Videos — Page 5

Mixed Media Watercolored Butterflies

Have you ever wondered how to create depth & texture without bulk? You may find that it’s much easier to do than you think – just grab some watercolor brushes, a few stencils, some distress inks and you may just surprise even yourself! This month over at the Happy Little Stampers we’re challenging you to play around with Wings in your Mixed Media pieces. That could be any way you interpret it. I chose to use the bold butterfly image from Butterfly Birthday set and see if I could make it feel like it was actually fluttering on the paper with some watercolor magic and stencils in the background. What do you think? Did I hit the mark?

Be sure to stop by all the Design Team’s blogs to check out just how they created their own masterpieces. I have a written tutorial for you today, and a video for you! It’s a rather in depth project, so I split it into two videos so you can find your place better. Grab a beverage and enjoy the process! Of course if you want to see it in HD, click the link below to view on YouTube.

View Part One in HD on YouTube

View Part Two in HD on YouTube

This card is actually quite simple to do, it does take a little time, but it’s a great relaxing project – especially if you like to watercolor! Here’s how you can create your very own:

How to Create Depth & Texture without Bulk

First you’ll want to cut out a few masks. I used the coordinating Butterfly Dies for the Butterfly Birthday stamp set. I knew I was going to be watercoloring right up to the edge, so I found a way around the ‘edge’ you get when using dies as masks – you’ll see it in the video. Cut several masks – I stacked four post it notes and ran it through once since they were so thin – super easy!
Stamp your butterfly pattern in a border along your paper. Be sure to overlap them using your masks so that they are on top of each other. I used an image from the Butterfly Birthday stamp set from Happy Little Stampers. I stamped mine in Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink on a 12 x 3″ scrap piece of Canson 138# Mixed Media paper. That way I could make two or three projects – depending on how I cut it down.
Heat set your pigment ink before going to the next step!

Watercolor your butterflies in similar colors – some vibrant, others more matte. That will allow them to pop and compliment each other. I chose the following watercolors by Schminke – Hordam Aquarelle Artist: Cobalt, Phthalo Blue, Indigo, Paris and Winsor Newton Cotman Ultramarine and Turquoise.
Watercolor a light base coat in a watered down wash, then once dry come back to add darker highlights allowing for lightness in your wings. This helps your images to really pop!
Once your butterflies are dry, cut your border down.
Add a light watercolor wash of Schminke Translucent Orange framing your butterflies. First wet your paper on the half you’re painting, add your darkest color to the border and lighten outward. Try and keep the bulk of the color around your winged creatures.

Once dry, add a light wash of Ochre from the border inward. Try and keep some lightness to the outer border if possible. You want your wings to be the star.
While your piece is still damp and drying, ink up a script stamp in Ground Espresso Distress Ink – I used one by Kaiser Crafts and stamp in random spots. Be sure to have your butterflies covered with your masks. With the paper wet, your Distress Ink will blur a bit. If it’s too wet you will lose all detail.
Add various textures with stencils to your outer pieces around your butterflies using Wild Honey, Antique Linen and Espresso Distress Inks. I added texture with some bubble wrap & a diamond stencil (Harleen by Winnie & Walter).

Smoosh some Ground Espresso Distress Ink on your craft mat and spritz with water. Use a light wash over your orange at the edge of your butterflies. This will dirty it up a bit, tone down the orange, and help give life and depth to your winged creatures. It helps to make them seem as if they are fluttering. Keep your shadow a bit thicker on the bottom than the top. It’s okay if some touches the script, but you don’t want to wash away all the great texture you created.
Lightly Sponge a frame in Ground Espresso Distress Ink and edge your piece in Soot Black.
Splatter some Paynes Grey watercolor with a brush.

Allow it to completely dry.
Matte onto a black strip and add to a kraft colored base.
Stamp your greeting – I used the fun quirky ones from the new HLS set Doodled Flowers – I LOVE these sentiments. They are the perfect size and looks as if I just wrote it myself.

