I’m sharing my last page for this month’s challenge over at Art Journal Journey (AJJ) which I’ve been hosting and I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who joined in the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting all your blogs to see your wonderful Flora and Fauna artwork and I was delighted by all the different styles, techniques and mediums used as well.
Your amazing creations have really made me smile so I created this page to remember you all – I hope you like it!
I started by covering the page with some old recycled graph paper that my hubby used to mount his childhood postage stamp collection on and then I applied some Pébéo white gesso over the top using a palette knife to exaggerate the worn look. Next I tore the following: some book pages defining Flora and Fauna from a very old encyclopedia that I bought at a charity shop; a wildlife leaflet; a map leftover from a previous page; and a pretty floral paper by Kaisercraft. I edged all of these torn pieces with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink using a blending tool and stuck them onto the page using Liquitex matte gel medium. I also fussy cut some flora and fauna images of birds and flowers from the wildlife leaflet. Next I outlined the Flora and Fauna wording using a black Uni Pin marker and framed it using an oval die cut which I created using a Spellbinders Die and my Big Shot machine; the inside edge is coloured using a black Big Brush marker. I also added a die cut butterfly and Smile banner using double-sided tape. The hydrangea image and flowers are fussy cut from a wallpaper sample. I actually cut two of these images out, which took some time – those who know me will know I love nothing better than fussy cutting, it’s so relaxing (grin!).
So there is a reason that I fussy cut two hydrangea images as this page has a surprise on the far right-hand side, it opens up like a leaflet to reveal those who took part in the AJJ challenge this month. I don’t think you would know this by looking at the page as I fussy cut and arranged the hydrangea flowers on top of the folded section to match the hydrangea image underneath.
Inside, it is decorated in the same way as the main page by backing it with the old graph paper and then collaging the other papers on top. I printed the names from AJJ and tore them into strips, edged them with the Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and stuck them in place. Then I added some of the leftover hydrangea flowers, the wording and the sentiment, which reads “So many wonderful reasons to be grateful” as I am truly grateful to all of you who took part (grin!).
I sure had fun creating all my pages for this challenge and I hope you did too!
I’d like to say a special thanks to Susi and Bleubeard & Elizabeth for asking me to be a guest host, they have really provided such valuable support and encouragement, thank you! I have also been overwhelmed with everyone’s participation and lovely comments; it has been such a pleasurable experience – thank you all! Jo x
Tomorrow is a new month and brings a new challenge at Art Journal Journey and I can’t wait to see what the new theme is and say hello to our new host – I hope to see you there!
Challenges
As I used die cuts as part of my art journal page design, I joining in the fun at Moo Mania & More and their Die Cuts challenge.
I’m also pleased to join the Anything Goes challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
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:
- Pébéo White Gesso
- Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Frayed Burlap)
- Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.5mm, 0.8mm)
- Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
- Spellbinders Die Set (Unknown)
- Recycled graph paper – hubby’s childhood postage stamp collection
- The New Standard Encyclopaedia and World Atlas
- Recycled RSPB leaflet – Gardening with wildlife in mind
- Leftover map pieces from previous project
- Wallpaper sample
- Recycled black paper
- Kaisercraft Provincial Collection 12×12 Paper (Willow P1979)
- The Works (Vintage Die Cut Shapes)
- Letraset Transfer (Helvetica Bold Condensed 5mm RDC0251)
- Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
- The Range double-sided foam tape
sunny and great flowers and butterflies. that’s your garden now after all work 😁
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The garden is looking better everyday and we have just bought a hydrangea too …lol 😉. Have a great day! J 😊 x
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What a perfect way to end your month with us at Art Journal Journey. You have not only given us drop dead gorgeous and stunning examples of your theme, you have been the perfect host, too. We couldn’t have asked for anything better, and we are simply thrilled to have you as our host this month. Thank you more than you will ever know, dear Jo.
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Thanks so much, that is very kind! I so enjoyed hosting AJJ this month, thanks for having me and for all your support. J 😊 x
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I sit here now with wide eyes and silent tears of delight ! I am simply thrilled about this last page in this amazing style and the fantastic idea with the hidden fold out part and showing the names of all the participants of your AMAZING collection at Art Journal Journey this past month! It goes without saying how much I enjoyed your theme, your fantastic pages and your warm and soulful encouraging of all the participants! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You really made us all happy at Art Journal Journey dear Jo! I appreciate your unique art and your many utterly beautiful pages amazed me so much!
And thank you bunches for also supporting Moo Mania & More in such a fantastic way!
You just made me happy! Thank you for being an artist – friend! It means a lot to me!
