Creative Projects with Mixed Media Designs

When you hear “mixed media” do you instantly think of physical elements only? Or do you think of digital designs as well? In this issue of Crafting Creativity I’m sharing several projects created using Mixed Media Designs by Sarah Hurley. Whether you make the same projects or not, I hope it unlocks some inspiration and thoughts stirring around on what you can use designs for. The Crafting Creativity series is designed to spark interest and ideas on what you can create using one design file or a style of designs such as these mixed media designs.

Often times I think users get a cut file and think of only one possible project for it and then it might sit in our digital resources forever and not be used again. But, there is so much more that can be created with just one design. For more inspiration and ideas, check out the Crafting Creativity series HERE.

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Crafting Creativity with Sarah Hurley Mixed Media Designs

Project #1 – Easy Shaker Cards with Mixed Media Designs

Shaker cards can be very simple to make and assemble. It’s all about layers and creating a “pocket” to hold the shaker bits in place.

A crafting workspace featuring greeting cards with decorative designs, a color palette card showing a cake with icing, a purple glitter pen, tape, and a bag of small heart embellishments.

I used some glitter cardstock hearts that I’ve kept in a little baggie from when I was testing the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat cutting glitter cardstock. They have just been waiting for the right project.

I wanted to see how the design would look in 2 ways – with the mixed media design on top and as the background.

Here is a closer look at the design with the mixed media layer on top of the shaker bits.

A decorative card featuring a cut-out design of buildings with a pink background, showcasing the word 'Be' in a stylish font surrounded by empowering words like 'Thoughtful,' 'Happy,' 'Strong,' and 'Fearless.' Glittery accents and heart shapes add detail, enhancing the overall inspirational theme.

And a close up look at the design with the mixed media layer as a background behind the shaker bits.

A greeting card featuring a pink and teal design with glittery hearts, a message circle that says 'You are' surrounded by positive adjectives, and crafting materials in the background.

Watch the video tutorial below on how I created these designs.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Laser Cut Sign Background

This was such a random idea that popped into my head and I decided to try it and see what happened. I love how it turned out!

Wooden plaque featuring a butterfly design with inspirational text about growth and embracing change.

In the Silhouette software, I released the compound path and deleted some of the bits in the middle to make it a little more successful in cutting and create a larger space for the design in the middle. Then selected the entire mixed media design and made a compound path again.

Here is a look at the design before I saved as a svg to send to my Glowforge.

An open design software window displaying a decorative butterfly design with text, set up for a wood sign project.

I still need to finish this out and I’m not sure if I’ll add stain or just a protective sealer to it.

I then scaled the design down a bit and made a business sign too.

A decorative wooden sign displaying the name 'EllyMae', the business 'Swift Creek Customs', and the phrase 'Silhouette Secrets + Creator, Instructor, Maker'. It features a QR code on one side.

Supplies Used:

Silhouette Studio® Software
Mixed Media Font Bundle by Sarah Hurley – Design #290950
Advice from a Butterfly Inspirational Word Art by Sarah Hurley – Design #413251
Plywood
Glowforge Pro laser machine

Additional Resources:

Project #3 – Stencils with Mixed Media Designs

Use mixed media designs to create unique stencils that can be used for many different purposes.

Two craft stencils held by hands, one with an abstract speckled pattern and the other with a series of circular cutouts, displayed on a grid background.

This project uses the mixed media files in 3 different ways

as stencils
as physical elements cut
as digital backgrounds

A colorful canvas featuring motivational phrases such as 'Be You, Be Unique, Be Unstoppable' and 'You Are Amazing, Brave, Thoughtful, Kind, Smart, Fearless, Loved, Talented, Unique, Strong'. The background has abstract paint splashes and patterns.

This project came together layer by layer. A collage of different mediums and materials. I love how it has turned out so far. I am not sure it’s completely finished, but I’m sure it will tell me one of these days.

