Followers

11/27/2016

Christmas Club - Mixed Media and Trees

Welcome to another Christmas Card Club post...and this time yours truly picked the challenge: Mixed Media with trees (the mixed media could be sponging, paste, sprays, texture or anything of that sort.)

Recently received some stencils from Stamplorations and decided to use one of those with Brushos, then try it with some embossing paste. First made a background with greens using Brusho crystals, Nuance, Colorburst and Infusion powders. Started with a slightly damp piece of 148# Strathmore water color paper, sprinkled the crystals and powders very carefully, then used Dylusions sprays that had been either diluted with water or mixed with the white Dylusions. It created an interesting color.
Then used the stencil over a slightly dampened w/c cardstock, sprinkled very carefully the same products through the openings of the stencil. That didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped, but I'll share it anyway. Then tried the same stencil using some Silver Dreamweaver embossing paste. I liked that one better.


- Christmas Trees Mini stencil - sprinkled the crystal & powder products over the stencil after slightly dampening the white Strathmore water color cardstock prior to placing the stencil. (masked off the sencil design I did not want). Spritzed the powders very lightly to create movement, then blotted with a paper towel. When this dried completely, replaced the stencil, spread some Golden gel beads over the stencil.(clean the stencil quickly after using this gel bead paste or embossing paste- before it hardens on the stencil). The beads paste is starting to harden or dry a bit in the jar; did not spread easily, and I was not pleased with the result. (one of the times I say "now why did I not leave well enough alone?"). Also got some of the color out in the white area surrounding the tree....so how to fix this? Since the gel beads are quite dimensional, die cutting was not an option. Traced an oval die, hand cut the motif.   First tried a white gel pen to cover the problem areas but that wasn't very effective. Then used white acrylic paint, dabbed it around the background area. The white paint picked up some of the extraneous colors, and changed to a dappled blue green, which looked better.

Memory Box die to cut the green brusho background (this has an oval in the rectangle die).
Tim Holtz Texture fade embossing on the white background. Placed the oval tree shape onto some white fun foam, for the design as you see it.

M.Box Merry Christmas die for the sentiment - 3 layers, embossed with Ranger Queen's Gold. The star is 2 layers, from a tiny punch, same Queen's Gold. This one is definitely an experiment in mixed media.

Next try:


Same stencil over water color #148..using Silver Dreamweaver embossing paste, and this time included the star at the top of the stencil. Removed the stencil, and while the paste was still wet, sprinkled some coarse Martha Stewart glitter over it. Doesn't show too much in the photo, but IRL, it sparkles beautifully. I was much happier with this effect than that with the green.

Hand trimmed the tree piece..the silver mat is a textured lightweight silver DP. Embossed this mat with a PTI die. Jennifer McGuire has an excellent video showing how to emboss using dies.

T.Holtz Texture fade embossed white card stock, then sponged it lightly with Delicata Silver. First I had tried using Versamark on the EF, then sprinkling a Silver EP over it after embossing. Evidently didn't get a good layer of the versamark, because the EP didn't stick in a lot of places. Brushed all of that off pretty well, then sponged it with the Delicata Silver.

- M.Box Merry Christmas die - 3 layers of the same dp as the mat. The Dreamweaver paste spread like butter...

If you have time, please visit my fellow team members, whose blog links can be found in the right side bar. And thanks for joining me today. Hope you liked these cards, and enjoyed my adventures. I like to know when other card makers have problem cards, and what they do to try to salvage the project. I learn as much from mistakes as I do from a well executed card. Hope you don't mind that I share my boo-boos! You can always skip over that part, if you don't want to read the story.

And we did have a lovely family Thanksgiving to all who asked. Big hugs, and prayers too for some of my blog buddies who are in need of them just now. Come again when you can.

42 comments:

  1. Beautiful both your cards, Mary!! I love expecially the first one, your Brushos/Dylusion background is just stunning and the stenciled tree looks PERFECT!! Gorgous gold sentiment, too! Love very much the oval diecut with the tree, I think that your tries and arrangements have product a fabulous effect!!! Very well done!
    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful cards Mary. Love them both. Sorry I was a few hours late with mine. Hugs Rita xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow gorgeous cards in the vibrant greens and elegant in the silver... great effects with the colour crystals etc. The little tree stencil is fabulous and you've shown a great contrast between the two cards. I hope you are doing well, Cheers xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Mary two gorgeous cards, lovely mono colours and design, lovely tree stencil and texture.
    Thanks for the challenge, I very much enjoyed doing it, Kate x

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree Mary, boo boos are what we learn from!! Loved hearing the "journey" of your cards. I still have pastes oozing under stencils! Your silver tree looks quite crisp! Love the Delicata ink on the embossing folder too. I've never tried Golden Gel Beads, I'm assuming that is what the little flecks of gold are in the background of the first card? Two beautiful creations.

