Bits & Pieces – October into November

Whew, it’s been another busy month at The Lilypad! We rolled out the new advanced search function, and I hope you’ve had a chance to play around with it. If you’ve spotted any weirdness (or just want to tell me how much you love it), feel free to tag me again. I’ve been keeping an eye out for feedback, but you all are faster than caffeine most days, so sometimes I miss things.

Our Halloween Bash was such a blast — thank you to everyone who joined in the fun! The Halloween 31% off Sale is still going through Sunday night, so don’t miss those last spooky deals before they vanish into the night. 👻

Now that we’ve rolled into fall — that in-between space where we’re saying goodbye to pumpkins and hello to gratitude (and maybe pie). November always feels like the season of slowing down a little, taking stock, and remembering what we’re thankful for before the end-of-year madness hits.

Up next, we have November BYOC right around the corner, and then it’s time for Document Your December. I personally love Document Your December — even if I’ll admit I’m not the best at keeping up with it myself. It’s such a good reminder to pause and notice the small stuff — the ordinary bits, the cozy chaos, and the moments that make your kind of December.

Behind the scenes, there’s been some planning for next year underway — and in case you were wondering (because I know some of you were 😉), Month of Challenges is absolutely coming back in January! Go ahead and mark those calendars.

And because it’s that time of year when everything’s shifting, I’ve been feeling it personally, too. Recently, I launched something called Chaos Designs — a creative space where I share bits of my own process: the art, the journaling, the storytelling, and all the messy, meaningful in-between stuff that fuels it. It’s about growth, transformation, and figuring it out one messy masterpiece at a time. If you’re curious, you can find the Substack link on my Meet the Team page in the forum.

Here’s to change, creativity, and gratitude — and to finding a little beauty (and maybe some glitter) in the chaos. 💛

I’m a creative who pulls inspiration from all corners of life—both the joyful highs and the real-life moments that punch you in the gut. Honestly, I don’t think I can pin down a single scrapbooking style for myself, so let’s just go with eclectic. My layouts really depend on my mindset. If I’m in a deep, cerebral mood, you’ll likely see something chaotic and messy. If I’m more relaxed, it tends to come out clean, simple, and structured.

My brain is usually running on several channels at once, so it’s completely normal for me to be working on a digital layout, dabbling in a hybrid project, and getting messy with art journaling or mixed media—all at the same time.

Here are a few of my go-to tools: Digital: Adobe Photoshop CC + my MacBook; Photos: Canon Rebel or iPhone; Hybrid: Cricut Joy + sewing machine; Art Journaling: watercolors, stencils, and artsticks

And when it comes to embellishments—digital or physical—I’m always reaching for messy threads, ribbons, and Polaroids. Always the Polaroids.

Similar Posts

2 Comments

  1. MOC! MOC! Yahoo! I am SO happy that’s coming back. It’s my favorite. Also, I am beyond thrilled to have the advanced search function back and working like a champ! You rock Esther!

  2. I can’t beleive it’s nearly DYD again! So glad to see the Advanced search function and hear some MOC plans! Nov BYOC looks exciting! Hope you have found some productive mojo in the chaos!

Leave a Reply