Rare Art Journal Page

Hello friends! Today is Rare Disease Day and this year I decided that I wanted to make a page in my art journal. The purpose of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness and generate change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and carers. 

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One of the events during Rare Disease Day is a Global Chain of Lights in the colors of Rare Disease Day. Instead of actually lights, I made an art journal page. The colors are blue, pink, purple and green. 

One of the many challenges with rare diseases is that it often takes a long time to receive a diagnosis. There is also a lack of awareness in society, as well as within the healthcare system. Patients often have to struggle to receive the right treatment. In the case of, for example, Addison’s disease, this can mean the difference between life and death, as it can quickly become life-threatening. Additionally, there is less research and less funding available for rare diseases.

Both my sons have Addison's disease, an life-long autoimmune disease which affect about 1 in 100.000 people. Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is when the adrenal glands do not produce enough (or none) of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Without these, you cannot live.

Start by smearing Distress Ink on an acrylic block and mist with water. Press into your journal. I used Stamperia's Happiness Mixed Media Journal. Let dry. You can do the technique on any watercolor paper. 

Repeat until you are happy with the look. I used a little Distress Oxide as the last layer.

White emboss dots here and there. The dots represent the life-necessary medicin. 

Stamp here and there with the alphabet stamp from Tim Holtz School Desk. 

Ink white glossy cardstock with Distress Ink by smearing the ink pad on the paper.

Die cut rare three times using Tim Holtz Emporium Alphanumeric set. 

Die cut butterflies with Simon Says Stamp Bright Butterflies and Tim Holtz Vault Boutique. 

I emptied out AALL & Create Mindful Moments words on a paper and picked words I thought fit the theme. I didn't use all of the words. 

To make the words stand out better, I die cut the letters one more time with white cardstock.

The glossy butterflies were glued in a trail from the bottom to the top of the page. I added the words in clusters. 

I used Distress Inks in the four colors of Rare Disease Day. 

I like the look of dye ink on white glossy cardstock and it contrasts nicely with the matte watercolor paper. A rare journey indeed, one that you would rather not be on.

I used a little Twisted Citron for the green glossy cardstock. 

More understanding would help for many with rare diseases. 

Repeating the title several times is a one of my favorite techniques in art journaling.

I paired up my rare page with my color wheel page, since they fit both in colors and in message.

You can read more about Rare Disease Day here.

Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.