Discovering Mixed Media: My First Try at a Mixed Media Card

I’ve always admired mixed media cards but found them a little intimidating. They seemed time-consuming and required so many supplies—at least, that’s what I thought. But one day, I decided to give it a try using only what I had in my stash, and to my surprise, I loved the process! There’s something so freeing about layering different elements and textures, letting the card evolve as you go.

For this card, I chose the new Nordic Belle Butterfly Craft Die from Poppystamps as my focal point. A butterfly felt like the perfect touch to complement the organic, layered background I had in mind.

Creating the Background

I started with a simple ink-smooshed background using Distress Oxide Inks in Lucky Clover and Tumbled Glass. I pressed the inks onto my glass mat, spritzed them with water, and dabbed my cardstock into the colors. This technique creates a soft, organic blend, which I wanted to keep somewhat light so that the next layers would stand out.

Next, I reached for some old Unity Stamps—a text stamp called Love Story and a number stamp called Itty Bitty Numbers. These types of stamps are perfect for mixed media because they add subtle, distressed details. Using black archival ink, I stamped these images randomly, making sure not to cover the whole panel. Since they’re red rubber stamps, it was easy to get just partial impressions, which added to the layered effect.

Adding Texture and Dimension

To create some raised texture, I used a stencil and texture paste, applying it in a few areas, mainly the top left and bottom right corners. Once dry, the paste added a beautiful tactile element to the card.

Then, I layered in a ticket sticker and a butterfly rub-on—this rub-on is almost hidden beneath my Nordic Belle Butterfly but adds a lovely depth to the design. I made sure the colors of these elements complemented the background for a cohesive look. To bring in more texture, I adhered a vertical piece of ribbon along one side of the card.

The Focal Butterfly

For the main feature, I die-cut a butterfly using the Nordic Belle Butterfly Die. To add color, I inked the pieces with Distress Oxide Inks in Rustic Wilderness, Bundled Sage, and Crushed Olive. Layering these shades gave the butterfly a natural, earthy look. Before adhering it to the card with foam tape, I looped some gold thread behind it for extra dimension and shimmer.

Finishing Touches

For the sentiment, I took a scrap of cardstock that had leftover ink from creating the butterfly and stamped my sentiment onto it. To give it a distressed, vintage feel, I cut it out with scissors and inked the edges before adhering it with foam tape.

Finally, I scattered some clear and white sequins to add a touch of sparkle and complete the card.

Final Thoughts

This card was such a fun experiment! Mixed media felt overwhelming at first, but once I let go of the idea of perfection and just played with layers, textures, and colors, it became an enjoyable and creative process. I love how it turned out, and I can’t wait to try more mixed media projects in the future!

Have you ever tried mixed media in card making? Let me know your experience—I’d love to hear!

Hugs,

Jyoti

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Nordic Belle Butterfly Craft Die Shop at: PS