Tuesday, July 22, 2014

"Together" Grungy Masculine Anniversary Card for Donna Salazar

I'm so blessed to be celebrating 32 years of marriage with my wonderful husband, Gary, this week. I've created this grungy, masculine card for him filled with fabulous Donna Salazar products.

"Together"
Grungy Masculine Anniversary Card by Tracey Sabella for Donna Salazar

Tips and Techniques
Grungy Masculine Anniversary Card by Tracey Sabella for Donna Salazar
I've layered Donna's papers from the Natural Beauty collection along with her Want2Scrap Corrugated Board. I've inked, then lightly distressed the straight edges with Donna's Zutter Distrezz-it-All, and machine stitched a border.

The hinge and label chipboard are from Want2Scrap. I've painted the hinges and heated while wet to bubble and distress. To highlight under the sentiment, I've brushed on some watered down Mix'd Media Inx below the chipboard.

Grungy Masculine Anniversary Card by Tracey Sabella for Donna Salazar
The corrugated board was inked with several different colors of Donna's Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx, then brushed with crackle paint. The checked strip was stamped with Mix'd Media Inx and heat embossed with coordinating Embossing Powder. I machine stitched the XXX's onto the corrugated board.

Grungy Masculine Anniversary Card by Tracey Sabella for Donna Salazar
I've used several of Donna's stamps on the background like the heart Applique seen here along with the ruler stamped, fussy cut, and stitched across the corrugated board ~ seen in the focal photo.

The gears tucked into the layers are cut and embossed from black cardstock using Donna's Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets dies. A tutorial for these gears can be found HERE.

The die cut and inked layer is cut from Donna's Natural Beauty collection using a Spellbinders die. For additional texture and grunginess, I painted the key wtih black gesso and heated while wet to bubble and give the appearance of old flaky iron.

Grungy Masculine Anniversary Card by Tracey Sabella for Donna Salazar
Here's one final shot of the inside of the card. Like the front, I've inked and distrezzed the paper edges. The stamping is done with Donna's Mix'ed Media Inx and Clearsnap embossing powder.

I hope you've been inspired to get inky and created a grungy masculine project using Donna's fabulous inks, stamps, papers, and dies.


Donna Salazar Products
GCD Studio ~ Natural Beauty ~ 6x6" Pad; 12x12" Pad
Want2Scrap Corrugated Board
Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Black, Vintage, Schoolhouse; Adobe; Truffle; Leather; Jasmine
Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx CHOX - Sparrow; Butternut; Midnight
Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Embossing Powder - Honey
Clearsnap ~ Smooch Spritz - Caramel Latte
Art Gone Wild Stamp ~ Heart Applique
Art Gone Wild Stamp ~ Ruler
Art Gone Wild Stamp ~ Dear Sir
Spellbinders ~ Sprightly Sprockets
Zutter ~ Distrezz-it-All

Other Products
Cardstock ~ Kraft, Linen Texture - stash
Cardstock ~ Black, smooth
Want2Scrap ~ Spellbinders - Nestaboard, Fancy Tag
Want2Scrap ~ Antique Keys w/Hardware, Chipboard, Card Size
Martha Stewart ~ Embellishments - Heirloom Metal Key
Prima ~ Tiny Junkyard Findings - Nail Heads
Ranger Distress Crackle Paint - Clear Rock Candy
Liquitex Gesso, white, black
DecoArt, Folk Art, Lumiere Paints
Pan Pastels
Prima ~ Finnabair Clearstamp
Cloud 9 Design ~ Script Stamp
7Gypsies INK ~ Family Clear Stamps
Spellbinders ~ Radient Rectangles
Spellbinders ~ Opulent Ovals
Helmar ~ Crystal Kote Matte Varnish
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Liquid Scrap Dots
Darice ~ Heat Tool
Spellbinders ~ Artisan X-plorer

Thanks for Stopping by! I treasure your comments.
~ Blessings ~

Thursday, July 17, 2014

"Imagine" Pencil Box Details ~ Helmar

I'm back to share the details on the pencil box I created for Helmar.

