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."

Playtime ATCs

Tiny Adventures in Mixed Media 

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about this little set.
The kind of nostalgia that smells faintly of grass stains, scraped knees, warm afternoons, and “home before the streetlights come on.”

For these ATCs I pulled out the very last of my retired Woodware stamp sets designed by the incredibly whimsical Francoise Read called Playtime. I had almost forgotten I still owned it until my recent shed clear-out, and finding it again felt a bit like opening an old toybox from another version of myself.

This set became a celebration of playful chaos, layered texture, and childhood freedom.

 

The Backgrounds

The backgrounds were created using my usual mixed media stash and layering process, building colour slowly until the cards felt textured and lived-in rather than overly polished.

I worked mainly with:

• mustard yellows
• teal greens
• touches of turquoise
• distressed earthy browns

The combination gives the cards a slightly grungy playground feel while still keeping them bright and cheerful.

For texture I used:

• gold embossing powder
• black texture stamping
• layered paint and ink splatters

The gold embossing catches the light beautifully in real life and adds that slightly messy, magical sparkle I always seem to gravitate towards lately.

The Images

The little characters were coloured using my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers again. I kept the colouring intentionally simple and graphic because the backgrounds already contain a lot of movement and texture.

Sometimes detailed colouring competes with busy mixed media backgrounds.
This time I wanted the images to stay bold, clean, and playful.

The black outlines help anchor everything against the layered backgrounds, while the pops of orange and blue keep the eye moving across the set.

I also added:

• minimal white splatter
• tiny shadowing around some elements
• soft dimensional layering

Just enough to create interest without overwhelming the cards.

My Favourite Details

A few things I especially love in this set:

✨ The tiny scooter and backpack
✨ The oversized bicycle wheels
✨ The little dog chasing the football
✨ The gold texture peeking through the layers
✨ The feeling that each ATC captures a tiny frozen moment

Together they feel like pages from a child’s summer diary.

Creative Reflections

Looking back at older work while starting to create again has been emotional in ways I did not expect.

I stopped crafting for quite a while because my mental health simply was not in a good place. Creativity becomes very difficult when your mind feels heavy all the time. But lately, sitting quietly with ink, stamps, texture paste, and messy backgrounds has started to feel calming again instead of exhausting.

Not perfect.
Not pressured.
Just… enjoyable.

And honestly? That matters more to me right now than making “perfect” art.

This little set feels like a reminder that creativity does not always need to be deep or dramatic. Sometimes it can simply be playful.

Supplies Used

Stamp Set:
Woodware “Playtime” by Francoise Read (retired)

Colouring Medium:
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers

Texture & Background Elements:

• Gold embossing powder
• Tiny texture stamps
• White splatter
• Mixed media layered backgrounds

Three tiny cards.

One playful little story.

And perhaps a small step back toward myself again. 🎨✨

Ink Essentials

 

Ink is an essential item in your toolbox if you love cardmaking and would love to try stamping. For the perfect stamped results every time it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different types, as achieving a professional finish often depends on using the right type of ink for the job.

There are many different surfaces you can stamp on, from card to acetate, vellum and fabric, and then there are fun variations like heat embossing. You can also use inks without stamps; as a colouring medium to add colour to the edges of card panels, for example.

As a result, different ink types have been created to help you get the best effect with each technique. Each ink type and its properties is described opposite but don’t be afraid to experiment either! The more you practise, the more you’ll discover which mediums you like best. So take out your scrap paper and start stamping today!

For the perfect stamped results every time it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different types, as achieving a professional finish often depends on using the right type of ink for the job.

Ask yourself these few questions to determine what type of ink you need for each project:

1. What is the medium that you will be applying the ink to? (e.g. paper, wood, fabric, metal, glass, acetate, ceramics, plastic, etc.)
2. What application technique will you be using? (stamping, direct to paper, brayering, sponging, painting, more on these in a later post)
3. Do you the ink to be acid-free and archival quality for scrapbooking?
4. Does the image need to be fade-resistant or permanent?
5. Will you be embossing the images or does it need to be fast drying?
6. How would you be adding colour to the image?

Oil-based Inks

These inks are ideal for stamping highly detailed stamps and dries reasonably quickly. They repel water making it suitable for watercolouring with all but Derwent and Sanford Prismacolor unless heat set first.
Brands:
Tsukineko Versafine
Ranger Archival

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Solvent-based Inks

These inks are permanent, fast drying and designed for decorating non-porous and semi-porous surfaces, such as metal, tile, terracotta, vinyl,  shrink plastic, acrylic, cellophane, aluminum foil, leather, some glass surfaces and even stone.  The firm felt pad ensures that the stamp inks up evenly for a very crisp detailed image for a base image that can then be coloured with waterclour pencils, pens of AquaMarkers without bleeding or fading.  Permanent inks are solvent-based inks that dry by evaporation. They’re similar to the ink in Sharpie pens: they're very fast-drying, permanent, and works on a wide range of surfaces. Permanent inks will stain your stamps—and everything else they come in contact with. They require a solvent cleaner (use immediately after stamping) for easier clean up and are not good for clear stampsbecause the cleaner deteriorate the polymer.
Brands:
Tsukineko StazOn

