The New Normal: Phase One

While Covid-19 is still here, still viable, still causing a global pandemic, here in New York State our Stay at Home order (PAUSE) has basically been lifted. We must wear a mask in public, we must social distance, and we must not gather together but we are slowly transitioning back to a new normal. Thus, I have changed my titles to depict this slow re-opening of my state. Since it officially began in the North Country on May 15, I will be counting the days from there.

If you are looking for a Graduation card (it could also be used for other occasions), go over to my Etsy Store and check out the 4 recent listings for cards. You can choose colors and add a personalization to them and if you select a new shipping address (other than your own), I'll make the custom card and send it to your graduate directly. I always offer Free shipping on single cards and my shop has a free shipping option for orders over $35.00. (Full Disclosure: I do average in a cost for shipping to my usual prices just as I add in any Etsy Fees to my listings. So just remember "free" shipping isn't always "free".) The photos on the site are just card examples. Colors will vary with your selections.

Here's the store: Chocolate Dragon Paper Arts

Here's the 2 cards I did:

They are both easel cards and the colors that would be custom are the base of the card, the mat, and the colors in the background of the stamped image. Stamped images by Hot Off the Press.

There are 2 other cards on the site that my sister makes that are much more elaborate. An explosion box and an accordion card. Same deal. They are made to order and sent to the graduate or I'll send them to you with an envelope if you want to add a gift card or cash. On the accordion card, you have a choice of sentiment and a color (for the card base).

Anyway, all the details are at my Etsy Store. Please allow time to make the card as well as to ship it to you. I use the USPS to ship and will not expedite. Only First Class mail for cards. If you get other things or a lot of cards to a single address, I may upgrade you to Priority Mail. (It's still free.)

Thanks for the support! My sister and I make unique cards and no two ever look the exactly the same, even when we want them to! And all of these cards are great for displaying.

Remember to wear your mask!

Wash your dang hands!

And above all, stay safe!

-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 51

Yes, it's Cinco De Mayo so have a margarita for me. I may officially start counting down the days to a "soft reopening" of New York's North Country on May 15th. (Cross your fingers!)

Today, though, I'm sharing a few more Star Wars cards.
As you scroll, you'll understand why.

While May 4th is Star Wars day, May 5th is all about the scum and villainy of Star Wars. I decided to make a few Revenge of the Fifth cards this year.

And of course, I had to make one with the Covid-19 Pandemic theme.

Like my Utinni! card from yesterday, this is a three panel card but it's oriented portrait style. The front panel has a window so you can see the Death Star (on the second panel) through it. The inside is relatively blank. I drew in the whole front panel. (Yeah, I'm still practicing my drawing. snicker. At least, Disney can't sue me.)

Have a great Cinco De Mayo or a Revenge of the 5th day, which ever or both!
Keep wearing your masks and washing your hands!
We're on the countdown to Phase One Reopening!
-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 50 (Star Wars Day)

Seriously? Day 50? OMG.

Happy Star Wars Day to the nerds like me who celebrate it!

I made a few cards to celebrate and since they've all been sent out, I suppose I can share them.
These (along with a few scrapbook pages) will finally use up a bunch of Star Wars themed scrapbook paper that I had been hoarding for a few years.

I love the graphic look of these Darth Vader cards but since this year we're all still in lockdown, I decided to add an original work to the mix.

This Jawa card is three panels. The front (with X-wings) opens to the second inside (galaxy) then all three panels are revealed. If anyone ever played the Super Nintendo Star Wars game with the Jawas in it (I think it was Return of the Jedi?), then you know exactly how "Utinni!" sounds. I made this one for my brother. Notice how well my Jawas practice social distancing. (BTW, I have no idea what that device is on the first panel. I just made something that I thought would look like a vaporator but well, who cares. Maybe it's just some junk the Jawas are picking up.)

May the 4th be with you!
-Wy
(Don't forget to keep wearing your masks! It ain't over yet!)

Global Pandemic: Day 40

Today is the day. I feel quite accomplished.

I did my laundry, made a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting, deposited my government stimulus check, received my unemployment benefits, and managed not to comment on any posts about President Trump's medical "expertise". (Damn, I used to think we couldn't sink much lower than George W. in the "stooopid" department. 
George: Mission Accomplished!
Trump: Hold my beer...)

