Author: Tina Biornstad-Szafranski

Color as Medicine: Using Light & Hue to Heal Through Art
creating · Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · philosophy & creativity

Color as Medicine: Using Light & Hue to Heal Through Art

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Have you ever noticed how a soft blue can calm your nerves, or how a burst of yellow makes you feel awake and alive? That’s not just a coincidence. Color carries energy—and when we create with intention, color becomes a tool for healing.

Whether you’re crafting through chronic illness, processing grief, or simply craving a little more peace, today we’ll explore how to choose colors that support your emotional and creative well-being.

🎨 Why Color Matters:

Color psychology isn’t just for designers—it’s deeply personal. For trauma survivors and those navigating stress or fatigue, using light and hue can support self-expression when words are hard to find.

Color can help you:

  • Regulate emotions
  • Invite a desired feeling
  • Create sensory calm or joy
  • Reflect your inner experience

🧡 Try This: “Color Your Healing” Prompt

Choose one of these emotions:

  • Peace
  • Hope
  • Release
  • Strength
  • Joy

Now pick 2–3 colors that you feel when you think of that word.

💡 Example:

  • If your word is Hope, you might choose soft coral, pale yellow, and blush pink.
  • If your word is Strength, you might lean into deep navy, rust, and gold.

Now create:

  • A card
  • A journal page
  • A scrapbook layout background
  • Or even a simple tag or swatch set

Let the color tell the story.

Art speaks in ways our words sometimes can’t. And color gives voice to emotions we may not even fully understand yet. Whether you’re creating for release, expression, or just presence, trust the hues that call to you.

You are allowed to feel. You are allowed to heal. And you are allowed to do both… through color and creativity.

subscribe to my Monthly Creative Club and get guided color prompts each month plus project ideas, videos, and more.

You don’t need to know the rules—just show up and create with light.

Creating Together: Why You Don’t Have to Craft Alone
Community Inspiration · creating · creative expression · creative wellness · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation

Creating Together: Why You Don’t Have to Craft Alone

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Creativity can be incredibly personal—and also profoundly communal. When you’re navigating healing, chronic illness, or emotional burnout, connecting with others through creativity can feel like opening a window to let the light back in.

Today, let’s talk about the magic of crafting in community—and why it might be just what your heart (and hands) need.

💛 Why Crafting Together Matters

Whether online or in person, creative connection brings:

  • Companionship without pressure—just show up as you are.
  • Encouragement when you feel stuck or self-critical.
  • Motivation to follow through with your ideas and projects.
  • A space to be seen in a season where you may feel invisible.

For survivors of trauma, grief, or long-term illness, isolation is a common thread. Crafting together becomes a gentle, joyful thread that ties us back to ourselves and others.

✨ What Creating Together Looks Like:

  • Virtual Create-Together sessions (like my Friday lives!) where we share space, ideas, and laughter.
  • VIP Groups that feel safe, kind, and filled with inspiration.
  • Album Retreats or scrap nights focused on connection—not just productivity.

💬 “I joined for the creativity… but stayed for the kindness.”
That’s something I hear often, and it never stops being true.

🛠️ Don’t Overthink It:

  • You don’t have to have all your supplies ready.
  • You don’t need to talk if you’re not feeling it.
  • You don’t have to finish a full layout.
    Just being in the space makes a difference.

You don’t have to craft alone.
You deserve spaces that feel safe, creative, and healing.
And when we create together, our light expands.

✨ Join me for Create Together Friday Live at 10:30am Pacific inside my VIP Group!
You’ll get to see behind the scenes of this week’s layout, ask questions, and soak in a little creative peace.

💌 Not in the group yet? Click here to join the VIP Community and let’s create something beautiful—together.

Scrapbooking the Moments That Carried You
creative expression · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · scrapbook · visual storytelling

Scrapbooking the Moments That Carried You

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

We often think of scrapbooking as a way to capture birthdays, vacations, and major milestones. But some of the most powerful pages we’ll ever create are about the quiet, ordinary moments that carried us through—the ones where we felt seen, supported, or simply still breathing.

Today, let’s talk about how scrapbooking can become a healing ritual and a powerful act of storytelling when you’ve walked through trauma, illness, or grief.

💬 Why These Moments Matter:

When you’re recovering from something heavy—PTSD, cancer, chronic illness, loss—the smallest moments of light become sacred. A smile from a stranger. A morning with less pain. A handwritten note. A cup of tea.
📷 These are your milestones. These are pages worth preserving.

