Corona Diaries: Lock Down Ventilations

Hello, everyone,  I hope you are still safe and well

Most of us realize that we will all forever be bound by this virus pandemic. As for me, it invaded my art journal. I shared my first Coronavirus spread in my last post, but apparently it was not through with me. Today I'm sharing a second spread, this time a more humorous take or "vent" about daily life during a self-imposed quarantine. Today was my 64th consecutive day of it - I began this spread weeks ago in my mind, then making notes and gathering images.

I need to personally thank my artist friend Valerie for originally challenging me with her Geometric Shapes theme she hosted for April at Art Journal Journey. At first, the theme turned me off but I finally figured out that my math brain was requiring too literal an interpretation. This led me to brainstorming to express my "viral" feelings by adding geo shapes in the background. I have a cool stamp set called Math Equations that I used since so much of the info and news is scientific in nature and viruses are part of Nature. Then, BANG, I was much more into the spread, lol. I just wasn't able to get it finished before the challenge ended on 4/30, but I used flowers on it so it fits Mia's current Flower challenge for May. Love when that happens! It's like the good Lord has taken pity on me! So, Thank you, too, Mia!

Ya'll who have been readers for a while know my strange penchant for loading up collage on an art journal page and telling a lil story. The weirdness this time began with me wanting to use Micropore tape on this spread. Crazy, I know. But I love how it feels like fabric and is kinda transparent. I got a splinter in my finger earlier in the week and neither Honey nor I could remove it. So I bandaided it and then covered that with the tape. It helps keep it banded through handwashing, etc. And Serendipity! I bet there's a LOT of Micropore tape being used in hospitals. It, too, fits my theme!

 I laid strips of it across my spread, adding double sided tape to the edges to make sure the tape did not curl up. This spread was previously base-coasted with acrylic blue paint a while back, as I'm a believer that a bare page stifles my creativity. (So I usually go through an art journal and paint or collage backgrounds first.) This background looks and feels like I'd laid down strips of masking tape before I painted. I burnished the micropore down very well before proceeding.

 Then I went to stamping with the math stamp set. I happened to have an acrylic block the length and width of each micropore strip, so I arranged my stamps on the block and was able to stamp a strip at a time all at once.

After that dried, I began stamping/printing/fussy cutting the images I knew I wanted to use, and arranging possible stamps to use. I decided to use a datebook format. I used old stickers for the spread's title, using my white Signo gel pen to color over the stickers that were too transparent to stand out in the word Ventilations. I also printed the week numbers in my own handwriting.

As I added more and more, I decided to pull out my Hero Arts Neon ink pads and my sponge finger daubers to add some color. I ended up stamping multiple images with it and also sponging color on both the micropore tape and on images. I listed the stamp brands I used (less a few I can't remember, only a couple) down at the bottom of the post under my challenge playlist. I love love love the rainbow effect that the neon inks make on the tape and how well the inks stamp.

 Here are close-ups of the left hand page. I wish I'd had enough room to put the little flowers around the other houses. Love the way the yellow ones look above. I dotted all the flower centers with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen and I like how that makes the flowers pop a bit. 

And close-ups of the right hand side. Had to highlight the senior slobs LOL. I Brake for Stamps people and Gina K sentiment from long ago. This is the first time I've been able to use the sentiment on anything and it fits here perfectly!  Also, the Stamplorations Christmas Cookie sentiment -- I may type and print "quarantined" and glue that over "wandering" - that fits this better, but hey, the original works good for now. Additionally, the two phrases I wanted to use on this from the get-go ("What? No Toilet Paper???" and "What day is it?") never made it onto the spread! I will eventually add them, but I think I've spent enough time on this for the time being, LOL.I was also to add washi tape houses and some strips of another washi here and there.

 I know it's strange but my spirit lifts by doing these kinds of "kitchen sink" spreads. And not get too cheesy, but making this spread has documented my struggle and journey to peace about this time we are in. For now, anyway. Thanks for letting me share it with you and I hope you have a safe and well week ahead. XOX

MY CHALLENGE PLAYLIST:
1.   Art Journal Journey MAY: Flowers -- Details in my post above
2.   Outlawz Twisted Thursday 4/23-5/06: Anything Goes + Opt. Twist: Use Sponsor's Stamp -- I've used Stamplorations Bee Knees Houses set and a sentiment from their Christmas Cookies and Cheer set.
3.   My Besties International Challenge: May AG -- I used Fluffy Bestie IMG050 and the Mom Surviving Quarantine Bestie freebie image and sentiment.
4.   Paperbabe Stamps #118: AG
5.   Color It, Create It, Show It Off May Challenge: AG -- I used Fluffy Best IMG050 and the Mom Surviving Quarantine Bestie freebie image and sentiment.
6.   Creative Artiste Challenge #60: AG Mixed Media with at least 3 Media -- per "What is Mixed Media" blog tab, I've used acrylic paint, textural elements (the tapes and mulberry fabric flowers), paper, inks and markers.
7.   Crafts Galore Encore #75: AAG
8.   Classic Design May Challenge: AG
9.   Sparkles Monthly Challenge #127: Spring Is In the Air -- I believe this qualifies. It's how I've spent my Spring, the colors are bright pastels, and COVID's in the air! :-)

STAMP BRANDS I USED:
Stamplorations
Altenew
Artgirls
I Brake for Stamps
Gina K
Neat and Tangled
Melanie Sage
My Besties digital
Avery Elle
Impression Obsession
Wawa Stationery
Stampabilities
Crafters Companion Lil Scruffy Cat
Hero Arts