Dreamboard Art Journal: Creating a Vision for Moving Forward

Creating a Vision for Moving Forward

Sometimes a journal page begins with a clear idea. I find that my pages usually begin with background colors that I may have added from extra paint, or a collection of papers on the page, waiting for me to begin.

I returned to a page that already contained layers of paint. I have several pages in my art journal waiting to be worked on and this is useful for when you have a fixed time to create.  I also had a bag filled with words and phrases collected from newspapers, magazines and I started to select encouraging and motivating words and phrases:

The words became the next layer of the page. and I thought that rather than creating a traditional vision board, I used the journal spread as a place to explore my intentions, hopes and creative direction.

You do not have to finish the page today

I find that one of the most freeing things about art journaling is that you don't have to finish a page in one sitting. You can prepare a background one day, add collage another day and return later with words, paint, stitching, texture or reflections. Each layer tells a different story.

When you are short of time, ask yourself 'what is the one small thing that I can add'? It can be a shape, extra paint/collage or some words that have meaning for you. It is a small step and helps keep you connected, especially when time is limited. 

The Page Can Continue to Grow

The journal page is a starting point not the final destination and you can return to it, you might later decide to write about why you chose the words and what they mean to you.  Use what you already have, one of the best things about this activity is that you do not need expensive materials.

You can use:

• · An existing art journal page

• Newspaper and magazine words

• Old newsletters or brochures

• Scrap paper

• Glue or matte medium

• Gesso

• Water-soluble pencils or crayons

• Acrylic paint

• Stencils or sequin waste

• Metallic paint

• A paintbrush or palette knife

Here are specific supplies I used (do check what you have before buying something else)  

Inktense Pencils - https://amzn.to/4wNCfOC 

Gesso - https://amzn.to/3TkIDyb 

Shimmer Misters - https://amzn.to/4fFGG8d 

Gold Paint - https://amzn.to/3TFdUfj 

Sequin waste or your favorite stencils - https://amzn.to/4bt1I7A

Now, go see what you have in your creative space to start your own page and have fun!!

Creating Mixed Media Art Dolls - Material Musings

 

Creating Mixed Media Art Dolls

Welcome to today's Material Musings, in this video we will be taking a look at a variety of different ways to create art dolls and a bit about the technique.  Have you made mixed media art dolls yourself?  They are really fun to create, and practically all of my supplies are recycled or repurposed.

Where to Start?

You start with the armature, which can be made out of a range of materials - wire, foil, wood, clay, paper clay, foam, plastic and once you have the base you can decide the other materials that you want to finish your mixed media art doll with.

In the examples that I share in the video we have ones made from foil, foam - (fiber) and plastic.  I then cover them with fabric, paper clay and even wrap some with scrap fabrics and yarn and embellish with beading.

I hope that you see how fun and straight forward they can be to create and I hope that it inspires you to make your own - you probably have all the resources around your home already.  You can check out the previous art doll video below:

If you are interested in making your own, I will be creating a mini course to take you through the steps.  You can join my course platform and will be alerted when the Mixed Media Art Doll course becomes available.  

Join the course platform Here

In the meantime, why not check out some of the other slow stitched and fabric course available on the platform.

Stitched Folk - Online Class

On a tight budget? Come and join me on YouTube and see all of the textile and fabric art videos I share as part of Material Musings, my weekly textile and fabric art adventure.  You can find my full Textile Art Playlist on YouTube Here

Want a Behind the Scenes and exclusive access? Then my Patreon Tiers would be great for you!

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at my work and practice, you can join us on Patreon Here and while you are there you can check out the FREE Digital Art Sampler Edition in the paper Collection for July.

Whatever you do, take time out each day to do something creative, experiment and step out of your comfort zone.  What are you waiting for???

Realityarts Creative Archive - July Papers

This month's release for the Realityarts Creative Archive, brings a fresh set of collectable digital art papers, available in four tiers - Sampler, Studio, Collector, and Atelier.

The July 2026 Sampler Edition, titled Heritage & Time is free to download until 31st July and offers you a chance to try the papers in your art journals and/or creative projects.

 

Heritage & Time - July Papers 2026

Join the FREE Tier on Patreon to access the papers, along with project ideas, behind the scenes video and early release posts, along with other 'member only' content.  Free members can enjoy the monthly papers while spending creative time. You can join us HERE

Additional papers for this month are available for purchase or by joining the respective tier, and also gives you access to over 1000 videos, digital art and exclusive posts.

 

Studio Edition - Women and Memory, July 2026

 

Collectors Edition - Island & Nature - July 2026

 

Atelier Edition - Patterns & Structure - July 2026

On my Patreon platform you get to watch Patron Exclusive posts, see behind the scenes content and get early access to the videos that I create and post on my YouTube Channel.  Each month I use the papers in different projects to give you additional inspiration when using them for yourself.  If you are ready to move your creative journey to the next step then come and join us.

As a Patreon Member you will also get a discount off any of the courses I create on my Course Platform - check out the 'Collections tab' to get your appropriate discount.  Our course that are regularly being developed are for those who want to add to their learning and start to develop their own creative voice and style.

I hope you join us and use the digital art papers in your creative projects and art journals and I look forward to seeing how you get on.

Which of the papers this month are speaking to you?

Sampler Mixed Media Art Papers - Download your copy Today

 Layers of Becoming - Sampler Edition - June

Here are the mixed media art papers that are available on my FREE Patreon tier.  Each month we develop a new set of papers that you can use in your art journals and creative projects.  This is the June papers that will be available until the close of Wednesday 1st July EST

Download your copy HERE 

Here are the other papers available across the higher tiers that are available as well..

Here are some of the art created from this month's and previous papers across the tiers

Come and see which papers connect with you and you can use them in a variety of ways.  I have created tags and other mixed media ephemera from the papers.  It is also great to be able to use what you have without too many additional tools.  A glue stick and markers can do the world of good in an art journal.

Take some time out and come and join us, allow yourself to be swept away with the designs and the imagery and create pages that you can come back to and leave creative messages to yourself.

Join us Here for FREE on Patreon