Autumn/Winter Tag

Today at A Vintage Journey is Tag Friday, which only takes place when there is a fifth Friday in the month; it’s all about creating something you love so there is no particular theme, it’s time to play, experiment and have fun – it would be great to see you there!

This Merry Moose is one of my favourite Thinlets from Tim Holtz so I couldn’t resist using it to create this double-sided Mixed Media tag showing the same scene in autumn and in winter.

To start, I used a large Poster Card by Tim Holtz to create the tag by cutting off two of the corners to make a tag shape and punching a hole using my Crop-A-Dile machine. I covered both sides of the tag with some white gesso as the card had blue flowers on one side and beige postcards on the other and I wanted to tone them down a little. I then used Scattered Straw Distress Ink to colour around the edges of the beige side which I chose for autumn and Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink on the blue side of the tag which seemed perfect for winter. I stamped some snowflakes using two blue Memento Inks onto the blue side of the tag and then the tree trunks on both sides of the tag using Toffee Crunch Memento Ink.

For the autumn scene: I coloured the stamped tree trunk using Dark Sepia and black Faber-Castell Big Brush marker and a black Uni Pin pen; stencilled the sun and coloured it using a Sun Yellow Inktense pencil; and coloured the foreground using Forest Moss Distress Ink and a Leaf Green Inktense pencil.

For the winter scene: I coloured the tree using a Cold Grey and black Faber-Castell marker and a black Uni Pin pen; used white gesso to colour the foreground and also to stencil the moon, once dry I added some texture to the moon using Platinum Planet Brilliance Ink, a Tim Holtz stamp with Black Soot Distress Ink, a white Faber-Castell marker and also a white Uni Posca paint pen. Then I used Inkylicious Fluffy Puffy Stuff and a heat gun to create the snow.

The Merry Moose, leaves, stars and wording are all Thinlets from Tim Holtz which I die cut from some linen textured paper coloured using Distress Inks: the moose was coloured using Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso ink; the antlers using Scattered Straw and Vintage Photo ink; the leaves using Scattered Straw and Rusty Hinge ink; the stars using Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed ink; and the wording using Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge and Chipped Sapphire ink.

To make them stand out from the background more, the autumn die cuts are edged with a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell marker and …

… the winter ones with a Cold Grey Faber-Castell marker and they are all stuck into place using a Zig Memory glue pen.

To finish, I added an eyelet with my Crop-A-Dile machine which reinforced the hole as I’m using a book ring to secure all of my double-sided tags together when they are finished to create a Tag Journal.

For more Tag Friday inspiration, please pop over to A Vintage Journey where you’ll find some fabulous tags created by my fellow Creative Guides. I hope you are inspired to join us as I’m so looking forward to seeing your tag designs!

I have been lucky enough to see moose a number of times in the wild whilst holidaying in America, although I have never seen any in Maine. I’m told you are more likely to see them further North in the state and we did stop to look for them at this quiet spot to no avail, maybe next time (grin!).

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

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the #107 – Picture Inspiration challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps as my autumn tag encompasses the picture colours and my winter tag matches the stars too.

I’m joining the Use your scraps challenge over at Moo Mania & More with the paper scraps I used for some of the die cut pieces.

I’m also happy to be joining the Anything Goes challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge too.

Over at the Mix It Up Challenge Blog their theme is Anything Goes + optional twist of Watercoloring, so I’m pleased to be able to join this challenge too.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this double-sided tag:     

