Mixed Media Exploration w/Kaori Watanabe

Hello Everyone! It's Kaori with you today to present a fun, mixed-media tutorial using readily available supplies and a quick application method that can tried on nearly any project. All that's needed is washi tape, acrylic paint, gesso, a vintage-themed stamps, an ink pad and colored spritzer. A flat plastic card essential as well. Last but not least, Crate Paper's "On Trend" collection is a sure must!! It's quite splendid...

Select one of Crate's "neutral-friendly" backgrounds such as this simple, clean woodgrain from On Trend. In studying the composition of the layout, decide on an area to stamp random images onto the background. In this instance, I concentrated the placement of images in the lower right corner, behind my photo.

After the stamped images have dried, apply washi tape (or masking tape) over the stamped area in the shape of a lattice.

Pour a small amount of gesso on top the lattice and spread it around with a plastic card. You've also the option of using acrylic paint instead of gesso. What ever you have on hand, go with it! Acrylic is totally ok :)

Punch a large circle from scrap paper and using it as a mask, spritz circles over portions of the lattice. Try mixing colors when doing this - I opted for plum & sunshine yellow. There are no hard and fast rules here, so create as many circles as you like.

When the paint is fully dried, remove the tape. Do so very carefully to avoid tearing the paper behind it. Pull gently and watch closely while lifting it away from the layout.

One of the benefits of white gesso is that it doesn't interfere with the coloring of the circles. If you were to try painting with other colors, which is certainly worthwhile, the circles might not be as vibrant, or true-to-color. Still, try it once! You might like the effect! Work with different mask shapes, too!

With the base complete, it's time to get to work on the rest of the layout! Stitch across the layout a couple of times, and over some of the paper pieces scattered throughout. Again, pay close attention to placement of your sewn lines - they should interact with the rest of the page in a way that is balanced, and is central to the photo.

As a base for the photo, build layers from On Trend's patterned paper, journaling cards, and chipboard. This floral cluster has beautiful coloring - you can't miss it, which makes it the ideal attention grabber..it draws the eye inward.

One last tip I'd like to share before leaving you is the idea of "softening" up paper. By crumbling up this number seven On Trend die-cut element, curling it's edges forward, and then sewing just across it's top, you now have what looks like a "clothing tag". Kinda fun, eh?

Thank-you for stopping by the Crate Paper blog today! Happy painting & sewing!