25 August 2024

A Sketchbook Practice: Travel Journaling

How's it going beautiful people?

To flex my creative muscles, I've been doing a regular sketchbook practice. 

travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

This is what a use: an inexpensive spiral-bound watercolor sketchbook. Like many of you, I was always intimidated by the blank page. But by learning from books, art classes, prompts, and regular practice, I've learned to look at a blank page more as possibility rather than dread. 

sketchbook, sketchbook practice, watercolor, travel journal, Spring Lake New Jersey, Jersey Shore, lettering, journaling, sketching, blah to TADA

One of the ways I like to fill my sketchbook is by using it as a travel journal. It serves as a nice souvenir from a vacation and it combines the things I love -- photography, collage, lettering, collecting, and watercolor. 

Travel journal, Abbey Sy, travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA

Abbey Sy is someone who has an extensive collection of travel journals. This photo is from an on-line class I attended where she demonstrated how she builds a spread in her travel journal. You can check out her work on her YouTube channel.

travel journal, sketchbook practice, sketchbook, Abbey Sy, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

Abbey Sy also wrote a book called "The Art of the Travel Journal" that came out in 2022. It's filled with tips on how to start and sustain a travel journal. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

travel art kit, watercolor, paintbrush, pens, washi tape, scissors,travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

1. Create a travel art kit that has everything you need, is compact and ready when the travel bug bites. This is my travel kit and it contains: a pocket watercolor tin, a small sketchbook, water brush, pencils, pens, glue, scissors, washi tape, and an envelope for ephemera

postcards, mail yourself a postcard, travel, travel souvenirs,travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

2. Postcards as travel journals - whenever you're in a new destination, pick up a postcard from the souvenir shop, address the postcard to you and write down some anecdotes or trip highlights. Then mail the postcard to your home address. It serves as a nice memento from your trip and a collection of postcards (strung on a ring binder or stored in a dedicated postcard box) will tell the story of all your  travels.

ephemera, travel, travel souvenirs, travel journal,travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

3. Gather proof of your travels - these include tickets, maps, brochures, packaging material, coffee sleeves. These are called "ephemera" or printed matter produced for a specific short-term use. When we add them to our travel journal, they a longer-lasting use and will always remind us of our journeys.

collage, ephemera, travel souvenirs,travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

4. Get creative with collage journaling - combine the ephemera you've collected on the pages of your travel journal. Abbey reminds us: there is no right or wrong way to collage. The simple act of cutting and pasting is the only thing you need to know to start.

watercolor, food sketches, blah to TADA, travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

5. Remember what food and drink you tasted during your travels by including these in your travel journal. It can be through pictures, written descriptions, and even sketching. These don't have to be perfect, just enough detail for you to remember them. It would be good to include the address, too, in case you want to return or recommend them to fellow travelers. 

travel journal, travel, travel souvenirs, sketchbook, sketchbook practice, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

I can only agree with this quote from the book. Travel journals help develop our creative vision, is a form of creative expression, and the process promotes mindfulness, intention, and reflection.

Travel journaling is one way I turn a blank page from "blah to TADA!"

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18 August 2024

Brown Paper Bags as a Canvas for Collage

I love that you're here with me today!

I'm very pleased that plastic bags and containers have been banned in many places. Stopping their use is a big step in protecting the environment and has encouraged more people to bring their own reusable bags.

In restaurants and shops, it's back to paper bags:


I've collected a stack in my cabinet and I can't help but think, "How can I turn these from blah to TADA!?"

brown paper bag, paper bag, gift bag, gift wrapping, collage, rubber stamps, ink pad, packing tape transfer, scrapbook paper, roses, celebrate, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

Remember this paper bag that I transformed using collage, rubber stamps, and packing tape transfers? It's such an easy way to give a brown paper bag new life, plus it's an efficient way to use up paper scraps. 

With the same technique, here's how I dressed up a few other brown paper bags:


This brown paper bag collage has a summer theme using pink, mint green, and gray as the central colors. I used scrapbook paper remnants and security envelopes for the collage. Peony and fern rubber stamps, plus butterfly cutouts add to the soft nature-theme...TADA!


This brown paper bag collage uses two elements: circles made from security envelopes (made with a round craft punch) and patterned butterflies (also made with a butterfly craft punch and magazine pages). I played with symmetry and color...TADA! 


This brown paper bag collage is based on a travel theme: scrapbook paper, washi tape, ephemera and rubber stamps provide the wanderlust...TADA!


Finally, this brown paper bag collage gets its color from painted paper and magazine pages. A simple rubber stamp contributes to the celebratory theme...TADA!

Brown paper bags are the best canvas to experiment. You can try out paint, markers, washi tape, and seasonal cut-outs to turn them from "blah to TADA!"

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11 August 2024

Painting on Seashells

What's up lovely folks?

