Hi guys, I’m back working a little bit more in this colorful retro spring journal, and in this video I’m all about taking those gelli prints and inky pages up a notch—dyed, sprayed, and printed style. I pulled out my Distress Sprays (dried marigold, bundled sage, peeled paint, weathered wood, tattered rose, and scattered straw) because I wanted that brighter look—not the more muted oxide vibe. Before I touched the actual pages, I tested each color on cardstock, then started spritzing the backs of my inky pages to help the spreads feel balanced when the journal is open. I also played around with a little water first to see how the sprays would react (they do!), but I found it didn’t always behave the same on every paper—especially where there’s paint. Once everything dried, I flipped through and checked my color flow: blue with yellow, green with blue, peach with green, and pops of orange to tie it all together. It’s kind of an “arty arty” journal, and I’m okay with that. Then I pulled trims—eyelet, checks, lace, rick rack, yo-yos, and some bright bits—and started auditioning page edges, belly bands, and tucks without overthinking it. Next up I’ll sew pieces down, add flower cutouts, and start building tags, clusters, and ephemera, so make sure you come back for the next one.