My May: What I Created and How I Grew

May 29, 2025April 21, 2025 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

Creative Rituals Roundup: Voices from Our Community

May 11, 2025April 21, 2025 Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Sometimes, the most powerful part of creativity isn’t what we make—it’s how we make it. The routines, the rituals, the moments of quiet before our hands touch paper. Earlier this week, I invited members of the VIP group to share their personal creative rituals, and the responses were so heartfelt and inspiring, I had to gather them here for all of us to enjoy.

Whether you’re crafting to heal, connect, or ground yourself, these rituals remind us that creativity is sacred and deeply personal.

🕯 Why rituals matter:
Creative rituals offer comfort, consistency, and grounding—especially important if you’re navigating trauma, grief, or chronic illness. They create a rhythm that helps you feel safe and present in your creative space.

Here are some beautiful rituals shared by members of the community:

💬

“I light incense before every layout and play calming music.” —@soulfulscrapper
“My Sunday morning routine is a cup of tea and a simple card project.” —@paperpathway
“I write a gratitude list before each journaling page.” —@craftingthroughchaos
“I stamp one heart image on every layout—it’s a reminder that this page holds love.” —@heartsandlayers
“I always tidy up before I create. That small ritual tells my nervous system it’s safe to begin.” —@gentlepaperjoy

✨ You don’t need a long list or fancy tools. Your ritual can be as simple as:

Choosing a song that helps you breathe deeply
Holding your cardstock and setting an intention
Sipping tea and sorting through photos mindfully
Pulling a card from your affirmation deck

You are not alone in how you create. We’re all crafting beside each other, bound by a desire for expression, healing, and joy. Whether your ritual is spiritual, sensory, or simply practical—it matters.

➡️ Want to explore your own creative ritual?

Download the free Bloom Tracker and use the notes section to record what grounds you.
Share your ritual on Instagram or Facebook using #MyCreativeRitual
Join the conversation in the VIP group where more voices and inspiration are blooming daily

creating · creative wellness · self-care

How I Use My Scrap Space for Self-Care

May 8, 2025April 21, 2025 Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

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.

On hard days, I grab a 3×4 journaling card, misty cardstock, and write down one kind thought. That tiny action—paired with music and tea—grounds me like nothing else.

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 Intentions for May

May 4, 2025April 20, 2025 Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

As we enter a new month, there’s a beautiful opportunity to set creative intentions—not with pressure or perfection, but with permission. Permission to be messy, gentle, and joy-filled. May is a season of blooming, and with it comes the chance to align your creativity with what your heart needs most.

Setting a creative intention can be as simple as choosing one word or phrase that will guide how you want to feel or show up creatively this month. Here’s how to do it:

🌸 Step 1 – Reflect: Ask yourself: What do I need right now? Do you need rest, expression, color, quiet, connection?

🖋 Step 2 – Choose a word or phrase:
Some examples: peace, play, explore, express, reconnect, soften, rise.

🎨 Step 3 – Create a visual reminder:

Make a mini journaling card with your intention.
Stamp the word onto a tag or 3×4 card and display it in your space.
Use a Stampin’ Up! color that evokes that energy—like Fresh Freesia for softness or Old Olive for grounding.

🧘‍♀️ Step 4 – Anchor your crafting:

Begin each session with a breath and your word.
Use your word to guide your layouts and color palette.
Let it be a soft focus, not a strict rule.

My intention this May is nourish. I created a soft 6×8 layout using So Saffron and Petal Pink cardstock with a quote that reads, “This is how I care for me.” It reminds me that creativity is a source of healing and rest.

You don’t need to force creativity—just let it meet you where you are. Your intention will carry you gently forward.

➡️ Want support all month long?

Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly prompts and gentle encouragement.
Follow me on Instagram @gemspaperscissors to see my own creative intention unfold.
Share your word with a card or layout using #CreativeIntentionMay and tag me so I can cheer you on!

scrapbook

Start Small: Scrapbooking as a Gentle Daily Practice

May 1, 2025April 20, 2025 Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Have you ever sat down to craft and felt overwhelmed by where to start? Whether you’re healing from trauma, navigating chronic illness, or simply trying to reclaim a little joy, start small. Starting small can be powerful. Scrapbooking doesn’t have to be about perfect albums or big projects. It can be a daily practice in presence, softness, and growth.

If you’re struggling to get started, you’re not alone. That first page, that empty card, can hold so much pressure. But what if we reframed it? What if we saw every creative moment as a gentle, grounding step on our healing path?

Here are a few easy ways to start:

🌱 Use one photo that brings a smile—or simply feels safe. It is your garden, a cozy corner, your pet, or even your craft table.
📝 Journal just one sentence. Write a feeling, a thought, a hope, or even a question. “Today I am showing up.”
🎨 Pick a color that calms or energizes you. Try Stampin’ Up!’s Petal Pink for peace, Misty Moonlight for calm, or Daffodil Delight for hope.
📏 Make a mini layout—just 3″x 4″ or 6″x 8″. Start a page you can add to slowly over the week.
💬 Affirmation idea: “Small steps still move me forward.”

“This week I created a simple 3 x 4 card. I used Moody Mauve cardstock. I also used one photo of my feet in the dirt. Additionally, I included a line that said ‘Here I grow again.’ It took 10 minutes and helped me feel grounded all day.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to do it right. You just have to begin—with love, intention, and gentleness.

➡️ Let’s take the first step together:

Need a little help getting started? Grab your free printable Bloom Tracker here and commit to just 5 minutes a day.
Check out my latest video tutorial on YouTube where I walk you through an easy layout from start to finish.