11 Tips, Tricks and Techniques to Try in Your Art Journal

If you find you’re in a creative rut doing the same things over and over again remember there are so many different products and techniques you can try out to add something new to your art journal.

Step out of your comfort zone and try adding watercolors to your backgrounds, add images with stamping and rub-ons, try mixed media products like art crayons and pastes and add extra interest with layers of washi tape or handmade pockets. The team over at The Cherry on Top has gathered together 11 ideas you might not have tried on your designs. You can also apply these ideas on greeting cards, scrapbook layouts and traveler’s notebooks pages too.

Be sure not to miss out on a delightful journey through a plethora of creative techniques – a total of 11 unique approaches that promise to spark your imagination and ignite your artistic flair. To witness these techniques come to life, head over to

Check out all 11 different techniques and find photos of each idea over on The Cherry On Top blog.

-Heather

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You know that thrill when you find an old, rusty piece of junk and immediately see its potential? That’s exactly the vibe I got reading the tutorial from A Pretty Happy Home on turning a vintage milk can into a side table. It’s one of those simple yet satisfying projects that blends upcycled charm with real functionality—and adds a whole lot of character to your space.

First off, there’s just something magical about milk cans. They’ve got history. You just know they’ve lived on a dusty farm porch or sat beside a barn door through decades of seasons. In this project, that history gets to shine—literally—after a little elbow grease and creative thinking.

What I loved about this makeover is how unfussy it is. The milk can wasn’t scrubbed within an inch of its life or made to look overly polished. Instead, it got a respectful refresh: a little cleaning, a bit of clear coat to protect the patina, and a sturdy, round wood top to complete the transformation into a DIY farmhouse side table.

The wood top itself was made from leftover pieces—hello, recycled wood projects—which gives this whole DIY an extra eco-friendly touch. It’s a small win for the environment and a big win for anyone who appreciates budget-friendly home decor that doesn’t look cheap.

You don’t need fancy tools or a woodworking shop to pull this off. That’s the beauty of these repurposed furniture ideas—they’re accessible. And they let the vintage pieces speak for themselves. This one, in particular, looks just as good next to a cozy armchair as it would on a porch with a cup of tea and a warm breeze.

The final result? A rustic milk can side table that’s equal parts practical and nostalgic. It’s got that collected-over-time feel that you just can’t buy from a big box store. And as someone who loves giving old things new life, it absolutely inspired me to go digging through the nearest antique store (or maybe my parents’ shed) to see what I can rescue next.

If you’re looking for easy upcycled decor projects, or a way to add authentic farmhouse style without breaking the bank, this tutorial is a perfect weekend project. Honestly, this is the kind of piece that guests will ask about, and you’ll get to say, “Oh, that old thing? I made it.”

And you will say it with pride.

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