Big Hugs,
Susi
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Thanks so very much dear Susi! I enjoyed hosting AJJ and seeing everyone’s amazing creations for this challenge 😁. Wishing you much happiness my friend! J 😊 x
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A beautiful page and a fitting last one to the challenge. Glad you had so much fun! Hugs, Valerie
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Thank you and sending you hugs too! J 😊 x
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Oh wow and thank you – what a gorgeous and amazing page you have made for us dear Jo and how clever to hide the surprise behind that beautiful Hydrangea – so much lovely detail as always – I love it all!
Thoroughly enjoyed your theme this month thank you Jo – and I learnt what ‘fauna; meant at long last ha ha.
Happy Thursday, have a great day
Gill xx
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Thank you and I’m so glad you enjoyed the theme too, that’s very kind 😁. Have a great day too! J 😊 x
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Another gorgeous page Jo. You really outdid yourself this month. It was a great challenge this month. Perfect for this month when we are all thinking about nice weather and spring. Hope all is well. Hugs-Erika
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Thanks you Erika, you are very kind 😁. Thanks for all your amazing entries and wishing you a great day! J 😊 x
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Oh wow, what an amazing final project for the challenge Jo and great to see all your pages together once more. You have certainly been busy this month but it was obviously very much appreciated by everyone and it really was a fantastic theme!!
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Thanks so much Astrid! It was a busy and enjoyable month 😁. I appreciate all your support and comments, very kind! J 😊 x
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Wualaaa Jo, your last page for your fantastique theme is so so gorgeous!! Incredible, wonderful!! love love it !! I ´m so glad for joining you at AJJ, and thankfull for being with the others ladies, one little more reason to smile ande be grateful. I have enjoyed admiring all the so lovely art pages of everyone, Great Art !! Thank you JO !! and Congratulations!!
I wish you a very happy afternoon, big hugs, Caty
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Thanks so much Caty, what lovely comments 😁. It was so nice to meet you at AJJ too! Have a lovely afternoon! J 😊 x
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I was thinking your page would make beautiful wrapping paper. Such a clever way to include all the participants.Well done.
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Thank you! It was a fun page to create 😁. Have a great day! J 😊 x
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I like it so much dear Jo! It is such a beautiful page. The way you created this is so special! Thank you so much, you were a great host and your comments were so friendly and nice. You are very inspiring! Hugs , Lenie. And enjoy the weekend!
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Thanks very much for your lovely comments and all your wonderful creations this month 😁. Enjoy your weekend too! J 😊 x
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I really love that wonderful page, dear Jo.
Thank you for sharing it to MOO MANIA & MORE.
Have a great weekend
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Another wonderful composition with the wonderful Hydrangea. I like that you tore the paper and not cut it with a scissor. It looks very good, also the colored eges. All your images of this month are amazing.
Have a nice weekend.
Hugs
Sabine
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Beautiful, Jo! I love your hydrangeas and the book paper in the background. The butterflies and birds are a lovely addition. This reminds me of when I was little and we would visit this wonderful little gift shop at a garden center. They always had the most beautiful smelling bath products and the packages would be covered in papers such as your background. Floral with hints of nature. A little trip down memory lane for me.
Kate
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I forgot to mention that I am a bit behind visiting blogs. It looks as if I have missed a lot of your posts. I just can’t keep up with all of you ladies that post every day! I struggle to meet my posts twice a week. Haha. Life with little children keeps me busy. Just know that even though I don’t always comment, I am still reading 🙂
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It was a great month for creativity Jo you were a fabulous host, sorry if I did not get round to visit all your delightful work. Look forward to seeing what the month of June brings.
Creative Hugs Tracey xx
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This is a gorgeous last page for your theme at AJJ this month.
I loved all your inspirational pages and this one is also FABULOUS. The hidden area and the fussy cutting , layers and detail are amazing.
It was lovely to see all your beautiful pages together as well.
Have a good weekend Jo.
Yvonne xx
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very beauutiful page,
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That’s a fantastic finish to your AJJ month and what a lovely idea to include the names of all who contributed to your theme. You certainly are the Queen of Fussy-cutting and you often choose challenging bits and pieces to cut round to great effect.
Also a great idea to show us all your own month’s entries. I think I’ve seen most of them.
By the way that’s a great idea of your hubby to mount the ohotos on graph paper, an easy way to keep them straight and an interesting background to the colour photos.
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I’ve always wanted to do art journaling. This looks great I love the ripped paper. Thank you so much for joining us for Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, Anything Goes Challenge.
♥Mindy
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What a wonderful way to end your month of hosting! Such a clever page too! I had hoped to make one last entry but got a bit bogged down with a deadline and missed my chance to say how much I loved your theme and appreciated your visits to my blog!Big Hugs, Chrisx
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Thank you, it was fun hosting AJJ! No worries, I appreciate your visits too 😁. Big hugs, J 😊 x
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