Category: creative wellness

Thoughtful Thursday: DSP, Difficult Days, and Cultivating Strength
creative wellness · mental-health

Thoughtful Thursday: DSP, Difficult Days, and Cultivating Strength

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Yesterday, I needed to step away.

Not from creativity.
Not from this community.

But from noise.

At my day job, I was reminded — very directly — of how real and painful child abuse still is in our world. It stirred up old memories from my own childhood. Things I’ve survived. Things I’ve worked hard to process. Things that don’t disappear — but do soften with time and intention.

Instead of pushing through and pretending everything was fine, I did something different.

I paused.

That pause is cultivation.

Cultivation isn’t about productivity.
It’s about tending what needs tending.

So today’s Thoughtful Thursday feels especially fitting.

The topic is practical:
Frequently Asked Questions about Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper (DSP).

But beneath the technique is something deeper.

When life feels heavy, we return to what we know.
We return to texture.
To color.
To paper in our hands.

Designer Series Paper can feel “too pretty to cut.” I hear that often. But here’s the truth: paper is meant to be used. Creativity is meant to move. Beauty is meant to be part of our daily lives — not stored away waiting for perfect circumstances.

DSP FAQ highlights from today’s video:

  • How to choose patterns without overwhelm
  • Why cutting into it is an act of trust
  • How to mix bold and subtle prints
  • What to do with scraps

When trauma resurfaces, it can make us feel small.

When we create, we reclaim space.

That doesn’t erase what happened.
But it reminds us we are not powerless.

Surviving is real.
Thriving is intentional.
Cultivating strength means choosing small supportive actions — like stepping away when needed, and returning when ready.

Thank you for being part of a community that understands that both things can exist: real life and creative healing.

Tomorrow, I’ll share a card titled “Thanks for Being There.” And I mean that sincerely.

If you’ve ever had to pause for your own well-being — I see you.

If creativity has helped you survive something hard — I see you.

And if today all you can do is breathe — that counts too.

creative wellness · mental-health

Hues of Blue: Letting Color Hold the Emotion

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

There are colors that energize us.
And there are colors that hold us.

Blue is one of those colors.

For today’s project, the Hues of Blue card, I leaned into calm, steadiness, and quiet presence. This card isn’t loud. It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t try to fix anything.

It simply says: I’m here.

That’s often what we need most — and what we’re trying to offer when we reach for a handmade card.

This design layers Misty Moonlight, gold foil, and the beautifully symbolic Kintsugi Inspirations DSP, reminding us that broken places can be honored rather than hidden. Blue grounds the emotion. Gold reflects the light that still exists.

The fold structure of this card allows the story to unfold gently. There’s movement, but it’s intentional. Space, but not emptiness.

This is a card you make when:

  • words feel insufficient
  • presence matters more than explanation
  • you want your creativity to carry meaning

Color plays such an important role in creative healing. Blue invites breath. Blue creates pause. Blue offers permission to slow down.

If you’re crafting today, I invite you to notice how your body feels as you work with these tones. Let the process be just as important as the finished card.

creative wellness · mental-health

When Creativity Feels Tender: Practicing Self-Love at the Craft Table

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

There are seasons when creativity feels energizing — and seasons when it feels tender.

February often brings that tenderness to the surface. The cultural focus on love, productivity, and “fresh starts” can quietly amplify feelings of exhaustion, grief, or self-doubt. And for many of us, especially those who use creativity as a tool for healing, that pressure can sneak into our craft spaces too.

Self-love in creativity doesn’t mean pushing through.
It doesn’t mean finishing projects or staying consistent.

It means listening.

Sometimes self-love looks like sitting at the craft table and only cutting paper.
Sometimes it looks like choosing colors because they feel comforting, not because they “match.”
Sometimes it looks like stopping halfway and letting that be enough.

One of the most healing shifts I’ve seen — in myself and in our community — is redefining creativity as tending, not performing.

Just like a garden in February, nothing is blooming yet. But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

Roots are strengthening.
Rest is happening.
Energy is gathering.

If creativity feels tender right now, that’s not failure.
That’s information.

A Gentle Creative Invitation

Instead of asking “What should I make?”, try asking:
“What would feel supportive today?”

That answer might surprise you.

