This page has been painted on the cardboard cover of my finished art journal book. I wanted to get creative with some new paints and just doodle a little; to be honest it started as a fun experiment as I don’t usually paint or doodle that much (grin!). I liked the way my page turned out so I thought I’d share it with you today.

I started by applying a dark grey acrylic paint onto the thick cardboard cover; I had intended to make a dark purple paint for another project but I added way too much dark blue so rather than waste this paint I covered this page with it. I also had some orange paint left over from the same project which I splattered using a paintbrush over the top. Next I doodled some large flower shapes using a white Uniball gel pen and coloured them using Vivid Lime Green, Neutral Gray and Bright Aqua Green Liquitex acrylic paints. It’s the first time I have used these paints which were a gift and as they are “heavy body” paints the flowers painted have a lovely 3D look which I love! I also added some of the different paint colours along the edges of the flower petals and in centre of the flowers. Then I used up any excess paint on the background of the page to break up the dark grey so that hints of these colours can be seen throughout the background. Next I used my brayer to apply white DecoArt acrylic paint to a diamond background stamp from Art Impressions and stamped it around the flowers. I also used the brayer to add white acrylic paint along the edge of the page too. I then cleaned the brayer and stamp and used them again to apply the Vivid Lime Green Liquitex acrylic paint onto the flower petals. When the paint was dry I doodled on the flowers with a black Derwent Graphik marker, defining the flower petals and stamens and I used the white gel pen to touch up the flower outlines and also a white Uni Posca paint pen to colour the stamens in the centre. To finish, I added three stickers by Kaisercraft which reminded of the happy time I had creating this page, which read “Smile”, “Create happiness” and “Live in the moment”.

Talking of flowers, these pretty Delphinium could be found flowering in our garden this time last year, unfortunately they did not survive our unusually cold snowy winter. Luckily I have some photos to remember how beautiful they were which makes me smile!

Of course you may remember these flowers from a previous post, they are my one of my favourite flowers called Mesembryanthemum which is a really hard one to pronounce, so I just refer to them as “pretties”; you may also know then as Livingston Daisies. I buy them every year and this year we have a big pot of them on our patio, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them flower as I’m sat relaxing in the garden (grin!).

Challenges
I’m pleased to join the lovely Gill from gibbyfrogettcraftations who is hosting the Inspired by … challenge over at Art Journal Journey as my inspiration for this page was to have some fun experimenting with new paints and doodling.
I’m pleased to be able to join Paperbabe Stamps and their Doodles challenge: thanks I had so much fun doodling to join your challenge (grin!).
I’m joining Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and their All Things Bright and Beautiful challenge with my colourful flower art journal page, where the lovely Chris is in the Designer Spotlight this month and created an amazing little book of flowers to inspire us for this particular challenge.
I’m also pleased to be able to join the Written Word (add some text in some form) challenge over at Country View Challenges with the happy wording I added to my page.
I’m also joining the Colour it Blue challenge over at The Artistic Stamper with my painted blue flowers.
As I created my Doodled Flowers on my art journal cover, I’m also pleased to join the lovely Lulu over at Stamps and Stencils and their Do judge a book by its cover! 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:
- Leftover acrylic paint from previous project (Dark Grey, Orange)
- Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic (Vivid Lime Green, Neutral Gray 5, Bright Aqua Green)
- DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (White)
- Derwent Graphik Line marker (Black 0.5mm)
- Uniball Signo gel pen (White)
- Uni Posca Paint Pen (White)
- Art Impressions wood mounted rubber stamp (Diamond Background T-3335)
- Ranger Brayer
- Kaisercraft Sticker Sheet (Fly Free SS289)
I like the color combination you chose and your doodled flowers are pretties, too. Makes a nice cover for your journal. The delphiniums are beautiful. Maybe they will come back next year? The daisies are so bright and cheery. Have a lovely day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I don’t think they liked the frost and snow, no worries after seeing the photo I was inspired to buy another delphinium plant yesterday …lol 😉. Have a lovely day too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Beautiful flowers in your garden and on your painting. Blue and green are my favorite colours and I love this! Lenie xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much dear Lenie! It was a fun tompaint and doodle for a change …lol 😉. I hope you had a lovely week and wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Oh I love your doodled painted cover Jo very pretty and happy you shared with us.
