My art journal pages are often inspired by nature which is why I chose the Flora and Fauna theme for this month over at Art Journal Journey. I had so much fun creating the background and steampunk vibe flowers for this page – I hope you like it too!
Taking inspiration from the beautiful red sunsets we see in nature, I started by covering the page in a mixture of Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red and Apricot Liquitex acrylic paint, varying the blending slightly to give different shades of colour. I added some torn book pages using Liquitex matte gel medium and some washi tapes, and then I applied a thin layer of the same acrylic paints over the top using my finger to achieve a translucent look. When dry, I applied some white DecoArt acrylic paint using a brayer and also a circular Worn Rings stamp from Gummiapan, making sure I washed the stamp as soon as I had finished so the paint didn’t dry and ruin it. I then splattered the whole page with black DecoArt acrylic paint using a paintbrush. The flowers are fussy cut from an old flower book that I found in a charity shop (thrift store) and arranged on the page with three stamps from the Vintage Circles Woodware Craft Selection Stamp Set using black Archival Ink. I used Liquitex matte gel medium to stick the flowers in place and once it was dry I outlined them with a black Derwent Graphik marker so that the stamping was incorporated into the flower design.
Both the fussy cutting and outlining took some time to complete and it really made a difference to the flowers as you can see on this before and after photo. The bees and wording which reads “Find inspiration in nature” are both Royal & Langnickel rub-on transfers and I added more detail to the bumblebees using a Derwent Graphik marker. To finish, I stamped some circles of white DecoArt acrylic paint using a bottle cap and added some more splatters of black DecoArt acrylic paint using a paintbrush.
Everytime we visit Garstang we see these beautiful metal flowers and the yellow ones reminded me those on my page today – aren’t they stunning!
I like that they stay in bloom all year round for us to enjoy, no matter what the weather … grin!
Challenges
I’m joining Art Journal Journey and the Flora and Fauna theme with my flowers and bees; there is just one more week to join in the fun (grin!). I’ve really enjoyed seeing all your fabulous creations that you have linked to this theme so far, thank you!
I’m pleased to join Moo Mania and More for their Even More Flowers challenge with my flowery page.
I’m joining Fashionable Stamping Challenges where the theme is Floral, which has been chosen by the lovely Avril, with my Vintage styled flowers, .
I really like the Vintage look of my new Woodware Stamp Set that I used on this page against the mixed media background which also included stamping, so I’m also pleased to join the Backgrounds challenge over at The Artistic Stamper.
Stamping Sensations challenge is Close to Nature so I’m very happy to be able to join them with my “Find inspiration in Nature” page.
I’m joining in the fun over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Use More Than One Stamp challenge as I used more than one stamp to create this art journal page.
My page reminds me of a classical music piece called “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikoli Rimsky-Korsakov and I can just imagine my bees flying around my page to this music exploring the Steampunk Style world of flowers that I created, so I’m also joining A Vintage Journey for their Words and Music challenge.
With the stamping I used to create this art journal page, I’m also pleased to join the Craft Stamper Take It, Make It Challenge and their May Challenge: Anything Goes!: (stamping MUST be included).
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, Cadmium Red, Apricot)
- DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (White, Black)
- Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
- Derwent Graphik Line Marker (Black 0.05mm, 0.5mm)
- Gummiapan Stamp (Worn Rings 2 11050601)
- Woodware Craft Collection Magic Singles (Vintage Circles FRS665)
- The Oxford Book of Garden Flowers
- Quality Toys Group (Washi Tape 2544960)
- Royal & Langnickel Rub-on Transfers (TIP1642G, Motivate Sentiments #ROY510, )
- Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
Your page is pure delight and perfection dear Jo! Just ♥A♥M♥A♥Z♥I♥N♥G♥!
You have such a hand for bringing all things and components perfectly together and your final touches make it so special beautiful! I am thrilled again about this page and those metal flowers are really stunning! WOW!
I like that the sunflowers of your page and the metal ones are kind of related to each other! I like that you used old images for your creation – and I love that you find your inspiration in nature! I think that makes our work so beautiful and unique! Absolutely wonderful art Jo! Thank you for another fantastic inspirational work linked to Art Journal Journey and to Moo Mania & More! So much appreciated! Hugs, Susi
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Thanks so much dear Susi! I loved using the Vintage circle stamps which are new and like the way the outlined flowers turned out too 😁. Have a great day! J 😊 x
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It was good to see your beautiful page, lovely warming colours with super fussy cut and stamped flowers. Your backgrounds and detail are always a treat to see.
The metal flowers in the gardens look lovely, they must be a joy to see on colder days.
Hope we get the sun and warm back soon, its really cold here.
Yvonne xx
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Thank you Yvonne! We have been hot and sunny this week and are due a bit of rain this afternoon, then sunshine is forecast for the weekend 😁. Have a Happy Friday and Weekend! J 😊 x
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Love this! The outlining is very effective and really makes the flowers pop! Great page!
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Thanks very much! I was surprised how much the outlining helped the flowers pop and will definitely need to try this technique again 😁. Happy weekend! J 😊 x
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There is indeed always inspiration to be found in Nature Jo, it’s where much of mine comes from. Your journal page is a delight with the warm Summer colours and beautiful flowers. Many thanks for sharing with us at Stamping Sensations ‘Close to Nature’ theme.