• Tim Holtz idea-ology (Pocket Cards #TH93208)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Scattered Straw, Chipped Sapphire, Forest Moss, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Rusty Hinge, Mustard Seed)
• Stamp Set (Winter Wonderland – snowflakes, Winter Woodland – tree)
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (Bahama Blue, Danube Blue, Toffee Crunch)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Dark Sepia 175 B, Cold Grey IV 233, Black 199, White 101)
• Uni Pin Fine Line Marker (Black 0.3mm)
• Inkylicious Template and Stencil (Sun and Moons)
• Derwent Inktense Pencils (Sun Yellow 0200, Leaf Green 1600)
• Tsukineko Brilliance Ink (Platinum Planet)
• Tim Holtz Collection Stampers Anonymous (Urban Tapestry CMS061)
• Uni Posca Paint Pen (White)
• Inkylicious (Fluffy Puffy Stuff)
• Craft Sensations Luxury Cardstock Linen Texture (White)
• Sizzix Thinlets Tim Holtz (Merry Moose 663103, Garden Greens 661206, Snowy Stars 663117, Alphanumeric Label 664177)
• Scraps of metallic yellow Linen Texture Paper and blue Glitter paper
• Zig Memory System 2-Way Glue (Dual Action Glue Pen)
• American Crafts We r Memory Keepers (Crop-A-Dile and Standard Eyelets 41582-4)

Be Thankful

I have plenty to be thankful for including the wonderful life with my hubby and my dearest friends; so as its Thanksgiving next week I had fun creating this autumnal thankful page.

I’m sending Happy Thanksgiving wishes to those of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving next week, have a wonderful time!

To start, I painted the page with Hooker’s Green, Yellow Oxide and Raw Umber Liquitex acrylic paint and then applied Pébéo white gesso over the top with a brayer. When dry, I stamped some leaves by Tim Holtz using Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso and Hickory Smoke Distress Archival Ink and a grid design by Sheena Douglass using Potter’s Clay, Cottage Green and Rich Cocoa Memento Ink. I also stamped some grungy dots using black Archival Ink and both of the above Distress Archival Inks and then I splattered the page with white gesso. Next I recycled some thanksgiving magazine images of a dinner service portraying a turkey, duck, pheasant and partridge; they are fussy cut, edged with a Sanguine Faber-Castell Big Brush marker and stuck to the page using a UHU Stic. They are arranged with some pretty acrylic daisy flowers and autumnal coloured leaves which I die cut using Tim Holtz thinlets. The leaves are cut from some textured metallic papers, edged using Ground Espresso Distress Ink and a blending tool, and stuck into place using glue dots. To finish, I added the “Be Thankful” wording which is a piece of washi tape which I stuck onto some white card and stuck into place using double-sided tape.

The autumn leaves seemed to have been and gone quickly this year; when we walked around Lytham Hall with our friends this week we found that most of the trees had lost their leaves so there was a thick coating of leaves along the pathways. There were really only these Beech trees which still retained their beautiful autumnal leaves.

Of course, little Ellie was in her element chasing leaves and picking up sticks, although I think this stick may have been a little big for her. As you can see her coat has got quite long so she’s off for a trim at the doggie stylists this week (grin!).

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

Challenges

I’m glad I found out about Challenge Blogs as I enjoy taking part, they provide me with inspiration for my pages and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges I’m joining today:

I’m pleased to join the Peace & Tranquility challenge over at Moo Mania & More with my reflective Be Thankful page.

I’m joining in the Recycle challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge as I recycled magazine Thanksgiving images on this page.

I’m also pleased to join Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday and the Autumn & Gratitude theme with Be Thankful autumnal designed page.

I’m pleased to be able to join in the fun over at Mix It Up Challenge Blog for their Anything Goes + Watercoloring with my autumnal mixed media art journal page.

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

• Liquitex Basic Acrylic Color (Hooker’s Green, Yellow Oxide, Raw Umber)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous (Falling Leaves CMS097)
• Ranger Distress Archival Ink (Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Hickory Smoke)
• Sheena by Sheena Douglass Create a Flower Rubber Stamps (Funky Textures 2)
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (Potter’s Clay, Cottage Ivy, Rich Cocoa)
• Creative Stamping Magazine Issue #61 (Autumnal Treasures)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Recycled images from Old Magazine
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Sanguine 188 B)
• UHU Stic
• Crafty Things (Acrylic Daisy Stickers)
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets (Fall Foilage 660955)
• Paper Bundle from local Craft Shop
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ground Espresso)
• Stix2 glue dots
• Washi tape
• Recycled white cardstock
• X-Press It! double-sided tape

Love that smile

As autumn is one of my favourite seasons I created this fun page with a happy moose standing in a big pile of leaves. I hope this makes you smile as much as me (grin!).

