Men in Black 2 with Grungy Corrugated Leaf Tutorial ~ July GDT for Donna Salazar

I'm thrilled to be sharing another project for Donna Salazar. I enjoy getting inky and inventive with Donna's amazing products. I had so much fun coming up with some new techniques to share with you today including a tutorial for my Grungy Corrugated Leaves.

Andrew and his groomsmen posed for this shot looking quite serious and dare I say intimidating? To capture that feel, I decided to go dark and grungy with this non-traditional wedding layout. One of the things I so appreciate about Donna's paper is the versatility within each collection. The papers featured on this page are from her GCD Natural Beauty Collection, the same collection used for "The Kiss", a sweeter and more elegant page posted here earlier this month.

I would like to dedicate this page to the memory of Earl Hennis, who's vintage gears and machined pieces are tucked in among the Sprightly Sprockets. His granddaughter and my dear friend, Mandy, gave me these precious pieces that had been part of his workshop collection.

"Men in Black"

I used Donna's Sprightly Sprockets die set by Spellbinders to create these realistic metallic gears using black cardstock and Viva Inka Gold. I made lots to tuck in all around this page. If you have guys in your life, these dies are a must have. 

Here's a close-up of the other side of the photo.

Now for these grungy guy flowers. Can you guess what dies I used to cut these flowers? If you picked Sprightly Sprockets, you are correct! I placed a vintage gear and hex nut in each for my flower centers. Scroll down to find my tutorial for the Grungy Corrugated Leaves. 

I used mixed media and Donna's Want2Scrap Stencils to build a grungy background on this wonderful wood grain paper. I started by spreading ceramic stucco across the page leaving the edges clear to see the gorgeous wood grain on the edges. I then misted with Donna's Clearsnap Smooch Spritz in Wood Stain and touches of Pralines and Cream. Once dry, I splattered with black gesso. I mixed black and red paint into more of the ceramic stucco and used it with Donna's 8" x 10" Small Bricks stencil. Such a perfect accent to reflect the bricks behind the guys in the photo. 

These gears are perfect to tuck into layers and well, just everywhere on my page. 

Oh did I have fun grunging up Donna's GCD Studio's Natural Beauty Chipboard Alpha letters for my title. I used my heat tool to melt black tulle onto the letters and inked the edges with Midnight Mix'd Media CHOX Inx by Clearsnap. I used Donna's Want2Scrap Alphabet Stencil and blended fiber medium to create the smaller letters. Another of her Want2Scrap stencils, Small Arrows, was used along the top and bottom of the page with ceramic stucco. I rubbed on just a bit of Midnight CHOX Inx to add grungy texture to the arrows. The distressed edges were achieved with my go to DSD Zutter Distrezz-It-All.

This charm and wrapped cord are jewelry findings from my stash. I dabbed them with Midnight CHOX Inx and Grecian Gold Rub'n Buff to distress. Behind the cord, I rubbed Sparrow CHOX Inx into the background and behind the charm, dripped Donna's Wood Stain and Pralines and Cream Smooch Spritz. Have you wondered what I used to adhere my elements to the mixed media background? My favorite go to adhesive is Helmar 450. It is quick drying and really holds even heavy objects in place. 

Grungy Corrugated Leaf Tutorial

I have to say, Donna's Corrugated Board is one of my favorite products. What a treat not to spend time peeling the top off of cardboard, and it can be used for so many embellishments. 

Supplies:

Supply List:

DSD Want2Scrap 8" x 10" Corrugated Board

DSD Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms Dies

DSD Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx CHOX - Midnight

Rub'n Buff - Grecian Gold

Die Cut Machine (not pictured)

Optional - misting bottle (not pictured)

Step 1. Cut a piece of corrugated board to size for your leaf die with the lines running the length of the leaf.

Step 2. Mist the piece of corrugated board with water front and back. Push on the dampened cardboard to scrunch and distress. 

Step 3. Use a Bitty Blossoms leaf die and your die cutting machine to cut out your leaf. You may need to run the die through your die cutting machine several times to cut cleanly through the corrugated board. Remove from die and set aside to dry. Although I only show one leaf here in the tutorial, I used all four leaf dies from this set to cut leaves for my page. You could also use leaf dies from Donna's Grand Peony or Rose Creations die sets. 

Step 4. Rub with Midnight CHOX Inx, leaving some of the corrugated board color showing. Set aside to dry.

Step 5. Using a light touch, rub Grecian Gold Rub'n Buff onto the raised areas of your leaf. 

Now your Grungy Corrugated Leaf is ready to use on your page. You can curl the edges or leave flat. 

Variation:

Instead of inking with black, I used Jasmine Mix'd Media Inx for the leaves I created for "The Kiss", then rubbed Pewter Inx onto the raised edges. You could use any combination of colors to create lovely, grungy leaves for your projects. 

