This month in Material Musings, creativity thrived in unexpected ways. I have really been inspired by the students take of my lesson on Fodder School. Some experimented with turning their 'make fodder' into brooches, journals, and coasters - it was inspiring to see ideas all the ideas take shape.
As I played around with the solar dyed fabric, I used some of my handmade stamps to enhance the designs. I had to stay flexible with my unexpected results.
Solar dyeing with flowers produced surprising colors, turning “mistakes” into unique textures. Fabric scraps found new life in stitched clusters, pockets, and homemade stamps featuring birds, abstract shapes, and dandelions.
I also launched Stitched Folk, exploring stitched figures on canvas, the course is fun and you get to create your own stitched canvas piece.
I am so excited to share some wonderful news with you, I will be teaching in Gratitude Junk Journal 2025, a beautiful online workshop hosted by the Tiare Smith! This year promises to be better than ever, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of it.
Alongside 12 other inspiring artist instructors, we’ll be guiding you through 30 days of joy, creativity, and gratitude. Together, we’ll open our hearts, celebrate our creative spirits.
But that’s not all…
I’m giving away a FREE spot in Gratitude Junk Journal 2025!
Every day, you’ll receive a new creative challenge designed to help you reflect, play, and practice gratitude. Some days it will be a question to ponder, other days a fun activity or art prompt. Each little step will guide you toward discovering more joy and creative flow.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with:
A beautiful altered book transformed into your personal gratitude journal.
Gorgeous art journal pages filled with meaning.
A daily practice of gratitude that sparks creativity and helps reduce stress.
New ways to use what you already have to make amazing art.
Techniques for backgrounds, layers, and textures you’ll use again and again.
A JOY-filled heart, more love, and a smile that comes from deep within.
This isn’t just about making art, it’s about connecting with gratitude, finding inspiration in the everyday, and reminding ourselves of the light and joy that lives inside us. Are you ready to Join Us?
If this sounds like something that speaks to you, don’t miss your chance to enter the giveaway today! Sign up for FREE and Leave your comment on Patreon and you and will be entered into the prize draw.
Here are the papers for September's Digital Download on Patreon for the $3 Tier. If you join us on the $3 Tier you will have access to all the previously posted content which spans 3 years and includes digital and video resources for your creative project.
We have a Free Tier and a set of papers for you to access for the month and a series of exclusive posts and videos on the tier so that you can wet your feet and see how you like it.
Free Tier Papers
The aim for the papers are to encourage you to do something creative with what you have and provide you with beautiful imagery that you can play around with.
It is very important to find ways in which you can motivate and encourage yourself, especially in those times where you are feeling off or if you want a low energy project or even only have a short time.
The digital downloads are available on Patreon for you to enjoy, why not come and check it out and have a play with the papers.
Here are the selection of papers for July's Digital Download on Patreon for the $3 Tier. If you join us on the $3 Tier you will have access to all the previously posted content which spans 3 years and includes digital and video resources for your creative project.
We have a Free Tier and a set of papers for you to access for the month and a series of exclusive posts and videos on the tier so that you can wet your feet and see how you like it.
Free Tier Papers
$10 Tier Papers
The aim for the papers are to encourage you to do something creative with what you have and provide you with beautiful imagery that you can play around with.
$15 Tier Papers
It is very important to find ways in which you can motivate and encourage yourself, especially in those times where you are feeling off or if you want a low energy project or even only have a short time.
The digital downloads are available on Patreon for you to enjoy, why not come and check it out and have a play with the papers.
Welcome to Day 1 of
the Ultimate Blog Challenge that will be taking place for the month of
July. Over the next 31 days I am going
to be sharing different ways to encourage yourself to be more creative and I will share the different ways being creative has encouraged and inspired me. If you give them a try they may encourage and inspire you too!
Today we look at Art
Journaling - which can come in a variety of forms and everyone has their own style. Essentially art journaling is a great
way to express your creative thoughts and emotions or just have a play with
your art supplies. In your art journal you can add color, layers and find ways
to represent how you feel on paper.
I love creating my own Art Journals and work in a variety of ways in them.
Sometimes I might not be able to
articulate what is on my mind, so I start with color on the page and create a series of backgrounds. I might also do some mark-making adding
shapes and patterns, and will also use stamps and stencils. Spending time on the activity helps relax me
and enables me to process my thoughts.
In this video I share an example of art journals I created using recycled materials
Where do you start?
You are going to start
from where you are. Look at your supplies, and start there, and of course if you have a wide selection
of supplies don’t try and use everything.
An example of some of the things you can use are paints, paper ephemera,
magazines, markers, glue, or fabric scraps - whatever you feel like playing with.
