Tag: HealingThroughArt

Florals & Feelings: Using Symbolism in Your Layouts
creative expression · scrapbook · visual storytelling

Florals & Feelings: Using Symbolism in Your Layouts

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Flowers aren’t just pretty. They’re powerful. They hold meaning, memory, and metaphor—just like our stories do. When we use florals in our layouts, cards, and journaling, we’re doing more than decorating—we’re expressing emotions that words might struggle to hold.

Whether you’re crafting through grief, reclaiming joy, or celebrating growth, flowers can help tell your story in a gentle, beautiful way.

🌸 Why florals are such powerful symbols:

  • Universally understood across cultures
  • Associated with emotions, milestones, and transitions
  • Visually versatile: soft, bold, wild, restrained
  • Naturally suited to memory keeping and healing work

💐 Examples of florals as feelings in layouts:

  • Roses → Strength in sorrow or enduring love
  • Wildflowers → Freedom, rediscovery, chosen family
  • Cherry blossoms → Fleeting beauty, embracing impermanence
  • Sunflowers → Hope, joy, facing the light
  • Lavender → Calm, protection, spiritual connection
  • Daisies → Innocence, new beginnings

🧷 Ways to include them in your layouts:

  • Die cuts or fussy-cut florals layered in threes
  • Floral background paper to set an emotional tone
  • Pressed flowers in pocket pages (sealed)
  • Stamped florals in repeat as a grounding ritual
  • Hidden journaling behind floral flaps or tags
  • Mix bold & soft florals to represent inner conflict and peace

“This week I made a 6×8 page called ‘Soft Strength.’ I used Crushed Curry and Bubble Bath cardstock, layered with a vellum sunflower and stitched borders. The journaling tucked behind it honors a moment of courage I had during a panic attack.”

Florals give us a quiet, symbolic language to express what’s blooming, what’s wilting, and what we’re holding close. The next time you reach for a flower sticker or punch, pause and ask: What feeling am I planting here?

➡️ Want support turning your emotions into art?

  • Try the free Bloom Tracker to notice what’s showing up emotionally in your creative practice
  • Share your floral-themed project with #FloralsAndFeelings and tag @gemspaperscissors so I can admire your symbolic blooms 🌼
  • Not sure which floral Stampin’ Up! set to try? Visit my favorites list here
Creative Rituals Roundup: Voices from Our Community
Community Inspiration · creating · Creative Rituals

Creative Rituals Roundup: Voices from Our Community

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
How I Use My Scrap Space for Self-Care
creating · creative wellness · self-care

How I Use My Scrap Space for Self-Care

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!