I really your “Pretties” almost look like they were painted
Enjoy your day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Kathy! I always look forward to buying seeing the pretties flower each year 😁. Enjoy your day too! J 😊 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your doodled flowers are so pretty – and I love the colours you used and all the lovely detailed touches to finish them up! ANd the background looks fabulous as well! You should definitely do more of doodeling Jo! And such pretty photos of the garden! Sorry about the lost of the Delphinium. I lost one of my rhododendron and one of my hydrangea because of the cold winter – so sad.Oh I didn’t know this pretties – I googled them now and they are called “Eiskraut” in German. I will look after them in our garden center if I can find them there. Thank you so much for your pretty doodled flower cover linked to Gill’s >Inspired< by theme dear Jo!
I wish you a happy weekend ahead my friend!
Big Hugs, Susi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much dear Susi! I may try some more painting and doodling …lol 😉. Sorry to hear about your rhododendron, the winter was too harsh for some plants, wasn’t it. I actually bought another deliphinium yesterday week I just couldn’t resist after seeing my photos …lol 😉. Hope you find them in your garden centre too. Wishing you a very happy weekend too my friend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
A super page Jo, your doodled flowers look amazing and I just love how you have coloured them!! Great work with those new paint and of course gorgeous photos too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Astrid! I don’t usually paint so this was a fun experiment …lol 😉. I hope you had a wonderful week and wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
This page is so so wonderful JO !! really love those gorgeous doodled flowers, love their colours, and the great background, fabulous artwork! Thank you very much for sharing the lovely photos of the flowers, pretties are lovely!
I wish you a very happy Friday, big hugs, Caty
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank so much Caty 😁. I hope you had a happy Friday too and wishing you a wonderful weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
This is a very happy page, I’m sure the flowers are laughing. They are really lovely colours all together with lots of detail. The outline in white makes them really stand out.
Good to see your real flowers too. Slugs used to eat our delphiniums and the sun never shone long enough to make mesembr…….s worth while, but this year they would have been good. I like your name for them as they are such pretty flowers in the sun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Sheila! I think the flowers are laughing too …lol 😉. Have a wonderful weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Great doodles Jo, I love how you managed to turn the page around and continue even though the colour wasn’t as you expected at first. Looks like you have had a fab time playing with your new Crafty bits. So glad you shared it over on the paperbabe stamps blog. Best wishes with the challenge.
Hugs Tracey xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your lovely comments and inspiring me to doodle, I had lots of fun …lol 😉. Sending you happy and creative wishes for a lovely weekend too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
I’m really impressed with your doodles. I admire how you took the reins and created this piece of whimsical fun. It’s a genuinely lovely cover for your journal, and a fabulous entry you shared with us at Art Journal Journey.
Your flowers are fabulous, and I thought I would tell you I also have one of those brayers. It doesn’t work as well for me as it obviously did for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much! It was fun paint and doodle for a change 😁. Have a great day! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Your doodled flower page is lovely! Your doodles are very artistic and I love the colours and the sentiments. And those delphiniums are gorgeous! They are one of my favourite flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much! I love delphiniums too, they are so pretty 😁. I hope you had a lovely week and wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
The painted and doodles flowers make a beautiful cover for your journal, I’m sure you had great fun making it. Have a fun weekend, hugs, Valerie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and have a fun weekend too dear Valerie! J 😊 x
LikeLike
You said you don’t paint or doodle that much – well I hope you will do more Jo as thats really Beautiful. I love LOVE those colours and your flowers and the grungy background are so lovely.
I can never pronounce ‘those’ flowers either and just call them ‘Mezzies.’ but they didn’t grow well last year and we haven’t planted any seed this year. Yours look great 🙂
Hope you had a wonderful week being with your family.
Thanks for joining in at AJJ again.
I hope you have a great day and lovely weekend.
Gill xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot! I enjoyed painting and doodling, it’s always fun to experiment …lol 😉. The sun is shining here and I hope you have a lovely weekend too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Those doodled flowers are sure happy and cheerful.Love that about them. This is ANOTHER beautiful page Jo. It is so exciting to see everything blooming outside, isn’t it? I can see why you were inspired to make such a gorgeous page. Happy weekend. Hugs-Erika
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks Erika! It sure is lovely to see all the plant and flowers 😁. Wishing you a happy weekend too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Your doodled flowers are fabulous!Don’t you just love how experiments can sometimes turn into a wonderful piece of art? I love the colors that you have chosen along with the various sizes of flowers. Beautiful!
