A: I always try to set creative goals for the year... this year I gave myself some weekly goals, and designed a stamp with a checklist to keep myself on track. I want to complete a painted piece each week (when I stall too long, I start believing that I can't paint, and that's an unhealthy cycle). I want to be sure to share art weekly in some way - my son and I like hiding tags when we go grocery shopping; mailing cards is always a good idea too! I want to complete a card weekly from my stash of half-finished cards, colored images, and backgrounds. Lastly, I want to do something each week that helps educate others about art, whether it's sharing a tutorial or product review. If you have a crafty New Year's resolution, share it HERE!

A: First of all, it's important to know that all chalk inks are not created equal... some, like the Versamagic line, work well for watercoloring, and some do not - ColorBox Fluid Chalks, for example, are not water-soluble. If you're not sure if you're working with a water-soluble ink, you can put some of the ink onto a nonporous surface - I use a ceramic tile or acrylic block, but you could use a styrofoam plate, or whatever you have. Use a wet paint brush to pick up some of the ink - if it responds by becoming workable and dissolving in the water, it's water-soluble. If not, then it won't work for your water techniques. The Versamagic ink is opaque and creamy, lifts well with water, and dries with a soft finish. If you don't have reinkers, the method above is a great way to create a palette as well.

A: My dies occupy a drawer of a file cabinet, and they're organized by category. Within each folder I have sturdy chipboard lined with a magnet sheet for larger and nesting die sets. Each of those sheets is in a sheet protector to prevent bumping. I also have some hanging DVD organizers with 4 pockets on each side - those are great for smaller sets and tiny dies that could get lost easily. I cut magnet sheets to size for the pockets.

A: I really love the Uni Posca pen for journaling and adding highlights in white. It's an acrylic paint pen that is available with a variety of tip sizes, but I prefer the ultrafine (0.7mm) tip. It's able to layer over acrylic paint and other colored surfaces, which is so important in mixed media art. I have used a couple of other fine acrylic pens but have had problems eventually with those either drying or clogging, or the tips splitting. These flow well and stay bright white until the ink runs out. If you purchase the ultrafine, be sure to get the 'pin type' tip (PC-1MR) - I prefer that to the plastic nib (PC-1M).

A: I try to not do things the same way every time...! Most often I'll color an image first and then choose papers to match for the base. Sometimes, though, when I need a little kick start, I'll create a background first - like a gel print, or patchwork of scraps from my stash (or my desk as I clean!). I'll use the colors in those pieces to guide my color choices for the focal image.