A Sketchbook Practice: Travel Journaling

How's it going beautiful people?

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

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. 

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. 

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.

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:

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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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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!?"

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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Painting on Seashells

What's up lovely folks?

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

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

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

Sometimes, I come across bigger shells. Ideally, they aren't chipped or broken.   

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:

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.

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!

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

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? 

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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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.

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!

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!

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!

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! 

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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Sketchbook Practice: Cartoon Sketching

Every month, I write a post on how we can fill the pages of a sketchbook.  

Do you remember the feeling of excitement when buying a fresh sketchbook? But when we sit down and see the blank page, we are at a loss. We either don't know what to make or are too afraid to create something that isn't perfect. I was that person. But over the years, I've learned to just play in my sketchbook. There's always an eraser for mistakes and there's always a new page to try again, right?

During the Sketchbook Revival Workshop last year, I learned about Cartoon Sketching taught by Brandon Dean Johnson. He is an artist, producer and CEO of Create Now, and he makes drawing cartoons quick, effortless, and fun!

During his demo, Brandon sketched out a unicorn stuffed animal. He says, "You need a fast hand when drawing." Note to self: don't overthink while drawing. 

He used simple materials like markers. Notice that he used a limited palette and swatched his colors on one side of the paper.

After coloring the unicorn, he made an outline using a black marker/crayon. 

He added some shading, shadows and highlights, then he signed his work. He did this drawing in a few minutes (he works in animation where they practice a fast turnover). He says he can scan this and use Photoshop to clean it up as a final step.

I drew along while Brandon was doing the demo. This is what I made...TADA!

There was time to make another sketch:

Brandon quickly created a rough sketch of a dancing elephant.

Then he added some details.

Then filled in with crayon (he didn't forget to swatch colors at the side of the page).

Here is my version of the dancing elephant...TADA!

Let me tell you about the paper that I used to sketch...it's an expired calendar! I didn't want the blank pages to go to waste. Maybe I'll glue these drawings to my sketchbook or scan it like Brandon does to make his final art.

As a final tip, Brandon has these recommendations:

Please try your hand at cartoon sketching. That way, you can turn your blank sketchbook page from "blah to TADA!"

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DIY Stickers

I'm delighted by your presence!

On a scale of one to ten, how much do you like stickers? It would be a ten for me. My inner child gets butterflies in the stomach at the sight of the sticker aisle and I'll always buy myself some as a little treat.  

I found this pack of sticker flakes at a Japanese Dollar Store. The spring theme is totally my vibe.

Here is what each of the stickers look like. The smaller ones are dainty bouquets and the bigger ones can be used as labels.

With this as our inspiration, let's make our own DIY stickers!

We will need: a craft punch (if you have it), scissors, a shape ruler or stencil, a pencil, paintbrush or water brush, sticker paper, and watercolors. 

I made shapes on the sticker paper with the craft punch. I also traced shapes with the aid of a ruler/stencil and pencil. Then I painted floral motifs directly on the sticker paper using watercolors. 

These heart-shaped stickers, similar to these ones I made in the past, can be used as gift tags or nameplates...TADA!

These oblong-shaped stickers are a perfect finishing touch on the envelopes of handwritten letters...TADA!

And these smaller stickers can be added to a bullet journal or travel journal to give life and color to the page...TADA!

That's how I turned plain sticker paper from blah to TADA!

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Handpainted Blue and White Vases

It's lovely to see you! Are you ready for some crafting?

I spotted these vases at a shop and I'm using them as inspiration for some D.I.Y. I just love the blue and white patterns! Even if there are no flowers inside them, they already make a statement.

Let's make our own by turning empty food jars from blah to TADA!

After cleaning and drying the jars, I painted them with white acrylic paint. I used three coats until I got an opaque and smooth finish.

To add the blue flowers, I'm using a blue ink pad and cling stamps mounted on an acrylic stamp block. 

Tap the cling stamp on the ink pad. Make sure the stamp has an even and generous amount of ink. Then stamp this on the jar, rubbing the back of the stamp to make a clear impression of the flower. To get into the curvy parts of the jar, the cling stamp can be removed from the acrylic stamp block so that it's more pliable. 

Once satisfied with the stamped flowers, take a paintbrush, dip it in water, and pull the ink (from the outlines) and drag it into the white parts of the flower. This instantly gives the flower a blue hue.

Add some fillers like polkadots to tame the stark whiteness of the jar. Allow this to dry for a few hours.

Use the same technique for the other jar. This time I'm using a cherry blossom cling stamp.

This is what the jars-turned-vases look like...TADA!

All we have to do is fill it with our favorite flowers.

Because we have an extra vase, we can give it away to brighten somebody's day.

And that is how I turned some empty food jars from "blah to TADA!" You can find more ideas here (marbled jars) and here (single color jars). 

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