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."

Held Together by Small Things

There is something quietly powerful about working with the same materials and letting them speak in different ways.

This set of ATCs began exactly like the previous ones — 300gsm white cardstock, cut down to size, no pressure, no expectations… just a willingness to see what would happen.

The backgrounds were built in soft layers using Distress Inks in Prize Ribbon, Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry, blending and moving colour until it felt right rather than perfect. I used stencils to introduce pattern and movement, allowing some areas to stay light and others to build intensity. The aim was not control, but balance — something expressive, a little chaotic, but still gentle.

To add dimension, I worked with texture paste through a stencil, creating small clusters rather than covering the surface. These raised areas catch the light in a way that shifts as you move the card, adding another quiet layer of interest.

 

The Focal Point

The butterflies were stamped onto white cardstock using VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, then die cut and layered for depth. I chose to keep them monochrome, allowing the detail of the stamping to do the work rather than introducing more colour.

At first, I tried them in plain white… but something felt disconnected. The stamped detail changed everything. Suddenly, they belonged to the background instead of sitting on top of it.

Each butterfly was paired with a small metal key — simple, slightly imperfect, and completely unplanned when I started. But once placed, they stayed.

There is something about that combination that feels… right.

The Details That Hold It Together

The sentiments were created using simple black label strips:

• BEST FRIEND
• SMILE
• INSPIRE

Short. Direct. Almost understated.

They don’t overpower the design — they anchor it.

The Finished Set

 Each card shares the same foundation, but none of them feel identical. That is something I am learning to appreciate — letting variation happen instead of forcing uniformity.

A Quiet Thought

This set ended up feeling like more than just a technique exercise.

Soft backgrounds. Structured keys. Delicate wings.

Messy. Controlled. Fragile. Strong.

Held together by small things.

So far, I created a card and three different ATC sets, each with its own mood and voice. And for the first time in a while, it didn’t feel rushed or overwhelming.

Just… steady.

And that is enough.

— Bon