Craft A Life You Love

Latest Episodes:

017: Follow the Fun with Lauren Hom Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

Did you know that you're sitting in the driver's seat of your life and that you have control over exactly where you want to go? On today's episode, I am joined by Lauren Hom, a designer and letterer based in Detroit. Lauren shares how she overcame her fears and put herself out there, what she's done to grow her portfolio as a designer and letterer and the importance of doing something you love to fill your creative tank. She talks about the drawbacks of being a freelancer and how most people romanticize what they don't have. We also discuss how she knew it was time to start building a team and learning to protect her time.

What's in this episode:

How Amy and Lauren met each other
Deciding to work in advertising
Starting a hand lettering blog
Quitting her job and pursuing lettering full-time
Following your dreams rather than doing what's practical
Lettering for lunch to grow her portfolio
Overcoming the fear of putting herself out there
Trying something new and ignoring the "what ifs"
Knowing that we don't have to monetize everything
Doing something to fill your creative tank
The drawbacks of being a freelance creative
Her experience of traveling and working
Craving what you don't have
Remembering that you're in the driver's seat of your life
Her weekly challenge design prompts
Her experience with building a team and asking for help in her business
Recognizing that you can't do it all
Learning to protect her own time
Making sure that you're having fun
Knowing that you have the power to get what you want in life

About Lauren:

I'm a designer and letterer based in Detroit, schooled in New York, and raised in Los Angeles. Known for my bright color palettes, playful letterforms, and quirky copywriting, I've had the pleasure of creating work for clients like Starbucks, Google, AT&T, YouTube and TIME Magazine. My work has been recognized by Communication Arts, the Type Directors Club, and the Webby Awards. I'm also the author of the popular blog and book Daily Dishonesty.

I find that I'm happiest when creating, so when I'm not working, you can find me-HAHA, just kidding! When am I not kind of working on something? When I'm not creating clever things for clients, you can find me selling your ex-boyfriend's tears and putting bread on my head.

Connect with Lauren:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Links:

Hom Sweet Hom Challenge

Skillshare Chalkboard Lettering

Will Letter for Lunch

I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven't already, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won't miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by taking a small step toward turning happiness and fulfillment by savoring this season no matter where you are in your life and in the world.

016: Sharing Your Story With Alisa Burke Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

As creatives, many of us are waiting for our "big break". Today I am joined by Alisa Burke, a painter and mixed media artist who seeks to infuse creativity into every part of her life. Alisa shares why you should let go of the expectation of a "big break" and instead work toward the small steps that add up to greatness over time. We chat about using lists to tackle tasks our day to day lives, the importance of listening to your gut and what she does to build an authentic presence online. You'll hear about how she became resilient, the empowerment that comes with sharing your story and how she keeps things simple in her creative business.

What's in this episode:

Growing up in a creative environment
Working day jobs while hustling with her art on the side
Letting go of the expectation of a "big break"
Learning that the small steps add up the most over time
How Alisa handles the chaos
How creativity can be overwhelming in your business
Using lists to tackle and accomplish things in her day
Her daily routine as a creative business owner
Having an idea about teaching art at an affordable price
Listening to her gut
The differences between her classes and free videos
Keeping things simple in her business
Building an authentic online presence and community
Figuring out what you like rather than your mentors or teachers like
Incorporating children into creativity
How her miscarriages have made her more resilient
Healing and working through her grief
The empowerment that comes through sharing your story
A mantra that helps Alisa through her journey
Understanding that good things take time

About Alisa:

Alisa Burke is a freelance painter and mixed media artist who studied fine art at Portland State University. With a background in painting and printmaking, a desire to explore and push materials, Alisa is always looking for new ways to break the rules and redefine art. She draws inspiration from street art, graffiti, art history and fashion and it is not uncommon to find her digging through the trash in hopes of recycling something unique to use in her artwork.

If she's not making art in her Oregon Coast studio, you can find painter and mixed media artist Alisa Burke blogging, teaching art workshops or creating her handmade accessories. Whether it's running her creative business, being a mom or adventuring outdoors, she is always looking for inspiration. From drawing, painting and even the way she raises her daughter, Alisa seeks to infuse creativity into every part of her life.

Connect with Alisa:

Website | Instagram

Links:

Creativation

015: Learning to Let Go With Jessica N. Turner Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself holding onto memories or things that no longer serve you? Today I brought Jessica N. Turner onto the podcast. Jessica is an author, award-winning marketing executive, founder of the popular lifestyle blog The Mom Creative. We discussed how you can find freedom in letting go. We talked about the joy you can get from getting rid of things that no longer serve you. She also shares her non-negotiables, her advice about recognizing where guilt is coming from and why you should learn to say "no".

