Debasree Dey

Art journal with mark-making & coffee dyed papers

I learned to create this coffee-dyed, textured art journal through Galia Alena’s online course, Creative Resilience. She guided us through making a small art journal that engages all five senses, and it was such a joy to watch and learn from her.

For the inside pages, I started with A3 sketchbook papers, where I made random marks using various mixed media supplies and spilled coffee to create a rich, earthy tone. The best part? Every time I hold the journal, it gives off the most delightful coffee aroma.

After that, I cut each A3 sheet into three smaller sheets, with each signature made up of six sheets. So, for this project, I used a total of six A3 sheets, resulting in a journal with 18 pages.

The cover was made from canvas cloth, layered with texture paste, which was a process I truly loved because of my passion for creating textures. To finish it off, I wrapped the spine with a fabric doily that was handmade by my mother-in-law, adding a special personal touch.

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Paper Dolls Adventure

When I first came across the idea of paper dolls on Megan Quinlan’s page , I was immediately inspired to try it out. Megan creates her dolls using stencils and stamps that she designs herself (her shop is definitely worth a visit). Since I didn’t have access to those tools, I decided to hand-draw the dolls, make multiple copies, and color them in.

What I really loved about this project was how easy it was to give each doll its own unique emotion or expression with just a little pencil work. Coloring them felt almost like working on adult coloring pages—it was so calming and meditative. I had a lot of fun with this project and definitely plan to create more dolls. These dolls are meant to be used in art journaling, something I’m still learning from Megan. I can’t wait to share my art journal once I’ve added the dolls to it!

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Creating an A6 journal with backgrounds (5 easy steps)

This journal was created inspired by Eugénie Billotte from whom I learned art journaling in week 6 of Wanderlust 2024.

To create this little journal, I used just two A3 sheets. I cut each A3 sheet into four A5 sheets, giving me a total of eight sheets. I painted the backgrounds on all eight sheets, front and back. For the cover, I used a slightly heavier cardstock paper, painted the front using the same technique, and pasted a colored paper on the inside.

And here is the result.

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Easy abstract seascape painting

Welcome to the world of abstract seascape painting! If you’ve ever dreamed of capturing the serene beauty of the ocean on canvas, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through an easy, step-by-step process to create your very own abstract seascape using acrylic paints.

Perfect for beginners, this guide ensures that even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before, you’ll finish with a piece of art you’re proud of.

If you love seascape paintings, check out the 30 days seascape painting challenge.

And for more than 70 seascape painting ideas, visit here.

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Nature-Inspired Shapes for Mixed Media Collages

Nature has always been a quiet storyteller. Its shapes, rhythms, and textures carry meaning without demanding attention. In mixed media collage, nature-inspired forms offer more than visual beauty—they bring grounding, movement, and emotional resonance to your work.

Whether you are intuitively layering papers, building textured landscapes, or adding symbolic elements, working with natural shapes allows your collage to feel alive and connected.

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