Embark New Adventures - an art journal spread

This post is a significant one in many ways. It's the last post of 2024 as I'm keeping the rest of the year off. On top of that, it's last post in the blog for a while as I got accepted into a school I applied and shall start my studies on January on top of my full-time job. I'm thinking I then won't have much time to create, less to blog. However, if I create anything, I will surely share it on my Instagram! So, while this blog might be on a hiatus, I'm hoping to keep some action on my Instagram. 

The other significant thing about this project is that I started a new art journal. I've been craving for this kind of page format for a while, but all the journals I've found have had binding. As I normally tend to make quite dimensional things, I was hesitant to purchase one only to ruin the binding after a couple of pages. But let's see how this now goes! At least in this first attempt I managed to restrain myself from adding too much height! 

I guess the page and process is mostly quite straight forward and need no explanation, except maybe the red thread as I'm not quite convinced it translates well. In Finnish the red thread doesn't necessarily combine fates or two people (did quick googling), but it's more about continuity, the core of things. In a messy world it's important to find and follow that red thread of one's existence. Kind of like a race horse with blinkers, keeping the goal in your sight through the muddle of it all.  

Want to see how the spread came to life? Well, then why don't you visit my YouTube channel to see the process video (link)! When I made this project, and video, I had applied to the school but the results weren't in yet so I only knew I would be taking the January off as that meant I didn't have any deadlines in December. 

I gave the spread quite a prophetical title - "Embark New Adventures". The other part of the text reads "Believe in your dreams". I'm hoping that this leap of faith will pay off in longer run, so I hope you wish me well! 

Thank you so much for your visit! Wishing you a wonderful Holiday time and great start to the new year 2025! Hopefully you won't be a stranger and we'll see each other on the Instagram! Thank you again and bye for now!

Materials: 

art journal

PaperArtsy - Fresco Finish acrylic paint Butter, Captain Peacock, Forget Me Not, Snowflake

PaperArtsy - TS065 stamp set

Tsukineko - Versa Fine Clair Nocturne

Ranger - Distress Collage Meidum Matte

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper Dolls Portraits TH94233

Stabilo - All Aquarellable colored pencil black 8046

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Chitchat stickers TH92998

Posca PC-1M white, black

Posca PC-3M yellow, lavender, emerald green

clear packaging tape

old book page, red thread

scissors, brushes, sewing needle

Blue and White - an art journal spread

I drew inspiration from the day and used just blues and whites in this art journal spread. If you are wondering, why those colors, they are the colors on the Finnish flag. When I was crafting the piece a song called "Sininen ja valkoinen" (Blue and white) started playing in my head. There the singer thinks how to describe his homeland. He then sings about all blue and white things in Finland (blue skies and lakes, glistening snow, white summer nights and white clouds). 

How I made the spread? Well, you can see that from this process video (link) on my YouTube channel! Like I say in the video, you could use the same idea to make some Christmas cards, too! 

Wishing you a peaceful Friday and wonderful weekend! Thank you for stopping by today!

Materials: 

GelliArts - 5"x7" printing plate

Fabriano - Accademia 160g cardstock

PaperArtsy - Fresco Finish acrylic paint Baltic Blue, Double Denim, China, Heavy Cream, Eggshell, Snowflake

Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Layering stencil Brush Marks THS167

Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Layering stencil Berry Leaves THS174

Carabelle Studio - Ecriture a la Plume stencil

Wennström - beeswax crayons

Stabilo - All Aquarellable white colored pencil 8052

Posca PC-1M black, white

letter stickers, pencil

foam tape, double sided tape

brushes, brayer, scissors

Christmas Magic - an art journal spread

Heippa! It's again Friday and that means a new video on my YouTube channel! This time I made an art journal spread using inks, paints and die cut elements. If you want to see how I made this spread, please see this video (link) on my YouTube channel!

The idea behind this spread was to use this Christmas themed vintage image I've had in my stash for a while. I think I bought a set of these for my December album one year and then realized while I otherwise love vintage vibe, it's not suitable for the particular album. Or let's say the images would look a bit peculiar along Instax photos and Lawn Fawn styled ephemera I otherwise tend to use on the album. I was trying to find a link for you to show a picture of the album, but couldn't find one. I don't tend to share them as I would need to blur a lot! But to clarify a little - each December I document the month to an album. I use Instax for the photos and assembly the album in a Simple Stories Sn@p album in sleeves. I fill the pockets with right sized patterned paper pieces before hand and gather a box with date stickers, embellishments and left overs of those patterned papers so the documenting is easy during the holidays. I've been doing this for several years, in this format I guess this year will be the fifth. 

I got sidetracked, so back to today's project! The inspiration was that vintage photo. I wanted to create something relatively simple, and picked up this patterned paper with some nicely wrapped gifts. To enhance the sweet atmosphere, I picked pink as the background color. As you can see from the video, I started by breaking the blank page with some acrylic smudges, for lack of a better word, and then continued with inks. If you want to see the whole process, please see the process video (link) on my YouTube channel!

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a crafty Friday and lovely weekend!

Materials:

art journal

Fabriano - Accademia 160g cardstock

PaperArtsy - Fresco Finish acrylic paint Vintage Lace

Ranger - Distress Ink Kitsch Flamingo, Saltwater Taffy, Lumberjack Plaid

Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair Nocturne

PaperArtsy - TS065 stamp set

Sizzix - Thinlits die set Forest Shadows 666334

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Postmarked sticker book TH94387

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Christmas 2023 sticker book TH94350

Posca PC-1M white, black

doily, pearl stickers, vintage die cut, gift patterned paper

double sided tape, craft glue, foam tape

paper cutter, scissors, inking tool, water mister, brushes

Just "eh" - YouTube live recording

Moikka moi! It's another week and new posts! This project, however, might look a bit familiar. It's something I did during the YouTube live a couple of weeks back. I used the same composition and colors, so it really echoes the sample project! 

The idea behind this live and page was just to create and not over think it. The spread started with some loose scribbles to break the blank page, putting all pressure off. I also tried to use quite a lot easy access supplies like adds and a ballpoint pen, to make it easier to re-create something similar without any pressure. 

You can see the announcement post here (link) with detailed materials list and photos of the sample project. For the recording of the live, click here (link) to take you to my YouTube channel!

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a fine Tuesday! 

Materials: Ranger, PaperArtsy, Tim Holtz Idea-ology, Sizzix

No-brainer - YouTube live announcement

Moikka moi! This coming Saturday I'm keeping another YouTube live! It's going to be the last one this year, as I'm keeping a Holiday break during December. 

During the live I'm re-creating this art journal spread. The idea behind the page was just going with the flow, building layers and using easy access materials. Well, to be honest, as you can read from the materials list, the latter idea took a bit of a turn at some point, but mainly I'm using just paints and pens together with non-branded embellishments. I'm also doing an easy packaging tape transfer. 

Hope you can join me on Saturday! See you then!

Materials:

art journal

Fabriano - Accademia 160g cardstock

Ranger - Distress watercolor pencils Saltwater Taffy, Festive Berries, Carved Pumpkin, Victorian Velvet, Chipped Sapphire (set 4)

PaperArtsy - Fresco Finish acrylic paint Cherry Blossom, Chalk

Stampers Anonymous - Labels stencil THS178

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Photobooth #TH93799

Sizzix - Thinlits die set Birds and Stars 662673

pencil, ball point pen

magazine material ("patterned paper" + typography)

a piece of baking paper or other non-stick paper, clear packaging tape