Part of what makes this project work are the complimentary colors. Not just the butterflies, but blue and orange. Other combinations that are great are purple and yellow or red and green. Basically any two colors that are on the opposite of the color wheel from one another. The black really makes it pop and I love the brown and black together. It works!

Well, there you go, not too many steps. Okay – I’ll be honest, this project did take me over an hour to do – closer to two, but don’t let that scare you. It was fun, relaxing and is truly a piece of artwork. I don’t know if the photos relay it well, but the butterflies look as if they’re about to leap off the page or twirling from one side to the other. It turned out better than I could have imagined. So I encourage you to jump on in and try it yourself. Use whatever you have – hearts, Circles, Snowmen, Butterflies – we all have butterflies! Just have fun.

I can’t wait to see your Winged Mixed Media creations – use texture, embossing, whatever you have. I chose Watercolor, Distress, stamping, and stenciling. The sky is the limit. Jump on into the Mixed Media April Challenge – Wings. I can’t wait to see what you do!

I’m also going to play along with one of my new favorite Mixed Media challenges – CAS Mix Up challenge – if you haven’t checked this one out, don’t wait! This month it’s all about stamping & stenciling – LOVE that!

Now go get those fingers inky –

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Filed Under: Cards, Challenges, Distress Ink, Mixed Media, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos, Watercolor Tagged: mixed media cards

Mixed Media Watercolor

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 24 Comments

If I were to say Textured Watercolor to you, what would you think of? Mixed Media? Embossing Paste? I have to admit, this month I felt a little challenged when I saw the theme over at the Mixed Media Challenge at Happy Little Stampers – Water. Now you can take this a few ways – water based techniques or literally create a water scene (Usually what I’d do). SO, I thought I’d give a little Textured Watercolor a shot.

To get the water flowing on my mixed media piece, and have a little fun – I whipped out some bright colors, stencils, stamps and a few different mediums. I even shot a real time video for you too – so if you want to see how I watercolored Embossing Paste to create a beautiful textured card, just watch here – or click the link below to watch in HD on YouTube.

Watch in HD on YouTube

The snow is falling as I write this blog post, so it was fun to work on a project that gave me a spring/summer feel. That’s what I love about art, it takes you away to some cool places! Here’s a written tutorial for you too – but the video has much more detail.

Mixed Media: Creating Textured Watercolor

Add embossing paste through a stencil where you want to on 140# cold pressed watercolor or mixed media paper. I used Specimens 12×12″ by The Crafters Workshop. Set aside to dry.
Paint over your dried piece with bright vibrant watercolors as in the video. I used Lemon Yellow, Translucent Orange, Magenta, Quinacrodone Violet, Cobalt, Paynes Grey (Schminke) and Permanent Rose (Mission).

Keep your watercolor loose and bright, adding dimension through layers and depth by keeping the darker areas balanced with the light.
Allow to dry thoroughly.
Stamp Script stamp in Soot Black Distress Ink in random spots, touching up in spots with water to keep it loose and imperfect.
Add splats with a watery Paynes Grey and a paint brush.

Once dry, add a little sponging to the edges and lightly on the sides with Hickory Smoke and Soot Black Distress inks.
Secure your project and stencil over it again. Sponge your embossing paste in Hickory Smoke and Soot Black. If not dark enough to your liking, use your Distress Inks in the direct to paper method.
Cover your project with a destatic tool.
Place your stencil over top your project again and smoosh a versamark pad over your embossed images.

Add glitter, then a little clear embossing powder. Heat set
Rub over your project with a cloth or paper towel to remove the destatic powder and some of the glitter.
Emboss a greeting on a piece of Vellum card stock, tear and add to your project as in the video. I used Everyday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)
Add piece to black card stock and trim if needed. If you do trim, add a little black to the bottom as in the video and touch up your sponging.

And come to think of it – I created another Watercolor Mixed Media piece earlier in the week for my friends Loll & Bonnie’s new challenge too – CAS Mix Up. See that card here. I decided to play along with two other challenges today – Anything but Cute – Color and Mixed Media Mojo – Springtime/Watercolor.

