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Tag Archives: art journaling

Making Time for Art with Timed Collage Prompts

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Timed Collage: A vibrant paper cut-out composition features overlapping yellow and blue rectangles against a backdrop of wavy, vertical strips in black, blue, teal, and magenta.

Encouraging Creativity with Timed Collage! Are you trying to incorporate art into your daily routine? Are you looking for ways to encourage creativity in your students? A timed collage prompt might just be something for you to try! At the 2024 NAEA conference I went to a wonderful hands-on art workshop where we did timed collage prompts on index cards with art journaling artist Eric Scott! • This idea can be used to encourage experimentation and play in your students- … Read more… →

Fun Finds: Two Collage Books

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Fun Finds: Two Collage Books

I found two new collage books that I thought were pretty cool! If you know me, you might know that I love stickers! The first book I found is called the Antiquarian Sticker Book: Over 1000 Exquisite Victorian Stickers. (Amazon affiliate links have been used at no extra cost to you.) I made a video flip through of this book so you can see all the cool stickers inside. The next book I discovered is brand-new, just published. It is … Read more… →

My Favorite Art Journaling Supplies

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My Favorite Art Journaling Supplies

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite art journaling supplies. These are supplies I use for my own personal art journaling, not with my students. Many are higher quality (more expensive) for more advanced artists (like you!). First you will need an art journal. I prefer to use a book with thick, sturdy pages because I like to use a lot of paint and collage in my art journal. Here is a great book from Strathmore … Read more… →

Watercolor Circles- Expressive Faces or Flower Doodles

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Watercolor Circles- Expressive Faces or Flower Doodles

I haven’t posted much lately because I’ve been focusing on other things– I’m in charge of the cookies for our Girl Scout cookie sales and that is like a part-time job! Also, I’ve been getting ready for my presentation at NAEA. If you are going to the NAEA conference, let me know.. I would love to meet up with new people! I have a lot of fun art journaling exercises prepared, including this one- using watercolor circles as a launching … Read more… →

Art Journaling Workshop at the NAEA Conference

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Art supplies and colorful journals surround the text: "Hands-On Ticketed Workshop: Art Journaling for Personal Meaning and Creative Development at the NAEA Conference.

Good news! My proposal to lead a hands-on workshop at the National Art Education Association convention was accepted. The convention is from March 26-28 and you can sign up on the NAEA website. My workshop is titled: “Art Journaling for Personal Meaning and Creative Development.” Relax with art journaling and leave with multiple creative techniques you can use immediately in your classroom.  Explore vision boards, collage, watercolor doodling, word play and the art of chance. I’m super excited to lead … Read more… →

100 Positive Mindset Mantras and Quotes for Kids

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100 Positive Mindset Mantras and Quotes for Kids

My students are making kindness bookmarks now when they have free time. These are some positive mindset affirmations and mantras that I wrote or collected. Great for kids! Great for art projects or art journaling! For a high resolution PDF copy, visit my TPT shop for a FREE DOWNLOAD: 100 Positive Mindset Phrases for Kids

Create a Summer Art Journal

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Colorful Art Journal pages with butterflies and flowers. Text: "Awaken in your own time," "Summer takes flight,"

Isn’t this graphic the cutest?!  I am part of an Art Ed Blogger’s Network which is a collective of writers who blog about a certain topic each month.  At the bottom of the post is a link to all the participating bloggers.  The theme this month is about Summer Art. What is an Art Journal? An art journal is a visual diary… it is place for artists to express themselves using imagery, words, colors, patterns and designs.  An art journal … Read more… →

Pipsticks Envelope Opening: Sticker Subscription

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Colorful craft stickers from Pipsticks, featuring a smiling shooting star, planets, and various small shapes, spread out on a table.

You may have heard me mention Pipsticks before.  I love stickers.  One of my dreams is to own a toy/craft/art supply/STICKER store.  Who knows if that will happen some day, but I have always loved stickers!  When I was a kid, I even made up a (short-lived) club called Sticker Maniacs. They are fun to use in art journals and to stick all over greeting cards. You’ve seen those toy unboxings on YouTube right?  Today, I am going to do … Read more… →

Mixed Media Artist: Sabrina Ward Harrison

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Three abstract paintings with text, colorful circular designs, and expressive brushstrokes in various shades by mixed media artist Sabrina Ward Harrison.

We recently had artist Sabrina Ward Harrison visit our school to give an artist talk and workshop with the kids.  Today I am going to introduce you to her artwork and life as an artist.  In Part Two of this post, I will share with you some of the amazingly diverse mixed media collages that the students made in response to learning about her artwork.  All of the artwork on this page was made by Sabrina. Her message to the … Read more… →

A World of Artist Journal Pages Review

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A World of Artist Journal Pages Review

I am excited to share with you the book A World of Artist Journal Pages.  It just arrived in the mail yesterday and it is thick.. just full of inspiring art pages.  And I am super excited because five of my art journal pages have been published in the book! I put together a video flip-through to show you some of the pages of the book.  I have really low voice and my voice is even scratchier with a sore … Read more… →

Printmaking with Christmas Ornaments?? What!?

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A vibrant art journal spread with colorful snowflakes and stars in various shades on a multicolored background.

Another printmaking experiment for you!  I bought some felt ornaments and sparkly snowflake decorations from Target on clearance.  Valentine’s Day is also a good time to get decorations. Here is how I created the background shown below. Snowflake:  Place the snowflake decoration on the page.  Use spray inks to spray over the snowflake (I like the Dylusions Ink Spray, but you can also make your own by pouring liquid watercolor into a small makeup spray bottle.) Star: Use an brayer … Read more… →

New Set of Art History Sketchbook Prompts: SET #3

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New Set of Art History Sketchbook Prompts: SET #3

This summer, I have been working on creating a new PDF set of Art History Sketchbook Prompts.  The first two sets have been very popular and there are so many artists I want my students to learn about. These cards are a great way for students to do some independent learning if they finish an art project early. This is set #3 of the Art History Sketchbook Prompts, with all NEW artists! These art history cards feature a selection of … Read more… →

Summer Art Making!

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Colorful collages featuring a mix of shapes, patterns, and text with cheerful designs and inspirational phrases evoke the joy of summer.

We went to Saugatuck, Michigan last week (bet you didn’t know that, because I pre-scheduled blog posts for that time.  You really should be careful what information you give out when you are leaving town. You don’t want to come back to a ransacked house!)  Anyways, we were gone for about 5 days and went to the Indiana Dunes and stayed in a cabin in Saugatuck.  We went with my brothers, nieces/nephews and my parents. We had a blast riding … Read more… →

21 Secrets Online Workshop and a Link Round-Up

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21 Secrets Online Workshop and a Link Round-Up

As art teachers our hands are covered in glue and paint all day.  We are on the go and juggling so many different tasks. We definitely need our own creative outlet.  We need time for ourselves… to play, to relax, to express ourselves.  Keeping an art journal is a great way to de-stress. I am taking the 21 Secrets online workshop.  Obviously, with a limited amount of free time along with a limited amount of disposable income, I have always … Read more… →

  • Banner with colorful artwork promoting an art shop featuring kindness coloring pages, artist activities, and resources for teachers.