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The Art of Self-Care

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

Recent Posts

  • gel plate printing for beginnersHow to Start Gel Printing with Zero Experience
    In Techniques
  • How to use watercolor powders with stencilsThe Best Way to Use Watercolor Powders with Stencils
    In Techniques
  • Watercolor Pigment Powders Brusho Crystal Colours, Lindy's Gang Magicals and Nuvo Shimmer Powders how to use on watercolor paperWatercolor Powders Demystified! You need to Try these!
    In Techniques
  • Looking to Improve your Painting Skills? How to Paint a Tree with Ink using Yasutomo Traditional Chinese Ink Silver Black and Chinese & Watercolor Brushes
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    Looking for an Easy Painting Exercise? How to Paint a Tree with Ink

    February 24, 2023 /

    Do you ever find yourself unsure of how to improve your painting skills? You may not know where to start and it may feel overwhelming. If that’s you, here’s a very simple project on how to paint a tree with ink that will help you improve your painting skills. As a creator, I sometimes go through times where I’m not feeling inspired. I can feel like I’m out of ideas or am uncertain on where to start with a project. When this happens, I tend to simplify my process as this can help get the creative juices flowing. For this project, you’ll need a piece of watercolor paper, ink and…

    Read More
    Nadine Milton

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    3 Ways to Trace Images onto Paper

    3 Easy Ways to Trace Images onto Paper

    January 8, 2021
    Painting with Ink Art Journal Project

    Painting with Ink: An Art Journal Project

    November 13, 2020
    4 Things I Learned From Failing Forward

    4 Things I Learned from Failing Forward

    February 7, 2020
  • How to Use Layering Stencils to Create Dimensional Images
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    How to Use Layering Stencils to Create Dimensional Images

    September 23, 2022 /

    Have you ever tried using layering stencils to make dimensional images for your projects? Layering stencils are extremely popular but understanding a few key techniques can help you get consistent results. If you don’t own any multi-layered stencils, today I’ll show you how you to create layered images using any stencil in your collection. 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 Layering Stencils Recently, there has been a trend toward layering stencils that use several stencils to make one image. This means ink, paint and other mediums can be added…

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    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Choosing an Art Journal for Your Creative Practice Hop-A-Long Studio

    Choosing an Art Journal for Your Creative Practice

    May 27, 2022
    Art Journal Page Using Distress Embossing Glazes and Pastes

    Art Journal Page Using Distress Embossing Glazes

    June 12, 2020
    Fold Up Book Instax Mini Album Using Wild Whisper Designs paper and Local King Rubber Stamps

    One Page Fold Up Book: Instax Mini Album

    July 2, 2021
  • v
    Techniques

    How to Create Gelli Prints with 5 Types of Ink

    August 19, 2022 /

    When learning how to create gelli prints with inks, it can be hard to know which ink to choose. There are so many to choose from. What ink is the most vibrant? What inks will stain your gel plate? Today we will cover 5 popular inks and how they work with the gelli plate on both gloss paper and cardstock. 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 Gelli Print with Inks The basic technique to create gelli prints with inks is the same as paint. To create a beautiful print, apply…

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    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    Do You have Ruined Paint Brushes? How to Fix Acrylic Paint Brushes

    Do You Have Ruined Paint Brushes? How to Fix Acrylic Paint Brushes in 3 Easy Steps!

    February 17, 2023
    7 Techniques using Zebra Mildliner Mix Pens

    7 Unique Ways to Use Zebra Mildliner Mix Pens

    August 3, 2024
    How to Paint Watercolor Backgrounds

    How to Paint Watercolor Backgrounds

    February 14, 2020
  • How to Use Gel Prints in Your Art Journal
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    Feeling Stuck? How to Use Gel Prints in Your Art Journal Projects

    July 29, 2022 /

    Do you ever stare at your stack of gel prints wondering how to use those gel prints in your projects? You’re not alone. It can be overwhelming to take the beautiful prints you’ve made and figure out how to incorporate them into your journal. Today I’ll share with you one way that I like using gel prints in my art journal and how easy it is to add gel prints into your 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. Adding Gel Prints to the Art Journal There are so many ways of…

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    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    How to Paint Flowers with a Toilet Paper Roll

    How to Paint Flowers with a Toilet Paper Roll

    August 4, 2023
    Practicing Self-Care during the Holiday Season

    Practicing Self-Care during the Holiday Season

    December 12, 2019
    Blue Monday: Reasons to Hope

    Blue Monday: Reasons to Hope

    January 19, 2020
  • Art Tags with Black Paper Backgrounds created with stencils, stamps, inks and paint pen
    Projects,  Techniques

    How to Use Black Paper Backgrounds with Inks and Pens

    November 5, 2021 /

    Have you ever used black paper backgrounds in your journal or creative projects? Adding color to black paper by drawing and stamping is easy, but there are a few things to consider when applying color. Not all mediums are suitable for using on black paper, so today I will share some of my favorite mediums and techniques with you. Inks for Black Paper When using inks on black paper backgrounds, you need to consider the properties of your ink. The main consideration is whether your ink is translucent or opaque. Not all inks are the same so only certain ones will work well on black paper. Inks that I use…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Finding A New Normal

