Using Tags & Journaling Spots in Mixed Media & Scrapbooking

Tags and journaling spots are one of the most versatile and essential elements in scrapbooking, junk journaling, and mixed media art. Whether you’re building layered scrapbook pages, creating mini albums, or designing expressive layouts, they provide structure, texture, and storytelling space in a way few other products can.

They are a place to write, hide, layer, and reveal — or simply allow design elements to breathe within your composition.

At Scrapping Clearly, the range of tags, die-cuts, journaling pieces, and Luckyfindings designs from leading creative brands makes it easy to build depth, detail, and storytelling into every project.

Why Tags Matter (and How to Use Them)

Tags are more than embellishments — they are functional storytelling elements that help shape your page.

They can:

• Add journaling space
• Create focal points
• Build interactive pockets
• Anchor embellishment clusters
• Introduce texture without bulk

With a little mixed media layering, a simple tag can become so much more. It can be a focal feature, a hidden journaling pocket, a cluster foundation, a textured collage surface, or even the starting point of a mini artwork.
Add paint, stamping, collage papers, stitching, and layered ephemera, and even the simplest tag becomes something richly dimensional.
Often, it’s the smallest element that carries the most story.
Once you start thinking of tags as storytelling tools rather than just embellishments, everything opens up. The base you choose can completely change how a page develops — whether you prefer raw mixed media layers, delicate detailing, or bold expressive clusters. This is where inspiration turns into creation.

      Curative Collective Team member Lisa Oxley

Tag & Journaling Spot Inspiration – Scrapping Clearly

At Scrapping Clearly, you’ll find a wide range of tags, journaling spots, die-cuts, and creative bases designed to suit every style. From raw surfaces ready for paint and ink through to decorative pieces and Luckyfindings designs, everything is designed to help you build layered, meaningful compositions.

Let’s break it down so you can quickly find what suits your creative process.

Classic & Mixed Media Base Tags

Best for: altering and building from the ground up

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Salvaged Tags
Dina Wakley Media Square Tags &  Media Metal Rimmed Tags
Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Journal Tags
7gypsies 97% Complete range
selected LUCKYfindings foundational pieces

Decorative & Designer Tags

Best for: fast, themed, cohesive page building

Art by Marlene Luxury Paper Tags
Heidi Swapp Tags
Fancy Pants Designs Gift Tags & Labels
STAMPERIA themed collections

Journaling Spots & Ephemera Layers

Best for: layering, tuck spots, and storytelling details

We R Memory Keepers Vellum Tag Pockets
49 and Market Die-Cut Elements & Ephemera Packs  

Journaling labels

Fabric & Specialty Tags

Best for: texture, contrast, and mixed media depth

Cedar Lane Metallic Thread Fabric Tags
Fabric embellishment tags
LUCKYfindings specialty mixed media substrates

Luckyfindings Signature Designs

Best for: storytelling and layered composition work

Assemblage Tags
Mini Curiosities Tags
Curiosities Tags 
Groundworks imagery sheets
Artist Trading Collectives

These are more than tags — they are story fragments designed to be layered, altered, and reimagined.

DIY Tags & Stamping Systems

Best for: complete creative control

Dina Wakley Perforated Tag Stamps
Darkroom Door frame & label stamps
Stencil + stamp combinations that create tag shapes

Layering Tags: Where the Magic Happens

The magic happens when you start combining elements.

• a painted or stamped base tag

• a die-cut journaling piece

• a Luckyfindings mini tag

• a vellum or transparent layer

Try layering:

Then add stitching, inked edges, staples, or torn paper to build a rich, dimensional cluster.

Curative Collective Team member Rox Boyce

Final Thought

Tags aren’t just an accessory — they are a storytelling device.

They hold words, memories, fragments, and feeling… and when layered with intention, they can carry the entire emotional tone of a page.

Ready to Create?

Click on the link below to head over to the shop and start exploring the full range of tags, journaling spots, and Luckyfindings designs in the Scrapping Clearly store and start building your own layered stories today. 

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - 5 Ways to Add Texture Without Using Texture Paste

 5 Ways to Add Texture  - Without Using Texture Paste

Showcasing our Design Team’s creative brilliance

Texture doesn’t have to mean thick mediums and heavy tools. Some of the richest, most engaging pages are built using clever layering and surface detail. Here are five texture techniques — along with inspiring examples from our Scrappingclearly Design Team — that you can recreate with products available in the Scrappingclearly shop.

