Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Did you know that everyday household items can make the most beautiful art supplies? ☕✨ In this relaxing, 40-minute masterclass, I am taking you step-by-step through a stunning vintage mixed media process in my altered book.
Today, we are working on a zero-budget background! I will show you how to repurpose dry tea bags to create gorgeous, semi-transparent fabric textures, and how to use real brewed tea as watercolor paint. We will also prep our pages with clear gesso, play with embossing paste, and build beautiful vintage paper clusters using scraps. Grab your favorite cup of tea and let's craft together! 🫖
Have you ever tried tea staining or using tea bags in your journals? Let me know below! 👇
⏱️ VIDEO CHAPTERS (Craft Along With Me):
[00:00] - Prepping the altered book (gluing pages together)
[01:56] - Adding masking tape & ripped paper bits
[05:40] - Adding clear gesso
[07:30] - Gluing tea bags into the background
[13:50] - Creating texture with a stencil and embossing paste
[22:04] - Painting with tea
[16:40] - Focal point from "Butterflies vol1"
[19:40] - Building the magical vintage collage
[23:00] - Shading and blending the elements into the background using tea and Inktebse
[25:10] - Darkening the edges for that perfect vintage look
[28:40] - How to use your scraps to make Vintage Paper Clusters
[39:20] - Final magical touches: White and dark ink splashes
[41:40] - The final magical page reveal! ✨
✂️ SUPPLIES I USED:
• An old book (get it in the second hand store)
• Real Tea & Used Dry Tea Bags
• Masking Tape & Paper Scraps
• Altenew Embossing Paste & Flower Stencil
• Brown Ink / Distress Oxide
• Maremi's SmallArt "Butterflies vol1" Cutout Book
• Clear Gesso
• White Ink
#junkjournaling #artjournalideas #mixedmediatutorial #scrapbooking #vintagecrafts #alteredbook #maremismallart
SUPPLIES BELOW:
All of my Collage Books are available worldwide on every Amazon store
📖🔴USA: amzn.to/3RiWSzL
📖🟡UK: amzn.to/3VeVzCZ
📖🟠Germany: amzn.to/4e72Opc
📖🟢France: https://www.amazon.fr/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖🔵Spain: amazon.es/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ahttps://www.amazon.it/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖🧡Italy: https://www.amazon.it/stores/author/B0D116LSP7/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=91461df3-1b16-4fb0-b9b0-b95c1d6b70b1&ref_=ap_rdr
📖🟣Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMarta+Lapkowska+Maremi+Small+Art&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
📖⚫️Poland: https://www.amazon.pl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMarta+Lapkowska+Maremi+Small+Art&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
📖🟤Sweden: https://www.amazon.se/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMarta+Lapkowska+Maremi+Small+Art&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
📖🩵Japan: amazon.co.jp/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?language=en&ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖💜Canada: amazon.ca/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖🩷Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
My most used supplies
💜Square Small Journal Book 300gsm
USA: amzn.to/44rETxH
UK: amzn.to/3KXiwcK
Europe: amzn.to/4rWEMUT
❤️Rectangle Small Journal Book 300gsm
USA: amzn.to/45budn5
UK: amzn.to/3YtS8KM
Europe: amzn.to/48SQN5b
The Big Journal: A4 Journal Book - Strathmore 400 Watercolour Hardbound
🟣USA: amzn.to/3KGQ0bT
🔵UK: amzn.to/3KIg6ez
🟡Europe: amzn.to/4ezTYAO
Collage medium
💙USA: amzn.to/4msqI2U
💛UK: amzn.to/4s54u9Z
🩷Europe: amzn.to/4aMVboH
WHITE Ink for splashes:
Kuretake 'Drop of Snow'
⭐️USA: amzn.to/4oYGORz
Winsor & Newton Calligraphy Ink
🟣USA: amzn.to/4bG5RDD
🔵UK: amzn.to/3T5DZl5
🟡Europe: amzn.to/3I6I02r
KURETAKE pastel watercolor paints
🩵USA: amzn.to/3CdvIGi
🧡UK: amzn.to/4hgZmJm
💚Europe: amzn.to/4hlixC6
Elmer's Re-Stick Glue Sticks
🟣USA: amzn.to/3T8Fkam
🔵UK: amzn.to/4e2SFZS
✂️Scissors Singer 4.5-Inch Detail
🟣USA: amzn.to/3QJeTYq
🔵UK: amzn.to/44gJrEd
🟡Europe: amzn.to/47y2XOQ
Tim Holtz Scissors (bigger ears for fingers)
🟣USA: amzn.to/3wF3Acb
🔵UK: amzn.to/44JmCed
🟡Europe: amzn.to/3UTHsDg
🔹Pilot Pen: Pilot G-TEC-C4 for doodles
🟣USA: amzn.to/3FWpeub
🔵UK: amzn.to/3lpl6M6
🟡Europe: amzn.to/3MitTJS
Did you know that everyday household items can make the most beautiful art supplies? ☕✨ In this relaxing, 40-minute masterclass, I am taking you step-by-step through a stunning vintage mixed media process in my altered book.
