Tag: TraumaInformedCrafting

Make One, Give One: A Creative Kindness Challenge
creating · creative challenges · giving through crafts

Make One, Give One: A Creative Kindness Challenge

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

There’s something sacred about giving from your own hands—especially when you’re healing. But what if you gave something to yourself at the same time?

This week’s creative challenge is simple, but powerful: Make one thing for yourself, and one to give away. Whether it’s a card, tag, journaling card, or layout, this practice builds compassion, connection, and creative balance.

🎁 Why this challenge matters:

  • Reminds you that your needs are just as important as others’
  • Helps break cycles of people-pleasing by pairing giving with receiving
  • Encourages self-worth through intentional creative time
  • Strengthens community with heartfelt, handmade acts

🧷 Make One Ideas:

  • A 3×4 journaling card with an affirmation for your album
  • A layout honoring a quiet success
  • A tag that says, “I am proud of myself for…”
  • A mini card to tuck into your planner or altar

💌 Give One Ideas:

  • A handmade card mailed to a friend who’s struggling
  • A journaling card swap in your Facebook group
  • A “thinking of you” tag attached to a care package or bouquet
  • A small layout to include in a shared art journal

“I created two matching 3×4 cards using the Cheerful Daisies bundle—one says ‘I see your strength’ and was sent to my sister. The other says ‘I honor mine,’ and it now lives in my journal as a reminder.”

You are worthy of what you give to others. Craft something with love, and share that same love with yourself. Let this week be a celebration of creative kindness—inside and out.

➡️ Ready to join the challenge?

Group Scrapbooking: Crafting Connection
Community Inspiration · creating

Group Scrapbooking: Crafting Connection

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

Healing doesn’t always happen in silence. Sometimes, it happens in the soft hum of scissors, the clink of embellishment trays, or the laughter that bubbles up over shared memories. Group scrapbooking offers more than creative inspiration—it’s a beautiful way to rebuild trust, share stories, and remind ourselves we’re not alone.

Whether you gather in-person or online, scrapbooking with others can nurture emotional connection and creative courage in truly powerful ways.

🤝 Why group scrapbooking matters:

  • Reduces isolation (especially during healing seasons)
  • Encourages shared creativity and idea exchange
  • Creates gentle accountability to show up
  • Builds confidence through validation and encouragement
  • Helps create joyful memories while documenting them

🧵 Ways to group scrap creatively:

  • Host a virtual scrap night:
    Use Zoom or Facebook Live, keep it casual, and give everyone a sketch or prompt to work from.
  • Mini swaps:
    Trade handmade journaling cards, embellishments, or 3×4 affirmations with group members.
  • Theme challenges:
    Like “Joy in the Everyday” or “Rewriting the Narrative” — invite participants to interpret it their own way.
  • Collab albums:
    Everyone contributes a page or layout about a shared theme (grief, growth, gratitude, etc.).

🧡 Emotional safety tip:
If you’re a trauma survivor, choose your group carefully. Look for communities that honor emotional pacing, welcome imperfection, and center compassion. A kind creative space can become a huge part of your healing journey.


“I joined a weekly Facebook Live scrap session, and for the first time in months, I felt connected without having to explain myself. We didn’t talk about our pain—but we all understood. The stickers and stories became our language.”

Creativity is connection. And when we make together—across miles or across the table—we heal in ways that solitary crafting can’t always offer.

➡️ Want to scrapbook with others in a safe, joyful space?

  • Visit the VIP Facebook Group for upcoming group scrap nights and challenges
  • Share a layout made during a group session using #CraftingConnection
  • Not ready to join in real-time? Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly prompts you can explore on your own time
Documenting the Small Wins That Matter Most
creative wellness · Everyday Joy · Healing through art · scrapbook

Documenting the Small Wins That Matter Most

Tina Biornstad-SzafranskiLeave a comment

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


“Last Tuesday, I finally organized my cardstock scraps by color. I used the new In Color folders and labeled them with mini tags. I added a small photo of the drawer to a 3×4 card that says ‘Order is a kindness.’ It felt SO good.”

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
Start Small: Scrapbooking as a Gentle Daily Practice
scrapbook

Start Small: Scrapbooking as a Gentle Daily Practice

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.