Tag Archives: Art Journaling

Diving into the Unexpected: My Underwater Abstract Adventure

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I love using my watercolor journal for practice sessions whenever I’m experimenting with new techniques or exploring fresh design ideas. Today, I decided to play around in my 5.5×8.5″ journal, and what started as a bit of fun turned into an unexpected abstract piece! 🎨

At first, I wasn’t sure where the painting was going, but it soon took a surprising turn—right into an underwater world! 🌊 The result? Something totally different from what I had envisioned, but that’s what makes the creative process exciting.

There are parts of the painting that I’m really drawn to, and others not so much, but I’ll take those elements I love and carry them forward into my next artistic adventure. That’s the beauty of experimenting—it’s all about discovery!

I hope this inspires you to pick up your brushes and create something fun this weekend! Thanks for stopping by, and remember…

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“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” ~Scott Adams

Finding Calm in Chaos through Creativity

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Life can feel overwhelming at times, so I recently took a step back to create a little something every day in my small 4.75-inch square zentangle journal. With autumn arriving just last week, I’ve been envisioning a subtle shift in colors—not too drastic, but enough to reflect the season’s quiet transition. That’s why I decided on a limited palette for this design.

I came across a great reminder online: creativity is like a muscle—you have to exercise it regularly to keep it strong. I’ll admit, I never really thought of it that way before, but there’s a lot of truth in that statement. Despite a whirlwind of a week, I still found time to work on my zentangle in small, manageable sections, little by little.

Sneaking in these moments of creativity, even if just for a few minutes, made my week feel less chaotic. Each brief session was a grounding force, and by the end of the week, I had something beautiful to show for it. I hope this encourages you to carve out a few moments for your own creative practice today, no matter how busy life gets.

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing this journey with me!

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“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~Maya Angelou

Photo by Alice AliNari on Pexels.com

Small Art, Big Impact: Exploring Zentangles in a Mini Journal

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I recently found the perfect watercolor journal on Etsy at the WanderersPalette—a 4.75-inch square hot press journal with 140 lb watercolor paper. I usually go for cold press, but I wanted something smoother for my zentangle designs, and I’m so glad I made the switch! The size is just right—not too big, not too small—making it ideal for quick designs, especially when I’m on the go.

Whenever I feel stuck on a painting or need something calming, I love creating small designs in this journal. It’s so satisfying to finish a piece in a short time, and the repetitive patterns really help slow my thoughts down—a process I’ve come to enjoy deeply.

Since this is a fairly new journal, I’ll be filling it up with more zentangle designs. But these are the first three, and I hope they inspire you to create your own!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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“Every artist was first an amateur.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trash to Treasure Art Journaling

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This creation is part of the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram! I fell behind because I’ve got so many projects going on in the studio, but this artwork is for July’s prompt: “Trash to Treasure.” My original plan was to use chocolate wrappers to create something fun, but that would have meant eating a lot of chocolate! Not that I’m complaining, but I am trying to be good 😇

Sometimes things simply don’t go as planned. I had painted a watercolor abstract that just didn’t turn out the way I wanted. But with the July prompt in mind, I thought, why not salvage it and turn it into a treasure?

I had a lot of fun punching out butterflies—each one unique—and adding them to my journal. After finishing, I thought maybe leaving the background white would have been better—sometimes less really is more! But you know what? I still like how it turned out. And now, I’m officially all caught up! 🎉

I hope this piece inspires you to create something fun this weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

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“Open your heart and mind like the wings of a butterfly. See then how high you can fly.” ~Zeenat Aman

Exclusive Discount Inside: Celebrating My Feature in Art Journaling Magazine! Surprise

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I recently received a delightful surprise on Instagram from @stampington—a special discount code to say thank you for my contribution to their Art Journaling Magazine!

Not only do I love Art Journaling Magazine, but I’m also a big fan of several other Stampington publications. Somerset Studio is a treasure trove for mixed media enthusiasts, full of creative projects, fun worksheets and more. In Her Studio takes you behind the scenes into the inspiring spaces of female artists. Willow and Sage offers unique recipes for homemade bath and body products, perfect for some self-care time. And my absolute favorite, Bella Grace, is packed with touching stories, inspirational quotes, and stunning photography. There are so many more amazing publications to explore—definitely check out their site to find your favorites!