I try to make projects that fit a use in my life and this is no exception. One of our daughters collects fountain pens and this is a perfect gift for her to hold one of her prized possessions.

Helmar has a wide variety of products, and I'm showcasing the Decoupage and Craft Paste, which I used to adhere and coat the paper on this sweet pencil box. 

"Imagine"
Pencil Box
Pencil Box by Tracey Sabella for Helmar. Mixed media, Wild Orchid Crafts, 13 Arts, Tim Holtz

Tips and Techniques
Pencil Box by Tracey Sabella for Helmar. Mixed media, decoupage
I purchased this unfinished wood pencil box at my local craft store. The first thing I did was to brush it with gesso. While the gesso was drying, I cut pieces of paper to fit the sides, top, and sliding piece. **Note** Do not paint the edges where the edges of the closure piece slide into place. Ask me how I know - I painted then had to sand and sand the edge for top to slide with ease again. :-)

To adhere the paper to my box, I generously coated the wood piece to be covered as shown here, and the back of the paper with Helmar Decoupage and Craft Paste. I then placed the paper over the coated wood. A wide, flat brush as shown in the photo will help apply the Decoupage and Craft Paste with just a few strokes, so it is nice and wet for the application. You will have a few moments before the glue sets to move the paper around to center just right over the wood piece. 

Pencil Box by Tracey Sabella for Helmar. Mixed media, Wild Orchid Crafts, 13 Arts, Tim Holtz
Once the paper was adhered and all was dry, I applied another coat of Helmar Decoupage and Craft Paste over the entire box to seal. 

When dry, I randomly stenciled molding paste here and there on the box and tore bits and pieces of dictionary script tissue tape to apply around the box, then dry brushed the entire box with watered down gesso. The metal pieces were also dry brushed with gesso before applying to the box with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. I adhered a small piece from a drawer pull to grasp to open and close the box. To make sure it was securely in place, I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adheseive, which gives a very strong bond. 

Pencil Box by Tracey Sabella for Helmar. Mixed media, Wild Orchid Crafts, 13 Arts, Tim Holtz
I added metal decor pieces to the side of the box using more Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. To adhere the button, which was raised off of the box by the ruler and gear, I used Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, which spanned the open space below the button to adhere.

I've been into using glass mini marbles and microbeads lately, so I tried something new here. I wanted to cluster some of the beads around my other embellishments, so I squeezed on a nice thick application of Helmar Craft and Hobby PVA Glue. Then I sprinkled the glue with glass mini marbles. I adore the extra dimension and how the light reflects off of them. This glue dries crystal clear, so when dry, all you see is the cluster of marbles. 

Pencil Box by Tracey Sabella for Helmar. Mixed media, Wild Orchid Crafts, 13 Arts, Tim Holtz
Here's one final shot to show how the box looks as it is being opened.


Helmar Products

Other Products
13 Arts ~ Timeless Collection ~ Remember When
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Open Roses 20mm, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Open Roses 15mm, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Open Roses 10mm, white
Judy's Creative Wood Accents ~ Cloe Trim
7Gypsies ~ Industrial Gears
Bead Landing ~ Found Objects - Ruler Charms
Darice ~ Drawer Pull
Tim Holtz ~ Idea-ology - Tissue Tape
Tim Holtz ~ Idea-ology - Accoutrements
Tim Holtz ~ Idea-ology - Philosophy Tags
Tim Holtz ~ Idea-ology - Pen Nibs
TCW ~ Tile Texture Template, 12x12"
Liquitex ~ Gesso, clear; white
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste
Beadies ~ Mini Marbles

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Monday, July 14, 2014

Published at Scrapbooking.com

It's always so amazing to have my work published,
and I'm thrilled to share that two of my layouts are in the

Please click on the links to view the articles:


Be sure to check out the entire July Issue of Scrapbooking.com Magazine.
You are sure to be inspired and best of all it's free!

