Part of My Continuing Series: My 3-Step Mixed Media Recipe

3 modern abstract faces on a handmade card with a watercolor background.

Sometimes a die set arrives and your brain immediately starts firing off ideas.

That was me with Spellbinders Line of Being die set from Jaycee’s All My Senses Collection.

It’s minimalist. Abstract. Unexpected. Just a few delicate lines forming eyes, a nose, lips… and that tiny heart on the cheek.

It felt modern and artistic — and I knew it deserved something special.

So instead of making one card, I made three.

Three different artistic mixed media takes on the same striking focal point.

And interestingly? Each one feels completely different.

✂️ In This Post, You’ll Learn:

• How to add a simple but dramatic focal point
• Learn to create easy custom watercolor backgrounds
• How to add a few light layers that add interest
• Using gel press prints for your background

3 Mixed Media cards created with die cut "Line of Being" die cut from Spellbinders.

This Line of Being Die Set from Spellbinders creates the most eye-catching cards that are both unique and artistic.

I love that this set creates simple but bold focal points that work well in beginner level cards and mixed media creations.

A Little Mixed Media Context

If you’ve been following along in my new series:

In Mixed Media Made Simple: My 3-Step Recipe for Fun and Easy Tags, I introduced my background + 4 layers + focal point framework.
In Ink Smooshing 101: My Favorite Mixed Media Starter, we did a deep dive into beginner-friendly backgrounds.

Today’s cards are a little different.

They’re what I’d call Mixed Media Lite.

Understated.
Modern.
Intentional.
Artsy without being busy.

Use #karensmixedmediarecipe so we can follow along with each other’s projects.

Card One: The “Green Picasso” Card

Green Picasso handmade mixed media "Line of Being" card with watercolor background and 5 additional layers.

This card started with a hand-painted watercolor background.

I taped my watercolor paper to a hardboard using painter’s tape and lightly dampened the area where I wanted color.

Using various shades of green, I let the paint move organically — blobs, peninsulas, soft edges. No strict shape.

I used the die plate as a guide to estimate the size of my watercolor “face” (approximately 3 ¼” x 4 ½”).

Once dry, it felt very Picasso-meets-Buddha to me.

There’s quite a bit of white space around the painted area, which keeps the composition modern and breathable.

While brainstorming, I created 3 watercolor backgrounds. I went with the right two and filed the left panel in my premade backgrounds bin.

3 watercolor backgrounds + a bold black die cut creates 3 artsy modern handmade cards — Watercolor backgrounds work so well with mixed media cardmaking.

Subtle Layers (5 Total)

Even though this card feels simple, I added five quiet layers — because as you know, my recipe suggests 4+ layers.

Light Script Stenciling
Using Fog Reactive Ink, I stenciled two small areas of script. The pattern flows from watercolor into white space, about 1” sections.
Tiny Rub-On Transfers
Small Asian characters placed strategically. Just enough to intrigue.
Second Generation Stamping
Miss Detective small eyes, lips, fingerprints, and a heart stamped lightly in black reactive ink. Soft texture — not bold imagery.
Partial Background Stamping
I inked only portions of a bubble background stamp with Fog ink, bending the stamp to touch the paper selectively. Some impressions land on watercolor, some on white space.
Splatters
Blue-green and gold splatters to finish.

The Line of Being focal point — die cut from black cardstock — creates dramatic contrast against the organic green.

The sentiment? A small artistic rub-on that says “smile.”

Mounted onto a black A2 base using rounded rectangle infinity dies.

Bold. Modern. Graphic.

Mixed media card with green watercolor face background and black abstract face die cut with a second version in the background with my watercolor paint palette. — Bold but simple black die cuts make such interesting focal points for your mixed media cards.

Card Two: Pink & Green Modern Minimal

This card takes a lighter approach.

I painted:

A kidney-shaped pink wash on the right
A smaller irregular green circle blending slightly into the pink on the left

Lots of white space.
Lots of breathing room.

