What You’ll Get from This Episode

In this episode, we’re chatting about:

The Basics – Exactly what you need in every kit (notebook, cutting tool, adhesive, writing tool, and something to put it all in).

Personalizing Your Kit – How to identify and include your "essential extras" that make this kit yours, and help you to function as your best creative self.

Situation-Specific Kits – Tips for specializing your kits whether for travel, crafting at work, or just journaling on the go.

Big Takeaways

🎨 Your Kit, Your RulesPacking your kit is about self-care and being kind to future you. Having a simple, well-planned kit helps you spend less time making decisions and more time actually making stuff.

✏️ Less is Truly MoreCutting back on supplies reduces decision fatigue and helps bring so much more ease into on-the-go creativity. Learn exactly what to pack—and what gets to stay home—to get the most out of your creative time away from home.

🖌 Adaptability is EmpoweringYour creative kit should work for you, no matter what season (or space) of creating you’re in right now. Embrace flexibility and experimentation so that you can work on the stories that matter most to you, wherever it is you find yourself.

What You’ll Get from This Episode

In this episode, we’re chatting about:

🕰 Real Talk About Time & Energy – Why your creative energy matters just as much as your schedule, and how to find your own natural rhythm.

🌀 Time Horizon Flexibility – Daily Pages don’t have to be daily (seriously). Let’s expand what a creative habit can look like.

📓 Tiny Habits That Actually Fit – From morning coffee sticker sessions to couch journaling at night, I’ll help you carve out creative moments that stick.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re rethinking how creativity fits into your current season of life, this episode will help you see new possibilities.

Big Takeaways

🎨 Creativity should fit your life, not the other way around.You’re not failing if you can’t journal daily—you’re human. Let’s build a habit that works for you.

✏️ Even two minutes of creative time counts.One sticker. One sentence. One page. That’s how routines are built—bit by bit.

🖌 There’s no wrong way to do Daily Pages.Daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally—it’s all valid. Your stories matter, no matter how or when you tell them.

Share

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by reflecting on how much life has changed since 2020, and why it’s okay that your creative habits look different now.

Then we got into time tracking, energy mapping, and how to use your “creative highs” to sneak in some journaling.

And of course, we broke down exactly how to make Daily Pages work with your job, your routine, and your current capacity—whether that’s a 5-minute lunch break or a Sunday evening reset.

Download your Creative Energy Map Worksheet—it’ll help you track your natural creative rhythms over the next week.

Then:

Come celebrate with us at the Daily Pages 5th Anniversary Party on April 5th at Noon ET – it’s free and for everyone!

Share your Daily Pages with us before Wednesday to be featured during the celebration.

Tune in next week for: How to Build a Portable Daily Pages Kit—perfect for work, travel, or couch-based creativity.

What You’ll Get from This Episode

In this episode, we’re chatting about:

* Why the blank page can feel so intimidating (and how to shift your mindset)

* The easiest tricks to start creating when you’re feeling stuck

* How to make creative decisions faster so you don’t get trapped in overthinking

Whether you’re a scrapbooker, journaler, painter, or anything in between—these tips work across every creative practice.

Big Takeaways

🖌 The blank page is only scary if you let it be.Instead of pressuring yourself to create something amazing, shift your mindset to just starting. One mark, one sticker, one sentence—that’s all it takes to get moving.

📖 Use small, repeatable tricks to jumpstart your creativity. A simple prompt, a tiny goal, or a familiar layout can take the guesswork out of where to begin. Looking at past pages for inspiration? Game changer.

🎨 Lower your expectations to open up creative freedom. Instead of worrying about wasting supplies, set a challenge: Make the ugliest page possible. Try using only stickers. Create with your non-dominant hand. Take the pressure off, and creativity will flow.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by talking about why blank pages feel so overwhelming—too many choices, fear of messing up, decision fatigue (we’ve all been there!). The key? Making one small decision to anchor everything else.

Then, we explored quick tricks for getting unstuck:

* Setting tiny goals (one mark, one sticker, one word—just start!)

* Using prompts like Currently Lists or screenshots from your phone for inspiration

* Copying a past page layout with small tweaks (colors, patterns, themes)

And of course, we dug into how expectations can block creativity—and why sometimes, making something terrible on purpose is the best way to move forward.

