Creating mixed media backgrounds is a perfect place to start if you are just beginning in the mixed media world or if you are ready to experiment and try some new things. One of the biggest questions we get is what surface should we use for mixed media and the best answer we have is any surface. You can use found objects, stretched canvas, old books, wooden frames…the options or endless. But our favorite answer is paper and Canvas Corp has a huge selection of great papers that are the perfect mixed media surface. You can create great backgrounds and created your art on them, but up the backgrounds, blend backgrounds, you get it, there are no rules. We asked Kimberly who is part of the Crew to show us some of her favorite mixed media techniques using various papers offered by Canvas Corp. So next time you have all your paints, mediums and goodies out, grab a few pieces of printed or textured cardstock and have a ball. The cardstock weight is pretty important as the thinner scrapbooking paper does not quite hold up the same way.
Chicken Wire Mixed Media Background
What was used: Black and Ivory Chicken Wire Paper ; Tattered Angels Sheer Mist; Tattered Angels High Impact Paint , Kraft, Olive, Tan; Decor and DIY paint Cordovan ; Stamp Flourish ; Ink memento Rich Coco
Randomly apply the paints to the background paper, keeping the strokes light so the background chicken wire art shows. After the paints are dry, choose a stamp and ink and add an additional layer of design to the simple background paper and paint, it is a great look and so simple to do.
Choose a sheer mist that adds lots of glimmer, but let’s the painted colors and stamped designs come through. Keep in mind that when you add water based mist to paper it does curl up a bit, so we suggest that you put weights on all 4 sides and possibly something in the middle during the drying process to help it dry flat. You can dry with a heat gun too, but still good to add a little weight and help flatten out the paper.
The finished background is a work of art and can be framed just like this or add a beautiful focal point or lots of mixed media goodness.
Mini Stripe Madness Mixed Media Background
What Kimberly Used: Modeling Paste, Tattered Angels High Impact Paints, Baseboard Mist, Glimmer Mist, stencil, spatula or brush, a piece of chocolate and ivory ribbon stripe paper.
Blend the paste and the High Impact paint to get it the color you wish. Randomly stencil the tan mixtures onto the paper letting some of the stripe show through.
Randomly take the olive mixture and stencil randomly let dry repeated both steps until you get the desired look. Let the layers dry between colors or you can apply when wet and blend them together, try both techniques and see which one works best. The Hight Impact paint is opaque will cover some of the background printed paper.
Mist on top of the tan and green stencil work randomly with the mists until you reach the desired look. The glimmer in the mist will show as well, it is just hard to see in the photo. Now you have a great background you could frame, but you can also layer with your favorite mixed media pieces.
Painted Flowers Mixed Media Background
Tools Used
Paint brush, small cups or paint tray paper towels
Step 1: Pour some of each color Tattered angels mist into small paint tray , start with the lighter green color then blend some of the darker color onto the leafs on the paper.
Step 2- Now blend the two tones of reds onto flowers, take the darker color using a paint brush and go in between the creases of the embossed edge. Then follow over the top with the lighter color blending some in.
Step 3- Continue coloring in all the flowers on the paper.
You can also cut out the flowers at this step and add them to mixed media projects.
Step 4- Let your page dry. If your inpatient like me gently dry your paper using an emboss heat gun. Once dry apply sprays of the precious metal to give it a vintage look.
Step 5- After the page is dry pour out some high impact ivory paint onto a plate using your fingers or a sponge randomly smear over page this will give it a five niches vintage look.
Now you have a lovely piece of paper to cover any project your wanting to cover like a old book , frame, or use it as your lo page. Really this could be used in many place.
So three different papers, three different looks, three great backgrounds and lots of inspiration. So next time you are going through your paper stash or you see a canvas corp paper in the shop that you love. Consider it for a mixed media background paper and let the creativity begin. You will find a wide range of themes that are perfect for you mixed media personality!!!!
Visit the blog often for more of Kimberly’s works and more from our amazing design crew. Be inspired to create and make!
Happy Creating!!!!
'Canvas Corp Paper Painted Backgrounds' has 1 comment
May 16, 2016 @ 9:29 am Barb Housner
great ideas – have not seen that embossed paper – it is gorgeous – would make a beautiful wedding card – thanks for sharing