs she's had in her crafting capabilities.
• Their Friday 'Crafternoons' at Creative Bug and the new things Ursula's learned to make.
• Passions and deep passions.
• What brought her to study design.
• What brought her to the realization that you're only limited by your own belief of what you can do, or not.
• Her philosophy around creativity- that you just need to give yourself the time to return to your creative self.
• They even have some sweet treats and baking classes at Creative Bug.
• That you can even learn to sew with Creative Bug.
• How you can find and sign up for Creative Bug and what you can get on the website.
• You can have a two week trial for free.
• That Creative Bug is now on Facebook Live.
• What creativity really means to Ursula.
• The Daily Challenges on the Creative Bug website.
• Ursula's advice for people wanting to get into the more professionally creative side of crafting, or teaching.

Link:

Creative Bug Website: www.creativebug.com

Today's Big Ass Guest is Mark Montano- he's at the top of Karen's list when it comes to having a creative approach! She's been a great fan of his, since seeing him on Trading Spaces and she has many of his books and watches lots of his Facebook Live videos. Listen in and find out more about Mark, what he does and how he really inspires people.

Mark is a Designer, a Television Host and the Best Selling Author of the really popular Big Ass Craft Book Series, which are the best-selling craft books in the United States. He also works as a Creative Consultant for DecoArt and as a Creative Director for Eclectic Products. Listen in today and find out about Mark's wonderfully creative approach to life.

Today, Mark talks to Karen about:

• What he does with Facebook Live and some other projects.
• How he decided, at the age of thirteen, that he would move to New York and become a fashion designer.
• How he eventually did become a fashion designer and worked for Oscar de la Renta, before starting his own collection.
• How he was asked to write a monthly article for Cosmo Girl Magazine.
• How his articles for Cosmo Girl turned into his book series.
• How his career moved from Fashion into Interiors, after landing a TV show called While You Were Out.
• How he ended up moving to Los Angeles.
• How he moved into doing Youtube movies and Facebook Live.
• Live events- he finds them fun, but exhausting.
• The Association For Creative Industries - The new name for the CHA.
• How he was constantly making things while growing up.
• Traveling and performing with the Kashari Indian Dancers, as a child.
• His education- starting with a degree in marketing and business, then The Fashion Institute where he studied the history of fashion.
• That he views fashion as art.
• That being smart with your money is the only way you can be successful in a creative industry.
• The biggest question- What creativity really means to him.
• How he came up with his big ass name for his books, now in their 29th
• The new book that he wrote recently, about how to stay on track in your life and avoid distractions, while working from home.
• The normal tasks you do that make you a creative person.

Links:

Mark's website and blog: www.markmontano.com

Mark on Youtube: Mark Montano

Mark on Facebook: Mark Montano

               or

Google 'make your mark' and he'll pop up!

Resource:

Books: The Big Ass Book Of Crafts by Mark Montano

And all his other books are available from Amazon

If you're a creative person with a desire to give something back to your community, you will really enjoy today's show, with Karen's bubbly and inspiring guest and long time friend, Elena Lai Etcheverry. Elena is the founder and Executive Director of Charity Wings.org, a Non-Profit Organization and DIY Make-A-Space in Southern California. Listen in today to find out about this wonderful, charitable non-profit, where you can really get creatively involved and also make a difference.

Charity Wings is a huge, open studio, where you can come along and bring your imagination and a desire to create pretty much anything. All the supplies are there for you- the space, the tools, the assistance and the inspiration. Elena and her team want to make sure that everyone has a place to use their creative expression and to have a creative outlet. They have programs for other Non-Profits as well, where they offer either free or very low-cost classes for people with mental disabilities, wounded warriors, cancer support groups and various children's and adult groups. Everyone has a place at the centre.

There is a small fee of $20 per month for you to become a member of Charity Wings. This fee supports the programs and allows Charity Wings Art Center to keep running, so even if you aren't able to go there and use the space as often as you would like to, or if you live elsewhere, your contribution will still be making it possible for other, often less fortunate individuals to do so. If you are a member and you'd like to use the space, you can do it for only $5 per day. Listen in to find out more about Charity Wings and to find out how you can get involved.

