Freebies, chaos, artistic expression, and only a little bit of a mess

Hey Reader,

Have you ever heard people refer to May as "MAYCEMBER" because there's just as much going on in MAY as there is in DECEMBER? I'm not going to lie, I feel that! With all of the "end of the school year" stuff happening, at the same time as summer planning... it's a lot! But I'm trying to find time to craft and scrapbook... as well as finish up bulletin boards and paint things for the PTO and end of the year "festival" at the school! I hope you've been finding time to get creative too!​
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I mentioned this last week but... I want to try out some "reoccurring features" every week -- so let me know what you think, or what "feature sections" you would like to see every week in your inbox, in this little scrappy magazine of mine! ​
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Let the Sunshine In! Check out one of my recent layouts (Pocket Page style!) on the blog -- I got to combine two fun collections from Traci Reed Designs into ONE layout, and I had a ton of fun! ​ Check out the blog post!

Small Shifts, Big Creative Impact Expressive art doesn't require a complete overhaul. The Art of Expression Summit shows how small, intentional shifts in your creative practice can create lasting change — for your art, your wellbeing, and your sense of self. ​ 📅 May 19–21, 2026 Sign up for your free ticket!

Check out the newest "mini class" I've released -- Creating Visually Interesting Mini Books! It's one of my favorites, and I can't wait to see what you create from the class-- and it comes with a workbook and bonus SVG files!​ ​ Grab it for 50% off!

Get that "messy" look without the MESS: Confession: I don’t always want to pull out actual paint, wait for things to dry, or cover my craft table in supplies 😂

But! That’s why I love using Art Starts on clear sticker paper.

Because the background is transparent, the watercolor and painty bits almost melt into the page — especially on Bible pages or mini books. It gives that layered mixed-media look without all the setup.

One of my favorite little tricks:

• Cut one of the art starts in half or into pieces
• keep the scraps you cut away
• reuse those tiny leftover bits elsewhere on the page

Those little “extra” pieces end up creating some of the most visually interesting details. For more of these tips and tricks with using the Art Starts, check out this video, below! (Even if you're not into bible journaling, check it out, I think you'll learn some new tips!)

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Free Art Starts! Since we are talking about layering and visual interest, I thought you might enjoy another free set of my Art Starts -- grab them, print them on clear sticker paper, and layer away! Grab the freebies!

Hit reply and tell me what you've been working on this week -- what's on your crafty desk?
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Scrapy love,
Allie