Here is a close up look at some of the layered details on this canvas collage showing 3 different methods of using the mixed media designs.

Close-up of a colorful mixed media artwork featuring an inspirational quote that reads "YOU ARE Amazing, Brave, Thoughtful, Kind, Smart, Fearless, Loved, Talented, Loyal, True, Strong" on a pink background with various artistic textures and patterns.

I also used the stencils in a mixed media journal to practice with before adding to my canvas. My first attempt on the canvas the paint was a bit watery and ran under the stencil, so I set that aside and practiced a bit in the journal.

An artist's workspace featuring an open sketchbook with colorful paint strokes and a stencil. Various paint bottles are arranged in the background alongside paintbrushes and tools, indicating an active creative process.

Use the mixed media designs and cut the design from cardstock or other materials to create a physical element. Layer and add this to the canvas for even more uniqueness and interest.

A close-up of crafting materials on a wooden table, featuring two black butterfly cutouts and several black patterned overlays, alongside a cutting machine and a blue cutting mat.

Add a digital pattern to the mixed media design, print it out, and cut out in a shape to add another layer to the canvas.

A close-up of printed motivational phrases on a sheet of paper, featuring the text 'You Are' followed by positive adjectives like 'Brave,' 'Kind,' and 'Talented,' with colorful watercolor backgrounds in orange and pink.

Mixed media designs have so much potential on what they can be used for and in this case I layered the different elements and just kept building the canvas project.

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – HTV Shirt Designs

I created a couple different shirt designs using the mixed media designs and then cut out of HTV. The first one is cut from Siser Tiger Lily Puff Metallic HTV and another one of my favorites. I made one similar to this last year and it still looks great!

A navy blue t-shirt featuring the word 'create' in a stylish pink font, positioned over a patterned background of pink circles.

Next, I swapped out the Metallic Puff HTV and used a pattern HTV that’s in my stash along with a Siser Glitter Puff HTV. Although the glitter puff didn’t really puff up that much, it still looks great on the shirt.

Navy blue t-shirt featuring the word 'create' in bright green, surrounded by colorful confetti.

And one more creation. I’m not sure how I feel about this color combination, but I think it’s growing on me. I used Siser Glitter Puff HTV in orange and it didn’t puff up much either, but still looks great on the shirt.

A blue t-shirt with a colorful watercolor design featuring the word 'create' in bold, stylish lettering.

All of these shirts were created using the same techniques of an offset of the text and subtracting the offset from the mixed media design.

Supplies Used:

Silhouette Studio® Software
Mixed Media Font Bundle by Sarah Hurley – Design #290950
Silhouette Cameo 5
Silhouette Autoblade
Silhouette Cutting Mat
Siser Tiger Lily Metallic Puff HTV (shirt #1)
Patterns HTV
Siser EasyPuff Glitter HTV
Shirts
15″ x 15″ Craft Pro Heat Press
Weeding Tool

Additional Resources:

Project #5 – ATC (Artist Trading Cards)

Each year for Creativation I’ve made ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) and pass these out to others at the show. I used 2 of the mixed media designs on the background of the ATCs. These techniques could be applied to many other projects such as cards, bookmarks, stickers, etc.

Watch the step-by-step tutorial on creating these ATC (Artist Trading Cards) below.

And check out the blog post on the ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) HERE.

Supplies Used:

It is amazing how one design or creative idea can be the spark for so many more projects!

Featured Designer – Sarah Hurley

A great big THANK YOU to Sarah Hurley for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Find more designs by Sarah Hurley at the Silhouette Design Store

Follow along with Sarah Hurley on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Sarah also launched Stella Nova this past year too and I’ve enjoyed following along on that journey as well. Check that out HERE.

A great big thank you to Sarah Hurley for collaborating with us this month!

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One design can be used in so many different ways. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

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A collection of mixed media projects including a colorful notebook cover, personalized wooden sign, and various fabric designs featuring the word 'create' and positive affirmations.

Enjoy !

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