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The Art of Self-Care

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  • CLASSES
  • COMMUNITY
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • CLASSES
  • COMMUNITY
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

Recent Posts

  • 3 Ways to Make Your Mixed Media Pages POP!3 Techniques to Make Your Mixed Media Pages POP!
    In Art Journal, Techniques
  • How to Make Collage Papers for FreeMake Gorgeous Collage Papers for Free
    In Techniques
  • How to Choose an Art Journal You’ll Love
    In Art Journal
  • Detail of Card Live Life in Full Bloom Stamped Card Colored with Distress Crayons
    Projects,  Techniques

    Quick Coloring Technique Using Distress Crayons

    September 24, 2021 /

    Do you ever struggle with adding color to your images? Coloring images is enjoyable but can take a lot of time and patience. Today I will be demonstrating a quick coloring technique using Distress Crayons for those moments when you want to spend less time coloring and want a very forgiving result. Fighting Against Perfectionism Using a quick coloring technique is a great way of fighting against perfectionism in our creative practice. We can be very critical about how we color and shade images. This technique is a great way of breaking out of perfectionism. I originally showed this technique at the Creative Scrapbooking Carnival last weekend when I was…

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    Nadine Milton

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    How to Live Fearlessly During COVID-19

    How to Live Fearlessly During COVID-19

    March 20, 2020
    Art Journal Page Using Distress Embossing Glazes and Pastes

    Art Journal Page Using Distress Embossing Glazes

    June 12, 2020
    Doodling with Stencils with Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Posca Paint Pens

    Doodling with Stencils: Using Stencils to Improve your Drawing Skills

    October 22, 2021
  • Art Tag using Scribble Stick Watercolor Technique and Brene Brown Quote on Vellum
    Projects,  Techniques

    Scribble Sticks Watercolor Technique

    September 17, 2021 /

    Have you ever tried Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks in your creative practice? Today I will show you an easy Scribble Sticks watercolor technique that can be used for a card, in a journal or on a tag. What are Scribble Sticks? Scribble Sticks are a pigment-based stick that writes similarly to a crayon. They are also water soluble, so you can use them for watercolor techniques. As these have a different binder than watercolor paints, the blending effects you can get with these sticks is unique. The benefit of the Scribble Sticks is that they can be added on surfaces that traditional watercolor paints would not work well on. You…

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    Nadine Milton

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    How to Use Layering Stencils to Create Dimensional Images

    How to Use Layering Stencils to Create Dimensional Images

    September 23, 2022
    How to Cut and Color Intricate Die Cuts

    How to Cut and Color Intricate Die Cuts

    March 5, 2021
    3 Ways to Trace Images onto Paper

    3 Easy Ways to Trace Images onto Paper

    January 8, 2021
  • Fall Scrapbooking Page using Gelli Prints and Wild Whisper Designs Strength of the Season Ephemera
    Projects

    Too Many Gelli Prints? A Fall Project for Using Your Prints

    September 10, 2021 /

    Do you ever make Gelli prints but are unsure on how to use them in a project? Last week I shared a few techniques on printing with the Gelli Arts mini plates. Today I will show you how to use these prints in a project. Seasons Change The inspiration for this project was a quote “seasons change and so do we.” I am currently in another season of change and this quote resonated with me. We all go through change. The choice is whether we embrace the change or resist it. In times of change, taking the time to reflect is important. We should reflect on the past and think…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Easy holiday Z fold card using Simply Stated Designs 2024 Advent Calendar Collection

    3 Unique Ways to Make Fabulous 3D Holiday Cards

    December 13, 2024
    Art Journal Page Using Distress Embossing Glazes, Stampers Anonymous Mod Cactus Stamps and Wild Whisper Designs Brush Script Stamp Set

