Bewitched Crafts with Tracy Miller

How does baking a fancy cake relate to my experience at my craft table?  My creativity experiment reminded me of the basics of my preferred work style and even the importance of keeping my energy up with music.  Most important of all, it reinforced the message of focusing on the effort, the sentiment, and the emotion instead of perfection.  Listen in for the details! 

This Spring just seems to be passing so quickly.  I don't want to let my days rush by and find myself on a hamster wheel.  I want to use my paper crafting hobby to support my dreams and goals.  One of the ways I do that is by playing a game called the Big Three.  Each month I plan three things that light me up and get my creative jiuces flowing.  Then I scrapbook those events.  I get the joy of anticpating them, the joy of the experience, and the joy of documenting the memory in my album.

These days my favorite project is my Toolbox Journal.  It's the place where I track my progress on my goals (including my 26 in 2026 list), a commonplace book, and a place to keep notes on all I am learning this year.  I am especially interested in science backed behavior change.  I am currently working to create a layout of evidence that I can do hard things such as finding the right auto mechanic, taking care of my oral health, and finally taking my left over paints to the tip. The resource mentioned in this episode is Change Academy (from Body Brain Alliance and Dr. Kardin Nordin) not sponsored  Check her out on Instagram; I think you'll love her content.  Join Change Academy in April and use the code CATERPILLAR to get $10 off and a 30 day money back guarantee.

In this episode, I am sharing tips for using your paper crafting hobby to bring energy to your goals and dreams.  I need to manage a large, lengthy project.  Over the course of roughly 15 months, I hope to manage a team of volunteers and it's important that I convey my vision clearly.  The vision itself won't be enough to keep us motivated over such a long time.  When the going gets tough, I am calling on my secret weapon...a dedicated scrapbook!

Spring is a season of energy and change for me.  As I grow into the 2.0 version of myself, I want to make sure how I spend my time reflects my values.  I value creativity and connection and I often express that through card making and creating scrapbook layouts.  To that end, it's time to bring back Friday night crafting.  The old school crop is no longer around, but I remember it fondly.  I love the idea of a dedicated time for fun at my craft table.  Won't you join me?

I'm chatting about progress on my 26 in 2026 goals including my five star reads, gardening updates, and more.  Documenting these goals in my art journal allows me to use my favorite hobby to help me stay on track and build momentum.

In this episode I am spilling the tea on my girls weekend in Charlotte.  I was thoroughly spoiled by my hostess who has the loveliest craft room and the most amazing die cutting station I've ever seen.  We made time for shopping and had a special perfume adventure which was the inspiration for a card made with new supplies from the Pinkfresh Studios Couture Edit.

Let's use these last days of winter to get clear on our goals.  As we move into Spring, our energy rises.  It's the perfect time to move forward with our plans.   I love using supplies from my paper crafting hobby to gain clarity on what's ahead for me with decorated lists, calendars, notes and quotes.

Have you ever heard of the documentary question?  If a film crew followed you for a day or a week, would your values and priorities  be clear from the video footage?  In this episode, we're exploring my fascination with documenting the everyday, the dangers of allowing a task to fill too much time, and the joy of flow at our craft table.  Plus, I want to know which new stamp releases have captured your imagination.

Every month I play a little game in my planner.  Before I set up appointments and the many tasks I need to complete, I schedule three things that bring me joy.  These three experiences are meant to light me up and get my creative energy flowing.  They are not about the shoulds of life or even self care so oil changes, dental appointments, and even massages don't make this list.  Instead, I think of artist dates...concerts, manatees at a state park, tickets to a musical.  This month I needed some fresh ideas and a personal assistant.  Listen in as I describe the results I was served after entering a quick prompt with ChatGPT. If you give this a try, I would love to hear about your prompt and your results!  Please share on our Facebook page.

Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, shares a lot of ideas on generating happiness.  One of my favorites is about novelty, trying something new, and the right level of challenge.   Dana Wilde, author of Train Your Brain, is know for saying feel good first then take intentional action to be successful. For a long time, I've put those two things together to create a personal happiness formula, but I recently modified it to this: Novelty + Challenge = Happiness Happiness x Community + Intentional Action = Success Listen in to today's episode for more and you'll also have the opportunity to weigh in on the success of my recent 'trying something new' card project.

