Nature Tag Accordion Book

I have spent a lot more time in the garden this year and the place is alive with bees which is a great sign. Much of my time has been taken up with watering the garden throughout the heat, fighting to keep all my plants growing. This year I managed to plant potatoes. Something I have wanted to do for years. Then the sun came out to stay!  I really wanted to keep them alive - so lots of trips with a watering can. Country View's challenge theme for July is In the Summer Garden and That's Crafty's theme is Close to Nature both have been in my mind and I made several attempts to settle down to work on them. As I said last post I seem to be producing masses of backgrounds but no projects. I think now the weather has cooled down my creative brain has revived.

This is a quick simple project using small cream parcel tags attached with washi tape to make an accordion book. The tags are painted with dry brush strokes of Paperartsy chalk paint in limelight and Beach Hut. The tape used to attach the tags is by 7 Gypsies - dragged screaming and kicking from my stash. The turquoise colour matched the painting perfectly.

As I had been struggling so once I started I did not stop to take any more photos as I worked. I stamped along the bottom with lots of plant stamps and added some dragonflies and insects and flowers. Then I pulled the colours together with distress ink around the edges in Twisted Citron. I made a separate piece for the sentiment as I felt it would disappear in all the busy images and colours. The book is finished off with some metallic distress stain and a peice of dyed seam binding.

So good to get something finished that I am reasonably happy with. I still have a pile of backgrounds!

I will have to take more process shots next time.

List of supplies
Stamps - various but lots from Crafty Secrets Wildflowers set.
Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paint - Beach Hut, Limelight and Nougat
Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Tarnished Brass
Archival ink - Manganese Blue and Leaf Green
Distress Ink - Twisted Citron
7 Gypsies Wash Tape way too old to remember or find online!

I am linking up with
That's Crafty's Close to Nature Challenge
Country View's In the Summer Garden Challenge

Thanks for your visit and all the kind comments

Lynne Perrella card

A rainy day yesterday and how happy is my garden and the frogs in my pond. I think after all this unusual hot dry weather in Ireland I am not alone in welcoming the familiar wet days home. I had a great time sitting in the attic painting and stamping as the rain did all my watering for me. I got out a Lynne Perrella stamp I have been wanting to use for ages.

I love this veiled woman with her mysterious hat. She suggests all sorts of journeys and adventures to me but her eyes give away none of her secrets. I used Paperartsy grunge paste and a stencil then lots of layered fresco finish paints and a touch of distress ink in chipped Sapphire.

The stamping in the background is minimal just some crackle effect and text and a hint of ephemera. I think this lady can stand alone.

Hope you are creating at your desk or in your garden. x