Finding Joy in the Little Things: How Scrapbooking Keeps Us Optimistic

Scrapbooking: More Than a Hobby, a Form of Therapy

For me, scrapbooking is so much more than just a hobby or a job—it’s my therapy. It helps me focus, plan, and connect with amazing people from all over the world. In a world that often feels chaotic, scrapbooking reminds me that creativity and love know no borders. It allows me to tell my story in a way that brings comfort and hope, even during difficult times.

Celebrating the Simple Moments

Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes, darkness surrounds us. But amidst challenges, finding joy in simple moments is essential. A warm cup of coffee, laughter with friends, the purring of a cat—these are the little things that keep us going. Scrapbooking helps capture these fleeting moments, turning them into tangible memories that remind us of the beauty in everyday life. When we document and celebrate these small joys, we cultivate optimism and resilience.

This Week’s Festive Collections

To embrace this spirit of celebration, I’ve created three fun and uplifting collections that capture joy in different ways:

Party Like It’s 1999 (with Allison) – A nostalgic tribute to the fun and glittery parties of the 90s. This collection brings back memories of dancing, carefree nights, and a world without smartphones.

Cue the Confetti – Inspired by the word Hullaballoo, this collection is a burst of joy! With colorful confetti, cheerful designs, and adorable animals, it’s perfect for celebrating life’s happiest moments.

Snuggle Buddies (with Wendy) – Because our pets bring so much love and comfort! This collection is dedicated to the furry friends who brighten our days, making even the hardest moments a little easier.

Scrapbooking is a way to honor these moments and hold onto the joy they bring. So, let’s keep creating, celebrating, and spreading love—one scrapbook page at a time! 💕

xoxo

Raquel

Introducing “Captured Glimmers”

This year, I was inspired by the concept presented by Deb Dana in her work based on “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology).” In her book, she explores the idea of “glimmers,” those small, fleeting moments in your day that bring a sense of safety, calm, and connection.

Glimmers can be as simple as the warmth of sunlight on your skin, the soothing sound of rain, or an unexpected smile from a stranger. These tiny sparks of positivity gently activate your nervous system, reminding us that even amidst life’s chaos, there is beauty and serenity to be found.

Inspired by this idea, I’ve created the Captured Glimmers collection, which will launch during the last week of each month throughout 2025. Each edition invites you to pause, observe, and celebrate the small joys that light up our journey. I also hope to build a consistent connection with you throughout the year, encouraging you to notice and embrace these glimmers as we go.

We’re kicking off this journey with the first part, “A Bright Start,” now available in the shop! This introductory edition is designed to help you reflect on your goals for the year while celebrating the little joys that keep us moving forward. Filled with vibrant colors and inspiring elements, it’s the perfect way to step into 2025 with a positive mindset.

Get inspired by stunning pages created with the new Captured Glimmers: A Bright Start

Let’s embark on this journey together! Share your glimmers with me as you discover them, and let’s celebrate these sparks of light throughout the year.

hugs,

Raquel

The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy

If you’re interested in diving deeper into this concept, I recommend Deb Dana’s book. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of how we can engage our nervous system and find grounding in our daily lives.

Learn more

Gratitude in Every Page: A Special Collaboration to Celebrate the Moments that Matter

Hello, friends!

While I’m not one to celebrate specific dates, I have a deep respect for everyone’s beliefs, and I love to reflect on the true meaning behind the moments we celebrate. With that thought in mind, I was inspired to create a kit centered around gratitude. And when Blago jumped on board with this idea, we crafted something truly special together.

Let me ask you—when was the last time you sent a heartfelt thank-you card or wrote a loving note to someone who means a lot to you?

In this age of technology, it’s easy to miss out on those moments of connection that help us build deeper relationships. This collection is all about reconnecting and celebrating those meaningful gestures. It’s perfect for creating gratitude-filled pages, honoring special people, and reflecting on the moments that truly matter.

Take a look at the beautiful gratitude-inspired pages our team has crafted to spark your creativity!

Now is the perfect time to fill your cart with beautiful collections and capture those precious memories. Whether you’re scrapbooking for yourself or as a gift, these kits are designed to make your pages shine.