During the summer, a trip to the beach is always on the agenda. 

seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Spring Lake New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

Long walks on the shore usually yield a collection of seashells. 

Jersey Shore, Spring Lake New Jersey, beach, summer, ocean, sand, seashells, pebbles, shells, seaglass, jewelry from the Jersey Shore, handmade jewelry, shell pendant, shell necklace, gold chain, earrings made of beads and shells, shell earrings, blah to TADA

Most of the time, I use the seashells to make jewelry like earrings and pendants...TADA! 

seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Spring Lake New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

Sometimes, I come across bigger shells. Ideally, they aren't chipped or broken.   
sage bundle, smudging, palo santo, seashells, home cleansing rituals, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

I use it to hold my sage bundle. It looks poetic on a window sill and is useful for home cleansing rituals.

For crafting ideas, here are a few I've seen that may spark your imagination:

painting on seashells, hydrangea,seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Spring Lake New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

Hydrangea flowers and seashells are some of the hallmarks of summer. I love how the artist combined the two, a hand-painted hydrangea bush on a found seashell.  I took this photo at a Cape Cod home that was filled with homey, coastal decor.

painting on seashells, summer souvenir, handmade souvenirs, sunflower,seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

While on vacation in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, a local handed me this seashell. It was hand-painted by the kids in the neighborhood. Isn't it sweet? It serves as an absolutely one-of-kind souvenir!

heart-shaped rock, tiny seashells,painting on seashells, summer souvenir, handmade souvenirs, sunflower,seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

I use it as a receptacle for tiny shells and the heart-shaped rock I found on the beach...TADA!

painting on oyster shells, blue and white, painting on seashells, summer souvenir, handmade souvenirs, seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

These are oyster shells that were painted to give them new life! I found them at a gift shop on Ocean Grove's Main Street. Aren't they pretty? 

decoupage, decoupage on seashells,painting on oyster shells, painting on seashells, summer souvenir, handmade souvenirs, seashells, how to craft with seashells, Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove New Jersey, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

These seashells were also decorated but this time with decoupage and the rim of the shell was dressed with gold paint. They were made by a local artist who sold them at the neighborhood coffeeshop

And that is how we can turn found seashells from blah to TADA!

UPDATE (8/19/2024): Before taking sand and seashells from the beaches you are visiting, make sure to know their rules and restrictions because in some countries, it's illegal to take sand and seashells (even in very little amounts). Read more about it here and here.

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04 August 2024

Five Things for August

Oh August! The month where many folks go on vacation, en vacances, on holiday. A month of wanderlust and slowing down.

summer, plums, peaches, nectarines, farmer's market, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

It's also the month of ripe summer fruit that I like to eat as is, whizzed in a blender and turned into ice pops, or added into a pie. These are some of my favorite tastes of the summer...TADA!

Paul Galdone, The Little Red Hen, children's books, books, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

During the summer, I'm a regular visitor at farmer's markets and farms. When I saw this book, The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone, at The Little Free Library, I had to do a quick read! It's about an industrious Little Red Hen and her housemates: a cat, a dog, and a mouse. It teaches the values of sharing and responsibility. A nice lesson for little ones and adults, too!


travel, travel tip, travel hacks, packing for vacation, Peanuts Gang, Snoopy, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

Going on a trip? Packing cubes are smart solutions to organize the contents of your suitcase. They are usually available in a set of three to five and in varying sizes. You can pack your stuff by category (ex. all tops, all bottoms, all undergarments/socks/hats/scarves together) or grouped by outfit of the day (shirt, pants, undies all rolled together so it's easier to get dressed). At the end of the trip, designate one packing cube for clothes that need to go to the laundry. Packing cubes have changed my life and I particularly like this Peanuts-themed set given by a friend...TADA!

The Little Free Library, cookbook, coffee beans, Reanimator Coffee Beans, jams, jellies, preserves, farmer's market, blah to TADA, photo by Claire Mercado-Obias

And speaking of trips, save a packing cube to stash away the souvenirs and gifts you purchase along the way. Some things I found on a trip to Philadelphia: a cookbook (from The Little Free Library), jams and preserves, and a bag of coffee beans. I wrap the food items in paper, put them in reusable zipper bags (to avoid spills), tuck them into clothing (for added cushioning) and place them in a packing cube so that they're secure inside my luggage...TADA! 

Tigre Oliva Chocolate, Theo Philo Chocolate, Raaka Chocolate, chocolate bar, artisinal chocolate, food packaging, blah to TADA!

If you're looking for a travel-related craft, may I suggest some from the archives: (1) a luggage tag where I got to recycle pretty chocolate packaging; (2) a bag tag made from a repurposed ID sleeve and colorful scrapbook paper; and (3) a hand-painted passport case...TADA! 

Wherever adventure takes you this August, may it transform your ordinary days from blah to TADA!

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