I was so excited to use a new bird and verse stamp set that I recently purchased that I decided to create a page using some of my most treasured design papers, postage stamps and metal decorations that I have had in my craft stash forever – I hope you like it!
A number of blog challenges inspired my design too, including our current theme over at Try it on Tuesday of The Call of Spring – Mood Board, where I was inspired to use the blackbird and the panel design from the photo inspiration. There is still another week to participate in this challenge, so please pop over and take a look, it would be great to see you there!
I started by selecting some vintage design papers that have been sitting in my craft stash for a while; this included a pretty white flower, a lovely text design and a note paper with tabs which are all from a paper bundle of odds and ends from my local craft store, and also a beautiful blossom paper from a design pad. I cut the papers and also some images from a wallpaper sample into various sizes, edged them with a black Faber-Castell Big Brush marker and collaged them onto the page using a UHU Stic. Once the first layer of papers covered the page I applied some white gesso using my finger to give more of a worn look and create more depth. Next I stamped the bird stamp from a Stampendous Songbird stamp set onto some American Crafts design paper using black Archival Ink and also Pistachio and Cottage Ivy Memento Ink for the branches and leaves. The verse is from the same stamp set and reads:
“When dewdrops sparkle in the grass
And earth’s aflood with morning light,
A blackbird sings upon a branch
To greet the dawning after night.
Then I know how fine it is to live”.
The stamped images are edged with the black Faber-Castell Big Brush marker and stuck into place using a UHU Stic along with some smaller pieces of design paper, lace trim and some Crowded Attic stickers by Tim Holtz. The yellow feathers and “Spring” wording are rub-on transfers by Royal & Langnickel and the two postage stamps are from my hubby’s childhood collection; as you may know he gifted them to use on my art journal pages so they are very special to me. The postage stamps are from Costa Rica 1938 which celebrates the National Exhibition of 1937 with a purple orchid called Guaria Morada and also a Hungarian postage stamp from Magyar Posta 1958 featuring some pretty pink crocus type flowers. To finish, I added some metal decorations of flowers and a bird sitting in a tree which are secured using brads.
As T Stands for Tuesday I’m sharing my cuppa of green tea and a yummy Hot Cross Bun filled with Crumbly Lancashire Cheese from our local cheese factory – delicious! I’m saying a big hello to Bleubeard and Elizabeth and the rest of the T Gang – Happy T Day!
If you are interested, here are some facts about Hot Cross Buns:
- A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with sultanas, currants or raisins and marked with a cross on the top.
- The traditional method for making the cross on top of the bun is to use short-crust pastry however some recipes use a paste consisting of flour and water.
- The buns mark the end of Lent and are traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the United Kingdom, although they have been in our supermarkets since just after Christmas (grin!).
- Generally, they are split in two, toasted and served with butter, but here in the North of England we often serve them filled with cheese and my favourite has to be Lancashire Cheese which is a regional white cheese. The one in my photo is the Crumbly version of this cheese made locally by Dewlay – yum!
Challenges
I’m glad I found out about Challenge Blogs, like Try it on Tuesday, as I enjoy taking part, they provide me with inspiration for my pages and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges that I’m joining today:
I’m pleased to be able to join the lovely Rosie from Rosie’s Bastelwelt who is hosting the Spring challenge over at Art Journal Journey.
Using some of my most treasured design papers, postage stamps from my hubby’s childhood collection and precious metal decorations on my Vintage Style art journal page means that I’m able to also join in the fun over at A Vintage Journey, where the theme is Treasure.
With my neutral coloured page, I’m joining in the fun at the Simply Neutrals Tuesday party over at Apple Apricot as dear Susi highlighted this challenge in one of her posts recently.
Including the bird and verse stamping as my page focal point on my spring songbird page means that I’m pleased to join Fashionable Stamping Challenges and their Springtime challenge.
I’m also joining the Forest Friends challenge over at Stamping Sensations as you find songbirds in the forest which is my stamped focal point.
Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.
Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:
- Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
- Pébéo White Gesso
- Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
- Tsukeniko Memento Ink (Pistachio, Cottage Ivy)
- Stampendous Cling Rubber Stamp (Jumbo Songbird CRS5029)
- Design Paper Bundle
- Craft Sensations Design Pad (Authentic Vintage CRO730/R)
- Wallpaper sample
- The Works Design Pad (Classic Vintage CRO707/TW7)
- American Crafts 2×12 Paper Pad (DIY Shop 366665)
- Tim Holtz Salvage Stickers (Crowded Attic #TH92898)
- Dovecraft Creative Ribbons (Sweet Paris Lace DCCR24)
- Royal & Langnickel Rub-on Transfers (Bird’s Nest #ROY-563, Spring Sentiments #ROY-506)
- Postage Stamps (Costa Rica 1938 celebrating the National Exhibition in 1937 featuring a purple orchid called Guaria Morada, Hungary Magyar Posta 1958)
- The Works (Metal Decorations)
- UHU Stic
Beautiful page, love all the details, and I’m happy that my mood board inspired you again. Your hot cross bun looks great, I used to love the Lancashire cheese, too. Happy T DAY; hugs, Valerie
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Thanks so much! It was fun creating another page for TioT and think of spring …lol 😉. These are the first Hot Cross Buns we’ve had even though they have been in the shops forever …lol 😀 and with Lancashire cheese they taste extra special – Happy T Day! J 😊 x
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Gorgeous page! Thanks for sharing it with us for our Forest Friends challenge at Stamping Sensations. Love your mug too!
Lynne
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Thanks very much! I had so much fun joining your challenge and thanks, the China mug is perfect for my green tea 😁. Wishing you a wonderful week! J 😊
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I had to smile because your bird image is the same one I used in my guest hostess page. It is a fantastic bird image, isn’t it? Your page is beautiful and very cheery for spring. I like the slightly vintage feel. And you know I don’t know if I’ve ever had a hot cross bun. Your sandwich looks good. More exciting than my salad which I packed for lunch. 🙂 Hope your day is going well and Happy T day. Hugs-Erika
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That makes me smile too …lol 😉. It is a fabulous stamp and I enjoyed using it on this page, the verse is so beautiful too! I’d be happy to make you up a Hot Cross Bun for your lunch, we have plenty 😁. Hope you are having a lovely day too, Happy T Day! J 😊 x
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Fab creation, thanks for joining Stamping Sensations, good luck.
Happy crafting
Tracy x
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Thanks so much! It was a pleasure to join your challenge over at Stamping Sensations 😁. Wishing you a Happy Crafting too! J 😊
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Your newest page is so beautiful! a very special piece
I really love the deer cup and the hot cross bun looks delicious-I should make us up a batch this week Happy T Day Kathy
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Thanks so much! The deer mugs were a Christmas present, they are lovely aren’t they and they are perfect for my tea as they are china 😁. Wishing you a very Happy T Day too! J 😊 x
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a brilliant looking collage page Jo! Also a great way to use paper bits too:) Love that beautiful sentiment. And since I haven’t eaten my breakfast yet I’ll have some of that hot cross bun-sounds wonderful with the cheese in it. Happy T day!
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Many thanks! We have plenty of hot cross buns and cheese so pop over anytime …lol 😉. Happy T Day! J 😊
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A lovely page. I love the bird stamp and how the postage stamps with their coloring coordinate with each other. Wow! I’ve never seen a hot cross bun that big! The ones in our grocery story are dinky like the size of a dinner roll. Even the ones I make myself aren’t that big. i almost forgot about hot cross buns so thanks for reminding me. Happy T Day!
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Thanks very much! I’m so pleased you like the bird stamp too and the postage stamps matched beautifully, didn’t they! It is quite a big hot cross bun especially when you fill it with all that yummy cheese …lol 😉. Enjoy yours and wishing you a very Happy T Day too! J 😊
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Hmmm… isn’t there a nursery rhyme about Hot Cross Buns??? Now i have that stuck in my head..lol What a gorgeous journal page Jo … Its hard to use some of our treasured items isn’t it?? I have them too… I think you have done them great justice here. It really is a beautiful piece. Happy T day! Hugs! deb
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There is and I can’t stop singing it now either …lol 😉. It’s so hard to use our treasured items and I was really pleased with how the page turned out too 😁. Thanks so much and wishing you a Happy T Day! J 😊 x
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I’ve never split my hot cross buns that way. What a tempting idea. I know I’ll be trying it on Friday 🙂 Thx! Happy T Tuesday
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Glad you like the idea and enjoy your hot cross buns on Friday, I’ll be thinking of you…lol 😉. Happy T Tuesday! J 😊 x
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Oh Jo! I love your beautiful page.. all the wonderful little papers and so perfectly put together – what a lovely bird stamp and you even created the leaves in green – perfection and so springlike – and you made use of the lovely postage stamps again – that’s so special that your hubby collected them as he was a boy! You give them an artsy new life – isn’t that fun and special?!
