Hi there. My name is Cathy Zielske and this is my home on the World Wide Web. I’ve been doing the online thing since 2007. (Well, actually since 2005, but back then I had a little hissy fit from a few trolling comments and shut it all down.) When I re-launched my blog, I chose to not care as much about asshats. So far, it’s working out great!
Here are the basics: I’m a graphic designer who loves my family, typography, clean and simple design, french fries, nail polish and Silence of the Lambs. I also love piping hot, black coffee, bacon, working bra-less and falling asleep to my favorite ASMR videos.
I’m originally from Everett, Washington and now live pretty happily in St. Paul, Minnesota with my elementary school teacher husband. We have a daughter who just graduated law school. We have a son in college. Sometimes they are home. Sometimes not. In 2021, we are navigating life during the pandemic. Sometimes it’s trickier than others. I’m 55 years old and have achieved the height of 5’6 inches. I am a work in progress. My therapist will vouch for me, of that I am certain.
I’m guessing my husband would, too.
I’ve worked as a graphic designer for more than 25 years, primarily focusing on print design. I’ve managed to parlay my design skills into the world of scrapbooking and cardmaking. Stranger things have happened.
I believe in something called Crap-Free Scrapbooking. (Learn more about that here.) It’s a philosophy that applies to every crafty thing I do. It’s basically the approach I bring to all manner of crafty endeavors, card making included.
Starting in 2017, I discovered cardmaking and it felt like breathing new life into my crafting. It certainly gave my business new life! I focus more on cards in 2021, but have plenty of posts over the years for scrapbook inspiration!
Aside from running this site, teaching online classes and posting videos to my YouTube channel, I am the art director and a columnist for Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine, I design clear stamps and dies for Simon Says Stamp and I have a digital shop selling scrapbooking products, printables and cut files.
If you want the full story of how I came to make a living doing what I do, read this post and follow the links.
I wear a lot of hats and do a lot of things. Try as I may, however, I will never be a fan of the Oxford comma and only use them when forced to do so by my editor at Scrapbook & Cards magazine.
I try to present an honest portrait of life as a middle-aged woman who works, lives and creates from the almost middle of Minnesota. It may seem like I don’t take myself too seriously, which is partially true. I do not know everything. I am not the smartest person in any given room. I am, however, probably wearing the same shirt you saw me in yesterday.
I am definitely wearing the same shoes.
I believe in working hard, staying curious and being nice. We need fewer asshats in the world. I’m doing my part.
I never take for granted the fact that I am still able to make a living and support my family doing crafty things. So if you’re here, I appreciate you. When you buy a class, or a product, or even just watch one of my YouTube videos, you are directly supporting this small business woman who is extremely grateful for your business.
Like, for real.
Side note: my last name is not as complicated to pronounce as one would think. People tend to overemphasize the “Ziel” part, and say “Zeeeaalll-ski.” It’s much simpler than that. It’s just: zil-ski. Like pill-ski. Even Steven.
If you’d like to find and follow me in other places, by all means do. Here are some links to take you where you may not need to go, but what the heck, it could be fun! Click on images to see more.
I also wrote two books about scrapbooking and while they are presently no longer in print, you can still purchase the e-books in my digital shop. You can also shop my entire collection of stamps and dies at Simon Says Stamp. All of my digital scrapbooking supplies and printables are available in my shop. Click on images to see more.
If you would like to read more business-y stuff, check out my Disclosure.
Thank you for being here.