Mixing it all up…SOA Style

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So, you’ve probably seen the five projects I posted in the last two days, right? All clean and simple, great, fun projects. Now I’m going to mix and shake it all up! I’m going to take the dies from yesterday’s feature – Enchanted Garden and several of the same greetings you saw from All about You on Day One…and we’re going to create some Mixed Media fun today!

Now mixed media may or may not be your thing, but read along with me. My good friend Kylie asked me to be on a mixed media team a few months ago. I’ll be honest – I was scared to death. BUT, not one to be afraid to try something new…I found myself saying yes…feel familiar? Do you also have a problem saying no…lol?!! Well let me tell you – it was the single best decision I’ve made, as it opened an entire new art form to me and allowed me to put my creative juices to work. Many more than I even realized I had.

You may think you’re not an artist – but I have the same doubts and questions about myself that you do – trust me! So when I decided to make a few mixed media projects for the Stamp of Approval collection, I thought…okay – I’ll stretch myself. The point I’m working toward is that you can take any kind of image or die and turn it into any kind of art form you want. Just let the creativity flow. With that in mind…here’s what I have for you today:

Mixed Media SOA – Day Three

Project One – Enchanted Monoprint

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m addicted to monoprinting – a print that can only be made once. I started off by brayering my Gelli Arts plate with some various colors of Acrylic paint, laid down some paper die cut images from the Enchanted Garden collection and the Enchanted Butterfly and then went to work pulling layers of prints and ghost prints. I then layered some of the heart vine die cuts from the same collection with a little Cobalt acrylic paint mixed in with a little Paynes Grey. the end result was just stunning. I trimmed it down and added one of the awesome saying fromt he Beautiful World stamp set, a few sequins and there you have it!

This was a quick little project that is just so cool to look at. I love how the paint colors when layered took on some very cool tones. Now wait till you see the next one!

Gelli Plate Monoprint

Project Two – Mixed Media Garden

I’ve been playing around with simple mixed media techniques, just building my base of knowledge until I let loose on this project. I was finally ready to dive right in. This card measures 5 3/4 x 5 1/2″ tall, and the photo doesn’t do it justice. To give you an idea of what the layers looked like leading into the final piece, I put a six step shot below.

SOA Mixed Media Garden

I started with several distress layers – inks and stains, followed by some acrylic paints in the corners, applied with a fan brush. Once I had the layers looking like I wanted, I began to layer some textures on using things we all have hanging around – bubble wrap, the inside of a starbucks cup holder, some drywall mesh. Okay – not everyone has that last one, but my dad’s garage has a treasure box of cool textured items I use in mixed media…lol. I added each with more acrylic paint and distress inks.

Before moving on to the dies, I added a little white gesso randomly in the middle to give me a light source in the distance. Then you’ll want to go to work on some deeply layered wrinkle free distress pieces in the most vibrant colors you have. Die cut them out using the Enchanted Garden Dies and grunge them up with some Tea Dye and Ground Espresso inks.

Add them along with the greetings from All About You, add a little doodling around the edges with a pigment liner and white gel pen and you’re all done! Okay, that made it sound like it takes just a few minutes. Not quite, but it was a relaxing time and this is a special project that anyone would just love.

SOA Mixed Media Garden Six

So what did you think? Do you see projects like these when you see the stamps sets I’m talking about? Now go look at your stash, what can YOU use for cool projects?!!

You’ve heard me talk about Stamp of Approval for the past few days…if you aren’t sure what it is, be sure to check this page out – Click Here to find out More.

When you decide to get the Stamp of Approval Beautiful World collection – April 20th is coming up quickly, you’ll also get a PDF with more projects than you can imagine. Included…are full written tutorials on both of these projects, my first five and the rest from the next two days! 🙂

Stamp of Approval Beautiful World

So be sure you’re on the wait list for Stamp of Approval – that’s the only way to get the link first before the public. It sells out quick! To see what all the products look like, visit Catherine’s Blog and check out her videos. And don’t forget to keep checking the other great designers blogs too. Here are some quick links for you:

And just in case you missed them – there are the first five projects from the first two feature days – just click which day you want to see.

Day One                        Day Two

See you tomorrow with more!