I also managed to complete a few journal pages. This one is in the Color Palette Journal.
Follow my Pinterest board for the selection of palettes I choose from for this journal. Once I complete a spread with the palette I remove it from the board. If you're on Pinterest and see an interesting Palette, feel free to share it with me. I do have over 200 pins on the board currently, so it has to be pretty interesting and unique for me to pin any more to the board right now. Make sure it's a good one!

Here's the palette that was randomly selected:

I call it: Hydrangea 1943. While I love the colors individually in this palette, combining them into a page was a bit challenging.  I found the baby pink on the end to be the most difficult to incorporate. It's not that I couldn't find that color in my stash, somewhere. It was the fact that it seems to be a warm shade of pink while the rest of the palette encompasses cool tones. So I decided to pair the two pinks on the end together as sort of a dark and light shade and put the rest in the background.

Looking at the palette again, I can see where a couple of my colors may be stretching the bounds as my "dark" pink is a bit too warm and my periwinkle color is a bit too light. The middle color I interpreted as a fuchsia but on my screen here, it appears almost as a soft purple. But the exercise was fun just the same, even if my page isn't a head-turner.

I just used this Dylusions rabbit in a Dyalog Day by Day page but the expression on it's face is so mean looking that I find it funny. (Maybe this bunny took some of Dr. Trump's advice!) The photos' color didn't come out very true and I could only make so many adjustments. The bunnies bow, as well as the darker "coral" color, is actually more of a lipstick pink and the bunny itself is a baby pink.

As I said, I'm not thrilled with the resulting page but I'm putting it on the books as a finished project.

Stay safe, Stay home.
Wear your masks!
Do NOT inject or ingest disinfectant or bleach.
This too shall pass.
-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 37

I've been ornery the last few days and little things have been ticking me off. So I dedicated my time to just coloring today. I did get a few pages done with just some colored images. I felt better.

I haven't been posting a lot of this little journal as I don't tend to like the end results of the pages. I think its partly due to the fact that the backgrounds I did aren't really my palette. I don't like them overall so I'm trying to adjust them as I go along.

This is the Dyalog Day by Day challenge journal. It's hard for me to do it every day but I'm trying. I have other creative projects I'd like to do as well so this little journal is falling by the wayside. But here's a few pages I got done today.

Just a quick page using the challenge page quote. It says: "I'd love to go out but the cat and I have plans for this evening." I love the creepy look of this cat from Dyan Reaveley.

For the April 17th page, I went way off the rails. I just jotted down some of the main things from the challenge. My notes included: silhouette, collage girl, and gatherings of people. This spread didn't really follow the outline but I like it better than most pages in this journal. And that's probably why. Those images are rubber stamps from Stamper's Anonymous. It's a Tim Holtz set called, The Chemist.

Stay home.
Wash your Hands.
WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN YOU GO OUT!!!
(I'm looking at you St Lawrence County!)
Stay well.
-Wy

Global Pandemc: Day 33

Ok, so, I need to start making some life choices.

And I don't want to think about that so I did an art journal spread in my Color Palette Journal.

But just for posterity, Cuomo announced that the PAUSE (stay at home order) will remain in place for New York state until May 15th now. Then, they will re-evaluate. While I am anxious to have it lifted so I can get back to making chocolate, I am okay with being more safe than sorry.

Enough.
Here is the Color Palette I randomly selected from my Pinterest board.
I called it Tropical.

Here's what I completed today:

I've been hitting quite a few palettes that have a sunset theme. Hopefully, the next one will be a bit different.

Have a great weekend! Stay home and get artsy!
Wash your hands!
We're all in this together. #alonetogether
-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 28

Today is Easter Sunday in the Christian faith.

I am still staying at home with my parents and trying to figure out when the government might send me a stimulus check. We had a nice dinner and best of all, we have leftovers so I won't have to have a meal plan for tomorrow, at least.

I'm trying to make some art. I am hopeful for the upcoming week. I have a feeling I will be more productive.

I did manage to get a spread done in my Color Palette Journal.
Here's the palette that was randomly selected from my Pinterest Board. (FYI, I remove the palettes that I've done in my journal so I don't do them again. With over 200 there, I think I'll have plenty of selection.)

I named it Sunset Brights.

Here's the page spread I made.

I had been wanting to pull out my Lawn Fawn stamps so I decided to just use all the underwater creatures I had. I couldn't fit them all in there but I pulled out some of my favorites. I used some Liquid Pearls in neon colors for the bubbles.