With my autumnal colours I also wanted to remind you that there is still another week to join us over at Try it on Tuesday for our Colours of Autumn challenge too, it would be lovely to see you there!

I started by stamping the page with leaves from a Falling Leaves stamp set from Tim Holtz using Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Archival Ink and Potter’s Clay Memento Ink. Then I added a pretty pumpkin napkin which I received from my good friend Erika aka BioArtGal last year – thank you so much! I tore the napkin on the diagonal and also added small pieces of the napkin inbetween the stamped leaves; it’s stuck in place using Liquitex matte gel medium. Then I fussy cut the moose from a magazine and stuck him to the page using a UHU stic. Next I added lots of leaves which I die cut using a Fall Foliage thinlet set from Tim Holtz. They are cut from three different papers and edged using Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Ink and a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell Big Brush marker. The “love that smile” wording is a sticker from Kaisercraft which is mounted onto the same three papers that I die cut the leaves from. To finish, I used a white gel pen to add two white dots to the moose’s eyes.

When my hubby saw this page he immediately thought of the tin moose that we have in our lounge, isn’t he a cutie (grin!).

As T Stands for Tuesday and it’s the season for everything pumpkin, here’s a piece of my homemade pumpkin roll with my friend’s coffee – Happy T day everyone!

Challenges

I’m glad I found out about Challenge Blogs as I enjoy taking part, they provide me with inspiration for my pages and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges I’m joining today:

I’m pleased to join the lovely Rike from rike’s art and her Fruit and Veggies challenge over at Art Journal Journey as I included lots of pumpkins on my page.

I’m pleased to join the Sketch challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps as the foreground on my art journal page runs diagonally across the page, the “Paperbabe stamps” is represented by my “love that smile” wording and the flowers are represented by the smiley moose.

I’m joining the Autumn & Gratitude challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday with my autumnal “Love that smile” page.

I’m pleased to be able to join in the fun over at Creative Artiste Challenge Blog for their #55 – Anything Mixed Media Goes with my mixed media art journal page

I’m also pleased to join in the fun over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Anything Goes challenge too.

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:

• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous (Falling Leaves CMS097)
• Ranger Distress Archival Ink (Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso)
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (Rich Potter’s Clay)
• Pumpkin Napkin – thank you Erika!
• Old magazine
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets (Fall Foliage 660955)
• Paper Pack from local craft shop
• Poundland Design Pad (Changing Seasons CRO701/16PL1)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Dark Sepia 175 B)
• Kaisercraft Sticker Sheet (Havana Nights SS354)
• Uniball Signo gel pen (White)
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• UHU Stic
• UHU Glue Pen
• X-Press It double-sided tape

Window On Your World

Our new challenge over at A Vintage Journey is Window On Your World, which is being hosted by Deb. Here’s what it is all about:

“This month we would like to see some kind of window or tunnelled element in your creations. Think hollowed out books, multiple layers with openings to see what has gone before, hidden flaps or windows that when opened reveal a secret element. Just remember to create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.”

I couldn’t resist art journaling for Deb’s fabulous Window On Your World challenge. Taking the challenge literally, I was inspired by the actual autumnal window display in my house incorporating maple leaves, pumpkins and sunflowers for my autumnal window scene.

I started by stencilling the brickwork using a mixture of Spiced Marmalade, Tea Dye and Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. Then I created the grass by stamping a grass stamp with Cottage Ivy Memento Ink onto some green paper and cutting it out; it’s stuck in place using a UHU Stic which I used for most of the paper elements. Next I coloured some watercolour paper using Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Ink and used a branch Thinlet from the Funky Floral set by Tim Holtz to create the tree. I also stamped a wood grain stamp from BoBunny using Rich Cocoa Memento Ink along the trunk.