Take a moment today to notice where you feel stuck most in your creative process. Is it the first step? Overthinking your choices? Worrying about the end result?

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Celebrate 5 Years of Daily Pages with Us: https://www.rukristin.com/p/celebrate-5-years-of-daily-pageshare

Share your Daily Pages with the 5 Year Anniversary community: https://theawesomeladiesproject.com/inspiration/we-want-your-daily-pages-%f0%9f%93%b8/

What You’ll Get from This Episode

In this episode, we’re chatting about:

* Why the blank page can feel so intimidating (and how to shift your mindset)

* The easiest tricks to start creating when you’re feeling stuck

* How to make creative decisions faster so you don’t get trapped in overthinking

Whether you’re a scrapbooker, journaler, painter, or anything in between—these tips work across every creative practice.

Big Takeaways

🖌 The blank page is only scary if you let it be.Instead of pressuring yourself to create something amazing, shift your mindset to just starting. One mark, one sticker, one sentence—that’s all it takes to get moving.

📖 Use small, repeatable tricks to jumpstart your creativity.A simple prompt, a tiny goal, or a familiar layout can take the guesswork out of where to begin. Looking at past pages for inspiration? Game changer.

🎨 Lower your expectations to open up creative freedom.Instead of worrying about wasting supplies, set a challenge: Make the ugliest page possible. Try using only stickers. Create with your non-dominant hand. Take the pressure off, and creativity will flow.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by talking about why blank pages feel so overwhelming—too many choices, fear of messing up, decision fatigue (we’ve all been there!). The key? Making one small decision to anchor everything else.

Then, we explored quick tricks for getting unstuck:

* Setting tiny goals (one mark, one sticker, one word—just start!)

* Using prompts like Currently Lists or screenshots from your phone for inspiration

* Copying a past page layout with small tweaks (colors, patterns, themes)

And of course, we dug into how expectations can block creativity—and why sometimes, making something terrible on purpose is the best way to move forward.

Take a moment today to notice where you feel stuck most in your creative process. Is it the first step? Overthinking your choices? Worrying about the end result?

Now—try one of the strategies from this episode. Pick a tiny goal, grab a prompt, or set a weird challenge for yourself.

I’d love to know—what’s your go-to trick for overcoming the blank page? Hit reply and tell me, or come share inside The Awesome Ladies Project.

What You’ll Get from This Episode

This episode is all about the many paths you can take to tell your story, without worrying about fitting into just one method. We’re chatting about:

* Why there’s no single “correct” way to document your life

* How overlapping creative styles can spark new ideas

* Why your story deserves to be told—imperfections and all

Whether you’re brand new or looking to shake up your routine, you’ll find something here to inspire you.

Big Takeaways

1. There’s No “Right Way” to Do This Sometimes we feel pressure to follow a strict format, but the reality is you can blend scrapbooking, art journaling, and more in whatever way speaks to you. Let yourself explore!

2. Overlapping Methods Can Spark Fresh Ideas It might be a scrapbook page with a little paint, or an art journal that includes photographs. Combining different techniques often leads to the most exciting (and freeing) creative moments.

3. Your Story Matters, No Matter How It’s Told Whether it’s finished pages or a half-complete layout, the imperfect bits still hold meaning. Those real, raw details are a powerful way to capture who you are right now.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by diving into the four pillars of creative documenting—pictures, words, supplies, and bits of life—and how each style uses them differently. It’s all about giving yourself permission to follow what feels genuinely fun and inspiring.

We also explored how simple steps can add up to big creative wins. Maybe that’s cutting out a random photo and sticking it into your junk journal, or trying out a new color palette for your Daily Pages. Little actions can totally shift your creative energy over time.

And of course, we talked about celebrating progress instead of waiting for perfection. Even an unfinished page can become a treasured peek into your life right now, especially if it shows the real, unpolished moments that make your story unique.

In This Episode

I want to keep it simple: play is about curiosity, not perfection. It’s about scribbling in a notebook or messing around with stickers just because it feels good. Even if things look weird at first, you’re building the kind of momentum that leads to authentic ideas later on. So let’s hang out, share stories, and see what happens when we give ourselves space to roam creatively.

