Mixed Media Blog

Create mesmerising backgrounds with Sheena using the Caught in Crystal technique – a wonderfully unpredictable way to trap colour, shimmer and texture under a glossy acetate surface. Every piece you make will be completely unique; the way the inks move through the “crystal” layer is all part of the magic. You can keep the look soft and ethereal, or add mica and gilding flakes for dramatic, high-shine panels – perfect for turning into quick statement cards, tags or art panels.

Bright layers of Cosmic Shimmer chalk paint, a swirling stencil and Andy Skinner’s Princess Attitude stamp come together in this eye-catching birthday tag project. You’ll learn how to build a striking, matte background, add subtle skin tones with acrylic to the stamped image, then re-stamp back over the top so every line of this wonderfully sassy fairy character pops.

Create an enchanting scene with the magical Secret stamp by Andy Skinner and a beautifully textured rock salt ink background. In this project, Andy combines Cosmic Shimmer water-based inks with everyday rock salt to create a unique, mottled backdrop – the perfect setting for this enigmatic fairy and her “Shhh… It’s a Secret!” sentiment.

Bring a little bit of magic to your cardmaking with the Dance stamp from Andy Skinner’s Imagination release. In this project, the detailed ballerina with wings image is set against a “Moving Ink” background, where softly blended water-based inks create clouds of colour that appear to drift around the figure.

This project showcases Andy Skinner’s Make a Wish stamp, paired with a beautiful burnt–orange background created using his new blending technique. By combining Cosmic Shimmer Watercolour Inks with chalk paint, the colours gently blend together giving the little fairy a softly aged storybook look. Finished with delicate white pencil highlights, the result is a dreamy mixed media tag that’s perfect for cards, journals or gift wrapping.

Princess Attitude by Andy Skinner is the perfect stamp for anyone who prefers their fairies fierce, not fluffy. This brilliantly detailed design pairs butterfly wings and Doc Martens with a gloriously sassy stance and the tongue-in-cheek birthday sentiment, “Happy birthday! Now get over yourself and let’s eat cake.”

Combined with soft, watercolour-style colouring using Cosmic Shimmer water-based inks, the stamp becomes the focal point of a clean, elegant card. Transparent layers of ink gently tint the image without hiding the detail, while a few simple colour mixes create warm golden wings, denim blues and pretty pastels. The result is a charming keepsake that looks hand-painted, yet is easy to achieve with just basic brushwork.

This instalment of the Cosmic Shimmer Education Series explores three versatile gesso resist techniques that turn simple cardstock into richly textured backgrounds. Using white gesso and Cosmic Shimmer water-based inks, Sheena shows how to create a mottled paint effect, faux wood grain effect and a soft woodland glow over stencilled trees.

Step into a dreamlike, mixed media fairy tale with the Dance Stamp Set by Andy Skinner from the Imagination series. This beautifully detailed design has been brought to life in stamp form, capturing every fine detail of Andy’s illustration – from the delicate wings and tutu to the expressive pose of the dancer.