B x
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Many thanks! Nature is always a happy inspiration and it was fun to join your challenge this month 😁. Have a wonderful weekend! J 😊
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Beautiful journal page, sunflowers are always so lovely. I enjoy visiting the sunflower fields near here, too. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie
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Thanks a lot! It must be wonderful to see sunflower fields – amazing 😁. Have a great day too! J 😊 x
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This is another gorgeous pge Jo. You are right about fussy cutting those flowers. Wow, such a small thing makes a big difference. I love how the circles show right through to the background and the flowers seem to be growing around those. Cool metal flowers too. I am enjoying your challenge this month. Flora and fauna are such a super artsy thing to create. Hugs-Erika
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Thank you Erika! It’s amazing what a difference the outlining made and I’m loving those new stamps, I think I’ll be using them again soon …lol 😉. So pleased you like the Flora and Fauna theme too, thanks for all your encouragement and beautiful entities at AJJ too! Happy Friday! J 😊 x
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I realize I’m late visiting, but I just finally pecked my way through every WOYWW participant from yesterday. And I only cussed my keyboard three times, too!
Somehow, I thought you had added more color to the flowers until I read you OUTLINED them. WOW, it really DID make a difference. And you are the QUEEN of fussy cutting. I applaud you.
Those metal flowers are SO fun. I want some for my garden. They are simply adorable. I’m so glad you chose this entry for Art Journal Journey, dear Jo. You are a master at hosting, too, and for that, Susi and I cannot thank you enough. (But we will try)
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Thanks so much! You know how I love to fussy cut …lol 😉. I’m enjoying hosting AJJ this month and seeing all the amazing artwork, thanks for your kind comments and wishing you a happy Friday! J 😊 x
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Stunning journal pages …. the bright colours look amazing. Thank you for playing along with the Craft Stamper challenge xx
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Thanks so much for stopping by and your lovely comments 😁. It’s nice to meet you at the Craft Stamper challenge and wishing you a great day! J 😊
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Wonderful page. So alive. I like the steampunk feel. The metal flowers are so cool. Maybe I need to find a few for the Zensical garden. Have a great day
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Thanks very much! It was fun creating the steampunk feel and I think the metal flowers would look wonderful in your garden …lol 😉. Have a great day too! J 😊 x
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Yes I love those metal flowers-what an awesome display of them.
Your page is fantastic-and I am loving the salmon color Love the bit of steampunk too-very clever-hugs kathy
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Thanks very much Kathy 😁. I hope you had a lovely week and Happy Weekend! J 😊 x
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I love all your flowers, your page is just perfect
Thank you for joining us at MOO MANIA & MORE
Have a wonderful weekend
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Thank you and have a wonderful weekend too dear Rosie! J 😊 x
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Beautiful as always!
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What a lovely thing to say, thank you 😁. Have a wonderful weekend! J 😊
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You are so right Jo! The outline really made the flowers pop and brought everything together. Such a fabulous journal page and the colors make me super happy this dreary morning. Big hugs, Autumn
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Thanks so much! It such a happy page to me too 😁. Have a great Friday and weekend! J 😊
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A lovely page Jo, love the vibrant flowers and outlining them really does make them stand out on the page. The metal flowers from the park look fabulous, I bet they look great on a cold winter’s day.
Have a lovely weekend.
Avril xx
p.s. Thanks for sharing this at FSC
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Thanks so much Avril! The metal flowers look great all year, especially the winter …lol 😉. Have a lovely weekend too! J 😊 x
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Wow, what a wonderful page. Such beautiful flowers!
Thank you for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.
Have a nice weekend.
Greetings Carola
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Those metal flowers are gorgeous, and so is your page, the colours and flowers are wonderful, the whole page has a wonderful ‘happy’ feel to it! Thanks so much for joining in our Words and Music challenge at A Vintage Journey. Anne x
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Thank you for stopping by and your lovely comments! I like the happy vibe of this page too 😁. Have a great day! J 😊
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Gorgeous happy artwork Jo and well done for doing all that cutting and outlining – but it really was worth all the effort 🙂
Those metal flowers were cool too.
Gill xx
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Thanks so much Gill! I love fussy cutting and the outlining seemed to work really well …lol 😉. Have a wonderful weekend! J 😊 x
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It’s a wonderful journal page, beautifully color-coordinated. Thank you for participating in the Fashionable Stamping Challenge.
Many greetings
Hanne
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Thanks so much for your lovely comments and stopping by 😁. Nice to meet you at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x
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Awww no I always enjoy your of entries, we always get a little extra story aswell as a beautiful piece of art. I have to say that on first seeing your piece I thought the background was a gelli print, I love the circle stamp you have used., and what a difference outlining the flowers made. Beautiful work jo. Thank you so much for joining in the artistic stamper challenge x
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Thanks so much, you are very kind! The outlining really made a difference, didn’t it 😁. I enjoyed creating the background and it was fun to join you at The Artistic Stamper challenge! Happy weekend! J 😊
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What a beautiful page! I too recently created a journal page inspired by florals and all the pretty wildflowers that have sprung up around my house.
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Thank you for stopping by and your lovely comments! Nature provides us with so much inspiration, doesn’t it 😁. Wishing you a wonderful week! J 😊
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Wow! Another fabulous page – the outlined flowers look so good! We used to call in a lot at Garstang – now it’s only occasionally as we go to Preston Waitrose instead of Booths! Hugs, Chrisx
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A fabulous page Jo, love the vibrant colours
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Forgot to say Thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations this month
Joan x
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Your brightly colored flowers are just my style! And the metal flowers! I’m cheered at the sight 🙂
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