Life Book 2023: The Pages That Waited For Me

There are some projects that you finish.

And then there are the ones that quietly wait for you.

These journal pages come from Life Book 2023, an incredible year-long mixed media course by the wonderfully talented Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts. Like so many creative people, I signed up full of excitement, ready to paint, experiment, and learn alongside artists from around the world.

Life, however, had other plans.

I never completed the course.

Looking back now, these pages capture the last few months before my craft room disappeared beneath boxes, furniture, and everyday responsibilities. My workspace moved upstairs, most of my supplies found their way into the shed, and little by little I stopped making time for creativity.

The paints dried.

The brushes waited.

And so did these pages.

Learning to Let Go

One of the things I loved most about Life Book was that it encouraged freedom rather than perfection.

Some lessons focused on expressive portraits with oversized eyes and whimsical characters.

Others explored loose watercolour, intuitive mark making, abstract backgrounds, and storytelling through colour.

Each lesson gently nudged me outside my comfort zone, reminding me that art doesn't always need a destination. Sometimes it simply needs permission to exist.

Looking back through these pieces now, I can see myself slowly becoming braver.

The elephant taught me restraint, allowing the white space to become just as important as the paint itself.

 

The colourful owl encouraged me to embrace pattern and playful doodling.

 

The whale became an exercise in atmosphere rather than detail, while the abstract page gave me permission to simply enjoy making marks without worrying about what they represented.

 

Even the decorative feathers became little reminders that beauty often lives in the smallest details.

 

Finding My Own Voice

Although these pages were inspired by individual lessons, I can already recognise little glimpses of the style I naturally gravitate towards.

Soft turquoise.

Gentle pinks and violets.

Touches of lime green.

Loose watercolour layered with black line work.

Tiny white highlights.

Whimsical subjects.

Decorative patterns.

Looking back, I wasn't simply following a course any more.

Without realising it, I was beginning to discover my own artistic voice.

A Creative Pause

For a long time I looked at these pages and thought about everything I didn't finish.

Now I see something completely different.

They remind me that creativity doesn't disappear.

Sometimes it simply becomes quiet while life asks for your attention elsewhere.

These pages patiently waited while I dealt with work, family, back surgery, moving rooms, and everything else life decided to throw my way.

Now, as Bonscraft slowly comes back to life, they feel less like unfinished projects and more like old friends waiting to welcome me home.

Looking Forward

Returning to crafting feels different this time.

I'm no longer creating simply to make another card or fill another journal page.

I'm creating because it brings peace.

Because it helps me slow down.

Because colour has a wonderful way of making even difficult days feel a little lighter.

I don't know whether I'll ever complete Life Book 2023.

Perhaps I don't need to.

The lessons it taught me were never really about finishing a course.

They were about rediscovering joy through paint, paper, and a willingness to play.

And perhaps that was the most valuable lesson of all. 

Supplies Used

• Life Book 2023 (Willowing Arts)
• Watercolours
• Acrylic paints
• Black waterproof fineliners
• White Posca pen
• Coloured pencils
• Mixed media paper
• Various stencils and mark-making tools 

 Final Thoughts

Looking back through these pages reminds me that creativity isn't measured by how many projects we complete.

Sometimes it's measured by the courage to pick up a paintbrush again after putting it down for far too long.

If you've stepped away from a hobby you once loved, perhaps this is your little reminder that it's never too late to come back.

The paint will still dry.

The paper will still wait.

And your creativity will still remember your name.

Bon 🖤  

 Disclaimer

All products featured on this blog were purchased by me unless otherwise stated. I am not sponsored by any company, brand, or artist mentioned in this post, and all opinions shared are entirely my own.

Every Ending is a New Beginning Mini Art Journal Flip Through

One of my favourite things about mixed media art journaling is that there are no rules. Some pages become fully finished works of art, while others remain backgrounds waiting patiently for inspiration to strike.

Today I'm sharing a miniature art journal created to fit inside the Elizabeth Craft Designs Mini Art Journal folder.

