What if you could turn an old credit card into your most versatile painting tool? No brushes, no rules—just swipe, blend, and scratch your way to stunning handmade papers.
In this blog, I’ll show you a favorite mixed media technique I keep coming back to—painting credit card papers. It’s fast, freeing, and full of beautiful surprises.
Have you ever been captivated by the spontaneous flow of watercolor—the way colors melt into each other, unpredictable yet soothing? I have. I love the softness and meditation that watercolors bring.
But as someone who has painted with acrylics for over a decade, I’ve developed a special fondness for them. There’s something about acrylics—their versatility, texture, and vibrancy—that keeps drawing me back.
So I asked myself: What if I could play with acrylics in a way that feels like watercolor? That’s how this method was born—a playful, intuitive way to dye papers using diluted acrylic paint.
Acrylic Dyeing on Paper: My Easy, Playful Alternative to Ink Read More »
1. That strange guilt of doing nothing
Have you ever felt guilty for resting?
Especially when you’re not feeling well — physically tired, mentally foggy — and your body needs rest… but your mind won’t stop whispering:
“You should be doing something.”
“So much to do — and here you are lying down.”
“You’re wasting time.”
When Rest Feels Like Guilt Read More »
Healing the Shame Beneath the Need to Prove Yourself A Truth I Can No Longer Ignore I’ve lived a life that looks impressive from the outside. I worked in the IT industry for ten years.I travelled to over 25 countries.I quit my corporate job to follow my passion and build an art business from scratch.And yet — no
🌿 When Nothing Is Ever Enough Read More »
I’ve been writing in plain A5 notebooks for years — the kind you pick up on Amazon with blank white pages. But recently, I had a thought.
What if the journal I write in felt more me? More soulful. More beautiful. Something I actually created with my hands?
So I finally sat down to make one.
This handmade book is stitched using a binding style called Link and Long Stitch. I learned it from the lovely Jeanne Oliver inside her course Poets and Misfits, and I’ve been wanting to try it ever since.
If you love making tags for your art journal, happy mail, or collage projects, you’re going to love this! In today’s blog, I’m sharing a simple and creative way to make embellished mixed media tags using scraps of fabric, easy hand stitching, and a master sheet of mini abstract paintings.
These tags were cut out from the same master sheet I created in this blog post, where I shared how I painted a large intuitive background and then cut it down into smaller mini abstracts. If you haven’t seen that yet, go check it out first – it’s all part of the free tester workshop, and you can even join the class to learn how to create your own expressive master sheet for free.
Once I had my mini paintings, I realized there was more goodness left on the page – so I used the leftover sections to cut out tags!
Embellishing Mixed Media Tags with Fabric and Stitching Read More »
✨ Join Me for a Free Creative Weekend! 🗓️ July 12–13, 2025🎟️ 100% FREE I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be a guest teacher at the upcoming MakeCreate Express free creative retreat weekend on July 12–13, 2025. This online event features 26 artists from around the world, each offering a unique mini-workshop designed to spark your creativity. 👉 Sign up for the
Mini Abstract Paintings – A Layered Mixed-Media Art Journey Read More »
Let’s rewind to 2016. There I was, brushes in hand, teaching my 100th landscape painting workshop.
Fast-forward a decade, and I’d guided over 20,000 students online and 700+ in-person workshops—all about capturing skies, mountains, and forests.
But here’s the thing no one tells you: Passion evolves.
A quiet curiosity pulled me beyond paint. At first, it felt wild and messy. But soon, those unpredictable textures and playful marks revealed a whole new language of creativity.
Now, after countless experiments in my studio, I’m thrilled to say I’m officially teaching mixed media—and I want you to join me at
Grungy art journal | Adventurous Artist Summit | June 25–26, 2025 Read More »
Art journaling is a delightful way to nurture your creativity, explore your emotions, and document your journey through visual storytelling. Flowers, with their vibrant colors, delicate petals, and rich symbolism, serve as a captivating subject for your art journal.
Whether you’re an experienced artist or just beginning your artistic journey, painting flowers in your art journal can be a fulfilling and inspiring experience.
To help you get started, here are 30 art journaling prompts specifically tailored for painting flowers:
30 Art Journaling Prompts for Painting Flowers Read More »
There’s something deeply satisfying about shrinking your art practice down to a tiny journal you can hold in the palm of your hand.
In today’s blog, I’ll share how I transformed scraps and prints into a 4×4″ mini art journal, complete with a sturdy 5×5″ collaged cover and a mish‑mash of “junk” pages begging to be personalized.
This project is perfect for using up leftover mark‑making papers, fabric bits, and vintage ephemera—all while staying present and intuitive in the process.
Soulful Mini Art Journal: Crafting a 4×4 Mixed‑Media Treasure Read More »