Saturday, February 28, 2026

Rare Art Journal Page

Hello friends! Today is Rare Disease Day and this year I decided that I wanted to make a page in my art journal. The purpose of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness and generate change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and carers. 

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Layers of ink - Rare Art Journal Page tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

One of the events during Rare Disease Day is a Global Chain of Lights in the colors of Rare Disease Day. Instead of actually lights, I made an art journal page. The colors are blue, pink, purple and green. 

One of the many challenges with rare diseases is that it often takes a long time to receive a diagnosis. There is also a lack of awareness in society, as well as within the healthcare system. Patients often have to struggle to receive the right treatment. In the case of, for example, Addison’s disease, this can mean the difference between life and death, as it can quickly become life-threatening. Additionally, there is less research and less funding available for rare diseases.

Both my sons have Addison's disease, an life-long autoimmune disease which affect about 1 in 100.000 people. Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is when the adrenal glands do not produce enough (or none) of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Without these, you cannot live.

Ink the background.

Start by smearing Distress Ink on an acrylic block and mist with water. Press into your journal. I used Stamperia's Happiness Mixed Media Journal. Let dry. You can do the technique on any watercolor paper. 

Add more ink.

Repeat until you are happy with the look. I used a little Distress Oxide as the last layer.

White emboss dots.

White emboss dots here and there. The dots represent the life-necessary medicin. 

Ink with alphabet stamp.

Stamp here and there with the alphabet stamp from Tim Holtz School Desk. 

Ink glossy cardstock.

Ink white glossy cardstock with Distress Ink by smearing the ink pad on the paper.

Die cut the words with Tim Holtz Emporium.

Die cut rare three times using Tim Holtz Emporium Alphanumeric set. 

Die cut butterflies.



I emptied out AALL & Create Mindful Moments words on a paper and picked words I thought fit the theme. I didn't use all of the words. 


To make the words stand out better, I die cut the letters one more time with white cardstock.


The glossy butterflies were glued in a trail from the bottom to the top of the page. I added the words in clusters. 


I used Distress Inks in the four colors of Rare Disease Day. 


I like the look of dye ink on white glossy cardstock and it contrasts nicely with the matte watercolor paper. A rare journey indeed, one that you would rather not be on.


I used a little Twisted Citron for the green glossy cardstock. 


More understanding would help for many with rare diseases. 


Repeating the title several times is a one of my favorite techniques in art journaling.


I paired up my rare page with my color wheel page, since they fit both in colors and in message.

You can read more about Rare Disease Day here.



Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.



Friday, February 27, 2026

Dry Embossed Faux Stitching

Hello crafters! Today, I am sharing an easy dry embossed card with faux stitching. Simon Says Stamp has a brand new release called Beautiful Moments. 

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Moments.

The Beautiful Moments release is filled with wonderful stamps, dies, embossing folders and other products, perfect for spring-time and Easter crafting.

Layers of ink - Dry Embossed Faux Stitching by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I made a card with a textured faux stitching background, done with the Simon Says Stamp Stitching Sampler folder, white embossing powder and mists. The card and sentiment are much more shimmery than what it looks like on this photo. I used the new Beautiful Friend die for the sentiment and added a stamped sentiment from Printmaking Clovers.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Friend.

The sentiment was die cut with Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Friend, from watercolor paper. The words were inked with Antique Linen and then misted with Antique Linen Distress Spritz.


I die cut the mat from Simon Says Stamp Silver Vellum. The words were die cut one more time from Simon Says Stamp Island Blue cardstock and off-set for a shadow effect.

Emboss Simon Says Stamp Stitching Sampler.

I applied embossing ink to the Simon Says Stamp Stitching Sampler folder and the embossed watercolor paper with the folder. Sprinkle with white embossing powder and melt with a heat tool. Don't worry about stray embossing powder, it will just add texture.

Mist the background with ink.

For some reason, I forgot to take a photo of the misting process. Mist the paper with Ranger Distress Spray Mermaid Lagoon and Ground Espresso and then also add Antique Linen Distress Spritz, for a shimmer effect. 


As you can see, there is a lot of stray embossing powder, which gives great texture, but you can still see the stitched lines.

Stamp sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Printmaking Clovers.

