Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Published in the April Issue of Scrapbooking.com Magazine

It's always so amazing to have my work published,
and am thrilled to share that one of my layouts is in the

Please click on the link to view the article:

"Best Day Ever"  ~ Papercrafting Department

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

You'll want to stop over to Scrapbook.com Magazine again on Wednesday.
I'll have another layout featured in the April Issue!!

~ Blessings ~

Thursday, March 26, 2015

"Splendid, Wonderful, Breathtaking" Layout Details ~ Helmar, Leaky Shed Studio, SATW

I'm so delighted to have the privilege to work with this amazing photo of Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland taken by my scrapbooking friend, Linda Eggleton. I adore the lines and colors in this photo. Linda has graciously given me permission to scrapbook a copy of it. You can find more of her delightful photos and work HERE.

I'm guest designing for Helmar and have featured their Liquid Scrap Dots which give me the ability to tilt and arrange my flowers and elements just how I want to. Details of how I do this can be found on the Helmar blog HERE.

I've also featured gorgeous Leaky Shed Studio chipboard. If you are a regular follower, you know how I just adore cutting things apart and using them in different ways. Be sure to hop on over to the Leaky Shed Studio blog for more details on how I've used their fabulous chipboard HERE.

Today, I'll give you a few details on how I created my mixed media background as you scroll down through my photos. I also pulled inspiration from the gorgeous March Mood Board at Scrap Around The World HERE. More details about how I was inspired later in my post.

"Splendid, Wonderful, Breathtaking"

Tips and Techniques
I had fun using a variety of mediums on this layout. To prepare my paper to hold up to the wet mediums I knew I'd be using, I brushed the paper with clear gesso. Two coats on the front and one on the back (brushing it on the back helps it to lay flatter.) I started by applying tissue tape across the page and down the center and lightly dry brushed it with white gesso. You can barely see snippits of it now, but the glimpses of text add a nice touch. 

The next thing I did was to lay down some roughly cut sheet rock tape in the same general areas as the tissue tape. For added texture I brushed super heavy gesso across the grid. I also used light molding paste over a ledger and doily stencil. When dry, I used several shades of green and grey Lindy's Mists to spritz and splatter. I also used the Lindy's mists to color and grunge up the flowers.

I cut up a Leaky Shed Studio Swirl Tree for the lovely flourishes.

I enjoy giving new life to older, out of style objects. Remember those old photo slide frames that were popular, oh about 10 or so years ago? This one had a wood grain on it. I sanded it lightly, rubbed with ink, and randomly stamped to give it a grungy edge, then tucked in part of my typeset title that is spread across the page. The lovely flourish bit above the frame is the top of a Leaky Shed Studio Bird Cage.

Lately, I've been mixing my embossing powders. Here I heated Fran-tage Aged Ivory to cover my Leaky Shed Studio Spring Butterfly, then used my finger to rub a bit of Perfect Medium across the wing edges. I sprinkled very lightly with Aged Hunter and heated again. I was very careful to use only a light sprinkling of the green so the ivory would show through.

More flowers and textures. You can also see some of the random stamping. For some of my metal and flower elements, I spread with a clear crackle medium to age, then dripped on mist to highlight the crackle. Other elements are dry brushed with white gesso.

One final shot.

You can see how many of my elements and flowers are turned and tilted. Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots are the perfect adhesive to achieve this.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I drew inspiration from the mottled grey horse background, colors and curving lines of the twine photo in the March Scrap Around The World Mood Board. I also used pops of the creamy yellow from the sunshine photo.

