Mixed Media Background Tutorial

I'd like to show you one of my ways on how I create backgrounds for mixed media projects. Today's background was used for this ATC with one of lovely brids from the STAMPlorations "Small Birds" stamp set:

Step 1: I start with a orange and white oil pastel and draw some images. Then I used my Inktens Blocks and colored my surface by adding water. I used the Inktens Blocks, because they are waterproof when they are dry. I added some doodleing with a black Pitt Artist Pen and some stamping with jet black archival ink and the gorgeous STAMPlorations "Artsy Border Marker" stamps.

Step 2: I did some stenciling with the ARTplorations "Leaf Prints", "Showers of Flutters " and "Tulip Prints ". I used the Marabu Mixed Media spray inks (carribean, lemon, chilli). They are also waterproof after they are dry. Most of the time I use my stencils in both ways first time as a mask and then as a stamp to use the remaining ink on the stencil.

Step 3: It's now time to add some gesso randomly. I used a palette knife.

Step 4: For more contrast I added some more stenciling with black and white gesso. I used the ARTplorations stencils "Dots and Dashes", "Leaf Prints" and "Botanical Lush ".

Step 5: I added some black Neocolor II watercolor crayons to add more interesst. Voilá: Here is the finished background.

I used some templates of a ATC and a Tag to "search" the perfect image to work on:

Finally I ended up with one tag and 3 ATC backgrounds. I also keep the rest of this background sheet to use it for other mixed media projects.

I used a pink and green uniPOSCA marker to add some doodleing as well as the circles from the STAMPlorations "Artsy Border Marker" set and, as I told you at the beginning, one of the "Small Bird" stamps. The sentiment is from the Subway Art Builders "Create".

xx Susanne!


STAMPlorations stamps:
Subway Art Builders Create
Artsy Border Marker
Small Birds 

ARTplorations stencils:
Dots and Dashes
Leaf Prints
Showers of Flutters 
Botanical Lush 
Tulip Prints