Junk Journal Fun

Hi everyone!

I endeavour to make art every day, but when I don't have much time or energy I pull out my handmade junk journal for some simple art. Usually that means throwing down some paint, making marks and perhaps adding a bit of collage. The junk journal pages already have color or pattern on them which serve as a starting point. I just allow myself to play and have fun!

For those interested, I have included my video of how I made the junk journal at the bottom of this post. This is a longer video (about 10 minutes) as I am demonstrating how to make it from scratch. 

The above page includes a background of vintage music sheet, stamps and stencils. You can watch the YouTube shorts here:

The above is a recent page I made with acrylic paint and lots of colorful layers and bold marks. You can watch the full YouTube video here:

And lastly I'm sharing the video of how to make the Junk Journal here:

Thank you so much for visiting! Have a great week ahead!

Mixed Media Tag

Hello friends!

Just a quick post today. I wanted to share this colorful tag that I made recently. The background is super easy - done with watersoluble crayons, stamps and acrylic paint pens, and topped with a stamped leaf motif. 

You can watch the video tutorial here:

Thank you for visiting. Have a great week!

Mixed Media Collage with Inks

Hello everyone!

The other day I wanted to experiment with acrylic inks. I have a few colors that I have not tried out yet. I did not have anything in particular in mind, but while going through my stash of art supplies I came across a bag of colorful flower ephemera (originally bought to create greeting cards). These sparked an idea! I thus set about to create these semi-abstract collages with "messy" ink backgrounds with additional marks made with crayons, pens and stamps, topped off with little flower clusters. 

What I learned from this experiment was that some inks are more transparent than others. Yes, I know there is an indication on the bottle, but since I watered the inks down I got a different result as opposed to using them straight from the bottle. Surprisingly, the bright green turned out yellow on the page and the yellow ochre mixed with neon pink results in an orange-y color, which is quite appealing. 

Most of all, I really enjoyed making these little collages!

Thank you for stopping by my blog and have a wonderful week!

Art is good for the Soul

Hello everyone!

Numerous studies prove that art and creativity have a positive impact on health and can help process experiences that are too difficult to put into words. Making art is comforting, and  like many others I feel it's more about the process than the result. These past few weeks I've spent lots of time in my studio making a variety of art. As I've mentioned previously, I'm not set on one specific style. The card at the top of this post is made with bits of leftover paper scraps, white gesso and a focal image.

The loose portraits above are done with gouache and colored pencils. I painted the flowers with aqua markers and fine liners.

I used distress inks to create the soft background in the art journal page above. Then layered with a few stamps and a stamped butterfly image.

And I've finally uploaded a video tutorial! The artwork below has lots of yummy layers and cool effects done with stencil paste and inks.

You can watch the full video on YouTube here:

Thank you for visiting. Wishing you a great day!

Sketching with Crayons and Blogger Issues

Hello everyone!

A small rant before I get to my current favorite subject - Art 🎨

I've been publishing this blog since 2008, but I find that I've never experienced as many blogger issues as currently. Everything from not being able to comment on either my own or other Blogger blogs (thankfully, that's been resolved) to changes made within my blogposts not updating and pictures not uploading. Separate to that I've recently been informed by Google, that my domain, which I've had since 2013 has been migrated to a host outside Google/Blogger, so now I have to deal with that as well. It's so annoying! Ok, rant over.

I've really taken to sketching with crayons lately. I've written about sketching/drawing with NeoColor I crayons in a previous post. These crayons have a lot of pigment and a little goes a long way. I find that starting with a light application and adding layers works best. The images look a bit "fuzzy". This is because I am working on lightly grained paper, not smooth. I like a bit of texture in my drawings. Here are a few examples of my bird sketches - and a cat! 

Thank you so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Postcard Art Exhibit 2026

Hi everyone!