🎧 This post pairs with this week’s podcast episode on creative permission.
📬 Join my weekly newsletter for gentle prompts and project inspiration.
💬 Come share what tenderness looks like for you inside my VIP Facebook group.

cardmaking inspiration · creative wellness · gratitude

🍐 Cultivating Gratitude — One Pear at a Time

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

There’s something special about growth you can’t always see.

Sometimes it’s a seed beneath the soil or a half-finished layout waiting on your desk. Other times, it’s the quiet progress we make as artists and as people — layering one mindful choice at a time.

Today’s project, feels like that kind of growth. With the Perfectly Pears Bundle, a touch of Mossy Meadow, and the shimmer of Low Profile Sparkle Dots, this design celebrates the beauty of patience, texture, and gratitude in progress.

Supplies Used:

  • Stamps & Dies: Perfectly Pears
  • Ink Pad: Mossy Meadow
  • Tools: Glass & Garden Embossing Folders, Sponge Daubers
  • Embellishments: Mossy Meadow & Gold Ribbon, Low Profile Sparkle Dots
  • Paper Dimensions:
    • Basic White – 4¼” × 11″, 5⅛” × 3⅞”, 2″ × ½”
    • Painterly Pears DSP – fussy-cut pear cluster

I began by embossing the smaller Basic White panel with the Glass & Garden Embossing Folders — their delicate texture instantly adds quiet movement. That tactile dimension always reminds me that even subtle pressure can shape something beautiful.

Next, I layered a fussy-cut pear cluster from the Painterly Pears DSP near the top corner, grounding it with a Mossy Meadow sentiment strip stamped “Congrats.”

Each brush of ink and ribbon tail felt symbolic: small acts of progress that lead to gratitude. The finished card has a balance of stillness and sparkle — a creative metaphor for calm in motion.

💡 Creative Tip: For added depth, lightly sponge Pecan Pie ink over your embossed surface before adhering your layers — it gives the texture an antique warmth without overpowering the white space.

Every handmade piece carries a story — not just of the paper or ink, but of who we were while making it.
This card taught me that growth doesn’t always come with a loud “before and after.” Sometimes, it’s quiet. Layered. Patient.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re standing still, remember: the roots of gratitude are growing, even when you can’t see them. 🌱

🔗 Continue Reading

You can find the Perfectly Pears Bundle, Glass & Garden Embossing Folders, and all featured supplies through my Stampin’ Up! shop here

Want to grow alongside fellow makers who understand that creativity is a healing process?
Join my Gems Paper Scissors VIP Group for daily prompts, project videos, and mindful inspiration.
👉 Join our Facebook VIP Group

Or sign up for my Tuesday Newsletter to receive weekly gratitude journaling tips and sneak peeks straight to your inbox.
👉 Subscribe via Constant Contact

Today’s behind-the-scenes photo set — including embossing details and color swatches — is up on Lemon8!
👉 @GemsPaperScissors on Lemon8

Gratitude doesn’t always arrive with fireworks.
Sometimes it looks like a pear in progress — ripening quietly under autumn light.
Today, let your creativity remind you how far you’ve come, and trust that every layer of ink and intention adds to your harvest of growth. 🍐💛

Reflecting in the Light: A Month of Creative Growth
creating · Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation

Reflecting in the Light: A Month of Creative Growth

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

You made it. Through this month, through your art, through another page of your story.
Whether you created daily or once, showed up with energy or exhaustion—your presence matters.
As June comes to a close, today is your invitation to pause, reflect, and notice the growth that bloomed in the light.

🌞 Creative Reflection Is a Form of Self-Care

It’s easy to focus on the projects left undone, the cards unshared, or the journal entries we “meant” to finish. But growth happens in the showing up—not the perfecting.

Take a breath. Then take a moment to ask:

  • What did I learn about myself through creating this month?
  • What surprised me in my art or my mindset?
  • When did I feel most at peace while crafting?

Jot your answers down—or better yet, craft them into a final page or card.

✨ Try This: “Light Reflection Card”

Create a single card or journal page that reflects your month:

  • Use light-inspired elements: sunbursts, gold foil, vellum, soft pinks or yellows
  • Write one sentence that completes the phrase: “This month, I rediscovered…”
  • Add a quote, scripture, or word that encapsulates your theme (e.g. “rise,” “grace,” “glow”)

Place it somewhere visible or share it with your community to encourage others.

Art is more than paper and ink—it’s how we remember who we are becoming.
Through every torn edge, soft color, and word written in ink, you’ve shown up for your story.
Let this final project be a quiet celebration of that light.

