Colorful Art Journal Page with Flower

Hi everyone!

Maybe I had summer on my mind when I created this page, as I was automatically reaching for the oranges and yellows!

In this beginner-friendly art journal page I have utilized simple techniques that resulted in a cheerful page with some pretty amazing effects.  

I used mainly acrylic inks for this piece plus color pencils to color in my stamped image.

You can watch the process in my short video here:

By the way, if you have any questions about the techniques shown or tools and paints used, don't hesitate to reach out to me via the comments below or on my YouTube channel. Speaking of...I have a new YT banner! What do you think?

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week where ever in the world you may be!

Art Journaling with Art Prompt Cards

Hello blog friends,

I endeavour to make art every day, even if it's just a fifteen minute break in between work and chores, but sometimes I struggle to come up with an idea. This is where my handmade Art Prompt Cards come in handy. 

I shuffled the cards and then picked three. The prompts I chose were "shades of red", "make splatters" and "add stamps". On a whim I decided to film my process of impromptu art making and you can find the short video below. Don't forget to leave a thumbs up 😊

Whenever I don't have much time, I like to grab a few favorite tools, such as a brayer, grungy background stamps and paint pens. In the above collage you can see how I have built up layers with paint and stamps using the art prompts. If you look closely - in step four I made some splatters in a darker shade of red than the main red, which is carmine. (In the video I mistakenly said crimson).

If you have followed my blog for a while, you'll know that I often add face sketches to my art journal pages. Alternatively, I use this fun face stamp from Jane Davenport - and before you ask - it's been discontinued, but there may be some sets still available online. Just put her name in search + stamps. This face stamp in three sizes lets you create endless hairstyles, which I find highly entertaining. Should you choose to draw a figure the clothing options are endless, too. 

In my example: after stamping on a separate piece of paper I sketched in a short hairstyle and added just the top part of the body. Yes, my lady has lilac hair 😊💜 I also used my large alphabet stamp set to stamp some words.

A fun page created with the help of my art prompts and using some of my favorite tools! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Have a wonderful weekend ahead and Happy Easter to those that celebrate 🌸

[Mini Workshop] Memory Booklet ♥

Hello lovelies,

The secret is out. I have been working on something special behind the scenes...my very own mini workshop! I came up with the concept of this cute memory booklet after spending many evenings brainstorming beginner-friendly ideas that would appeal to anyone who loves mixed media art as well as art journaling, and who cherishes the idea of creating a mini photo album of a meaningful event, be it a trip, a special birthday or holiday! 

I truly enjoyed filming and editing this mini workshop from start to finish and since my booklet is filled with photos of one of my favorite city trips to Amsterdam, I often ended up walking down memory lane long after the camera stopped rolling 😀

Piqued your interest? Follow this link for more information.

And a quick reminder that I also offer over 20 absolutely FREE mixed media art tutorials over on my YouTube channel. Click on the button in the sidebar to view.

I'm sharing a few process photos below:

Create a tip-in page

Stencilling

Create the intro page

By the way, in my workshop we'll be making the booklet from scratch! Don't worry, it is super simple and only requires two A5 sheets of mixed media paper plus a cover paper. In the workshop I guide you through the binding process, which is also very easy. 

The watchtime for this mini workshop is around 30 minutes structured into five manageable video clips. Plus I've also included a bonus video, where I share how to create a color-coordinated stack of collage papers with and without a gel plate. Super fun and easy!

A note about my painting style. If you have been following me on Instagram and elsewhere, you will know that my style is loose and expressive. I lean into this style in my workshop to some degree. Mainly it's about showcasing your favorite photos using collage and paper embellishments with a bit of stamping, stencilling and, of course, journaling. 

The beauty of this workshop is that it is customizable to your own style. Feel free to choose your own color palette, collage papers, stickers and embellishments!

Click on the button in the sidebar for more info and please share with friends 😊

Hydrangea Love

Hello lovelies!

Hydrangeas are the quintessential summer flower! I simply love their large, showy blooms that come in a variety of pretty colors. My recent walk in this garden inspired me to create this art journal spread. There are lots of yummy layers including washi tapes, inks and texture paste. Here is a step-by-step plus if you scroll down you can check out the full video.

Step One:

Cover the page with assorted washi tapes and painter's tape. You can find the latter at hardware stores.

I added a light coat of clear gesso on top and let it dry.

Step Two:

Pick up three different shades of green acrylic paint* with a brayer and quickly roll it onto the page making sure to leave some areas for the washi tapes to show through. Let dry. *I use them sparingly.

Step Three:

Add texture paste through a stencil and let dry completely. This takes several hours better yet overnight, so patience is required. Add dark green ink to the stenciled areas.

Step Four:

Stamp various hydrangea images onto white drawing paper and use watersoluble crayons to color them in. You can get stamp sets online and at craft stores. I used a black stamp pad and let the images dry for a bit before coloring them in.

Step Five:

Once dry I fussy cut all the images out. Again, patience is required.

Step Six:

Arrange the images as you would like and glue them down with a glue stick. Add a title or sentiment if you wish.

Scroll down for video tutorial.

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Colorful Mixed Media Play in my Art Journal

Hello there lovelies!

I did it again - I was so absorbed in creating these two art spreads, that I completely forgot to take process photos with my camera, even though my camera was sitting on my work table! Luckily, I filmed one of the spreads. Scroll down to view the full video.

I enjoy making these kinds of mixed media spreads, as I get to utilize all types of materials and layer them creatively. This adds texture, interest and depth to the artwork. Some time ago I typed a whole bunch of quotes, words and expressions on my computer and printed it out. I now have titles ready for use. I simply cut them out and sometimes I color them in, as I did with these two spreads.

Since I'm working in my A6 journal (I have several of these), it didn't take long to complete the pages. A lovely way to wind down after a busy day and also part of my self-care routine. This is a beginner-friendly project. I love sharing - you can find the video tutorial below.

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Mini Art Journal - Collage Art with Gelli Prints Tutorial

Hi everyone, welcome back to another art journal tutorial!

When things get very busy around here, I still like to squeeze in a little "art time" - that's when my A6 mini journal comes in handy. This spread came together quickly. I used my handmade gelli prints to collage a background, added some marks with crayons, stamps and ink splatters, and finished it off with whimsical focal images stamped with black ink on white drawing paper, that I cut out and adhered together with some inspiring words. The quirky stamps are from Art by Marlene.

Enjoy watching the video tutorial:

 

Btw, if you haven't any gelli prints you can easily substitute those with colorful scrapbook paper. 

I selected some papers that harmonized well with each other and had interesting patterns. I tore them into random pieces and glued them on the surface with a glue stick. 

Next I added some marks with wax crayons in contrasting colors and also stamped some images for added texture. Note: the below spread is actually from one of my workshops, therefore the collage is a bit different than in the video, but the process is still the same!

I stamped my chosen focal images on white drawing paper and cut them out. These silicone stamps are from Art by Marlene, who is known for her whimsical style. 

And finally, I made some splatters with white ink all over the spread!

This collage only took me about 20 minutes, but I'm loving the result. I think I mentioned before that I love round shapes, therefore most of my marks are circular, but you can make any type of mark that you wish. Happy art making!