I failed to post about the Postcard Art Exhibit at the time the exhibit was held, due to it coinciding with me falling ill and subsequently being hospitalized. In fact, I made the deadline just in time and there is a fun instragram reel where my entry happens to be the 600th one 😄

The Postcard Art Exhibit is an annual, international showcase of hundreds of postcard-sized original artworks created by artists around the world. The event sponsors a different charity each year. This year's exhibit was held in the Netherlands in support of people living with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. 

The showcase was curated by Dutch artist Tessa Maagdenberg. My contribution is called "Spring Awakening", a mixed media piece in my signature style with lots of layers and featuring a cute bird. The artwork at the top of this post is my official catalog entry. In the picture below my postcard is displayed amongst many others on one of the exhibition walls.

Can you spot it?

 Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a lovely Friday!

Important: I can't seem to comment on other blogs??

A Simple Art Journal Page

Hello dear blog friends!

Getting back to art after a long, unforeseen absence has me feeling unsure where to start. It's like I'm afraid I may have forgotten how to make art. I know, silly, but still I hesitate. I'm feeling a little stronger, a little more myself again...so I simply wanted to play in my art journal with no specific goal in mind. There's a soothing quality to art journaling and I come back to it again and again, if only to calm my mind. I chose some of my favorite colors and supplies, such as my Aqua Markers, a stencil plus a few flower and mark making stamps... and then I decided to film the process as a way to review it later on. If you would like to see my process for this page click on the link below the image. This video does not contain a voice-over (I'm not ready for that kind of editing yet) - however, I added some relaxing background music:) And one more thing before I forget: If you are watching my videos on You Tube make sure to click on the setting wheel (find the cog at the bottom of each video) and adjust to at least 720p quality.

CLICK TO WATCH

Note: This video shows how I created the left page. If you're interested in learning how to create the right side page - there is a full tutorial in my channel.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and your lovely comments!

Süße Geschenkidee: personalisierter Fotoschmuck 💝

[Werbung]

Hallo, ihr Lieben 👋🌼

der August neigt sich dem Ende zu und für die meisten von uns ist der gewohnte Tagesablauf bereits eingekehrt. Ganz untypisch für mich freue ich mich schon auf den Herbst, der hoffentlich etwas Abkühlung verspricht. Einen Blick in meinen Kalender verrät mir, dass in den kommenden Monaten einige Feiern anstehen und wenn es etwas Besonderes sein soll, dann schaue ich gerne auf der Online Website Callie - dort gibt es liebevoll ausgewählte Geschenke für jeden Anlass, ob Geburtstag, Verlobung oder Abschlussfeier.

Insbesondere personalisierter Fotoschmuck hat meine Aufmerksamkeit bekommen, denn personalisierte Geschenke kommen in meinem Freundeskreis immer gut an 😊

Nachfolgend zeige ich euch meine Favoriten:

1. Die obige personalisierte Medaillon-Halskette mit Foto in Herzform offenbart beim Aufklappen der zwei Herzhälften ein Foto eurer Wahl, welches sich ganz einfach auf der Webseite hochladen lässt. Der Anhänger ist mit glitzernden Cubic Zirkonia versehen und machen ihn zum richtigen Hingucker. Die Halskette mit Herzmotiv aus Sterling Silber gibt es in drei Varianten: Platin, Gelbgold und Roségold. Zudem ist sie hypoallergen und somit für Menschen mit empfindlicher Haut geeignet.  

2. Vielleicht habt ihr schon bemerkt, dass ich Schmetterlings-Motive besonders mag, und daher ist mir diese personalisierte Foto Medaillon Halskette gleich ins Auge gefallen. Dieser Schmuck mit Foto besteht aus hochwertigen, leichtem Messing und sorgt mit dem glatten Rand des Medaillons für hohen Tragekomfort. Die Kette ist mit kleinen Perlen versetzt und hat eine Länge von ca. 45 cm. Der aufklappbare Anhänger hat eine Größe von 1,6 x 2 cm und es lassen sich gleich zwei Fotos hochladen. Ein hübsches Geschenk mit gutem Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis.