Today, we are working on a zero-budget background! I will show you how to repurpose dry tea bags to create gorgeous, semi-transparent fabric textures, and how to use real brewed tea as watercolor paint. We will also prep our pages with clear gesso, play with embossing paste, and build beautiful vintage paper clusters using scraps. Grab your favorite cup of tea and let's craft together! 🫖
Have you ever tried tea staining or using tea bags in your journals? Let me know below! 👇
⏱️ VIDEO CHAPTERS (Craft Along With Me):
[00:00] - Prepping the altered book (gluing pages together)
[01:56] - Adding masking tape & ripped paper bits
[05:40] - Adding clear gesso
[07:30] - Gluing tea bags into the background
[13:50] - Creating texture with a stencil and embossing paste
[22:04] - Painting with tea
[16:40] - Focal point from "Butterflies vol1"
[19:40] - Building the magical vintage collage
[23:00] - Shading and blending the elements into the background using tea and Inktebse
[25:10] - Darkening the edges for that perfect vintage look
[28:40] - How to use your scraps to make Vintage Paper Clusters
[39:20] - Final magical touches: White and dark ink splashes
[41:40] - The final magical page reveal! ✨
✂️ SUPPLIES I USED:
• An old book (get it in the second hand store)
• Real Tea & Used Dry Tea Bags
• Masking Tape & Paper Scraps
• Altenew Embossing Paste & Flower Stencil
• Brown Ink / Distress Oxide
• Maremi's SmallArt "Butterflies vol1" Cutout Book
• Clear Gesso
• White Ink
#junkjournaling #artjournalideas #mixedmediatutorial #scrapbooking #vintagecrafts #alteredbook #maremismallart
SUPPLIES BELOW:
All of my Collage Books are available worldwide on every Amazon store
📖🔴USA: amzn.to/3RiWSzL
📖🟡UK: amzn.to/3VeVzCZ
📖🟠Germany: amzn.to/4e72Opc
📖🟢France: https://www.amazon.fr/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖🔵Spain: amazon.es/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ahttps://www.amazon.it/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖🧡Italy: https://www.amazon.it/stores/author/B0D116LSP7/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=91461df3-1b16-4fb0-b9b0-b95c1d6b70b1&ref_=ap_rdr
📖🟣Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMarta+Lapkowska+Maremi+Small+Art&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
📖⚫️Poland: https://www.amazon.pl/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMarta+Lapkowska+Maremi+Small+Art&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
📖🟤Sweden: https://www.amazon.se/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMarta+Lapkowska+Maremi+Small+Art&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
📖🩵Japan: amazon.co.jp/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?language=en&ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖💜Canada: amazon.ca/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
📖🩷Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Marta-Lapkowska-Maremi-Small-Art/author/B0D116LSP7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
My most used supplies
💜Square Small Journal Book 300gsm
USA: amzn.to/44rETxH
UK: amzn.to/3KXiwcK
Europe: amzn.to/4rWEMUT
❤️Rectangle Small Journal Book 300gsm
USA: amzn.to/45budn5
UK: amzn.to/3YtS8KM
Europe: amzn.to/48SQN5b
The Big Journal: A4 Journal Book - Strathmore 400 Watercolour Hardbound
🟣USA: amzn.to/3KGQ0bT
🔵UK: amzn.to/3KIg6ez
🟡Europe: amzn.to/4ezTYAO
Collage medium
💙USA: amzn.to/4msqI2U
💛UK: amzn.to/4s54u9Z
🩷Europe: amzn.to/4aMVboH
WHITE Ink for splashes:
Kuretake 'Drop of Snow'
⭐️USA: amzn.to/4oYGORz
Winsor & Newton Calligraphy Ink
🟣USA: amzn.to/4bG5RDD
🔵UK: amzn.to/3T5DZl5
🟡Europe: amzn.to/3I6I02r
KURETAKE pastel watercolor paints
🩵USA: amzn.to/3CdvIGi
🧡UK: amzn.to/4hgZmJm
💚Europe: amzn.to/4hlixC6
Elmer's Re-Stick Glue Sticks
🟣USA: amzn.to/3T8Fkam
🔵UK: amzn.to/4e2SFZS
✂️Scissors Singer 4.5-Inch Detail
🟣USA: amzn.to/3QJeTYq
🔵UK: amzn.to/44gJrEd
🟡Europe: amzn.to/47y2XOQ
Tim Holtz Scissors (bigger ears for fingers)
🟣USA: amzn.to/3wF3Acb
🔵UK: amzn.to/44JmCed
🟡Europe: amzn.to/3UTHsDg
🔹Pilot Pen: Pilot G-TEC-C4 for doodles
🟣USA: amzn.to/3FWpeub
🔵UK: amzn.to/3lpl6M6
🟡Europe: amzn.to/3MitTJS
