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The Art of Self-Care

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  • SHOP
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  • CLASSES
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Recent Posts

  • How to Choose an Art Journal You’ll Love
    In Art Journal
  • Why art journal?Demystifying Art Journaling: How to Start & Why It Matters
    In Projects
  • How to use Pan Pastels in an Art Journal Page to display your yearly intentionShow Your New Years Intention with Pan Pastels
    In Art Journal, Projects, Techniques
  • Art Journal

    How to Choose an Art Journal You’ll Love

    February 27, 2026 /

    Are you curious about art journaling but don’t know how to choose the best art journal for you? Today we’re diving into what to look for in an art journal, and how to figure out which book will work best for your personal art style. Plus I’ll share my favorite art journals that I use on a regular basis. 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 to Consider When Choosing an Art Journal Perhaps you’re new to art journaling or maybe you’ve just finished completing your current art journal. This is an…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Goal Setting: Creativity as a Prompt

    Goal Setting: Creativity as a Prompt

    January 14, 2020
    3 Unique Ways to Use Stencils and Stencil Masks

    3 Unique Ways to Use Stencils and Masks

    September 1, 2023
    Easy Foil Alternatives for Cards and Art Journal Pages

    Easy Foil Alternatives for Cards and Art Journal Pages

    November 18, 2022
  • Mixed Media Collage Using Paper, Acetate and Fabric Tape
    Projects,  Techniques

    Mixed Media Collage Techniques You Need to Try!

    March 21, 2025 /

    Mixed media collage is hard….or is it? Sometimes when we’re using more than one material, we tend to complicate things. Let’s dive into a beautiful and easy project using fabric, acetate and 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. Choosing your Favorite Paper Every time I work on a mixed media collage project, I either start with an idea, a favorite paper, or a medium that I want to use. This project is no exception. I have this beautiful Golden Botanicals paper from Simply Stated Design that is perfect for a collage…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Restoration During A Holiday

    Restoration During A Holiday

    July 3, 2020
    Mixed Media Found Object Art Panel

    Mixed Media Found Object Art Panel

    May 28, 2021
    How to Use Watercolors with Stencils

    How to use Watercolors with Stencils

    August 26, 2022
  • My first mixed media page in the Dina Wakley Ledger Journal
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    My First Impressions of the Dina Wakley Ledger Journal

    March 14, 2025 /

    I recently discovered my new favorite journal, the Dina Wakley Ledger journal!  Join me as I share my first impressions and test this unique art journal using my favorite techniques. In the fall of last year, I had the opportunity to take a few classes in person with the lovely Dina Wakley. She was excited about her new art journal that would be coming out but couldn’t tell us anything about it. I’ve been waiting for months for this journal to come out. I was not disappointed! 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…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Beginner Friendly Acrylic Painting Techniques

    5 Beginner Friendly Acrylic Painting Techniques

    May 13, 2022
    Art Tags with Black Paper Backgrounds created with stencils, stamps, inks and paint pen

    How to Use Black Paper Backgrounds with Inks and Pens

    November 5, 2021
    4 Things I Learned From Failing Forward

    4 Things I Learned from Failing Forward

    February 7, 2020
  • 5 Napkin Hacks to Make Your Napkin Art Pop!
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    5 Easy Hacks to Make Your Napkin Images POP!

    August 23, 2024 /

    Are you looking for ways to elevate your napkin images? Maybe you have beautiful napkin image on white. It looks pretty but could use more contrast or colors. Let’s talk about ways you can make these napkin images look even more amazing!  When I started creating this project, things were going so well, but then they unexpectedly went sideways! I’ve been working with napkins for years, but there’s always something new to learn. So we’re not only going to talk about techniques, but what to do when you make a mistake or feel like your mixed media project is careening out of control! Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy…

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    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Art Journal Flip Through Lessons from an Online Art Retreat

    Looking for Inspiration? A New Art Journal Flip Through!

    August 11, 2023
    An Easy Watercolor Tutorial on Watercolor Mixing

    Intimidated by Watercolor Mixing? An Easy Watercolor Tutorial

    February 18, 2022
    Hoppy Christmas from Hop-A-Long Studio

    Hoppy Christmas from Hop-A-Long Studio

    December 24, 2021
  • 7 Techniques using Zebra Mildliner Mix Pens
    Techniques

    7 Unique Ways to Use Zebra Mildliner Mix Pens

    August 3, 2024 /

    Have you ever purchased a pen that looks amazing but you’re not too sure how to use it? Zebra Pens came out with a new product, the Mildliner Mix pen, and it’s blown my mind! At first, I wasn’t sure how I was going to use these dual color pens. But once I started creating, the ideas kept coming! Join me as I unbox these pens and show you not one, but 7 different project using these pens! 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 Makes These Pens Special? Why should you…

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    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Coping with Anxiety during the Holidays

    Coping with Anxiety during the Holidays

    December 17, 2019
    How to Paint Watercolor Backgrounds

    How to Paint Watercolor Backgrounds

    February 14, 2020
    Watercolor Landscape Paint Along with Gouache

    Watercolor Landscape Paint Along

    June 11, 2021
  • How to get the best results with napkin decoupage
    Techniques

    New to Napkin Decoupage? Start HERE!