Thanks for dropping by today to view my layout and tutorial. I have some fabulous news to share. I'll be continuing on as one of Donna's designers after my Guest Design Team Spot, so I'll be back to share more work with Donna's amazing products each month. 

Product List:

Paper:

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar Designs ~ Natural Beauty - Flying Free

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar Designs ~ Natural Beauty - Casual Elegance

Want2Scrap: Donna Salazar Designs - 8" x 10" Corrugated Board

Chipboard:

GCD Studios: Donna Salazar Designs ~ Natural Beauty - Chipboard Alphas

Stamps:

Art Gone Wild: Donna Salazar Designs ~ Ruler

Color/Inks:

Clearsnap: Donna Salazar Designs - Mix'd Media Inx - Pewter, Black

Clearsnap: Donna Salazar Designs - Mix'd Media Inx CHOX - Midnight, Sparrow

Clearsnap: Donna Salazar Designs - Smooch Spritz - Wood Stain, Pralines & Cream

American Art Clay Co: Rub'n Buff - Grecian Gold 

Viva Decor: Inka Gold - Gold

DecoArt: Crafter's Acrylic - black, Christmas Red

Stencils:

Want2Scrap: Donna Salazar Designs - 8" x 10" - Small Bricks, Small Arrows

Want2Scrap: Donna Salazar Designs - Alphabet Stencil

Dies:

Spellbinders: Donna Salazar Designs - Sprightly Sprockets

Spellbinders: Donna Salazar Designs - Bitty Blossoms

Embellishments:

Vintage gears and machined pieces from Mandy Hennis

Tori Spelling: Styled - Multi Style Chain Hematite

Darice: Add on Pendant Knotted Nylon Necklace

Jill Mackay: Sterling Plated Earrings

DMC: Floss #310

Black Tulle

Mixed Media:

Liquitex: Ceramic Stucco
Liquitex: Gesso - black

Adhesives:

Art Glitter: Designer Dries Clear Adhesive

Helmar: 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Mod Podge - Matte

Tools:

Zutter: Donna Salazar Designs - Distrezz-It-All

Darice: Heat Tool

EK Success: Cutter Bee - Bugs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm also excited to share that Ashley from All That Stickles asked me to be her Featured Guest Blogger today. It's such a fun site that features Stickles and all the amazing things you can do with them.

Ashley has posted my "Stickled Butterfly Tutorial" today. I hope you'll stop by her site to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

"Men in Black" ~ Really Reasonable June 1 Challenge

If you are here for the ScrapThat! June Kit
Reveal and Blog Hop, please go here.

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 ~

"The Journey Awakens the Soul" Details for ScrapThat!

We are so happy to have Andrew added to our family. This photo was taken before their October wedding ceremony as he contemplates his future with our Elizabeth. 

I created this layout with the gorgeous ScrapThat! April kit featuring Donna Salazar's Natural Beauty collection and gorgeous Prima Flowers and Trinkets.

"The Journey Awakens the Soul"

MK, EAO, FAO

Tips and Techniques:

Corded Paper Rays ~ This close-up shows the lovely dimension much better!! I've been inspired by Frank Garcia's work with cording and thought I'd put my spin on it for this page. I cut the paper from this upper corner in toward the center of the page. I reinforced each point with an additional little triangle of paper, then pierced each point. I knotted the end of a length of cotton crochet thread and used a needle to pull the thread through a point leaving the knotted end on the bottom. I extended the cord across the page and pierced another hole near that edge and pulled the thread through to the back. I also adhered each paper point in place. 

Burlap Banner ~ I cut the kit burlap into banner flags and tucked one between each point. 

Handcrafted flowers ~ I used thick handmade mulberry paper with rose creations dies to create these dreamy flowers. The centers are the darling EAO Maya Road Metal Rose Trinkets. 

Corded Hearts ~ This gorgeous Prima strand of corded hearts was just perfect to extend the corded points and banner. 

Flowers ~ These Prima flowers are so gorgeous that I left them as is. The small white flower is handcrafted with the same mulberry paper and Donna Salazar's Bitty Blossoms dies. The leaves are from a scrap of kit paper colored with distress inks and pinched for dimension. 

Gears ~ I used Donna Salazar's Sprightly Sprockets dies to cut gears from a scrap of thin chipboard. I painted them black, then dabbed with a gold paint dauber and while still wet, heat set to bubble and add texture. 

Chipboard ~ My friend, Mandy, gave me the tag and bird chippies while I was working on this page and they were a perfect fit. I painted them, then lightly inked to highlight the raised designs. I used a scrap of jute from the burlap to tie onto the tag. The flourish is by Blue Fern Studio, which I also painted and inked. 

Title ~ The metal title piece was silver. I applied alcohol ink to color.

Scrapping Everyday Miracles has posted their April Sketch Challenge. They added a card sketch too, so there are two sketches to work with. I look forward to seeing your project posted there. For the sketches and challenge details, go here. 

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments! 

~ Blessings ~