What's in this episode:

Why Jessica started her blog
How she got started with scrapbooking
Finding time for her passions and deciding to write a book about it
How Jessica ended up with a two-book contract
Jessica's non-negotiables in her daily life
Being selfless by taking care of yourself
How Amy has dealt with mom guilt
Jessica's advice about recognizing where guilt is coming from
How you can find freedom in letting go
The joy that comes out of getting rid of things that no longer serve you
How to have other's help you with accountability
Avoiding excuses for reasons to keep things you no longer need
Surveying women for her book, Stretched Too Thin
Jessica's daily routines and her thoughts on balance
Learning to say "no" more and staying away from social media
How Jessica handles negative feedback
The books that Jessica has enjoyed reading recently
Quotes that she lives by

About Jessica:

Jessica N. Turner is the author of Stretched Too Thin and The Fringe Hours. She is also an award-winning marketing executive and the founder of the popular lifestyle blog The Mom Creative (www.themomcreative.com). Additionally, she is a writer for the Today Parenting Team and DaySpring's (in)courage, an advocate for World Vision, a regular speaker at events nationwide. She and her husband, Matthew live with their three children in Nashville, Tennessee.

Connect with Jessica:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Book Snobbery Instagram

Pre-order Stretched Too Thin and you'll receive a free e-version of My Fringe Hours: Discovering a More Creative and Fulfilled Life and free access to the Stretched Too Thin online course.

Links:

The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You by Jessica N. Turner

Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive by Jessica N. Turner

My Fringe Hours: Discovering a More Creative and Fulfilled Life by Jessica N. Turner

City of Girls: A Novel by Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

014: Filling Your Life With Color With Stephanie Smokovich Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

If you feel like your life is weighed down by stress, then you will want to hear this episode.

Today on the podcast, I am joined by Stephanie Smokovich, the founder of Bella BLVD, a scrapbooking company specializing in beautifully designed patterned papers and stickers.

In January 2018, Stephanie was confronted with a brain cancer diagnosis. From this diagnosis, she was faced with the difficult task of reducing stress and work in her life. It was then that she made the difficult decision to let go of the business side of Bella BLVD to focus on the art and design portion she initially fell in love with. Stephanie partnered her business with Doodlebug and continues to work as the Creative Director.

We discuss how her brain tumor changed her mindset and perspective on life, how she fills her life with color, and how she came up with the idea for her event, She Loves Color. We also chat about transitioning to working less, how to reduce stress in your life and the mantra that Stephanie lives by.

What's in this episode:

What is going on right now in Stephanie's life
Discovering she had a brain tumor
How that diagnosis has changed her perspective and mindset
Filling her life with color
What kind of scrapbooking Stephanie enjoys to do
What inspired Stephanie to start scrapbooking
How She Loves Color came about
Creating an environment where women could support each other
Showcasing other women in the creative industry
How Stephanie crafts a life that she loves
Transitioning to working from home and working less
What Stephanie recommends to help people reduce stress
The process of partnering with Doodlebug
The mantra that Stephanie lives by

From Stephanie:

The truth about me is that I have loved scrapbooking since the very first day I walked into a local store; I met the owner, and was hired the same day! Attending fine arts classes during the day, and teaching scrapbooking workshops at night became part of my daily college routine. After earning an expensive Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design I moved out of state to follow my love for art and design. After two years I returned home to Wisconsin with bigger dreams: Shortly thereafter, Bella Blvd was born (2008).

Fast forward to January of 2018: Life certainly changed for me when the doctors informed me that I have brain cancer-needless to say, it put a whole lot of things into perspective. The doctors recommend working much less and reducing stress in my life. While Bella Blvd brings me so much joy, it also comes with it's fair amount of stress. Therefore, I made a tough decision to choose life and to let go of all the business side of Bella Blvd. As of January 2019 Doodlebug will be maintaining all of the company's day-to-day operations. I will continue to be involved on the art and design levels and am so thankful to have found Cynthea and her team to partner with!

After attending the Inspired Retreat in Nashville in May of 2016, the She Loves Color Event was born. The mission is to inspire, connect and customize. We aim with the event to support each other and allow color to energize us. We've designed the event to allow women to do what they love, meet new friends and offer a manufacture focused event. As the owner of Bella Blvd it's important to me the we not only recognize the Educators, but also the companies that are behind the faces.