    June 28, 2024 /

    Do you know that you can create beautiful works of art with napkins? These aren’t just beautiful napkins to be used at parties or around the house but are the start of a beautiful art or craft project! If you’ve never tried napkin decoupage, join me as I share everything you need to know to get your first napkin project completed! 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 Napkins The one question I constantly get asked is “what napkins can you use?” Any paper napkin with an image printed on it will…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Mixed Media Magic: Transforming Pumpkins with Decoupage

    Mixed Media Magic: Transforming Pumpkins with Decoupage

    September 16, 2023
    Art of Self-Discovery Art Journaling Page

    The Art of Self-Discovery: An Art Journaling Project

    May 27, 2019
    How to create unique color combinations in the art journal using a color wheel

    How to use a Color Wheel to Create Unique Art Journal Color Combinations

    May 5, 2023
  • Create Unique Art Journal Backgrounds with Plastic Wrap
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    How to Create Unique Art Journal Backgrounds with Plastic Wrap

    August 19, 2023 /

    Are you looking for unique ways to create layers in your art journal pages? Today we’ll talk about how to create beautiful and easy art journal backgrounds using plastic wrap. One of the hardest parts about art journaling is breaking up the white space and creating unique backgrounds. We can get stuck at this first step and this can often interrupt our creative flow. This is where I look for things around my house to inspire me. Plastic wrap is a great art tool because it’s inexpensive and easily available. You probably already have some! Hop-A-Long Studio is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Abstract Holiday Cards Made with Paper Scraps from Simply Stated Design Golden Evergreen Papers

    Use Your Scraps to Make Stunning Holiday Cards

    December 8, 2025
    5 Art Journal Background Ideas Using Ink

    5 Art Journal Background Ideas Using Ink

    June 25, 2021
    Wet on Wet Watercolor Technique

    Wet on Wet Watercolor Technique

    July 31, 2020
  • How to Paint Flowers with a Toilet Paper Roll
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    How to Paint Flowers with a Toilet Paper Roll

    August 4, 2023 /

    Are you looking for easy ways to paint flowers in your art journal? A toilet paper roll is the perfect tool for creating beautiful flower or dandelion images in your art journal. In this article I’m going to show you this fun and easy technique! Toilet paper rolls are great because we all have them on hand. It’s also a great way to repurpose things for our art journal projects. 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. How to Use a Toilet Paper Roll with Acrylic Paint You may have used toilet paper…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Create Unique Art Journal Backgrounds with Plastic Wrap

    How to Create Unique Art Journal Backgrounds with Plastic Wrap

    August 19, 2023
    Layered gel plates created by Nadine Milton

    How to Master Gel Print Layers in Monoprinting

    June 13, 2025
    How to use Resist Techniques with Alcohol Inks

    How to use Resist Techniques with Alcohol Inks

    May 20, 2022
  • The Intuitive Collage Process | How to Get Past a Creative Block
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    The Intuitive Collage Process | How to Get Past a Creative Block

    June 12, 2023 /

    Do you ever use the intuitive collage process to get past creative blocks? If you’ve never heard of intuitive collage or don’t know how it can help you, today I’ll be sharing with you everything you need to know about this process!   Intuitive collage is a great technique for getting the creative juices flowing. It’s a great way to prevent us from overthinking the creative process. So often we get stuck because we are judging our work or feel uncertain about where to go next with our art. The intuitive collage process can help us to let go, be fully immersed in our projects, and let the creative part…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Lessons in the creative process Adventures in Book binding and learning new creative skills

    Lessons in the Creative Process: My Adventure with Book Binding

    November 26, 2021
    How to create unique color combinations in the art journal using a color wheel

    How to use a Color Wheel to Create Unique Art Journal Color Combinations

    May 5, 2023
    Canvas Preparation for the Art Curious

    Canvas Preparation for the Art Curious

    March 4, 2022
  • How to Get Comfortable with Your Watercolors an Easy Art Journal Project
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    How to Get Comfortable with Your Watercolors

    February 10, 2023 /

    Are you new to watercolor paints or have recently purchased a new set of watercolors? Watercolors are a wonderful medium but every new color or set of colors can take time to get used to. The colors may act differently than what you’re accustomed to, which can cause frustration. So how do you get comfortable with a new set of watercolors? I recently purchased a new set of Russian watercolor paints called White Nights at my local art store. I wanted to share with you my process and the exercises I use to get familiar with the paints and color combinations. We’ll be creating a simple watercolor painting in our…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    How to Start a Self-Care Habit

    How to Start a Self-Care Habit

    January 28, 2020
    5 Art Journal Background Ideas Using Ink

    5 Art Journal Background Ideas Using Ink

    June 25, 2021
    Techniques for Creating Beautiful Layers with Alcohol Ink

    Techniques for Creating Beautiful Layers with Alcohol Inks

    December 16, 2022
123

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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Recent Posts

  • How to Choose an Art Journal You’ll Love
    In Art Journal
  • Why art journal?Demystifying Art Journaling: How to Start & Why It Matters
    In Projects
  • How to use Pan Pastels in an Art Journal Page to display your yearly intentionShow Your New Years Intention with Pan Pastels
    In Art Journal, Projects, Techniques
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