Love Gelato

We love summer because of all the ice cream we can eat, so I thought I would create a page to celebrate this summertime love and join the many others who have created ice cream pages over at Art Journal Journey for Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s “Summertime Love” theme.  My page focuses on gelato rather than ice cream though and also the delicious flavours that you find in the many gelateria (ice cream shops) when holidaying in Italy.

I started by covering the page in Aquamarine, Kingfisher, Topaz and Gold Spectrum Aqua markers; I did this by scribbling the marker onto an acrylic block, spritzing the block with water and pressing it onto the page. I also used a paint brush to transfer some of the diluted ink across the page. Next I fussy cut magazine images that reminded me of our holidays in Italy. I also cut out some birds, an Italian ice cream shop banner and an ice cream cone which details possible holiday destinations. Once they were cut out I stuck them to the page using a UHU Stic. As I chose Italy as the destination for this page, I coloured the word “flavour?” with green, white and red Uni Posca paint pens to represent the colours of the Italian flag and outlined them with a black Uni Pin marker so they stood out more. Then using black Archival Ink I stamped the names, in Italian, of our favourite flavours of gelato that we had when we visited Italy (you will find an English description of each of these flavours below). I created the border using a heart stamp and the black Archival Ink and I also top and tailed the gelato names with this stamp. I coloured each heart with the green, white and red Uni Posca pens to represent the Italian flag design; this took some time as there were so many hearts but I think it was well worth the time and effort as I love the detail. Next I used some gold alphabet outline stickers which I coloured black with a Sharpie permanent marker to add the words “Love Gelato”. I connected the gelato names, created a heart and embellished the magazine images using some small green, red and clear gemstones. To finish I added the ice cream cones which I made using some leftover petal outline stickers that I crisscrossed with black Uni Pin marker to represent a waffle cone and a large gemstones that I placed on the top to represent the gelato.

There are gelateria everywhere in Italy and it wasn’t hard to find this shop in Verona. It had the most beautiful display with the carved fruit, intricately shaped gelato and corresponding toppings to depict the flavour, such as a lemon, coconut or strawberries.

Needless to say we couldn’t pass by without trying some, so we had three scoops of different gelato piled into a waffle cone. It was so yummy and although I could have probably eaten both of these, one was for my hubby (grin!).

When we were in Tuscany, we had this Amarena, Tiramisu and Stracciatella gelato.

Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, so you could argue that gelato and ice cream are the same. However there is a big difference and it comes down to these factors: fat, air and serving temperature. If you are interested to find out more, then:

• Gelato has less fat than ice cream because gelato uses more milk than cream compared to ice cream.
• Ice cream is churned faster and harder than gelato which is churned at a much slower pace. As a result, gelato is denser with less air while ice cream can consist of 25% to 90% air. The higher density gives gelato a more intense flavour.
• The temperature at which the two are served is different too. The higher density and lower fat composition means that gelato is typically served at a higher temperature than ice cream. If gelato were served at the same temperature as ice cream it would be too hard and if ice cream were served at the same temperature as gelato, it would melt and become soupy.

On summer evenings you will find that the Italian gelateria is the busiest part of town, often opening until midnight. There are so many different flavours to choose from including:

• Fragola: Strawberry and this is usually a deep pink colour due to the addition of crushed strawberries.
• Limone: fresh, tangy lemon flavour. This is a traditional flavour in Italy as lemons were introduced into southern Italy in the first century and are still grown there today.
• Tiramisu: One of the most popular Italian desserts is turned into a frozen delight. The name tiramisu is often translated figuratively as “pick me up” or “cheer me up” in Italian, in reference to the effects of sugar and coffee and also traditionally Marsala wine.
• Stracciatella: chocolate chip style, this gelato was invented in Italy and is a light vanilla gelato with crunchy shards of chocolate running throughout.
• Vaniglia: Vanilla and the colours and taste varies depending on how many vanilla beans are used to make the gelato.
• Crema: Italian crema is a pale yellow colour and is more like custard than cream.
• Frutti di bosco: translates to fruits of the forest and is normally a mixture of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants and raspberries.
• Cioccolato: good old chocolate, my favourite!
• Panna Cotta: this is the frozen version of the traditional Italian dessert; it is rich and velvety due to the addition of heavy cream.
• Amarena: Plain ice cream with swirls of cherry sauce which is made from Amarena cherries which are small, slightly sharp cherries that are grown in Italy.
• Malaga: Rum and Raisin.