So grab those bright watercolors, and have fun creating your own Mixed Media piece! I’m sure you’ll get just as lost in it as I did. Till next time –

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Filed Under: Art, Challenges, Distress Ink, Mixed Media, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos, Watercolor Tagged: embossing paste, mixed media, mixed media cards, Techniques, texture, the crafters workshop

Shaped Cards – Snowflake Tropics

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 14 Comments

Creating shaped cards just takes a little imagination and a large die. I thought this week I would put a little spin on my snowflake Christmas card and create a tropical scene – why not?!! After all, I did just spend 10 years in Florida!

This month at Happy Little Stampers, the Christmas Challenge focuses on Shaped Cards. Since it’s been snowing a little every day here in the forest, I thought a snowflake card would be perfect!

We also have a great guest designer this month – Rahmat – Cards & Cooking Corner Be sure to check out her blog and project too!

Tomorrow I’ll have a video to show you for this card as well, so stop on by!

How to create Shaped Cards – Tropical Snowflake

Measure your snowflake die and cut a card base slightly larger. Mine measured 3 3/4 tall by 4 1/4 wide folded. (7 1/2 x 4 1/4″)
Score your card at 3 3/4″ and mask off the back flap with a post it note.

Stamp your water using 139H Seaside Cove by Stampscapes in Early Espresso. Tip – you want to have the glistening part somewhere on your card.
Mask off the horizon line at the top of your stamped image (the sky) and sponge in your bottom. Try to keep the glisten part light. I used Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feather Distress Inks and Mini Sponge Tools by Ranger.
Add a little extra color to the horizon line.Flip your mask so that the water is hidden.
Cut a sun mask using a 3/4″ circle punch and post it note. Tip – if you can’t get the mask to punch cleanly, place your post it note in between a folded piece of copy paper and punch.
Sponge your sky in your desired colors. I used Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick & Seedless Preserves Distress Inks.

Create a stencil by punching the same punch in the center of a square post it note.
Remove the sun mask and replace it with a sun stencil. Sponge with Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed and a tiny bit of Spiced Marmalade at the bottom.
Stamp your Palm Tree (Palm Stalks 123F [Stampscapes] – cut apart) & Palm Fronds – Stampscapes fronds #2 & #3 in Espresso.
Add the birds either with a stamp or draw by hand. I used a partial stamping of Gulls #302A with an Espresso Marker, and free hand drew a few more.
Stamp your greeting – I needed a small stacked greeting, so I used this one from Christmas Bell Medley by Stamplorations.
Now that your scene is done, we can create the shaped card.
Keep your card folded as you run it through your Big Shot or other die cutting machine.

Be sure to slightly mis-align the top so that the card fold remains intact – meaning you have a flat edge at the uppermost top two snowflake arms (for lack of a better word!)
Cut your die, make sure it cuts through both pieces!
And there you have it – a snowflake shaped card.

Now this card is rather small, but it’s cute and would actually make a super cute tag or ornament – you could even pop a photo on the inside in the shape of a circle.

So I hope that inspired you a bit. I’m looking forward to seeing what you create. Don’t forget to check out the design teams cards too – we all have different shapes! Enter the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge here.

Earlier this week, I saw my super talented friends Kristie and Bonnie play along with tropical themed Christmas cards for Merry Monday, so I thought I’d join them by combining the two challenges for this project! Be sure to check out those amazing cards too!

Hope you give both challenges a try. I’ll be back in a few days with a Mixed Media one!

Keep those fingers inky –

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Filed Under: Cards, Challenges, Clean and Simple, Scenic, Stampscapes, Uncategorized, Videos

Watercolor Smash in the Mix Mash Forest

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 6 Comments

Have you ever tried the Watercolor Smash technique? It’s a super easy one that creates amazing looks. Paired here together with the Mix Mash stamp set by Happy Little Stampers, you get a fun and quirky little scene made out of some graphic elements. Don’t you just love stretching your stamps in ways they weren’t intended?