It started with a punch card.  I wanted to create a habit tracker to remind myself to print photos every month.  I really wanted a small camera stamp and a large camera die.  Once upon a time, there were five local scrapbook stores in my city.  Getting a stamp or die was a simple thing.  Walking the aisles, waiting for inspiration to grab me was a favorite treat. Oh how I miss my LSS.

Can you guess how many million valentines are sent each year in the United States?  I had so much fun crafting sweet little valentines this past week.  Listen in for one of my favorite tips to make your die cuts pop and be sure to sign up for my free newsletter to receive the instructions to make the card.

It's hard to describe the satisfaction I get from a good list.  It's right up there with reconciling a complex account to the penny.  My art journal has a whole new set of lists (many of them inspired by the latest Bella Grace book of lists) and already the pay off has been tremendous.  It may sound silly to keep a list of shows you might enjoy on Netflix, but my brother loves to recommend things I should watch.  I never seem to recall them when I have free time, but now that I have my list I dutifully noted Licorice Pizza.  Just a few days later I saw my note and made time to watch the film.  When my brother and I caught up to discuss it, we were excited to share our ideas and insights.  In fact, the conversation is one of the most memorable we've had in months.  My list gave me the focus I needed to be a little more thoughtful and the end result gave me a joyful connection I'll remember for a long time.

One of my favorite ways to build momentum and energy for a project is to draft a written plan and to give myself gold stars as I make progress.  For years now, I have set three experiences on my calendar at the beginning of the month as the top experiences I want to give myself.  The photos from my Big Three are generally my favorites of the month and I love to showcase them in my monthly layout.  This year I am also working to tie the Big Three experiences in with my 26 in 2026 list.  In this episode, I am sharing my Big Three plans for January and February.

I'm on a quest to capture the everyday magic of my days, starting with the things I most enjoy about January.  I love the feeling of a fresh start at the beginning of the year.  I'll spend time dreaming and planning everything from mini adventures and travel to my spring garden.  I'm also designing the systems I need to reset my craft space and complete projects that drain my energy. Listen in and be sure to share your January scrapbook layouts over on our Facebook page.  If you'd like to see more information on how I use my lemons, message me at [email protected] and I'll type up all my tips and recipes for the blog.

How would you like to use your favorite paper crafting hobby and supplies to support your goals?  If you have a project with a finite number of steps or a begin and end date, a punch card might be a better option than a habit tracker.  Listen in as I talk through punch card projects supporting my 26 in 2026 goals and I attempt to end my days of "riding dirty" with a punch card designed to motivate me to get my car detailed. Want to see my first punch card?  Sign up for my newsletter. Classic films mentioned in this episode: My Man Godfrey starring William Powell and Carole Lombard The Philadelphia Story starring Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart The Thin Man starring William Powell and Myrna Loy

In this episode, I'm chatting about capturing everyday magic and the value of documenting the ordinary in our scrapbooks.  I'll be featuring layout ideas for this project in my newsletter so be sure to sign up!  I'm sharing aboutmy current season of life, the energy of a collective fresh start, the concept of wintering, my first five star reads of the year and of course, my word of the year.

I love a good list.  I especially love a list that helps me focus on all of the good things I want to bring about in the New Year.  Inspired by author Gretchen Ruben, I am hard at work on my 26 in 2026 list of the things I most want to accomplish and the experiences I most want to give myself.  In this episode, I'm talking about becoming the woman who is always planning a trip and the woman who waves first.  Listen in and let me know what's on your list for 2026!

Listeners know I love a good list and a planning session.  Combine the two and I cannot resist.  I'm exhausted from the holidaze...baking, traveling, and crafting, but I'm taking a break to participate in 12 Magical Nights.  If you want to design your New Year, this practice can help you to focus on the experiences and goals you'll include in 2026.  One of my favorite intentions is to be the type of person who is always planning a trip.  Check out this episode to hear more.

