From Printing Press to Digital Dreams: How I Finally Created My First Paper Pack at 59

When I was in my twenties, I thought I had my life figured out. I was taking graphic arts classes in California, working with ink, heavy machinery, and the satisfying clunk of printing presses. Back then, computers seemed like an impossible code-filled world that would never replace the smell of ink or the sound of rollers. I told myself, “Printing presses will always be around. I’ll never run out of work in my old age.”

But life had other plans.

Fast forward to today. I’m almost 60 years old, living with a chronic illness, and the world of printing looks nothing like I imagined. Printing presses gave way to screens, apps, and digital downloads. For years, I thought my dream of creating paper packs — those beautiful, textured backgrounds that scrapbookers, journal lovers, and crafters use — had slipped through my fingers.

Until this week.

💥 I finally created and released my very first digital paper pack.
It’s called Fall Paper Pack 10 — a cozy set of autumn-inspired designs ready to download and print instantly. No printing press, no heavy ink drums, no late-night shifts. Just me, my imagination, and Canva.

And you know what? It feels like I’ve come full circle.

The dream I had in my twenties — to see my designs become paper people could actually use — didn’t die when technology changed. It just waited for me to catch up. Computers that once scared me are now the very tools that let me publish from my own home.

This isn’t just about selling a digital product. It’s about finally realizing:
✨ Dreams don’t expire.
✨ Creativity adapts, even when life changes.
✨ It’s never too late to press “publish” on something you’ve held in your heart for decades.

I have more packs in the works — winter, holidays, and beyond. And each one feels like another step in honoring that young woman in California who loved ink, rollers, and the smell of freshly pressed paper.

If you’d like to see what I’ve been working on, you can peek at my first 

Here is the link: 
https://ko-fi.com/s/2724f322cc

I hope my story encourages you to dust off your old dreams, because sometimes they’re just waiting for a new way to come to life.





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