~ Blessings ~

Friday, July 11, 2014

"Imagine" Mixed Media Pencil Box for Helmar

I'm up today on the Helmar blog with this shabby mixed media pencil box. 

"Imagine"
Mixed Media Pencil Box by Tracey Sabella for Helmar, Decoupage, Shabby Chic
Please stop by the Helmar blog for all the details and close-ups HERE.

You can follow me here:


Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Thursday, July 10, 2014

"You & Me" Layout for Donna Salazar Designs

Today, I have a wedding layout of our daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Andrew, on their wedding day Featuring lots of Donna Salazar products. I've used the July Sketch N Color for inspiration.

"You & Me"

July Sketch-n-Color (rotated)

Tips and Techniques
I've created all the flowers using Donna's Spellbinder dies. A tutorial for my Open Lace Rose using her Grand Peony and Rose Creation dies can be found HERE. I've added a couple extra layers here, but the process is the same.

The smaller flowers are created with her Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms dies and Mix'd Media Stax 2 mulberry paper. 

I used Donna's Art Gone Wild Heart Applique stamp to heat emboss this pretty heart image on a die cut diamond.

I just love happy mistakes. I stamped this Lace Corner with Jasmine Mix'd Media Inx and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The image faded into the background. I really wanted this image to show up, so I misted the squares with water, then spritzed with Donna's Sea Breeze Smooch Spritz and the embossed image now pops.

Normally I ink these sweet chipboard alphas, but love the way they show up on the page so beautifully in their natural state. 

Each of my squares is hand stitched around the edge and then distressed with Donna's Zutter Distrezz-it-All.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you've been inspired to grab some of your Donna Salazar Products and our July Sketch to created a layout of your fave photos. 


Donna Salazar Products
GCD Studio ~ Natural Beauty Collection
GCD Studio ~ Mix'd Media Stax 2, Mulberry Paper
GCD Studio ~ Botanique Collection
GCD Studio ~ Chipboard Alphas - Fun and Funky
Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Denim, Pewter, Peridot, Jasmine
Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx Embossing Powder - Denim
Clearsnap ~ Smooch Spritz - Sea Breeze
Spellbinders ~ Bitty Blossoms
Spellbinders ~ Grand Peony
Spellbinders ~ Rose Creations
Art Gone Wild ~ Heart Appliqué Stamp
Art Gone Wild ~ Crackle Stamp
Art Gone Wild ~ Lace Corner
Zutter Distrezz-It-All

Other Products
Clearsnap ~  Clear Embossing Powder
Spellbinders ~ Foliage
Spellbinders ~ Decorative Labels One
Lace ~ Stash
Spare-Parts ~ Antique Gemstone Brads, Antique Silver/Clear
DMC ~ Embroidery Floss
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Zapdots - Clear 1/2" Round

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.
~ Blessings ~

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

"Souls Have Dreams" Tag for Leaky Shed Studio and Altered Pages

If you haven't been to the Leaky Shed Studio blog this month, you really should hop over there for fabulous inspiration. Leaky Shed Studio is partnering with Altered Pages and our teams are creating projects using products from both companies. I've created this tag/wall hanging which would be great for a milestone or graduation and fits with our theme this month of "Flies."

"Souls Have Dreams"
"Souls Have Dreams" tag by Tracey Sabella for Leaky Shed Studio & Altered Pages. Butterflies, Lace


Leaky Shed Studio Blog: HERE
Altered Pages Blog: HERE

Tips and Techniques
This is the Large Spring Butterfly by Leaky Shed Studio. In order to achieve the layering, I soaked the chipboard in warm water for a few moments until soaked through. Then I carefully pulled apart 4 layers from each wing. (Don't worry if your wings don't pull apart perfectly - mine tore in a couple places, but by the time it is gessoed and glittered, those little imperfections are never noticed.) I dried with a heat tool, shaping the wings as I dried. Once dry the layers hold their shape well. I then painted with Gesso and used a paint brush to apply stickles for some sweet sparkle. To finish it off, I colored the antennae with a Distress Marker and placed a couple small Prima flowers down the center. 