1️⃣ Layered Ephemera Clusters – Tracey Beer Style

Ephemera clusters add instant dimensional interest without bulk. By stacking tickets, tags, die cuts, and focal pieces, you create visual depth that draws the eye.

Featured example:
In this layout, Tracey places a variety of ephemera beneath and around the photo, using foam tape to lift key elements and create shadow play. Notice how the layered bits guide your attention toward the story.

Tracey has used on her page - Lucky Findings Imagery - It's a gal thing , Dylusions spray inks , Letter stickers, Stencil with Dina Wakley paint (Sky), Stencil with Bo Bunny glitter paste (Bubblegum), Vicki Boutin ephemera, Heidi Swapp stickers (Sun Chaser and Carefree), 49 & Market diecuts, Heidi Swapp puffy  stickers (Favorite Things) & Heidi Swapp dipped tags

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2️⃣ Rub-Ons for Subtle Surface Detail – Emma Zappone Magic

Rub-ons are ideal for adding texture that doesn’t interfere with bulk — they sit right on the surface and feel naturally integrated.

Featured example:

In this piece, Emma applied delicate rub-ons across the background and edges, adding subtle visual texture that complements stamped details and layered papers. The effect is soft, rich, and unifying.

Emma has used on her page - 

Lucky Findings Imagery Sheets, Rub ons

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3️⃣ Stencil with Ink Instead of Paste – Tracey Lea Henly Inspiration

Stencilling with inks or paints through a stencil gives you repeated patterns and visual texture — without adding physical height.

Featured example:

Tracey uses a patterned stencil with distress inks to create a subtle background pattern that ties all the cluster elements together, adding implied texture and movement.

Tracey has used on her page - 

Tim Holtz distress inks in Hickory Smoke and Tea Dye , Tim Holtz stencils and Aall and Create ephemera

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4️⃣ Torn & Distressed Paper Edges – Georgia Arthur  Edge Play

Don’t underestimate the power of rough edges! Tearing, inking, sanding — these small moves create a tactile, organic feel.

Featured example:

Georgia tears and inks several layers of patterned paper, adding a raw, earthy texture that suits the theme beautifully. The distressed edges lead the eye inward toward the focal point.

Georgia has used on her page - 

 49 & Market plum grove, papers, this gorgeous imagery Little Peacock from LuckyFindings.

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5️⃣ Paint for Organic Movement – Lisa Oxley Expressions

Whether it’s painting, dry brushing, splattering, or scraping, paint introduces variation and energy across the surface.

Featured example:
In this example, Lisa uses a acrylic paint with stencils to add movement behind the main elements. The paint marks provide contrast and visual texture without heavy buildup.

 Lisa has used on her page  - 

 DWM Black Gesso,  Ranger Dylusions Square Journal,  DWM Bee Hive honeycomb, gelli plate, Inktense ,  beehive stencil, DWM Gesso,  Prismacolour pencils,  Darkroom Door background stamp,  fudeball black pen, splatter girl stamp, Dorlands wax medium

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Texture Is More Than Thickness

True texture comes from contrast, layering, repetition, shadow, movement, and intentional detail — and our Design Team has shown us gorgeous ways to achieve it in every style.

Take inspiration from these examples, swap products from your stash, and layer boldly.

Until next time enjoy the process, lean in to the chaos of creativity

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Gel Medium vs. Matte Medium: What’s the Difference & When to Use Each

If you’ve ever stood at your craft desk wondering whether to reach for gel medium or matte medium, you’re not alone. While both are staple adhesives in mixed media and art journaling, they each shine in different ways depending on what you’re creating.

Let’s break down the differences so you can choose the right one for your next project.

What Is Gel Medium?

Gel medium is a thick, glue-like medium designed to hold heavier elements securely in place. It comes in different viscosities — soft, regular, and heavy — giving you control over texture and strength.

Best used for:

• Collaging thicker papers, fabric, or chipboard

• Adhering embellishments and dimensional elements

• Creating texture and raised effects

• Mixed media layers that need strong hold

Why artists love it:
Gel medium grabs quickly, dries clear, and adds subtle body to your pages. It’s ideal when you want layers that feel substantial and tactile.

What Is Matte Medium?

Matte medium is thinner and more fluid, similar in consistency to milk or light glue. It dries with a flat, non-shiny finish, making it perfect for seamless layering.

Best used for:

• Gluing paper, tissue, and napkins

• Sealing and protecting artwork

• Reducing shine on collage layers

• Image transfers and glazing techniques

Why artists love it:
Matte medium creates smooth, invisible layers and allows imagery and colour to shine without distraction. It’s a favourite for journaling and subtle mixed media work.