Personalisierte Porträtfoto Manschettenknöpfe mit Text Gravur Vatertag Valentinstag Geschenk für Herren - CALLIE

3. Außer Farbfotos gibt es auch die Möglichkeit Schmuck mit Fotogravur anfertigen zu lassen, z.B. diese originellen Manschettenknöpfe im schlichten und modernen Design. Eine schöne Geschenkidee für euren Liebsten. Die Manschettenknöpfe gibt es wahlweise in Edelstahl oder Sterling Silber und je nach Wunsch mit Platin, Gelbgold oder Roségold beschichtet. Es lassen sich Fotos sowie Text eingravieren.

4.  Zuletzt zeige ich euch diese süße personalisierte Foto-Projektion Halskette mit Schutzengel Anhänger  

Ich muss gestehen, dass ich davon zuvor noch nicht gehört hatte.

So funktioniert es: Mittig des Schutzengel-Anhängers ist ein Projektionsstein eingehängt, welcher das Foto eines verstorbenen Familienmitglieds (oder einer geliebten Fellnase) beinhaltet. Mithilfe der Handy-Kamera lässt sich das mikrogravierte Foto betrachten. Man kann es auch mit der eingeschalteten Taschenlampe am Handy auf eine glatte dunkle Oberfläche projizieren. Eine ausgeklügelte Idee und außergewöhnliches Geschenk. 

Um die Langlebigkeit des Schmuckstücks zu garantieren sollte der Schmuck nicht mit Wasser, Parfüm oder Körperlotion in Berührung kommen. Auch auf eine sorgfältige Aufbewahrung sollte geachtet werden. Dafür kann ich euch diese Schmuckkästchen empfehlen, die es praktischerweise ebenfalls bei Callie zu kaufen gibt. 

Vielen Dank fürs Lesen und vielleicht ist ja bei dem großen Angebot für die oder den zu Beschenkende/n etwas dabei. Schaut einfach mal in den Online Shop rein.

Ich wünsche euch eine schöne Woche und viel Spaß beim Stöbern.

Garden Memories ~ A little handmade Album

Hello lovelies,

After a lengthy hospital stay / rehabilitation I am finally back home recovering. As much as I wish I could jump straight back into my blogging routine and create art tutorials for my YT channel - the energy level isn't there yet. Plus we're having heatwave after heatwave, which is physically demanding. Besides, most people in Europe are on holidays in August, so I've been  making the most of this downtime by leisurely crafting a little photo album from scratch just for me. I find paper crafting a meditative activity. There's just something about the simple act of cutting and sticking down pretty papers that calms my mind and soul, while simultaneously keeping my hands busy. I found a cute paper pad with enchanting animals called "Amongst the Hedgerow" created by illustrator Karina from Karinartspace. I used this as a background for my front and back album cover as well as the inserts. I made sure to provide space for journaling about cherished garden memories. Throughout, I embellished my album with paper flowers, shiny brads and whimsical chipboard ephemera depicting cute animals and cozy garden scenes from the same range. I created flip books, secret pockets and photo cards to hold my garden photos, and to finish, I decorated the album with lace and ribbons. The following pictures show my finished creation. Enjoy! 

Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!

Easy One Sheet Mixed Media Booklet

Hi everyone!

Weeks ago I had prepared this blog post, but not quite finished editing it. So, it's been sitting in draft and then this happened. I've scheduled this post for today, but I won't be able to reply to any comments as I am currently in the clinic. Just fyi. 

Anyway, on to a happier topic!

I've been making these little mini booklets for years. They are a simple and fun paper craft with endless variations. All you require is one sheet of paper. I like using drawing paper of 160 gsm weight. I tried a heavier weight, but then it gets tricky when folding. Besides, since I apply mixed media techniques it's going to get a little fatter anyway. 

I started by creating a textured background on my A4 size sheet paper. I covered the entire sheet, alternating applications both vertically and horizontally for a non-directional result. For full instructions on how to fold this sheet into a booklet you can watch the video below. And if you're there, I would so appreciate a "thumbs up", as my channel that I have worked so hard to build hasn't seen much traffic since I've been absent.