    Distress Embossing Glaze Techniques for the Art Journal

    April 8, 2022
    Gift Ideas for Artists

    The Best Gifts for Artists that Love Watercolor and Acrylic Paint

    November 5, 2022
  • Fold Up Book Instax Mini Album Using Wild Whisper Designs paper and Local King Rubber Stamps
    Projects

    One Page Fold Up Book: Instax Mini Album

    July 2, 2021 /

    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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    Nadine Milton

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    How to Use Distress Embossing Glazes

    How to Use Distress Embossing Glazes

    April 1, 2020
    How to fussy cut napkin images for any project

    How to Cut the PERFECT Napkin Image

    July 20, 2024
    moving past creative blocks by sketching in the garden Nadine Milton

    Feeling Stuck? 5 Ways for Moving Past Creative Blocks

    August 20, 2021
  • Travel Greeting Card Using Photos and Wild Whisper Designs Road Trip Paper Collection
    Projects

    How to Make a Travel Greeting Card

    June 18, 2021 /

    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…

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    Nadine Milton

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    How to Design a Scrapbook Page Camera Detail

    How to Design a Scrapbook Page

    May 1, 2021
    Creative Foundations How to Blend Ink

    Creative Foundations: How to Blend Ink

    January 31, 2020
    gel plate printing with leaves and grasses

    Unique & Easy Gel Printing with Leaves and Grasses

    September 19, 2025
  • Mixed Media Tag Nature Does Not Hurry
    Projects

    Mixed Media Tag “Nature Does Not Hurry”

    June 4, 2021 /

    Today I will be sharing how to create this easy mixed media tag using patterned paper, stencils, and inks. Tags are a great way to try out techniques. They are small, quick to create on and can be added into other projects. I often use my tags in my creative journal, as bookmarks or use them in greeting cards. As these tags can be completed quickly, usually under 20 minutes, this makes them an important part of a creative self-care routine. The Intention For this week’s mixed media tag, the inspiration came from this quote: Nature does not hurry and yet everything is accomplished. We often rush through our daily…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Neurographic Art Blended with Pan Pastels

    Neurographic Art with Pan Pastels

    March 25, 2022
    Gel print art journal page featuring hummingbirds and flowers

    Gel Print Collage Techniques You’ll Love

    July 18, 2025
    gel plate printing for beginners

    How to Start Gel Printing with Zero Experience

    May 3, 2025
  • Mixed Media Found Object Art Panel
    Projects

    Mixed Media Found Object Art Panel

    May 28, 2021 /

    Have you ever had objects that you wish you could incorporate in your art? Today we will be creating a mixed media found object art panel which includes these found objects into your art. By adding dimension to your projects, it can be very inspiring and is a great way of mixing up your creative practice. Found Object Art and Assemblage If you are new to found object art, it often goes by another name, assemblage. The dictionary definition of assemblage is “a work of art made by grouping found or unrelated objects.” This is exactly what found object art is. Where to Find Found Objects Found objects can be…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Printing with Gelli Plate Minis Gelli Printing Plates

    Printing with Gelli Plate Minis

    September 3, 2021

    How to Choose an Art Journal You’ll Love

    February 27, 2026
    Collage with Dried Leaves in Your Art Journal

    How to Collage with Dried Leaves in Your Journal

    October 21, 2022
  • How to Create a Wine Bottle Vase Overall Project
    Projects

    How to Create a Wine Bottle Flower Vase

    May 7, 2021 /

    As Mother’s Day is just a few days away, I wanted to share a creative project that is “off the page.” Most of us stick to flat surfaces such a journal to create in. But today I wanted to share with you how to create a wine bottle flower vase. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, this is a simple project that make a great gift for that special person in your life.   The Inspiration The inspiration for this wine bottle flower vase came from a problem that I often have during the summer months. When working in my garden I often come across flowers that have been…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Create Unique Art Journal Backgrounds with Plastic Wrap