Connect with Stephanie:

Instagram | Bella BLVD Instagram | She Loves Color Instagram | Bella BLVD Website

Links:

She Loves Color 2019: During online registration in the "other girlfriends in my group" section, mention me: Amy Tangerine and let them know I sent you!

Creativation

YouTube Video for She Loves Color

Craftcation

013: The Good Life With Jonathan Fields Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

Are you doing everything that you can to fill your buckets? One of the keys to a life well-lived is to make sure you're focusing your energy on doing activities and spending time with people that fill you up.

Today on the podcast, I am honored to be joined by Jonathan Fields, a national bestselling author and the founder of Good Life Project. Jonathan is the chief architect behind the world's first "purpose archetypes", Sparketypes™. I have been following along with Jonathan's journey since the beginning as the Good Life Project was one of the first podcasts I got hooked on. It's truly a gift to be able to have him on the podcast today.

We discuss how Sparketypes™ came about, what each Sparketype is and what kind of work makes each Sparketype feel most alive. He also shares why you should focus on saying "no" more often and why he doesn't believe in the notion of balance.

What's in this episode:

Why Jonathan doesn't believe in the notion of balance
Being focused on saying "no" more often
Run an experiment to see if something gives you energy
Filling your buckets in life to live a life well lived
The biggest challenges of parenting today
Limiting screen time for children
Hosting the Good Life Camps
The dynamic of working together with his wife
How his community took off
Deciding he wanted to move away from doing camps
How Sparketypes came about
Feeling like there was something missing from current personality tests
The joy Amy gets from watching people go through creative breakthroughs
Devouring and immersing yourself into a something that fills you up
Understanding that different work fills different people's buckets
The different Sparketypes and what they do
How Jonathan infuses creativity and intention into his everyday

About Jonathan:

Jonathan Fields is a national bestselling author and the founder of Good Life Project®, one of the top-ranked podcasts in the world with a giant global, mission-driven community. The Wall Street Journal hailed Good Life Project as one of the top self-development podcasts, and Apple recently featured it on-stage during its legendary annual event.

An innovator in the field of human potential, Fields is also the chief architect behind the world's first "purpose archetypes"–the Sparketypes™–tapped by tens-of-thousands of individuals, companies and institutions in the quest to amplify purpose, expression, performance and flow.

Jonathan's latest book, How to Live a Good Life, became an instant national bestseller and #1 audiobook on Audible and his prior book, Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel For Brilliance, was named #1 Personal Development Book by 800-CEO-READ. He is currently at work on a forthcoming book on the Sparketypes. Jonathan and his work have been featured widely in the media, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, FastCompany, Entrepreneur, Forbes and Inc.

When Jonathan takes the stage as a keynote-presenter or program facilitator, he brings a rare ability to not just captivate with ideas and stories drawn from his own experience and years interviewing global visionaries, but also to tap into an expansive, international data-set derived from the Sparketype Assessment that reveals powerful insights about purpose, meaning, performance, expression and what it takes to truly to come alive and step into your fullest potential in work and life.

Connect with Jonathan:

Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook

Links:

How to Live a Good Life: Soulful Stories, Surprising Science, and Practical Wisdom by Jonathan Fields

Sparketypes

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

012: The 5 Steps for Re-Sparking Your Love for Creating Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

One topic that is often avoided in the creative community is navigating through those tough, creative dry spells. I'm talking about those days where you wake up and it just seems as if your passion and inspiration are mysteriously gone.

Those days where you feel like you're in a rut, where you feel unengaged, uninspired and lack the motivation you need to create. It's a hard place to be in when you want so badly to make something but you feel that you're stuck or you think you have no ideas left.

Today I will share how I like to think of creativity, how to address the hard times and the importance of giving yourself grace through creative dry spells. I also give an acronym for the word "ALIVE" that will lead you back on track and rekindle your love for creating.

What's in this episode:

How Amy likes to think of creativity
Navigating the waves of inspiration
Reconfiguring your time and energy
Making an investment to help you save time
Addressing the hard times
Giving yourself grace through the creative dry spells
The 5 steps for re-sparking your love for creation
Admit that you're stuck and feeling this way
Learn from past projects
Investigate and see what is out there
Veer into something new and different
Engage with a new creative community
Setting aside specific time only for your creative practice
Knowing that your creative dry spell will pass

Links:

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

Craft a Life You Love by Amy Tangerine

011: Carving Out Time to Do What Brings You Joy With Paige Taylor Evans Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

Happiness is about choosing to do the things in your day that create joy and excitement. Even if you can only carve out 10 to 15 minutes, it's still important to do the things that you love that make you feel fulfilled.