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MM Watercolor Butterflies Video

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Yesterday I posted a very cool, fun and quirky butterfly card for the Wings Mixed Media challenge over at Happy Little Stampers. It was such a fun project to create, rather relaxing actually, I’m so glad that I filmed it for you! I won’t lie – the project took me two hours to create, so I had to majorly edit the video down for you. I even split it up so that you can find your way easier around the two distinct different components of this card – watercoloring the butterflies and creating the mixed media background that allows them to literally fly off the page.

Mixed-Media-Watercolor-Butterflies-001

Enjoy the process – grab a beverage and have fun – I’d LOVE to see your cards when you create them! And if you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube channel yet – be sure to do so so you see them as they first come out.

Part One focuses on the masked border used to create this card and the actual watercoloring process for keeping the light and darker tones in the butterflies.

Click Here to watch Part One in HD on YouTube

Part two focuses on the Mixed Media portion of this card used to literally pop the butterflies off the page.

Click Here to see Part Two in HD on YouTube

If you want to see the written tutorial and close up photos, be sure to check out the original post right HERE.

See you soon –

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Mixed Media Watercolor

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Mixed-Media-Watercolor-March-2016-HLS

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.

HLS Mixed Media challenge March 2016

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).

Mixed Media Watercolor-002

  • 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.

Textured Mixed Media

  • 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.

Mixed Media Watercolor

  • 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.

Mixed-Media-Watercolor-007

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.

abc-badge-crazy-for-color  Graphic to copy 3

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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CAS Mix Up

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Skinny-Watercolor-Stenciled-Chevron-001

March 1st was a great day! Two exciting things happened – we welcomed little Lylah into the world – more about that below….and my super creative and very CAS styled friends Bonnie Klass and Loll Thompson launched their new challenge – CAS Mix Up – a clean and simple mixed media challenge. So, naturally I created a birthday card to welcome little Lylah – after all – it literally was her birthday!

The new CAS Mix Up challenge is dedicated to clean and simple cards with a mixed media twist. Now you may think that mixed media can’t be CAS, but at it’s heart, mixed media is just that – mixed mediums. Why can’t it be CAS? That’s the challenge – no pun intended! For the first one this month, we’re challenged to use watercolor, stamping and your choice – I chose watercolor stenciling – and it’s actually a negative image that was stamped from a stencil!

march 2016

Skinny-Watercolor-Stenciled-Chevron-2006

This project is actually a bonus panel from a regularly stenciled project using sponged distress inks. I had all this ink left over on my stencil, so I spritzed it to get it wet with a fine mist spritzer, and stamped the stencil onto a piece of watercolor. Here’s how I did it.

Negative Watercolor Stamped Stencil Technique – 

  • Create a project where you use the stencil in a positive way – or just add ink to your stencil directly without worrying about the “stenciling” part. I used the Skinny Chevron stencil by Create a Smile to give off a skinny positive image like this one I created for a challenge over at StampNation (Of course it’s double stenciled – but you get the point):

Double-Stenciled-Background-Sneak-2

  • For this project, I used More Mustard, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Mermaid Lagoon and Seedless Preserves
  • This will leave lots of color on the negative part of your stencil that you would normally just wash or clean up.  Instead – mist your stencil with a fine mist spritzer to get the ink to bead up on the stencil.

Skinny-Watercolor-Stenciled-Chevron-002

  • Lay a piece of 140# cold pressed watercolor paper onto your stencil to stamp the stenciled image. You can also pick up your stencil and stamp, but I didn’t want the colors to run when I picked it up. Hold your paper there a few seconds to allow the water to soak in.
  • You are left with a negative image – the part you couldn’t stencil!

Skinny-Watercolor-Stenciled-Chevron-003

  • Adhere to an A2 card base, add a stamped greeting and die – both also from Create a Smile – I just LOVE their fonts. This is from the birthday trio dies and the Mini Birthday stamp set.
  • Add a few sparkling clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh and you’re all set!

I love the way this card turned out. Look at how bold the colors are in the sneak peek image above and how muted the very same colors are with a little water spritzed onto them. Truly amazing! And that’s mixed media at it’s core. Not so scary, huh?!!

