Instructions

In addition to recycling and moving towards living sustainably for the planet, I am a saver of cardboard boxes and paper. I keep thinking that one day I will use it for that one project. Well, with the onset of coronavirus affecting getting supplies, I thought this was the perfect time to shop my stash and use what I have. And to additionally lend a bit of meta to these events, I wanted to create a mini album documenting what life is like during this time of quarantine and social distancing.

Step 1: I gathered the cardboard boxes and paper I thought I might be able to use for this project. I also included the cardboard core from a roll of toilet paper. It seems appropriate.

Step 2: I broke down the boxes as much as I could and cut up some of them to create manageable sized pages. I even unrolled the toilet paper core to give myself more surface area for writing or painting or whatever.

Step 3: Before I could apply any medium, I thought I would paint some of the surfaces with Dina Wakley White Gesso.

Step 4: Then I applied Dina Wakley MEdia Black Gesso to others.

Step 5: I love kraft and left some pieces natural. Once I prepped my surfaces, I had a variety of surfaces in different weights and colors.

Step 6: For the quickest way to get color onto these, I relied on the different spray inks and mediums that we have.  I used Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays, Dylusions Shimmer Sprays and Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Sprays.  I stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink and I put some Ranger Gloss Medium over the top in one of the spreads to create a faux woodgrain effect.

Once I had my paper and cardboard colored, all I had to do was assemble my mini album and now it’s ready for use.

Here’s a flip-through of my finished journal.