Mixed Media – My Way!

Hi Everyone

It’s funny isn’t it,.. how we think we can’t do something,.. until we have a go. (this is a long post, but hey, it’s the first one I’ve done for ages! ha ha)

That’s just like me and ‘mixed media’,.. I NEVER thought it would be ‘my thing’, although I do use lots of different products in my card making like paints, waxes, ink misters, pastes and so on… and there are no rules that say ‘mixed media’ has to be dark and gloomy,.. which you’ll never really see from me,.. even when I do my collage stamps,.. they’re pretty ha ha

So, I’m going to take you on a little mixed media journey with me, as I learn how to apply all the skills I already have (and learn new ones!) into what we call ‘mixed media’, but done my way.

Mixed Media – in my mind, is quite simply using different textures, products, materials, techniques and styles to create something unique.. there’s no right or wrong, just what you want it to be,.. for me,.. that’s pretty 🙂

I have created 3 canvasses now, two that I created for my Crafternoon Tea Workshops in our Nottingham and Sheffield Honeypot Crafts stores and one that I finished yesterday, that I have lovingly spent a long time getting right (it will be part of my festive dining room decoration for years to come!)

You can see my Crafternoon Tea Workshop ones over on My Pinterest page, these are 8×8 canvasses, which felt ‘safe’ to start with as it’s my favourite size of card!

This one I’m going to show you is a 20″ x 12″ canvas,.. see, I got brave after the first two and went bigger!

I found that preparation really is key, getting the base textures right and planning (you know I like to be organised!) my embellishments etc

I have two textures on my base, one created from Soft White Texture Paste (absolute must have)(the woody look, done first) and the other from our White Crackle Paste (added after), here’s a little close up of them both..

Once both layers were dry, I painted with White Gesso – twice, to make sure it was covered thoroughly 🙂

You will also notice the fab little white balls, these are artsy stones by Crafters Companion and fab for adding texture, even easier to paint your chosen colour! These were dropped into the texture paste when it was still wet so that they set into it as it dried,.. I did lose a few on the painting stage, but it didn’t matter 🙂

Then came the familiar part,.. die cutting loads (as you’d expect from me) of poinsettias,.. I used one of my older Spellbinders sets as it gives me a single petal that I can build up to make the large poinsettia in the middle..

I’ve used my own brand pearls (love these!) for the centres of my poinsettias and gave the red pearls a little whitewash too 🙂

Now, and I will admit this, I am slightly (ok, not slightly) addicted to the air dry clay and moulds, which is how I created the baubles and holly and letters for this project.. it’s amazing! Honestly, if you have never tried it, please treat yourself to a pack of clay and a mould and have a go,.. it’s so easy and they are so light!

So, clearly I had fun with the moulds, but more importantly, it meant I could use our Cosmic Shimmer Chalk paints to make them whatever colour I wanted.

For the letters, I painted them red and washed some white over that after they had dried,.. the white baubles are also painted white, then I made a pva glue wash (water and glue mix), painted them with this, then covered them in Diamond Frost glitter,.. by doing this, it meant I kept all the detail of the holly leaves 🙂

Now, you wouldn’t believe how much trouble I had finding the pine cones!, but I did,… on the park where we walk Rufus ha ha, these were given a light whitewash too with the white gesso (must have!) as opposed to chalk paint (it’s just a little bit stronger in colour)

The layout took some getting right,.. I did (if I’m honest) have to make 5 more poinsettias!) and then just played around until I was happy where everything went, then stuck everyhthing on (little tip for you – take a photo of your layout before you start sticking it together, you can check the photo as you go along)

(I used my trusty Cosmic Shimmer PVA Glue for everything except the pine cones (used my hot glue gun)

And here it is (finally, I hear you say)

I really hope you like it,.. I absolutely love it, love the techniques, love the products, love the style, love the whole process and finished result!

I have already started my next one and will take photos step by step so I can do a step by step post for you next time, if you’re like me, you like to see how things look as we go along… 🙂

You’ll also notice, there is no metal on this canvas,… that was by design, but the next one… well,….

Now (I’m off to play with my new stamps,.. my last new release of 2018 and they are AMAZING!!!)

(you will see them at Ally Pally if you’re coming or on Hochanda at the end of September)

Happy Crafting!