Hey everyone, it’s Kate here! Today’s video is a quick art journaling tip for those times you run out of pre-painted pages like I did.
You might know from my previous videos that I love working with pre-painted pages in my spiral sketchbook. While the sketchbook paper isn’t as flimsy as regular copy paper, it’s still not ideal for the amount of water I use. So, my solution? Prepping the pages myself with some good ol’ matte craft paint!
This trick only takes a few minutes per page, but it does two amazing things. First, it strengthens the paper, making it perfect for collaging or any other mixed media fun. Second, it banishes the dreaded white-page stare!
Here’s the beauty of it: grab some paper, paints (any colors that call out to you!), and just have fun! I usually go for one or two, sometimes three, colors per page and apply a thin coat. This acts as instant inspiration when you come back to journal on that page.
There are no strict rules – the sky’s the limit (or rather, your craft supplies are). The goal is simply to cover the page without stressing about placement or perfection. Just enjoy yourself, plop some paint down, and experiment!
I typically use a brush for a dry brush effect, with the thinness of the layer being key. The thinner it is, the faster it dries, which is ideal for me – no time wasted waiting! In this video, each page took about 3-5 minutes to dry.
Another bonus of using matte craft paint? The pages won’t stick together when dry. If you only have regular acrylics, though, you might want to consider adding a matte medium to prevent sticking. But hey, no need to rush out and buy new supplies! Use what you have on hand.
Craft paints are fantastic for this because they’re inexpensive, come in a variety of colors, and have a nice, thin consistency. Plus, playing with them is just fun! Sometimes you end up with unexpected and beautiful color combinations or even interesting marks that you can incorporate into your final journal spread.
Speaking of spreads, let me tell you about this one I absolutely adore! Once I got my hands on silicone color shaper tool and started using it with the paint, it was a match made in heaven!
I loved how the teal and purple blended with such a beautiful, transparent overlap. Teals and turquoises are my jam, so this tool was perfect for creating thin layers of paint that spread quickly. It saved me a ton of time and achieved a really neat effect.
This particular color shaper is a big guy, 2 inches wide, and let me tell you, it lays down some serious paint!
As you can see, this is a quick and easy process. I grabbed bottles of paint based on color whim, aiming for variety to create interesting backgrounds for future art journaling.
I hope this video was helpful! Maybe you’ll give it a try in your own art journal. Thanks for joining me as I prepped my pages with my new favorite tool, and here’s the finished project – a whole bunch of new, textured, and vibrant pages ready for journaling adventures! Until next time, happy creating!