    ReplyDelete
  6. These are both beautiful Mary and it is good to know what works and what doesn't for future reference. I think the green is delightful and the slightly fuzzy tree actually works well with that background and I adore the green brusho colours you have captured, and finished so prettily with the gold sentiment and star. The second silver tree with the embossing paste and the embossed background sponged with silver goes perfectly and love the accompanying silver sentiment too. Glad Thanksgiving was good and enjoy the rest of your weekend. x

    ReplyDelete
  7. They are both absolutely gorgeous, Mary!! I love the colors and artsy design of the first one!! The second is so elegant and beautiful!! Stunning cards my friend!! I'm glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh you are so clever at this mixed media stuff and you create such fantastic background for your lovely images....I do love that Christmas treee! Hope you are enjoying the weekend xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a real stunner and looks like a piece of fine art! I love all the greens and especially that wonky little tree! Nice job on this one!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous cards using this pretty stencil Mary, I love the swirly green one.
    I'll be joining in a little late this time I'm afraid.
    Lorraine

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful cards Mary, Love the stencilling, you have great backgrounds too.
    Faith
    x

    ReplyDelete
  12. What fun Christmas creations Mary, so very different and pretty and adore the green one.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Mary,
    what gorgeous cards.
    The first is so very super and the wonderful background you have created is so very pretty and such a very lovely colour.
    I love your wonderful tree also.
    Yor second card is also super too and very pretty the the lovely silver and white.
    Lovely embossed background also.
    Love and biggest hugs from my house to yours.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This came out super nice and festive. Love it Mary. Hope you are doing well. Enjoy your Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Mary, Loving this card. It's great you tell us how you made it.

    Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Sue

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow I love these. The first is really modern and funky. Great colours. I like the simple silver of the second too. Thanks for a fun challenge Mary Zx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow love these Mary. I love the bold, funky style of the first and the second is simple elegance. Thanks for a fun challenge. Zx

    ReplyDelete
  18. These are fantastic Mary, love the stencil, it's such a great shaped tree xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. these are truely wonderful Mary - so sorry I picked up the mixed media but not the trees - please forgive me! hugs rachel x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fantastic cards Mary! beautiful background and colours on your first card & second love the delicate background, both with amazing tree design.
    Pam x

    ReplyDelete
  21. I think we all learn from our mistakes, I know I do! I love the quirkiness of your first card, the colours are beautiful. The second one is just gorgeous, I love the simplicity of it! Hugs, Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful background colours. I love that stencil you have used too. Must admit I really had to scratch my head on this challenge. Hope I have done ok. Hugs Mrs A.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is such a beautiful stencil and it looks so great on ypur card! Beautiful colour and technique! Have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Mary
    Beautiful cards.... thanks for the great challenge... it did stretch me a bit...
    Hugs Sylvie xx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great use of the cool stencil, Mary! I love the repetitive marbling happening in your first card. The colors and textures are wonderful! Using the sparkly silver in your second card combines the stencil's whimsy with a touch of elegance! Beautiful creations! Hugs, de

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love your beautiful cards Mary - and don't be so hard on yourself when the techniques don't work quite how you envisaged - these are fabulous!!
    Life here chugs on pretty well at the moment - had a few worrisome days last week when DH had a chest infection that was not responding to the usual meds... on the mend now thankfully.
    Blessings
    Maxine

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your cards are always beautiful- maybe not what you had envisioned, but you turned what you did not like into a piece of art. I cannot see anything wrong at all... Looks like a fun crafty session- beautiful cards- and love that stencil!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Mary, love the cards. Stencils are such a great way to make something a little different, aren't they? Running late this time, lost track of the days! Hugs, Shaz xx

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh Mary! This is just gorgeous! Beautiful colors and awesome texture. Hugs, Autumn

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow, these turned out fabulous, like the texture you got on the first card and the second one is so elegant and stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Fabulous textured tree and brilliant background love it all
    Carol x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Mary, all three of these cards are stunning! I'd say you are one, creative roll there! I love all that shine and sparkle on these using embossing and glitter paper. These really are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is a fun quirky tree. Look at you, trying a little of this and little of that!

    ReplyDelete
  34. They're both beautiful, Mary! Love the artistic background of the first card & the silvery tree really looks festive!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your first card is amazing. I love all the variation in colors and textures! And you know I love the simplicity of the 2nd. I'll bet that sparkle takes it from very pretty to gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh my word Mary!! These are absolutely AMAZING!! I just love love love the work you've done with this stencil!! I have it too, but haven't broke it out yet to do anything with it! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration you've given me with your designs!! I must give something a try! :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Lovely cards Mary, I especially like the green one. The colour variation in the tree makes it look as if it is blowing in the wind - or is that just my over active imagination!

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a brilliant brusho background, Mary, and fabulous variegated colour on that yummy tree ... and the silver version is delicious ... cool and elegant! Hugs, Anita :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. This is one of my favourite stencils Mary and I love how you've used it.I hope to get a card on my blog for this challenge later in the week. Carol x

    ReplyDelete