Tis the season for some Warm Wishes from my Creative Squad. Today we have a holiday art journal spread from Jennifer Gallagher that transforms my Clam Hex and Space Oddity stamps into a non-traditional wreath design. Jennifer was inspired by our theme: Warm Wishes – For many cultures around the world, December is a holiday season filled with celebrations and good cheer. The Creative Squad is taking this month to send Warm Wishes to all our readers!

This month the creative squad is creating projects that celebrate this festive time of year. We are sending you all our warmest wishes! I love to think outside of the box with our creative squad prompts. So, when I sat down to contemplate warm wishes and holidays, I was immediately transported to somewhere tropical for some literal “warm” holiday wishes. I hope you enjoy my non-traditional and somewhat tropical take on a holiday wreath for a spread in my art journal.

I began in my canson mixed-media journal. I placed a small pencil mark in the center of my page as a guide. Then I inked my space oddity foam stamp with vibrant fuchsia archival ink. Next, I pressed the foam stamp into the center of my page, pressing with even pressure. This striped design mimics a fun candy cane pattern. Here is where we begin with a non-traditional use of color. Instead of the normal red and white, this pink and white will feel a lot more modern and tropical.

I used the mini clam hex foam to create my faux tropical leaves around the center of my wreath. I inked up the foam stamp with vivid chartreuse archival ink and pressed the stamp down in an exact pattern that I repeated all the way around.

Next, I wanted to add some ornament balls all around the wreath. Nat’s Small Circle Jumble rubber stamp set was the perfect thing. I chose the circle drive negative stamp and inked it up with garden patina archival ink. I stamped the ornaments all over the wreath.

I used my tombow mono drawing pens to add a little detail around each ornament and leaf.

Lastly, in pencil I sketched out a little fun hand-lettered sentiment. Once I settled on the design, I drew over it with my drawing pens and erased the pencil marks.

It has been another wonderful year working with Nat, Kim, and the gals from the Creative Squad. I hope you have enjoyed my work this year and have been inspired. I am sending you warm wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

Thank you Jennifer and we thank you for a great year of inspiring projects and of course we wish you a restful holiday season and happy new year too :) Here are some of the supplies that Jennifer used:

Feel inspired? Working on something yourself that you’d like to share?  I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share your projects in my next  “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat