It is always such a delight to work with Donna Salazar's amazing products. I'm blessed indeed to be part of her team of designers. Today, I'd like to share a wedding page of our daughter, Elizabeth. I've used some fun mixed media techniques which I describe in my Tips and Techniques section. I've also created these new "Open Lace Rose" flowers, and you'll find the tutorial towards the bottom of this post. I've used the February Girlie Grunge Sketch-n-Color Challenge for inspiration. Pink is the color of love and so perfect for this wedding layout. "Bride" February Girlie Grunge Sketch-n-Color Challenge (I turned the sketch as shown) Details for our February challenge can be found here. Tips and Techniques Here's a close-up of my Open Lace Roses. You can locate the tutorial by scrolling down. It's easy to create splatter with Donna's inks. I rubbed the ink pad on a craft sheet then added a couple drops of Acrylic Matte Medium and several spritzes of water. This makes a nice mixture that creates wonderful splatter. I used all three colors shown in the February Girlie Grunge Sketch-n-Color Challenge. I colored white seam binding with Donna's Inks, then splattered with the ink mixtures. I spread pearl pen medium on these Want2Scrap Chipboard flourishes and title. Another view of the bow and chipboard. For my mixed media background, I used Donna's small Heart Stencil with molding paste, then applied Mix'd Media Inx Chiffon Embossing Powder while the molding paste was wet and heat set. The molding paste bubbles and creates gorgeous texture while melting the embossing powder. The pink was a little brighter than I wanted, so I brushed it lightly with gesso. I splattered with all three colors. When dry, I brushed over the hearts and surrounding area with Soft Gel (Matte) mixed with the punch waste from the border punched edges. If you look carefully you can see the little dots of paper mixed in. Finally, I splattered again with all three colors. A close-up of the bottom cluster. You can see I inked and splattered the flowers as well. I've tucked some Bitty Blossoms in amongst the Open Lace Roses. The tutorial for my Bitty Blossoms Flowers can be located here. Open Lace Rose Flower Tutorial Supplies Donna Salazar Designs ~ Spellbinders Grand Peony Dies Donna Salazar Designs ~ Spellbinders Rose Creations Dies Printed cardstock weight paper. **Note - I've used different papers here than for the flowers on this layout. Both are from Donna's Natural Beauty Collection. Lace Scraps (Either lace wide enough to die cut or a lace panel.) Paper Scraps Decorative brad or button Liquid glue such as Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive Spellbinders Artisan X-plorer Large stylus or pen with rounded cap. Round Nose Pliers (Or round object like an artist paint brush) For the purpose of this tutorial, I have numbered the dies in each set from smallest to largest with 1 being assigned to the the smallest die. (Please note, the Grand Peony dies are much larger than Rose Creations, seeming out of proportion. For instance, the #3 Grand Peony die is nearly the same size as the #5 Rose Creations die.) I've illustrated the process for the largest size flower, you can alter the die sizes in a number of different ways to create a variety of flower sizes to fit your project. Step 1. Cut 2 each of paper petal layers from Grand Peony dies #3 and #5. (Photo following step 2.) Step 2. Cut 1 each of lace layers from Rose Creation dies #3 and #5 ***Hint*** For lace to cut somewhat cleanly, it helps to layer as follows: place die on cutting surface face up, then lace, then paper scrap. If you try to cut without the paper layer, in my experience it will barely cut. Even with the paper layer, you may still need to do some minor trimming. Step 3. Lay paper petal layer face down on a foam pad. Use a large stylus or pen with a rounded cap to press and roll each petal to cup. Another shot to show how the petals curve. Step 4. Turn petal over and with right side up, roll stylus around the center which will depress the center and push the petals upward. Step 5. Curl back the petal edges using round nose pliers or around a small diameter rod like an artist paint brush. Step 6. Using round nose pliers or the end of a round rod like an artist brush, give a twist to the center of each petal to crimp. Step 7. Glue layers together offsetting the petals as you go. Secure the center with a decorative brad. ***Hint ~ For additional color and distressing, you can mist, paint, splatter, gesso, glitter . . . Any girlie grunge technique works beautifully. I hope you've been inspired to create a project for Donna's February Girlie Grunge Sketch-n-Color Challenge. Details for the challenge can be found here. Donna Salazar Products GCD Studio ~ Natural Beauty Collection Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Pomegranate; Berries; Chiffon; Stormy; Truffle Clearsnap ~ Mix'd Media Inx - Chiffon Spellbinders ~ Grand Peony Spellbinders ~ Rose Creations Spellbinders ~ Bitty Blossoms Want2Scrap ~ Heart Stencil (small) Other Products Want2Scrap ~ Chipboard - Style D - Martha; Style C - Kathie; Bride Want2Scrap ~ Bling - Say It with Pearls - Frilly Flourish Swirl - White Pearls The Paper Studio Spare Parts ~ Bling Brads; Gemstone Flower Brads Seam Binding - White (Really Reasonable Ribbon) Spellbinders ~ Fantastic Flourish Two Martha Stewart - Lace Heart Edge Punch DecoArt Americana ~ Jacobean Floral Stencil Golden ~ Soft Gel (Matte), Light Molding Paste Viva ~ Pearl Pen, Cream Blick Artists ~ Acrylic Matte Medium Helmar ~ Craft and Hobby PVA Glue, 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Fabric Glue Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments. ~ Blessings ~