Pixabay ATC Fun and a Ransom Note

I've been hella bored this weekend.  This is nothing new.  I stay bored.  During the quarantine, I've been having a problem staying creative.  Before COVID-19, creativity seemed to flow effortlessly.  Now I have to force myself to make anything.  Yesterday, I decided I'd settle down in my chair in my literal cave (my workspace is recessed underneath a loft bed) and create some mixed media ATC's (artist trading cards).  I've known about Pixabay for some time now, but I've never really utilized it.  For those of you who don't know what Pixabay is, its a site with over a million free to use, copyleft photos, illustrations, vector graphics, film footage, and music.  In addition to using some photos, vector graphics, and illustrations from Pixabay, I used some hand painted papers I purchased from my friend Stephanie's Etsy shop, Paper Cut Lane.  Stephanie is my favorite mixed media artist ever!  So when she opened up her Etsy shop recently, I was thrilled that I could buy her handmade supplies to use in my own mixed media pieces.  Here are some of the ATC's I made yesterday.

I also made a ransom note handmade postcard yesterday for an upcoming swap on swap-bot.  I wanted to add a sinister message, but not something too creepy.  Here's what I came up with.  

I don't read magazines, so I purchased a digital file of these cut out letters from LaSoffittaDiSte on Etsy. Much easier than combing through magazines and finding the letters myself.  

I've already been searching Pixabay this morning, looking for more interesting images so I can make more ATC's.  Unfortunately I'm running out of ink already just two weeks after installing new color cartridges.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to invest in a color laser printer soon.  Do any of you have any recommendations for a relatively inexpensive ($400 or less) color laser printer with a scanner?  Or can you recommend a good brand?  Any suggestions would help me out a great deal.  

Pixel Therapy

Starting this afternoon and into the evening, things were rough for me.  At times I was depressed and at times I was numb.  I had 2 or 3 good days prior to today and I thought the worst was over.  I guess I started worrying once I heard that things were going to get worse and we were going to have a "Pearl Harbor/911" moment with regard to the pandemic.  I had to keep my mind off of the madness, but I didn't feel like crafting or doing traditional drawings.  I have the program, PikoPixel, on my computer so I thought I'd play around with it.  I browsed the free icon bases on deviantART and found several that I liked.  Here are 3 of my favorite icons that I made today.  They are all in my likeness since I love doing self portraits.  It's not due to vanity by any means.  I just think I make a good character.  =P

The base for this first one was created by ChibiPancake on deviantART.  Keep in mind that I'm a total novice at this and I'm still learning.  Shading is not one of my strong suits.  

The next base is by Sody-Pop on dA.  I had to make at least one COVID-19 related pixel.

Finally, I made a whole body pixel icon with a base by fuwaffy on dA.  

I made 3 other pixel icons, but these are my favorites.  Making these icons really lifted my spirits.  I feel so much better than I did earlier.  I did make one from scratch today: a bottle of hand sanitizer.

If you'd like to see more of my art, you can see it on my deviantART page.  

I Got New Rubber Stamps!

Depression has been plentiful and anxiety high at my house over the past few days.  The threat of COVID-19 is all consuming and I find less and less joy.  A little bit of joy came in the mail today from Hong Kong after a nearly month long wait.  Little rubber stamps I ordered from efplanner on Etsy!  I ordered a custom stamp of my kawaii maxi pad and a few others.

This is a picture of them in a journal I'm currently working on.  They were really inexpensive and are really high quality.  The wait was just a little long due to COVID-19, but it was well worth it.  I worked with the seller to set up the proof for the custom stamp and she was really nice and helpful.  I highly recommend this shop.  

I've been having a hard time concentrating on craft projects.  I believe it's situational depression due to the current state of our world.  I did find it helpful to copy down uplifting quotes in the journal I'm working on in rainbow colors.  I'm hoping my mood will improve each day.  I'm trying to have a positive outlook and lots of hope.  Please stay healthy and safe out there.