Mixed Media Materials Archives

My Favourite Materials – Part 5 Embellishments

It’s no secret that at Mixed Media Arts we love to create. We want to use materials that we have at hand, or are fairly cheap and easy to buy, as compared to corporate lines of specialty papers and embellishments where you need to buy something from the entire range as the colours don’t match with anything else. It can be very frustrating.

Today we will look at what we need to add those finishing touches to our mixed media artwork.

Part 4 – Embellishments and Found Objects

Another of my favourite mixed media materials is everyday objects to use as embellishments, adding that finishing touch or element of gold to complete your piece. I collect all sorts of metal and found objects as you never know when one may come in handy. This greeting card is embellished with an old sandal buckle and ribbon.

Metallic paint to add in touches to the backgrounds will make a great highlight. Or glitter glue that comes with a fine nozzle makes adding features or highlights by hand easy. (like this Stickles Glitter Glue Silver By The Each)

Use buttons as embellishments, reused from old clothing or spare ones from sewing friends or project.

Brads or eyelets are fun to use but we don’t need lots of colours; stick to basic black or gold. Then if you need to change colours, you can paint them, change colour with alcohol inks or metallic leafing pens. By using these in your work as well, it ensures the colours will match. It is amazing how many shades of gold there are and you will be forever trying to match odd ones if you have collected too many over the years.

By using paint to colour your embellishments as well as in your background, your colours will always match.

Using punches is also an economical way of creating embellishments. After the initial outlay of the punch, you can use papers to match your background or paint with the same colours. Circle punches are my favourite!

I hope you have enjoyed our mini-series on our favoutire mixed-media materials.

Happy Creating!

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Here are other materials that I like:

My Favourite Materials – Part 1 Cardboard

My Favourite Materials – Part 2 Text Ephemera

My Favourite Materials – Part 3 Painting Tools

My Favourite Mixed-Media Materials – Part 4 Plastic Sheeting
Some further reading…

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My Favourite Materials – Part 1 Cardboard

It’s no secret that at MMA we support everyone that has an inner need to create, using materials that we have at hand, around the home as much as possible, or are fairly cheap and easy to buy, as compared to corporate lines of specialty papers and embellishments where you need to buy something from the entire range as the colours don’t match with anything else. It is very frustrating.

This short series of articles will highlight some of my favourite materials.

Part 1 ~ Cardboard

At the moment, my favourite material is cereal box cardboard. I keep every one we use (open the ends so that they will store flat) and have built up a collect them over the last year. They are great to have on hand when the kids need cardboard for their latest project and also when you feel the need to create.

Some of the things I have made recently are:

+ An “all about me” book – cutting the larger boxes into four panels and using an office hole punch to add two holes. This will allow two ring binder things to hold it together.

I started this book so that I could make something just form me, using those special items I had found or tucked away. Using the rings as binding allows me to add pages as I feel like it, or rearrange them if needed. It is easy to add more pages, just get another box, cut it up and I’m ready to go. I also use left over gesso or paint, to create rough backgrounds.

+ Made this cute little gift box from chipboard, but it would have worked with cereal box cardboard, as well.

+ This sticky note book covers, made by gluing two layers to create a firm base. I am delighted with how well this has turned out. You can’t tell it is made from cereal box cardboard with two pieces glued together; it makes a very strong cover.