🌼 Want more reflective prompts and creative support?
Subscribe to my Creative Newsletter for weekly inspiration and exclusive access to printables, sneak peeks, and healing-centered resources.

Light in the Layers: What Your Crafting Style Says About Your Healing
creative expression · Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · visual storytelling

Light in the Layers: What Your Crafting Style Says About Your Healing

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

From torn paper edges to blended ink to carefully placed embellishments, how you create often mirrors how you heal. Today, we’re slowing down to notice what your artistic tendencies might be saying about your inner world—and how you can honor that insight through your next creative session.

🌙 Creative Expression = Emotional Language

Survivors of trauma, chronic pain warriors, and those on a deep healing path often express emotion through metaphor in their work—even without realizing it.

Here’s what your crafting layers might reflect:

Do you use…

  • Lots of texture and layering? → You’re processing deeply, building emotional complexity.
  • Clean lines and simplicity? → You may crave clarity or control in your healing.
  • Bright colors and loose forms? → You’re tapping into freedom and reclaiming joy.
  • Neutral tones and softness? → You’re seeking safety, calm, and emotional quiet.

None of these are “right” or “wrong.” They are mirrors—tools to better understand how your healing journey is unfolding.

✨ Try This Prompt: “What Is My Style Saying?”

Create a layout, card, or journal page where you:

  1. Use your natural style—don’t force it.
  2. Observe your choices: What colors? What textures? How many layers?
  3. Reflect on what those choices might be communicating.
    Write a short note or journal card answering: “What does this page reveal about my healing today?”

This is a creative ritual you can revisit monthly or during transition points.

Your art doesn’t lie. It shows you who you are, where you’ve been, and where light is beginning to return. By embracing your creative style—messy or minimalist—you’re embracing your truth.

🌟 Want to explore this further with monthly prompts and journaling companions?
Subscribe to my Weekly Sketch Club and receive printable sketches, healing insights, and layered inspiration delivered each week.

From Pieces to Peace: Repurposing Scraps for Healing Projects
creating · creative expression · Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · visual storytelling

From Pieces to Peace: Repurposing Scraps for Healing Projects

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Every crafter has a collection of paper scraps, die cuts, and half-finished projects tucked away. But did you know these fragments can become powerful tools for healing and reflection?

Today, we’re looking at how to repurpose your “leftovers” into beautiful, meaningful art that honors your story—and gives your creativity a second life.

🧩 The Healing Power of Repurposing

When life feels broken or chaotic, taking scraps and transforming them into something whole mirrors your own healing journey. For trauma survivors, caregivers, or those managing chronic illness, this practice is deeply symbolic.

Repurposing teaches us:

  • Nothing is wasted—not even the pieces
  • Imperfection can still be beautiful
  • Art can grow from the ordinary

🛠️ 3 Simple Healing Projects Using Scraps

1. The “Today I Survived” Tag

  • Use leftover cardstock, bits of ribbon, and one or two words (“strength,” “hope,” or “rest”)
  • Add a date stamp and keep it in a jar or on a ring
    💡Great for those living with invisible illness or emotional recovery

2. Gratitude Grid Cards

  • Punch or cut small squares from scraps
  • Arrange in a grid and write one thing you’re grateful for in each
  • Use them as daily journaling prompts or send to a friend

3. Scrap Collage Healing Spread

  • Pick one word you want to focus on this week (e.g., “ease” or “belonging”)
  • Use layers of paper, fabric, ink, and torn text to visually explore it in your journal or scrapbook
  • Reflect on the message that emerges as you create

There is no such thing as “just a scrap.” Every piece of your story has value. Every moment of healing matters.
Through creativity, you are not only piecing together paper—you are piecing together peace.

subscribe to my Monthly Creative Club for weekly sketch templates, healing project tutorials, and a warm community to share your process.

Sacred Space: Creating a Light-Filled Crafting Nook
creating · Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · self-care

Sacred Space: Creating a Light-Filled Crafting Nook

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Where you create matters. It doesn’t need to be big, fancy, or even tidy—but it should feel yours.
When you’ve walked through trauma, illness, or exhaustion, a soft and sacred space to create becomes more than practical—it becomes healing.

Today, let’s explore how to create a light-filled crafting space that supports your creative rituals and nourishes your well-being.

