Hi everyone. Today is the first challenge for the Mixed Media Challenge Blog (#1 - Touch of Nature: optional element - tag). I'm so excited to be a part of this wonderful challenge blog and work with a group of extremely talented and creative card-makers. :) Before we get to my card info, I'd like to again let you all know that Mixed Media for this challenge is defined as using stamps, ink and two other items (techniques, mediums, embellishments, special tools, etc.) that add texture and dimension. On my card today, I used a few different techniques and also added texture and dimension. The background is a mesh stencil, which I spread with white embossing paste. The white of the paste on the white card front gives lots of texture, while maintaining a CAS look. I cut the fern from watercolor paper. I pounced my craft sheet with distress inks, misted with water and then dragged my fern through the diluted inks (smooshing technique). I let it dry and then dragged it through again to intensify the colors. It picked up some of the three shades of green and made for a very interesting and textured look, even though it's just ink and paper. I die-cut a square frame, sponged the edges for more color and popped it up on the background (more dimension). The fern is adhered to the frame with little dabs of glue and then a tag with sentiment is added with some white twine. Click here to check out the rest of the Design Team cards for this fun challenge ... you'll be glad you did! :) The challenge is open until the 25th of July ... so there's lots of time to play along. Hope to see you in the gallery! :) Stamps: Sentiment Builders Thank You (STAMPlorations) Paper: 110 lb. white (Neenah); watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press) Ink: TH Distress Inks: Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Peacock Feathers; Bermuda Bay (SU!) Accessories & Tools: Silhouette Cameo for cutting fern, water mister, Big Shot, Square Nesties, Textured Mesh stencil (Memory Box), Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi), palette knife, white twine