A Recycled, Art-Filled Journal Page: Transparent and Nature 🌿

There’s something incredibly rewarding about creating with what you already have — transforming scraps, textures, and forgotten bits into something meaningful. This week, I worked on a mixed media journal page using the prompts Transparent and Nature, and it turned into such a peaceful, reflective process.

I began by playing off screen pieces of recycled paper, packaging, and tissue — anything with a hint of transparency. The goal wasn’t perfection, but expression. A dried leaf became the focal point, pressed gently between thin layers of tissue and watercolour. The effect was soft and organic, like nature preserved through time.

For me, craft journaling is a space where creativity flows freely. It’s not about rules or outcomes; it’s about the journey — allowing colours, materials, and emotions to guide the page. I love how mixed media invites you to experiment, to let go, and to see beauty in the imperfect.

If you’d like to see the full process, I’ve shared a video of this journal page on my YouTube channel. You can watch it here:
🎨 Watch on YouTube

I hope it inspires you to gather your own bits of “junk” — those small, overlooked materials — and give them a second life through art. After all, creativity often blooms from the most unexpected places.

Half-Term Dreams and a Hint of Autumn

Ha! So, it’s almost half-term here in my little corner of the UK — and honestly, I can’t wait. This year has flown by in a blur of plaster dust and paint fumes. Between redoing my bedroom and hallway and tackling a total kitchen renovation, I feel like I’ve spent more time with sandpaper than sunlight! Let’s just say my “summer break” didn’t feel very summery.

But relief is in sight — soon I’ll be heading off with my family to sunny Alicante for a much-needed week beside the pool. Just the thought of not having to clean up plaster dust for seven whole days feels like a holiday in itself.

Back here in England, though, the seasons are definitely shifting. The air has that early-morning chill, the fog rolls in now and then, and it’s almost dark when I wake up. You can feel autumn stretching its fingers through everything — the light, the colours, even the mood of the day.

Eleanor seems to have taken the hint too. She’s already dug out her winter wardrobe and is looking effortlessly chic in her new outfit: a jaunty beret, a thick ribbed jumper, and simple black leggings. The pattern is by Stickatillbarbie, a wonderfully creative designer whose work you can explore here.

Sadly, many of her patterns have been lost to time — but not completely. Thanks to the magical powers of the Wayback Machine, you can still find thousands of them archived. I’m planning to work my way through as many as I can… one cosy knit at a time.

So, as I pack my sunglasses and swimsuits for Alicante, Eleanor’s already wrapping up in knits and wool — and honestly, I kind of love that contrast. Summer may be over, but autumn has its own quiet charm… and a brand-new wardrobe to go with it.