There are no rules. It is not about creating “beautiful” pages, but about
making space for expression and experimentation.
Start by creating a
background. You can use washes of color, collage pieces, or even scribbles.
From there, follow your instinct. Perhaps a word or phrase comes to you.
Maybe you draw a shape that reflects how you feel. You might choose to layer
materials or textures that tell a silent story. You can
also write a sentence on the page: “Today I feel…” Then start to build color,
shape, or texture around that feeling. Layer over it if you want.
Art Journal Variety
Art journaling offers a daily creative check-in. Even ten minutes can help you reconnect. Your journal is a creative playground that you can tap into
whenever the mood takes you. Over time you might even get the urge to create
your own journals. Allow yourself to go with the flow and see what your
needs are at the time.
Remember: your art
journal is your well. You can use it to refill, restore and reflect
Takeaway Nuggets:
Art journaling invites you to blend
emotion, imagery, and reflection into your creative practice.
There are no rules - go at your own pace!
Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Have you ever paused to ask yourself, “Why do I create?” Not what you create or how, but why? We explore this in the Arts and Wellness Café - take some time to ponder for yourself.
For me, creating has always been a path to healing, expression, and connection. Over the years, art has helped me process emotion, reconnect with nature, and feel grounded.
Staying Inspired
To keep inspiration flowing, I’ve developed small but meaningful habits:
I keep a grab-and-go kit nearby - just a mini journal, a water brush, and a few colors - so I can create anywhere.
I make playlists that match different moods, some calm, some energizing - to move my creative state.
And I step outside regularly. Even just five minutes with the trees, the wind, or birdsong resets everything.
These simple strategies help me return to creativity even when it feels like I am in the valley.
The Heart
What keeps me going is not pressure to sell or perform, but the deeper things such as joy and personal growth. I believe in continuous learning, experimenting freely, and asking the question 'what if'. Every time I teach a new technique or post a behind-the-scenes peek at my process, I hope it encourages someone else to show up for their own creativity.
Coming Back to Purpose
When I stay connected to why I create, everything else feels clearer. I feel grounded. Inspired. Capable of growing - not just in skill, but in presence and connection. So - think about why you create, why you do what you do and boldly step out giving yourself the permission to enjoy the adventure!
Check out the video, leave a comment, share and have fun, but most of all stay blessed and be a blessing!
Do you have any abandoned creative projects that need to be given a new lease of life? Join us on Material Musings today!
Here are some of the projects
Sometimes all it takes is for you to go through them, see what supplies you are using now, and you may get that spark to revisit and maybe even finish the project. It works with any type of creative project!
Week 14: Completing the 100-Day Project & What’s Next?
Made it to the end!!
Reaching the end of
this journey has reinforced my belief in daily
creativity, persistence, and the magic of working with nature. As I pushed through, I did some branch weaving and made some jewelry from the leaves.
But this isn’t the
end—just a stepping stone. Now, I’m thinking of ways to take what I’ve learned
and apply it to future projects.
Creative Tip: Start planning your next creative endeavor!
Could you turn this into a larger series? A collection of framed works? A book?
Reflect on how this your project has shaped your artistic direction.
Weaving with the branches
Encouragement: The end is just the beginning. Keep
creating, keep exploring, and keep sharing your uniquely creative gifts with the world.
With only a couple of weeks left, I focus on refining techniques, looking at additional designs to see which designs speak to me the most and reviewing my creative
experience. This week I have worked on leaves that are just starting to turn brown, they still have a greenish tinge to them.
Rather than rushing to
the finish line, I take time to appreciate each step. The process has been just
as valuable as the final result.
Creative Tip: Document your journey by photographing your
leaves, writing about your experience, or sharing insights on social media.
Reflect on what you’ve learned.
Encouragement: Every piece is a milestone. Whether you made
100 leaves or 10, you’ve achieved something remarkable.
Keep the momentum
going: Join my Leaf Arts
course to continue exploring mixed media techniques.
Week 12: Bringing It All Together - a couple of weeks to go!!
At this stage, my
collection of leaf art feels like a cohesive body of work. Each piece tells a
story, and together, they showcase my artistic growth.
This is the time to
refine my favorite techniques and bring all elements together. Some leaves
remain stand-alone pieces, while others are arranged in clusters for more
complex compositions.
Creative Tip: Consider how your pieces work as a series.
Could they be framed together? Used in a handmade book? Think about
presentation and how to showcase your work.
Encouragement: Your art is a reflection of your journey.
Celebrate everything you’ve created so far!
Want ideas for
presenting your work? The Leaf Arts
course includes suggestions for framing, displaying, and preserving your
pieces.
Realityarts - Creativity Book Shop - Some really great titles for you to dive in
Creative Resources
Affiliate Links
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