Hello friends, Lisa here to inspire you to get inky with your stamps. Today is all about creating my very first art journal page, and I’m taking you along for the ride. I’m trying ink sprays, textures, and layers in this beginner-friendly mixed media layout. Because I’m a newbie at this, and if I can do it, so can you!!! You’ll see what worked, what didn’t, and everything I learned along the way. It’s inky, imperfect, and I had a blast playing around!

Catch the full process in the video where I share all my newbie thoughts and techniques.

Assemble This! Videos are more detailed as we create this project together step-by-step. You’ll get all my tips and tricks to inspire your next idea. I’d love it if you’d subscribe to my channel! You’ll be the first to know when a new tutorial goes up too. Watch on YouTube.
Featured Unity Supplies
![]() Gentle Hours USC |
![]() Magical Lilac USC |
![]() Grunge Splatter Stencil USC |
Soar With Confidence
This is my first ever art journal page and I had the best time exploring new ideas. I started with a 4×6 mini journal which felt like the perfect size. Almost just like creating a card. It gave me a little comfort zone to leap from. I wanted this first page to feel hopeful and empowering, so I layered this uplifting sentiment with soft florals and a beautiful butterfly.
That dreamy purple and blue spray ink combo turned out even better than I imagined. I used stencils with modeling paste to add depth, then sprayed over the dried paste to let that black ink soak into the crevices. Ink smooshing was a quick way to color in my stamped butterfly and flowers without overthinking. The black leafy die cuts added one more layer of interest and tied everything together.
I made mistakes, of course. That black spray ink got a little wild in spots and my white pigment stamping completely disappeared. Next time, I’ll try something different to keep it around. And working inside a book is definitely different. It’s a bit tricky when you can’t move things around freely or want to avoid getting the whole journal inky. But I kind of love the challenge. It’s something new, and it’s sparked a whole new love for creating.
This page is far from perfect, but that wasn’t the goal. It’s about learning, playing, and growing with each page. I’m excited to keep going…. I have a very large book to fill.
I hope this inspires you to just start. Whether it’s your first art journal or your hundredth project, the joy is in the process. These techniques are perfect for exploring without pressure and every page becomes a memory of what you discovered along the way.
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Thank you for joining me today. I sincerely hope that today’s project inspires you. If you create something, feel free to tag me, @dahlhousedesigns, on social media as I would be thrilled to see it! Plus, join us in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group to share your Unity creations. It is such a fun and loving group of creators.

Supplies
*Affiliate Links may be used at no additional cost to you. I appreciate the support if you are inspired to shop through my links.![]() Gentle Hours USC |
![]() Magical Lilac USC |
![]() Grunge Splatter Stencil USC |
![]() Cubist Stencil Set AMZ |
![]() Wildflower Stems 2 SBC | AMZ | SSS |
![]() Mini Journals AMZ |
![]() Fabriano Watercolor AMZ |
![]() Nocturne ink SBC | AMZ |
![]() Black Soot SBC |
![]() Prize Ribbon, Villainous Potion SBC |
![]() Wilted Violet SBC |
![]() White Pigment OTH |
![]() Crushed Grape AMZ |
![]() Black Soot Spray SBC |
![]() Prize Ribbon Spray SBC |
![]() Light Modeling Paste AMZ |
![]() Matte Gel Medium AMZ |
![]() Butterfly Clips AMZ |
![]() Micron Pens AMZ |
Most Used Tools
![]() White Glass Mat SB | OTH | AMZ |
![]() Grip Mat 6×6 SB |
![]() Foam Roll Combo Pack SB |
![]() Foam Roll – 2 Inch SB |
![]() MISTI – Original SB | SSS |
![]() MISTI – Original – Black SB |
![]() MISTI – Mini SB | SSS |
![]() MISTI Corners SB | AMZ |
![]() Stamping Tool SB |
![]() Media Mat Mini SB | SSS |
![]() Mini Stencil Mat** SB |
![]() Sticky Mat SB |
![]() Cutter Bee Scissors SB | SSS |
![]() Reverse Tweezers SB |
![]() Connect Glue SB |
![]() Blending Brushes AMZ |
![]() Mini Blending Brushes AMZ |
![]() Post It Note Tape AMZ |
![]() Big Shot SB |
![]() Mini Trimmer SB |
![]() White Gel Pens SB | AMZ |
![]() Artist-Tac Micro Dot Adhesive AMZ |
![]() 1.5″ block SB | OTH |