Beyond the Journal: Creative Ways to Use Your Craft Supplies

Who says stickers, decorative papers and PET tapes are just for journaling and scrapbooking?

At Scrapbook & Journal, we love seeing all the beautiful journal spreads, scrapbook pages and paper craft projects you create with our products. But recently, we decided to challenge a couple of talented crafters to think a little differently and show us how our supplies could be used beyond the 'norm'.

The results were absolutely beautiful!

From resin art to textured mixed media canvases, these two creative projects show just how versatile everyday crafting supplies can be. We're excited to share the work of Jackie and Louise, who have each taken our products and transformed them into something completely unique.

1. Jackie’s Resin Art: Turning Stickers into Something Special

Instagram: Jack's House of Resin, @jacks_house_of_resin

When you think of stickers or PET tapes, your first thought is probably decorating a notebook or journal, layering a scrapbook page or adding finishing touches to a handmade card. But Jackie has shown us a completely different way to use them: resin products!

By incorporating our decorative stickers into her resin creations, Jackie has demonstrated how something traditionally used for paper crafts can become part of an entirely different creative medium.

How Can Stickers Be Used in Resin Art?

Resin art opens up so many possibilities for incorporating decorative elements into handmade pieces. Stickers can be used as focal points, layered with other embellishments or embedded within resin to create beautifully detailed designs.

Our PET stickers and PET tapes are a lovely option for experimenting with resin art, thanks to their thin, flexible plastic material, detailed illustrations and transparent backgrounds. Unlike traditional paper stickers, their plastic-based material can make them particularly durable for incorporating into resin creations. 

Depending on the moulds and techniques used, stickers could be incorporated into projects such as:

• Decorative coasters: Add floral illustrations, botanical stickers or vintage designs to create personalised home accessories.
• Trinket dishes: Use decorative stickers to add delicate details to handmade jewellery or keepsake dishes.
• Keyrings and charms: Turn smaller sticker designs into unique accessories.
• Bookmarks: Combine resin with decorative stickers to create beautiful, long-lasting bookmarks.
• Decorative ornaments: Experiment with layered illustrations, colours and textures to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

Jackie's project is a wonderful reminder that craft supplies don't need to be limited to their intended purpose. Sometimes, combining two completely different creative techniques can produce the most interesting results.

Creative tip: If you're experimenting with stickers in resin, always test your materials first. Some stickers and adhesives may react differently when exposed to resin, and bubbles or lifting can occur. Follow the resin manufacturer's safety and curing instructions.

2. Louise’s Mixed Media Canvas: Bringing Paper Crafts to Life

Instagram: Louise Stewart Art, @louise.stewart.art

Next up is Louise, who took our crafting supplies in another exciting direction by incorporating them into a mixed media canvas.

Mixed media art is all about combining different materials, textures and techniques to create something visually interesting. Unlike traditional painting, it encourages you to experiment with paper, fabric, paints, inks, stickers and almost anything else you can imagine!

Louise's canvas is a brilliant example of how products typically used in journaling and scrapbooking can become part of a larger piece of artwork.

How Can Our Products Be Used in Mixed Media Art?

One of the best things about mixed media crafting is that there really aren't many rules. You can build layers, combine contrasting patterns, introduce different textures and keep adding details until your creation feels complete.

Many of our products are ideal for this type of creative experimentation.

• Decorative papers can be torn, distressed or layered to create interesting backgrounds. Vintage-inspired papers are particularly lovely for introducing subtle patterns and aged textures.
• PET tapes and stickers can add beautiful illustrations and focal points. Different designs and details can be layered over painted backgrounds or combined with other materials to create depth.
• Washi tapes are wonderful for adding borders, patterns and small decorative details. They can also help connect different sections of a canvas through coordinating colours.
• Labels, tickets and ephemera can introduce a collage-inspired element, bringing together different shapes, typography and vintage details.

You could even incorporate handwritten notes, old book pages, photographs, textured paint or fabric scraps to make your artwork more personal.

Why Try Mixed Media Art?

One of the loveliest things about mixed media is the freedom it gives you.

You don't need to be an experienced painter or artist to create something beautiful. You can start with a simple canvas, choose a few coordinating supplies and build your artwork one layer at a time.

It's also a fantastic way to use those leftover stickers, paper offcuts and decorative pieces you've been saving for the perfect project.

Louise's creation shows that our supplies can be so much more than finishing touches for a journal page. They can become part of a completely unique piece of artwork, ready to display in your home, sell to an art lover or gift as a thoughtful handmade gift.

 

3. What Else Could You Create?

Jackie and Louise have inspired us to look at our own crafting supplies a little differently. And once you start thinking beyond traditional journaling and scrapbooking, the possibilities really do open up!

Why not try decorating a plain wooden photo frame with stickers and ephemera, creating a personalised jewellery box with decorative papers, transforming a simple plant pot with botanical designs or making a unique piece of wall art? On most materials, you can also add a layer of Modge Podge sealer to protect it. 

You could use your favourite supplies to personalise gift packaging, decorate storage boxes or give old household items a completely new look.

The beauty of creative supplies is that there's no single right way to use them. A sticker doesn't have to stay in a journal. A piece of decorative paper doesn't have to become a scrapbook background. Sometimes, the most unexpected ideas turn into your favourite creations.

4. A Little Creative Inspiration from Our Community

We want to say a huge thank you to Jackie and Louise for taking on our creative challenge and sharing their wonderful work with us.

Seeing our products used in such different ways is one of the most rewarding parts of running Scrapbook & Journal. We spend so much time finding and developing beautiful supplies, but it's you, our creative community, who bring them to life.

We hope their projects inspire you to try something new, experiment with materials you already own and perhaps step outside your usual crafting comfort zone.

Now we'd love to hear from you!

Have you ever used paper crafting supplies for something completely unexpected? Or have Jackie and Louise inspired your next project?

Share your creations with us and tag @scrapbookandjournal_shop on social media. We absolutely love seeing what you make!

And if you're feeling inspired to get creative, explore our collection of stickers, decorative papers, PET tapes and more at scrapbookandjournal.com.