"Remember"

Remembering is so important. Really, isn't capturing memories a big part of what drives our passion for scrapbooking? It's always so much fun to gather with family and friends to reminisce about the good times we've experienced together. It's also a blessing to remember the times we've had with those who are no longer with us. Earlier this year, beautiful Brittany went home to be with our Lord after a tragic accident. I never had the opportunity to meet her; however, she was active in the youth group our son and sweet daughter-in-law help with. Rachel had just this one photo of them together taken on her cell phone. I wanted to create a special page for Rachel to remember this special day with Brittany along with all the good times they experienced together. 

The Challenge at Once Upon a Sketch is to create a page including journaling with the theme "I'll Never Forget." 

"Remember"

Inspired by this gorgeous sketch:

I have included hidden journaling in the form of a tag attached to the back of my layout. It says. "Rachel, may the memories of Brittany live in your heart forever. You were a special person in her life who meant so much to her." I've also left room on this tag for Rachel to record some of her special memories of their time together. 

Tips and Techniques:

I really enjoyed using the 7 Dots Studio's Messy Head collection for this page. Rachel loves pink, so it was just perfect for this layout. 

The Dusty Attic Bricks fit the brick pattern on this paper perfectly. I topped them with ceramic stucco tinted with Mix'd Media Inx. When dry I misted them with black mist and then painted with gesso tinted with Distress Ink to add just a touch of pink 

The leaves are handcrafted using the Foilage die by Spellbinders. After cutting I crinkled them to form natural leaf veins and inked. 

I used Wild Orchid Crafts Mulberry Flowers now available in the Really Reasonable Ribbon Store. Bonnie carries many varieties, and I think I used nearly all of them on this page. I also included a couple larger flowers from Prima and Petaloo. I dry brushed most of the flowers with gesso and the grey Prima flower was dry brushed with gesso tinted with distress ink. One way to tint gesso or other mediums is to directly apply ink from your ink pad to a non-stick craft mat, then add a spot of gesso or other medium to the mat and mix the two mediums together. If you need more color, just apply more ink to a clean spot on your mat and keep on mixing it in. It's so easy and creates a color to perfectly match your project. 

I colored the Dusty Attic Grass clusters, then applied Designer Dries Clear glue to the tips to adhere microbeads. The triple loop bow is tied with RRR 3/8" White Organza.

Here's a close-up to show the mixed media. I stenciled the Prima crackle design with tinted molding paste. Once dry I misted and dripped some homemade mist around the page. I didn't have a color that worked with this paper collection in my stash, so I mixed drops of several re-inkers with water in a small misting bottle until I came up with this color. I also dripped flecks of teal across the page. 

To add more texture I brushed on a thick coat of matte gel medium and sprinkled on tiny glass marbles. The gel dries clear leaving such wonderful texture and adheres the beads. These little mini marbles really catch the light. When dry I adhered a few scattered pink rhinestones. I also stenciled two clocks, tucked in around the photo. I selected these particular stencils to represent remembering the good times with Brittany and the shattered emotions of those who knew and loved her. 

To extend the photo mat, I die cut, embossed, and inked chipboard. I also tucked in some pretty, decorative lace from my stash under the title. 

I've mentioned before how I enjoy using jewelry finding pieces like this dangling earring piece. I wired the beads to attach to the chains. The Lyndsey Crocheted Lace below this piece is from the RRR Store. 

Thanks for spending some time with me today. Have you created pages to remember someone special?

I have also entered this at:
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #94 Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Want2Scrap Top Secret Birthday Party Blog Hop

Welcome to the Want2Scrap Birthday Party Blog Hop for Michele Parrish. If you would like to start at the beginning, head on over to the Want2Scrap Blog.

Happy 50th Birthday, Michele!! I hope you have a fabulous day!!

Bling is the theme!! 

Michele loves pink and bling.
Here's the card I created for her:

I've been a big fan of Michele's Want2Scrap bling and chipboard for a long time. My newest Want2Scrap must have products are her wonderful stencils designed by Donna Salazar!!

Project Details

Aren't the Want2Scrap chipboard pieces so gorgeous heat embossed with Fran-tage embossing powders? I used Donna Salazar's Spellbinders Grand Peony Dies to create these Crushed Voile Peonies centered with one of her Bitty Blossoms flowers. My tutorial for these flowers can be found here. The triple looped bow is created with white organza ribbon. All of these items from the delicate flowers to the heavier chipboard are adhered with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. 

Here's another view showing off the gorgeous Want2Scrap Chipboard and pearl flourish.

Can I just say how much I adore these teardrop pearls?? Let's just say, I have several packages in my stash!! They are just perfect to accent this doily!! I colored the doily using DSD Mix'd Media Inx and ran some embroidery floss around the center circle. I stamped and embossed the sentiment then inked the cardstock background. I just love how Donna's Inx work so well with her papers. I used her Natural Beauty collection here. My DSD Distrezz-It-All made quick work of distressing the edges. 

Want2Scrap Products

Frilly Flourish Swirl - White Pearl

Teardrop Bling - White Pearls

Chipboard Embellishments - Style A, "Laurie"

Chipboard Embellishments - Style D, "Martha"

Other Products

Donna Salazar Designs, GCD Studios ~ Natural Beauty - Twiggy

Donna Salazar Designs, GCD Studios ~ Family Jeans - Family Eyelet

Donna Salazar Designs, GCD Studios ~ Mix'd Media Stax 2

Donna Salazar Designs, Spellbinders ~ Bitty Blossoms

Donna Salazar Designs, Spellbinders ~ Grand Peony

Donna Salazar Designs, Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx

Donna Salazar Designs, Zutter ~ Distrezz-It-All

Crushed Voile Fabric

Sewing Machine ~ Viking Husqvarna Designer 1

White Thread

DMC Embroidery Thread

Doily

White Organza Ribbon

Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Be sure to check out the RaffleCopter to find extra ways to enter the giveaway drawing. 

Here's a mobil link for entries:

http://bit.ly/13BrCQ2

I'm so glad you have joined us to wish Michele a very happy 50th birthday. 

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

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 ~