"Men in Black" ~ Really Reasonable June 1 Challenge

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I enjoy creating grungy masculine pages, and the Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #73 gave me the opportunity to put one together. I just adore this photo of Andrew and his groomsmen enjoying those last final moments before the wedding. 

I ordered some of my favorite masculine jutes and burlaps from the

RRR store and the quality is so wonderful! 

The theme for the Really Reasonable Challenge #73 is "Masculine with Ribbon or Trim." 

To enter this challenge, create a card, layout, or any handcrafted project. Just be sure to follow the theme and use ribbon, lace, or trim somewhere on your project.

"Men in Black"

Really Reasonable Ribbon Products:

Burlap Woven Ribbon ~ Natural 1/2"

1.5" Jute Ribbon ~ Natural

Jute String ~ Natural

Black Grosgrain Ribbon 1/4"

Button Grab Bag ~ Natural

Score Tape 6" x 6"

I'm also featuring some Donna Salazar Products on this layout which I will list at the end of my post. Donna's Girly Grunge style (emphasis on grunge) is just perfect for a masculine page. 

Tips and Techniques:

Jute Twine Flowers ~ I used Jute String to create the twine flowers and my tutorial can be viewed here.  I selected buttons from the Natural Button Grab Bag for my flower centers sized so that you can still see the woven stitching. Of course I tied the buttons with some of the Jute String. 

Rolled Burlap Flower ~ I used the Burlap Woven Ribbon to create the smaller burlap flower and some vintage washers and a screw for the center.

Chipboard Flourishes ~ I painted Donna Salazar's card size Hand Drawn Swirls chipboard, then stamped with her "Dear Sir" Stamp and edged with Chox Mix'd Media Inx. 

Textured Flower Background ~ I cut flower petal sections from black card stock using Donna Salazar's Grand Peony Dies just larger than each of the jute/burlap flowers. I then dry embossed using the Tim Holtz Burlap embossing folder. I rubbed the raised portion with a little Faber-Castell Gold Gelato. 

Textured Leaves ~ The leaves are also cut from black cardstock using the Grand Peony leaf dies. I hand creased the leaves where the natural veining would be and colored by dry rubbing with Gelatos. 

Stenciling ~ I used Donna's new Midnight Chox Inx over the TCW Diamond Stencil for a fabulous masculine design over the bricked background. 

Woven Gears ~ My friend, Mandy, gave me these vintage gears and machined pieces that her grandfather had stashed in his basement. I wove them together using Black Grosgrain Ribbon. Aren't they a delightful touch? I cut pieces of Score-Tape to adhere this piece to the page. This strong yet thin tape is perfect to adhere anything from delicate ribbon to heavier metal pieces. 

Layers ~ I love how the photo was taken at an angle. I turned it so the guys are straight and the photo angled. I layered lots of textured pieces at more angles under the photo - More embossed and Gelato'd card stock, grunged DSD Corrugated board, and this delightful Jute Ribbon. 

Gears ~ I used a mix of metal and die cut gears to tuck into the edges of my page and around the cluster. I die cut and embossed black card stock with Donna's Sprightly Sprockets dies and rubbed gold Viva Ink Gold to give the grungy metallic sheen. 

Distressing ~ I used the DSD Distrezz-It-All for all my distressing.

Arrows ~ I mixed black paint into Liquitex Blended Fibers and used Donna's new Want2Scrap Large Arrow Stencil to create these arrows.

You can see more of the grungy layers here and how gorgeous the Jute Ribbon is in the mix. 

Bonnie's natural fiber burlap and jute really take the show on this page. I hope you've been inspired to join us in creating a masculine project for Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #73. 

RRR Challenge #73 ~ Masculine with Ribbon or Trim

Be sure to check out the RRR Blog for all the details and prize information.

Donna Salazar Products Used:

Antiquities ~ Steampunk Gentleman; Tags Ribbons, and Mosaics by GCD 

13x13 Corrugated Board by Zutter

Hand Drawn Swirls Chipboard by Want2Scrap

Mix'd Media Inx ~ Truffle by Clearsnap

Mix'd Media Inx Chox ~ Sparrow, Midnight by Clearsnap

8x10 Large Arrows Stencil by Want2Scrap

Dear Sir Stamp by Art Gone Wild

Grand Peony Dies by Spellbinders

Sprightly Sprockets Dies by Spellbinders

Distrezz-It-All by Zutter

Other Products Used:

Black Cardstock

Basic Grey Alphabet Stickers ~ Lime Rickey

Kaisercraft Fonza Alphabet ~ Chocolate

Vintage washers, screw, and machined pieces

Tim Holtz - Mini Paper Clip

Spare Parts - Arrow Photo Turn

Bead Landing Found Parts ~ Gears

Bead Landing Bezels, Frames and Filigree ~ Gears

7Gypsies Vintage Clip ~ Antique Silver

Faber-Castell Gelatos ~ Pistachio, Gold, Black

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist ~ Cork

Heidi Swapp Color Shine ~ Bronzer

Art@ Gltter Mist Copper

Deco Art Acrylic Paint ~ Black

Deco Art Americana ~ Driftwood

Liquitex Blended Fibers

Viva Inka Gold

Distress Ink ~ Pumice Stone

Tim Holtz Embossing Folders ~ Gridlock, Burlap

TCW 12x12 Diamond Stencil

Beacon Fabri-Tac

Beacon 3-in-1

Scotch ATG

Sizzix Big Shot

Ranger Heat-It Craft Tool

Basic Grey Craft Files

I have entered this project at:

Word Art Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~