It's 10 days before Christmas, the craft table is covered in "bits and bobs," and I'm done trying to organize paper scraps—so I'm using them up instead! In this episode you'll get easy, festive ideas for turning leftover holiday paper and embellishments into something beautiful: handmade gift tags (personalized for the recipient), journaling blocks and photo mats to jumpstart scrapbook pages, paper bag mini books for kids, classic paper chains, sparkly snowflakes, and even paper ornaments. Perfect for crafters finishing up last-minute holiday projects—and for keeping kids busy during winter break. Follow along and share what you're making at facebook.com/bewitchcrafts.

Today's episode was inspired by a recent adventure at Disney University.  I grew up in Florida and a lot of my best childhood memories include the Magic Kingdom.  Disney has always been a special place for me.  I've had my annual pass for 25 years, but this was the first time I drove behind Space Mountain, behind Tron and past all sorts of Disney facilities to check out Disney U!  I had so much fun with this sneak peek, I thought I would offer you a quick behind the scenes glimpse at my business.  

If you're like me, you might find that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest time of the year.  There's so much to do but what we really want is to slow down and savor the season.  Sending handmade cards to my friends and family is a priority for me, but it's still a challenge to fit crafting into my busy schedule.  In this episode, I am sharing my best tips for batch crafting holiday cards.  When you need to make cards in bulk, a good sketch and an assembly line are your best bet!

Join me for a chat inspired by the Lazy Genius on including the everyday moments that define the season in our scrapbooks.  I'm talking both the season of Autumn and Thanksgiving as well as our season of life.  Let's dive into the rituals that make the best of where we are in our lives with evocative photos and introspective journaling.  

In this episode, let's talk about what it feels like to celebrate this treasured American holiday.  Growing up, sharing this holiday celebration with a large extended family gathered at my Grandmother's home there were distinct roles defined by age and gender...kids played outside, the men played cards.  Thanksgiving has changed a lot since I was a kid and I'm determined to capture how it felt in my scrapbook.  I've included some of my favorite tips in this episode and I'm sharing more over on the blog at bewitchedcrafts.com

It's the beginning of a new month and time to schedule three things that restore and energize you.  In this episode, I'm sharing my REPORT...R is for what I'm reading, E for eating, P for playing (hint: there are some super cute Spellbinders stamps and dies on my craft table), O for obsessing, R for recommending, and T for treating myself.  I hope you'll find inspiration here.

  ✨ How intentional planning can inspire your most meaningful scrapbook pages In this inspiring episode, hear how my love of planning and list-making has transformed my scrapbooking process — and my life. We're talking about The Big Three, a simple but powerful approach inspired by YouTube creator Muchelle B, where you schedule three non-negotiable activities each month that light you up. Most of myfavorite scrapbook layouts come from these joyful "Big Three" moments — experiences centered around self-care, creativity, and connection.  🗓️ Topics Covered The Big Three Game: How scheduling three energizing events a month creates memories worth documenting. Mini Adventures for 2026: Six small adventures (one every two months) to keep life exciting without breaking the bank. The 26 for 2026 Challenge: Completing 26 little "shoulds" before year-end — and declaring yourself a winner after just one! Creative Habits That Support Memory Keeping: Cleaning and backing up phone photos monthly Printing favorites for scrapbook layouts Using tech like the Amazon Echo Show to keep your memories visible Story Spotlight: Tracy's quirky and heartfelt plans for a girls' trip to the Circleville Pumpkin Show — a new addition to her mini-adventure list. Behind the Scenes: A sneak peek at the upcoming Bewitched Crafts Digital Planner, featuring prompts and tools to help crafters build creative habits and plan meaningful projects. 💡 Key Takeaways Prioritize joy: Schedule what fills your well — not just what fills your calendar. Small steps matter: Even one completed goal from your "26 for 2026" list counts as a win. Your memories deserve space: Keep photos organized, accessible, and ready for your next scrapbook page. Planning fuels creativity: A few minutes of reflection each month can transform both your energy and your craft. 🧡 Connect & Share Share your Big Three List for November and the scrapbook layouts inspired by your chosen activities.  Plus, let me know your ideas for the Paper Crafter's Digital Planner! 📧 Email: [email protected] 📱 Social: Facebook • Instagram • YouTube