Today I am joined by a friend, Paige Taylor Evans. Paige is a scrapbooker who has seven signature collections with Pink Paislee, almost a thousand cut files with Silhouette, two design teams and has taught papercrafting classes in 10 countries. What I enjoyed most about my conversation with Paige is how she not only shared the bright happy stuff but she also shared the times where she navigated through the tough moments and how she's started making healthier choices for life. We discuss how we met each other and did live events together, her experience of teaching scrapbooking in other countries, and her favorite techniques for scrapbooking. She also shares her advice for days when you're feeling uncreative and where to turn to for inspiration.

What's in this episode:

How Paige got started in scrapbooking
What made Paige get obsessed with scrapbooking
Her scrapbooking style and how it has evolved over the years
How working with American Crafts changed her scrapbooking style
Switching gears and taking a break to come back with a fresh outlook
How Paige started working at American Crafts
The influences of digital products and how scrapbooking has changed
Paper crafting becoming more popular again
Finding your niche in scrapbooking
How Paige and Amy met each other
What it was like doing live scrapbooking at events together
Her experience of teaching scrapbooking in other countries
How grateful people are when you teach them about scrapbooking
What made Paige bring stitching into paper crafts
What Paige does while she is stitching
The environment she does her best work in
Paige's favorite techniques to use when scrapbooking
How organization plays into her design technique
Her advice for finding more creativity and where to turn for inspiration
Her current wellness routine and what she is looking forward to

From Paige:

I'm from Seattle. Chris is from Denver. We met at BYU and got married in 2007 in Nauvoo, IL. Chris graduated from the USC School of Dentistry in 2013 through an Army scholarship and then we were stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany for 4 years! We visited 43 countries while living in Europe and miss it every day! We now live in Littleton, CO where Chris works at his dream job as a dentist at Old Town Dental. I'm a stay-at-home-working-mom to our son Fox and daughter Jane. Scrapbooking is my passion and I have my own signature collections with Pink Paislee. I'm a teacher at BIG PICTURE CLASSES, on the SCRAPBOOK & CARDS TODAY design team, I make and release 10 NEW SILHOUETTE CUT FILES every week, and I have an ETSY SHOP on the side. I love teaching in-person scrapbooking and bookbinding workshops whenever and wherever I can!

Connect with Paige:

Website | Instagram | Happy Scrappy Place | YouTube | Pinterest

Links:

Paige's Pages with Big Picture Classes

Truly Grateful Collection with Pink Paislee

Creativation

Dawson's Creek

Silhouette Design Store

Silhouette Cut File Layouts

Two By Two by Nicholas Sparks

Scrappy Cruise

I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven't already, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won't miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love and remember that we can all embrace positivity and joy, and go after the things we love.

010: Big Dreams Daily Joys with Elise Blaha Cripe Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

No matter your age, it is never too late to start something new that is on your heart or that you've been dreaming about. That is one piece of wisdom that today's guest, Elise Blaha Cripe and I discuss from her book, 100 Pep Talks.

I am so excited to have Elise on the show today. Elise has been sharing thoughts and DIY projects online since 2005. She has been running an online shop of handmade goods since 2008 and in the past few years, she has launched GET TO WORK BOOK® and self-published a book, 100 Pep Talks. Her new book, Big Dreams and Daily Joys will be releasing this October. We discuss her favorite part of being a scrapbooker, ignoring the voices in your head that tell you that you can't do something and dealing with critical people.

What's in this episode:

How she got started in her career as a full-time maker
How Elise crafts a life that she loves
Setting creative goals and following through on them
Thinking about your "why" when trying to monetize your hobbies
Being honest with herself and her audience
How she ended up creating 100 Pep Talks
Elise's main priorities for making her planner
Her favorite part about being a scrapbooker
Giving people permission to try a craft
How it's never too late to start something new
How Amy feels about people being so critical
Ignoring the voices in the back of your head
Elise's new book, Big Dreams Daily Joys
Being inclusive of everything that's going on behind the scenes
Elise's advice for people who feel the need to get to the end result
The craft projects that Elise is obsessed with right now
How Elise uses her daily habit tracker
Why Elise only checks her email through her computer
A quote that Elise is loving right now

About Elise:

I'm Elise and I make stuff. That's who I am and that's my job.