🖼️ How to Scrapbook These Memories:

  • Use soft colors like ivory, blush, pale blue, or gold to evoke gentleness.
  • Pair journaling with photos of objects or places that hold meaning (your favorite mug, sunrise, your dog curled up at your feet).
  • Layer textures—a torn edge, a vellum overlay, hand-stamped details—to represent healing and depth.
  • Include a short reflection: What did this moment teach you? How did it make you feel seen?

✨ Bonus Prompt:

Create a spread titled “What Carried Me” and list 3-5 moments from the past year that helped you keep going.

You don’t need a “perfect” life to scrapbook. You just need a heartbeat and a story. By capturing the beauty in your survival, your pages become both art and evidence—you were here, you felt deeply, you kept going.

Let your scrapbook become a celebration of light in the in-between.

Generated image

Ready to start documenting your healing journey?
🧡 Join my 6×8 Weekly Sketch Club for templates, journaling prompts, and monthly healing themes. You’ll get instant access to a printable layout guide to start your first “What Carried Me” page.
Click here to subscribe!

Creative Rituals to Begin and End Your Day with Light
Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · philosophy & creativity

Creative Rituals to Begin and End Your Day with Light

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

In the midst of healing, creating, or simply trying to keep going, small rituals can help us begin and end each day with peace. Whether you’re living with chronic illness, navigating trauma recovery, or simply seeking calm, creative rituals offer grounding and connection.

Today, I’m sharing three gentle creative practices to invite light into your mornings and soothe your soul before bed.

🌅 Morning Ritual: Create a “Light Intention” Card

Start your day by crafting a small 3×3 card using warm or soft colors—think golden hues, soft peach, or pale blues. Stamp or write a single word or phrase that represents how you want to feel today: “peace,” “hope,” “ease.”

➡️ Display it near your mirror, desk, or breakfast nook to anchor your mindset.

📝 Midday Moment: Gratitude Scribble or Snap

Pause for a moment in the middle of your day and either:

  • Snap a quick photo of something beautiful (light through the window, a mug of tea, your workspace).
  • Or write down one thing that brought light or laughter today.

➡️ These little reflections can be saved in a mini scrapbook or even turned into journaling cards.

🌙 Evening Ritual: Gentle Let-Go Journal Tag

Before bed, take 5 minutes to reflect on one thing you’re letting go of. Use a small tag or scrap and write it down. Embellish it lightly. Tear the edge, ink the border, or stamp a tiny heart.

➡️ This becomes a powerful symbolic act of release.

Creative rituals aren’t about perfection—they’re about presence. They give us a soft place to land, to feel what’s real, and to make room for light.

You deserve rituals that feel good. That honor your pace. That reflect your heart.

Want a weekly prompt like this delivered to your inbox along with printable journaling cards?
💌 Sign up for my newsletter here and receive a free printable “Light & Let-Go” tag set.
Let’s build a gentle, creative rhythm together.

Embracing Imperfection: The Art of Kintsugi in Paper Crafting
art techniques · creative expression · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · philosophy & creativity

Embracing Imperfection: The Art of Kintsugi in Paper Crafting

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

In the world of paper crafting, we often strive for perfection—crisp folds, precise cuts, and flawless designs. But what if we embraced the beauty found in imperfection? Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold, highlighting its history rather than hiding it, we can apply this philosophy to our creative journeys.

The Philosophy of Kintsugi:
Kintsugi teaches us that scars and flaws are not something to hide but to celebrate. In paper crafting, this could mean embracing a misaligned stamp or a torn edge, seeing it as part of the piece’s unique story.

Applying Kintsugi to Paper Crafting:

  • Embrace Mistakes: Instead of discarding a project due to a small error, find ways to incorporate it into the design.
  • Highlight Flaws: Use gold foil or metallic pens to accentuate creases or tears, turning them into focal points.
  • Tell a Story: Let each imperfection add character and narrative to your creation.

Benefits:

  • Authenticity: Your projects become a true reflection of your creative journey.
  • Mindfulness: Embracing imperfections encourages a more relaxed and enjoyable crafting experience.
  • Innovation: Challenges can lead to unique design solutions you might not have considered otherwise.

By adopting the principles of Kintsugi in our paper crafting, we allow ourselves the freedom to create authentically, embracing every flaw as a testament to our growth and creativity.

Ready to explore the beauty of imperfection in your crafts? Join our Monthly Crafting Club where we celebrate every crease and tear as part of the artistic journey. Subscribe now and receive a free guide on incorporating Kintsugi principles into your paper projects.

My May: What I Created and How I Grew
creating · creative wellness

My May: What I Created and How I Grew

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

This month, our theme was “Bloom Where You Are.” And I did just that—in ways I didn’t expect. Some days I created beautiful spreads. Other days I sat in stillness with scissors in hand, unsure what to say but still showing up.

May wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. About making space for creativity, connection, and self-compassion in the in-between moments.

So here’s a little look at what I created—and how I grew.

🌱 What I created:

  • 6 full 6×8 layouts using gentle colors like Wild Wheat, Bubble Bath, and Lost Lagoon
  • 12 journaling cards with single sentences that helped me process emotions
  • 5 handmade cards I sent to friends as part of our Happy Mail challenge
  • A “Roots & Wings” layout using the Thoughtful Journey DSP to honor my mother
  • A creative ritual I’ve now added every Sunday: light a candle, shuffle some scraps, and make just one thing—no pressure

💬 What surprised me:

  • How calming repetitive stamping can be when I don’t overthink it
  • That I actually loved using florals—especially sunflowers and daisies
  • How connected I felt sharing my journey inside the VIP group
  • That documenting the small wins made me feel big joy

Reflection from my journal:
“Creativity didn’t save me this month—but it made space for me. It reminded me that I am still growing, even when I feel stuck.”

🌸 What I’m proud of:

  • Showing up, even on days when my energy was low
  • Giving just as much to myself as I gave to others
  • Using my art to process my feelings instead of bottling them
  • Helping others tell their stories by sharing mine

You don’t need a gallery of perfect projects to call yourself creative. If you made one thing with your heart this month—you bloomed.

➡️ Now it’s your turn:

  • Take 5 minutes today to reflect on your May. What did you make? What did you feel? What are you proud of?
  • Post a photo of your favorite May project using #MyCreativeMay and tag @gemspaperscissors
  • Want to keep your momentum going into June? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for gentle inspiration all month long
  • Grab the Bloom Tracker and color in the petals you’ve filled with intention, creativity, and care
Why I Joined Stampin’ Up!—and Why You Should Too
business · Creative income · Join my team

Why I Joined Stampin’ Up!—and Why You Should Too

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

When I joined Stampin’ Up!, I wasn’t looking to “build a business.” I was looking for connection, creativity, and a path back to joy. I needed a safe space where I could grow at my own pace, surrounded by support—not pressure.

If that resonates with you, I want to invite you to join my team. Not because I want to “recruit.” But because I believe in this community—and in your ability to thrive through creativity.

💗 Why I joined Stampin’ Up!:

  • I wanted access to beautiful supplies at a discount
  • I longed for community with kind, creative people
  • I wanted to share my healing journey through art
  • I needed something joyful that could grow with me

🧘‍♀️ What you don’t need to join:

  • A sales background
  • A huge following
  • A perfectly organized craft room
  • To be “fully healed” or “ready” (is anyone ever?)

✨ What you do get when you join my team:

  • A warm, judgment-free community that supports your pace and path
  • Access to exclusive team training, creative prompts, and business support (only if you want it!)
  • A welcome kit of my favorite resources and products of YOUR choosing
  • Monthly team Zooms with optional shares, quiet co-creating, and healing space
  • 20–25% discount on all Stampin’ Up! products (and commission on any sales you make)
  • First access to catalogs, specials, and new releases

“One of my newest team members said: ‘I joined for the discount and stayed for the sisterhood.’ That’s what I want for everyone—a space where you’re seen, supported, and inspired.”

🌿 Whether you want to build a side income, deepen your creative practice, or simply belong somewhere that feels good… there’s room for you here.

You don’t have to be perfect to lead. You don’t have to be loud to be powerful. You just have to begin. If you’re craving creative joy, gentle encouragement, and a judgment-free team—this is your sign.

➡️ Here’s how to join my team:

Make One, Give One: A Creative Kindness Challenge
creating · creative challenges · giving through crafts

Make One, Give One: A Creative Kindness Challenge

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

There’s something sacred about giving from your own hands—especially when you’re healing. But what if you gave something to yourself at the same time?

This week’s creative challenge is simple, but powerful: Make one thing for yourself, and one to give away. Whether it’s a card, tag, journaling card, or layout, this practice builds compassion, connection, and creative balance.

🎁 Why this challenge matters:

  • Reminds you that your needs are just as important as others’
  • Helps break cycles of people-pleasing by pairing giving with receiving
  • Encourages self-worth through intentional creative time
  • Strengthens community with heartfelt, handmade acts

🧷 Make One Ideas:

  • A 3×4 journaling card with an affirmation for your album
  • A layout honoring a quiet success
  • A tag that says, “I am proud of myself for…”
  • A mini card to tuck into your planner or altar

💌 Give One Ideas:

  • A handmade card mailed to a friend who’s struggling
  • A journaling card swap in your Facebook group
  • A “thinking of you” tag attached to a care package or bouquet
  • A small layout to include in a shared art journal

“I created two matching 3×4 cards using the Cheerful Daisies bundle—one says ‘I see your strength’ and was sent to my sister. The other says ‘I honor mine,’ and it now lives in my journal as a reminder.”

