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Mod Podge, PVA, or Matte Medium? Here’s How to Choose
Mod Podge, PVA, and matte medium all get used interchangeably in craft tutorials — but they’re not the same, and the price differences aren’t random. In this post, I’m breaking down what actually separates these three adhesives, and when to reach for each one. We will cover the pros and cons of each adhesive based on how I use them, on canvas, in my art journal, and on paper. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. White Glue and PVA Glue White glue, or PVA glue, is a well-known glue that can be…
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Tired of Boring Paperclips? Make These Instead!
Are you tired of using boring old paperclips in your journals and planners? Today I’m going to show you a way to transform everyday paperclips and turning them into beautiful, functional art. These paperclips are super fun to decorate and can be used just like you’d use a normal paperclip. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Creating the Base for the Paperclip To create the base for an art paperclip, start with a basic paperclip. I like using the large 2” long ones as they are a bit stronger. You can always…
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The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Image Transfers
Everyone makes image transfers look easy, but are they? When I first started using laser image transfers, I would end up with cloudy images, holes, and wrinkles. It was frustrating. But I didn’t give up and today I’m going to share 7 tips for getting the perfect image transfer every time! Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. What Kind of Image Can I Use? Let’s start with materials. Today we are going to start with a laser image or a photocopied image. I know that laser printers are less common, but…
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3 Techniques to Make Your Mixed Media Pages POP!
Do you ever feel like some of your mixed media pages look a bit blah? Or maybe you’re part of the way through your art journal page and you don’t know how to finish it off. This is a common problem when working with art journaling and mixed media. Today I’m taking 3 of my own unfinished and underwhelming pages and we’ll transform them together. Along the way, I’ll show you exactly what’s going wrong and how to fix it. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. The Unfinished Mixed Media Page…
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Make Gorgeous Collage Papers for Free
Do you ever see beautiful collage papers and feel like you just have to have them? Collections from companies like 49 and Market are beautiful but these papers can get pretty expensive, especially if you do a lot of projects. Today I’m going to walk you through how you can make your own dynamic and beautiful collage papers that can be curated to work with any project or theme. Whether this is vintage and distressed or bright and bold, this technique can work on a variety of papers. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to…
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Show Your New Years Intention with Pan Pastels
Are you looking to start a creative habit this year? I love January as it’s a time to explore some of the materials in my art room that I haven’t used in a while and play with some new ideas. Today I’m pulling out my Pan Pastels to show you some fun and easy techniques that anyone can do! Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. What are Pan Pastels? I’ve shared about Pan Pastels before, but if you’re not familiar with these cute little pans, they are pastel pigment in a round…
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Make Amazing Holiday Collage Cards in Minutes!
Are you looking for simple ways to create amazing holiday collage cards? Today let’s talk about a few fun and easy techniques to create unique collage card designs. Not only are these collage techniques perfect for cards, but you can also easily make them work in your next art journal page. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We’ll be using up leftover paper pieces from other projects. If you have dictionary pages, magazine papers, leftover gel prints or scrapbook papers they are perfect for holiday collages. Today I’m going to stick to…
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Use Your Scraps to Make Stunning Holiday Cards
After completing a project do you find that you have a lot of scraps and leftover pieces that you just can’t part with? You’re not alone. So what do we do with these pieces? Do we throw them out? Or file them away never to be seen again? There is a third option. We can take these pieces and create stunning holiday cards with them. Even if you only have small scraps, these leftover pieces can make unique collage holiday cards that your loved ones will treasure. Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn…
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The Best DIY Gel Print Holiday Cards
Are you looking for inspiring ideas for using your gel plate to make fabulous gel print holiday cards? The gel plate is so versatile. You can use any color combination and imagery to create one-of-a-kind papers and cards. If you’ve never used a gel plate, it’s so fun and completely addicting! If you’re anything like me, you’ll sit down to do a few gel prints and will end up with dozens of them! The Gel Plate Problem When I am teaching, I usually get these two questions about gel plate printing. How Do I Get Consistent Prints? Gel plate printing can feel impossible at the beginning if you’re creating on…
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Unique & Easy Gel Printing with Leaves and Grasses
Did you know some of the best tools for gel printing are growing right outside? Grab some leaves, your gel plate, and let’s jump in! Today I’ll show you how to use real plants to create beautiful, organic textures. You might just be surprised by the stunning details that show up. Gel plate printing with leaves and grasses is easy, beginner-friendly, and a little bit magical! Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Where do You Find Leaves? In my garden I am surrounded by a LOT of textures and leaves to choose…
The Art of Self-Care
