December AJ Page-Winter Memories

Seasons, Winter, Mixed Media, Other Than a Card, Art Journaling, Shopping My Stash

Hello friends!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas in whatever way you chose to spend it!  It was wonderful to celebrate the season with loved ones for sure!  So many memories were made this year and lots to celebrate!

  • Speaking of “Memories”, this will be my last Art Journal Page and my collaboration with the monthly “SMASH OUR STASH” Art Journaling.  I’ve collaborated with my crafty friend Carol (from Crafty-Stamper) to join in. (Check out her page HERE!)   Here’s my final AJ page with the DECEMBER prompt of “MEMORIES”: 

I thought that the “memories” prompt would be a good one to use for the end of the year.  It’s a way for me to reflect back at all of the memories that were made throughout the year.  Plus, with the winter weather outside, it’s a good time to stay indoors where it’s warm and rock a baby perhaps!😉  When my new grandson came over, it was a pleasure to rock him in the very same rocking chair that I had rocked my children in as well!  This brought up special memories of my grown children now with their own baby!  So I made a scene with winter outside, rocking my baby and the grandfather clock I have next to it.   (Which is a similar scene from my home.)

BACKGROUND:  I started by printing out the poem on a piece of cardstock in brown and then cut it down to the side 8.5″ x 5.5″ with the poem being in horizontal to the left.

I took some masking paper and ripped a piece that would fit over and cover the poem so that I could do some watercolor.  Before the watercolor began, I took a “gears” stencil and covered up the top right corner with dimensional paste and let it dry.  Once it dried and the poem still covered with masking paper, I used my Zig Kuretake watercolor to go over the background by creating a floor and going over the paste.  I also did some splattering brown watercolor and white opaque Copic ink.  while the mask was still on, I also took a background stamp and randomly stamped in brown ink over some of the areas.  Then I used the same brown ink and sponged around the edges.  Lastly, I took some gold metallic paste to go around the edges as well as the texture on the stenciled paste.

For the images, I found a watercolor image of someone rocking a baby and printed it out and fussy cut it out to pop up with foam tape on the page.  I used Copic markers to create more of the stars underneath the image as well as “grounding” for the grandfather clock.  (This way I knew where my “flooring” would be.)

The grandfather clock was a sticker from my stash and then for the window, I stamped it with brown ink over kraft cardstock and then again in white cardstock.  I did this so that I could cut out the center of the window to make it show what’s going on outside which is winter!  I stamped snowflakes and used my Copic to create a cold looking window with snow shadows!  I also used some blue ink to randomly stamp some snowflakes around the page next to the poem.

Here’s a closer view of the poem.  I’ve seen this poem when my children were babies themselves and I’ve always loved it.  The “memories” sentiment came from a rub-on transfer in my stash.

  • I hope you’ve enjoyed my page today and I hope you enjoyed seeing all of the pages that both Carol and I have shared throughout the last THREE years!  Wow, can’t believe that was how long I did these!  I really enjoyed the process!

Thanks so much for stopping by as I really appreciate your thoughts!  I’ll be seeing you soon!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – Winter (hope my snowflakes are enough to convey this!)
  2. Creative Artiste – Anything Goes with Mixed Media
Published

34 thoughts on “December AJ Page-Winter Memories”

  1. Your final art journal page is such a heartfelt and beautiful reflection on the year. The way you wove together the winter scene, the rocking chair, and that tender moment with your grandson creates such an intimate story on the page. I love how the poem anchors everything, and the layered textures, watercolor, stenciling, and splatters give the whole piece a warm, lived‑in feeling. The window with the snowy scene is especially striking, and the rocking‑baby image adds such emotional depth. This feels like a perfect closing chapter for your Smash Our Stash collaboration.

    I appreciate your visits to my blog this year and the lovely comments you’ve shared. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year ahead.

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  2. Beautiful final AJ page Vicki. It gives a dreamy feeling which fits the poem.

    Wishing you a very Happy New Year and I thank you for all your lovely comments onmy blog!