So you can fully understand all the little tips and ideas that went into creating this card, I filmed a short video tutorial for you. I don’t know how your mind works, but the first time I saw this stamp set, this card idea popped into my head! Enjoy the video:

Watch on YouTube

The Watercolor Smash Technique Tutorial

The scene was created on a 6 3/8 x 3 1/4″ piece of 140# cold pressed Hahnnenmuhle watercolor paper. The final card is 4 1/4 x 6 3/8″ folded Sahara Sand card stock by Stampin Up. You’ll also need a white – 6 3/8 x 3 7/16″.
I had an idea to create a sunny, snowy day – I know…contradiction…so I wanted to add some flicked masking fluid first with a toothbrush. You have to set it aside to fully dry before beginning – no heat tool!
To keep with the quirky theme, add a few of the smallest circles from Mix Mash in the sky portion of the card. Emboss in clear embossing powder.
Add the sun by first stamping in Versamark Ink, then Mustard Seed Distress Ink (Ranger).

Add the trees in the same manner as the sun, using Peeled Paint and Forest Moss Distress with Versamark. TIP – clean your stamp in between so you don’t get green in your watermark pad! I also varied the size and height of the trees so it wasn’t too uniform.
Emboss trees in clear, add trunks using a Ground Espresso Distress Marker. Don’t do too many at once before adding the embossing powder – you don’t want the ink to soak into your watercolor paper to quickly. If it does, run over it with a Versamarker, but be sure to only get the brown!
Lay down the colors as in the video – Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon and Chipped Sapphire.
Add a fair amount of water with a fine mist spritz bottle.
Lay your project – image side to ink over your blue palette and smash, holding your card stock there so the ink and water can grab onto your project. You’ll see the sides of your paper curl up just a bit.

Don’t worry if you didn’t get it right in one smash. That’s the beauty of this technique. Keep smashing to get the color you want in certain sections. To get a smooth look, be sure not to allow your project to dry in between.
Use a Pentel Water brush loaded with Broken China to move color into desired spots. TIP – Be sure your brush has the same amount of water as your paper, if it is too dry, it will pull watercolor from your project.
Once you have the look you are going for, dry your project – either naturally, or with a heat tool. I chose to use a heat tool, but don’t hover over your embossed images too much – you’ll over-emboss them! TIP – if your paper is too soaked and bent, your color and water will seep to the outside. To keep that from happening, just dry the edges a bit with a heat tool so that your project flattens out a bit, then continue to dry naturally if so desired.

When your project is fully dry, rub off your masking fluid.
Place the white matte where it will be on the folded card base – do not adhere yet.
Stamp greeting from Mix Mash set in Ground Espresso ink to match your trunks. Zap with a heat tool to set.
Add Mono liquid glue to the back, adhere to a white matte and then to the stone folded card base.

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I love this card – it’s fun nature is what I love about stamping. This technique is so fun, easy and one I use frequently. Once you’ve done a few, you’ll quickly add it to your stamping toolbox. Be sure to subscribe for an exclusive video series with more techniques below!

Keep those fingers inky –

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Filed Under: Cards, Distress Ink, Mixed Media, Scenic, Uncategorized, Videos, Watercolor Tagged: stamping videos, Techniques, watercolor, watercolor smash

Faded Double Stenciling Video + Sneak Peek

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 7 Comments

It’s Wednesday, and that means a sneak peek into the fun new challenge over at StampNation, but first I have the Crooky Cake video I promised. This video highlights the faded double stenciling technique, which is awesome for any background. If you recall, a few days ago I posted this card:

If you want a glimpse into how I created this frosted look, here you go!

Watch on YouTube

So what did you think? It’s a fun, cute frosted looking card. Here’s a written tutorial for you as well!

Faded Double Stenciling Technique

As with any stenciling work, you first want to secure both your work piece and your stencil to ensure they don’t move around on you.
To achieve a faded look, keep the darkest part central on your project and sponge outward, varying the depth of color as you move outward. To accentuate this, I kept my lightest of three shades to the outside – Tattered Rose. I also made sure to leave the corners practically white.

