A Marvelous Spark Creative Studio

09/16/2026

Just shut down my computer for the first time in a long time. The battery is on its last legs, and perfect timing, because I’m heading out of town. 😆

Now, a little gratitude:
💜 Grateful for the opportunity to travel
💜 Grateful for family stepping in to watch the boys (it truly takes a village)
💜 Grateful for milestone celebrations (10 years married next week!)
💜 Grateful for a husband who enjoys planning itineraries

Peace out! ✌️

09/12/2026

In early September of 2019, just days before becoming a mom for the first time, I had a vision. I had to bring it to life.

“Innate Code” illustrates elements of conception, pregnancy, and physical changes. I’m still in awe of the whole process of human development in the womb… the distinct stages, the attention to detail, and the months it takes to create. This artwork took just two days, four days before my son was born. My limited timeframe was definitely a motivation factor!

Although I didn’t document the entire process, some of the details were planned, while others were more intuitive to fill the space. I began with pencil, outlined with Micron pen, and added color with watercolor pencils and paint. I have framed prints available. 🥰

09/09/2026

🚀 Allure Aesthetics of Bel Air has a new website!
This local award-winning, woman-owned business offers a range of advanced aesthetic treatments designed to enhance natural beauty and promote well-being.

Under the leadership of founder Chrissy Basso, Allure Aesthetics of Bel Air was proudly voted Harford County’s Best MedSpa in 2024, and Baltimore’s Best MedSpa in 2026. These awards and 130+ 5 Star Google Reviews reflect the practice’s commitment to their patients.

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Are you a Harford County business owner in need of a new or refreshed website? Send me a message or contact me through my website: amarvelousspark.com

Harford County Business | Locally Owned Business | Woman-Owned | Web Design | Visual Branding

09/02/2026

As a follow-up to my recent video: here’s another breakdown of AI flyers from a design perspective.

Gestalt principles are how our brains organize visual information and stimuli into patterns. These principles allow designers to structure content in ways that make it easy to understand, through the arrangement of colors, negative space, and visual hierarchy.

When visuals have too much going on (aka visual clutter), everything is competing for attention. This leaves our brains unable to process the information effectively. From what I’ve observed in AI-generated social media graphics, is that there’s this urge to squeeze in ALL the written details with tons of additional visuals. This is ineffective because they’re nearly impossible to read, they overwhelm the eyes, and they make it difficult to identify which business or organization they are for.

I’ll admit, I probably could have removed some of checkmarks/information in the second redesigned graphic, but decided to keep what was on the one provided.

I work with businesses and organizations to design visual assets and content that effectively communicate their message. This includes social media graphics and templates, email campaigns, and other print/digital marketing materials. Learn more on my website. 💜

Graphic Design | Design Principles | Brand Strategy | Brand Guidelines | Digital Marketing

08/31/2026

We took one last summer adventure on Friday and Saturday, up to LEGOLAND New York! 🚙

The LEGO® brand has a rich history dating back to 1932, and the name comes from an abbreviation of two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”.

Their mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow, and their core values include imagination, creativity, fun, learning, care, and quality. LEGOLAND® certainly fostered an environment of inspiration & creativity, for both children and adults! What I appreciated most was the attention to detail: from the displays to the interactive elements, everything felt intentional and well-planned.

Here are just a few of the many photos we took while we were there!

08/28/2026

💭 “The Best Part of Waking Up (Midlife Awakening)”

Yesterday was full of much-needed creative outlets beyond work (more photos to come). 🎨 James and I had the opportunity to visit the art buffet at The Whimsy Glen Arm for the first time! I also ran into a former BCPS art teacher colleague! There were a bunch of materials available to create art with. James chose the drawing easel and I decided to rummage through the bin of recyclables.

I found a Folgers coffee lid and a piece of scrap wood that had been laser cut. Then I went to another section of the studio to look for collage materials. The fun part about unplanned art is that intuition guides it, and the final result is a surprise. One idea may initially come to mind, but then something shifts and it goes in another direction. That’s what happened with this piece.

The coffee lid inspired the title of this artwork. I was looking for a letter I couldn’t find, but then saw a bunch of Zs. Waking up… Zs representing sleep (which I’m lacking these days 😅😴). I tried to add 5 pieces on the design, but only 4 pieces fit. Then I noticed that each piece had the number 10 on them, adding up to 40, my age.

Maybe it’s coincidental or a sudden new awareness, but since turning 40 a few months ago, my mind has shifted. Alignment was my word of the year, and I’m really leaning into this concept lately. What feels aligned in my life, and what doesn’t? Life is short, how do I want to spend my time on earth? With the recent passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, both of whom were exactly twice my age and born in the same year as my mom, I’m reflecting on this even more.

I recently read a post about shifting our thinking about the term midlife crisis. Maybe it’s not a crisis after all, but an awakening… a realization that we have one opportunity to live authentically and to pursue our passions. As a multi-passionate person, this is both exciting and intimidating. This post wasn’t intended to be my monthly reflection, but here we are. 💜

08/24/2026

Putting my money where my mouth is 🤑
I’m an artist and a designer. When I say “support local artists”, I’m doing it with my wallet. I invest in the work of others because I understand and value the commitment that it takes to create for a living. Creativity takes courage. 💜

On a separate but related note, I recently joined the marketing team for the Bel Air Arts Festival! This event is in its 59th year, showcasing hundreds of exhibitors, including local artists, photographers, and craftspeople. There will also be live music, food trucks, and the park has a playground for kids to run around. I’m eager to build awareness and excitement for this year’s event despite jumping onboard late in the game. Here are the details:
🗓️ Sunday, September 13th from 9 am-5 pm
📍Shamrock Park in Bel Air
I already have ideas for next year’s milestone year! Stay tuned! 🤩

🎨 Who are some of your favorite local artists? Tag them in the comments!

📸: Ingrid Berrios Photography

08/21/2026

Inspiration is everywhere ✨

I haven’t done a color palette post in a WHILE (over 2 years?! 🤯) so here’s a recent bouquet from Magnolia's Mushrooms that really caught my eye. 😍💐 I love the vibrant colors and beautiful contrast between the pinks and greens. Go visit Maddi’s flower stand in Glen Arm and see these gorgeous arrangements IRL. I’m hoping to get down that way next week!

08/18/2026

Spoiler alert: It's doing more harm to business than you may realize.

Platforms are finally recognizing that people don’t want to consume AI slop. A growing number of sites and apps now have tools and policies to flag, label, and ban AI-generated content.