diff --git a/cc_dynamodb3/models.py b/cc_dynamodb3/models.py
index fc519bd..cfc8182 100644
--- a/cc_dynamodb3/models.py
+++ b/cc_dynamodb3/models.py
@@ -179,9 +179,13 @@ def query(cls, query_index=None, descending=False, limit=None, filter_expression
             yield cls.from_row(row, metadata)
 
     @classmethod
-    def create(cls, **kwargs):
+    def build(cls, **kwargs):
         dynamodb_data = cls._initial_data_to_dynamodb(kwargs)
-        model = cls(dynamodb_data)
+        return cls(dynamodb_data)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def create(cls, **kwargs):
+        model = cls.build(**kwargs)
         model.save(overwrite=True)
         return model