New year - let's craft!

 I took down the 2023 Kew calendar yesterday but couldn't resist saving this page, one of my favourites...  I had to do something with it - no time like the present 

help yourselves to chocolates whilst I faff with a journal...

when I found a journal that it would fit in - trimming was  necessary top and bottom (I used the Dina black journal and two of the linen paper pages )

I got out some Paperartsy paints and painted the pages to tone with the colours of the calendar page

I used a regular gel glue to add the calendar page to the journal for strength

I found a tree stamp (That's Crafty) and used Potting Soil archival ink to fill the edges of the pages 

after gluing the calendar in place I stencilled the birds on branches (Stencil Girl)  with Pinecones Versafine Clair ink

and some sentiments from the stamp set that comes with the tree 

This is the first standalone post I've written apart from WOYWW posts in over a year, and I am determined it won't be the last!

I would love to be able to take a photograph like this in real life - but sadly Kew isn't open at the right times of day for sunset/sunrises.