Creative Tech Summer Retreat 21st July - 23rd July is Now Open for FREE Registration

 

The Creative Tech Summer Retreat is now open for Registration

I wanted to share with you details about the Creative Tech Summer Retreat which is being brought to you by HobbyScool.

This retreat will teach you how to use modern tools like Cricut, Canva, Procreate, AI, and print-on-demand platforms to level up their handmade business or personal projects. If you have always wanted to learn to use these tools for your projects, join now for free and save your spot on the retreat! You can sign up HERE

Example Workshops Include:

• Cricut Projects: Beginner to Intermediate

• Canva 101 for Creatives

• Create Your First Digital Sticker Pack in Procreate

• Intro to AI Art Tools for Creators

• Print-on-Demand for Handmade Sellers

Why not save yourself a spot - You can get your ticket HERE

Even if you don't have all the creative tools you can use the ones you do have and still get a lot of information from each of the teachers.  One of the tools I use at least every day is Canva, I use it in editing photos, videos, creating thumbnails and more, I find it really handy.  You can also add different effects on your photos as well, remove backgrounds, and you will learn and over the 3 days of the Summer Retreat, here is a taste of what you will be learning using Canva:

Brandi Kabacinski

From Camera Roll to Keepsake: Create a Printable Photo Book in Canva

Kim George

Canva to Cash: How to Create and Sell Your First Simple Book on Amazon

Emily Holverson

Birthday Invitation in a Box: Design Your Own Custom Invite in Canva

And this is just 3 of the teachers out of 23!!  If you haven't used Canva before you can sign up for free as well and have a play around before the Retreat begins.  

Before you go

Have you downloaded this month's free creative papers on Patreon before it goes onto the paid tier.

Download this month’s free creative paper on Patreon  

You can check out the video where I share how I used this months papers in a creative project in my art journal, it might spark some ideas for you!

Want to stimulate your creative juices, why not take one of my FREE course on my course platform and while you are there check out some of the other resources available.  Join us on the free Art Resource Hub

While you are there why not explore...

And Finally....

If you would like to focus on your self-care, why not check out:

Filling the Creative Well  or Creative Self Care

 

5 Easy to Make Art Journals - Use what you have

 5 Easy to make Art Journals

In today's video we look at a selection of 5 mixed media and recycled art journals, and I show you how I have worked in them and some of the supplies that I have used.  With the number of items that we have in our supplies or just around the house, you will probably find most of the things you already have without going out to buy anything else.  If you don't have that particular item, then substitute it for something else (that is where the fun really begins!

Materials - remember to substitute if you don't have:

• Cardboard
• Tetra-pak (milk cartons)
• Old greetings cards or packaging
• Fabric Scraps
• background papers
• Paper ephemera that you have made or source images from an old magazine
• Brown paper/wrapping paper
• Glue
• Embroidery thread to stitch the books or use yarn

What You will learn

I hope to take out the hesitation for creating an art journal, waiting for the right supplies, the right weather or whatever the excuse may be and get you putting something together by the end of the video just for you.  You don't have to put it all together in one sitting, savor it and come back to it.

Reflection Prompt 

What supplies or recycling materials have you been sitting on that you can use in a creative project today?

More Art Journal Designs 

In my art journal playlist I have a large amount of art journals that I have made and share.  Some of the videos show you how to make your own journal from start to finish, some show me working on a page using my supplies and some are flip throughs to give you some inspiration.  

You can check out my art journal playlist on my YouTube Channel HERE  

Digital Downloads 

I mention when making some of the small art journals the digital papers that I have used.  Each month on my I create a set of digital download papers across different tiers that can be used in the art journals or creative projects.  I also create a set each month that are FREE until the end of the month for you to download and start creating.  Each month you will be given a different digital downloads to use in your creative projects.  You can get yours HERE

FREE COURSE RESOURCES

I also have a number of free classes on my Course Platform - Realityarts.  There you will find my Art Tags Course which shows you how to alter and create your own art tags, there are 6 in the design to download and resource videos.   Recycled mark making - do you want ideas for making your own stamps and stencils, then this mini course takes you through a range of the everyday materials that you can use in your art projects.  Check out the Course platform HERE

Wax Resist Projects - Material Musings

 

Mark Making on Fabric

Working with natural fibers

Come and join us in Material Musings today!

Art Journal Play - Working with Patreon Papers

 

Join us as we work in our Brown Paper art journal.  We are working with papers that I create each month on Patreon.  On the page I will be creating a figure and also a small pocket on the opposite side of the page to hold any additional papers.

Creating Faces

Art Journal Pocket

The Papers are available in my Patreon Shop Here

This is the June Papers in the Atelier Edition

Material Musings - Beads and Wearable Art

Welcome to today's Material Musings, where check out several different projects - including fabric jewelry, beads and art journal bags.

Here is an example of the crochet necklace and the beaded wrist cuff - I think more accessories might be to come.

Making Fodder - Inspiration Squad - Fodder School 5

This month I am one of the Inspiration squad members for Fodder School and I get to share my take on a lesson by Roxanne Stoute.  As a previous teacher on Fodder School 4 - it is full on, so it is great to be a student and savor the projects.

We are currently in the 'Make Fodder' phase and I have been busy painting, marking fabric, paper and playing with elements from nature.

You can also check out Fodder School 5 HERE, there are some fantastic teachers

Here is what I have so far

Mixed Media Art Papers

Here is some of the natural materials that I worked with as well, and the papers that I painted and added marks using different supplies

All in all it is great fun to look through some of the things that you have to create new looks and combine elements that you might not have before.  I now have a lovely collection that will go to some of the other projects that are calling..... will you join us?

Art Journal Flip through - Mixed Media Art

Check out the Art Journal Flip through in my mixed media brown paper journal on my YouTube channel.

You can also see the Full Talking Flip Through video HERE on my patreon for FREE

I use some of the papers that I produced each month, and you can access the papers from the Sampler Edition for FREE until the end of the month

Get Your Paper Here

Here is one of the projects that I have created with the papers so far:

See the creation of this page HERE

Art Journal Play - First Saturday Art

 

Join us in the studio for some Art Journal Play.

You can also access the papers used in this example on my FREE Patreon Tier HERE or click on the image below.  You also get a series of tags and elements to use in your art journal or creative project.

Realityarts Creative Archive - June 2026

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 June 2026 Sampler Edition, titled Heritage & Time is free to download until 30th June and offers you a chance to try the papers in your art journals and/or creative projects.

  

Heritage & Time - June 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, June 2026

 

Collectors Edition - Island & Nature - June 2026

 

Atelier Edition - Patterns & Structure - June 2026