I used a Vintage window die set cutting it out several times from white cardstock and one from some Tim Holtz wood design paper using my Big Shot machine; they are layered together to form the window frame and window box. To create the interior view through the window, I layered the window frame onto a piece of lace and then some pumpkin coloured patterned paper. The flowers for the window box, little butterflies, pumpkin and “Autumn” sign are all fussy cut from Autumn Collective paper by Graphic 45 and are edged using Spiced Marmalade and Ground Espresso Distress Ink and a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell Big Brush marker.

I also created a “be thankful” sign to tie into the season too, using Clipping Stickers from Tim Holtz; both signs are backed with some Tim Holtz paper.

Lots of small maple leaves finished the page; they were die cut using a Fall Foliage Thinlets set from Tim Holtz from the same Graphic 45 paper, coloured along the edges using Spiced Marmalade and Ground Espresso Distress Ink, edged with a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell marker and stuck in place using double-sided foam tape.

If you enjoy art journaling like me and want to add a window to your page or interpret the theme by creating some openings or hidden flap-windows on your page then why not join us this month (grin!). Alternatively for lots more inspiration and ideas, please pop over to see the amazing creations from my fellow Creative Guides over at A Vintage Journey; it would be lovely to see you there!

I love the seasons and always decorate my dining room window to celebrate each season.

With the challenge being Window On Your World, I was inspired to use some of the elements, namely the maple leaves, pumpkins and sunflowers, that are contained within my own window display as part of my art journal page design; it was such a fun page to create (grin!).

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

Challenges

I’m glad I found out about Challenge Blogs, like A Vintage Journey, as I enjoy taking part, they provide me with inspiration for my pages and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges I’m joining today:

I’m pleased to join the lovely Rike from rike’s art and her Fruit and Veggies challenge over at Art Journal Journey as I included pumpkin on my page.

I’m joining the Autumn & Gratitude challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday with my autumnal scene and be thankful wording.

I’m happy to join in the fun over at Creative Artiste Challenge Blog for their #55- Anything Mixed Media Goes with my mixed media art journal page including inks, papers, lace, markers and stickers.

I’m also pleased to join in the fun over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Anything Goes challenge too.

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

• Craft Sensations (Deco Stencil Set 154892)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Spiced Marmalade, Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso)
• Crafter’s Companion Luxury Designer Paper Pad (Angelica & Adam Collection A&A-PAP6-M)
• Dovecraft Clear Stamp (DCR588)
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (Cottage Ivy, Rich Cocoa)
• Watercolour Paper
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets (Funky Floral Large 664158)
• BoBunny Stamp (Rough It Up Item#12105155)
• White Cardstock
• Hobbybase Prestige Craft Dies (Vintage HBV004)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology Paper Stash (Halloween #TH93712)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Cold Grey IV 233, Dark Sepia 175 B)
• The Range (Crafting Lace)
• Pion Design The Witching Hour Paper (October Garden 6×6” PD8104)
• Graphic 45 Seasons Collection 12×12” Paper (Autumn Collective #4501622)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology (Clipping Stickers #TH93583)
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets (Fall Foilage 660955)
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• UHU Stic
• X-Press It double-sided tape and double-sided foam tape

Thank you for your part in my journey

I recently won some goodies at Paperbabe Stamps so I thought I would create this page to celebrate. I used some of the stencils, stamps and even the packaging that I received from taking part in their challenges – thank you so much!