And the poem is beautiful as well! I am so pleased to see this amazing page linked to AJJ again and I am happy you joined Wen’s challenge – you will see that there are such inspiring woman each week! This Hot Cross Bun filled with Crumbly Lancashire Cheese — oh wow— this must be so delicious! And the beautiful cup with the deer – even fitting the colour of the Hot Cross Bun…. you are a perfectionist with an artistic eye and hand!
I wish you a happy week – hope you and the whole family is well!
Sorry for my late visit – our girl has Easter Holdidays and we were out and about nearly the whole day.
Hugs, Susi
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Thanks very much my friend! Using hubby’s postage stamps is always so special and I really like the poem too 😁. Glad you are having fun with your daughter over the Easter Holidays! Enjoy yourselves and wishing you a very happy week too! Happy T Day! J 😊 x
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The page is gorgeous Jo, I really like the vintages papers and your new bird stamp is beautiful. Your hubby’s stamp collection must be a treasure trove to use on your art.
I love the cup with the deer and you now have me wishing I had a Hot Cross bun in the bread box.
Guess what is on my shopping list for tomorrow.
Happy T day wishes Jo.
Yvonne xx
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Thanks so much Yvonne! The vintage papers were so hard to use as I’ve had them in my craft stash for ages …lol 😉. Enjoy your Hot Cross Buns when you get them and sending you Happy T Day wishes too! J 😊 x
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WOW this is wonderful. Thank you for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.
Greetings Carola
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Thanks very much for stopping by and your lovely comments! It was fun joining you over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges 😁. Have a happy and creative week! J 😊
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Another Great journal page Jo! I do love the bird ♥ Your cheese and bun looks yummy too. All of the great food and drinks on these “T” post always make me so hungry 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Happy T Day!
Carol
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Thanks very much! I’m always hungry on T Day too …lol 😉. Thanks for stopping by too and sending you Happy T Day wishes! Get well soon! J 😊 x
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The perfect page for spring. I love that you were able to play with your new bird stamps. I enjoy the background on this one and the display of all those beautiful papers!
Your hot cross bun looks delicious! I have never had one but I am very familiar with the little rhyming song ‘Hot Cross Buns.’
A Happy Tea Day to you, Jo.
Kate
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Thank you Kate! The papers have been cherished by me for a while so it’s nice to share them at last …lol 😉. I’ll be singing the hot cross buns song all day now …lol 😀. Sending you Happy T Day wishes! J 😊 x
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I hate my keyboard. It always quits about the time I need it most. Sorry to be so late.
I am in awe of your beautiful journal page you shared with us and so glad you chose to link it to Art Journal Journey, too. I couldn’t get enough of it, and had to keep scrolling back to see it again and again as you described each piece you added. It is fabulous.
My grandmother used to make Hot Cross Buns. After all, she WAS British. I always loved them, but usually ate mine with jam. Cheese sounds wonderful, too, though. It goes perfectly with your dear deer mug, too. Thanks for sharing your Art Journal Journey entry, your Hot Cross Bun and your tea with us for T this Tuesday, dear. Sorry again I’m so late visiting.
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No worries …I hope you have your computer problems sorted soon 😁. Hot cross buns are the best, aren’t they and even better if they are homemade! Thanks for stopping by and wishing you a Happy T Day too!
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A beautiful page! Love the bird and vase. A hot Coss bun sounds marvelous…happy To day, and Happy Easter!
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Thanks very much 😁. Wishing you a happy T Day and very Happy Easter too! J 😊
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You do indeed find Songbirds in the forests so you layout is perfect for our theme at Stamping Sensations, many thanks for joining in.
