"Guy Time" Layout with Faux Metal Gear Tutorial by ~ Tracey Sabella

Hi, it's Tracey here to share a masculine layout inspired by the March Sketch'n Color Challenge by our talented Mistra Hoolahan. I just adore this fun photo of our son-in-law and his groomsmen at the wedding. The brick walls of the church in the background worked so perfectly with this month's gorgeous color challenge. 

"Guy Time"

March Sketch'n Color

For details on how to join this month's challenge go here.

Tips and Techniques

Although I did not create my flowers for this project, I colored them some of them with Donna's inks and the larger flowers were stamped using Donna's Art Gone Wild Crackle stamp. I used more stamping around the borders of the page and around the photo using the Ruler, Bubble Wrap, Dear Sir, and Crackle stamps. 

Here's a close-up of the Faux Metal Gears I created with Donna's Spellbinder Sprightly Sprockets dies. These are so easy to make, and I've included a tutorial below. 

A friend recently had some old film developed and gave me the end pieces. I used some to frame my photo. The chicken wire is from another friend and the patina is real. It was actually used for a chicken coop at one point. And check out the patina and old paint on this vintage key - a yard sale find. 

I mixed some of Donna's Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx Reinkers in Black and Leather to splatter across the page. 

Another close-up shot of the fabulous gears below the photo. I have a confession to make. I had created another page for this photo with a strip of stenciled bricks across the page. It just wasn't working for me, so I started over again. The first page was not a total loss since I cut the bricks into strips and tucked them in around my photo and clusters. They were created using Donna's Want2Scrap Small Brick Stencil (8" x 10") with extra coarse Pumice Gel Medium then colored with Mix'd Media Inx.

Faux Metal Gear Tutorial

I enjoy creating masculine pages and grungy metallic gears are such a perfect embellishment. They are so easy these are and all who see them can't believe they're not metal. 

Supplies

Die Cut Machine ~ Spellbinders Artisan X-plorer

Good Quality Black Cardstock

Spellbinders ~ Donna Salazar - Sprightly Sprockets Dies

Clearsnap ~ Gold Ink

Clearsnap ~ Copper Ink

Step 1. Cut and emboss black cardstock with Sprightly Sprocket dies, making sure you have a nice embossed imprint on the paper. 

Step 2. Rub the embossed paper gear with gold metallic ink. 

Step 3. Rub the gear with copper metallic ink. The ink really brings out the texture of the embossing. I used a light hand with the ink allowing the black to show around the embossed areas. You can always layer on more ink if needed. 

***Hint*** You can use any color(s) of metallic ink and even a bit of aqua or teal for a patina effect if desired ~ whatever goes with your layout. 

I hope you've been inspired to create a project for Donna's

March Girlie Grunge Sketch'n Color Challenge.

Details for the challenge can be found here.

~ Blessings ~

Tracey

Donna Salazar Products

GCD Studio ~ Natural Beauty Collection

GCD Studio ~ Natural Beauty Chipboard Alpha

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Leather, Adobe, Black, Stormy

Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx Reinker - Black, Leather

Want2Scrap ~ Small Brick Stencil (8" x 10')

Spellbinders ~ Sprightly Sprockets

Art Gone Wild ~ Crackle Stamp

Art Gone Wild ~ Dear Sir Stamp

Art Gone Wild ~ Bubble Wrap Stamp

Art Gone Wild ~ Ruler Stamp

Other Products

Black Cardstock

Idea-ology ~ Word Sticks, Mini Screw Brads

Petaloo Darjeeling Collection ~ Mini Daisies, Hydrangea, Anemone Mix

Vintage Key ~ Stash

Chicken Wire ~ Stash

Film Strip ~ Stash

Holiday Inspirations - Canvas Ribbon

Clearsnap ~ Metallic Ink - Gold, Copper

Golden Extra Coarse Pumice Gel

Hemar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Premium Craft Glue, Liquid Scrap Dots, Craft and Hobby PVA Glue, Zapdots - black 1/2" round