An Announcement For 2026
You probably have noticed the little black label on my previews that says “AI Free”. Well, I am aware that this is the opposite direction in which most are going right now. On the surface AI does seem like such an amazing resource for us designers! I thought it could at least inspire and really help my creativity. But there are so many reasons that have brought me to my decision to not use AI in my work and even my personal life. One of them is the emptiness I felt after creating or just using AI – whether as a desktop image, layout, planner, or any other project. I was actually surprised after never being satisfied with what I thought looked so pretty. There are also many non-personal, but sound reasons like the hidden costs (our own electric bill has even gone up directly due to data centers for AI) and the impact of the environment – especially in rural areas, for my not participating in generating any kind of AI – chat or art.
With that being said, from here on, I am making a commitment to not use AI in anything I create or write. I will do as I have been before AI was around, craft my own words, craft my own posts, and newsletters without AI. Matter of fact, teaching my children the free The Good and Beautiful Language Arts course over the years actually strengthened my writing skills – no AI needed! I also will not be using any AI in my graphics, which I have dabbled some in the past. I am choosing to craft using 100% Human Intelligence & Creativity.
So I am hoping you won’t mind, and certainly I am not aiming to offend anyone if they are deciding to use AI…this is my personal decision. If nothing else you are at least informed at what went into designing the kit or bundle. I guess I will be considered Vintage and Old Fashioned from here on – but hey I am ok with that, as that is kind of what I am all about anyway.
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Now, onto the fun stuff and why you are here right?! It is January 1st – who can believe we are in 2026?? I am happy to be starting a new year, a new chapter (we have a cow!!), and I am ready to get back to designing! And with that I have a January 2026 Blog Train mini freebie for you. Also, Valentina surprised me with a lovely cluster gift to share with you all! I hope you all have a wonderful & kindly year!
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January 2026 Digital Scrapbook Blog Train
This mini freebie kit, which coordinates with the bundle, can be downloaded by clicking below.
You can also head back to the Digital Scrapbook Blog Train thread to pick up all the other lovely contributions for this month’s train!
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New Release at Digital Scrapbook
As life tries to get more and more complicated, we often strive for a counterbalance with a simpler life. It can certainly help us move through the journey with just a little less weight on our shoulders. This bundle focuses on taking the time out to do the the meaningful & worthwhile things in life, as well as the little things! The hand drawn illustrations help to echo these sentiments and add a cozy feel to your pages and projects.
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Creative Team Created : Cluster
Valentina has created this amazing cluster and is generously sharing it with us! She used the Simple Life bundle to create it. You can download Valentina’s Fading Blossoms Cluster using the link below.
Creative Team Inspiration
Here are some sweet pages created by my Team! I love how some incorporated the little moments and some a wonderful wintry moment! They are all so beautifully crafted and I am grateful and proud to display their pages here with you!
Credits Above Left: AMarie | Right: Lou
Credits Above Left: Marie-Christine | Right: DebD
Credits Above AMarie
Credits Above Left: Valentina | Center: Marie-Christine | Right: AMarie
Credits Above Alli
Credits Above Left: Bourico | Right: Marie-Christine
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Apparently I’m a month behind in reading your posts, but I am so glad that you have decided to stick with your own beautifully creative mind. I have long maintained that it can never create or produce true art, so to all those who claim artists will be out of the job soon, I say only if we lose our appreciatation for that which is truly art. I had no idea until recently that AI was having such a huge environmental impact, but that is certainly another great reason to be very wary of its growth.
Thank you for your stand, and for your generosity in sharing your creations with us. You have always been one of my favorite designers. Also, shout out to The Good and the Beautiful! I wish it had been around when I was in the trenches; as it is, only my youngest 3 benefitted from it for a few years of high school.
Thank you so much Sharon for expressing your thoughts! I have always enjoyed sharing, especially with the blog trains, and hope to keep that up as long as I am around on the internet. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the subject and I think in the end people will come to appreciate people over machines. Right now, it’s the ‘new shiny’ thing and I can see the appeal to use it. But it’s just not worth it in my opinion. Besides funding billionaires really isn’t my style anyway. ♥ Yay, another G&B user! I am pretty much the same story, only my youngest 2 ended up on it. I had felt the same way “where was this when my first two were younger?” My daughter was struggling with reading thru 1st grade, which is what sent me looking for another curriculum for 2nd. I stumbled upon the G&B and she soared. Soon after, she became a voracious reader and I haven’t been able keep her in books since! Such a happy problem right? 😉 She is in high school now – which is so hard to believe! Thanks again for stopping by Sharon! I’m so glad you did! ♥
I applaud you to taking the stance on AI. I also can’t come to reconcile that if I describe something to an AI, that I can possibly take credit for it. Does a person who contracts a painter to paint their portrait get to claim credit for painting the portrait. I dont mind the use of AI in mundane tasks such as making better selections or upsizing, etc, in graphics programs. Photography is my main hobby and I went through a period where I thought, why bother. But the need to create overcame that. Like you I like the pleasure of making something myself. At the same time I see people making beautiful things with AI, yet I still can’t help thinking, they didnt make it they asked another entity to make it for them. I guess with time, we will become conditioned to it…bummer.
Thank you Susan! There is certainly that aspect to how much is derived from another’s work. Working with AI I was surprised how “unfulfilled” I felt with the end result. Time after time this occurred, so I decided, along with learning about the heavier environmental and human costs, it was time for me to ditch AI. I understand not everyone may feel this way, but it is certainly how it affected me. Even non-artistic AI is sloppy and full of errors. My husband, who is an Admin for a fortune 500 platform, is constantly cleaning up coworker’s AI code because AI got it wrong – tho at a quick glance it *seems* ok – but falls flat when it goes to function. It amazes me and even bewilders me how fast people and businesses have clutched onto this – even knowing full well how much quality they are ditching. I have a saying I live by, “I boycott for life” so in my book I am going to avoid AI wherever I can. I am even going to start my Dr’s convos with “Don’t use any AI on my diagnosis or treatments”. Photography is a great hobby Susan! Glad you saw it through as I am sure it will bring you more satisfaction than typing some words in a generator and it producing a photo for you. 😉 I always wanted to learn how to create daguerreotypes myself – still hope to one day! I think in the end the tangible will win out. Well it will in our household anyway. ♥
Jess, I agree with your stance on AI. I think we will see in the future that it wasn’t the great thing it is cracked up to be! My grandson is a digital art and design major so I hear a lot about the downside. So easy to steal someone else’s work!!
Thank you for sharing your insight Becky! It is a strange time to live in to be sure. Thanks so much for stopping by! ♥
I totally agree. And even we don’t give permission to let AI train on our images/layouts, i think an AI does it anyway. How would we even know.
You just let your artistic abilities flow within your gorgeous designs. I have been partial to your designs for quite a while as a member of Digital Scrapbook. I adore the warmth and talent that is always displayed whether it is a mini or a full kit. I have purchased your bundles and downloaded your freebies in the past. I agree wholeheartedly with your decision to omit the use AI within your designs. I just really love to see your innate talent shine. 🙂
Wow Shirl – I really appreciate the thoughtful & very kind comment you left me! The advent of AI certainly has fired within me the want to do better at what I do. And maybe learn & practice some of those things I have always wanted to learn or get better at. I genuinely appreciate all the support you have given me! It can be challenging to navigate without AI driven sources, but I always hope to continue pushing my creative boundaries for you all. Again thank you so much! ♥
Jessica- Beautiful, as always! Thank you so much for your contribution.
AMarie- Your use of embellishments on your example layouts for Matthieu & Raphael are stunning! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much Amy for your taking a moment to share your thoughtful comment! And I really appreciate your kind thoughts for my Team too! I know they appreciate it too! ♥
Thnk you so much for your awesome portion of this blog train !
Thank you Chloé! I appreciate your taking time to share your thoughts! ♥
Thank you so much for all of the beautiful creations you create and share. I appreciate your stance on AI. While I do see there are potentially good uses of AI, I believe that it can too easily be exploited (and it already has been) and used in non-productive, non-helpful ways. I really appreciate what you’re doing.
You are very welcome & thank you Tamalita for your insightful comment! I too have seen the exploitation of AI. People do seem bent on removing all the “safetys” when it comes to AI. Thanks again for contributing your thoughts! ♥
Firstly, thanks for your beautiful creativity and artistic work. Your choice to use or not use AI should not offend others – AI has its place (it is just the latest revolution – remember when computers and smart phones became the norm or when emails were the new thing, then social media). I prefer to know that a design uses AI or not, even though it is often easy to tell when AI has been used. It’s your creative/artistic journey and always be true to yourself.