I’d love for you all to play along in Loll and Bonnie’s first challenge over at CAS Mix it Up – so head on over and check it out! I’m also playing along in a few other challenges – Laura’s Loft, and NBUS – as this is the first time I’m using this stencil and die by Create a Smile!

Feb.-Challenge-Board button aqua use this the

I can’t wait to see what you create!

Skinny-Watercolor-Stenciled-Chevron-004

On a personal note –

I know this blog is all about paper crafting, but from time to time we all have big moments in our lives. Yesterday was definitely one – our first grandchild! Yes, I’m a grandmother at the tender age of 46! Michael is a bit older than me, and I’ve been blessed to have two beautiful and amazing girls as my bonus daughters for the past 18 years. Our youngest – Allyson and Jeff welcomed their first child into the world yesterday – Lylah RaeAnn.

First Family Photo

Lylah is a character from a book that Allyson read in high school and just fell in love with the name. Raeann is in honor of Rachel and Annie – Allyson & Jeff’s sisters – isn’t that just sweet. I love the name!

Mom & Lylah

We can’t wait to fly to New York and meet our precious little grand daughter Lylah. Feel free to leave me any grandmom (I’m going to go by Omi – German) advice in the comments below!

Thank for stopping by , now go get those fingers inky and have a great day!

Ingrid Blackburn - The Creative Grove

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Filed Under: Challenges, Clean and Simple, Distress Ink, Mixed Media, Uncategorized, Watercolor Tagged: , , ,

Mixed Media Challenge: Paint

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Mixed-Media-Gelli-Plate-Monoprint-2.1016-001

We’re playing around with Paint over at Happy Little Stampers this month for the Mixed Media Challenge. I thought I would re-visit my Gelli Plate and create a cool monoprint using some Acrylic paint for you. I hope this project inspires you in some way! I’d love for you to join us, the prize is a gift certificate this month, so you have nothing to lose!

HLS Mixed Media challenge February 2016

To create this fun card, I used several layers of acrylic paint, some left over Christmas tree branches, bubble wrap, a stencil and some twine. I pulled prints from each layer, and layered each one on this piece. The end result is a varied project with deep character. You’ll notice the Phthalo Green, Burnt Umber and white acrylic paint layers. I love the distressed look it took toward the end. My Umber dried a bit so I only was able to pull a partial in those spots, but that left me with some awesome character.

Mixed-Media-Gelli-Plate-Monoprint-003

To finish the card, I punched a few pieces of Espresso card stock, used a little linen thread and some sequins. I thought a simple banner with the greeting from the HLS Butterfly Birthday set would be perfect. Rather than create a traditional banner edge, I pulled my card stock through half a hexagon punch and punched the reverse for the point. I thought it went a bit better with the image from the Moroccan Simon Says Stamp stencil. The card needed something, so a little paper piercing rounded it all out.

Mixed-Media-Gelli-Plate-Monoprint-002b

I think it turned out pretty cool, I love that I can paint with several layers on a monoprint and it still is just like a piece of printed paper – that’s so cool! So how are you going to paint your creation?

Mixed-Media-Gelli-Plate-Monoprint-004

Remember, Mixed Media can be simple like this card – all you need is stamps, ink, and a way to develop texture with another element like a stencil, or paste, or paint. Quite simple!

So get those fingers inky – mine were for this one!

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Filed Under: Challenges, Mixed Media, Uncategorized Tagged: , , , ,

Mixed Media Stencil Backgrounds

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Gelli Plate Stencil Backgrounds 001

I love creating backgrounds for cards – it’s probably one of my favorite things to do…and in the past year, I’ve grown quite addicted to Stencil Backgrounds! This card takes stencils to a whole other level. This month over at Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenge we’re playing around with Stencils. If you’ve taken any class with me in the past year online or watched any of my YouTube Videos – then you KNOW I love stencils.

HLS Mixed Media challenge January 2016

I’m still getting my feet wet in the Mixed Media world, but this Gelli Plate has quickly given me the ability to create some amazing pieces of art. And let’s be honest – that’s exactly what it is – art! I used to spend a crazy amount of money on papers that look like this….now I can create them myself…what? That’s insame!!! Don’t worry – some videos will definitely appear in the future, but for now – just enjoy one of my latest goofing off pieces (I wish every goofing off piece turned out like this!).