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  3. Awww, what a beautiful page, my friend! I love that you incorporated rocking that sweet lil’ grandson in the same chair you rocked your kids into your Memories page. And that poem is awesome! I’m sure going to miss seeing these every month. Believe it or not, you’ve given me a lot of inspiration for some pages when I finally find my journal, lol! I ‘think’ I know where to look and I’m going to check that box today. Still have lots of boxes of cards and 3D projects to go through from our move so I can get started on donating all the cards. But I really do love this page and it really reflects some beautiful memories! Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you friend! That is so kind and I hope that you give a try and have fun with it! It’s nice to use the stuff you have…it’s a lifelong process for me I think! LOL Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year to come! HUGS

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  4. Beautiful art page – I have loed following your monthly art pages – so inspiring. I would sit in the rocking chair and finish my current book. Have a GREAT New Year and looking forward to seeing all of your posts.

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  5. Perfect last journal page Vicki and so special having your new little Grandson and the same rocking chair you used for your little ones too. I really love the hazy watercolour image and the poem is so true. WOW three years have flown by, I have enjoyed these challenges with you-even though I have missed a few-take care of yourself Vicki and best wishes for hopefully a better New Year.

    Carol xxx(crafty-stamper)

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    1. Thank you friend! It’s been such a pleasure doing this with you for the last 3 years! I had to look at that and can’t believe we did it that long! LOL Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year ahead my friend! Please take care of you and your family! HUGS

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  9. Beautiful poem which nearly made me cry Vicki, my grandchildren are all in their twenties now and I miss the babies and quite sure they should hurry up and make me some great grandies, I do have some, but that family is estranged so we don’t see them..and I love the scene you created with the mother and baby by the grandfather clock..gorgeous page..

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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    1. Awe! Thank you Chrissy! The poem makes me cry as well! Having memories with our loved ones is the best gift of all! Sending hugs and happiness for the New Year ahead my friend!

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  11. Hi Vicki! I’ve been having some issues with WordPress lately, so I hope you are getting my comments. (I tried to comment yesterday!) Anyway, your art journal page is absolutely stunning. I love all your beautiful details, especially your sentiment/poem. It’s perfect here!

    And I especially love how you rocked your new grandson in the same rocking chair you rocked your children in. That’s such a special moment!

    Thanks so much for joining us at Art Journal Journey this month! Happy New Year! Hugs, Sharon

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    1. Thank you so much Sharon! Yes, I did receive your comment and I really appreciate you taking the time! Best wishes for a Happy New Year creative friend! HUGS

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  13. Happy belated Christmas to you. And you ended this phase of your life in an amazing way too. What a gorgeous page. That rocking the baby image came out fantastic. And I bet it was fun to rock your grandson and snuggle. I don’t have grandkids yet (and hopefully I will one day) but everyone says it is special since you learn that they grow up so fast after raising your own children. I will miss your art journaling, so if you ever find some time and want to join in, please do. Wishing you a wonderful start to 2026, and thanks so much for not only joining Sharon at AJJ but for being a host for us also. hugs-Erika

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    1. Thank you so much friend! Being a grandma is such an amazing experience! Nothing but a treasure for sure! I appreciate all of your kind support, inspiration and sharing of our love of art journaling! Best wishes for a Happy New Year my creative friend!

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  15. Such a sweet page and creative too! Love the sentiment- and yes, the kids grow like weeds- way too fast! Beautifully created!

    Happy New Year!

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  16. Lovely project. Beautiful design and colours. Season greetings, Thank you for joining us at Creative Artist. Looking forward to seeing you beautiful art in 2026. Judy DT

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  18. A beautiful page Vicki memories of the past to be revisited that’s the beauty of the circle of life. The verse is extremely thought provoking a very wonderful piece of art.

    Thank you so much for sharing @ Creative Artiste we hope you will join us again and share your wonderful art work in February when our Mixed Media challenges restart.
    Happy creative New Year Tracey (DT)

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