If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here. All of the previous posts can be found archived here. There is a flickr group for sharing right here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week and you've blogged about it, or put it on flickr, please leave a link in the linky list at the end of this post. Thanks!

I'm so excited about today's guest post from Janine Mattis. Janine is a regular contributor to the Art Journal Every Day linky list and she previously wrote a guest post for Art Journal Every Day last March. Today she's sharing how she makes her own spray inks!



I am a sucker for acrylic spray paints but I am also cheap when it comes to spending my well-earned money. I bet you can all relate that we have a very expensive hobby.



When I started my creative journey in art journaling and mixed media in 2011 I was in awe by all the shimmery mists and colorful sprays. I needed them! I wanted them all! But I also had to watch my budget. With time and a buying a few different brands I found that the sprays had another big disadvantage. They were not only expensive but also were not permanent. When I was working on a project using spray paints and was adding layers I got really frustrated when the paints started to bleed. I just had to make my own spray paints!

The best part is that the formula is so easy and you’ll probably have all the needed “ingredients” at home.



Of course you need spray bottles. You can find these at dollar stores or you can even buy them in bulk from Ebay. That’s what I did. I bought 25 spray bottles for about 20 Euros. Now let the homemade spray paint mixing begin! All you need is your favorite acrylic paints, water and a dab of mod podge.





ETA: Mod Podge works as the binder for the acrylic paint and water and the sprays are permanent because of the acrylic paint.

Here is this week's linky list:





About Janine:

I am Janine Mattis a mixed media artist and passionate art journaler from Germany. I live about an hour away from Berlin with my husband. We just got married in December and we are expecting our first child at the end of April.

I just love Art Journaling. It is my therapy as it helps me to relax after a long day at work or to simply get things out of my head. I post weekly art journaling videos on my blog.

I have been featured on Julie’s Blog last year in March for her Art Journal Every Day posts.

My Blog - http://studiojanine.net/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/StudioJanine

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/StudioJanine

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/StudioJanine

My Etsy shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/JanineMattisDesigns