Friday, 1 July 2016

New Challenge at Art Journal Journey and More....

Hi Everybody!

Today we are beginning a new challenge at 

-In my garden there is-

and our lovely Yvonne is hostess. 
She says: 
'I leave how you interpret this up to yourselves. How does your garden look, what would you wish to see in the garden, is it a small space, a pot plant... These are some of my thoughts that I jotted down when thinking of ideas.'

This leaves you a lot of freedom in your journaling, so put your thinking caps on,
get creative, and we hope to see you linking to us at AJJ.

I made a hybrid piece using a painted, dripped and textured background with a doodled bird, digitally altered and placed on the background. Birds belong in every garden!




Last week I showed my finished big, fat journal.


This week I made a cover to dress it up a bit.
I used craft paper, and after cutting it to size I cut and folded it before painting it with metallic blues and gold, which was heat dried and bubbled.


After fitting it over the book, I used some rub-ons to decorate it:






The edges have been folded and fixed with double sided sticky tape in the time honoured manner of covering school books, and it is possible to remove the cover if I want without damaging the book:


I am also linking to Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin.

Today got off to a good start again, but soon clouded over:


The Rhine is slowly dropping, but still too high for the time of year:



I peered through the undergrowth and discovered these nice, fat ducks snoozing on a fallen tree:


I always love hollyhocks:




 This shows the old fortification walls of the town, taken from what used to be the moat, now a playground and park:


Looking up to the buildings on the bridge:


This ancient stone stands on the bridge:


This is an old stable  down the road, they give rides for
handicapped people there- you can see the lift in the background:



My quote for today is from Mae West:

'Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before'

Have a great day, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

54 comments:

  1. This is a great new theme and your page for it is beautiful. Your 'fat' journal is a work of art, truly. Enjoyed your photos today.

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  2. This is a great theme for July. I already have a few ideas rolling around in my brain. I love the colors of your page Valerie. Your doodled bird is pretty cool too. I love how you used it in multiples. And your book cover is gorgeous. I love the shimmer and those rub ons are pretty interesting. I have never seen anything like them, but I like them. Happy Friday!!! Enjoy the start to your weekend. Hugs-Erika

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  3. Fantastic new page, love the pretty colours, and the doodled birds. The book cover is beautiful, too. Wonderful photos, as always. Have a nice day, hugs, Sarah

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  4. Love how you interpreted Yvonne's theme. I've about gardened out with Chris's challenge, but at least I have some ideas I can pull together.

    I'm a fan of holly hocks, too. I planted some at my home, but they never bloomed. Sad, but true.

    I like the colors you chose for your book cover. Nicely done, too. You finished that book very, very quickly and now it's complete. I wish mine went together that quickly. You did a great job filling yours in less than two months. Hope you have a warm and pleasant day.

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  5. Eine ganz tolle Startseite zum Gartenthema und ein fablehaftes Cover! Herrliche Aufnahmen sind das!
    Schönen Freitag!
    Liebe Grüße
    Susi

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  6. Your journal pages just keep getting better and better - this is so lovely with those amazing colours in the background. It makes me think of an underwater garden! Your journal cover turned out really well and you gave me a great trip down memory lane thinking back to how we used to have to 'back' our school books!

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    1. Yes, we had to cover all our books on the first day back at school after the summer hols!

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  7. The journal page is so beautiful. I love the background, one of my favorite things to make. And the doodled birds are perfect for the spot you've placed them in. Also, I like the very neat cover - neat in two different ways.

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  8. This post has everything. A wonderful journal page for the new AJJ theme. Terrific cover for your journal--great that you showed is how to cut for a cover--would never have thought of that.

    The the amazing photographs with such variety. I had to save one the hollyhock flowers--I wonder where it will turn up lol.

    Have a great day

    Love Chrissie xx

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  9. About PPF - I was wondering if one of the hosts lives in CA where the wild fires are eating up hundreds of houses, or if one of them is sick, or if they are having storms and have no electricity.

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    1. Eva lives in Canada and Kristin in the States, but I don't know where!

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  10. The cover on your journal is fabulous and I love your journal page - I'm hoping to be able to join in this month.
    xxx Hazel.

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  11. What a beautiful bird for your journal page.

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  12. Beautiful pages Valerie, lovely cover for your journal book, love those papers and gorgeous design. Fabulous photos again...hehe you will have to wait when the postie arrives...wonder how long it will take this time...Have a lovely weekend.xx
     {aNNie}

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  13. A wonderful and creative page!
    Many nice Series of pictures , i like my visit on your blog.
    Best regards
    Jutta from Germany

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  14. Hi Valerie! I always love seeing your photos! They are always so beautiful! And your work of art for art journal journey is absolutely gorgeous! I need to get my thinking cap on and participate this month - I just love working outside with my flowers!!!! Also, congrats on finishing your big, fat journal! And the cover you made for it - it's DIVINE!!!!!

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  15. The depth, colors and detailing in your garden inspired piece are mesmerizing. As always, I enjoyed the photographic tour as well. Happy PPF!

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  16. A beautiful page with those awesome doodles birds. I am looking forward to this month at AJJ. Its a super journal cover as well, I have lost count how many books I have covered with those corners.
    As always, loved the photos, especially the flowers.
    Yvonne xx

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  17. A lovely piece to begin the new challenge, Valerie. Your journal is GORGEOUS! Enjoyed our walk, as usual -- so much inspiration out there. Hugs, Donna

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  18. Love the journal page. Those birds are beyond fabulous. As always love the photos and the whole post.

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  19. What delights on your blog today, Valerie! I love hollyhocks too and those snoozing ducks were a lucky snap of the camera for you. Your book cover is marvelous. You were very smart to make it after your journal was completed. And now, let me talk about the stealer of the show for me - that wonderful doodled bird! I love the jeweled tones of your page; it is the perfect backdrop for those delightful birds. I agree; no garden is complete without birds. hugs, Teresa

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  20. Your page is just stunning! Love how you left the black and white...just gorgeous. And I always enjoy walking around your community. Hollyhocks make me think of my childhood. My grandmother always had them in her yard. Lovely post today. Thank you! and happy PPF

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  21. Brilliant colors and design on your journal pages. Your new journal look beautiful as well. Hollyhocks do not grow in Southern California so it is particularly lovely to see in your part of the world!

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    1. That's a pity, but you have lots of plants that we don't have!

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  22. Love your interpretations at the challenge! The bird is beautiful and I love how you played digitally with it. Love the pictures, seem very beautiful and peaceful there.

    Have a beautiful weekend!
    Nora Clemens-Gallo

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  23. Beautiful pages, love the bird. Great theme at AJJ, I need to get back to art journaling, it's be neglected for a long time. Your photos are also beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend, xx

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  24. Beautiful! Those birds are gorgeous. I really like the cover you made - especially the back cover. That gorgeous background and single leopard is so striking!

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  25. I've just read through all your comments and have enjoyed it quite a bit! Your journal cover is really something! It turned out beautiful!
    It's a lovely day to create and you have done so much with your skills! You are an inspiration! Happy PPF!

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  26. amazing journal page Valerie! I just love how the doodled birds stand out in their own right as does the background. Fantastic journal cover, and again such beautiful features of nature. Happy PPF!

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  27. I'd love to own that fat book!
    I don't do stamping or any journal pages but it's great to see others beautiful works, liker yours.
    Here it's hot and sunny but on Sun we'll have some rain and thunder...
    Happy PPF!

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  28. Great contrast of the doodled birds and that great background, a very nice start to the theme.
    YOu've just reminded me about how we used to cover school books - do you think the school children do it now? We called it "battering the books" or maybe that was just me.
    Big fat book is looking good with the glimpses of the coloured pages.

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    1. Here the kids still have to cover their books, but mostly use read made plastic covers. I still have my school hymn book, complete with paper cover made in 1958.

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  29. Love your gorgeous colourful page. The doodled birds are lovely. Some lovely photos to look at as well. Hugs Wendy

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  30. gosh i absolutely ADORE looking at your pages! Loved the journal on its side, and the photos are super inspiring. Love that bird in particular. Wow!!

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  31. Toller Hintergrund für deine neue Seite liebe Valerie, und mit den schönen Doodle-Vögeln sieht es Spitze aus. Auch dein Buchcover ist wieder sehr schön gestaltet.
    Danke auch für die Fotoserie, die Stockrosenfotos sehen grandios aus.
    Liebe Grüße
    Sabine

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  32. Hi Valerie! Thank you for the sweet comment you left on my PPF post today. I have to tell you that I love to come visit your blog. Your art is amazing, like your garden with the cute birds, and you always leave pictures of your beautiful surroundings. I look forward to your posts every Friday. I was even telling my sister about your posts today! Have a great weekend! Hugs, Rasz

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    1. Thanks for those kind words, they did me good!

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  33. Sooo schöne Bilder und Foto's! Happy PPF - Irma

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  34. Your journal turned out really nice. Luv the cover
    Thanks for this weeks sharing

    Much love...

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  35. Your journal turned out really nice. Luv the cover
    Thanks for this weeks sharing

    Much love...

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  36. Two gorgeous pieces today! I am really loving that first hybrid piece Valerie, what a glorious background! Lovely photos as well, that flower is wonderful and excellent sneaky pic of the ducks! hugs :)

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  37. Fabulous first entry for Yvonne's brilliant choice of theme! I love your cover - the shimmer is brilliant! Great photos once again! Chrisx

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  38. Wow I do love your birds, they are inspired by indian swirls and patterns like henna tattoos
    Happy PPF

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  39. I like your artwork. So pleasing to the eye :)

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  40. That is the most gorgeous page...I could see it in prints, cards posters...so beautiful!! A perfect message too!!! Excellent...loved the former moat too!

    Hugs Giggles

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  41. I love the echo of the bird in the background on that first piece, Valerie.

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  42. Fantastic page Valerie, your doodled birds are fabulous and the background is gorgeous! (love the colours)

    Love your journal too - what a joy that will be to thumb through on a rainy day!
    I really must make some - I have 3 books on the subject of book binding so have no excuses.

    The ducks were adorable - great photos as always.

    Gill xx

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  43. Hi Valerie. Beautiful page. Love your bird and your journals look great. Hope you are doing well. ::hugs::

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  44. What a lovely theme, and your page turned out gorgeous! Yes, I agree, birds belong in every garden. Although I could do without the very noisy magpies. Love your cover for your journal!

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  45. Valerie...What a beautiful journal you have created. The cover is so nice. Now you have a lovely book to pass down though the years of special pieces that your have made. It is wonderful. Your pictures are all beautiful, but I really like the macro shots of the flowers. They are awesome. Hope you are well and having a wonderful week. I am a bit late commenting. genie

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  46. Valerie...I goofed and forgot to tell you how I loved your pictures with the doodling. The middle one is my favorite. The bigger the better. You did a fabulous job with it. I LOVE to doodle and turn them into pitcutes like this. Beautiful. genie

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  47. Wow, you have been busy ... the birds on your garden page are so beautiful and the photos of your hollyhocks are stunning, they are a fanastic colour! Have a great week :-)

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