Happy creating, and happy shopping, my dear friends!

Kel

Turning Challenges into Creative Magic: A Recap of Our August Collections

Hello ladies! I hope you all had a fantastic week!

Today, I want to share a little about this past week. It was a challenging one for me, filled with emotional ups and downs, and there were moments when I nearly succumbed to negative thoughts. At one point, I even doubted whether I could finish this collection. But with a bit of calm and a lot of patience, I managed to bring another collection to life, closing out the season with a flourish and offering you all a beautiful collection to enjoy.

August has been a whirlwind, especially as we wrapped up our pool party series. I must say, it’s been such a pleasure having five more wonderful ladies join our creative team. They’ve brought so many fresh ideas and helped me better understand what our customers need, especially with the tools they use to create their pages. It’s been an incredible experience, and I hope we can host another season like this soon.

This past month, I wasn’t able to keep up with posting our new releases here on the blog, and I admit it’s been a challenge to balance the time between creating collections and promoting them. But rest assured, I’m committed to bringing content to the blog as well, because I know not everyone is active on social media. So, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter. It’s the best way to stay updated on new releases and receive exclusive gifts I’ve prepared just for you.

Now, let’s dive into the amazing collections we’ve launched in the past few weeks:

Brew-tiful Treats {Collection}

This collection is absolutely scrumptious, featuring a rich, cozy palette reminiscent of your favorite coffee shop—perfect for capturing moments with dear friends or enjoying a good book with your favorite brew.

Nana’s Baby Love {Collection}

Inspired by Chloe, Jenny’s newest granddaughter, this collection is all about celebrating the arrival of a new baby. It’s perfect for grandmothers to document this special moment, but there are also wonderful options for moms and dads.

Fresh Start U {Collection}

August marked the return to school, and I couldn’t resist creating something special. This collection is a vibrant, neon-infused take on back-to-school for our young teenagers stepping into a new academic chapter. And with one of our team members’ daughters as the president of Delta Gamma, I added a glamorous college touch.

Falling for Sunshine {Collection}

To wrap up this incredible season, I created a collection that celebrates the transition from summer to fall in the Northern Hemisphere (my favorite season!). This collection is a delightful blend of everything we love about the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

As you can see, we had four fantastic collections this month, and I can’t wait to see what the next season has in store for us. Don’t miss out on any of the exciting news—join our amazing dolls community through our newsletter or follow us on social media. I hope to see you there!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

hugs,

Raquel

Celebrate Farm Fresh Fun with Our New Collection!

Hello my dear readers, I hope you are ready for this week’s news.

This week, I was inspired by many Hallmark Channel movies and created a collection featuring a farm fair, complete with the vibrant atmosphere of fruit and vegetable festivals, showcasing delicious organic products straight from the farms. While I admit I’m not a fan of all vegetables, I do enjoy many that have helped keep me healthy, even in my 40s.

So, come to our fair and take advantage of the special weekend discounts: individual packs are 25% off, and if you’re bold enough to buy the entire collection, you’ll enjoy more than 40% off.

Our talented team has prepared beautiful pages to inspire you with all the possibilities this collection offers.

That’s all for today! Next week, I will slow down to organize things around here, but who knows, I might stop by to talk to you. You know I miss preparing the email for you at the end of the week (and maybe a special freebie will land in your inbox next week), so stay tuned!

Have a great weekend and enjoy this week’s releases!

With love,

Raquel

Ticket to Summer: Discover the New Collection with Olivia!

Hello my weekly readers,

I hope you are all well because I have lots of incredible news for you.I’m happy that Olivia has recently joined the SDD design team! Olivia represents the new generation of digital scrapbooking, and I’m sure you’ll love the energy and fun vibe of our new collection.

This collection is huge and packed with options for capturing your summer travel memories. Whether it’s a road trip or a flight, you’ll find plenty of fun elements to bring your exciting vacation stories to life.

Take advantage of the weekend to buy the collection with more than 40% off and individual packs with 25% off.

Now, fasten your seatbelts and join me in enjoying the beautiful examples our teams have prepared to inspire you with this incredible collection.