B x
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Thanks so much, that is very kind of you! What a fun your challenge at Stamping Sensations this month 😁. Have a happy and creative week! J 😊
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A very beautiful page, dear Jo
Thank you for joining us at ART JOURNAL JOURNEY
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Thank you Rosie! I hope you are having a wonderful week! J 😊 x
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Beautiful page Jo with so much detail and the colour scheme works really well, gives everything a gorgeous vintage feel.
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Thanks so much, what lovely comments! It was nice to join you at Fashionable Stamping Challenges 😁. Wishing you a happy and creative week! J 😊
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I love your The Call of Spring page, Jo. Lovely verse. It inspired me to enter my to songbird journal pages at TioT.
I was thinking of making hot cross buns for Easter. I’ve never made them before. So thank you for the very timely information.
I was VERY late to T this week and am glad to see you’re still at the party – lol.
Happy T-day! Hugs, Eileen
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Thanks so much and thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday too, it’s always a pleasure to see you there 😀. Enjoy your hot cross buns and sending you a Happy T Day wishes! J 😊 x
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Really beautiful post, love that page and the stamps used…sensational work as always. Hot cross Buns, just had one, yum…xx💖 [Aussie aNNie’s Blog]
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Thanks so much for stopping by and your lovely comments! It’s so nice to meet you at Try it on Tuesday 😁. Have a great week! J 😊
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I absolutely adore this page Jo, it’s such a wonderful collage of Spring elements!
Hope you’re having a great week,
Alison xx
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Thanks very much Alison! It was fun to create a collage for a change 😁. I hope you are having a great week too! J 😊 x
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Hello Jo, how wonderful to meet you and see you joining Simply Neutrals! I love LOVE your beautiful bird collage! There are so many beautiful details to spot!
And I noticed I kept on scrolling through your blog, there is so much yummy eye candy. New happy follower here 🙂
Hugs and sunny smiles,
xx Wen
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Thanks so much for stopping by and your kind comments! I’m so glad you enjoy my art journal pages and thank you for following me 😁. Wishing you a wonderful week full of sunny smiles too! J 😊
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A beautiful collage for Spring.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and your lovely comments! It’s so nice to meet you at the Simply Neutrals Tuesday party 😁. Have a wonderful week! J 😊
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Hi Jo, I`m Dorthe , such a beautiful collage you have added to Wen`s Simply Neutrals , so many lovely details. Happy Easter to you,
Dorthe x
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Hi Dorthe, it’s lovely to meet you 😀. Thanks so much for your kind comments and wishing you a Happy Easter! J 😊
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Nice to meet you Jo! And I’m so glad to see your beautiful bird collage entered into Simply Neutral Tuesday! Such a lovely look~ Enjoy the Easter weekend~ karen o
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Nice to meet you too Karen! Thank you for stopping by and your lovely comments, that’s very kind of you 😁. Enjoy your Easter weekend too! J 😊
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I do so love this journal page and finding that you used up some precious bits to make it makes it really special! Mmm! Hot cross buns and cheese sounds perfect….along with a coffee of course! Belated Happy T day Chrisx
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Thanks a lot! I hoarded the papers for a long time …lol 😉… so it was lovely to share them on this special page 😁. Hot cross buns with cheese are so yummy too and I hope you had a very Happy T Day! J 😊 x
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This is a very inspiring mood board in beautiful colors! So wonderful that you used the lovely postage stamps of your hubby’s collection!
Wish you a happy day! Rike xx
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Many thanks! The postage stamps are very special and my hubby was so kind gifting them to me 😁. Wishing you a happy day too dear Rike! J 😊 x
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This is such a fabulous layout of all your treasured possessions Jo, it has worked so well. Thanks for taking the time to share it for our fourth birthday celebrations at A Vintage Journey. Hugs Brenda xxx
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Thank you! I loved creating this page with my treasured design papers and postage stamps 😀. Wishing A Vintage Journey Happy 4th Birthday celebrations! J 😊
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First of all, my apologies for the lack of comments at the moment Jo, but I barely get a moment to get online and visit, while I am away. Once I am back I look forward to more regular visiting again. But I did just want to say thanks for adding this wonderful page to our birthday challenge at AVJ! Have a good weekend and I’ll “see you” again when I am back at te end of the month….
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No need to apologise I know that you are away so I wasn’t expecting you 😉. Thanks so much for stopping by, that’s so kind of you 😀. Wishing you a good weekend too and have a wonderful time with your family! J 😊 x
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