Meet Shannon

(The Heart Behind StampinBuds)

If you opened my phone right now, you’d find thousands of photos. Big moments, little moments, and all the “I’ll never forget this” kind.

But let’s be honest… we do forget.

I’ve been paper crafting for over 25 years, but becoming a Mimi changed everything. Those photos stopped feeling like “just pictures” on my phone and started feeling like stories. Stories I don’t want lost in a camera roll or buried in the cloud when I’m gone. Stories I want my family to actually hold in their hands and enjoy.

Years ago, I was a stay-at-home mama of three beautiful girls in a brand new place where I didn’t know a soul. I was shy, overwhelmed, and craving something that felt like mine. Scrapbooking became that thing for me. It gave me confidence, friendships, and a creative outlet that filled a space I didn’t even know was empty.

When Close To My Heart closed its doors, I thought I’d just pivot and keep going. But instead, I started feeling stuck and completely uninspired. So I took a step back and got honest with myself.

I don’t just love scrapbooking.
I love telling stories on paper that actually mean something.

And that changed everything.

Now, StampinBuds is where I help mamas and mimi’s take the photos sitting on their phones and turn them into stories their families can hold and treasure.
No perfection. No overwhelm. Just real life, documented in a way that lasts.

Because here’s the truth… if your memories stay on your phone, there’s a good chance they’ll disappear into the digital abyss someday. But on paper? They become something your family can flip through, laugh over, and hold onto for years.

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly why I created Sketch & Savor. Simple layout sketches paired with story prompts, and a gentle way to actually get it done without the stress. And when you want something even easier, there are kits, classes, and retreats to meet you right where you are.

Outside of all this, I am a mama, a mimi, a daughter, and a wife to my husband Rafe. We met in a hard season, bonded over Disney, and he even proposed to me at the top of the Tower of Terror… which still feels very on brand for us. These days, life is cozy and centered around home, family, and a little creative mess here, there, and everywhere.

So if you’re feeling behind, you’re not.

You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need one photo, one story, and a place to start.

I’ve got you from there. 💕