With purchases over $10, you can download the Adventureland kit completely free. And if you’re savvy, you’ll grab the entire collection to make your summer pages full of color and joy.

That’s all for today! Have a fantastic weekend!

xoxo

Raquel

Exciting News and a Special Offer at Sweet Shoppe!

Hello my dear readers,

I hope you are all well and had a fantastic week.

As the weekend arrives, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you. This week, I have the honor of being featured as the “Featured Designer” at Sweet Shoppe! You can read all about it in the interview Trina prepared for the blog this week.

To keep up with the fun park vibe, I’ve created a comprehensive collection themed around your daytime adventures. But that’s not all – we have many surprises in store for you this week. Our new collection kit is free with purchases over $10. So, if you buy extra items from the collection, the kit will be completely free (for a limited time). Let the excitement build as you discover our new collection.

This collection is truly breathtaking, and both SugaBabes and Creative Dolls have prepared some examples to inspire you with the endless possibilities it offers. Come and see for yourself!

I can’t wait to see the beautiful pages you’ll create with this collection. Don’t forget to join the summer games and have fun with our sweet scrapbooking community.

That’s all for today. I hope you enjoy the weekend and get some scrapping done.

Love,

Raquel

“Fly Without Fear” Collection – Our Collaboration with Bobbie!

Last week, we launched a very special collection: “Fly Without Fear,” our newest collaboration with Bobbie, which reminds us of the blessings we receive when we believe in ourselves, listen to our hearts, and let our dreams take flight!

This exclusive kit is designed to help you reflect on your achievements and aspirations, providing the perfect tool for creating reflective journal pages and bright, fun layouts for any special occasion. With “Fly Without Fear,” you are encouraged to embrace your journey with confidence and joy.

To keep your inspiration soaring, our team has created example pages showcasing the versatility and beauty of the “Fly Without Fear” collection. Let your creativity take flight as you explore these stunning layouts.

Thank you for being a valued member of our community. We can’t wait to see what you create with “Fly Without Fear.”

Best wishes,

Raquel

Unveiling the Wild Side: A Bold New Collection Inspired by Nature

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that a few weeks ago I conducted some color research for the collection I was creating. I love it when you help me in this creation process. With the chosen palette in my hands and the idea in my mind, I decided to create this wilder collection with earthier and bolder tones for everyone who wants to explore nature on a safari on the African continent or simply record their last visit to the zoo.

I love these animal-themed designs. Even though they require a lot of work, I love seeing how the pages become more fun when you use them. Check out some incredible examples that my team and the sugar babes prepared to inspire you. You can see more amazing pages by visiting my personal gallery at SSD.

adventurous savanna

Join me in celebrating the beauty and diversity of nature with these vibrant new designs!

Until next time sweet friends, keep making memories and scrap MORE!

hugs,

Raquel

A Journey of Inspiration: Our New Collaboration with Wendy

Hello everyone!

Arriving a little late here, but I’m excited to share some fantastic news with you. If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you might have already caught a glimpse of the amazing weekend launch of our latest collaboration with Wendy. This special project is inspired by her father’s remarkable pilgrimage.

Planning the direction for a new kit is always a creative challenge, but Wendy brought an exceptional idea to the table: a kit centered around the theme of pilgrimage. Her father is currently on an awe-inspiring journey, walking from the Netherlands to Spain. His bravery and dedication are truly inspiring. You can learn more about his incredible adventure here.

Inspired by his journey, I immediately envisioned incorporating elements related to mountain trips, camping, and all things outdoors. With this rich inspiration, we crafted an extraordinary collection that captures the spirit of adventure and exploration. I’m confident you’ll love it as much as we do!

Our teams have worked tirelessly to explore all the possibilities this collection offers. We’ve put together some amazing examples that showcase the versatility and beauty of this new kit. Come and see the creativity in action!

sd_wendyp_trailsandtales, bmagee-trifecta37-documented

That’s all for today! Stay tuned because this week, I’m launching another incredible collection, and the SSD summer events are kicking off. You won’t want to miss the celebration and all the exciting activities we have planned.

Until next time, happy crafting!

hugs,

Raquel