Side-by-Side Comparison

FEATURE                          GEL MEDIUM                          MATTE MEDIUM

Consistency	Thick & creamy	Thin & fluid
Finish	Slight sheen (varies by brand)	Flat, matte
Best for	Heavy layers & texture	Smooth layering & sealing
Strength	Strong hold	Light to medium hold

Which One Should You Use?

The answer? Both — just at different stages - Scrappingclearly has a great range of each in store - click on the name of each brand and it will take you straight to the product to read more - 

• Use gel medium when you’re building texture or attaching heavier elements. - Liquitex Matte Gel Medium , Liquitex Gloss Heavy Gel Medium, 13@rts Gel Medium, Art By Marlene Gel Medium , Dina Wakley Media ultra thick gel medium, TCW matte gel medium, Monte Marte gloss gel medium 

• Use matte medium for paper layers, sealing pages, and finishing touches. Liquitex Matte Medium , Liquitex Ultra Matte Medium , Ranger Multi Medium Matte , Deco Art Media Matte Medium 

Many artists keep both on their desk and switch between them as a project evolves.

Creative Tip

Try using gel medium underneath thicker elements for strength, then finish with a light coat of matte medium over the top to unify your page and reduce shine. It’s a simple trick that instantly elevates your work.

Whether you’re art journaling, scrapbooking, or creating layered mixed media pieces, understanding how gel and matte mediums behave will give you more control — and more confidence — in your creative process.

Happy layering!

The Right Pen Makes All the Difference — Writing, Drawing & Detailing in Your Journals

Blog Post 2: The Right Pen Makes All the Difference 

Writing, Drawing & Detailing in Your Journals

If you caught our last post, you’ll know that finding the right journal is the first step toward a creative, personal, and inspiring journaling practice. Now that you’ve chosen your journal, let’s talk about the tools that bring your ideas, lists, doodles, and reflections to life — your pens.

Pens may seem like a simple choice, but when you’re journaling, creating art, or adding handwritten touches to your scrapbooking layouts, the pen you pick can change everything — from the texture and mood of your writing to the longevity and look of your pages.

At ScrappingClearly, we stock a wide range of journaling pens, fineliners, and paint pens that suit every style — whether you love a crisp handwritten note, a doodled border, or a splash of metallic ink across your layout.

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Journaling Pens – For Writing, Doodling & Detailing

Journaling pens are designed for smooth, consistent writing without bleeding through your pages. They’re ideal for daily writing, note-taking, sketching, or fine detailing in planners and notebooks.

Some customer favourites in-store include:

• Uni-ball White Pen – The Uni-ball White Pen is perfect for adding crisp, opaque highlights, doodles, and contrast to your journal pages. It shows up beautifully on dark backgrounds, painted surfaces, and mixed media layers without skipping. A must-have for adding those final bright details that make a page pop.

• Fude Ball Pens – Ideal for bold, smooth statement journaling. Their rich, opaque ink glides smoothly across the page, making them ideal for titles, headers, outlining, and adding emphasis to important words or phrases. They also write beautifully over paint, gesso, collage, and textured surfaces, which makes them a must-have for mixed media journals.

• Tim Holtz Distress Markers - Distress Markers are perfect for journallers who love adding soft colour, shading, and subtle detail to their pages. Designed with water-reactive ink, these markers let you blend, wash, and layer colour effortlessly — ideal for adding gentle backgrounds, colouring stamped images, or creating watercolour-style effects without the mess of paints. The dual tips (fine point + brush tip) make them incredibly versatile for : Use the fine tip for writing, outlining, date stamping or doodle details & use the brush tip for colouring, shadowing, and blending with water. They work beautifully in notebooks, art journals, tags, and layered mixed media pages. If you want controlled colour with that signature Distress look, these markers are a fantastic tool to have in your journaling kit.

• Art Marlene Duo Acrylic Markers - Bold Colour × Two Tips, the Art by Marlene Duo Acrylic Markers deliver vibrant, opaque colour with the versatility of two nibs in one pen. Use the fine tip for writing, details, and outlining, and the brush tip for colouring, shading, and expressive strokes. They write beautifully over paint, gesso, collage, and textured pages, making them perfect for mixed media journals that need strong, reliable colour.

• Artline Supreme Markers - Artline Supreme Markers are great for adding clean colour, simple shading, and quick lettering to your journal pages. Their smooth-flowing ink and comfortable nib make them perfect for titles, borders, doodles, and everyday notes. A reliable go-to marker for lightweight mixed media and creative journaling.