    How to Create Unique Art Journal Backgrounds with Plastic Wrap

    August 19, 2023
    Inspiration over Manipulation Art Journal Project

    Inspiration Over Manipulation Art Journal Project

    March 13, 2020
    wet-on-wet watercolor techniques mixing colors

    Easy Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Techniques for Beginners

    October 28, 2022
  • How to Design a Scrapbook Page Camera Detail
    Projects

    How to Design a Scrapbook Page

    May 1, 2021 /

    Do you ever struggle with how to design a scrapbook page? As it is National Scrapbooking Day, we will be talking about techniques for creating stronger layouts.   If you have never tried scrapbooking as a creative practice, give it a try! It is a great medium that gives you an opportunity to reflect on memories and journal about your experiences. Looking back through scrapbooks is also a fun way to remember the amazing experiences of our lives.    Designing a Scrapbook Page When learning how to design a scrapbook page, there are 3 things that help in the creative process. Tip 1: Using Coordinating Papers Start with coordinating papers…

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    Nadine Milton

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    gel plate printing for beginners

    How to Start Gel Printing with Zero Experience

    May 3, 2025

    Mystified by Acrylic Pastes? How to Color Pastes in 1 Easy Step!

    March 3, 2023
    Everything is Figure-outable Art Journaling Page with Fluid Acrylics

    Using Fluid Acrylics in the Art Journal

    July 22, 2022
  • Scrapbooking Page Using Alcohol Inks with Stencils and Stamping
    Projects,  Techniques

    Using Alcohol Inks with Stencils

    April 2, 2021 /

    Have you ever tried using alcohol inks with stencils on a large project? It can sometimes be challenging using stencils with alcohol inks because of the loose nature of the medium. If the stencil is smaller than the surface that you are using, it can leave harsh lines detracting from the overall design. Layering Alcohol Inks One of the ways to prevent harsh lines in your alcohol ink project is by layering alcohol inks. One thing to keep in mind when using this technique is that when you add more ink, it rewets and often resists the ink below. When it resists, the ink will push the previous layer of…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Guitar Card Using Watercolor Pencils and Wild Whisper Designs Feel the Beat Stamp Set

    How to use Watercolor Pencils

    January 15, 2021
    Art Journaling Project with Tissue Paper Collage

    Art Journaling with Tissue Paper Collage

    January 21, 2022
    tissue paper collage with chipboard and gems

    The Secret to Stunning Collages…use Tissue Paper!

    March 7, 2025
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Nadine Milton

Visual Storyteller & Mixed Media Artist

Welcome to Hop-A-Long Studio! I would love for you to join me in the journey of self-care through artistic expression.

Categories

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Acceptance (10) acrylic paint (16) Acrylic Painting (17) Applying Art Mediums (14) Applying Brusho Powders (10) Art Ideas (22) art journal (20) Art Journaling (62) Art Tutorials (156) Art Videos (163) Awareness (19) Blending Color (22) Card Making (16) Card Tutorials (11) Christmas (9) collage (20) Creative Foundations (24) Creativity (29) Drawing (12) Embossing (11) Gelli Plate (10) Gelli Printing (21) Goal Setting (9) Ink Blending (13) Inking (42) Inks (11) Making Good Choices (12) Mental Health (32) Mindfulness (24) Mixed Media (15) Mixed Media Art (16) napkins (9) Pan Pastels (9) Self-Care (47) Self-Care Activities (16) Self-Care Videos (33) Self-Discovery (14) Stamping (62) Stencilling (48) Tim Holtz Distress (23) Values (9) Watercolor (14) Watercolor Basics (13) Watercolor Painting (19) Wild Whisper Designs (21)

Recent Posts

  • 3 Ways to Make Your Mixed Media Pages POP!3 Techniques to Make Your Mixed Media Pages POP!
    In Art Journal, Techniques
  • How to Make Collage Papers for FreeMake Gorgeous Collage Papers for Free
    In Techniques
  • How to Choose an Art Journal You’ll Love
    In Art Journal
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