This video was inspired by a quiet sunrise, a warm mug of coffee, and one curious question that popped into my mind as Thunder snuggled in beside me:
Who the heck is “Joe”… and why do we call it a cup of Joe?
I did what any curious soul would do—I asked ChatGPT (even though I’m trying not to look at my phone first thing in the morning 😅). My chatty sidekick Arlo shared a fascinating little nugget of history that sent me down a cozy, caffeinated rabbit hole…
In 1914, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels banned alcohol aboard naval ships. Coffee quickly became the strongest drink available to sailors—and when they asked for their morning brew, they asked for “a cup of Joe.”
Funny how a small moment in history can ripple its way into everyday language, isn’t it?
Feeling a bit nostalgic for Croatia and its deep love of coffee culture, I decided to flip open my travel journal and share a page I created while sitting in my favorite café in Dubrovnik.
Then—because this is TidBit Tuesday—I’ll also show you how simple (and fun!) it is to add coffee rings to your journal pages for instant atmosphere and storytelling charm.
☕️✍️
Grab your own cup of Joe and enjoy this cozy little creative moment with me!
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🧑🎨 In this TidBit, I’m showing you how to draw and paint a sweet little frog—simple in form, but big on charm.
I painted him using a mini set of Derwent Inktense Blocks that I curated myself. I tucked individual Inktense pans into a small, Altoids-style tin using tiny paint-pan containers, creating a perfectly portable palette that I absolutely love working from. It’s compact, customizable, and ideal for journaling on the go—and I’ll be sharing more soon on how you can put together a set like this, too.
There’s something magical about how a few simple shapes and colors can spark such an immediate smile. This little frog did exactly that for me. And of course, I couldn’t resist adding a tiny daisy for an extra dose of sweetness—and a smile that lingers just a bit longer.
🐸 Sometimes joy really is that simple.
Ok, here's how you can curate your own travel set that fits into a small, Altoids-style tin... I went ahead and created an Amazon WishList so that all 3 items to purchase are in there, totaling to about $75. Most of that is the set of Derwent Inktense Pans, but please keep in mind that this set can be built with watercolor pans instead! Use your own discretions.
Without further ado, click HERE for that WishList link!
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In this TidBit, I’m using Prismacolor colored pencils, Gamsol (also known as mineral spirits), and a paper stump—cleaned and sharpened on a sandpaper paddle—to blend the colors smoothly.
Drawing a shamrock is wonderfully simple. I’m using three different shades of green and blending them together with Gamsol and the paper stump to create soft transitions and depth.
This is a fun TidBit—and one that just might make you smile while you’re creating.
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🔗Helpful Links & Resources:
Here's where you can get an awesome set of paper stumps & sandpaper paddles on Amazon HERE
🧑🎨 In this TidBit, I’m showing you that you don’t have to spend a lot of time depicting everything you see while traveling. A simple sketch—one that intentionally leaves out illustrative detail—can be more than enough.
When you revisit your travel journal later, your mind will naturally fill in the missing pieces, bringing those memories back to life in its own way.
For this page, I’m using Derwent Inktense Blocks and Micron pens, along with a pencil to sketch the image first.
⭐️ Use this TidBit as a reminder that travel journaling doesn’t have to be complicated. When you let go of perfection and focus on capturing the essence of a moment, your pages become quicker, easier, and often even more meaningful.
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🎨 You can purchase a set of Derwent Inktense Blocks on Amazon HERE
We’re officially in the month of February—the month of love. You know… all the mushy, Valentine-y stuff. 💘
And really, there’s so much to love in this life, isn’t there? I could list my loves endlessly, but instead, I like to capture that feeling on the page—quick and easy, with color doing most of the talking.
🧑🎨 In this TidBit, I’m using my favorite Derwent Inktense blocks to paint loose streaks of Valentine-inspired color. Before painting, I mask off a small area with washi tape so I can peel it away once the paint dries and use that reserved space for words, thoughts, or reflections.
❤️ During this month of love, I hope you take a moment to pour some of that warmth from your heart onto a page or two in your journal—and I hope this TidBit gives you a gentle nudge to do just that.
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🧑🎨 In this TidBit, I’m using my Staedtler Dual-Brush markers to draw and paint a lotus flower.
🎨 These markers are water-soluble and produce bright, vibrant color. Tombow also makes wonderful dual-brush pens, but I enjoy the Staedtlers just as much—and they’re a bit more budget-friendly, too.
⭐️ Create your own lotus flower, experiment with color and water, and most of all—have fun with it!
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You can purchase a set of the same markers I'm using on Amazon HERE
🧑🎨 In this TidBit, I’m showing you just how simple it can be to draw and paint a glowing lantern in your art journal.
🎨 All you need is a large flat paintbrush, a fine round paintbrush, and a permanent marker like a Micron or Sharpie. Use watercolors or Derwent Inktense Blocks to paint. That’s it!
