Thoughtful Thursday: DSP, Difficult Days, and Cultivating Strength

February 12, 2026February 12, 2026 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.

Hues of Blue: Letting Color Hold the Emotion

February 9, 2026 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

February 3, 2026February 2, 2026 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.