As a token of appreciation, I’m excited to share this special discount code with you: PUBLISHED15. Use it to get 15% off everything in their store! Just head over to Stampington.com to start shopping. ✨

I’m so grateful for this kind gesture—thank you, Stampington!💖😊

Happy shopping, everyone!

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Makes my Heart Sing Art Journaling

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Ever wondered what goes on inside an artist’s mind? Well, this journal layout is a little peek into mine! I’m all about bright, fun, happy colors, whimsical touches, and the magic of everyday life. Roses and flowers? Absolutely love them. Music and art? They all make my heart sing.

This creation is part of the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram. I fell a bit behind because of the many projects I’ve got going on in the studio, but this artwork is for June’s prompt: “Makes my heart sing.” So many ideas came to mind, but the real challenge was capturing the feeling in a way that truly resonates.

After some thought, I chose ‘Art’ because, no matter what’s happening in the world, creating always brings me joy, happiness, and peace. This artwork was made in my favorite 4.5×5″ handmade watercolor journal. I used watercolor paints and markers, a white Posca pen for highlights, a sketch pencil for shading, and of course, a bit of glitter for that extra sparkly magic✨

I’ve got one more layout to do for July, and then I’ll be all caught up. I’m planning to work on that this week, juggling it with my other projects. I hope this piece inspires you in some way!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I’d love to hear what makes your heart sing. Have a fantastic weekend!

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Photo by Unchalee Srirugsar on Pexels.com

The Sea Art Journaling

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I’m excited to share my latest artwork with you for the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram! This month’s theme is “Salt,” and after tossing around a few ideas, the sea 🌊 kept calling to me—it’s salty in the best way! To add a bit of interest and fun, I even sprinkled some coarse sea salt onto the background.

This ocean-themed piece found its home in my cherished 4.5×5″ handmade watercolor journal—a thoughtful gift from my sister on a past birthday. I love working in this journal; the size is just right, and the colorful thread binding adds such a special touch that I made sure to paint around it. To make it even more interesting, I drew a boat and some sea life, then stamped the quote, “My heart is at home by the Sea,” and secured it with some washi tape. I even found a delightful mermaid washi tape by Jane Davenport in my stash, which I thought was the perfect finishing touch. I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out—it’s cute and captures that salty sea vibe!

I have to admit, I’m a little behind on this challenge, so I’ll be catching up on the other two designs over the next week or so. My studio projects have been keeping me busy, but taking this creative detour was a refreshing break.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead. 🌟

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Finding Peace Through Angel Art: A Watercolor Journey

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As many of you know, I love painting angels. It’s where I find peace and solace through the artistic process. I started this watercolor painting in my art journal a while ago, but I wasn’t thrilled with the overpowering, bold colors.

Eventually, I decided to move forward and finish her. Surprisingly, once I changed my mindset, the colors started to grow on me, and new ideas emerged on how to complete this painting. Sometimes, we need to take a step back and let things settle before new inspiration comes to us. It’s a reminder that patience and a fresh perspective can transform our work in unexpected ways.

I hope this inspires you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!⠀

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“Faith and Fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose!” ~Bob Proctor

Sea Girl Portrait Art Journaling

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I can’t believe how long it took me to complete this art journal portrait! I began with the sketch in December, and after several layers of watercolors, she’s finally finished. 👏👏 The sketch itself was time-consuming, as I wanted to get it just right. Then, I meticulously added layer upon layer of watercolors, with a few enhancements using colored pencils—though not too much. It was truly a labor of love, and I poured so much time and effort into each detail. This video shows how it all came together 😊

I hope this inspires you in some way. Have a great weekend! ⠀

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Butterfly Art Journaling

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This artwork is for the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram, and this month’s theme is “Don’t label me!” Coming up with this design was quite the journey! I played around with watercolors, pen, stencils, some cool stamps, collage and a bit of glitter. For this theme I added a few empowering phrases that speak volumes:

“STOP comparing”
“labels are limiting”
be YOU-nique!”

I created this design in my 4.5×5″ handmade watercolor journal that was gifted to me by my sister from ArtsiRosi Etsy Shop. I’ve been using this journal for the challenge and it has quickly become one of my favorite journals!

I hope this piece sparks your creativity and inspires you to break out your art supplies for some weekend fun! Wishing you a safe and Happy Memorial Day!!

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