{Spotlight Project} Becca Does Mixed Media Two Ways

I'm baaaaaaaaaAAAaaaack! It's so good to be back to designing at my STAMPlorations home! I've missed all of you! Today I'm going to share a little bit more about my design aesthetic.

I like to classify myself as a mixed media artist. For some people, hearing the term "mixed media" results in visions of unruly lines, messy tables, and inky fingers. To be honest, this is my default mode for creating - the messier the better. The thought of trying to create a white space on a card used to have the same shiver-inducing response.

So today, I'm using the Wild and Free stamp set from my line and I'd like to show you how mixed media can be done both in the traditional messy, inky ways and in the clean, pristine way. Mixed media for all!

  

Messy Mixed Media

For me, messy mixed media usually comes in layers and has a vintagey vibe. This card is hardly the messiest card I've created, but I do love the layers. I started with some vintage sheet music that I ripped and glued to a piece of brown card stock. I sponged the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

I knew I wanted to create some grass for the gorgeous swirly tree in the stamp set so I used a fringe die and some green scraps and then layered them over the top of one another.

I stamped the moon from the set and fussy cut it, painting over it with some perfect pearl powders. To make the proper home for it, I added some yellow Distress Spray Stain to the "sky". Then I embossed the tree and cut it out as well.

And then - LAYERS! I took all of my elements and put them together. I curled the grass edges and sponged them, I added some yellow Hambly acetate (my new fave obsession) and created a real scene.

I happen to be in love with this sentiment right now. I speaks to resiliency, strength, and hope - something everyone could use a little bit of right now.

*****

Mixed Media: Clean and Simple

I'm going to be completely frank and say the process of creating a clean and simple mixed media card is... well... not always clean. Or simple. And it involves making sure you're wiping down your work station every step of the way.

The first step to create this scene was to protect the white space from my inky paws. I covered a piece of white cardstock with a self-made circular mask, holding it in place with washi tape. Then I sponged three different colors of blue Distress Ink and Oxides, splashing it with water to create a spatter effect.

I removed the mask, which created a perfect circle on my sheet! (happy dance) I splattered it with some gold mica spray, created another perfect pearl moon and stamped a sentiment from the Wild and Free Set on a piece of ripped vellum.

One go-round with the Crazy Double Running Stitched Nesting die later and I had the perfect finish to this CAS card.

So there you go - mixed media really can be for everyone!