Thank you so much 💕

I like to decorate my booklet covers with some collage fodder. I had some pre-made mushrooms in my stash which added a pop of color to the blue-green background. I created two tags to slide into the openings and used a simple binder clip to close the booklet. Now it's ready to be filled with journaling, photos, doodles, tiny art or whatever else you desire! 

Thank you for stopping by and reading along! And thank you for your kind comments re my health issues. I am doing everything in my power to recover and get better, so that I can get back to blogging again. Just know I appreciate all of you 😊 Hugs!!

Please pin / share this tutorial

Emergency Room

Hello lovely blog friends,

You may have noticed my long absence in the blogosphere. A couple of weeks ago I wasn't feeling well. I didn't think too much of it. I went to bed with an Ibuprofen and hoped I would sleep it off, whatever it was. However, around midnight I woke up with chest pains, shortness of breath and I felt feverish. Those who have been following me for a while know that I despise hospitals and I usually avoid those places like the plague, but a niggling voice in the back of my head told me to call an ambulance...which promptly whisked me off to the dreaded hospital where I spent around 5 hours hooked up to machines, given scans and had my bloodwork taken. They immediately pushed intravenous medications. It turns out I narrowly avoided a heart attack. A heart attack omg. Retrospectively, I'm glad I did listen to that voice in my head! I spent a week in ICU and then was transfered to a specialized hospital where I spent another two weeks. All the while I was thinking of my blog family, and hopefully you can forgive me for not responding to any of your lovely comments or checking in on your blogs. In my weakened state it was simply impossible.

I have been released home and in a week I will start rehabilitation. Frankly, this very stressful experience has left me completely exhausted. It is just going to take time to recover from this. Please bear with me. Thank you all! Take good care of yourselves ~

Trying out the Studio Light Brush Markers

Hello lovelies,

It's important for an artist to grow. While I mostly paint with acrylics and gouache, every now and then I step outside my comfort zone and try a different medium. If you've been reading this blog for a while you'll know about my love/hate relationship with watercolors!

But I actually want to feel at ease with them. The other day I came across a relatively new product from Studio Light. I think I've mentioned this Dutch company on my blog before. I have a couple of stamps and stencils which I enjoy using, as they have a unique design. 

Recently, they have expanded their product range to include water-based brush markers, called Aqua Markers. These markers come in sets of six in pre-made color schemes. The four sets I have are Disco, Sunset, Foliage and Sea & Sky, which I have swatched in my journal. Alltogether there are 14 sets available, however, I chose the above as these colors are ones I would likely use for my flower sketches, stamped images and background washes. All of the sets can be mixed and matched allowing for a customized color palette.

I stamped a flower image in my journal on 200 gsm hot-pressed watercolor paper. The markers are designed for drawing, coloring and hand lettering. They have two brush tips, one regular and one large to create varying widths. The larger tip is more flexible than the smaller one, in my opinion. The application is smooth and darks layer fairly well on the lights. I used a size 4 round brush to create the typical watercolor look, but I found it's best to use a brush with stiffer bristles, perhaps a watertank brush. Since these markers are water-based, they are odorless - an important issue for me.

These markers are quite "juicy", especially the green and blue ones. Another way to apply color, is to add pigment to a palette, spray lightly with water and either pick up the paint with a brush or place the substrate directly on the wet paint to create an expressive background, like I did here. The colors mix on the paper which gives interesting effects.

I am going to continue to experiment with them a bit more. My verdict: These brush markers come in a wide color range and are an affordable option for coloring stamped images or using them in coloring books. As mentioned, it's best to use a stiffer brush to pull out color to create the desired watercolor effect. They are best stored laying flat in their original box. I may yet warm up to watercolor painting after all :)

This is not a sponsored post. I simply like and frequently use different products from Studio Light in my mixed media artwork.

Thank you for reading along. Have a beautiful day!