Whilst out walking in the glorious sunshine recently, we saw some beautiful butterflies. So this page is inspired by sunny days, flowers and butterflies!
To remind me of sunny days, I started by blending yellow and parchment Liquitex acrylic paint to make a soft yellow colour and applied it to the page using a baby wipe. I then stamped three different circular images using Memento Inks; these are a doily stamp by Dovecraft using London Fog ink, a circle of swirls which is actually part of a tree by Personal Impressions using Bahama Blue ink and finally a small flower stamp by Woodware Craft which I clustered into a circle using Lulu Lilac ink. Then I used a paintbrush to add very fine splatters of black acrylic paint and large splatters of white acrylic paint. The quote is a stencil from The Crafters Workshop and I used Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool to apply it straight onto the background; I like the dreamy look this achieved. Enjoying art journaling as I do, this quote really speaks to me and it reads:
“Art is just another way of expressing our inner most thoughts onto concrete media. Where form and function come together in beauty colour and shape”.
The three main butterfly images are: a tag which I tied with a string bow, a Belize postage stamp from my hubby’s childhood collection and a picture that I fussy cut from an encyclopaedia. They are all stuck to the page using double-sided foam tape. To finish, I added lots of small flower stickers to add some sparkle.
I’m joining the Flora and Fauna theme over at Art Journal Journey and I hope you are inspired by this theme too, it would be great to see you there!
Here is one of the wonderful butterflies we photographed whilst on one of our walks along the Lancaster Canal. This delicate small butterfly is called a Gatekeeper and was basking in the sunshine on the bank of the canal. Some fun facts about this butterfly are:
- Gatekeepers are common and widespread in Europe and the British Isles which has its own subspecies (britanniae).
- The gatekeeper got its name from patrolling hedges and verges, aided so they say, by the sharp black eyespots on its forewings, which have two white pupils.
- As gatekeeper butterflies are commonly found around hedgerows and field gates, they are also known as a “hedge brown”.
- The nectar of bramble/blackberry flowers provides a valuable food source for these butterflies so they are more abundant in the height of summer.
Challenges
As you may know, I enjoy taking part in blog challenges as they provide me with inspiration (whether it be colours, techniques or images) for my pages and they are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges I’m joining today:
With all the pretty flowers on my page, I’m pleased to join the challenge over at Moo Mania and More where their theme is Even More Flowers.
I’m joining Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and their Stencil It challenge with my “Art is …” stencilled art journal page.
I’m joining a new challenge today where the lovely Tracey is on the Design Team; it’s over at Paperbabe Stamps and from their #73 Challenge … Picture Inspiration, I choose to create my page of yellow and included the flowers and butterflies too.
I’m also pleased to be able to join the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Stencil It challenge with the stencilling I used on my art journal page.
I’m also joining Mixed Media World and their theme is Anything Goes…optional Pink; there are a few pink touches o this page.
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:
- Liquitex Artist Color Acrylic (Cadmium Yellow Medium, Parchment, Ivory Black)
- Colvin & Co acrylic paint (White Titanium)
- Memento Ink (London Fog, Bahama Blue, Lulu Liliac)
- Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Black Soot)
- Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
- Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm)
- Dovecraft Curiosity Corner Clear Stamps (Lace & Doile DCCS009)
- Personal Impressions Marion Emberson Designs (Birds and Trees PICSA6179)
- Woodware Craft Collection Francoise Collection Stamp Set (Flower Style Wood Set FRSWS003)
- The Crafters Workshop Jaime 6×6 Stencil (Mini Art Is TCW261S)
- The Range Craft Tags (CRO740)
- The Dorling Kindersley Illustrated Family Encyclopaedia
- Postage Stamp (Belize 1974)
- Fancy Stickers Sheet (Flowers & Butterflies 28965)
- The Range double-sided foam tape
Another beautiful page Jo, and let’s hope there is lots of more lovely sunsine to enjoy!
xxx Happy Saturday!
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Thanks so much Astrid! We have had lots more sunshine this week too, although it’s raining now …lol 😉. More sunshine forecast for the weekend though, enjoy! J 😊 x
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Oh Jo! What a fantastic page! This is the real summer feeling. You used such beautiful stamps for the background and the quote is just what art journaling is. All your pages are great in their own way. I wish you a sunny weekend dear Jo just like this page. My weekend will be wonderful because I’m going to my grandchildren and that’s always fun 😃
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Thank you 😁. It does feel like summer and I hope you had a lovely time with your grandchildren! J 😊 x
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A gorgeous sunny page Jo! Have a lovely Saturday from sunny Nottinghamshire 😉
Alison xx
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Thanks very much 😁. I hope you are having a wonderful time in Nottinghamshire with all the lovely sunshine we have been having – happy holidays! J 😊 x
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I am most impressed with this magical page – it is so much beautiful sunshine for the heart and soul on it. All so lovely composed with the different elements – and another stamp from your hubby’s collection! Well done! And I am in awe of the stenciled quote! You are a pro with stenciling so exact!
An AMAZING quote is this ! Oh yes I am inspired by this page – it brings sun in my heart now – here clouded over ust now. I wish you a wonderful weekend – you are such an inspiring host this month!
