I’m spending this month adding new content to Journals & Memories and building our library of tutorials, inspiration and creative resources. There is still a lot that I want to add! But while I’m busy creating all of this behind the scenes, there is something else that is very important to me: I genuinely want to meet you - all the new members! I’d love our first virtual Meet & Greet to be a relaxed hour where we can get to know each other, talk about what you love creating, what projects you are working on, and what you would most like to learn or find inside this community. Bring your creations to show to us. And because we already have members joining us from different countries, I want to find a time that works for as many people as possible. Please vote below for the time that would work best for you. 👇 I have already scheduled the call for August 31 at 8pm Barcelona time (I am based in Barcelona, Spain). But other options are available. I’ll use your votes to schedule the final time for our Meet & Greet in the Calendar. Can’t wait to finally meet you! ❤️ Marina

I'm so happy you're here. Whether you love creating by hand, want to preserve your family's memories, make meaningful gifts, or dream of turning your creativity into a small business, you've found the right place. Creative bookbinding, mixed media and decoupage have been my passion for many years. There was a time when I lost my corporate job and needed to find a way to support myself. I turned my hobby into a business, and it allowed me to pay my bills while doing something I truly loved. Today, these crafts are once again my hobby and my creative escape. I'm excited to share that creativity with you, teach you the techniques I've learned over the years, and, if you ever decide to take that path, help you turn your hobby into a creative business too. I created Journals & Memories to be more than just a collection of tutorials. It's a place to learn, create, share ideas, inspire each other and enjoy the process of making beautiful handmade journals, albums, keepsake boxes and other paper craft projects. ✨ Step 1: Introduce Yourself Tell us a little about yourself in the comments below this post. We'd love to know: • Where are you from? • What do you enjoy creating? • What would you love to learn next? • Are you creating for yourself, as gifts, or do you dream of selling your handmade creations one day? We're an international community, so don't worry if English isn't your first language. 📚 Step 2: Explore the Free Classroom Start with the free tutorials waiting for you. I'm currently expanding this free library with new tutorials, resources and creative ideas, so be sure to check back regularly. You'll find step-by-step lessons, decorative techniques, project ideas and helpful resources to build your skills and confidence. Take your time, experiment and, most importantly, enjoy creating! 💎 Step 3: Ready to Go Further? If you'd like access to advanced courses, exclusive projects, monthly Creative Studio Live sessions, project reviews, printable resources and guidance on turning your creativity into a business, I'd love to welcome you as a Founding Premium Member.

One of the things I'd love to create in this community is a little tradition that we can all look forward to every month. So, starting today, I'd like to introduce our Creative Theme of the Month. The idea came to me a few days ago while I was visiting Festetics Castle in Keszthely, Hungary. As I was walking through the beautiful gardens, I noticed butterflies everywhere. They were flying from flower to flower, and for a few minutes I simply stopped to watch them. It reminded me how often the best creative ideas come when we slow down and really notice what's around us. So I thought... why not bring a little of that inspiration into our community? 🦋 Our Creative Theme for August is... Butterflies! I'd love to invite you to create anything inspired by butterflies. There are no rules. It could be: 📖 a journal 🎁 a keepsake box 📔 an album 🏷 a tag 🎨 a mixed media project ...or anything else your imagination comes up with. Throughout the month I'll be sharing some of my own butterfly creations, ideas and techniques to inspire you. And I'd absolutely love to see yours too! Whenever you start your project, create a post, assign it to the "🎨 Creative Theme of the Month" category, and share it with us. It can be a work in progress or a finished piece. Sometimes seeing how a project evolves is just as inspiring as the final result. Most importantly... have fun, experiment and enjoy creating. I can't wait to see where these butterflies take us. 🦋❤️ — Marina P.S. 🦋 I'm sharing one of my butterfly creations with you - a mixed media canvas I made as a memory gift for grandparents using butterfly stamps and paper embellishments. I hope it inspires your own August project!