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Dye-based Inks

Dye-based inks are water-based, non-toxic, washable, many are child safe, and their colorants are dyes. Dye-based inks are quick-drying, transparent and will blend easily and dry quickly on most porous surfaces.  Because of how quickly the ink dries it is not suitable for embossing but are suitable for colouring with both water colour and alcohol based markers without smudging.  It is useful to note that dye-based ink soaks into the fibres of the paper rather than sitting on top essentially staining them,  so you will get the brightest effect if you use them on pale or white card, rather than dark coloured card where the colour will blend.  They are great for Sponging, direct to paper techniques and you can also create water-colour or 'marble-effect' backgrounds by first lightly spritzing your paper or cardstock with water making a bleeding effect which you can play around with to  make the effect you want. It’s sold on     a hard felt pad, which means it’s difficult to over-ink your stamp, so it gives clean, crisp images – perfect for stamping outlines and ideal for those new to stamping.  Dye Ink based pads are waterbased so are easy to clean and come in hundreds of colors.
Brands:
Tsukineko Impress, Memento, Kaleidcolor
Ranger Adirondack
Big & Juicy
Clear Snaps
DoCrafts Ink It Up
Papermania Whispers
Sabelina Artemis

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Pigment-Based Inks

Pigment inks are water/glycerin-based, acid free, non-toxic, fade resistant and more opaque than dye inks. Pigments are not easily washed out of clothing and will stain fabric, wood, carpet.  Pigment inks are generally sold on a spongy pad which make then ideally suited to clear stamps but beware of over-inking your stamps. There are also lots of exciting variations of pigment inks available, such as shimmery and chalk finishes, which are fantastic for stamping colour on your cards.
Unlike dye-based ink, pigment ink dries on the surface of the card rather than soaking into the fibres, so the colours often look more vibrant and opaque than dye-based ink and they allow enough time for the embossing powder to stick to the inked area. Pigments will not dry on glossy or non-porous surfaces without heat setting or embossing. Once embossed they are permanent and can be safely watercolored and are also archival, permanent and fade resistant once heat set.  Pigment ink is available in pads and markers.  These are made from pigments suspended in a thick, glycerin-based substance. Their thickness boosts opacities and brightness.
Brands:
Tsukineko Versacolour, Versafine, Versamagic, Brilliance, Encore, Opalite
Ranger Adirondack
Clear Snap
Sabelina  Iris

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Chalk Inks

Chalk inks are a pigment ink which have a powdery, matte
finish once dry, they're opaque and dry quickly. They have the vibrance of a pigment ink but can be blended like a dye-based ink, making them a popular choice with cardmakers.  These are really great inks that dry to a chalking finish with none of that chalky residue and can be used on dark papers and surfaces.  They can be used in place of dye and pigment inks.
Brands:
Tsukineko VersaMagic
Clearsnap ColorBox Chalk Ink

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Craft Inks

Similar in consistency as pigment inks that is acid free, non-solvent based, non-toxic and water soluble until completely dry and permenant once heat set. Once dry you can safely watercolor over them. these are formulated specially for use on fabric but can be used on other porous surfaces wood, paper mache, foam, leather, canvas, ceramics, cork and a variety of other surfaces. They can be used in place of pigment or dye inks on most paper for vivid colours.
Brands:
Stampin'Up
Sabelina Athena

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Specialist Inks

Embossing and Watermark inks
VersaMark ink is a very sticky, clear pigment ink. It’s ideal for heat embossing and other effects because embossing powder will stick to it and as it is clear you can add any colour of powder to it. Embossing and watermark inks are essentially pigment inks without the pigment (some are lightly tinted). They are used for heat embossing and for adding a slightly darker imprint for a tone-on-tone look.

Brands:
Tsukineko Versamark
Sabelina Graces
ClearSnap

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Distress Inks
These are dye-based inks with a higher concentration of colour and a longer drying time than normal. They are designed to flow when sprayed with water, and to be blended and worked into your project. They are ideal for altered art and distress effects.
Brands:
Ranger Distress Ink

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Alcohol Inks
These are special dye-based inks designed to give a pretty, polished-stone effect. They are quick-drying and permanent, and can be used on lots of surfaces including glossy paper, acetate, shrink plastic, foil and metal.
Brands:
Ranger Adirondack

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Hints & Tips

1. Always store your ink pads upside down, so the ink falls to the top of the felt pad. This will ensure your ink pad stays juicy when it’s needed.
2. Make sure your stamp is clean before you ink it up, so your ink pads don't become tainted with other colours.
3. To avoid over-inking your stamps, always take the ink pad to the stamp, tapping it gently onto the surface (instead of pressing the stamp down into the ink pad). This will help you achieve an even coverage of ink and a clean, stamped image.

Stamping and some advice from you

I love stamping but need some advise before I invest in new ink pads as my girls got hold of mine while I was out and Dad was in charge and wrecked most of them.

I had a big selection of types, colours, shapes and sizes.  I really liked the multi colour sets like  Papermania- Capsule Collection- Pigment Ink Pads, but thought the pads was to small some times and Colorbox Cat's Eye stackable colours, but found that after awhile they did not stay stacked so well.  I have looked at the Stampin Up selection but they only do craft ink pads, Versamark clear and then StazOn in neutral colours and I would prefer a bit more excitement.

I have found a new supplier of great inks and need to decide how to purchase them in  multi packs, like the above or singles as well as what size works best and can really use some advise so please check out the polls next to this post.  They have a few different types and a brilliant selection of colours.