My hubby loves this gelato sandwich called “brioche con gelato”; you can choose your gelato flavours, this one if filled with Tiramisu and Panna Cotta, and they are served in a brioche roll. These can be found in gelateria across Italy and this particular one was in Lake Garda – yum!

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:

• Spectrum Aqua Artist Marker (Sea Green, Kingfisher, Topaz, Gold)
• Uni Posca Paint Pens (White, Red, Dark Green, Light Blue)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Sharpie Fine Point Permanent marker (Black)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.3mm)
• Pentel Arts Hybrid Gel Grip (White)
• Dovecraft Essenitals Alphabet Stamp Set (WDN ALPHA STMP DCVW0050)
• Old Magazine
• Docrafts Anita’s Outline Stickers (Modern Alphabet Gold ANT8101000, Simple Flowers Gold ANT8101102)
• Hobbycraft Rhinestone Stickers (Green Rhinestone 5971381004)
• Oaktree UK Eleganza Craft Stickers (3mm 418 Gems Red No.16)
• Poundland (Design Gems 175751, 504 Gems 128133)
• UHU Stic

Seaside Days

We feel really blessed to live right by the sea and with it being summer it’s great fun to see all the holidaymakers who visit our beach. Having also seen the lovely seaside and beach hut photos that my good friend Gill from Gibbyfrogettcraftations had posted of her home town I was doubly inspired to create a page to remember the sunny seaside days we have been having of late.

The background textures and colours represent the sand, sea, dunes and pebbles of our shoreline. I started by applying Yellow, Moss and Teal Spectrum Aqua Markers to an acrylic block, spritzing the block with water and pressing it onto the page, gradually building up layers of colour. I then stamped a pebble pattern using a homemade polystyrene stamp using Tea Dye Distress Ink and London Fog Memento Ink.  Next I added a piece of netting using a UHU Glue Pen to stick it down and I chose some words to add to the background with a seaside theme which are rub-on transfers. I positioned an old postcard onto my page which was from my mum and dad when they were on holiday in Cromer, Norfolk. This beach hut image is called “Seaside Days” by M.Heath and as I wanted to be able to read the back of the postcard I attached it to my page using hooks that I secured into place using Glossy Accents. The hooks are from a pack of Hook & Eye Bar Fasteners by Newey which were in my sewing box.

I like the way the postcard is securely held into place by the hooks and also slides out with ease so I can still view the back. I fussy cut the crab, boat and seagulls from a leaflet and also some nautical images and paper squares from a wallpaper sample. I stamped the letters on the paper squares using black Archival Ink and then I stuck everything onto the page using matte gel medium. I used a Slate Spectrum Aqua marker to add shadows once the gel medium had dried. To finish, I added some dried palm leaves to the page, using Glossy Accents, so they looked like grasses.

For me seaside days celebrate summertime so I’m pleased to be able to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth from Altered Book Lover for the “Summertime Love” theme over at Art Journal Journey.

We have beach huts on our beach front too and and these huts can be rented for the day. This time of year they are very popular, more so at weekends and some evenings.  They have a lovely outlook on the promenade overlooking the beach and you often find people sitting in the sunshine and enjoying the facilities the beach hut provides. People often bring a picnic with them, walk into town to get fish and chips or arrange for a pizza to be delivered to their hut. They always seem to be having so much fun!

On our particular beach there is plenty of space for everyone (the tide often goes out 1.8miles that’s 3km) and for the children there is usually a bouncy castle and also donkey rides, which are traditional at seaside resorts here in the UK. The donkeys usually have their names on their harnesses, so let me introduce you to Rambo, Teddy and Bobby who were being very well looked after by their owners.  I remember as a child going on donkey rides up and down the beach which were definitely happy seaside days (grin!).

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:

• Memento Ink (London Fog)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tea Dye)
• Spectrum Aqua Artist Marker (Yellow, Moss, Teal, Slate)
• Docrafts A5 Clear Stamp Set (Alphas Folk DCE907115)
• Homemade polystyrene stamp
• Postcard “Seaside Days” by M.Heath
• Wallpaper sample
• Craft Planet Metallic Waterfall Stickers (Beach)
• Newey No.2 Hooks & Eye Bar Fasteners
• Netting
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• UHU Glue Pen

Carnival

Every summer we attend our local carnival weekend and we always have so much fun watching the parade that it inspired this page! I’m pleased to be able to join Bluebeard and Elizabeth at Altered Book Lover again for the “Summertime Love” theme over at Art Journal Journey.

