Red & Black Scrapbook Layout

I love to creatively make embellishments that match my scrapbook paper and/or layout themes.  Usually I do this using SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) and my electronic cutter.  But for this layout, I used some new items to pull it all together.  Here are the details:

First off was the paper (Sandylion's Red Licorice).  I adore red and black so when I saw this paper I grabbed a few sheets and put them in my stash.  I pulled a sheet out for this layout to commemorate my Mom's birthday.  The flowers were diecut from dotted Grunge board using the Sizzix Tattered Florals die and my Big Shot (I know---not the Cricut!) and painted with white acrylic paint.  Once dry, I used the distress tool and lightly brushed them with Black Soot Distress Ink.  Using a fine black Sharpie, I added the squiggly lines around the petals...following the design on the paper.  Next I punched different size circles from red and black cardstock scrap.  Again, following the paper's design I added swirls and cross hatching using a white gel pen and the Sharpie. I glue dotted these centers to the flower bases.  

The page title was cut from scrap red & black cardstock using the Spellbinders Lacey Circles die (again using the Big Shot).  I prepared the title and copy using PhotoShop and then printed it out on the diecut.  I cropped and arranged the photos, adding a K & Company Embossed Frame to the photo of Mom.

This layout is entered into the following Challenges:

SARAH HURLEY CHALLENGES--#77 ANYTHING BUT A CARD

CHEERFUL STAMP PAD--ANYTHING GOES

MY GRAFICO--#145 ANYTHING GOES