Of course for the Mixed Media Challenge, you don’t need a Gelli Plate – just a trusty ol stencil. Use your favorite way to add a medium – gel, embossing paste, ink, sponging, gelli, you name it – they are a tool not just every Mixed Media gal and guy needs – but every stamper!

Gelli Plate Stencil Backgrounds 002

Creative Tips on How to Create Stencil Backgrounds using a Gelli Plate

  • Add some acrylic paint to your Gelli Plate – start off with your darkest shade. I used Phylo Blue. Use a brayer to spread your acrylic paint covering it edge to edge.
  • Roll off on a piece of scrap paper and pull off some paint leaving a blue layer around the edge of your Gelli. It took me a bit to get the hang of this.
  • Allow the blue to completely dry, then add some Raw Sienna and cover in the same manner. Remove a bit of it toward the middle, then place a stencil over – I used My Favorite Things Scallop stencil.

Gelli Plate Stencil Backgrounds 004

  • Place a piece of copy paper over and lightly tap with your fingers to remove a bit here and there. Remove your stencil and allow to completely dry.
  • If you want to get a feel for what it’s starting to look like, lift your Gelli Plate and see it from the bottom. Of course, don’t place your finger in your creation!
  • Next, add a layer of white. Now, I have white acrylic paint – but it’s lost somewhere in my craft room – would you believe that! I knocked my paint box over and now I can’t find that one all important tube…maybe the cat took it away…yeah – I’ll go with that! Of course, that prompted me to clean my work area today – I think Bria still has my tube…lol! So I used the next best thing – white gesso.
  • Lay a sheet of small bubble wrap over the white to get a stamped impression in white. Tap it lightly in random places to create a slightly stamped circular pattern.
  • Quickly place your piece of paper over – I used 138 lb Canson Mixed Media paper.  Firmly rub the back of your paper with your fingers. I didn’t quite do this quick enough and a little of my paint didn’t lift properly around the perimeter, but that was okay because it created this gorgeous distressed look. I bet I couldn’t duplicate that if I tried!

Gelli Plate Stencil Backgrounds 003

  • My Gelli Plate is a 6 x 6 inch one. My piece also measures 6 x 6″. I cut my paper in two (Pained me to do so – it was SO beautiful). This is the left half.
  • I trimmed it down to 5 3/8″ x 3″. That was a happy accident. Originally I intended on 5 1/2 to go top to bottom, but I love the slight 1/16″ border it ended up with.
  • You don’t want to take away from the beauty of the background. So I opted to add a sponged die cut that was embossed in clear. This is the Handlettered Thanks die by WPlus9.
  • To get a similar hue to the Raw Sienna in the project, so I first sponged a piece of white scrap paper with Rusty Hinge, then a bit of Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress Inks to get a matching hue. Distress inks really helped here, as their translucent nature allowed me to build upon previous layers fro just the right color.

Gelli Plate Stencil Backgrounds 005

A few clear sequins finished it off. I love the simplicity yet complexity that this card has. I have to admit, some of the creations I whipped up with my Gelli Plate really stunned me. Once I got the hang of it, and that creating mono-prints was about layering and pulling it up together, I really started to have fun! I see a ton of “Gelli-ing” in my future!

So whip out those stencils – take what you will from this project, mono-printing, sponging, color combo, layout, anything and get those stencils out. Add fun stuff to the challenge gallery!

Remember our definition of Mixed Media is – stamps + ink, plus two other elements which add texture and/or dimension. Can’t wait to see what you stencil up!

Now go get those fingers inky –

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Mixed Media Christmas Tag

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Mixed Media Stamping Techniques

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!

HLS Mixed Media challenge

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

mixed media video tutorials

  • 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.

How to create a mixed media project

  • 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

Mixed Media Christmas Tags

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:

Loll Thompson's Tag Challenge

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!

stamping design teams

Have fun getting those fingers inky!

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Filed Under: Art, Distress Ink, Mixed Media, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: , ,
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