Sponge your colors from lightest to darkest – Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet and Dusty Concord. Once you have the look you want, lift your stencil and shift to move the diamonds into the oval negative space left by the stencil. Repeat your pattern and perhaps vary your color – maybe the first set you kept lighter, and the second darker. This will help provide a visual difference and interest.
Next stamp your cake pieces using similar inks – I used Stampin Up Classics – Crisp Cantaloupe, Blushing Bride and Wisteria Wonder. Cut them out using the coordinating Dies along with a few streamers in white. To make the long squiggle at the bottom, I connected two smaller pieces. The bottom pieces I cut out using a white card stock that has Stick It on it.

Stamp the greeting from the set in black and create a banner with a hexagon punch or scissors.
Attach the cake together using a scrap piece of card stock and some liquid glue as in the video.
Attach the cake and banner to a trimmed circle cut from vellum card stock.

Pop your circle and banner up using fun foam or foam tape, add some sequins using Matte Medium and attach your card front to a white card base.
The card front measures 4 x 5 1/4″, card base – 4 1/4 x 5 1/2″

Supplies:

Stamps – Bring on the Cake stamp set and coordinating dies by SugarPea Designs for Stamp of Approval Young at Heart Collection
Ink – Ranger Distress -Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Dusty Concord; Memento – Tuxedo Black; Stampin Up – Crisp Cantaloupe, Blushing Bride and Wisteria Wonder.
Paper – White, Vellum Card Stock (Stampin Up)
Accessories – Bring on the Cake Dies (SugarPea Designs), Harleen Stencil (Winne & Walter for SOA Young at Heart Collection), Hexagon Punch (Stampin Up), White Sequins (Rico Designs), Mini Sponge Tools (Ranger), Fun Foam

The Stamp of Approval Collection is almost sold out, but don’t fret. If you miss out, these products will be available through their companies later in 2016/2017. And definitely check out my other fun project made with this collection here.

And if that wasn’t enough for you, be sure to check out this week’s challenge over at StampNation. Here’s a sneak peek at my challenge project for this week – notice a little more double stenciling? And the Stenciling class is still going on in the classroom there – over 16 individual lessons so far.

Hope you enjoyed that! Be sure to stop by for more crafty goodness later this week. Till then, keep those fingers inky –

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Filed Under: Clean and Simple, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: Birthday, Double Stenciling, Faded Stenciling, Stamp of Approval, Stencil, Techniques

Video, 2 Tutorials, Blog Hop & Prizes

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 4 Comments

I have all sorts of goodness for you today! Towards the bottom of this über long post, I have two – yes TWO tutorials for you – one in video form and another after.

First I wanted to tell you about an exclusive collection of stamping stuff just coming available – yup…it’s brand spankin new – not on the market yet! There’s a blog hop filled with awesome projects – great to inspire you this morning, plus at the bottom, I have a new video for you and more crafty goodness!

Normally I would be participating alongside these great card makers for a great blog hop showcasing the new Stamp of Approval collection – Young at Heart. But alas, customs has benched me. They’ve kept my supplies – secretly I think they’re having too much fun making birthday cards and have decided to keep all the fun for themselves! Not to worry, I still have all the information you need, plus I have some fun inspiration for you too!

Stamp of Approval (SOA) is an exclusive box of Stamps, Dies and Stencils designed by Catherine Pooler and some of your favorite stamp companies. Available quarterly, and only till they sell out – and let me be the first to tell you, it’s quick – the first SOA sold out in hours!

This year, StampNation celebrated it’s 5th Birthday, so naturally a box about birthdays makes sense – it’s called the Young at Heart Collection. I would think that birthday cards are probably the #1 card type made – so I’m sure you’ll find something in it for you. But don’t think just birthdays – after seeing the products myself in the videos, I have all sorts of ideas for non-birthday cards too! Here are some links to the three videos highlighting product from the box:

The stamps, dies and stencils designed for this collection are first only available through the SOA box. They will eventually be released by their stamp companies sometime later in 2016/2017, so this is your chance to get your hands on some great products before everyone else – I’m all about that! 🙂

Here’s how it works – you have to be on the waitlist to get the information and link about when the box goes on sale! And it goes quick. If you are a StampNation member – you’ll get the link an hour before the public on February 3rd! This box has products by CAS-ual Fridays, Sugar Pea Designs and Winnie & Walter – three of the hottest stamp companies out there today!!

