creative expression · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · scrapbook · visual storytelling

Scrapbooking the Moments That Carried You

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.

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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 · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · philosophy & creativity

Creative Rituals to Begin and End Your Day with Light

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.

art techniques · creative expression · creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · Mindset & Motivation · philosophy & creativity

Embracing Imperfection: The Art of Kintsugi in Paper Crafting

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.

creating · creative wellness

My May: What I Created and How I Grew

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

🌸 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
creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · scrapbook

Documenting the Small Wins That Matter Most

When we think about memory keeping, we often default to the big stuff—birthdays, vacations, graduations. But what about the little things? The quiet victories? The days you chose to rest. The moment you showed up for yourself with scissors and cardstock, even when your energy was low.

Those are the wins that truly matter. Especially when you’re healing. Especially when you’re growing. This post is your gentle reminder: your small wins are worth documenting.

🎯 Why small wins are worth capturing:

  • They build momentum
  • They validate your progress
  • They keep joy and gratitude in focus
  • They remind you: you’re doing better than you think

💗 What counts as a small win?

  • You made something just for fun
  • You cleaned your craft table
  • You printed out three photos
  • You showed up and made one journaling card
  • You rested instead of pushing through

📸 Creative ways to document them:

  • A 6×8 layout titled “Today I Did This”
  • A row of 2×2 photos with captions like “Tiny Triumphs”
  • A “One Sentence Journal” using Stampin’ Up! journaling stamps
  • A flipbook or tag ring of “Moments I’m Proud Of”
  • Add an “I’m proud of…” tag to any scrapbook page

Conclusion & Call to Action:

Your small wins matter. They’re not filler. They’re proof of life, movement, and self-compassion. So don’t wait for the big stuff—scrap what matters today.

➡️ Need a space to honor your everyday wins?

  • Subscribe to the 6×8 Sketch Club for layouts that support progress over perfection
  • Download the Bloom Tracker and use it to log tiny wins
  • Share your layout or journaling card using #DocumentYourWins
  • Follow me on Instagram for more ideas on capturing daily victories
creating · creative wellness · self-care

How I Use My Scrap Space for Self-Care

When you think of self-care, what comes to mind? Bubble baths? Spa days? For me, it’s my craft space. It’s not perfect, it’s not always tidy, but it’s mine—a quiet place where I can reconnect with myself through color, texture, and creative flow. Especially during seasons of healing, having a sanctuary like this has been essential.

🪴 Your craft space doesn’t have to be big or fancy—just intentional. Here’s how I’ve created a space that nurtures my creativity and well-being:

1. I start with light.

Natural light by day, soft lamp glow by night. I even use string lights for an extra touch of cozy magic.

💜 2. I keep comfort items close.

A cozy lap quilt my mom made, a cup of tea, my favorite essential oil blend. Sometimes I add a crystal or affirmation card to remind me: I am safe here.

🧹 3. I clear just enough.

Not everything is Pinterest-pretty. But I keep my favorite cardstock colors, a journaling stamp, and adhesives in reach—so I can sit down and create without searching.

🧘‍♀️ 4. I use rituals to transition into creating.

Before I begin, I take a deep breath and ask: What do I need today? Maybe it’s quiet. Maybe it’s play. Maybe it’s messy healing.

Your scrap space can be more than a workspace—it can be a refuge. You deserve a space that supports your healing, your joy, and your creative spirit. 🌿

➡️ Ready to reclaim your space as self-care?

  • Download my free Bloom Tracker and make your space part of your daily wellness routine.
  • Follow me on Instagram @gemspaperscissors for a behind-the-scenes look at my cozy creative setup.
  • Share your space with the hashtag #MyCreativeSanctuary and inspire others to nurture their own!
creating · creative wellness · Healing through art

Why Repetition in Art Can Be Restorative

Repetition often gets a bad rap—seen as boring or monotonous. But in creativity, repetition can actually be healing. Whether it’s stamping the same image, layering paper in similar ways, or journaling a repeated affirmation, repetition provides rhythm, grounding, and comfort. For those of us navigating trauma, chronic illness, grief, or stress, this rhythm can feel like a lifeline.

🌀 Why repetition works:
Repetition gives our brains a break from decision fatigue. It lets us sink into the flow, bypassing the critical voice that says “this isn’t good enough.” In fact, it can be a meditative creative practice.

🖌 Examples of restorative repetition in papercrafting:

  • Stamping the same image in a row with different ink tones
  • Using a grid format for journaling cards each week
  • Layering the same flower die cut in three tones of pink
  • Writing the same affirmation on every page of a mini album
  • Repetitive stenciling or embossing across backgrounds

🌼 Why it helps with healing:

  • Anchors you in the moment
  • Creates safety through structure
  • Boosts confidence as small wins accumulate
  • Encourages mindfulness without pressure to innovate
  • Gently rewires neural pathways toward calm and joy

Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself—creatively, emotionally, or spiritually. In fact, that repetition may be exactly what your nervous system and soul need to feel safe and seen.

➡️ Want a space to explore repetition in your creative healing?

  • Grab my free Bloom Tracker to see how repetition builds creative momentum
  • Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly inspiration and gentle motivation
  • Share your own “repetition ritual” with the tag #RestorativeArtRepetition so we can celebrate your process