Remember that we ain't out of the woods yet.
So keep staying at home.
Always wash your hands.
Wear a mask if you're out.
Don't be a jerk.
-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 23

While I got nothing completed, I did get some stuff colored.

I'm calling it a win for a day that just didn't feel right.
Our County is seeing a spike in Covid cases. I'm pretty sure it's because many have not been social distancing as they should. It may also have to do with the fact that almost everyone is considered an "essential" worker. The county sheriff issued a travel advisory and asked that no one travel unless for essential stuff like work, groceries, or med appts. It's a good and bad thing. For those small businesses that are hanging on because they are essential like gas stations and retail grocers, it may see a downtick in business that was already spiraling down. But I think the more important thing is that it will force people to stay home.

THAT is what will end this.

I'm going to stop these blog posts for awhile as I feel I'm putting too much pressure on myself to accomplish something everyday. I don't need to do that. I'm going to roll with this and do what I can do. If I have a photo or project to share, I'll post. Otherwise, I may go quiet for awhile.

I need to allow myself to put this free time toward projects that have been waiting a long time for my attention.

As Rachel Ray says, "We'll see ya when we see ya."

-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 22

Weather wise, it's a beautiful Spring day! I made up an Easter Egg tree. (You know, take those plastic eggs and hang them in a budding bush. Yup, nailed it.)

I awoke early in order to get through to Unemployment on-line. Managed to file. I will see what comes of it.

But I still stayed inside most of the day and I didn't seem to accomplish much for having gotten up early. My mind took a turn into the future. I began considering when exactly the end of this is? Is it when the state allows non-essentials to go back to work and schools re-open? Is it when my local area meets a certain number of cases and recoveries? I mean, I think it's when my parents are allowed back into social gathering areas, right? If they are going to venture out then I can. But isn't the risk of infection still out there? Just because the major cities have seen an "apex" what does that mean for all the rural areas of this country?

That's where my head went today and I began to wonder about going back to work. And that just put my head in a spin. So yeah, I don't have much to show for today.

I did figure out a card I can do as a card class with the proper materials and that had been a goal of mine for a few months. But no photos of that.

Here's my daily journal page. Nothing too complicated. My head space was complicated enough.

So take it a day at a time.
Don't overthink it.
Wash your dang hands.
STAY HOME.
-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 21

I felt pretty productive today.

My sister dropped off a few homemade masks for us and the neighbors today. She stayed just a bit to say Hi to my parents. (They talked through the glass door.)

I'm refraining from news outlets and social media commenting. I'm trying to get back into my "little world" where I don't feel like this is as stressful as the "big world" makes me feel.

If that makes any sense.

I made a couple art journal pages today. These are part of the Day to Day Dyalog "challenge".

These are April 3 and 4.
Not sure how much "art" I'll get done tomorrow. I'm still trying to get unemployment and it's an all day affair to try to get through to anyone either on-line or by phone. But hopefully, I'll get my Easter Egg tree done tomorrow...a real one. Out in my yard.

Stay Home and Stay Safe!
Wear a mask when you go out.
Help wherever you can.
Don't be an idiot.
-Wy
(Those last two are good advice all round!)

Global Pandemic: Day 20

Hey, I managed to do a page today!

I'm trying to stay away from the news this weekend and focus on my own little world. Back to the global stuff on Monday.

This is my page for April 2. It's okay. I'm trying to use this to spark some creativity for larger projects. (I keep telling myself I need to start more Divination Cards!)

Have a good weekend!
Stay home! (If 90% of us stayed home, the virus would be gone in 14 days. Just do it!)
THANK YOU, Essential Workers and Healthcare workers!
Wear a mask! It can't hurt.
-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 19

I knew I should've kept those last couple bandanas I had instead of throwing them out because I never use them for anything!

Ah, well. My sister is making some masks. I ordered a few bandanas from Amazon to make those little no sew ones but who knows when that package will get here. Maybe next week, maybe not.

I can't make masks but I can make some journal pages! Caught up a bit on the Day to Day Dylusions journal. #daytodaydylusions

This is my Isolation calendar. Not sure if I'll be adding much to the days but ya never know.

My intro page and my April 1 page. I'm trying hard to use up stuff like stickers and die cuts for this journal.

STAY HOME.
Wash your dang hands!
Get a mask and wear it out when you go get groceries...because that's all you should be going out for is food! Unless you're essential then THANK YOU!
-Wy