Be sure to hop on over to check out this month's fabulous challenge at




Helmar Products

Leaky Shed Studio Products

Other Products
7 Dots Studio ~ Thoughts Keeper - No 2, No 4, Elements 6 x 12
Prima ~ Bermont, ocre
Petaloo Embelishments Darjeeling Petites, green
Petaloo Floral Ephemera, yellow 
Petaloo Spring Darjeeling Collection Dahlias, pistachio
Petaloo Botanica Collection Minis, white
Petaloo Canterbury Rose, lemon
Petaloo Mixed Textured Blossoms, amber
Petaloo Color Me Crazy - Handtyes, Rosebuds
Spare Parts ~ Metal Feathers, Charms
Prima ~ Vintage Trinkets #930028
Darice ~ Heart Pheasant Feathers
Bead Landing ~ Found Objects - Clock Hands
Michaels ~ Metal Icons - A Place in Time
Deluxe Designs ~ Freeze Frames - Natural Wood
Momenta ~ Metal Stickers - ST-5705; 17517
Idea-ology ~ Tim Holtz - Tissue Tape, Symphony
Clearsnap by Donna Salazar ~ Mix’d Media Inx - Stormy
Liquitex ~ Gesso - Super Heavy, White, Black, clear
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste
Viva ~ Croco Crackling Colour - Transparent
Lindy’s Stamp Gang ~ Starburst - Green with Envy Green, Black Orchid Silver
Lindy’s Stamp Gang ~ Flat Fabio - Aloha Avocado
Stampendous ~ Frantage - Embossing Enamel, aged ivory, aged silver, aged hunter
Ranger ~ Perfect Medium
Prima ~ Finnabair 6x6” Stencil - Doily No.1 #960551
The Crafter's Workshop ~ 12 x 12” Sketch Grid
DCWV Stencil - EM-033-00019
7 Dots Studio ~ clear Stamps - Thoughts Keeper
Darice ~ Heat Tool

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Guest Designing for Helmar

I'm guest designing on the Helmar blog today with a mixed media layout
featuring Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots. 

Here's a sneak peek:

Hop on over to the Helmar blog for more details and close-ups HERE.


~ Blessings ~

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Mother's Day Card for Donna Salazar

Mother's Day is coming and will be here before you know it. I created a card for my mom featuring Donna Salazar products and hope you will find inspiration to create a card for your mom and other special women in your life!! Here's a sneak peek of my card showing one of my handcrafted flowers:


Please stop by Donna's blog for all the details HERE.


Here's my full product list:

DSD Card Products

Scrapbooking Adhesives by 3L
Texture Ribbons (Burlap/Organza)
Lace Ribbons

Clearsnap
Mix’d Media Inx - denim, jasmine
Twinkle Dust Glitter - mixed berries
Smooch Spritz - Sea Breeze

Spellbinders
Bitty Blossoms
Wonderful Wings

Zutter
Distrez-it-All

Partner Products
Spellbinders ~ Foilage Flourish
Spellbinders ~ Decorative Labels Twenty-Two
Spellbinders ~ Artisan X-plorer
Scrapbooking Adhesives by 3L ~ 3D Foam Squares - Regular, black
Scrapbooking Adhesives by 3L ~ 3D Foam Squares - Small, white
Clearsnap ~ Glue Gloss

Other Products
GCD Studios ~ Natural Beauty - 12x12” Pad; 6x6” Pad
Cardstock, white ~ Stash
Mulberry Paper, ivory - Stash
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Sweetheart Blossoms, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Cosmos Daisy stem Flowers, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Rosebuds 8mm, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Leaves 30mm, white
Berry Sprigs - Stash
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste 
Liquitex ~ Gesso, white, clear 
The Crafter’s Workshop ~ 6x6” Stencil - Mini Vineyard
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue

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

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Exciting News ~ Scraps of Elegance Educator

I am so thrilled and honored to share some exciting news with you today! I've been asked to join the Scraps of Elegance team as one of their 2015/2016 educators. 


How exciting to work with gorgeous Scraps of Elegance products along side such amazing talent. I'll be sharing projects and video tutorials with you each month featuring their fabulous kits! I'm joining educators Tiffany ~ Mammatiffy Solorio on the Scraps of Elegance team along with Wilma Voermans, Amy Prior, and Тетяна Пищик (Tanya SonataJoy) on the Scraps of Darkness team.

