Mixed Media pages fascinate me. The eclectic blend of techniques they utilize come together to form a cohesive project that is truly unique. While I don’t often create art journals or canvases, I do pull ideas from the mixed media realm for my scrapbook pages. Experimenting with these techniques is just pure fun. The pages that I create wonderfully represent who I am. It’s hard not to let yourself out a little, creatively speaking, when exploring the mixed media world. The best part about mixed media is that mistakes are simply happy accidents. They blend into your page and become part of its heart and soul. Let’s walk through the creation of a scrapbook layout with mixed media flair.
Supplies
- Patterned paper and scrapbook embellishments
- Paint
- Stencils
- Inks pads ( I used Tim Holtz Distress ink)
- Gesso
- Markers
- Photo(s)
Step One Choose a sheet of patterned paper as your background and adhere the photo(s). For my page, I chose a sheet of ledger paper.
Step Two Use a palette knife or old gift card to spread gesso over a few spot on the page. Allow it to dry. It’s ok if some gets on your photos. Just try to keep it from getting on a key part of the photo.
Step Three Tear bits of patterned paper and layer into the bottom left corner of your page. I chose to also layer a small portion of torn paper into the upper right corner.
Step Four Use ink and stencils over a few sections of your page. I chose to ink the design over the gesso. Don’t ink the entire stencil design. Only ink an uneven section of it. You want a “splotch” of the design on your page and not a square shaped design. If necessary, lift your stencil and move it around a bit to achieve this look.
Step Five Now it’s simply a matter of embellishing your page. Begin tucking die cuts, ribbons, and patterned paper strips over and under your photos. Add dimension with buttons, brads, chipboard or stickers.I chose items that supported my page’s Independence Day theme.
The Completed Scrapbook Layout:
A Suite Fourth by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Sassafrass; Letters: Rusty Pickle; Tape: Queen and Company;Gesso: Liquitex; Other: Buttons, Bingo Card, mist, stickers
You don’t have to have a lot of mixed media know how to try a page like this one. Creating a scrapbook page with mixed media flair requires just a few subtle techniques and products to achieve a wonderfully unique end result.