Mindful Layers: Creative Self-Care Collage

Join me in this week’s video as I show you creative and therapeutic ways to use your suminagashi prints from last week. We’ll explore making mini journals, engaging in grounding strata collages, and freeing intuitive collages—all using simple, budget-friendly materials.

In the first part of the video, I share how you can make a mini journal or notepad from your suminagashi prints. It’s a simple, yet satisfying project that can be used for affirmations, reminders, quotes, or even little doodles.

Next, I demonstrate two collage techniques. If you’re looking for a calming activity, the strata collage with its intentional building of layers might be for you. If you seek spontaneous creativity, monochromatic intuitive collage will help you embrace the moment without a specific plan.

Throughout, I’ll share how these activities can help reduce stress and improve mental health.

Take time for yourself, reconnect with your creativity, and discover the joy and peace that art can bring. Let’s embrace imperfection together and make art because it’s good for us!

Materials

For this video I’m using my suminagashi prints from last week.
If you’d like to revisit or check out last week’s video to let go of perfection and embrace creativity with a simple shaving cream marbling technique, you can do so here.
I also used other papers from my stash. I stuck with oranges, with a pop of its complementary, blue.

Fiskars compact rotary paper trimmer
single-hole punch similar to this
My favorite scissors. I love these scissors! They’ve held up well and stayed sharp despite heavy use, including when one pair (I have the two-pack) worked with me at a nursery school.
Elmer’s washable disappearing purple glue sticks
If you use any of my Amazon links and make a qualifying purchase, I will make a small commission as an Amazon associate. This does not affect your price, but allows you to support my channel with your new art supplies. So, thanks so much if you do!

Not all BETTER WITH ART therapeutic art activities on this new channel are done in art art journal, but quite a few will be, and, as I mention in the video, a private place to express yourself and experiment with art without fear of what others will think is useful. If you’re interested in the best for my wet, dry, and layered applications, here are more details I keep updating, as the journal I always recommended is not longer available.

Connect

You can sign up here to be kept up-to-date on upcoming online workshops and/or local workshops and shows where you can make art with me.

And come hang out with me on Instagram and Facebook.

You can also invite me into your inbox no more than weekly, and receive a link to the private BETTER WITH ART Facebook group here.

My BETTER WITH ART channel is the home of my simple, low-cost, creative self-care art-making inspiration prompts. If you’re interested in watching other art I make, you can check it out on my Melinda VanRy Art channel.

MAKE ART! Because we’re BETTER WITH ART.