I started by cutting different decoupage and design pad papers into squares and rectangles to create the background. The papers I choose have seaside theme images and colourful patterns to represent our town, the carnival atmosphere and the fun we had. They are stuck to the page using a UHU Stic and I incorporated some pretty patterned fabric tape into the background design as well. Then I added vertical black lines along the edge of some of the papers using a Uni Posca paint pen. Next I added all the embellishments with the aim of layering them and to only use one of each item or design on my page so that I created an eclectic feel to represent the parade and give the page contrasting pops of colour. This was also a good way to use up bits and pieces I had leftover in my craft stash. This included some cardboard bunting with buttons on from Poundland and glittery bunting from Poundworld, which represent the bunting we saw along the parade route. As there were lots of bands taking part and music played throughout the parade I also added some music note washi tape, along with some camera film washi tape as we and many others were taking photos. There were vintage vehicles in the parade so I added an image of an old vintage car which is a Victorian tag embellishment. I added some pink circle stickers with palm trees and flamingos by The Range and lots of different flowers to represent some of the floats we saw during the parade; the flowers included a lovely sunflower border by Docrafts, a mini white flower, a red rose (for one of the bands) by The Range, a 3D sticker, a blue organza flower recycled from a gift bag and some glittery blue flower rub-on transfers. I also used some foam craft stickers from Wilko; a flower shape, a star, a balloon and lollipop which some floats were giving out to children, a crown to represent the carnival queens in the parade, a lion to represent the jungle theme of one of the school floats and an ice cream as there were bicycle ice cream carts. I especially liked the lorry carrying children from a local football club who had water guns. Needless to say they were having great fun covering everyone in water, so I added a foam football to the page with a half circle of tear shaped gem stones to depict the water droplets from their water guns (grin!). There were actually many children taking part in the parade from schools, clubs and community groups, they are represented by “A,B,C” and “1,2,3” mini gel stickers that I added to my page. As well as the “Sand; Sea; Sun” wording on one of the decoupage papers, I added more words that I associated with the carnival using stickers from Craft Planet, rub-on transfers and a “Hidden Joy” fabric sticker by Little Yellow Bicycle. The garland flag and ticket represent the fun rides and stalls that were in the park as part of the carnival. To finish, I added a glittery heart, some buttons, a couple of ribbons that I had tied into bows and lots of gemstones to add sparkle and interest.

Thought you might want to join in the carnival fun so here’s our Town Crier opening the parade, as you can see we had beautiful sunny weather.

There was lots of music throughout the parade and my favourite was this New Orleans style brass band; they are called Red Rose and played great music, I also enjoyed watching the gentleman with his umbrella, he looked so happy dancing in front of his band!

If you prefer there was also a traditional UK brass band.

Or even bagpipes for those of you who prefer more of a Scottish vibe which was loud and fabulous too.

This is one of the many vintage cars that took part in the parade.

There were quite a few horses in the parade this year and the carnival queen was travelling in style in a Cinderella coach.

Here’s the children from the Football Club, don’t they look pleased with themselves squirting the spectators with their water guns.

There was also a troop of local gymnasts performing in the parade and if you look at the photo closely you can see one of them in mid-air.

I was in awe of the work that must have gone into all the wonderful knitted car – isn’t it amazing!

As we were walking by Anton’s café, we saw some friends sitting at one of the tables outside and they kindly asked if we would like to join them.

Of course we were delighted to and had a great time chatting and enjoying the sunshine. So as T Stands for Tuesday I’m saying a big hello to the T Gang and wishing you all a very Happy T Day! Our drinks were a pot of green tea for me and a hot chocolate for my hubby, you can also see our friend’s cappuccino in the background which I’m sure will please any coffee lovers in the T Gang, namely Valerie and Elizabeth (grin!).

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:

• Uni Posca Paint Pens (White, Black)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm)
• Trimcraft Deco Mache Decoupage Papers (Tiled Seaside FEDEC102)
• VivaGade Decoupage Paper (Helsinki)
• Craft Sensations Design Pad (Soft Sweetness 154897)
• The Works (Fabric Tape)
• Poundland (Handmade Embellishments 138127)
• Poundworld (Paper Lace U-83197)
• The Works (3 Washi Tapes)
• The Works (Victorian Style Embellishments PO/19702)
• Docrafts Papermania Signature 3D Floral Borders (Sunflower Stickers PMA801100)
• The Range (Craft Stickers CR1243)
• Home Bargains Special Occasion (Mini Decorative Stickers 22740)
• The Range (Rose Garland CR0951)
• Free & Easy (3D Stickers 002157)
• Royal & Langnickel Rub-on Sentiments (SYN14709, Summer #ROY-505 Rub-on)
• Blue organza flower (recycled from gift bag)
• Wilko Little Steps (Safari Foam Stickers)
• Graham & Brown The Wall (Adhesive Jewels)
• Home Bargains (Mini Gel Stickers 30287)
• Craft Planet Metallic Waterfall Stickers (Beach PO#9622)
• Little Yellow Bicycle Stickers (Fabric Favourites PD-220)
• Trimcraft Garland Flags (Fun Fair HCGF001)
• Ticket
• The Works (Glitter Heart Stickers)
• Buttons
• Ribbon
• The Range (Adhesive Craft Gems)
• Poundland Self-adhesive gems (504 Gems 128133)
• Hobbycraft Gem Sticker Strip (Assorted Pink Squares 5971461001)
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• UHU Stic
• The Range double-sided foam tape

Hotel Majestic

Today’s page reflects back on a time when the Hotel Majestic was one of the finest treasures in St. Anne’s on the Sea. Alas it has been demolished now, so I created a page in its memory!

To cover the background I collaged torn sewing pattern pieces onto the page using Liquitex Matte Gel Medium. Once they had dried I applied black and gold Spectrum Aqua Marker ink by scribbling the marker onto an acrylic block, spritzing the block with water and pressing and dripping the ink over the page. I like the way the gold colour is more concentrated at the edges of the collaged paper emphasising the layers.  Next I stamped various stamps by Hampton Art using black Archival Ink; these included a palm tree, crowns, art deco borders and a postage mark which tie into the era and décor of the Hotel Majestic. The Majestic was also known for its music and grandeur so I added some washi tape music notes and black decorative tape, then I used gold size to adhere the gold leaf. I found an old picture of the Majestic in a local magazine and added a gold border, the hotel name and the dates that it stood in our town; which are all outline stickers. I used photo corners and double-sided foam tape to adhere it to the page. To finish I added gold chain and “style” outline stickers to the background and some gold sequins which are stuck down using Glossy Accents.

I really like the vintage art deco look of this page and I’m very pleased to join the lovely Gill from gibbyfrogettcraftations again who is hosting the “Elegance & Grunge” challenge over at Art Journal Journey.

The Majestic Hotel was originally called the Imperial Hydro which opened in 1910, you can still see the initials IH on the two brick archways which are the only parts remaining of the hotel. It was renamed the Majestic in 1920 and many stars appearing in Blackpool shows stayed there over the years.

I love this old photo of the Hotel Majestic, it looks such a grand and stunning building! If you look closely you can see the archways on the right hand side of the hotel, they look quite small in comparison to the building itself. The hotel was built between the pier and the town Square, it had 200 bedrooms, tennis courts and was the height of luxury. Here’s an interesting link on YouTube that shows the old brochure of the Hotel Majestic with photos and descriptions of the facilities and interior.

The hotel closed down in 1972 as the costs of modernising it made it unsustainable. Sadly, it was demolished in 1975 and replaced with these five storey flats. What a shame as it must have been an amazing place to stay during its heyday.

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:

• Spectrum Aqua Artist Marker (Gold, Black)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Hampton Art Cling Mounted Rubber Stamps (Graphic 45 – Tropical Travelogue ICO134 & ICO135, 7 Gypsies – Birdsong ICO151)
• Style Sewing Pattern
• Local Magazine
• Gold Leaf
• Hobbycraft Outline Stickers (Gold Harmony 934031001)
• Magenta Style Outline Stickers (Daisy Gold)
• Dovecraft Peel-off Stickers (Alphas Caps Gold DCPO-05)
• Poundland Decorative Border Tape (Black)
• Poundland Assorted Sequins
• Annie Sloan Water Based Gold Size
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• The Range double-sided foam tape

Robin

Whilst walking along the Lancashire Coastal Way at Cockerham Sands we were lucky enough to see robins along the hedgerows. As my friends and family will tell you, I love robins and so seeing them gave me a great excuse to create this page.

The background is covered with a script decoupage paper and is stuck down using Liquitex Matte Gel Medium. Next I ripped pieces of a blue decoupage paper and stuck them to the page, and then I layered another piece of the same blue paper on the top to give more depth and dimension. Next I added ripped pieces of a music note design paper by Craft Sensations and edged them with a grey Faber-Castell Big Brush marker, sticking them down with a UHU Stic. The music washi tape reminds me of the robin’s song that we heard on our walk and also matches the quote I used for my page. Next I used a stencil to create the leaves; I did this by using the same music note design paper, stamping a circular geometric shape using Rich Cocoa Memento Ink through the stencil onto it and outlining the edge of the leaf design with a Chocolate Spectrum Aqua marker. Then I removed the stencil, fussy cut the leaves and stuck them to the page using a UHU Stic. Once the glue had dried, I outlined them with a black Uni Pin marker and a white Uniball gel pen. The beautiful quote is a rub-on transfer by Royal & Langnickel. To finish the background I added splatters of black acrylic paint. The spade handle is fussy cut from a calendar and I coloured it with Spectrum Aqua markers and added more detail with the black Uni Pin marker. The stem of flowers is a chipboard embellishment which I stuck to the page using a UHU Stic.

To make the robin, I cut a robin shape from a piece of card and collaged leftover pieces of paper over the top to create the feather design, keeping the paper pieces in place using matte gel medium. I stuck the papers so they overhung the edges of the card and when the glue had dried I cut around the bird shape to give a clean finish. I used Spectrum Aqua Markers to add detail to the feathers and colour the robin’s legs. I then edged the robin with the grey Big Brush marker and coloured the eye using a black 3D Pearl Effect by Dovecraft and then Glossy Accents by Ranger. I also added a white dot to the top of the eye with the white gel pen. I love the way this robin turned out and this is a great way to use up all those little bits of papers you have leftover. Although it’s a bit fiddly arranging the papers, I think the result is beautiful.

I’m also pleased to join Gill who is hosting the “Elegance and Grunge” theme over at Art Journal Journey.

We walked along part of the Lancashire Coastal Way towards Cockerham Sands, which is close to Cockersand Abbey.

We saw this robin on our walk, he was sitting on a post and looking at us over his shoulder.

He lives in a beautiful spot at Cockerham Sands overlooking the estuary of the River Lune leading to Glasson Dock.

On the beach front there are quite a few farms and we saw this anchor sitting in one of their gardens.

Doesn’t this rusty buoy look fabulous looking out at that wonderful view!

Here’s a close up especially for Elizabeth as I know she loves all things rusty.

Talking of Elizabeth, as T Stands for Tuesday I’m sharing the green tea we had after our walk and saying a big hello to the T Gang!

We went to the Lantern O’er Lune café again and if you’re good you can have something from the Naughty Board (grin!).

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:

• Spectrum Aqua Artist Marker (Crimson, Burgundy, Spice, Fawn, Chocolate, Charcoal, Slate)
• Memento Ink (Rich Cocoa)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Cold Grey IV 233)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm & 0.5mm)
• Uniball Signo gel pen (White)
• Docrafts Papermania Mini Cards & Stamp Set (Capsule Geometric Krafts PMA105308)
• Craft Sensations (Deco Stencil Set 154892)
• Design papers – leftovers
• White card
• Trimcraft (Decoupage papers SCDEC064)
• Poundworld (Patch Paper DS9454)
• RSPB Calender – old
• Hobbycraft Decorative Tape (Assorted Black & White 5971471007)
• Royal & Langnickel Rub-on Sentiments (Spring #ROY506 Rub-on)
• Craft Sensations (Chipboard Embellishments 154887)
• Dovecraft 3D Pearl Effects (Brights – Black)
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• UHU Stic

Urban Street Art

With new urban art pieces being installed along the Art Trail in St. Anne’s on the Sea, I thought I would join in and create my own piece. I know Lisca loves street art so I hope she enjoys this post and I would also like to thank Rike who was the first to introduce me to a technique using a straw which inspired part of my design. I’m also pleased to join the lovely Gill who is hosting the “Elegance and Grunge” theme over at Art Journal Journey.

I started by covering the page with Pébéo white gesso using a craft knife to create texture, then while the gesso was drying I added the blue circles by dipping a cardboard tube into Aquamarine water colour paint by Winsor & Newton and applying it to the page. Next came the technique inspired by Rike, I dripped a grey and a blue water colour paint on my page then blew the paint with a straw to create drip lines and starbursts, I really enjoyed doing this, it was great fun.  I repeated all of these techniques a couple more times to build up the paint layers and textures until I got the look I wanted. Then I added some paint splatters using the same water colour paints and a paintbrush. Using black Archival Ink I stamped a frame onto the page and the little girl with her balloon onto a piece of grey paper from a Design Pad, both the stamps and paper are by Craft Sensations. I backed the grey paper image with a piece of card, cut it to match the inside of the stamped frame, edged it with a black Faber-Castell Big Brush marker and stuck it onto the page using a UHU Stic. To finish I added motivational wording which are rub-on transfers by Royal & Langnickel.

The St Anne’s Back West Art Trail is a series of urban street art installations along a back street in St. Anne’s on the Sea and this week we had 4 new additions displayed. The aim for this year is have up to 20 similar art works on display all over the town and there is talk of an Urban Arts Festival too. The photo is of a 12ft x 12ft piece by specialist urban artists Hayley Garner and Joy Gilleard, known together as Nomad Clan; it pays homage to the town’s history as well as the children and dogs that enjoy this seaside town.

The local stores who have access to the back of their buildings in this street also have art installations – my favourite is the bright green arch of Apple Bikes which was stenciled onto the wall itself.

Some storefronts are based on the street too, this pink building is a yoga studio, and features a bear looking out across the mountains.

This new installation of a whale by Nomad Clan is one of my favourites, isn’t it beautiful!

This abstract creation is by Catch-22 Art.

This warrior by Seca One Art looks like a futuristic avenger to me.

We also spotted this tribute to a local band on the bottom of a door.

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
• Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours (Ultramarine, Payne’s Gray, Colbalt Blue)
• Craft Sensations (Clear Stamps CRO274/16R)
• Craft Sensations Design Pad (Travel Memories 154898)
• Card
• Royal & Langnickel Rub-on Sentiments (Motivate #ROY-150 Rub-on)
• Cardboard tube
• Straw
• UHU Stic

New Beginnings

Whilst walking to Cockerham Sands from Glasson Dock, I was excited to see my first butterflies of spring and also discover the ruins of Cockersand Abbey which dates back to 1100s. Both of which inspired my page “New Beginnings”.

This page started with a mop-up background created from leftover paint and gesso from other art journal pages; firstly a blue green acrylic paint was applied that had semi-dried to my acrylic block, I sprayed it with water and dragged the block horizontally and then vertically across the page from left to right, as you can see the colour is stronger on the left hand side as a result. Secondly some grey Winsor & Newton watercolour paint was applied using a babywipe, and then some blue watercolour paint which was already diluted on my acrylic block so I dripped it onto my page and then dragged the acrylic block over the top, and I added fine paint splatters too. Next came some left over white gesso which I applied to the page with a spatula. I thought the texture on this page would work well for my design, so I added a Rocks stamp by Kaisercraft using black Archival Ink and also secondary stamped the same stamp to add more depth and texture. This reminds me of the wall and stone ruins that we saw at the abbey. The black flowers and leaves are rub-on transfers by Kaisercraft which I clustered and layered together, I really like the worn look of these transfers. The butterflies and wording are also rub-on transfers by Royal & Langnickel and to finish I added the three rhinestone flowers.

As my page captures the abbey and the butterflies we discovered, I’m pleased to be able to join Hazel who is hosting the “Magical Mystery Tour” challenge over at Art Journal Journey.

Once at Cockerham Sands we decided to walk to Cockersand Abbey along the coastal path.  The abbey now lies in ruins with its walls and stones scattered across the site. We found out that originally a hospital was built here in 1180 for the sick and lepers and that this hospice was continued by the Premonstratensian White Canons who built their priory here in 1190. It was built on a clay “island” and its medieval name was “S. Maria de Marisco” or “Saint Mary of the Marsh”. As the priory thrived it gained the rank of abbey. Then came Henry VIII’s Reformation, and so in 1539 the abbey was dissolved and although it was sold to John Kitchen who then gave the land to his daughter when she married Robert Dalton, it has lied in ruins ever since.

The only building remaining is called Chapter House which for many years was used as a mausoleum for the Dalton family. We really enjoyed looking around the abbey ruins, it’s such a beautiful place with views out to sea.

These are the beautiful butterflies that we saw on our walk, the one sitting on a dandelion is a Small Tortoiseshell and the other basking in the sunshine is a Peacock butterfly. It seems that the seasons have changed and Spring is here!

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
• Liquitex Artist Color Acrylic (Christmas Green, Navy)
• DecoArt Crafter’s Acylic (White)
• Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours (Ultramarine, Payne’s Gray)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm)
• Kaisercraft clear stamp (Rocks CS875)
• Kaisercraft Rub-ons Lush Collection (Black & White RB867)
• Royal & Langnickel Rub-on Transfers (LAN1236G) and Sentiments (Spring #ROY-506 RUB-ON)
• The Works Stickers (Rhinestone Flowers)