Nature Mixed Media Challenge

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. The rich textures and colors that Nature gives us is not only excellent inspiration, but the colors are one of my favorite palette to work with! For today’s project, I have a nature themed card done in a mixed media style. It’s card nature mixed media fun – creative and full of gorgeous textured techniques. Time for the Happy Little Stampers Nature Mixed Media Challenge.

You may be wondering what makes this a nature mixed media card. We have a background that has some glue mixed with direct to paper distress techniques, water & then some embossing over top. Then some added die cuts that use the layered watercolor technique – wrinkle free distress with some stamping & embossing. That’s it!

The ideas were flowing for this project – fern stenciling or monoprinting….I tore off actual bark from some wood headed into our fireplace tonight – it’s 38 degrees outside…yikes! But eventually I settled on some good ole mixed media techniques to give my card texture and interest.

Nature Mixed Media Tutorial

You’ll love this cool technique for a woody background, I’ve been wanting to try it out for a while – Glue Woodgrain Texture. Over on my friend Karen Dunbrook’s blog – Snippets, you’ll find a great tutorial. This technique uses glue to create some great texture for a wood grain look. I’m not sure I nailed it this first time, but since the fence is only peeking out – I figured it would work!

Not straying at all from Karen’s design, I had a gorgeous woody background for this card. In a nutshell, you’ll spread a little glue over a thick piece of card stock. Let it dry, flip over and score some lines – mine were 1/2″ apart. Use direct to paper techniques with Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge and Weathered Wood Distress Inks. Spread them out with a little water – I misted mine then used a water brush. Overall it looks pretty cool.

The glue would not dry fast enough on this wood grain background for me. I’m SO not patient enough…so I dried it the best I could, laid it to the side & hit it with a heat tool. Then I chose to spread some Gilded Gold embossing powder by Brutus Monroe over the sticky parts and started embossing – it has an awesome look!

Once the background is done and attached to the card base, use the wrinkle free distress technique to add fall colors to some die cut leaves. The leaves are cut from #140 Cold Pressed Watercolor paper to get a smooth look. I can’t decide which leaf is my favorite – the colors are so great together. I just kept playing….and I think some actually look natural, what do you think?

Next you’ll want to add a greeting – to get it to pop a bit, emboss it on a strip. I used one from the HLS Mix Mash stamp set in Gilded Gold.  A few gold sequins, and it’s a great fall inspired card.

Your Turn Now

Now it’s your turn….how does Nature and Mixed Media inspire you? For more inspiration, be sure to check out the awesome projects my team mates designed too. Here’s the main Challenge Post for you to post your creation! There’s even a prize….

See you tomorrow for some more creative inspiration!

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