Altered Pages sent me an amazing selection of gorgeous butterfly images.  I received a sticker sheet of gorgeous vinyl butterflies. I wanted them to be dimensional with gently curved wings, so I applied the stickers to white cardstock, and fussy cut around the images.

I have to share a funny story. I found this great quote, however, it said, "Birds have wings." I carefully wrote it out on the tag, then realized it did not go with the butterflies. I'm so thankful for gesso which I painted over my first sentiment before changing up the sentiment to go with my butterflies.

I fussy cut this transparency monarch image from Altered Pages. I also stamped sweet butterfly wings around the word "wings" in my sentiment. I needed to pop up the sentiment to layer it over the thicker velvet, so used 3D Foam tabs from Altered Pages. 

Across the bottom, I've layered a length of lace embellished with adhesive half pearls.

Here's a close-up of one of the vinyl butterfly stickers.

I used a variety of distressed fibers to tie my tag. 

The background is stenciled, misted and dry brushed with gesso.
I've layered in a doily, feathers, and chicken wire. 

Leaky Shed Studio Products

Altered Pages Products
Vinyl Butterfly Sticker Sheet
3D Foam Tabs

Other Products
BoBunny ~ Primrose - Bliss, Time Washed, Garden
BoBunny ~ Small Doilies
White Cardstock ~ Stash
May Arts ~ Netting 1.5" (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
MayArts ~ Crochet Lace 5/8", Pink (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Hug Snug ~ Seam Binding 1/2", White (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Hemptique ~ Bamboo Cord 20lb (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Mauve Organza ~ Stash
Mauve Velvet Ribbon - Stash
Prima ~ Silverwood Rose - Cottage
Darice ~ Feathers, pink
Lace, white - Stash
Self-adhesive Pearls, Pink - Stash
Darice ~ Chicken Wire, White
Fountain Pen with Mauve Ink
Liquitex ~ Gesso, White
Beacon ~ Fast Finish Decoupage
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste
Ranger ~ Distress Stickles, Worn Lipstick
Heidi Swapp ~ Color Shine - Gold, Primrose
Ranger ~ Distress Marker - Old Paper
Clearsnap by Donna Salazar ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Chiffon
TCW ~ Art Is - 6x6" Stencil
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Zutter by Donna Salazar ~ Distrezz-it-All
Tim Holtz ~ Grid Blocks
EK Success ~ Honey Bee Scissors
We R Memory Keepers ~ Crop-A-Dile

Thanks for stopping by Today! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Once Upon A..Sketch and Leaky Shed Sudio

The July Challenge is up and live at Once Upon A...Sketch
with a journaling theme, "Numbers." 

The Warthers Museum is just down the road from us and is filled with amazing hand carved trains. On the museum grounds is a red vintage red caboose. The afternoon sunlight was caught and bounced by this hanging caboose light. As I planned my page, Leaky Shed Studio Gear Set was an obvious choice. You'll find all the details below.

"Caboose Light"
"C 2122"
(Journaling on back of layout)


Journaling Theme: "Numbers:

You are free to interpret our theme ANY WAY you like. It is for your inspiration and this theme word DOES NOT need to be part of your title or journaling. But please make sure your layout is based on the sketch below and includes journaling (hidden journaling is fine). Acceptable journaling is MORE than just a sentence, or generic writing such as date/place etc. It needs to be present and at least 3 lines long. Remember, hidden journaling (under a photo/tag or behind your page) is perfectly fine but please DO let us know in your post where your journaling is! 

July Sketch

I've flipped and rotated the sketch.

Tips and Techniques
The caboose light has such rustic charm aglow in the afternoon light, yet corroded with rust and peeling paint. I wanted to pull that charm onto the page with my chipboard. I started by painting the gears with metallic and pearlized paints. Then I covered the gears in Ranger Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. When dry and cracked, I rubbed black ink into the cracks to highlight.

