Recycle Something

It’s time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and for the next two weeks we are asking you to Go Green or Recycle Something.

My art journal page was created from lots of recycled items – I hope you like it!

For the paper elements I recycled some sheet music, the patterned paper from the inside of an envelope, brown paper from the outside of some corrugated packaging, some brown package strapping and a strip of Kraft card. The leaf is from a Sweet Chestnut tree and believe it or not, there is only one (huge) leaf cut into pieces; I collected it from Lytham Hall in Autumn last year, dried it and then covered it with wood glue to preserve it and stop it from breaking up into bits. The flowers are dried gypsophila (also called Baby’s Breathe) which I saved and pressed from some cut flowers that were gifted me.

I layered and collaged them all onto my page using Liquitex Matte Gel Medium and added some weight over the top so the flower stalks made contact with the background and then left the gel medium to dry. Then I splattered the page with black acrylic paint and added some white gesso with my finger. The letters for the “recycle” wording were cut from an old calendar and I stuck them to a recycled navy blue tag, cut them out and arranged them onto the page. All the paper elements are outlined with a black Derwent Inktense pencil and a black marker pen. To finish the page, I added two little buttons and a metal snap button clasp using Ranger Glossy Accents.

My Design Teamies have created some amazing Go Green or Recycle Something inspiration for you over at Try it on Tuesday too, please pop over and take a look (grin!).

I had fun playing around with these recycled materials to create this page, I love how it depicts nature and it reminds me of our walks around Lytham Hall, including this view over one of the lakes. This photo was taken last year in autumn when I collected the leaf.

We often go walking around this lake with our friends and little Ellie who loves leaves, mainly chasing and eating them (grin!). We so enjoyed looking after her last week for our friends – she’s so adorable (double grin!).

As T Stands for Tuesday I’m saying a big hello to the T Gang and sharing my cuppa with a yummy Salted Caramel Doughnut – wishing you all a Happy T day!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m so happy to join in the Splatters, Splashes & Drips challenge over at Country View Challenges with the acrylic paint splatters on my page.

I’m also pleased to join in the #112 – Layers challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps with the layers of papers, leaves and dried flowers that I used.

I’m also joining in the Two Or More Patterned Papers challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with the sheet music and patterned envelope paper that I recycled on my page.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

  • Recycled sheet music
  • Inside of a used envelope
  • Recycled corrugated packaging and brown package strapping
  • Leftover strip of Kraft card
  • Sweet Chestnut leaf
  • Dried gypsophila also called Baby’s Breathe
  • Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
  • DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (Black, White)
  • Pébéo White Gesso
  • Old calendar
  • Recycled navy clothing tag
  • Derwent Inktense Pencil (Ink Black)
  • Handwriting marker pen (Black)
  • Two old buttons and metal snap button clasp
  • Ranger Glossy Accents

30 thoughts on “Recycle Something

  1. This is a fantastic example of recycled art. I got several ideas for even more recycling efforts. I love using security envelopes, but you used them so different from how I do. I’ve never considered using wood glue to preserve my leaves. I usually use Mod Podge, since I don’t use it for anything in my altered books or journals. I also love how you treated the calendar letters and the clothing tag. Very clever uses of these. It’s been AGES since I used a snap in my art. Great idea. This is one clever recycling journal entry, Jo.

    Wow, when I saw that doughnut, instead of thinking it was salted caramel, I thought it was bits of ham. I think I like the caramel idea better! Seems it goes better with your tea, also. Thanks for sharing your incredible art and your tea and doughnut with us for T this Tuesday.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Lovely recycling, Jo, with a great variety of the ‘bits’ we crafters love to use up in our art. I especially like the recycled letters…words are my favourite things 😉
    Adding the dried flowers is a lovely touch.
    Cath x

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks so much Kathy! I’ve just been over to Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog and love the valentine’s card that you sent her, I was wondering if it’s homemade by yourself and what materials you used? I’m in love the design with the heart bunting, key and Eiffel tower – so beautiful 😁❤. Happy T Day! Hugs, Jo x

      Like

  3. A fabulous page Jo with your recycled pieces, the leaf must have been quite a size. Thanks for the tip about using wood glue to preserve the leaves.
    Its a lovely photo of Ellie as well.
    Yvonne xx

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I do like this recycle page a lot. Adding the dried leaves and flowers really makes it beautiful. It is perfect for this theme. And you’ve had a busy week. Maybe you need to get a dog yourself-smile. A friend for Ellie. Smile again. Only kidding. Glad you had a fun week dog sitting and that donut sure looks yummy. Happy T day. Hugs-Erika

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I I love your recycling page, I will have to join next week when I get home as I have plenty I could use LOL
    What a gorgeous looking dog and what a lovely colour too.
    I really love salted caramel! Your cake looks delicious happy T Day
    Jan x

    Liked by 1 person

  6. So lovely to see sweet little Ellie again, and omgosh I adore your recycle collage Jo, spotted some bits of envelope 😉 Lovely photo of the lake and those beautiful reflections and colours too.
    Hope your week has got off to a good start!
    Hugs,
    Alixx

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Wow Jo! I love the way you combined those rescued items to create this page – it really does show the influence from that Autumn walk! The outlining really does make this page special! Love it! Totally love it! I am actually drooling over that donut – banned at present, but my glucose levels are down!! Happy T day! Chrisx

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Oh what a beautiful page! I love all the recycled things, especially the leaves. Then you also showed us where you collected the leaf. That makes it extra special. Funny enough I like very much how you outlined the leaves. It makes them pop out.
    Thank you for sharing the salted caramel donut. Yumm!
    Happy T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I love your recycled art, it is always interesting to see what people make out of different things. I like the process of it too, but haven’t done much of it lately………must put that on my “to-do” list.
    Thanks for stopping by on T-day while I was at physical therapy.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I love your art piece. It’s a nice mix of color tones. The Autumn photo you show, where you got the leaves from, is beautiful. What a lovely area to get to walk in. Ellie is adorable. That salted caramel doughnut is calling my name! It looks delicious. Happy Belated T-Day!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. This is recycled art with a capital R and A. There is so much patterned paper and “stuff” about which I never use in my art and this is inspiring. I think your piece here works so well because you have kept to a limited colour palette together with a great design. The leaves look great, they are a beautiful colour.
    I’ve scrolled up and down and up and down to have yet another look, so I’ll just finish by saying that I like it very much.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Wowzers, I love those leaves! Very creative. Don’t know as I’ve ever seen a sweet chestnut tree. I live in the middle of an old cedar and oak tree forest, with pecan and ash thrown in for good measure. Ellie’s a cutie and that doughnut is too. We get salted caramel granola bars sometimes, it’s a nice treat. xox

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks so much! The sweet chestnut tree has huge leaves and I only used one leaf on this page, it must have been a foot long in total …lol 😉. I appreciate you stopping by and all your lovely comments! Happy weekend! Hugs, Jo x

      Like

  13. This is wonderful Jo, I love that everything is re-cycled and yet fits together as if it had all been designed to work together. I also have dog and donut envy – in any order you like lol. Thanks so much for joining in with us again at Country View Crafts and have a very happy week, Sue xx

    Liked by 1 person

  14. So sorry i’m just getting here Jo but least I made it before the end of the fortnight (just) :/
    What a great recycled collage page, love how the leaves still look fresh with that Autumnal amber glow, sharing the photograph makes it even more precious, like we picked it ourselves.
    Ellie is a real sweetie, I can see her chasing those leaves, it’s one of Freya’s favourite things to do at the moment especially with the high winds… All good exercise I suppose hee hee!!
    Hugs Tracey xx

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.