Make Your Own Chemotherapy Log
When you go through chemotherapy, there are a myriad of details that you need to keep track of - medications, times you take them, your temperature, side effects, numbers to call if anything goes wrong - you get the idea. A lot of people keep a daily log or journal of this information, sometimes writing about their personal experience as well. Now, you could go out and buy a notebook or a blank journal and use that, but I think it's more fun to decorate your own. Here's one way to do it.
I started with a 99-cent black-and-white composition book. You can use any plain notebook as long is the covers aren't plastic, because it's hard to get paint and glue to adhere to those.
I started off by painting the black-and-white patterned portion with paint, just to create an evenly colored surface to work from. You can use gesso if you like, or even skip this step.
Next, I chose some handmade paper from an art store that I wanted to use for the cover. Because I wanted to make sure the book opened and closed easily, I did not wrap the paper around the spine of the notebook. I used archival bookbinding glue, though I am sure something like Alene's tacky glue would be fine. Using a foam brush to apply the glue makes it easier to create a thin, even coat without globs. Then gently smooth the paper on. You can go over it with a brayer if you want to be sure to get any air bubbles out.
After letting the paper dry and trimming the edges, it is time to decorate. Because I was going with a tiki theme, I used a tiki god and an acrylic rhinestone. The tiki god came from a paper plate I got on clearance at Target. Because my tiki from Hawaii has gemstone eyes, this guy had to have at least one, as well.
Along the edge near the spine, I attached fancy fibers in tropical colors. I used industrial strength double sided tape, because that holds fibers nicely without making a mess.
I wanted to name my log a "Kemo" log, because that's my name for the tiki god on the front. "I am Kemo, god of cancer patients!" (Can you hear the thunder crash and the earth shake as he speaks? Well, I can.) I chose three colors of cardstock that coordinated with the tiki. I stamped letters onto the cardstock with a 50's style alphabet, then cut the cardstock into wacky shapes. I attached those shapes to purple cardstock and cut it so that it formed a mat around the letters.
As a final touch, I put a little rhinestone into the star in the last letter and I was ready to go!
If you make a chemo log, too, send me a picture so I can see!
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