Learn to Make a Custom Sketch Journal

Custom Sketch Journal

TOP 8 REASONS TO MAKE YOUR OWN SKETCH AND ART JOURNALSBecause a “smash journal” can be made almost entirely from free, recycled materials. If you ruin a page, so what? That paper was destined for the landfill before you rescued it anyway!Because you can close it up, put it on a shelf and know it is safe and secure. No one will see your work unless you decide to show them- it can be your secret.Because you are sensory being. You can flip through the pages, feel the weight

The Perfect Gift for the Wine Enthusiast

hand painted wine glasses make the perfect gift

Gift giving can be difficult. Sure, some people have a knack for this, but gift selection has never been my strong point.  I lost count of all the times I’d find myself wandering aimlessly down the aisles of my favorite store, waiting for the perfect gift to jump off the shelf at me. Of course, that never happened. So in the end, I would walk out with something generic and impersonal. My go to gifts:  a pretty candle or a bottle of wine. Well, now

The Perfect Gift for the Happy Couple

Heart String Love Notes Journal

Two of your good friends are getting married, or maybe your friends who are married have decided to renew their vows. For significant events like these, of course you’ll want to do something extra special for them, but what? Well I have an idea for a handmade journal that will be the perfect gift for an engagement, bridal shower or even a vow renewal or anniversary for a couple that is dear to you, and

Artful Journal Tutorial: Shellac Burn Encaustic Art Journal

Shellac Burn Encaustic Art Journal

I’m not sure if it’s the glittery finish or the playful, hand stitched binding, but this is one of my favorite journals to date. The cover was made using a shellac burn encaustic technique that I love. I begin with a piece of recycled cardboard from the back of a watercolor paper pad, and cut it to size- in this case the finished book size is 4.5″ x 6″. Next I apply about 3 or 4 layers of

Mixed Media Encaustic Butterfly Garden

Encaustic Butterfly Garden

If you love working with a variety of art materials you will love mixed media encaustic art. Because it is compatible with so many other art mediums and because it acts as its own bonding agent, encaustic is the perfect medium to use as a starting point (and as a finishing layer) for mixed media art. I used stencils to give this butterfly garden piece dimension and texture. The process was so simple and so