Hey everybody, this is Georgana Hall, a teacher at Big Picture Scrapbooking, and also President at Adornit Carolee's Creations, a really fun and innovative scrapbooking company where we manufacture all the fun products that you use in your scrapbooks.

Well today I have some big news that I want to share with you. I am teaming up with my good friend, Debbie Raymond, who is not only my friend, but also Editor here at Adornit. We are launching a new class here at Big Picture Scrapbooking titled Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas. Sitting here beside me is Debbie, and she is going to share with you how our Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas class has evolved.

Well, Georgana, I am so excited about presenting this class on Big Picture because this has been a big part of my life for a long time. When it comes to Christmas, I have seen and heard everything, because I've talked to hundreds of women about how they feel about Christmas. I've taught a class called Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas with my friend, Norma Olson, for over 15 years to women from all walks of life. What I love about this class is that it gives women hope. My interest in simplifying Christmas came about many years ago when my kids were little. One Christmas morning I sat on the floor by our Christmas tree and looked at piles and piles of opened gifts, wrapping paper everywhere, boxes, bows. I mean honestly, back then I even wrapped my kids underwear and socks so they would get more presents. I sat there and listened to one of my children crying because he was upset and disappointed because he didn't get what he wanted from Santa Claus. Of course, I was exhausted from staying up until 4 a.m. and then getting up with the kids at 5 a.m. I sat there and wondered why I felt no joy. I promised myself that things were going to change. Next year is going to be different. Over the next few months I actually began to read and study about the subject of Christmas. I found some good books and I put a lot of thought and effort into it. One of the best ideas I got came from my friend, Norma, who showed me her Christmas binder. Women love this idea, and now we're excited to share it with all of you on Big Picture. Now I have to tell you, everything didn't change in a year. In fact, the little boy who was crying that Christmas morning just turned 22, but I can tell you that I've learned a lot of things along the way, and I want to share them with you.

So, with that said, we want to give you four big reasons that you'll want to take this class.

Reason #1 (as presented by Debbie). You will want to take this class because you love Christmas. You will also want to take this class because sometimes you hate Christmas. Taking this class will help you evaluate the holiday that you put so much time, money and emotion into. It will also help you get started early so that this year you will have a more peaceful holiday season.

Reason #2 (as presented by Georgana). The second big reason that you're going to want to take this class is that we have tools for you. Not just inspiration, but real usable tools to help you prepare for Christmas. One of these is your holiday planner that you will be able to download in the classroom and then put together in your own binder. Our handouts inside are amazing and are packed with helps and big tips, and we will give you tons of ideas too.

Reason #3 (as presented by Debbie). We are going to have a blast talking with each other about Christmas. There is nothing more fun to me than getting a bunch of women together and talking about menus, recipes, sharing traditions, complaining about shopping for all those gifts, it's just fun to visit about it. We are looking forward to a really active message board for this class.

Reason #4 (as presented by Georgana). The fourth and last big reason that you'll want to take our class is the projects. You are scrapbookers and we're scrapbookers, and of course we are a scrapbook company, so we have to do scrapbook projects. We've put together lots of great ideas for decorating and gifts, and also scrapbook pages that are going to inspire your creativity during our class and go right along with the handouts and planner.

So, if you're a young mom like me (Georgana), or a grandma like me (Debbie), then we invite you to join us in Cutting the Crazy Out of Christmas. This is big!