A New Trend for a New Season

Spring seems to be in full swing, with everything being so new, how about trying a new trend on your pages? I used one of my favorite mixed media products, on my new favorite Cardstock. The Solar White Cardstock holds up amazingly to many mixed media products. Let’s jump in!

Starting with the Crest Solar White, I used a geometric stencil and one of my favorite mixed media products, Nuvo Embellishment Mousse from Tonic Studios. This is the Aloe Vera, mixed with a matte Heavy Gel. I mixed them because I like the added texture it gives to the mouse and that it doesn’t take away from the color or the shimmer.

I cut this adorable frog from Confessions of a Paper Addict, on the Crest Solar White Cardstock as well, and I used these beautiful green Distress Oxide Inks to colors him: Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Ground Espresso, and Abandoned Coral. The paper itself held up fantastic. They came out so vibrant, it was exactly what I wanted. See…

If you wanted to, you could use a fine mist sprayer and spray some water over him. Being a frog, the effect the water would give him would be very cool. The Oxide Inks react with water in a really awesome way that would give this guy some serious depth.

I had a different plan for him, though…

I used the following to back this loveliness: Curious Metallic Pale Aloe; Basis Green; and Pop-Tone Razzleberry. I used the Darice Foam Strips to make the shaker portions and to use on the parts that needed the elevation so it laid flat on the finished layout. I used Lush Greenery and Roxy Foxy sequin mixes from Spiegelmom Scraps.

To finish up the background, I let the Nuvo Mousse completely dry. This cardstock is so awesome – mixed media at times can make the paper warp, so I’d need to leave it overnight under something heavy, to flatten. I didn’t have to for this. Once I got it all together, there was no warping at all!

I used some Nuvo Mica Mist Fresh Pear and Heidi Swapp Color Shine Citron to add some spatters around the empty space going in a diagonal line.

Using some Scor-Tape, I added some layers behind my photo. This tape is super sticky and skinny so it works great for these little layers or strips behind the photo. For the layers, I used the Curious Metallic Pale Aloe, Basis Grey, Basis Green, and the Pop-Tone Orange Fizz. With a little gold Washi Tape from Vicki Boutin Wildflower & Honey collection.

This is a gorgeous sheet of paper from Vicki Boutin’s Wildflower & Honey Collection. I fussy cut all the leaves and stems out, so I can then use them as embellishment elements on the final layout. Took some time, but so worth it.

After adhering my photo where I wanted it, I started adding my embellishments starting with my shaker frog. You can use the Scor-Tape, but to glue to mixed media, I’ve discovered, a wet adhesive works best.

I love Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. It dries quick and clear. I also added some Fresh Pear Mica Mist to the metallic paper for some more shimmer (I’m all about the shimmer!) and it held up great, no warping or bending.

Along with my Shaker Frog, and my fussy cut Leaves, I added my title and some little finishing touches. I used a few different Epoxy Flair sets from Scrappin Happy Studio, some Nuvo Drops: Olive Branch, Bottle Green, Ripened Pumpkin, and some pop off squares and rectangles, using the same stencil, and cut out with the Basis Green Cardstock and square Pop Dots.

I hope you find Mixed Media a little less intimidating. It can be a bit messy, but it’s so much fun playing with all these textures and can make a simple layout come to life.

Please if you have any questions, I am so happy to answer them. I am always playing with all the things. You never know what you can do until you jump in and start playing! Creativity has endless possibilities!

XOXO, Melly