When you’re writing in a junk journal or vintage-style book, the fine tip of a black or sepia fineliner complements aged papers beautifully. For a bright art journal, coloured pens add contrast and energy to your pages.

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Paint Pens – Adding Bold Colour, Texture & Highlights

If pens are for writing, paint pens are for expression. They glide over textured surfaces where regular pens can’t — perfect for mixed media journals, tags, and art pages layered with paint, gesso, or collage.

In the ScrappingClearly store, you’ll find:

• Posca Paint Pens – A must-have for any mixed media artist. They come in a huge range of colours and nib sizes, and can write over acrylic, watercolor, gesso, or even fabric.

• Spectrum Noir – Spectrum Noir Markers are perfect for journallers who love soft blends, smooth colouring, and polished shading. Their dual tips (fine + chisel or brush, depending on the set) make them great for lettering, colouring stamped images, adding shadows, and creating gradient effects. They’re ideal for adding detailed colour to journals, tags, and mixed media pages where you want a refined, alcohol-marker look.

• Pilot Pintor – Pintor Paint Pens deliver bright, opaque colour that works on paper, paint, gesso, fabric, wood, and more. They’re great for journaling and mixed media when you want bold marks, lettering, doodles, and highlights that really stand out. Smooth flow, strong colour, and reliable coverage make them an easy favourite for creative play.

• Life of Colour - Vibrant, versatile, and fun! Life of Colour pens are perfect for journaling, scrapbooking, and mixed media projects. With brush and fine tips, they glide smoothly, layer beautifully, and even blend with water for painterly effects. From bold brights to metallics and earthy tones, these pens make every page pop with colour.

• Ecoline Brush Pens - vibrant, fluid, and full of life! These water-based brush pens are perfect for journaling, hand lettering, and creating smooth, expressive strokes. Their transparent, ink-like colors layer beautifully and blend effortlessly with water for painterly effects. Whether you’re adding bold highlights, soft backgrounds, or delicate details, Ecoline pens give your pages that splash of artistic flair without fuss. Pro tip: Keep a water brush handy to turn your lettering into a seamless watercolor masterpiece!

• Liquitex Paint Pens - Liquitex Professional Paint Markers deliver rich, artist-quality acrylic colour in a smooth, controlled pen. They’re perfect for journaling and mixed media pages, writing effortlessly over gesso, paint, collage, and textured layers. Use them for bold titles, graphic lines, layering, and adding strong pops of colour that stay vibrant and permanent.

• Kent Urban Paint Pens - Kent Urban Paint Pens are perfect for adding bold, opaque marks to your journal pages. They write smoothly over gesso, paint, cardstock, collage, and textured surfaces, making them ideal for mixed media layers. Use them for titles, borders, doodles, highlights, and expressive marks where you want strong colour that stands out.

Paint pens are fantastic for:

• Writing affirmations over textured backgrounds

• Adding dots, doodles, and borders

• Highlighting areas of your page with white or metallic accents

• Creating layered journal covers or mixed media tags

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Tips for Mixing Both

One of the best-kept secrets in journaling and scrapbooking is the combination of journaling pens and paint pens. Try this creative formula:

• Use fineliners for your notes and outlines.

• Add paint pens for embellishing, layering, or colour blocking.

• Finish with metallic or white paint pens for that extra highlight or visual “pop.”

Pro tip: Always test your pen on the back page of your journal — some papers, especially coated or handmade ones, may react differently to wet mediums.

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Coming Up Next…

In our next post, we’ll dive into how tags and stamps can elevate your journaling or scrapbooking spreads — adding layers, meaning, and texture that pull your page together beautifully.

Whether you’re jotting down gratitude lists or capturing those end-of-year reflections, having the right tools — from your journal to your pen — makes the creative process flow effortlessly.

Explore journaling pens and paint pens now at ScrappingClearly   and get ready to fall in love with the art of writing again.

#ScrappingClearly #ArtJournaling #MixedMediaArt #CreativeJournaling #PoscaPens #JournalingPens #ScrapbookingSupplies #CreativeTools #GratitudeJournal #CraftInspiration

NEW RELEASE – Luckyfindings: DRACULA Collection

Something darkly beautiful has arrived... and it’s ready to sink its teeth into your creativity! 

🖤

Introducing the Dracula Foundations, Foundation Fragments, Curiosities & Snippets - a hauntingly gorgeous new collection from Luckyfindings, designed to stir your imagination and inspire your next mixed media or journaling project.

Think rich gothic tones, moody textures, vintage ephemera, and just a touch of the macabre — perfect for layering, collaging, and storytelling in your own unique style.