Kate
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kate! They are some of my favourite colours so it was fun creating this page 😁. Happy weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
love the colour and great doodling Jo, thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, hugs kath xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for stopping by and your lovely comments 😁. Have a wonderful weekend! J 😊
LikeLike
Gorgeous page inspired by your garden! Thanks for joining us at Country View Challenges this month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I always love to add words and quotes to my pages so I think I may be joining your challenge a few more times before the end of the month …lol 😉. Happy weekend! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Fabulous! Lovely and summery and perfect for a journal cover, love the white doodling too. Thank you for joining us over at Stamps and Stencils. Toni x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for stopping by and your lovely comments 😁. Wishing you a great day! J 😊
LikeLike
Your doodled flowers look very good on this brayered and stenciled background. I also like how you textured the flowers, it looks much better than monochrome flowers. Good design sweet friend. Hope you feel fine. Wish you a nice Sunday.
Hugs
Sabine
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank so much dear Sabine! It was fun to paint and doodle for a change 😁. I hope you had a nice Sunday too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Wow, these flowers are doodled! I never thought if you don’t tell it, I thought they are stamps or stencils. They are much beautiful!
And the photos of your flowers too!
Wish you a happy Sunday! Rike xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you dear Rike 😁. I hope you had a happy Sunday too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
What a beautiful art journal with those gorgeous doodle flowers. You are so creative!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely thing to say! Thanks for stopping by and your lovely comments 😁. Have a great day! J 😊
LikeLike
I have zinnia seeds I still haven’t planted, and here I am wanting Livingstone Daisies lol I love their shape and pretty colors. I’ll bet the butterflies like them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zinnia flowers are beautiful and I have a couple of Livingstone daisies leftover that I could send you …lol 😉. Sorry for my late reply, for some reason our internet connection doesn’t want to work this week …lol! Have a great day! J 😊 x
LikeLike
It’s a stunning page Jo! I love your background and doodled flowers!
Have a great week.
Alison xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! It was fun doodling and painting for a change …lol 😉. Sorry Im so late replying, it seems our internet connection didn’t want to work this week so an engineer arrived this morning to change cables and boxes, now all I have to do is catch up on everyone’s posts and comments …lol 😀. I hope you are having a great week too! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Our internet is playing up today, but it usually does when it’s windy. Been a strange week, since Graham started his new job, and he has been working in York since Tuesday, so I’ve been on my own. I don’t mind though as I quite like my own company. Hope all your internet problems are sorted. Axx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear you are doing ok and I hope your hubby is enjoying his new job 😀. We’ve had very strong winds here too and my new apple trees are ok – phew! Enjoy the rest of your week! J 😊 x
LikeLike
I love this cheerful page – the doodled flowers look great! Poor Delphinium – we thought we had lost our Fuchsia but having cut off all the dead parts we found shoots coming through which are now quite tall! Hugs, Chrisx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad your fuchsia is doing well 😁. Thanks so much and have a lovely day! J 😊 x
LikeLike
Lovely page ! Thanks so much for joining us once more for the ‘written word’ challenge this month over at Country View Challenges!
Corrie x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you sir stopping by and your lovely comments 😁. Have a wonderful week! J 😊 x
LikeLike
This is the most amazing transformation _ fabulous Jo! Thanks a lot for joining my challenge at Stamps and Stencils. Lots of hugs from
Lula
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much! It was fun to join your challenge and I hope you are keeping well 😁. Hugs J 😊 x
LikeLike
Your journal cover turned out fabulous! I would not have thought to use gray, but it really works with the green and aqua…so pretty! Love the background texture too…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Gray wouldn’t be my first choice but I agree it works well with the green and aqua, and I love how it turned out too 😁. Wishing you a wonderful week! J 😊 x
LikeLike
super beautiful cover Jo – thanks for joining us at syamps and stencils! Hugs rachel x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and have a wonderful week! J 😊 x
LikeLike