Thanks so much Justina! I know AI has been a hotly debated subject in the art related world since it made its debut. I am grateful you took a moment to let me know your feedback! It is very helpful to know you prefer AI to be labeled. Seems like most do. AI is getting so much better tho these days so it is becoming harder to know if AI has been used or not – thus the importance of at least labeling. Thanks again! ♥
Your stance on AI makes my heart so happy! I’ve had to make some card designs with AI generated images because the company I design with started making card panels with them. My kids were so cross and it didn’t sit well with me either. I was started to think my opinion was a whisper in the wilderness, so I’m delighted our thoughts are aligned. I adore your creativity and I’ll be honest, it would have been diminished a little for me if it had AI elements in it. I love this new kit and it’s lovely knowing the art is human generated, not AI. I’m nervous for all that AI means in our future and stand with you in that wish to remain ‘old school’. Happy New Year Jess xoxo
Thank you so much Wendy! I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts! I think there are a few of us ‘whispering in the wilderness’ love that phrasing btw! I am always delighted to read your comments and see the beautiful cards you create! If you ever have any suggestions for card makers please send them my way! Thanks again for taking a moment to leave me your thoughts! And I read about your friend – so sorry for your loss and for the stressful year (I can relate to the latter!). Here is hoping 2026 will be a much better year for you! ♥
Thank you for the goodies! Not sure I’ve left monthly thank you’s before as I just discovered how on here. LOL I love your creations!
Thank you so much Diana for your kind thoughts & taking a moment to comment! ♥
I commend you on your decision and thank you! I am not thrilled with AI and truthfully, it scares me a little. Your work is lovely and I am sure that it will remain to be so. Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment Laurie! I am looking forward to seeing what this year brings! Wish you all the best! ♥
I’ve always love your kits, they are so genuine. I totally agree with you on AI, I think the world will lose out on so much! Thank you for being just you!
I want to thank you Mary K for your kind comment! I will admit I was a little timid about making the announcement as I was worried I would offend people – not something I want to do. So I appreciate you and everyone’s else’s supportive comments! I want to always stay true to myself & I think I can handle that. 🙂
I completely agree with you regarding AI. I will not be using it for anything, personal or otherwise. I much prefer using my own mind and abilities. I’ve always loved your designs and am thrilled to hear you’ll be avoiding AI. I hope more people jump on your bandwagon, even if some might call it, as you said, old-fashioned. I fear so much that the whole AI world is going to negate and depress our human creative instincts. I worry that eventually, we’ll lose the ability. Long after I’m gone, hopefully, but it makes me very sad to imagine. So, keep on keepin’ on, and I’m sure most of us who enjoy your talents will still be here, eager to see what you create next – with your own ability, not with artificial means.
I really appreciate your heartfelt thoughts Deb! I think many are worried about the consequences, as AI is so new and has not been through the testing to know the impact. I certainly don’t expect any slow down in AI as it is way too popular. But I have noticed some becoming more aware of the fact their jobs are now at risk. My husband’s line of work involves a lot of coding. They say in a few years AI will be able to do project level coding – which would in fact replace his job if the company/organization so desired. We are taking a page in the Amish’s book – diversify the income & grow as much as we can on our own. 😉 I will keep on trucking – just without all the latest techy stuff. Thanks for visiting! ♥
You nailed it perfectly. Beautifully said.
I always think thank you when I get a free kit or any other freebie. In expectation of another grateful new year, thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I appreciate it DeAnn! Thank you for visiting and wishing you all the best! ♥
Hi Jessica, I’m with you on the subject of using AI! During the covid crises I discovered scrapbooking and I’m hooked since. My mean reason was and still is that I can use my own photos and I don’t need AI for that.
Thank you for your wonderful creations and I’m glad your up (with a cow) for 2026! I will be looking forward to your beautiful kits.
I’m so glad you found your way to scrapbooking Corrie! We are very excited about our sweet Buttermilk cow. She is certainly fitting in with our family beautifully! I’m so happy you stopped by and truly appreciate your sharing your thoughts! ♥
Jessica,
I just read your blog post and I am so happy that you posted your feelings about AI. I totally agree with you about AI leaving you feel empty. I just didn’t know how to articulate my thoughts about as well as you have. Thank you, thank you, thank you from someone else who values HUMAN creativity, intelligence and designs.
Beth
Aww thanks Beth – I think you communicate in a fine way! I appreciate your thoughts and for taking a moment to share them with me! ♥
Thank you Jessica,
you got an e-mail from me 😉
Happy New Year ♥
Thank you Doska! I’ll be sending one your way as well. ♥
thank you very much )))
You are very welcome Biche57! Thanks so much for visiting! ♥
I appreciate your stance on AI. I truly believe that one of these days we are gonna be shocked and saddened when we find out just why it is so bad. I appreciate your willingness to create bundles that are completely AI free.
Thank you for your thoughts & feedback Margaret! Who knows what the future holds, but I will be sticking to the tried & true 😉