Big Takeaways

1) Play Boosts Creativity

Playful time is a chance to wander away from “serious” projects. You never know what random scraps or doodles might spark a new idea. Little moments of silliness can keep you inspired in a way that nothing else does.

2) Process Over Product

Letting yourself make mistakes can lead to unexpected discoveries. Each messy attempt becomes a lesson, a baby step toward figuring out your style. This approach is kinder to your creative spirit and makes the whole journey more fun.

3) Permission & Practice

Give yourself a dedicated space to just fool around. Maybe it’s a daily mini-journal or 10 minutes before bed. Consistency creates confidence, and before you know it, you’ve got a sustainable habit that fits your life.

What We Talked About

How to Make Room for Spontaneity

I mentioned how I used Daily Pages to shake myself out of a creative rut. One sentence to open: journaling with no rules saved me from that “stuck” feeling. Three sentences to build on that: it gave me a way to use the stickers that never made it onto my scrapbook pages. It encouraged me to doodle without worrying if the colors were “off.” It reminded me that creativity should feel like exploration, not a chore. One sentence to wrap it up: the freedom to play is often where our best ideas find us.

Embracing Mistakes and Odd Experiments

Sometimes, I love testing out random materials—like gluing magazine scraps on cheap card stock. It doesn’t always come out pretty, but I learn a ton. Treat mistakes like playful stepping stones, and you might stumble on a new style you’d never have tried otherwise.

Celebrating Every Little Win

It’s easy to obsess over grand finishes, but your everyday progress deserves a spotlight, too. A single doodle, a sticker in your journal, a color test on scrap paper—all of it counts. Over time, those small moves pile up into something powerful.

Take a minute to notice something ordinary on your desk. Maybe it’s a random sticky note or a mismatched pencil. Ask yourself if it can spark a tiny burst of play. One surprising scribble or collage might become the most meaningful thing you do all week.

In this week’s episode, we are diving into how to build your creative confidence. No pressure, no perfection—just showing up, finding what works for you, and leveling up as an artist. If you’re ready to explore how embracing imperfection and owning your story fuel your self-confidence, this episode is absolutely for you.

This episode is all about harnessing your creativity to feel more confident in both your artistry and your everyday life. We’re chatting about embracing imperfection, celebrating your story, and fusing creativity with self-care. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen the relationship you have with yourself, there’s something here for you.

Big Takeaways

1. Owning Your Story

Your story matters, and no one else can tell those stories quite like you. The more you show up—bad pages, brilliant pages, and everything in between—the more you’ll realize (and internalize) how much your voice matters.

2. Imperfection Fuels Growth

We all have “off” days and projects that don’t turn out how we’d imagined. But every misstep can teach you something new. Trusting yourself enough to experiment builds creative resilience and helps you level up your art skills.

3. Community & Self-Care Go Hand-in-Hand

Finding a supportive space (like the Awesome Ladies Project!) helps you stay motivated. More importantly, viewing creativity as a form of self-care helps you to keep the joy front and center. It’s a reminder that prioritizing self-care is always worth it.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off by talking about how embracing your own story—even the tiny, everyday, only-you-care-about parts—can make a huge difference in your confidence. It’s all about seeing the value in who you are, your everyday life, and letting go of any pressure to be perfect. No rigid rules; just ideas and inspiration to help you along the way.

We also explored the idea of experimenting with new techniques, and how its really the small steps that actually lead to big, meaningful changes. Sometimes it’s as simple as playing around with some new supplies, or trying out a new way of sticking stuff down on the page. Other times, it’s about figuring out what is really lighting you up right now and going for it—even if it feels a little scary.

And we finished up the conversation talking about the importance of celebrating your progress. It’s so easy to focus on the end result (especially when that’s what we see on social media from everyone else), but every little step counts. Whether it’s finishing a page, using up a full sheet of stickers, starting a fresh notebook, or just cleaning up your desk, it all adds up to meaningful creativity.

If you’re ready to connect with other creative humans, find your people, and level up your creativity, this episode is exactly what you need.

What You'll Get from This Episode

This episode is all about embracing your inner creative vulnerability and finding strength in community. We’re chatting about:

* How sharing your creative work builds connection and boosts your confidence.

* Why a supportive space (like the Awesome Ladies Project) can transform your creative practice.

* How collaboration and even the littlest bit of feedback can spark big creative breakthroughs.

What We Talked About

We kicked things off this week with talking about how the act of sharing your creative work builds connection and confidence. It’s all about showing your creative process and embracing vulnerability to learn and grow. It’s not about making the perfect prettiest thing to go viral on social media.

We then explored the magic of finding supportive spaces—safe spots where you can share your story and feel inspired. And lately, we took a bit of time to celebrate the power of collaboration. Whether it’s a receiving a small suggestion from a friend or a full cooperative project, every bit of connection adds to our collective tapestry of creativity, which in turn makes us all better versions of our creative selves.

Big Takeaways

* Sharing Fuels Connection & GrowthSharing your work builds the bridge between you and a world of creative possibility. In this episode, we explore how putting your story out there helps you see your art in a whole new light and builds your confidence. When you share, you create a cycle where your growing self-assurance feeds back into your creative process, making every piece even more vibrant. Sharing is the key to unlocking your creative potential.

* Supportive Spaces MatterFinding a community that vibes with your values can change everything. We talked about how being part of a something bigger than yourself—whether it’s a one-on-one chat or a community like the Awesome Ladies Project—lets you share your story without judgment. It’s about finding a space where you feel seen, safe, and celebrated, no matter what stage you’re at. The right community is essential to you thriving as an artist.

* Collaboration Sparks InspirationCollaboration is great, both big and small. It’s all about taking your creative ideas and mixing and matching them with some creative ideas from your friends. We talked about how even a tiny piece of feedback can turn a creative block into a breakthrough and open up new ways to see your work. By sharing your story and engaging with others, you invite diverse perspectives that can transform your art into something you would never have discovered along.

What’s Next?

Take a moment to celebrate the small creative acts you’re already doing every day—they matter more than you think. And don’t miss Episode 211 coming next week. we’ll be chatting about boosting your confidence through your creative practice. Get ready to feel empowered!

This episode is all about noticing the tiny, fleeting moments that make up your everyday life. We’re chatting about:

* How to use your creative practice to capture small, meaningful details

* Why the simplest objects—like a coffee mug or headphones—can inspire powerful stories

* Letting meaning emerge naturally through consistent storytelling

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refresh your creative routine, there's something here for you.

We’re back! Crafty Ass Female is kicking off 2025 with a fresh episode all about starting (or restarting) your creative practice in a way that actually feels good. No pressure, no perfection—just showing up and finding what works for you.

If you’re ready to ditch the overwhelm and ease into 2025 with a creative routine that fits your real life, right now, this episode is for you.

What You'll Get from This Episode

This episode is all about making creativity feel doable—whether you’re picking up where you left off or starting completely fresh. We’re talking about how to create a practice that fits your life (instead of feeling like another thing on your to-do list), why small steps matter more than big leaps, and how celebrating your progress—no matter how tiny—can help you stay inspired and confident in your creative journey.

Big Takeaways

Your Creative Practice = Your Story

Your creative work should reflect you—your values, your interests, and the things that light you up. There’s no “right way” to do it, just the way that feels right to you.

Small Steps Make a Big Difference

Forget the all-or-nothing approach. Starting small—like adding a sticker to a page or jotting down a few thoughts—builds momentum and makes creativity feel doable, even on busy days.

Celebrate Every Little Win

Creative progress isn’t just about finished pages. It’s about showing up, experimenting, and finding joy in the process. Every time you try something new, you’re building creative confidence

What’s Next?

Take a minute to notice the small creative acts you’re already doing every day—you might be surprised by how much you’re already showing up for yourself. If you’re looking for inspiration and support, join us inside the Awesome Ladies Project, where we’re sharing our creative wins and tackling fun challenges together.

Crafty Ass Female by rukristin is a listener-supported publication. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Visit rukristin.substack.com to get new episodes emailed to you each week.

And don’t miss Episode 208: Creativity and Self-Care, coming out next Monday. If you’re curious about how your creative practice connects with your well-being, you’ll want to tune in for this one.