✨ Why Space Impacts Creativity

Your surroundings influence how safe, calm, and inspired you feel. When you’re crafting through chronic illness, depression, or grief, clutter and chaos can shut you down. But creating a small, sacred, and intentional space invites your brain to exhale.

Think:

  • A desk by a window
  • A basket with calming supplies
  • A candle or diffuser scent that soothes
  • Soft lighting or a salt lamp

This is less about organizing and more about honoring your creative energy.

🌼 Try This: “Light Nook Checklist”

Create your own sacred space by including:

  • 🌞 A natural light source or lamp with warm tones
  • 🎨 Your 5 favorite supplies within arm’s reach
  • 🪞 One visual reminder of your why (a quote, photo, or scripture)
  • 🔇 A soft boundary (curtain, tray, sign) that says: this space is yours

💡Tip: Keep it simple. Even a tray on your nightstand can become a creative altar.

Your space doesn’t have to be Pinterest-worthy—it just has to be safe, sacred, and supportive.
When you give yourself permission to protect your light, your creativity can flourish with more peace.

join my newsletter to receive monthly prompts and tips for nurturing your creativity through healing seasons. Subscribe here

The Stories We Forget to Tell: Remembering the Quiet Wins
creative expression · Creative Rituals · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · visual storytelling

The Stories We Forget to Tell: Remembering the Quiet Wins

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

We’re often taught to document big achievements—graduations, weddings, new jobs. But what about the small, sacred moments that helped you survive? The gentle wins. The quiet joys. The whispered prayers answered in small ways.

Today’s post is an invitation to document the stories you might’ve forgotten, the ones that carried light into your life without fanfare.

🌿 What Are Quiet Wins?

  • A week without a flare-up
  • A kind message on a hard day
  • Getting out of bed when you didn’t think you could
  • Saying no when you usually say yes

These may not make headlines, but they matter deeply. And they deserve to be honored.

📸 Create a “Quiet Wins” Page or Mini Album:

Here’s how:

  1. Title it “The Stories I Forgot to Tell” or “Quiet Wins”
  2. List or journal 3–5 small moments that brought you peace, relief, or joy
  3. Use soft, neutral tones like sage, linen, gold, or blush
  4. Add:
    • A photo (even symbolic—your mug, your bed, your dog)
    • Texture (washi tape, tags, fabric bits)
    • One stamped or handwritten quote

💬 “Not all victories are loud. Some whisper.”

This page becomes a personal anchor. A quiet celebration of your resilience.

The light isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it’s found in the tiniest cracks of a hard week. And when we take the time to honor those glimmers, we create a fuller, truer picture of our journey.

✨ Need help getting started? Download my free “Quiet Wins” journaling card set and printable prompt sheet.
And if you’re craving connection, join my VIP group where we share stories like this all month long. Join here

Purposeful Papercrafting: Creating with Meaning (Not Just for Pretty)
creating · creative expression · creative wellness · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · visual storytelling

Purposeful Papercrafting: Creating with Meaning (Not Just for Pretty)

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

In a world of perfectly staged projects and curated feeds, it’s easy to feel like your creations need to be impressive. But what if your creativity didn’t have to be performative? What if it was enough for it to be meaningful—to you?

Today, I want to invite you to rediscover the heart of papercrafting: creating to connect, remember, and heal.

💌 Creating with Intention

You don’t need a holiday or event to make a handmade card. Sometimes, the most powerful reason to create is just because someone crossed your mind.

  • Make a card that says “You’re not alone.”
  • Scrapbook a photo that reminds you of your resilience.
  • Journal a note to your younger self.

Let the purpose of your project guide the design—not Pinterest.

🌱 Make a “Purpose Page”

Use this idea to create a one-page layout or journal entry:

Center prompt: “Why I Create”
Surround with:

  • A photo of your hands crafting
  • Quotes that ground you
  • Words like “hope,” “connection,” or “presence”
  • A short letter to your future self

💡 This becomes an anchor page—something to revisit when you’re feeling uncertain or uninspired.

🧡 Intent > Impress

Not every creation needs to be shared. But if you do, let it be because you’re proud of the meaning, not just the polish.

Your paper, your story, your heart—these are tools of healing and remembrance.
When you create with meaning, you create with light.
And that’s always enough.

🧡 Want more guided prompts like this?
Sign up for my newsletter and get a free “Purposeful Pages” digital guide + weekly gentle reminders to keep creating from the heart.
Join here and let’s create what matters.