Tea and Happy Things

This page is inspired by a small sign that I saw in a local shop. I loved the saying “Come let us have some tea and talk of happy things”. This sign fits in perfectly with T Stands for Tuesday so I’m very happy to join the T Gang! Happy Tuesday everyone and I hope this page makes you smile! Of course other hot and cold beverages are available and are just as welcome!

I covered the page in parchment coloured Liquitex Acrylic paint with a baby wipe, leaving some of the edges uncovered so I could create a worn edge ripped border effect using Spectrum Aqua Markers, Faber-Castell Big Brush markers and Memento Ink, which I then outlined in Uni Pin marker. I transferred some of the border colour across the background using a baby wipe and dulled the colour intensity of this border using white gesso, which I applied with my finger. I used a wreath and some flower stamps from Urban Stamps to create the grey pattern background using London Fog Memento Ink. The vintage looking flowers are fussy cut with scissors from a wallpaper sample. I also fussy cut the words, teapot and cute cup and saucer from an image of the sign and stuck them to the page using Liquitex matte gel medium. To finish I added the hearts which I coloured with Aqua Markers and outlined the flowers and letters with black Uni Pin.

Here’s the original sign that inspired me – in pride of place in my craft room, isn’t it adorable! This little sign has an interesting story to tell … I noticed the sign when I was in a local charity shop and it looked more like it was part of the shop than for sale, so I asked the shop assistant if I could take a picture of it. To my surprise he picked the sign up and told me I could have it! I offered to pay for it, but he wouldn’t have it (I did put some money in the charity box though). So I am now the proud owner of this wonderful little sign and it makes me smile every time I see it! It goes to prove there is still kindness in this world!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Pébéo White Gesso
• Liquitex Artist Color Acrylic (Parchment)
• Spectrum Aqua Artist’s Markers (Crimson, Scarlet, Burgundy)
• Memento Dye Ink (London Fog, Love Letter)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush artist pens (Cold Grey IV 233)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm)
• Docrafts Papermania 4×4” Urban Stamps (Owl Folk PMA 907228)
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• Sign image
• Wallpaper sample