    Finding a New Normal

    May 29, 2020
    Adding diamonds to diamond painting

    Everything You Need to Know About Diamond Painting

    August 31, 2024
    Mixed Media Tag Nature Does Not Hurry

    Mixed Media Tag “Nature Does Not Hurry”

    June 4, 2021
  • Doodling with Stencils with Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Posca Paint Pens
    Projects,  Techniques

    Doodling with Stencils: Using Stencils to Improve your Drawing Skills

    October 22, 2021 /

    Have you ever mixed doodling with stencils into your art journal or creative projects? Stencils can be very helpful when practicing improving drawing skills. Starting with a defined shape can be helpful and inspire creativity. Why Use Stencils? Why use stencils to improve your drawing skills? Stencils have defined shapes that can be traced onto a project. From there you can add your own drawing and doodling to add texture and dimension to an image. It’s an easy place to discover your own style and creativity. When we start learning to draw, many of us end up staring at a blank piece of paper. That’s a hard place to be.…

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    Nadine Milton

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    Realistic Goal Setting and New Year’s Resolutions

    December 30, 2019
    How to Create a Wine Bottle Vase Overall Project

    How to Create a Wine Bottle Flower Vase

    May 7, 2021
    Is Craft Paint Really Cheaper? Choosing the Best Paint for your Art Journal

    Is Craft Paint Really Cheaper? What’s the Best Paint?

    October 7, 2022
  • 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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    Adding Your Own Art to Stencil Images

    Adding Your Own Art to Stencil Images

    August 28, 2020
    Art Journal Flip Through Lessons from an Online Art Retreat

    Looking for Inspiration? A New Art Journal Flip Through!

    August 11, 2023
    3 Ways to Use Brusho Crystal Colours

    3 Ways to Use Brusho Crystal Colours

    December 18, 2020
  • 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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    Fall Scrapbooking Page using Gelli Prints and Wild Whisper Designs Strength of the Season Ephemera

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

    September 10, 2021
    Art Journal Textured Background Techniques with Acrylic Mediums

    Textured Background Techniques for the Art Journal

    March 11, 2022
    How to Gelli Print on Tissue Paper

    How to Gelli Print on Tissue Paper

    July 1, 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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    How to Choose Your Priorities

    How to Choose Your Priorities

    August 21, 2020
    Watercolor Landscape Paint Along with Gouache

    Watercolor Landscape Paint Along

    June 11, 2021
    Beautiful Smudge Free Pan Pastel Christmas Cards

    Beautiful Smudge Free Pan Pastel Christmas Cards

    December 2, 2022
  • How to create layers using ink blending
    Art Journal,  Techniques

    How to Create Layers Using Ink Blending

    April 16, 2021 /

    Creating in a journal is a great self-care practice but it can be challenging to add layers and dimension to a page. Today we will discuss how to create layers using ink blending in your creative projects. Layering Inks Layering inks is a great way of creating dimension in your projects. There are several things to consider when you are creating layers with your inks: Color Values In my last article I shared about how to use color values when creating a monochromatic project. By using a variety of color values this creates different shades and intensity of color, which adds dimension to your project. Type of Ink Certain types…

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    Nadine Milton

    You May Also Like

    tissue paper collage with chipboard and gems

    The Secret to Stunning Collages…use Tissue Paper!

    March 7, 2025
    How to use Resist Techniques with Alcohol Inks

    How to use Resist Techniques with Alcohol Inks

    May 20, 2022
    Beautiful Smudge Free Pan Pastel Christmas Cards

    Beautiful Smudge Free Pan Pastel Christmas Cards

    December 2, 2022
12

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 (17) Art Journaling (61) Art Tutorials (156) Art Videos (162) Awareness (19) Blending Color (22) Card Making (16) Card Tutorials (11) Christmas (9) collage (14) Creative Foundations (24) Creativity (28) Drawing (12) Embossing (11) Gelli Plate (9) Gelli Printing (17) Goal Setting (9) Ink Blending (13) Inking (42) Inks (11) Making Good Choices (12) Mental Health (32) Mindfulness (24) Mixed Media (12) Mixed Media Art (16) napkins (9) Self-Care (47) Self-Care Activities (16) Self-Care Videos (33) Self-Discovery (14) Stamping (62) Stencilling (48) stencils (9) Tim Holtz Distress (23) Values (9) Watercolor (14) Watercolor Basics (13) Watercolor Painting (19) Wild Whisper Designs (21)

Recent Posts

  • gel plate printing for beginnersHow to Start Gel Printing with Zero Experience
    In Techniques
  • How to use watercolor powders with stencilsThe Best Way to Use Watercolor Powders with Stencils
    In Techniques
  • Watercolor Pigment Powders Brusho Crystal Colours, Lindy's Gang Magicals and Nuvo Shimmer Powders how to use on watercolor paperWatercolor Powders Demystified! You need to Try these!
    In Techniques
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