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Living in the Moment: An Art Journal Painting Tutorial on Denim
Do you ever find yourself surrounded by distraction? Living in the moment is not always easy, but is an important habit to cultivate. By being present in the moment we can find enjoyment and peace in the small and precious moments in our lives. Art journaling can be a useful tool to help us practice living in the moment by writing about what we experience in these moments. Why Living in the Moment? I recently had the opportunity to visit Banff National Park. It was a day to enjoy the outdoors and practice photography. Visiting the park with my husband we both commented on interesting behavior that we saw as…
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Feeling Stuck? 5 Ways for Moving Past Creative Blocks
Have you ever had those moments of feeling completely uninspired? Do you ever struggle with the creative blocks that many of us experience? If so, you are not alone. Creative blocks come and go but they feel impossible to overcome in the moment when you are experiencing a block. How to Move Past a Creative Block Moving past a creative block is not always easy, but there are things that you can do to try to spur creativity and move past these uninspired moments. Here are some ideas of things you can try to move past a creative block. Creative Play Give yourself time for creative play to move past…
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Mixed Media Art Journal Page – Hot Summer Days
Do you ever struggle with adding layers to your mixed media art journal page? Adding layers and still ending up with a cohesive page can be challenging. In today’s project, we will be exploring how to create a mixed media art journal page using inks, acrylic paint, stencils, and mediums in many layers that work well together. Art Journal Page Inspiration This mixed media art journal page was inspired by the paper collection Pour Decisions by Jenn Aguilar. When I saw this paper collection it made me smile. Between the puns, colorful imagery, and the feeling of summer it evokes, I just had to add it to a journal page.…
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Stamped Background for Moving Past a Creative Block
Do you ever sit down to create a project and end up staring at a blank page? We all have moments where we struggle with how to move past the creative block. Today’s project is a stamped background technique that I use when I am struggling with inspiration. Why a Stamped Background? A stamped background is not only fun to make and a great start to a mixed media piece, but is also quick to execute. When the creative block comes, it is important not to stay in it indefinitely. By choosing art tools and materials that cover a blank page quickly, this can help get the creative juices flowing.…
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How to Blend Pan Pastels: A Journey in Blending and Layering Pastels
Do you ever struggle with how to layer and use Pan Pastels? Today we will be exploring how to blend Pan Pastels using Sofft tools in this art journal project. Learning to Use Art Mediums New art mediums are exciting to learn, but they can sometimes feel difficult to master. It can look so easy when you see a demonstration, but your own experience may be different. Ever new art medium takes time and patience to master. By changing our expectations towards new mediums, and accepting that there will be trial and error, the process of learning can be so much more enjoyable. Blending Pan Pastels Pan Pastels are a…
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Easy Art Journal Project: Jumping into Art Journaling
Today’s easy art journal project is a great way of jumping into art journaling. If you are new to art journaling or not sure where to start, this easy art journal project may be a great place to dive in. Art journaling is a great practice for self-expression. It is a place to express our thoughts and feelings in a safe space. It can also be a great way to try out new techniques and products by practicing on a small surface. Jumping into Art Journaling At first, art journaling may seem intimidating and challenging. There are so many techniques and supplies out there, it can be hard to know…
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The Best Acrylic Paint Pens: A Paint Marker Comparison
Today I will be sharing my journey in finding the best acrylic paint pens for my creative practice. I generally avoid using the words “perfect” or “best” when I talk about art supplies. I believe that there are good supplies available at a variety of price points. However, when it comes to acrylic paint pens, this is not the case. There are a lot of brands out there, but there are very few pens that I have found that work as advertised. We will be exploring the different brands that I have tried and what I have discovered is the best acrylic paint pen for my creative practice. Hop-A-Long…
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One Page Fold Up Book: Instax Mini Album
Today I will be sharing my version of the one page fold up book. If you have never seen these books, they are easy to make and fun to create. By taking a single sheet of paper, in just a few minutes you will have a book that you can create in. It can be challenging to start creating in a new journal or book. So by making your own little book, this can be a fun way create in a way that is simple and not overwhelming. One Page Fold Up Book To create a fold up book, start with a piece of paper of your choice. These books…
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5 Art Journal Background Ideas Using Ink
The art journal is a wonderful place to create, but it can be challenging to know where to start. Today I am sharing 5 art journal background ideas using ink to help inspire your creativity. These are some of the ways that I start my journal pages, especially when I’m not sure where to go next. The blank page can be intimidating. There are so many directions a page can go. These easy techniques can be a springboard for your creative ideas, to help you move past the blank page. 5 Art Journal Background Ideas Using Ink Ink Blending Ink blending is one of the simplest ways to quickly…
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How to Make a Travel Greeting Card
Today we will talk about how to make a travel greeting card using beautiful paper and your personal photos. When I create cards, it is usually an art card or a photo card. This week, I thought I would show you how you can these two creative styles together. Creating a Travel Greeting Card Creating a travel greeting card with photos and other elements can be challenging. The key is figuring out the right balance for these images so that the card feels cohesive. For this card, I used a landscape photo with die cut imagery. By using a simpler photo, this allowed the die cuts to add to the…
The Art of Self-Care