The journal measures approximately 9cm x 12.5cm (3.5" x 4.9"), making it the perfect size for experimenting with techniques, colour combinations and composition ideas without feeling overwhelmed by a large page.

 

Creating the Journal

For the pages I used the Sizzix Bigz XL Lynda Kanase 663627 Travellers Notebook Pages & Pockets die to cut the signatures before assembling the journal.

The backgrounds were created using layers of acrylic paint, applied in a loose and intuitive way. Rather than working towards a specific design, I allowed the colours to build naturally through printing, scraping, stencilling and stamping.

Throughout the journal I repeatedly returned to a palette of:

• Soft pinks
• Fresh greens
• Warm yellows
• White texture paste
• Black stamping

These colours helped create a cohesive look from page to page while still allowing each spread to develop its own personality.

Texture, Layers and Details

Many of the pages feature:

• Stencilled texture paste
• Script stamping
• Honeycomb patterns
• White splatter
• Bees, butterflies and dragonflies
• Die-cut embellishments
• Vintage-inspired quotes

Some spreads are highly decorated focal pages, while others remain simple backgrounds ready for future embellishment.

I actually enjoy having a mixture of finished and unfinished pages in my journals. It reminds me that creativity is a journey rather than a destination.

A Theme Emerges

Although I didn't begin with a specific theme in mind, as the journal developed I noticed recurring ideas appearing throughout the pages:

• New beginnings
• Creativity
• Growth
• Transformation
• Taking your time
• Finding joy

The butterflies, dragonflies, clocks and inspirational sentiments all seemed to weave themselves into the same visual story.

Why I Love Mini Art Journals

Mini journals are perfect for:

• Testing new techniques
• Using scraps from larger projects
• Building confidence
• Exploring colour palettes
• Creating quick creative sessions
• Taking art journaling on the go

Because the pages are small, even 15 minutes at a craft desk can result in a completed spread.

Final Thoughts

Some of these pages are finished.

Some are still waiting for their final layer.

And honestly, I think that's what makes art journals so special.

They grow alongside us, collecting ideas, experiments, successes and happy accidents along the way.

After all...

"Every story has an end, but in life every ending is just a new beginning."

Where Can I Find This? (June 2026 Edition)

June 2026 Edition

Featured in this month's Dragonfly ATCs

 🦋 Dragonfly & Grid Die Set

• Purchased from Temu for £1.61
• Approximate size: 10cm x 8.2cm
• Cuts cleanly through card stock
• Perfect for ATCs, tags and journal cards 

What I liked:
The dragonfly has lovely wing detail and works well with inks, embossing powders and shimmer cardstock.

🍃 Dragonfly, Foliage & Sentiment Die Set

• Purchased from Temu for £1.98
• Approximate size: 12.8cm x 9.1cm 
• Cuts cleanly through card stock
• Perfect for ATCs, tags and journal cards 

 What I liked:
The foliage die is incredibly versatile and can be used with florals, butterflies and dragonflies.

⬡ Honeycomb Background Die

• Purchased from AliEpress for £1.40
• Approximate size: 13cm x 5.1cm 
• Cuts cleanly through card stock
• Perfect for ATCs, tags and journal cards 

 

What I liked:
Excellent for adding texture and interest without covering too much of the background.

Disclaimer:

Products featured were purchased by me and are not sponsored. Links are provided purely to help readers locate similar products. Availability may change over time. 

Dragonflies, Wood grain and Forgotten Treasures

Hello everyone,

Today I am sharing a set of three dragonfly Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) created using a mixture of old favourites, recent purchases, and a little bit of creative recycling.

One of the things I have enjoyed most since returning to regular crafting is rediscovering supplies that have been quietly waiting in drawers and cupboards for years. These ATCs are a perfect example of that.

The base for each ATC was cut using a Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz die called ATC & Corners. I honestly could not tell you how old this die is, but it still works beautifully and creates the perfect foundation for Artist Trading Cards.

For the background, I recycled some brown packing paper from a recent Amazon delivery. The paper was coloured with Gathered Twigs and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks before being embossed with my trusted wood grain embossing folder. I wanted to create the look of aged timber, providing a rustic backdrop for the dragonflies and foliage.

