{Spotlight Project} Shery Creates a Mother's Day Mixed Media Card

Hey, STAMPlorations friends! I've got a mixed media card project to share to start off April here on the blog. I used gesso, Gelatos, watercolors (pan and brush pens), washi tape, fun STAMPlorations stamps (Bloom Sketches, Mixed Media Grunge, and Big On Words - MOM), and a new ARTplorations stencil that coordinates with one of our stamps :o) 

Here's a look at the finished card:

Gelatos are some of my favorite supplies. My love affair with them started two years ago when I bought myself the Gelatos set (34-piece set) and had a blast using them on canvas for my mixed media projects. Here's the first mixed media canvas I did using Gelatos back in April 2013. I created the background by using Gelatos for stamping and stenciling. It was love at first use, and I'm now on my third set of Gelatos because they're a staple in my mixed media projects -- you can easily burn through them :o)

Source: my ARTplorations Pinterest board

Anyway, here's a step-by-step photo tutorial of my card.

STEP 1

Apply a layer of gesso on a card panel and let dry -- or if you're as impatient as me, you'd whip out your heat tool to quick-dry the thing :o) I used Faber-Castell Whipped Spackle and super-thick white cardstock (165# or 446 gsm).

STEP 2

Scribble Gelatos onto the gesso-ed panel. I used Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, Guava, Lavender, and Lemon. 

Then I blended the colors by rubbing with my finger. Tip: When blending Gelatos with your fingers, have hand wipes close by to clean your fingers before rubbing the next colors (unless you want them to really blend).

STEP 3

I stamped the newsprint grunge stamp in Sienna archival ink all over the panel.

STEP 4

I placed the daisy stencil/mask over the panel and then applied another layer of gesso.

Here's what the panel looks like after stenciling. Tip: Wash your stencils/masks immediately whenever you're using mediums like gesso, modeling paste, texture gel, or anything that can harden and create uneven bumps on the stencil.

STEP 5

I designed the daisy stencil/mask so that it coordinates with the daisy stamp. I stamped the daisy in Jet Black archival ink.

STEP 6

Next, I distressed the edges and then ran a pink Akashiya Sai Japanese watercolor brush pen all around. I adhered the panel to my card base.

STEP 7

On scrap card stock, I stamped the sentiment as well as added some splatters and faux textures with some mixed media grunge stamps in Sienna archival ink.

STEP 8

I adhered it to the card base and added washi tape to finish the card. Here's a close up:

And here's the finished card again:

Oh, and in creating the background of my card, I used the same technique I used in this one layer card I did a year ago -- with a little modification, such as using a stencil that coordinates with a stamp. I didn't have time to shoot a video for my new card, so here's the older video. It's a quickie: 5 minutes, 20 seconds :o)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspires you to make a mixed media card!

Stamps Shery used in today's project:

    

  

Mixed Media Grunge (April/May 2015) and Bloom Sketches (August/September 2014) are 5" by 7" sets we offer through the STAMPlorations stamp club. We've got lots of perks, including a free 4" by 6" stamp set sent every 3rd shipment (or immediately after signing up for the semi-annual subscription) and choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils ($10 value) in every stamp club package mailed out to subscribers! For more info and to sign up, click here.


Prize alert! Leave a comment in this post for an entry to our Spotlight Projects random drawing for April. We'll pick TWO (2) commenters to each win a $10 gift certificate or their choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil. We'll announce the winners on May 1!