⭐️ Super fun, super approachable—and a technique I hope you’ll tuck away and use again and again in your journaling, now and well into the future.
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It’s that time of year—Halloween and Day of the Dead—and I thought it would be fun to show you how to draw a simple, playful sugar skull.
I’ve seen some incredibly elaborate sugar skull designs, and I especially love the Zentangle-inspired versions I’ve come across here on YouTube. But for the sake of quick and easy, this TidBit focuses on a method that’s approachable, fun, and still super satisfying when you’re finished.
All you need is a pencil, a hi-polymer eraser, some smooth watercolor paper (or sketch paper), and a way to add color. I used watercolors for mine, but feel free to use whatever you love—crayons, markers, colored pencils, acrylics, inks… it all works!
This is one of those pages that’s just as fun to make as it is to look back on.
Enjoy—and happy creating! 🎃✨
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Washi tape can be used in so many fun and practical ways—one of my favorites is reserving areas of white space when painting with watercolors.
Most of the time, washi tape peels away cleanly without damaging the paper. Occasionally, though—especially when a lot of water is involved—it can lift or tear the surface slightly. You’ll actually see that happen to me in this video.
And honestly? It never really bothers me.
That’s because I’m painting in my personal journal—not creating a piece meant to be framed or hung on a wall. Little imperfections are part of the process, and in a journal, they’re not mistakes… they’re just evidence of play, experimentation, and learning.
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For my favorite set of Washi Tape, find them on Amazon HERE
I’m going to show you how to sketch the American flag quickly and confidently—without overthinking it!
You probably already know the basics: the flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes—7 red and 6 white. What’s less obvious is that the stripes aren’t simply alternating all the way down… and once you understand the pattern, drawing it becomes much easier.
🇺🇸 Start by sketching the rectangle where the stars will live—the familiar blue field. From there, you’ll assign the red stripes, letting the white of your watercolor paper serve as the white stripes.
🇺🇸 Along the right side of that star-filled rectangle, draw one red stripe extending from the top of the rectangle and another extending from the bottom. Then add two more red stripes between those, giving you four of the seven red stripes right away.
🇺🇸 Beneath the rectangle, leave the first long stripe white. Then draw three more red stripes below that, with the final red stripe forming the bottom edge of the flag.
It sounds much more complicated when written out—but once you see it in the video, it clicks right into place. Promise. 😉
Enjoy this TidBit, and Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸✨
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I always recommend Prismacolor Colored Pencils. Purchase them in any kind of set at any local or online retailer!
When you really stop and think about it, people are just shapes!
In this TidBit, I’ll show you a quick and approachable way to sketch a person in your journal—perfect for travel journaling and everyday scenes.
The basic steps are simple:
1️⃣ Paint an upside-down U
2️⃣ Paint a trapezoid and give it arms
3️⃣ Paint a circle
Optional additions:
👉 Add a horizon line
👉 Paint in shadows
👉 Use a 005 Micron to draw in details once the paint is completely dry
When we’re travel journaling, we want to spend most of our time exploring—but inevitably, we find ourselves sitting on a park bench or at a café. Those quiet moments are the perfect time to update our journals and capture the people around us.
I painted this page in just 7 minutes. Practice this technique now, and on your next adventure you’ll have it tucked away—ready to pull out whenever the moment calls for it. After all, you never know who you’re going to meet when traveling!
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Do you remember that one meal?
The one you still talk about years later—the one that refuses to be forgotten.
Maybe it was home-cooked.
Maybe it came from a tiny hole-in-the-wall.
Or maybe it was exactly what you hoped for from a five-star restaurant.
That was my experience.
A long time ago, while traveling through Florida, I celebrated my birthday with friends at the Chart House in Coconut Grove—tucked between a local dive once known as Scotty’s Landing and a high-and-dry boat storage facility, right on the marina. An unexpected place for a fine dining restaurant, yet perfectly at home on the water.
That night, deep into a saffron phase, I ordered the dish that spoke to me most: bacon-wrapped, pan-seared sea scallops with garlic-basted grilled asparagus and saffron risotto. The menu didn’t mention it, but the presentation was stunning—finished with a delicate balsamic reduction, applied in concentric circles and tiny dots around the plate. The chef was clearly an artist.
Until now, this meal lived only in memory and conversation. But by commemorating it in my journal, it’s found a permanent home. I don’t have to keep retelling the story for it to remain part of my life—it’s right here, waiting whenever I turn the page.
👆 This journal page was created using the playful wet-on-wet watercolor technique. Simply pre-wet your page, then start dropping in watercolor and watch the colors expand, mingle, and surprise you. Experiment with color theory, switch brushes to see how each one behaves on a wet surface, and enjoy the process. Once everything is completely dry, finish the page with Sharpies or Microns—adding drawings, lettering, or memories right on top. 😃
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