I collect jewelry finding odds and ends whenever I see them clearanced out at craft stores. You just never know when they might come in handy. Here I've used some to give some glam to the rustic background. On the larger piece, I've centered blue rhinestones on the metal pieces to pick up the blue of the light. The centers are decorated with charms and a piece from a door handle.

Yes, this is plain old corrugated board. I wanted it to look like the rusty corrugated tin you might find around an old railroad yard. I painted it with metallic pewter and rust paints, then brushed on Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint here and there. I've added a pop of color and texture by spreading glossy accents along a portion of either side the corrugated piece then sprinkled with mini marbles and microbeads. When dry, I brushed on blue alcohol ink. 

I've used the same techniques for these clock hands, which were left from a previous project.

I've mixed a variety of colors and textures in my flower cluster including the round mini light bulb colored with alcohol ink. The flowers were dry brushed with gesso to soften.

My journaling is on the back and says:

On a beautiful summer day I visited the Warthers Museum with my friend, Kelley. We enjoyed the displays of hand carved trains and the Button House full of vintage buttons arranged so beautifully on the walls. Then we walked the grounds and explored the B & O C-2122 train caboose. This rusty light caught and reflected the afternoon sun so beautifully, and it is one of my favorite shots of the day.

I hope you've been inspired to grab your Leaky Shed Studio chipboard
to embellish your next layout!! 

Leaky Shed Studio Products

Other Products
7 Dots Studio ~ Cold Country - Forgotten
Zutter by Donna Salazar ~ Corrugated Board
Basic Grey ~ Alpha Stickers
Petaloo ~ Canterbury Collection - Rose Blossoms, Cream
Petaloo ~ Canterbury Collection - Magnolia Blossoms Cream
Petaloo ~ Beaded Peonies Coffee, Small
Petaloo ~ Botanica Collection - Faux Dried Blooms, Ivory
Prima ~ Lady Bird Collection - 565480
Prima ~ Lady Bird Collection - 565473
Prima ~ Arco Iris Flowers - 544379
Prima ~ Sunrise Sunset Collection - 567194
BoBunny ~ Ambrosia Trinkets
Creative Charms - Vintage Accents - Vintage Brads - VP-8215
Spare Parts ~ Metal Charms (Compass Charm) - 914002
Spare Parts ~ Mini Light Bulbs
Darice Craft Designer ~ Pull Handle Silver
Rhinestones - Stash
Jewelry Findings - Stash
Idea-ology ~ Tissue Tape
American Crafts ~ Metallic Marker, Gold
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste
Liquitex ~ Gesso - Clear; White; Black
Ranger ~ Glossy Accents
Ranger ~ Distress Crackle Paint - Clear Rock Candy
Ranger ~ Alcohol Ink - Stonewashed; Slate; Rust; Espresso; Sail Boat Blue
Ranger ~ Alcohol Ink Mixative - Gold; Copper
Ranger ~ Paint Dabber - Copper
Clearsnap by Donna Salazar ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Stormy; Black
Clearsnap by Donna Salazar ~ Mix'd Media Inx CHOX - Butternut
Lumiere Paints ~ Pearl Turquoise; Sunset Gold; Pewter
FolkArt Paint ~ Metallic Sequin Black
Tattered Angels ~ Glimmer Mist - Moonlight; Sapphire; Graphite
Ranger ~ Dylusions Ink Spray - London Blue
Heidi Swapp ~ Color Shine - Navy
Stampers Anonymous ~ Layering Stencil - Lattice Work
Stampers Anonymous ~ Rubber Stamps - Curious Possibility; Seamless Experience
7Gypsies ~ Clear Stamps - Avignon
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Zapdots Black 1/2" Round
Helmar ~ Zapdots Black 1/4" Square
Helmar ~ Scrap Dots
Ranger ~ Heat It
Darice ~ Heat Tool

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~