I started by painting the background with pink, blue and orange DecoArt Glamour Dust glitter paints. When the paint was dry, I used a blending tool to add Black Soot, Mermaid Lagoon and Picked Raspberry Distress Ink through a mixed media stencil from Paperbabe Stamps. Next I stamped some butterflies, hearts and bubbles from a couple of stamp sets from Paperbabe Stamps, so that they flowed vertically down the page, using black Archival Ink. Then I splattered the page with white DecoArt acrylic paint and dried it with my heat gun. I added a couple of circular stickers and business cards which I layered on top of some round shapes that were die cut from some pink polka dot patterned paper. The stickers and business cards were included as part of the packaging from Paperbabe Stamps; I love the wording “I thank you for your part in my Journey” and the images of the beautiful faces which are examples of what you can create using some of the Paperbabe Stamps templates and stamps.

Here are the goodies that I won recently, I used the Iso Fun stencil for this page and I’m also looking forward to using the alphabet stamp set soon – yay! I’d like to say a big thank you to Kim from Paperbabe Stamps for the goodies and also thanks to all of her design team for their inspiration!

Challenges

I’m glad I found out about Challenge Blogs as I enjoy taking part, they provide me with inspiration for my pages and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges I’m joining today:

I’m pleased to join the lovely Erika aka BioArtGal and her Polka-Dots, Stripes, Plaids and Patterns challenge over at Art Journal Journey with my patterned background and polka-dot paper.

I’m pleased to be able to join Challenge #101 – Sketch over at Paperbabe Stamps with my art journal page; the layers of die cut circles and business card represent the circle and the sentiment the logo. Thanks so much for all the wonderful crafting goodies!

I’m also joining the Use a Stamp challenge over at Moo Mania & More with my page.

I’m joining in the Stamp It challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge with all the stamps that I used on my page.

I’m also pleased to join in the fun over at the Creative Artiste Challenge and their Challenge #53 – Anything Mixed Media Goes as I included paints, inks, stickers and papers on my 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:

• DecoArt Glamour Dust Glitter Paint (Celebration Pink, Sapphire Blue, Tiger Orange)
• Paperbabe Stamps Mixed Media Stencils (Iso Fun)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Mermaid Lagoon, Picked Raspberry)
• Paperbabe Stamps Stamp Set (Butterfly Pieridae, Birthday Wishes)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (White)
• The Works M&C Boutique (Paper Block, Cutting Dies)
• Spellbinders Die Set
• Stickers recycled from Packaging – Paperbabe Stamps
• Business Cards recycled from Packaging – Paperbabe Stamps
• Stix2 double-sided tape
• Pritt Stick

Untie the ribbons

Our new challenge over at A Vintage Journey is Box It Up, which is being hosted by Julia. Here’s what it is all about:

“This month our theme is boxes! Perhaps you will make a trunk or suitcase, some kind of package to hold a gift, or maybe make a card or journal page showing presents. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk”.

I thought this motivational quote suited Julia’s challenge perfectly, so I included it on my art journal page along with the gift box which I had fun creating for this page too (grin!).

To create the background I completely covered the page with some yellow Liquitex acrylic paint and once the paint was dry added pieces of script and sheet music Collage Papers from Tim Holtz and some tape measure design decoupage paper from Viva Gade using Liquitex matte gel medium. I added a little more of the yellow paints over the top of the tissue paper to intensify the colour and also applied some white gesso around the edges of the page using my finger. Then I diluted Dark Sepia, Sanguine and Cold Grey Faber-Castell markers by scribbling them onto a blending mat and spritzing with water and applied them with my finger over the white gesso which gave the page a lovely translucent glow. Then I added some Gold Champagne Faber-Castell Gelato and Dark Sepia Faber-Castell Big Brush marker to the edge of the page smudging them with my finger.

I created the gift box from some spotty paper and drew the lines onto it using the Dark Sepia Big Brush marker, shaded it using Caramel Faber-Castell Gelato and added shadows using the Cold Grey Big Brush marker. Next I used a star stencil to apply modelling paste with a palette knife and left it to dry; the stars were then painted using a white Uni Posca paint pen and Parchment Liquitex acrylic paint. The words are letter stickers from Docrafts which I covered with matte gel medium to hold them securely in place. I did the same with the flowers which are stickers from Kaisercraft. Finally, I added some strips of red organza ribbon to the box using double-sided tape and finished it with a bow.

