“Take me for a Ride” – Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Todays theme for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge was “Take me for a Ride”. I guess I would have to say that crafting has definitely been a “ride”. “We have come a long way, Baby”. Kinda cheesy but ain’t it the truth?? I know that I have definitely come a long way in my personal crafting journey. From paper, glue sticks, stickers and funny shaped scissors to the sky is the limit these days. It’s not just scrapbooking anymore. It’s mixed media, art journalling and canvas’. I’ve even been known to dabble a little with quilting. I know!! What is this world coming to?? The ride has been so much fun, and I know it isn’t over yet. That’s what this theme means to me today. There’s so much I’ve learned over the past few months, and so much more I’m sure. “I may not be there yet, but i am closer than I was yesterday!”

Todays project was a little art journal page in my Dylusions Flip Journal. I like the size of this journal. It’s smaller than a larger journal, but a little bigger than a tag. Just right. Haha. Todays background was of course, Distress Oxides, but I went with sprays since I was working in a journal. I placed a paper towel behind the page in the book to absorb excess, and placed my Ranger Silicone Mat over the page above it to protect it. I spritzed the page of my journal with my Distress Sprayer of water, and then sprayed a smidge of each color. The colors I chose today were Speckled Egg, Evergreen Bough, and Broken China. I then spritzed it with a little water and used my Ranger Heat it Tool to make sure it was good and dry.

Next was a little stamping. Since todays theme was about a ride, I decided I might need a compass. The stamp that I used was a set by Stampers Anonymous, but I think I purchased it at Michaels a few years back. The set has the sizzix dies that goes with the stamp. Sorry that I don’t have a number for you. I stamped the image with the Distress Archival Faded Jeans. Then I used the Stampers Anonymous CMS344 Craze & Planks set. I love that craze image when you stamp it in a background.

The next few steps, I will refer to what I have been calling my “Vagabond Party”. A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend inking paper and cutting all sorts of images with my Vagabond and dies. For those that don’t know, the Vagabond is the electric version of the Sizzix that looks like a suitcase. For todays project I used two of the images that were from that weekend. The images I used were Sizzix Cityskape/Skyline (661810) & Sizzix Globe Mini (661598). The papers I used were Kraft-Stock and Metallic Jewels from the Idea-ology paper lines. For the cityscape, I just layered a piece of black and gray to give it sort of a shadow. I used my Distress Collage Medium to adhere it to my page. THEN, I decided to put the metallic globe behind the cityscape. So that required a quick lifting with the Cricut spatula. Haha. Don’t you hate it when you do that?

For the metallic globe, I used a new technique that I learned from watching the Demo #2 on alcohol inks that Tim Holtz did Saturday. I am sad to say that it was the last Saturday demo, but I appreciate every Saturday he took. If you haven’t checked these out, you really need to. Tons of info. Tons. Back to the technique. I used the Pitch Black alcohol ink, a blending tool with felt, and a blending tool with steel wool. With the blending tool and felt, I dabbed a small amount of the black alcohol ink onto the globe. Then, with the blending tool of steel wool, I removed some of the said ink. The steel wool also dulled the shiny image just a tad. Then I used the collage medium to adhere the globe, and re-adhere the cityscape.

Once my Sizzix pieces were glued down, I decided to do a little more stamping. I usually distress the edges of my pages, but since I only used one side, I went with a stamped border. I’m not sure it was the correct move, but it’s growing on me. Haha. The stamp set I used was Stitches (CMS365) from Stampers Anonymous. I used the Distress Archival Black Soot to stamp the image. I only stamped three edges since the cityscape served for the fourth.

And last but not least, the sentiment. The sentiment I chose was “I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday”. Stamped again with the Black Soot. There was a blank space that it fit just perfectly in, so….. why not?? And that was it, short and sweet.

Y’all!! I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday! (In so many more ways, than one.) The Tim Holtz live demos started 16 weeks ago. In that short ride, I have gotten back in the craft room. I have taken wrappers off of stamp sets. I have used brand new stencils that I have had for years. I am no longer a curator or collector, but an actual crafter again. I have been inspired to make, and post on instagram (@jcoopercreates btw haha). I have found new instagram friends who make AMAZING things. I have learned new things from said friends. I actually participate in challenges now (www.simonsaysstampblog.com). Y’all! I have a YouTube channel! Never in a million years did I dream I would be doing that. I’m not saying all this to say “look at me”. I’m saying all this to say “you too”. If it inspires you just a little bit, then mission accomplished. Go make something!

Until next time,

Jennifer

Here is a list of the supplies used in today’s video:

Dylusions Creative Flip Journal

Products used :

Distress Oxide Ink Spray Speckled Egg

Distress Oxide Ink Spray Evergreen Bough

Distress Oxide Ink Spray Broken China

Distress Collage Medium

Distress Archival Ink Black Soot

Distress Archival Ink Faded Jeans

Pitch Black Alcohol Ink