Watercolor backgrounds + splatters + black die cuts creates a bold modern mixed media look that works so well for cardmaking projects. — Colorful splatters elevate almost every mixed media project.

Then I added:

Matching pink and green watercolor splatters
Fuchsia splatters
Gold splatters
The same black Line of Being die cut

No heavy layering.
No traditional mixed media build-up.

Just artistic restraint.

And I love how eye-catching it feels despite its simplicity.

This card is proof that there’s no strict rule for how many layers a mixed media project must have.

Sometimes less truly is more.

Pink and green modern watercolor card with minimalist black face die cut

Card Three: Gel Press Version

I thought I was finished at two cards.

But overnight I had that creative whisper:

“What about a gel press background?”

So I shopped my stash of gel press prints (this is why I keep them!) and chose one with beautiful movement and color variation.

Die cut it with a rounded rectangle
Added purple metallic and white splatters
Mounted onto black A2
Added the black Line of Being die cut
Swapped the cheek heart for purple

The premade sentiment sticker finished it effortlessly.

Same focal point.
Completely different mood.

Gel press background card with metallic splatters and abstract line face

Why I Love Making Variations

Creating the same card multiple ways is incredibly instructive.

You learn:

How background weight changes a design
How much layering is “enough”
How focal points behave against organic vs graphic surfaces
What feels like you

It’s creative experimentation without pressure.

If you’re new to mixed media, I highly recommend starting with something approachable like my Easy & Addictive | Beginner Mixed Media Tag Tutorial and VIDEO.

For those building their stash, I also shared my 14 Best Cardmaking Products and Supplies for 2026, which might be helpful.

Build Your Cardmaking Toolkit:

If you are looking to equip your crafting space for new projects, these are the products I used today:

Diecutting:

Stamps:

Inks:

Which One Is Your Favorite?

The layered Green Picasso?
The modern Pink & Green?
Or the bold Gel Press version?

I’d truly love to know.

Mixed Media card made with Gel Press Prints and floral die cuts: WPlus9 Doodle Buds.

Hello! I recently spent a most enjoyable afternoon making acrylic gel press prints and then I turned four panels into cards. For my first card, I used Altenew’s Bubble Wrap Stencil to add varation to my background. I die cut my background using The Greetery’s Crimped Frame die, and then die cut blooms using WPlus9 Doodle Buds stamp and die bundle. I drew in stems with paint pens and assembled my card with foam squares.

Mixed Media Acrylic Rainbow print turned into a card.

For my second card, I put 7 dots of acrylic paint on my gel press and brayered one direction horizontally so the ink would gently blend but would also maintain the bands of color. I brayered the excess ink onto a second page. I added a die cut bloom, stem and Hello sentiment.

Gel Press Printing using Altenew's Leaves and Berries Stencil.

The background on Card #3 used Altenew’s Leaves and Berries stencil. My bottom layer was orange, yellow and green. Next, I placed the stencil on the wet paint and blotted most of the orange that showed through onto a piece of copy paper. I let the paint dry a minute and then gently brayered on light blue acrylic paint, removed the stencil and pulled the print. I think the background is so beautiful for a floral card. The sentiment is from Altenew’s Birthday Greetings.

Mixed Media Card featuring Hero Arts I Am Puffer For You stamped fish.

The background on card #4 started with yellow and green paint on layer 1. I placed Simons Says Stamp’s Ring Cluster Stencil on the wet paint and then blotted most of the paint that showed through the stencil with a sheet of copy paper. I then brayered on light blue paint, removed the stencil and pulled the print. It was bright and fun and reminded me of the ocean so I went with an aquatic theme. The cute little puffer fish (Hero Arts I am Puffer For You) were stamped and fussy cut and a Hello sentiment was stamped on the background.,

Supplies:

Acrylic Paint Kit

Brayer Set

Gel Press Printing Plate

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen