The tastes of summer

This is my final entry as host this month at Art Journal Journey. Bleubeard and I would like to thank Susi for her wonderful, supportive, and caring administration of Art Journal Journey.  It's been an honor to host and I hope I didn't disappoint.

I've been influenced by the various posts I read that included the tastes of summer, so I had to create my final entry with that in mind.

Watermelon, a summertime staple is definitely one of the tastes I appreciate in summer.

Popsicles, waffle cones filled with ice cream and fruit, and island drinks served in a coconut shell all make me think of summer, too.

What would summertime love be without a few hearts?  I used them throughout the month in several of my spreads.  Another waffle cone filled with four or five dips of colorful ice cream (and a cherry on top) also remind me of the tastes of summer.

Of course, it never hurts to share a few summertime drink recipes, either.

Add watermelon and heart embellishments, and these drinks take on a life of their own.

I really got in collage and mixed media mode on this page.

I actually felt bad covering up all the paint I used to create the background.

I also used a lot of pop dots and 3-D embellishments on this page.

Just about everything was dimensional,

as you can see from this view

this view,

this view,

and this view.

I began by laying down various acrylic paints onto a piece of watercolor paper.  It was the first time this month I grabbed watercolor paper for my background.  I backed both the watermelon and the splashing drinks with heavy card stock.  Since the drink recipe cards were already the thickness of postcards, I didn't back them.  They were also the only items, other than the mat under the watermelon and the computer generated text that didn't get pop dots or have pop dots already attached.

Thanks for joining me for a month of Art Journal Journey. Bleubeard and I are extremely grateful for your comments, your wonderful and inspirational art you shared with us, and your visits.  Thanks again Susi for your support and guidance throughout this month, too.



Finally, here's a look back at everything I created for Summertime Love at Art Journal Journey.   Bleubeard and I greatly appreciate all your comments, even though we/I might not say it often enough.