Simon Says... E is for

Hi Everyone...welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. Thank you for joining us for last week's challenge and we hope you can join us this week too because

and the theme for this week is...

E is for...

I created an Art Journal page with a play on words, inspired by Elephants, the most Extraordinary animals who make Epic journeys in search of food and water but are tragically now an Endangered species due to poaching and climate change. I used Clarence Colorize Thinlits and Baggage Claim BigZ die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix Chapter 2 Collection with Idea-ology Typeset Collage Paper, images from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous The Professor 2 and Grunged to add interest on the background and Idea-ology Salvaged Tags, Urban Layers and Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper Thinlits from Chapter 1.

I began by applying a light wash of Weathered Wood Distress Paint to the pages using a baby wipe and added torn strips of Idea-ology Typeset Collage Paper fixed in place with Distress Collage Medium Matte. I applied Distress Walnut Stain Paint through Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Tangled Layering Stencil using a small piece of Ranger Cut 'n Dry foam and added Idea-ology Salvaged Tags and bits and pieces from Idea-ology Urban Layers. I stamped the images from The Professor 2 and Grunged, inked with Barn Door and Hickory Smoke Distress Archival inks.

Then it was time for the star of the show. I fixed Tim Holtz/Sizzix Adhesive sheets to Distress Cracked Leather Cardstock and die-cut using Clarence Colorize Thinlits. I decided to use Black Soot Distress ink to colour all the die-cuts, starting off with a heavy application on the base piece and varying the application as I inked the different layers. I added a little Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the edges to create definition and assembled the die-cuts following the imprint left by the dies on the cardstock. 

I spritzed Distress Cracked Leather cardstock with Black Soot Distress Spray Stain and Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide Spray, spritzed with water and once dry, sanded lightly to highlight the amazing texture.

I applied Barn Door Distress Oxide ink to one of the panels using a mini round blending tool and die-cut the suitcases using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Baggage Claim BigZ die. I die-cut the suitcases again from cardboard to make them more substantial, die-cut the handles and buckles from Idea-ology Substrate sheets and assembled using Distress Collage Medium Matte.

I realised at this point that Clarence was a bit too big for the page and looked out of proportion so I performed a little "chopping in half" surgery and fixed at either side of the pages using Distress Collage Medium Matte.

I fixed Tim Holtz/Sizzix Adhesive Sheets to scraps of Distress Cracked Leather cardstock, die-cut using Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper Thinlits and fixed to strips of Idea-ology BlackOut KraftStock.

As you may know, Simon Says Stamp are accepting new orders, but have longer shipping times for the moment due to the coronavirus. With this in mind we have made the difficult decision to suspend the $50 voucher for this challenge. We know that many people are staying safe at home and we would love it if you would continue to enter the challenges and have fun! We are all in this together!

You can find all the products I used over at Simon Says Stamp, just click on the links below

Why don't you pop over to the Monday Challenge Blog and check out the amazing creations from my very talented Design Team mates and as always, you have until Monday 8am Ohio time...1pm UK time...2 pm CET to join in...

You can also follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

and if you use Instagram...

please add #sssmchallenge to your entry uploads so we can see them on there too

I look forward to seeing what you create this week...

Have Fun and Happy Crafting

Hugs Kath xxx

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