Available now in-store and online — but beware… these treasures won’t last long once night falls.

 

Purple Moodboard Art Journalling - With Karyn Schultz!

 Hi Scrapping Clearly Lovelies!

It's Karyn here and today I have an Art Journal page that I created using lots of fun products available at Scrapping Clearly! 

 

 I'm playing along with the August moodboard challenge. We would love for you to join in with this challenge and be in the running to win a Scrapping Clearly store voucher. You have until August 31st and you need to upload your challenge here.

 

 This page is created on a cotton rag watercolour page in my 8x10 Dina Wakley Media Journal. I added some colour to the page using a painting with plastic technique and Prima watercolour confections - purples from the Classics and Tropicals palates. 

 

 

I added some stamping using black Archival ink and Vicki Boutin Color Study Stamps. 

 

 Next I added stencilling using a Kaisercraft stencil and TCW platinum modelling paste.

 

 

In keeping with the purple theme I found an image on Pinterest and printed it out on photo paper. I added Vicki Boutin Storyteller Mosaic paper and fussy cut images from Storyteller PL card 12x12 paper, as well as Tim Holtz Idea-ology small talk snarky stickers. I also added some Heidi Swapp ghost alphas. Lastly I drew around the edge of the page using a Fude ball pen.

 

Some close-up images. 

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Crafty Hugs xx

Karyn

Dream On - With Karyn Schultz!

 Hi Scrapping Clearly Lovelies!

It's Karyn here and today I have an Art Journal page that I created using lots of fun products available at Scrapping Clearly! 

 

This page is created on a cotton rag watercolour page in my 8x10 Dina Wakley Media Journal. I added some colour to the page using a painting with plastic technique and Prima watercolour confections - Pastel Dreams (Pinks).

 

I added some stencilling using an Art By Marlene World stencil and Kitsch Flamingo Distress Ink.

 

Then I added more stencilling using Bo Bunny silver glitter paste.

 

 

In keeping with the pink theme and the Kitsch Flamingo ink I found a flamingo image on Pinterest and printed it out on photo paper. I added Heidi Swapp Pineapple Crush ephemera, Heidi Swapp pink Dipped Tags, a 13 Arts transparency, and Tim Holtz Idea-ology small talk stickers. 

 

 

Some close-up images.

 

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Crafty Hugs xx

Karyn

Everything Is Possible - With Karyn Schultz!

  Hi Scrapping Clearly Lovelies!

It's Karyn here and today I have an Art Journal page that I created using lots of fun products available at Scrapping Clearly! 

 

I'm playing along with the July moodboard challenge. We would love for you to join in with this challenge and be in the running to win a Scrapping Clearly store voucher. You have until July 31st and you need to upload your challenge here. 

 

 

This page is created on a burlap/hessian page in my 8x10 Dina Wakley Media Journal. I started by stencilling using Nuvo glimmer paste in Sapphire blue (The sparkly paste fitted in perfectly with the moodboard!) and a 13 Arts stencil. When I'm working on Hessian I prefer to keep my creating minimal. Adding a feature stencil, an image and a few diecuts are all that you need on a page :)

 

 I added an image I found on Pinterest, some white diecuts, and Tim Holtz Idea-ology small talk stickers.

 

Some close-up images.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Crafty Hugs xx

Karyn

Born To Create - With Karyn Schultz!

  Hi Scrapping Clearly Lovelies!

It's Karyn here and today I have an Art Journal page that I created using lots of fun products available at Scrapping Clearly!  

 

 I started by creating an arty background on some heavyweight white cardstock. I used Faber Castell translucent Gelatos in Hazelnut and Olive. Then I added DWM Ocean acrylic paint (the colours of the moodboard). I stamped on this background with some Art-By-Marlene Exclusive Textures stamps. I added some stencilling using Black Marble shimmer spray and an Art-By-Marlene stencil. Then more stencilling with a Kaisercraft stencil and Colour Blast Colour Paste in Sienna. I cut out four 4cmx5cm rectangles to use on my page.

 

This page is created on a burlap page in my 8x10 Dina Wakley Media Journal. I find it hard to create on these burlap pages but loved the idea of attaching some arty squares/rectangles and keeping it simple - letting the burlap be the feature! 

I added the 4 arty rectangles to the middle of the page. I created an embellishment cluster on one of the rectangles using a diecut, book paper, coloured muslin and hessian trim. The page was completed with an Art-By-Marlene sticker quote.

  Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Crafty Hugs xx

Karyn