✨ Episode Summary In this heartwarming episode of the Bewitched Crafts Podcast, host Tracy Miller shares how to capture the joy and color of the season through your camera lens. Inspired by a recent family outing to a local Fall Festival, Tracy offers practical photography tips for scrapbookers . From hayrides and pumpkin patches to golden-hour light, she'll help you see your memories with fresh eyes and creative inspiration. 📷 Photography Tips for Scrapbookers: Document the Details: Capture the festival logo or entrance sign for easy journaling and page titles. Pumpkin Perfection: Include photos of pumpkins, flowers, and seasonal décor to round out your layouts. Action & Emotion: Snap candid shots of laughter, games, and pony rides — don't stress over perfection. Play with Light: Try golden hour, backlighting, or even shooting from low angles for artistic effects. Shoot Freely: Digital photography means unlimited takes — click away and delete later! 💾 Bonus Tip: Don't forget to back up your photos regularly. Mid-month is the perfect time for a digital cleanup and backup.   💌 Stay Connected Subscribe to the Bewitched Crafts Newsletter for a free weekly card tutorial and creative inspiration straight to your inbox. Sign up  Follow on Facebook and Instagram

Do you love Fall?  Let's explore how to capture the cozy, creative energy it brings. From the back-to-school excitement of September to the inspiration sparked by seasonal colors and everyday ordinary magic, I want capture that feeling of Fall with my photos and scrapbook pages. Whether you're documenting your favorite memories or diving into new creative goals, this episode will motivate you to embrace Autumn with joy and purpose. ✨ Key Takeaways Fall offers a natural surge of creative energy—use it to start or revive your craft projects. Scrapbooking is a powerful way to capture the feelings and moments that make this season special. Don't let fear or perfectionism hold you back—your creativity deserves space to flourish.  Try new things with your phone camera.  Create collage, junk journal pages, or scrapbook layouts. Everyday Fall experiences like changing leaves, cozy evenings, seasonal foods deserve to be savored.  The magic is in the little things! Want to keep your creative momentum going? Join my mailing list for weekly inspiration! Each email includes step-by-step instructions to create a handmade card—and new subscribers receive a free card tutorial as a welcome gift. 👉 Sign up here to get your free card tutorial

🌟 Episode Summary What happens after Eigth Grade Summer?  Inspired by the Happier With Gretchen Rubin podcast, my summer theme brought joy, fun, and relaxation — and now I want to carry that intentional energy into Fall. This season's theme centers on growth, definition, and creative renewal, encouraging listeners to get clear, savor the moment, and craft unique projects. 🗝️ Key Takeaways Seasonal themes as life anchors: Choosing a theme helps guide priorities and keep energy focused throughout the season. "Eighth Grade Summer" mindset: Reconnecting with childhood joys—like biking, swimming, and pizza nights—can help combat burnout and restore balance. Transition to Fall: It's time craft a more mindful, creative autumn as a Woman In Total Control of Herself! The power of reflection: A simple theme can remind you to make intentional choices and celebrate small wins.   ✨ Bonus  I'm sharing about new projects including my Fall Art Journal, exclusive content over on Instagram @bewitchedcrafts, and Pastry School.

I've got an update on my home office (don't miss the picture of my gorgeous new desk over on Facebook) and I am planning the three things I'll do for myself in October.  These three things will likely become my  favorite scrapbook layouts for the month.  They are the craft festivals and artist dates that fill my cup, ramp up my creative energy, and leave me feeling refreshed.  I hope you'll play along and take photos!

What if making cards and scrapbook layouts is more than just your hobby?  In my case, I value connection, communication and creativity so paper crafting is part of living my values.  Being a stamper, a card maker, and a scrapbooker is part of my identity.

Once upon a time, in the days of the LSS (local scrapbook store) there were large communities of paper crafters working together in a sort of quilting bee style.  Before that online communities were spaces to share techniques and organize themed swaps.  Let's bring back the best elements of those communities!  Share your projects and feedback at www.facebook.com/bewitchedcrafts

It turns out I am not alone in experiencing the magic of back to school energy as an adult.  Have you seen the new trend of creating a personal curriculum?  Traditionally, it's designed to include research and satisfy your curiosity, but in this episode, I'm putting a crafty twist on it.  Let's look at ideas for ramping up creative energy, mastering paper crafting tools, and completing holiday cards.