I am thrilled about all those already posted unique pages of you !
And you make me happy to link to Moo Mania & More as well! ♥♥♥
You made my Saturday!
Hugs, Susi
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Thanks very much! It is a sunshiny page …lol 😉. Happy weekend dear Susi! J 😊 x
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A beautiful page for a sunny day. the colours are gorgeous and I love that word stencil you used. It is a gorgeous butterfly on your page as well as the one you shared in the photo. We only seem to get Red Admiral and Cabbage white butterflies in out garden, oh that we could see more of these beautiful creatures.
Have a good weekend.
Yvonne xx
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Thank you Yvonne! We have some very small blue butterflies in the garden this year – so pretty 😁. I hope you had a good weekend too! J 😊 x
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another lovely page. The doily flower stamps are so pretty. And a fabulous quote, too. Enjoy your day!
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Thanks so much! The doily stamp is one of my favourites 😀. Enjoy your day too! J 😊 x
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Beautiful page, Jo! Love the butterfly theme and your stenciled doilies are gorgeous! Such a bright and cheery yellow! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful creation with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! Maura
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Thanks so much Maura! This page seems so cheery to me too and makes me smile …lol 😉. I always enjoy joining you at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, Happy Weekend! J 😊 x
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I love your yellow background-it is so much like a sunny day. Adding the lacey stamps makes it even prettier. I love the idea of butterflies on a sunny day.I like how you used one bit butterfly and then added the stamp and the tag. Nice thinking. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Hugs-Erika
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Many thanks Erika and enjoy your weekend too! J 😊 x
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Can there be anything more inspirational than the beauty of a Butterfly..?? The needs to be no excuse to create when the warmth of the sun allows us to capture nature. Another fabulous page that would look superb as a wrapping paper Jo. Wonderful use of elements.
Sunny Sunday Hugs Tracey xx
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… and also Thank you for sharing it over on the Paperbabe Stamps Blog Challenge. Best wishes in the Challenge xx
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Thanks so much! I love the photo inspiration and when I saw your DT piece on your blog, I got creative so I could join you 😁. Happy weekend! J 😊 x
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Butterflies are so beautiful, aren’t they 😁. Thanks so much and have a great day! J 😊 x
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They sure are… Congrats on your win sweetie! Well deserved. Enjoy your prize and I look forward to seeing your creations. Happy Paperbabe Creations.
Tracey xx
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Thanks so much Tracey 😁. I was so excited to win and can’t wait to play with my new Paperbabe crafting goodies! J 😊 x
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I was drawn to the butterflies while others seemed to be drawn to the sunny background and doily stamp. I adored the butterfly tag and the fussy cut butterfly. And of course, adding to the mix was a postage stamp lovingly supplied by your husband’s collection. This is a beautiful entry that goes great with your Gatekeeper butterfly you saw on your walk. So glad you shared it at Art Journal Journey, dear Jo.
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Thanks a lot and wishing you a lovely weekend! J 😊 x
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Gorgeous art journal, Jo! Love the yellow background and various colors and patterns of stencil. You’ve created wonderful color palette, which is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your talents with us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
Marge
http://www.simonsaysstamp.com
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Thank you 😁. I enjoyed joining your challenge this week and wishing you a wonderful day! J 😊
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A wonderful and sunny page, dear Jo
Thank you for joining us at MOO MANIA & MORE and Happy Sunday
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Many thanks dear Rosie 😁. Wishing you a great weekend! J 😊 x
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Lovely page, Jo! The Gatekeeper is appropriately named with those “eyes”. Thank you for my blog visit in spite of it not fitting a challenge.
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Thank you! It was fun to find out more about the Gatekeeper butterfly that we saw on our walk 😁. You are very welcome, it’s always a pleasure visiting your blog and chatting with you. Have a great day! J 😊 x
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We are home! Stayed an extra night at the caravan as the weather was so nice! Hoping to get a photo off my phone soon!! This really is a wonderfully sunny page – love it! Off to see what i’ve missed now! Chrisx
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Thank you Chris! The weather has been wonderful, hasn’t it 😀. Thanks so much for catching up on all my posts and your lovely comments, you are very kind! Enjoy your weekend! J 😊 x
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Your journal page is wonderful like a fairy tale 🙂 – I love this beautiful yellow background, these little details with lace stamps and the different pictures of the butterflies!
I never saw a Gatekeeper – so thanks for the photo and the interesting information about it.
Wish you a happy day! Rike xx
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Thanks very much, you say the nicest things 😁. Wishing you a happy day too! J 😊 x
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A delightful page..the verse is so lovely…
Thank you for joining us at More Mixed Media this month..x
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Thank you and I have enjoyed joining your challenge at More Mixed Media this month, such a great theme 😁. Wishing you a wonderful day! J 😊
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I am always happy to see butterflies, both in your lovely art and in photos and in real life. I’ll never see that particular butterfly in real life, so you’ve brought some new joy into my day 🙂 Interesting information on this little one.
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The peacock butterfly is native to Europe and is such a stunning design 😁. Thanks so much and happy Thursday! J 😊 x
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