May 2020 Blog Calendar

May 5 (due April 30)): Stacia TUT/blog post SCHEDULED
May 12 (due april 7): blog post -Karen SCHEDULED
May 19 (due april 11): Geraldine Hybrid SCHEDULED
May 26 (due april 21): font post by San??

This month I created two art journal pages.

Since the beginning of the quarantine, I have time to Art Journal creation.

I show you two examples of hybrid art journal created. I used white acrylic paint, stencils, inks, and printed elements and papers from Pink Reptile Designs

My Art journal booknote is an old Smashbook, that I never used.
The first step is to cover the page with white acrylic paint. The acrylic paint will create a plastic layer to waterproof the paper. I'll be able to play with the inks more easily because they won't be absorb  immediately by the paper on the page.



I cut small pieces of papers from Forget me not|papers and Pure and simple|papers, and I glued them with white paint to create my background. The colour of the paper is blurred thanks to the paint that creates a layer :


I used a stencil to create an embossed dot pattern with white paint :




I cut a leaves element (Room with view|elements) and I glued it on my page :


I stamped a pattern with brown ink to complete my background :


Then I created some stains, but I'm a cheater ^^ I used a stencil to create perfect stains :




I add some ink splatters.

I glued this beautiful red flower from Room with view|elements


And I added the WA limitless (limitless|elements) to finish my art journal :


My hands are dirty and I'm very happy !



I created my second page with Flaws and All|elements

I printed some elements from this kit :


I love this sketched girl elements. It will be the master element of my page.

I created my background with stencil and ink to created flowers:


I added a stamp and I glued a butterfly. I glued it wth glued to keep the color. The butterfly is one element from Flaws and all|elements


To complete my background, I added some colored stains. I created them with watercolor pencils :


Then I glued the girl portrait :

The paper absorb watercolor paint and now, the portrait and the background are homogenized.

I added flowers on the portrait to merge the element with the background :


To finish my page, I added A yellow butterfly and the text element :


My art journal is finished :

What a great idea Géraldine!

Thank Mirjam

That is so beautiful Geraldine!

I am currently writing up the blog post, will be done by tomorrow, a fairly simple one some ideas for documenting the personal/everyday side of the pandemic xx

Documenting These Historic Times

Hi Everyone,
Never have the words “Hope you are Well” have such meaning behind them. It is an unprecedented time and we have a craft that is fully able to memorialize these days. And your pages will be important documents for generations ahead I the same way we look with wonder and interest at the diaries and scrapbooks from the World Wars.

I have a slightly different take on the monthly blog post – it’s a checklist of ideas to scrap for this pandemic

• Weekly planner pages - day to day life documented
• Before/after photo shoots – I have done this with my local supermarkets toilet paper aisle – now that we are back on a more even keel here, it seems so weird that everyone was obsessing about toilet roll just a short period ago


Christa has looked back at her old normal on her page



• How your country/region is dealing with the Corona Virus out break
• Home schooling – this is such a big one! Both the good and bad bits – I am lucky that my one home schooler is in his last year and all I can add to his learning is food supply and occasion nagging.
• Working from home or having a partner or child working from home – does it work for you? Do you still have to front up to work, how different is it with social distancing?
• New habits formed – sleeping more/less, eating more home cooked meals, wearing masks and gloves when you leave home,  cleaning more (ha!)
• New hobbies taken up or old ones renewed -

Marilyn has brought our her machine to make some beautiful masks


• Zoom meetings with friends and family, take the occasional screen shot, they are usually not high quality but that really doesn’t matter
• What you miss most – travel, parties, gym, eating out or even hugs from friends - do you still celebrate occasions - if so how?

Kate documented how she celebrated St Patrick's Day this year even in lock down - perfect!  


• If you are unlucky enough to have symptoms, how and where did you get tested – my friend was tested and was in tears because they couldn’t get the swab in properly so it was quite a painful procedure but for others it was less intrusive…
• We are just starting to reopen businesses here in my area, back to school this week for 4 days a week – how are you coping with this change – looking forward or dreading it?
• Are you already in planning for your next holiday when it is all safe to travel again – if so where? Or just dream aloud of the places you would love to go if you could…

And lastly –

• Never forget to document your emotions over this tricky time – I have had days where I just want everyone out of my house (can’t I just self-isolate all by myself just for a day? Please?) and other days where I am oh so grateful to be living where I am – happily this outweighs my bad days by an enormous factor!  Art journaling is your friend for this type of record keeping!



These are just a few ideas to keep you thinking, look around the internet for variety – Most designers have monthly challenges, including here and of course over at The Lilypad, these are great to kickstart your documentation of this important era!

Sending virtual hugs to everyone - Stay safe and look forward to catching up again soon

xx

Absolutely FANTASTIC post Karen! I LOVE IT!

Thanks Mirjam, so pleased you like it xx