Today, Elena talks to Karen about:

• Some of the special events which are done at Charity Wings Art Center.
• How it really supports and helps keep them going when prominent individuals show up at their events.
• Their once a year interactive collaboration with the Association for Creative Industries and various manufacturers and designers, which they did as a Facebook Live Event this year.
• The Crafty Flash Mob Video that they did a couple of years ago.
• The numerous opportunities for people to gather, give back and create, through Charity Wings, who give people the place to do voluntary work to help their organization.
• The High School Internship Programs that they offer.
• The need to fully commit, when doing voluntary work for any organization.
• Their Charity Wings Mini Hat Dye Cuts that they are selling to raise money for the organization.
• How Elena first got started with charity work.
• The vast amount of money that she has raised with Scrapbook Royalty for about eighty-two organizations, over the last eleven years.
• The huge blessing of moving from the scrapbooking world to Charity Wings.
• The vast number of different crafts that you can do at Charity Wings Art Centre.
• The different groups that are on offer at the Art Centre, including the new Open Mic Night.
• How to know if this type of charity work really is for you- Elena is willing to have you shadow her for a day if you'd like to find out.
• Her goal to expand her organization.
• That NOBODY is turned away from the Art Center- it's a very lively place!
• What creativity really means to Elena.
• Creativity as a healing tool for Elena.
• That you can become a HEART Supporter for Charity Wings for only $10 per month.

Links:

Charity Wings Website: www.charitywings.org – follow the link to 'shop' for the mini hats

Facebook: Charity Wings Art Center

Youtube: Charity Wings

Instagram: Charity Wings

Creativity comes in many forms, and even though many choose a career that isn't particularly creative, you can find ways to leverage your creativity in that career. Other times, the creative soul isn't being fed and that mandates a change in career. That's exactly what happened to today's guest. Keiko Elizabeth went through a mid-career transformation and she's here to share her journey with us!

Keiko Elizabeth grew up having career aspirations to be a Doctor and eventually studied Biology. Later she became a middle school teacher and was able to change the lives of children. Then, later in life, Keiko did the unexpected and became an actress.

Listen as Keiko shares the following with Karen:

• How Keiko was introduced to the theater
• Why she ended up transitioning out of teaching to acting
• Hear the story of a student’s play that changed the course of her career
• Learn what it took for Keiko to acting
• It’s a tough road to landing acting gigs. Keiko shares how she landed her first ones.
• How acting really meets Keiko’s need for collaboration
• Learn some of the differences between doing theater productions and acting behind the camera.
• Keiko shares how she tries to keep her work life and home life balanced.
• Keiko’s son finally saw her on TV and it was an interesting experience.
• Ways creativity plays a role in every acting gig that Keiko undertakes.

Connect with Keiko:

www.keikoelizabeth.com

twitter.com/imkeiko

Do you know how many people are out there, who are really talented, yet just don't realize it at all? The guest on today's show, Lynn Evans, used to be that way, until someone pointed it out to her. Listen in today to find out what happened and how that motivated her to really tap in to her creativity.

Lynn, who is a natural storyteller and a teacher, is an author, a podcaster, she's involved with television and she's a CPA. She's written a book called “Power of the Purse”, as well as having written columns for newspapers and blogs for many years. When she first began writing, she wrote a personal finance column for a regional business journal. With that,  she realized that she had found a specific rhythm in the process of writing, which allowed her to express herself without having to put much mind to the task, until it was completed. Later, when she was asked to write a book, she found yet another, new level of creativity coming to the fore. Join Karen and Lynn today to find out more about Lynn's creative approach to life.

Today, Lynn talks to Karen about:

• How her book came about.
• How she ties being a CPA to her creativity.
• What got her hooked on writing her book.
• How she became someone who manages money, having grown up in a family which believed that women shouldn't be involved with finances.
• Her interview with an insurance company and what happened as a result.
• How she learned about personal finance.
• How she studied on her own at a college in Denver, Colorado, and passed the tests.
• How, with the help of her mother, she started her first financial business.
• How providing services is a great way in for sales.
• That she's the only company in North Eastern Pennsylvania that is what is called fee only.
• What it means to be fee only.
• Why she's out there on the fringes of the people offering financial planning.
• The type of presence she chooses to demonstrate, within financial planning, as a Media Brand.
• How she loves starting new businesses, even though she's sixty five years of age.
• How she kept her head in 2007, 2008 and 2009, when the market tanked and her company lost half of it's revenue.
• How she decides which opportunities are for her.
• How many women feel overwhelmed by personal finance.
• How she's perceived as an expert in her field, yet she feels like a ditz with her own finances.
• Why she thinks it a good idea for women to work with women, when it comes to financial planning.
• Why it makes sense to do your financial planning sooner, rather than later.
• Lynn's idea of money circles.