You are worthy of what you give to others. Craft something with love, and share that same love with yourself. Let this week be a celebration of creative kindness—inside and out.

➡️ Ready to join the challenge?

Group Scrapbooking: Crafting Connection
Community Inspiration · creating

Group Scrapbooking: Crafting Connection

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Healing doesn’t always happen in silence. Sometimes, it happens in the soft hum of scissors, the clink of embellishment trays, or the laughter that bubbles up over shared memories. Group scrapbooking offers more than creative inspiration—it’s a beautiful way to rebuild trust, share stories, and remind ourselves we’re not alone.

Whether you gather in-person or online, scrapbooking with others can nurture emotional connection and creative courage in truly powerful ways.

🤝 Why group scrapbooking matters:

  • Reduces isolation (especially during healing seasons)
  • Encourages shared creativity and idea exchange
  • Creates gentle accountability to show up
  • Builds confidence through validation and encouragement
  • Helps create joyful memories while documenting them

🧵 Ways to group scrap creatively:

  • Host a virtual scrap night:
    Use Zoom or Facebook Live, keep it casual, and give everyone a sketch or prompt to work from.
  • Mini swaps:
    Trade handmade journaling cards, embellishments, or 3×4 affirmations with group members.
  • Theme challenges:
    Like “Joy in the Everyday” or “Rewriting the Narrative” — invite participants to interpret it their own way.
  • Collab albums:
    Everyone contributes a page or layout about a shared theme (grief, growth, gratitude, etc.).

🧡 Emotional safety tip:
If you’re a trauma survivor, choose your group carefully. Look for communities that honor emotional pacing, welcome imperfection, and center compassion. A kind creative space can become a huge part of your healing journey.


“I joined a weekly Facebook Live scrap session, and for the first time in months, I felt connected without having to explain myself. We didn’t talk about our pain—but we all understood. The stickers and stories became our language.”

Creativity is connection. And when we make together—across miles or across the table—we heal in ways that solitary crafting can’t always offer.

➡️ Want to scrapbook with others in a safe, joyful space?

  • Visit the VIP Facebook Group for upcoming group scrap nights and challenges
  • Share a layout made during a group session using #CraftingConnection
  • Not ready to join in real-time? Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly prompts you can explore on your own time
Why Sending Happy Mail is Healing
creating · Everyday Joy · scrapbook

Why Sending Happy Mail is Healing

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

There’s something magical about opening your mailbox and finding a card you didn’t expect. But the healing doesn’t just happen for the person who receives it—it starts with the one who creates it.

Happy mail is more than paper and postage—it’s an act of love, a creative ritual, and a gentle way to stay connected even when life feels heavy. For those of us healing from trauma, grief, or chronic stress, it’s a simple but profound form of joy.

💌 Why it helps:

  • Invites connection without pressure
  • Encourages creative expression for a purpose
  • Transforms solitude into outreach
  • Boosts serotonin and oxytocin (yes—studies show that giving lifts mood!)
  • Makes us feel useful, generous, and grounded in love

🎨 How to create Happy Mail with heart:

  • Choose colors that bring joy (try Daffodil Delight, Fresh Freesia, or Flirty Flamingo)
  • Keep it simple: 1 stamped image, 1 kind word, 1 envelope
  • Use calming techniques like repetitive stamping or soft ink blending
  • Add a quote, affirmation, or line of encouragement:
    “You are not alone.”
    “You’ve been on my heart.”
    “You matter.”

📬 The healing moment is in the giving.
Even if the person doesn’t reply. Even if they never say thank you. You sent light into the world—and in doing so, you gave it to yourself, too.


“I recently made three cards using the Thoughtful Wishes bundle. I wrote short notes to three women in my support group. One replied. The others didn’t. But I felt more connected just having sent them—and I tucked a photo of those cards into my own journal as a reminder that I am someone who loves out loud.”

Don’t wait for a reason. Your heart is the reason. Create something simple, something meaningful, and send it with love.

➡️ Need inspiration for your next card?

  • Download the free Bloom Tracker and mark your “Happy Mail Day”
  • Shop the Brights Color Family for cheerful card bases and ink
  • Share your card using #HappyMailHeals and tag @gemspaperscissors so I can celebrate your kindness 💌