The second sentiment was white embossed on silver vellum using the new Simon Says Stamp Printmaking Clovers set. I added a piece of lace under the panel.


Distress the edges of the embossed panel before you assemble the card. 



Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.



Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Neon Ledger Page

Hello friends! Today I have a neon page to share, where I used my new Ranger Neon Alcohol ink.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Neon Ledger Page by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I got three neon alcohol ink and they really are neon! It is like the page is almost too bright to look at at times. The colors reminded me of a pair of shorts that I sewed as a teenager (I made a lot of my own clothes). My school had a project with after hours courses that we could attend. I did courses in photography and sewing. These photos are from that photography course. We took the photos and developed them in a dark room. I worked in my Dina Wakley Ledger Journal.

Color Yupo paper with neon alcohol inks.

I used Yupo paper and applied Atomic, Ignite and Fluorescent Neon Alcohol inks with an ink-blending tool and felt applicators. I also used some alcohol ink blending solution. Finish by dropping ink and blending solution onto the background. Let dry.

Stamp the sentiment.

Stamp the sentiment from Tim Holtz Good Thoughts. 

White emboss the circles.

White emboss Tim Holtz rings on the background of a page in the Ledger Journal. I picked a page without text. Stamp sentiments too.

Stamp the background with Tim Holtz School Desk.

Stamp the alphabet from Tim Holtz School Desk here and there, additional sentiment and some fun items. 

Die cut letters from glitter paper.

The title was die cut from Simon Says Stamp Luxe Glitter Cardstock. I really like this glitter paper and it made me think of disco balls. I used Tim Holtz Emporium Alphanumeric dies to die cut the words.


I added Film Strip Ribbons here and there, to fit with the photography theme.

Add sequins.

I also added Simon Says Stamp Summer Sunset and Conversation Hearts sequins.


There are a few strips of Design Tape Trims.


I stamped more items from Tim Holtz Crazy Things on the background, since they fit with my interests. 


And of course a pair of scissors, from Tim Holtz Tiny Things 2, for the sewing theme. 


The word strips come from AALL & Create Mindful Moments.


This sentiment comes from Tim Holtz Perspective set.




Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.



Monday, February 23, 2026

Snowflake Art Journal Page

Hello friends! I hope you had a nice weekend! I had one day of crafting and one day of running errands and ticking off items in my to-do-list.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.


It is time a new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and this week our theme is Whatever the Weather. I hope you will join us! Don't miss the beautiful project by our February guest designer Cassie Lynch.

Layers of ink - Snowflake Art Journal Page Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

We have had unusually good winter, snow started to fall on the first of January and has remained since then, without the constant melting and refreezing routine that we usually have here. So I made an art journal page covered with beautiful snowflakes. The page was done in my Stamperia Mixed Media Happiness Journal.

Stamp with Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Season.

Start by white embossing snowflakes from Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Season. Leave room for the sentiment and white emboss that too. I used Tim Holtz Worn Text letters for the sentiment. 

Paint with Daniel Smith watercolor paint.

Somehow I forgot to take a photo of the painting step. I had the photo set up, went to wash my hands and then forgot to take the photo. The page was first painted with water and then immediately with Daniel Smith: Phthalo Blue Turquoise, Amazonite Genuine, Moonglow and Lunar Black. When dry, I painted a shadow for the letters with Lunar Black.

Paint with Daniel Smith Pearlescent White.

I stamped words on the background. For shimmer, I painted a little Pearlescent White here and there.

Add Ranger Stickles.

Next, I added a little bit of Star Dust Stickles, to the edges and to the centers of the snowflakes.

Splatter with Winsor & Newton Permanent White.

Splatter with Winsor & Newton Permanent White Gouache. Here you can also see that I paired the page up with my snowman page from earlier this year. You can find that tutorial here.


The Lunar Black adds great texture, as does the splattering and glitter.


Here you can see the effect of the Pearlescent White paint better.


'One of a kind' also comes from Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Season.


The watercolor paint will pool inside some of the embossed shapes, as you can see on this snowflake.

Tim Holtz Worn Text stamps.

Adding a shadow to the letters helps them to stand out better on the background.


The sentiments on the strips come from Tim Holtz Tiny Text.

Join us this week in our Whatever the Weather challenge! You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.



Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.





Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.