Setting a theme for my summer brought me an easy way to focus on giving myself the experience I wanted most.  8th Grade Summer was a huge success!  I wanted a fun break and I gave myself all of my favorite elements of summer break.  I rode my bike, enjoyed long floats in the pool, played a few video games, and even took a summer reading challenge.  How will I ever top that for Fall?

I took the 52 Book Club's Connection Challenge this summer and documented it all in a summer reading journal.  This episode is for the readers and book girlies!  This challenge had me reading a variety of genres and helped me clear more than a dozen books from my TBR.  Don't forget to share your favorite read of the summer with me.

Let's talk about the little things that delight us.  I'm sharing childhood memories of pinwheels and play doh.  Seventeen magazine and cassette tapes were the special treats of my teenage years.  These days I go for fancy coffee and massages.  How do you treat yourself?

Kids in my area went back to school today.  The end of summer vacation always signaled the end of summer itself when I was a kid.  Of course we went back to classes after Labor Day, but still...old habits.  Anyway, i found myself saying I'm not ready!  I'm stil savoring a few weeks of the season and I'm using them in a deliberate way to set myself up for a terrific Autumn.

With back to school season fast approaching, now is the time to make the most of summer days.  Immerse yourself in your favorite seasonal experiences.  I am reliving my 8th grade summer complete with bike rides, swimming, and video games but with one significant difference.  Listen in to learn more.

It's not exactly the Mid Year Book Freak Out tag, but it's definitely inspired by it!  Let's talk great reads, surprises, and a few disappointments.  Where do your hobbies lead you and how will you document it?

I don't watch much tv and I rarely talk about shows, but today I'm sharing four recommendations for streaming.  I'm planning to capture a little about each of them in my album as part of my endeavor to document the everyday, ordinary things about my life.

Author Gretchen Rubin tells us novelty and challenge have a lot to do with our happiness.   Once you see things through this lense, you'll find it explains the thrill of everything from travel to baking an elaborate cake.  How do we find the right balance to apply it to our favorite hobbies?

I've been away a lot since this Spring.  Comng home with fresh eyes, I am noticing lots of changes.  Somethings seem to have popped up overnight and others took more time.  I'm ready to capture change in a new way in my scrapbook and I hope you'll give it a try.

June was a month filled with joy and special moments, including my friends' wedding in Vegas.  The photos and the memories fill me with happiness.  I'm selecting the best of the bunch for a collage as a month end wrap up.  Listen to learn more.

Need a simple solution to get your creative juices flowing?  A short time away from our normal routines can give us a new perspective.  Have you ever taken a weekend off and found yourself unusually energized, refreshed, and filled with inspiration?  Little things like riding a bike, relaxing in a pool, or changing the scenery can have a big impact.

I've got a challenge for you!  Tonight I am crafting a card to encourage a friend dealing with a difficult work situation. Everyone goes through hard times and I love the idea of reminding my loved ones that I believe better days are ahead.  Listen in and craft a message of support with me.

It turns out I really struggle to resist a dare.  Challenge me to do something and I have the urge to prove myself.  It shows up in everything from reading challenges (check out the cool connections challenge I'm doing this summer) and even my Toastmasters journey.  It's like a game and it brings momentum.  It's a way to think outside the box and get stuff done.  My weekly newsletter includes a crafty challenge to motivate you!  Sign up now to give it a try https://bewitchedcrafts.convertri.com/congratscard

I'm toying with the idea of selecting a theme for my summer, a sort of guiding principle or clear priority for the next three months.  I love the idea of this kind of clarity and I love how well it translates into a scrapbook.  Now if only I could narrow it down...summer reading, adventure, connection?

I recently attended my first Toastmasters conference.  Reflecting on my Toastmasters journey, I've learned that this organization is about so much more than public speaking.  It truly is about finding your voice and learning to share your unforgetable story.  Learning and growing with this incredible community has my creative energy flowing.  I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Join me for a fun episode packed with stories about the things that are currently making me happy and how I plan to include them in my scrapbook.  I'm talking about gardening, reading,and nail polish plus crafts and creativity.