And to give you some incredible inspiration, hop along with this talented blog hop. Be sure to leave a comment on everyone’s blog – Catherine is giving away two boxes!! And not to worry, if you purchase one and end up a winner – you’ll be reimbursed. The boxes are stuffed with over $100 worth of brand new product…that’s a pretty awesome prize!!!

Neutral Tone Stenciling Video Tutorial

So, are you on creative inspiration overload yet? I hope not, because I have some crafty goodness to share with you too! The other day I released a new video on my YouTube channel. It’s a great birthday card that is quick, easy and has some great neutral tones in it – perfect for a masculine card. Here it is:

Watch video on YouTube

It’s a pretty straight forward card and the stencil really is the star here.

Don’t you just love that stencil from Hero Arts! I love all the neutral tones. It’s simple, and kind of reminds me of New Mexico/Arizona a bit. What do you think?

I’ve been playing around with stencils for the past month on overdrive. Mostly because I’ve been creating content for the Stencil Class over at StampNation that’s been going on for the past 2 1/2 weeks!

You may remember my Gelli Plate creation from last month, well, I filmed a video for the stencil class at SN and put up many more samples.

Gelli Plate Monoprinting in Layers Tutorial

Here’s a new one for you though. I have been having SO much fun with my Gelli Plate – it’s an amazing tool that really allows my inner artist to break out. Do you have one, or are you thinking about getting one? Let me know in the comments below!

Working with a gelli arts printing plate has been truly an eye opening experience. While I won’t say I’m and expert, I have learned a ton along the way! For instance, paper and paint do matter. You want a paint that will give you time to work, acrylics dry so quickly, the longer your paint remains open, the more flexibility you have. And when you’re new to something like this – that’s key. That doesn’t mean you can’t use your cheap acrylics, just work quickly!

For this project, I started by layering on some Phthalo Blue. I cleared my brayer of any paint and promptly brayered some back off. leaving only some around the edge and a little in the center.
The key to creating a monoprint in layers on your Gelli Plate, is to allow the layers to dry inbetween.
Next you’ll want to add another color – I chose Cobalt Blue. Repeat the process pulling up a lot of the blue.
Add your stencil – I added the Tula stencil by Memory Box. Pull a positive print to use on another project. That leaves a lot open space.
Finally, add your lightest color – I chose Ochre for a contrast.
I pulled the entire print up at this point. The Ochre allowed the dried layers enough moisture to pull the print up in it’s entirety. If your paint isn’t open enough, this can be a frustrating process and you won’t pull up all your colors. Sometimes that can look cool, other times it can just be frustrating. You’ll find that sweet spot for yourself.

The interesting thing with this print is that in some spots the blue and yellow blended to form a slight green – that only gives this a more worn and aged look. The background naturally is the star, so keep the rest of the card simple. I added the Handlettered Thanks die by WPlus9 and a few Rhinestones.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed these couple of projects – can you tell I have stenciling on the brain? Be sure to check out the new SOA box, or hop on over the StampNation and check it out along with the free stenciling class. I have a few videos in lessons #5 & #14.

See you next time, till then, keep those fingers inky!

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Filed Under: Masculine, Mixed Media, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: catherine pooler, gelli plate, masculine cards, monoprinting, Stamp of Approval, Stenciling on cards

Watercolor Stamped Butterflies Video

Written by Ingrid Blackburn Leave a Comment

Today I have a fun little video tutorial for you. You may remember this card from a few months back. Well, I was finally able to get the video uploaded. I created it as a tutorial for the Happy Little Stampers YouTube channel. I’m on their video crew and will be contributing every month to that channel as well. Be sure to subscribe to it to see the rest of the teams creations each week. 🙂

Now for some crafty goodness. Watercolor stamping is so much fun, easy to do and really looks artistic. This stamp set lends itself well to this technique as the images are quite detailed and have great space in-between the lines. Enjoy the video and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already!