Hop on over to the Scraps of Darkness/Scraps of Elegance blog for all the details and to learn more about the talented educators I'll be working with HERE.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the fabulous Scraps of Darkness
"Michelle's Mechanical Madness" March Kit:

Kit details and add ons HERE.

~ Blessings ~
Tracey

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

"New" Scripture Journal Page with Flower Video Tutorial for Donna Salazar

I've been wanting to try my hand at art journaling for quite a while now, and Donna Salazar's new Denim Art Journal by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L was just the incentive I needed to get started. I created the cover for my Scripture journal back during her CHA product reveal, and today I'm sharing my first page based on 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

Here's a sneak peek:
I've created a video tutorial for this Organza Open Rose as well.
Please stop by Donna's blog for all the details and video HERE.


Donna Salazar Designs Products

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Denim Art Journal 
Lace Ribbons
Texture Ribbons (organza)
Clearsnap
Mix’d Media Inx - Stormy, Black, Patina, Honey, Denim, Vintage, Adobe
Mix’d Media Inx CHOX - Driftwood
Twinkle Dust Glitter - Pralines & Cream
Glue Gloss
Smooch Spritz - caramel latte, sea breeze
Spellbinders
Rose Creations
Fanciful Flight
Donna Salazar Designs
Dear Sir Stamp
Crackle Stamp
Bubble Wrap
Partner Products
Scrapbooking Adhesives by 3L ~ DODZ™ - Small 1/4”
Clearsnap ~ Foam Applicators
Spellbinders ~ Foliage Flourish
Spellbinders ~ Artisan X-plorer

Other Products
GCD Studio by Donna Salazar - Natural Beauty
Momenta ~ Metal Stickers #17517
Stampendous ~ Fran-tage - Shaved Ice
Liquitex ~ Gesso - Black, white
Golden ~ Soft Gel (Matte)
Caran D’Ache ~ Neocolor II - Black
Prismacolor ~ Watercolor Pencil, black
BoBunny ~ Stamps - It is Written
BoBunny ~ Stamps - Romance Stamp
Stampers Anonymous ~ Clear Stamp - Purely Random
Stampers Anonymous ~ Clear Stamp - Playful Journey
Prima ~ Build-A-Frame II stamps 
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Premium Craft GLue 
Spellbinders ~ Artisan x-plorer

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

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

"Hand in Hand" Mixed Media Layout for Leaky Shed Studio and SATW Challenge

I can hardly believe another month has passed and March is here. I welcome this new month and the warmer weather it's sure to bring our way. I have some very exciting news I'll be sharing later this month as well.

If you missed it on my Facebook page, I created my first video tutorial ~ how to create sweet Organza Open Roses with Donna Salazar products. Thanks for watching my video HERE. I also appreciate you subscribing to my channel. There will be more videos to follow.

Today I'm sharing a wedding layout featuring lots of Leaky Shed Studio chipboard. I've also used inspiration from the beautiful March Scrap Around the World mood board.

We recently took a trip to Florida. One of the travel papers at our hotel spotlighted the Jacksonville MOCA Art Museum's "White" exhibition featuring iconic white art. I've also noticed a growing trend of white on white paper arts and thought I'd give it a try. Our daughter's good friend married last summer, and I created this layout for her and her husband. I thought the white background would be the perfect backdrop to complement her gorgeous dress. 

"Hand in Hand"
Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Wild Orchid Crafts, Wedding, Chipboard

Tips and Techniques
Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Wild Orchid Crafts, Wedding, Chipboard
Here's a full view of the bottom cluster including the Leaky Shed Studio Willow Flower, loads of soft white flowers, feathers, bow, and subtle textures. 

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Chipboard, Crackle
Don't you just adore this grungy crackle effect on the chipboard?

I used spray Gesso as a base coat, then brushed here and there with Viva white crackle paint, then dabbed with Lindy's Stamp Gang mists. I know from past experience, that the crackle really cracks and pulls off of the spray gesso which is the grungy feel I wanted to achieve. I also know that "ALL" of the crackle would easily be chipped off, so I dabbed the piece gently with Donna Salazar's Clearsnap Emboss Gloss and sprinkled with clear embossing powder. While the embossing powder was still hot from the embossing, I sprinkled on more powder and heated again. I repeated several times until there was a nice thick coat of clear embossing to hold the grungy crackle in place. Finally, I dabbed and rubbed with white gesso to lighten the color and bring out more of the crackled texture.

**I did end up with bits of crackle in my Emboss Gloss, which is fine with me since I usually use it in grungy applications; however, if you want to keep it clean, I suggest pouring out a little on a craft mat, and brush it very gently onto the chipboard with a soft brush. That way you won't contaminate the rest of your Emboss Gloss. **

It looks like bits of the crackle paint chipped off onto the background. This is actually Golden White Opaque Flakes brushed onto the background paper. It dries clear, allowing the white flakes in the gel to show up against the background. 

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Wild Orchid Crafts, Wedding, Bow
Another view of this lower cluster. The background is dry brushed with gesso in two directions for added texture. I then spread molding paste over a leafy flower stencil with molding paste, then heat embossed with white embossing powder. 

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Wild Orchid Crafts, Wedding,
In this side view you can see I added some pearls and used a metal flower from my stash of jewelry findings.

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Wild Orchid Crafts, Wedding, Chipboard, Prima Doily
Here's the smaller top cluster. I layered texture under the photo with a delicate crochet doily, die cut doily, then more grungy chipboard. I've just adore the amazing design at the bottom of the Leaky Shed Studio Bird Cage and snipped it off to tuck into these layers. I've treated all of my chipboard pieces the same as described above for the Willow Flower piece. 

I painted this large metal leaf charm to tuck into the flower cluster as well. While still wet, I wiped off paint from the raised ares to let some of the gold show through.

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Chipboard, Crackle, Dragonfly
Leaky Shed Studio dragonfly from the Garden Bugs collection.
This is a darling set of insects!!

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Chipboard, Crackle, Flourish
I've cut this piece in two and used half of it.

Mixed Media, Tracey Sabella, Leaky Shed Studio, Stencil, Heat Emboss, Texture, Background
Here's a close up of more of the background textures.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I was inspired by the textured, flowing shades of white and grey
in the horse photo from the SATW March Mood Board.

Be sure to hop on over to check out this month's fabulous challenge at

Leaky Shed Studio Products


Other Products
GCD Studio by Donna Salazar - Natural Beauty 12x12” Pad
Tim Holtz ~ Tissue Tape - Sketchbook
Petaloo ~ Botanica Blooms, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Sweetheart Blossoms, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Tulip Flowers, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Tuscany Rosebuds, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 25mm Cottage Roses, white
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 30mm Wild Roses, white 
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Magnolias, white
Martha Stewart ~ Findings Collection, white & silver
Touch of Nature ~ Feathers, white
Leaf Charm ~ Stash
Flower charms ~ Stash
Berry Sprig ~ Stash
Doily ~ Stash
Hug Snug ~ Rayon Seam Binding, white (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Ranger ~ Archival Ink, Jet Black
Clearsnap by Donna Salazar - Mix’d Media Inx Embossing Powder, jasmine
Clearsnap ~ Embossing Powder, clear
Clearsnap by Donna Salazar ~ Emboss Gloss
Lindy’s Stamp Gang ~ Starburst, Black Orchid Silver
Lindy’s Stamp Gang ~ Moon Shadow Mist, Silhouette Silver
Golden ~ Light Molding Paste
Golden ~ White Opaque Flakes
Golden ~ Soft Gel (Matte)
Liquitex ~ Gesso, white, clear
Viva ~ Crackle Paint, white
Higgins ~ Drawing Ink, white
Prima ~ Doily Die  #572792
Americana Classic ~ Stencil - Jacobean Floral
TWC Zenspirations Stencil 6x6 Mini Specimens
Cloud9 Design ~ 8x6 Mem Phrase Stamp Set
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar ~ Zap Dots - Round 1/2”, white
Zutter by Donna Salazar ~ Distrezz-it-All

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~