Mixed Media Card Challenge - Family

It's the first of the month and that means it's a new challenge up at the mixed media card challenge. Some people think that mixed media means you have to get allllllll messy and grungy. While, I find it fun to do that stuff (throw texture paste around like confetti!) mixed media for this challenge just means mixing 3 different types of mediums. 

Think inks, markers, embossing, paint, ribbon, wire, rhinestones, sprays, watercolors, etc- The possibilities really are endless and totally fun to explore. 

The theme over at the Mixed Media Card Challenge is family with the option of adding arrows.  I was looking through some digital stamps recently, and stumbled upon Boughs for the Wreath by Mo's Digital Pencil. 

Every Christmas, when I was a little girl, my dad and mom would my siblings and I trudging through the snow to find our perfect Christmas tree. We kids would dance around, pointing at this tree and that until we finally found the tallest, roundest, fullest one and my dad would crouch down and saw away until we took it home! 

He's also very known for making gorgeous Christmas wreaths with the leftover boughs - so this image just made me stop in my tracks and relive all those memories. :) 

But enough of the sniffly sentiments and on to the show! For my background, I pulled out a lovely emerald green piece of cardstock, dry embossed with circular shapes (because they reminded me of wreaths) and then added some Perfect Copper Perfect Pearls to really accentuate the raised areas. 

There are many different ways to use Perfect Pearls, but with this type of application, I inked the raised areas with Perfect Medium, then applied the dry powder directly to the inky areas. Finally, spritz with water from a mini mister because that's what makes it adhere permanently to the paper. 

The end result is so shimmery and gorgeous and sure to make a statement! 

I finished coloring the image, and then thought about the other aspects of a wreath to inspire my finished design. 

I die cut the image with a Spellbinders frame, and added little red rhinestones, because they reminded me of the berries my dad uses on his wreaths. And it wouldn't be a real wreath without ribbons and bells, so I found this lovely leftover piece of ribbon, tied it in a big ol' bow and then glued on some jingle bells. Finally, I embossed a simple gold sentiment from the STAMPlorations Joyful set. 

Totally love how this turned out, and I think it's the perfect homage to my papa!

I'm gonna send this lovely over to play in the following challenges:

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Get a head start on Christmas or Hannakuh 

Allsorts - Christmas

Hiding In My Craftroom - Freestyle

Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes

DP2 Challenge - Anything Goes with Mo's Digital Image