Tree Stencil and flower punches

I bought a tree stencil about a month ago so, I wanted to do an art journal page to play around with it.  I've seen this stencil around and there seem to be several similar versions

To start with I used acrylic paints and put in the sky using 2 values of blue and some white.  I mixed them just slightly.  For the field, I laid in some green.  I like olive tones so, I used my primary green and mixed it with brown.  I also mixed a separate batch and added white.

 Once the paint dried, I put the stencil on.  I wanted the tree to be bigger than the stencil so, after I filled it in with black paint, I removed the stencil and extended the base to the bottom of the page and used a Copic marker to smooth out the branches.  I think that the next time I use this stencil, I'll have to use a different application method because the tree needed a lot of repair work!

After the tree was in place I began gluing down flower punches and really went to town with them!!  Finishing touches are edge trim, using a edge stamp by Dylusions, various dragonfly, bird and leaf stamps and finally a paper fairy which if fussy cut out.

I have another idea for this stencil so I'll show you that one too.

Final version

Overall, it was a fun and fairly easy page.  For me, art journaling is a fun way to learn more about painting and mixed media.