Links:

Lynn's websites: www.lynnsevans.com

and                   www.powerofthepursepodcast.com

Lynn's Podcast: The Power of the Purse Podcast

Welcome to another episode of A Creative Approach Podcast! My special guest for today is Dr. Kathryn Ko. Kathryn grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and went to medical school at the University of Hawaii. She absolutely fell in love with the brain and central nervous system and wanted to pursue it. She moved to New York and did a residency and a neurosurgery. Kathryn got into art also and has combined her two loves by getting a degree in representational painting with a medical emphasis.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Where Kathryn's inspiration comes from
• Why Kathryn uses mostly acrylic paints
• Why there are so many great speakers in the medical field
• How and why you should pursue your passion now before it is too late to really pursue it
• What led Kathryn to purse art
• What is Kathryn's interest in music
• When Kathryn got into science
• How Kathryn's race and gender affected her as a young girl and an adult
• What Kathryn's approach is to creativity

If you're inspired by wacky people who live multi- faceted, creative lives, listen in to today's show, as Karen interviews her guest, Tiffany Price and explores her creative approach, to the world of 'craft-lebrities' and acting.

Tiffany, who lives in the Los Angeles area, is a comedic actress turned girl boss, having recently started out as a business woman and owner of The Perky Nerd- a Comic Book Shop that sells cold brew coffee and hosts lots of events. Tiffany also pursues her career endeavors as an actress, writer, and producer of web series, like Craft Ladies and recently found herself in the role of new mom, to little Jack. Listen in to the show today, as Tiffany shares her creative approach to acting, business... and being a nerd.

Today, Tiffany talks to Karen about:

• Who she is and what she does.
• How she started out in her career.
• The ongoing animal theme in her life.
• How she almost opened a Cat Cafe.
• Her comic book shop, a place where people feel comfortable being nerdy.
• Her web series, “The Craft Ladies.”
• What 'a creative approach' means to Tiffany.
• Why she wouldn't want her son to be a child actor.
• How she sees herself as a perfect combination of crafts and comedy.
• Tiffany's approach to crafts.
• Where the concept for her shop came from.
• Tiffany's advice to people starting out with a career in the arts.
• How acting forces you to become open to rejection.
• The importance of staying mentally strong and grounded in the acting industry.
• Treating yourself as a business, in the acting world.
• How she almost opened a Chick-Fil-A outlet...
• How her business is a hub of creativity in Tiffany's life, feeding her soul and attracting the right people.
• How people's support really inspires and validates her.
• Her plans to start an online store and to formulate an outlet for women to create- writing blogs and to generally share their 'nerdery'.

Links: 

Tiffany's website: www.theperkynerd.com

Tiffany on Twitter: @tiffanyaprice

Tiffany on Instagram: @tiffanyaprice

Do people with passion inspire you? And do you enjoy learning from the creative ideas of interesting artists? If this is so for you, listen in to today's show and find out more about Ken Oliver and what he does. You will also enjoy hearing about the quaint historic, riverside town that he is truly fortunate to call his home.

Ken is an artist, marketer and a traveler from the picturesque town of Newburgh, in Indiana. He helps companies to develop craft products, which are then brought to the crafts and arts industry. Join Ken today, as he talks to Karen about his work and travels and also about his town, one of the oldest River Ports in the USA. Newburgh is recognized as an important historical site- the town was settled in 1803, even before Indiana became a state!

Today, Ken talks to Karen about:

• The products that he currently works with.

• Colorburst- what it is and the amazing effects you can create, using it.

• The fun he has, decorating the front of his 19th-century building with seasonal décor.

• The people he meets from all over the world- at his front door!

• Interesting historical facts about his town.

• The architecture of Newburgh, much of which predates the civil war.

• The river cruisers and replicas of 19th-century steamboats on the Ohio River.

• Calliope- the unique music of steamboats.

• The wonderful places he's worked and traveled in his career.

• His Hometown Papers line, inspired by the charm and architecture of Newburgh.

• The things that inspire him, creatively.

• Ken's advice to push you past limits you may think you have, artistically.

• What makes his cards unique and different?

• What you can gain from doodling.

• Ken's creative approach to his business... and cooking.

Links:

Ken on Facebook: Ken Oliver or Ken Oliver Crafts

Ken on Instagram: Ken Oliver Crafts (or Creative Team)

Ken's blog: Ken's World In Progress

Are you looking to start a career in knitting design? Would you like to take a peek behind the curtain in the working life of an editor of a knitting magazine? Then join Karen Poirier-Brode on this week's episode of “A Creative Approach Podcast” as she explores the working world of dynamic and versatile Kara Gott Warner.

Kara, a native New Yorker, who grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, is the editor of Creative Knitting magazine and the host of Power Purls Podcast. She started designing knitting patterns in 2002. After training as a technical illustrator, she worked for numerous craft book publishers, such as Random House, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing and F&W.

 In 2008, she joined Annie's Publishing as a knitting book editor and then in 2010, she began with Creative Knitting Magazine and Annie's Knitting Publications. Her designs have been published widely in many magazines, including Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle, Easy Knitting and Interweave. Listen to Kara talking passionately about her creative approach to her work. You won't want to miss this exciting episode about making creativity your career!

Join Karen and Kara as they discuss:

• How Kara started her career in the fashion world.
• How Kara made her own way, mostly making accessories, till she rediscovered knitting.
• How a sweet little yarn shop awakened her passion for knitting in the early '90's.
• How a mentor gave her the idea to make a career of knitting and designing.
• A ball of yarn can hold exciting possibilities!
• Her background in technical drawing and schematics came full circle and linked into her knitting career.
• The fantastic power of networking!
• How Kara became editor of Creative Knitting Magazine.
• How cultivating relationships is crucial to getting ahead!
• What the does editor of a knitting magazine do?
• The many months of preparation that go into producing her magazine.

Links:

Power Purls website: www.powerpurlspodcast.com

Kara's website: www.karagottwarner.com

Kara on Twitter: karaknits

Kara on instagram: karaknits

Are you willing to be of service to others? Would you love to make a difference to the lives of less fortunate individuals, but aren't sure how? Let Dr. Padmini Murthy activate your conscience and inspire you, as she talks to Karen Poirier-Brode about her experiences while working with the poorest of the poor, on this week's episode of “A Creative Approach Podcast”. 

Dr. Murthy (Mini) is a professor and the Global Health Director of New York Medical College. She has been practicing medicine and public health for the past 28 years in various countries, dealing with issues such as little, or no access to clean water or sanitary pads.  She's an author, lecturer, and teacher, who serves as the Medical Woman's International Association's NGO representative to the United Nations. She has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Blackwell Medal, from the American Medical Women's Association. Listen to her talk passionately about her creative approach to world health, women's health and how we can all “do a little that can amount to a lot.” 

Join Karen as she talks to Mini about:

• What motivated her to study medicine.
• How she discovered that it is possible to make a difference by making an effort and working as a team.
• How she introduced screening programs in Saudi Arabia.
• How she digressed from her medical path to go into advocacy and social justice.
• Mini's current projects in Malawi.
• How her projects promote safe motherhood from a grassroots level.
• The difficulties that many rural women face.
• Her practical advice to anyone looking to be of service.
• Little things we can do to have more money to donate to where it is really needed.
• How social media can be used to exchange ideas for service where it really matters.

Links:

Karen's website:   www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com

Mini's email      :   minimurthy@gmail.com

Mini on Linkedin:   Padmini Murthy

Mini's twitter handle: @minimurthy1234

Mini's Books: Women's Global Health and Human Rights (Published by Jones and              

Bartlett Publishers) Available on Amazon

                    Mini's Musings (Poetry, published in 2012)