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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