Hello. A new challenge has begun at The Alphabet Challenge, and this time we want to see Xtra Embellishments – more than you would normally add.

Well – I took this to a whole new level, and decided to go with a mixed media kinda look – something I have not tried for years and years:

I don’t ‘do’ mixed media, but it is something I want to try, I want to learn, and have even booked a 3 day workshop at Indigo Blu for just having a go and having a play.

I have watched quite a few YouTube videos, but the best for me – by far – are those of ‘Maremi SmallArt’. I love her style of working, her chat, her whole attitude to the mixed media genre. I can hear her now – ‘just do it‘ and ‘why not?’ – so I did………..I went and did it, why not? 🙂

Here is a link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/MaremiSmallArt/videos

I started off with a piece of card board from a Simon Says Stamp card kit and went from there. Patterned paper on the background, distresssed around the edges with Distress Ink, stenciled some glitter paste in parts of the background and then waited. That’s the hardest part for me!

Whilst waiting, I hunted through my Tim Holtz Bigz dies for some stuff to add – found keys, feathers, butterflies, honeycomb – so I cut them all out with other pieces of cardboard and my trusty Sizzix Big Shot Pro. Then waited – and thought – tried to plan………….then heard Marta – ‘just do it‘.

I used some glitter paste on some of the elements and just stuck then down, just a little planning – I knew I wanted the bright flowers on the left, and more muted on the right…………….

I think I’m hooked…………..maybe next time I’m going all out with white Gesso and colours and metal bits and frames and – and – and…….!

Phew…….I need to calm down – but I am not working for the next 12 days. Hmmm! The products I used are on the side – and it’s a huge list – I think I got them all!

Anyhoo – I hope you can come and join us for this challenge – it has certainly inspired me, and I hope will inspire you too. The challenge welcomes any handcrafted item – so it doesn’t need to be a card (thank goodness!)

I hope to see you in our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper – atg patterned papers

A Bit More Time To Craft – anything goes

Mixed Media Academy – mixed media celebration (birthday)

Tuesday Taggers – go green or recycle (cardboard box)

More Mixed Media – mixed media option of red