I started a blog in 2005 because I wanted to share my thoughts with the Internet. A year later, I began sharing craft projects and tutorials. In 2008, I opened my first online shop and since then, I have made and sold everything from letterpress prints to wooden plant stands.

Over the years, I have learned that while I'll always make stuff, my true passion is in helping people set and work towards their goals. In 2015, I launched the brand GET TO WORK BOOK® which provides tools to help you get your goals organized and do the work to reach them. I believe that big things happen one day at a time and my products are designed to schedule out those days. You can learn more about GET TO WORK BOOK® and shop the line here.

I live in San Diego, California with my husband, Paul, and our two young daughters, Ellerie and Piper. In fall 2017, I launched a self-paced eCourse about creating with your kiddos. You can learn more about that here.

Connect with Elise:

Website | Instagram | Blog

Links:

100 Pep Talks

Get to Work Book

Big Dreams Daily Joys by Elise Blaha Cripe

The Farm by Joanne Ramos

Man In The Window: The Golden State Killer Podcast

To Live and Die in LA

I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven't already, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won't miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by taking a small step toward turning happiness by choosing progress over perfection.

009: Savoring the Season Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Don't you remember those incredible summers when you were growing up? Ones that were full of freedom and enjoyment? On today's solo episode, I am talking about taking the time to savor the most sun and fun of this season. Just because we're all grown up doesn't mean our sense of wonder has to end.

I share why you should lean into fear and learn to embrace yourself for all of your unique quirks. When you allow your unique self to rise to the surface, you will feel more stimulated and alive. Honoring this and loving yourself for it will fuel that little glimmer inside of your soul that allows you to create, design and live your life to its fullest. I also chat about why you should savor the season, set intentions for yourself and the importance of indulging in your adventurous side.

What's in this episode:

Amy's memories of her childhood summer
Indulge in the more adventurous side of yourself
Disconnecting from distractions
The fear of facing struggles on your own
Amy's favorite mantra from her book
Choosing to enjoy and savor your life
An acronym for the word savor
Setting your own intentions for the summer

Links:

Craft a Life You Love by Amy Tangerine

Hammer Museum - Hammer Museum - free admission!

008: Beginning Your Inner Work with Heidi Stevens Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

If you're feeling stuck in your 9 to 5 or you keep toying with the idea of turning your side hustle a full-time gig then this is the episode is for you.

What does it feel like to break through the conventional path set out for you and chase after a dream? It's very different for everyone but many people experience a certain amount of fear. After all, it isn't easy to embrace those big unknowns in the beginning. Today I am joined by my friend, Heidi Stevens, an entrepreneur who built a 7-figure real estate business but couldn't help but feel that something was missing. Heidi transitioned to being a soulful business coach and hasn't looked back since. We discuss what it was like for her to transition into this new role, how she realized it was time to step out of the real estate business and the importance of setting intentions for your life.

What's in this episode:

How Heidi transitioned from the real estate industry to soulful business coaching
Hiring a mentor to help her begin coaching
Merging her real estate business
Realizing she had to step out of the business
The first steps to take to begin your inner work
Collaborating with other women
Setting intention for your life
Heidi's non-negotiables for crafting a life she loves
Giving yourself space and scheduling a pause
A quote that helps Heidi in times of challenge
Finding inspiration and taking action

About Heidi:

Heidi Stevens is a soulful business coach for service-based creative entrepreneurs.

In her one-on-one work with clients and through her transformative Thrive program, Heidi supports women in getting clear on their strategy, up-leveling their mindset, and tuning into their spirituality.

Over the past decade, Heidi built one of the most successful real estate firms in Los Angeles, alongside Kenny, her partner in business and in life. The two grew the firm to a multiple 7-figure business, and Heidi built and trained a team of more than fifteen people. Despite her professional success, her life felt divided. During the week, Heidi was managing her team and closing deals. Then, on the weekends, she'd step into the spiritual side of herself — attending personal development workshops, working with coaches and healers, and getting her Masters in Spiritual Psychology.

Heidi noticed that the more she leaned into meditation, mindset work, and manifestation exercises, the more successful her business became. She realized business strategy and spirituality were closely aligned and one could inform the other. Heidi wanted to help other women discover this connection and use it to strengthen and grow their businesses and create more easeful, prosperous lives.

Over the past two years, Heidi has mentored more than a hundred women through phases of concentrated growth — both through her private client work and her group program, Thrive. She has helped them find more outward success, inner harmony, and overall growth.

Connect with Heidi:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

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