Mixed Media Card Challenge - Touch of Nature 7/1/14

I am SO excited to share with you that I was chosen to be on the Design Team of this wonderful new monthly challenge - The Mixed Media Card Challenge!  And today is the very first challenge -  

Theme:  Touch of Nature - Optional Element:  Tag.

I went for the Theme and the Optional Element and made a tag/card for my project this month.

And since the main goal of the challenge is to get us to use Mixed Media - I have some photos of how I built my tag using several medias.

First I inked the Check Mate Stencil from Wendy Vecchi/Studio 490 on the tag using 4 different colors of Distress Inks using my Mini Ink Blenders - these work so nicely on the small openings of the stencils.

Next - I mixed a little Leaf Green Archival ink into some white embossing paste using my pallet knife.

I laid my Create a Wreath Stencil over the tag, holding it in place with some Low Tack Artist Tape and spread on the now-green embossing paste. 

Note:  Wash your stencil, pallet knife and craft sheet immediately - don't let the paste dry as it will be very difficult to remove after it dries.

So here is the base of my tag -  I love how bright the colors look and the raised green wreath looks and feels like soft felt.   At this point, I cut my tag down to 5 1/2" long so that it could be mailed in a regular size A2 envelope.

  I inked the stripes from my Dots and Stripes stencil along the top in black, die cut the flowers from white card stock and the stem from green and then stamped the flowers from Reverse Confetti using the same colors as my checkmate background.  I sponged the edges of the tag and flowers with Mustard Seed.

I layered the blooms over the wreath using foam dots.  I stamped stars from the same stamp set in black randomly around the tag and then spritzed the tag using my Ranger Distress Spritzer and Frayed Burlap Distress Marker. I stamped the 'Feel Better Soon' from PTI on the bottom right corner.

To finish off the blooms I added Glossy Accents to the centers to add a little shimmer.

I layered my tag to a slightly larger piece of black card stock since the back of the tag got a little inky.  I added a white panel for the sentiment and any hand written note I might want to add.

And, once again, a view of my finished Touch of Nature project!

So please check out the Mixed Media Challenge Blog where you will find all the details for this monthly challenge -  all the wonderful inspiration posted there by the Design Team - and where Mr. Linky awaits you to link up your mixed media creation!   You have until July 25th to play.  New challenges will be on the 1st of each month!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'd love to hear what you think of my Mixed Media tag!

Stamps:  Healing Touch Sentiments - Papertrey Ink, Petals and Posies - Reverse Confetti
 Paper:  #8 Manilla Tag - Ranger (6 1/4" x 3 1/4"), white and True Black - Papertrey Ink
Ink:  Ranger Distress - Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmelade, Peacock Feathers; Archival Leaf Green (reinker), Jet Black.
Accessories:  White Embossing Paste - Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi, Stencils: Create A Wreath, Check Mate, Dots and Stripes - Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi, Blending tool - Ranger, Glossy Accents - Ranger, Frayed Burlap Distress Marker - Ranger, Distress Spritzer - Ranger, foam tape, Petals and Posies Dies - Reverse Confetti.
Paper