 The embossing was done using another blast from the past, my Sizzix Texture Boutique. Although it is no longer widely available, I did spot a few for sale on eBay while researching supplies for this post. It is always satisfying to see older tools still earning their place on the craft desk. 

I tested a few options before making the final decision and glueing things down.

 

The decorative dragondlies were die cut using a selection of dies from Temu and assembled using my usual liquid glue. I layered the delicate foliage and sections of honeycomb die cuts and finished each ATC with shimmering dragonflies that add a lovely touch of colour and movement against the natural wood grain background.

Each card was completed with a black die-cut sentiment. The words were created one letter at a time using an old Tattered Lace Alphabet set. It took a little patience, but I think the finished sentiments add a lovely personalised touch to each card.

To finish the backgrounds, I added subtle white and black splatter using my Chakola paint pens. The effect is quite delicate and not immediately obvious in the photographs, but it adds an extra layer of texture and interest to the finished cards.

The sentiments I chose were:

• Transform
• Joy
• Flight

All three words felt perfectly suited to dragonflies, which are often associated with change, freedom, growth, and embracing new beginnings.

 One thing I discovered while writing this post is just how many of the products I used come from a different era of my crafting journey. Finding links and information for some of these older supplies proved to be more challenging than making the ATCs themselves! It was a lovely reminder that good tools never really go out of style.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope these little dragonflies have inspired you to dust off some forgotten supplies and give them a new lease of life.

Until next time,

Bon

A Vintage Floral ATC Collection

Today I'm sharing a trio of Artist Trading Cards created using a soft vintage colour palette and a selection of my favourite Distress Inks. I wanted these cards to feel delicate and feminine, with plenty of texture and layering while still allowing the backgrounds to remain the star of the show.

For this collection I used the following Ranger Distress Inks:

• • Speckled Egg
  • Cracked Pistachio
  • Bundled Sage
  • Antique Linen
  • Tattered Rose
  • Victorian Velvet
  • Hickory Smoke  

 

I began by creating the backgrounds using a simple smooching technique, pressing ink onto my craft mat, spritzing with water and repeatedly dipping the card stock into the colour until I achieved the soft distressed look I was after. Once dry, I added texture and interest by stamping a text stamp and postage stamp in Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. Using the same ink for both the background stamping and sentiments helped tie the entire collection together.

To finish the backgrounds, I added splatters of diluted white gesso, creating the appearance of aged paint flecks and giving each card a little extra character.

For the focal points, I created coordinating inked panels using the same Distress Ink colours. The flowers were cut from card stock coloured with Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, along with white lightweight card stock for contrast. After die cutting, each flower was shaped on a foam mat using a medium embossing ball tool to create natural dimension and softness.

The foliage was die cut from card stock coloured with Bundled Sage Distress Ink. To keep the arrangements light and airy, I also added several leaves cut from vellum. The translucent vellum softens the floral clusters beautifully and prevents the design from feeling too heavy.

Behind each arrangement sits an embossed vellum strip. I created these using my Sizzix Big Shot and a wood grain embossing folder before lightly swiping Memento Moonlight White ink over the raised areas to highlight the texture. This subtle detail adds interest without competing with the flowers.

 All of the dies used were already in my stash and were cut using my Baby Blue Die Cutting Machine, which is currently only available on eBay. The various elements were assembled using my usual liquid glue, while a simple Pritt Stick worked perfectly for adhering the embossed vellum pieces behind the floral arrangements.

Each ATC was finished with a Hickory Smoke die-cut sentiment, each letter individually die cut to build the words from an old Tattered Lace Alphabet set:

Bloom
Grow
Hope

Mounted onto clean white mats, these three cards became a coordinated collection celebrating growth, beauty and possibility. I love how the muted colours, distressed textures and soft vellum layers work together to create a gentle vintage feel while still keeping the overall design fresh and modern.

 

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope this project inspires you to look at your Distress Ink collection in a new way and create coordinating backgrounds, flowers and embellishments from the same colour palette. Sometimes limiting the colours can create the most harmonious results.

 

Happy crafting,

Bon