Click Here to Watch on YouTube

I hope you enjoyed that! It’s a super fun technique and I love that it works well with clean and simple design! Click Here to see the original blog post.

Till next time. Keep those fingers inky –

Filed Under: Clean and Simple, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: happy little stampers, stamping videos, Techniques, watercolor

Mixed Media Christmas Tag

Written by Ingrid Blackburn 10 Comments

Creating mixed media Christmas tags can be a fun creative exercise that really showcases a fun style that is all your own. When I think of mixed media, I have always thought of those amazing colorful art journal pages we see so often. I’ve always been an admirer, but I have to admit, a bit scared to start. Well, when Kylie at Happy Little Stampers asked me if I wanted to be on the mixed media team, I was a bit apprehensive. I thought two things – 1 – I know nothing about mixed media other than it looks so cool and 2 – Is this style biting off a little more than I can chew?! Well, I never do anything the easy way, so when she told me most of what I do is by definition mixed media already, I figured, it was time to jump into the deep end and figure this mixed media thing out! – I was in!

So today’s tutorial is the beginning of a journey into the art of Mixed Media for me. I hope you’ll join me for this fun ride! We’re going to start out with the 1st Mixed Media challenge at Happy Little Stampers – there’s even a prize! If you’ve ever wanted to try something new, or just give it a go – join me this month – the theme is TAG. Now that can be literally anything tag related – Card with a tag, and actual tag, etc… Here’s a video to show you some of my thought process into this project. I hope you love it, I have to say – I had no idea where this project was going, I enjoyed the path and definitely the end result.

Watch on YouTube

Leave me a comment with your thoughts – about this project, on the mixed media style, anything really! I’ll randomly select one commenter to get this beauty in the mail! 🙂

Creating your own Mixed Media poinsettia tag

Start with a white piece of card stock – 3 3/4 x 5″. Cut your tag corners as in this video (0:00 min)
Create a Vintage background for your project using distress inks – Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso and sponge tools Click Here for a step by step tutorial

Layer stencil over and add more Antique Linen and a little Vintage Photo to bring it out
Zap a bit with a heat tool, but not completely. Test in Gold embossing powder and emboss any strays to project
Dry with heat tool again. Emboss Tree with stencil and espresso embossing powder
Add a little green to your tag – Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint and Forest Moss
Add gold poinsettia and color using festive berrries distress ink and a negative image mask.
Add leaves in same manner as in the video.

Edge tag with Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso
Add a little gold embossing powder to random spots – after I shot the video, I did this at the bottom of the tag by dragging my versamark pad directly to to the edge.
Sponge a piece of white scrap with festive berries and fired brick distress – cut out using hand lettered holiday by WPlus9
Emboss greeting in clear and add to tag.
Punch 1/4″ circle at top and add ribbon as in video

This tag was so much fun to make and would look exquisite on a gift or wine bottle. I would LOVE to see your interpretation of a mixed media tag in the challenge! And be sure to enter your creation into my friend Loll’s Christmas Tag Challenge too – I did:

And in case you haven’t seen yet – here’s the talented line up of the new Mixed Media Team – be sure to check out their creations from the HLS blog too!

Have fun getting those fingers inky!

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Filed Under: Art, Distress Ink, Mixed Media, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: antique, mixed media, vintage

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Mixed Media Christmas Tag

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How to Create Depth & Texture without Bulk

Mixed Media: Creating Textured Watercolor

How to create Shaped Cards – Tropical Snowflake

The Watercolor Smash Technique Tutorial

Faded Double Stenciling Technique

Neutral Tone Stenciling Video Tutorial

Gelli Plate Monoprinting in Layers Tutorial

Creating your own Mixed Media poinsettia tag

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