I enjoy collecting positive and motivational quotes for my art journal pages and had fun creating this page with the gift box and ribbon to depict the words I added; it was based on the quote “Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons” by Ruth Ann Schabacker.

For more inspiration, please pop over to see the amazing creations from my fellow Creative Guides over at A Vintage Journey too, it would be lovely to see you there!

I also have quite a few motivational quotes displayed around my home too, here’s one that greets me every morning, it hangs on the mirror in my bedroom …

… and this one hangs in my craft room (grin!).

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

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the lovely Erika aka BioArtGal and her Polka-Dots, Stripes, Plaids and Patterns challenge over at Art Journal Journey with my polka-dot gift box.

I’m also joining Paperbabe Stamps and their Challenge #101 – Sketch; I flipped the sketch to the left so the circle is represented by the gift box on my page and the logo by the sentiment I used.

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

• Liquitex Acrylic Color (Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Oxide, Parchment)
• Tim Holtz Collage Papers (Halloween #TH93727, Botanicals #TH93705)
• Viva Gade Decoupage Paper (Helsinki 25586)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• Faber-Castell Big Brush marker (Dark Sepia 175 B, Cold Grey IV 233, Sanguine 188 B)
• Faber-Castell Gelatos (Gold Champagne, Caramel)
• Star Stencil
• Pébéo Modeling Paste
• Uni Posca Paint Pen (White)
• Poundland Design Pad (Changing Seasons CRO701/16PL1)
• Docrafts Papermania A4 Ultimate Die-Cut & Paper Pack (Folk Christmas PMA160933)
• Kaisercrfat Sticker Sheet (The Looking Glass SS206)
• Recycled Red Organza Ribbon
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• Pritt Stick
• Stix2 double-sided tape

In my garden there is …

Our new challenge over at Try it on Tuesday for the next two weeks is In my garden there is …

I created a page full of flowers, insects and happy sentiments which remind me of my garden so far this year and over at Try it on Tuesday there is more inspiration to be found in the amazing creations from my Design Teamies! We hope that you will join us too!

I started by creating blocks of papers to collage on the background of my page using matte gel medium; they were free with a magazine which featured stamps and papers from “The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady”. They have a lovely cottage garden look and feel, with pretty flower, foliage, bird, bee and butterfly designs, which I thought depicted my garden beautifully. Once the gel medium was dry, I scribbled Coconut and Kiwi Faber-Castell Gelatos along the edges of the papers and smudged the colour with my finger. Then I used a foxglove stamp, which was also free with the magazine, using black Archival Ink and then coloured them using Red Violet, Blossom, Sunflower and Bud Green Spectrum Aqua markers. I fussy cut an oval image of a bird in its nest as we have had so many young birds visiting our garden this year and added some Graphic 45 stickers which read “Love”, “Smile”, “Dream” and “Bloom where you are planted”; they are all outlined with a black Faber-Castell Big Brush marker. Then to finish, I added a pretty yellow 3D butterfly.

We have had many flowers blooming in our garden and the foxgloves looked particularly beautiful earlier this year!

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing a pot of tea that we had with our friends in the gardens at Lytham Hall – Happy T day!

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the lovely Gill  from gibbyfrogettcraftations  and her Anything with Eyes challenge over at Art Journal Journey with the birds and insects I included on my page; sorry I haven’t joined your fabulous theme as much as I would have liked too this month!

I’m also joining the Butterflies challenge over at Moo Mania & More with all the butterflies on my 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:

• The Country Dairy of an Edwardian Lady design Papers and Stamps – free with Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine
• Faber-Castell Gelato (Coconut, Kiwi)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Spectrum Aqua Artist Marker (Red Violet, Blossom, Sunflower, Bud Green)
• Graphic 45 Cardstock Stickers (Seasons Decorative Stickers 4501629)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
• Home Bargains You & Me … (Beautiful Butterflies)
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• Pritt Stick