My Little Creative Escape: Mixed Media....my first canvas

I have been waiting for this post to go up. I have been *studying* mixed media for some time now. Self teaching myself from the beautiful YouTube videos posted by the amazingly talented Christy Tomlinson. Reading many blog posts by some of my other mixed media Idols....Mona, Susan Weckesser, Angie and the crew over on SCS hosting the new Mix-ability challenges (new ones go live every Friday).

After getting my fingers inky with a few of those Mix-ability challenges, I decided to jump right in and try my hand at a canvas. I did this one for the Mix5 challenge-Masquerade. I used LOTS of my MFT stamps and Die-namics to create this pretty scene.

This is a 5x7 canvas that I picked up from Micheal's during one of their sales. They run the sales fairly regularly, so I make sure I keep a few on hand by purchasing them during sale times.

Here's a quick shot of the products I used today.

I started this piece by first tearing a bunch of strips and rectangles, just random pieces really, of designer paper. Then I used the Matte Medium by Liquitex (Modge Podge or any brand of gel medium. What is Gel Medium you ask....here is a little extra info for you if you are interested. ) to adhere it to my canvas. I let it dry (used my heat tool to speed that along. I HATE waiting, when crafting) before I can do anything else.

I cut a cloud mask using the Jumbo Cloud Stax Die-namics and some Eclipse Masking Sheets. I simply peeled off the cloud and added it to the top of my canvas. Then I used the Tim Holtz Distress paint dauber in Broken China. This allowed me to create my sky, while leaving giving me a cloud shape, showing the pretty papers.

You can see my clouds with the mask removed, here in this picture.

I used the Black Pitt Marker to outline my clouds. Before the ink dries, I give it a quick rub with my finger to *lighten* the line a bit. I also added a bit of white acrylic paint, applying it with my finger.

That's the cool thing about this style of mixed media. It's messy and there is NO WRONG way to do it.

I added lots more texture and interest by stamping some text randomly using the pretty text stamp from OWN YOUR STORY. Dots are subtle, but they are there. I used a Grey Gelato to ink up my DARLING DOTS stamp, misted it with a bit of water and then stamped it randomly.

I added some more distress paint in green and purple to help build my scene. The flowers were done by cutting LOTS of LAYERED Roses with some packaging paper. I stamped the paper with some DARLING DOTS and chevrons from SPRING BACKGROUND in Razzle Berry Ink and Lemon Drop ink before I cut them. I also touched them with a bit of the text stamp from OWN YOUR STORY in Black Licorice Ink.

The stems were hand drawn using the Pitt Markers again and I added a few leaves that were cut with the UPSIE DAISY DIE-NAMCS. I added some Tim Holtz distress paint to them, as well as some white acrylic paint. I then used a journaling pen to outline them and a few of the flowers. I ended up tying on some MFT Buttons to make some flower centers.

The finishing touches was a few words. I also added another mask, by using the fun, wonky heart from RUSTIC HEARTS. I needed a place to anchor my sentiment. The words are from OWN YOUR STORY and I stamped them onto Sweet Tooth cs with Black licorice ink. I added a few DARLING DOTS with Razzleberry ink. After I cut out each word, I covered them with some Matte Medium and coated them with my beloved Rock Candy Distress Glitter. They really sparkle in real life!
I am soooo excited about how this all came together. In fact, I am already working on another one.
I hope you have a great start to your week and are enjoying the end of your weekend. Please let me know if you have any questions about the product or process of my Mixed Media Canvas. I am no expert, but I have been doing a lot of learning, so hopefully I can help.
If this is something you have been wanting to try.....my best tip is to just dive in! Start small, and with a few product. Look around at what you have. I bet you already own some of the products or something similar that will at least get you started!
Here is my shopping list: