Mixed Media Mojo April challenge

As I was picked as the winner of the March Mixed Media Mojo winner, I was asked to post on their blog as a guest Design Team member. Needless to say is that I am extremely honored and flattered to no end!

My tutorial is for a mixed media tag for their April challenge "April showers with an umbrella as a twist". So this screamed for the Umbrella Man by Tim Holtz!!

I started off by cutting the umbrella man from a mixed media tag by Ranger. 

As April showers are the main theme, I am overloading this tag with every rain drop I can think of. The drop stamps are from Designsbyryn, the white raindrop stencil is by Emerald Creek Crafts and the other one is from Crafter's Companion. And I am going to slap on the layers.

I scribble some distress stains on my craft mat to create the background on my tag. Tumbled glass and stormy sky are just perfect.

The "wrinkle free distress" or "smooshing" technique is my favourite one ever. It creates a unique background every single time. And you can layer as much as you want, until the desired effect.

With a darker blue, chipped sapphire distress ink, I added the next layer on the tag. Small raindrops through the stencil. 

The next layer will be stamped raindrops with distress oxide. As the oxides are semi opaque, this lighter color will lay on top of the darker background. 

To create dimension, I decided to stamp larger drops in another lighter oxide. 

To make the drops more dimensional and realistic, I always add some highlights on them with a white gelli roll pen.

Here you see the difference between the smaller drops that have been highlighted, and the big ones, that haven't been done yet.

Still layering it up! I used Dreamweaver translucent embossing paste to create more raindrops with the second stencil. 

The paste is whitish to begin with, but it dries completely clear and shiny.

As the background dries, it is time for the umbrella man to get some life inked onto him. So I smooshed down some oxides onto my craft mat and sprayed it with water. Let the birth of Umbrella man begin!

I just loooooove how the oxides layer on top of eachother and how they react with water. He is ready for his next layer...

This crazing collage medium is a must have if you like a vintage look on things. It is AWESOME.....

Once the crazing is all dry, it is time to make sure they pop on the umbella man. So time for the crayons to make an appearance. I scribble some dark ground espresso distress crayon on my craft mat and spritz a little water on it and rub it all over my man. The crayon will go into the crazes and will make them more visible and give it a vintage look.

See what I mean? I am crazy about the crazing hahaha. 

I am going to add this word band to the tag. I highlighted the letters by rubbing white distress crayon over it and working it really well into the crevices.

To finish off the word band, I used two plain brads that I customised using one of my specialty embossing powders by Emerald Creek Craft, called Northern Lights. It is the most gorgeous mix of blue. 

As many of my crafty friends know, I always put fluffy bows on top of my tags. I am addicted to crinkle ribbon and stain it to match my projects. It takes distress inks and stains like nothing else. 

When it rains, your umbrella gets wet..... so I added a few droplets of Glossy Accents to emulate rain drops.

And voilà, the tag is all done. I inked the edges with walnut stain distress ink as it was a tad too blue and cold. This warmed it up a bit.  Thank you so much for taking the time to step by. 

Take care and keep your craft on!

Freddie

xxx