Small pieces, big feelings - Mixed Media Tags

These mixed media tags may be small in size, but they carry layered emotions, texture and contrast. Cracked but not empty. Scarred, yet still soft. Sometimes the smallest pieces hold the biggest stories.

Materials used

• 2x any white cardstock (A5 or A4, 200g-250g)

• Digital heart images

• Few scraps for text

• Acrylic paints, 3-4 colours + black and white

• Black ink (I used distress black soot)

• Stencils

The Process

For this project, I started by creating two masterboards that were later cut into backgrounds for the tags.

Masterboard 1 was created using acrylic paints applied with a brush. I added stenciled details and marks, working intuitively and letting the layers build naturally without a fixed plan.

Masterboard 2 was also made with acrylic paints, but this time using a brayer. The process was more abstract and loose, focusing on movement, texture and contrast rather than specific shapes.

Masterboard 1

Masterboard 2

Once the masterboards were finished and fully dry, they were cut into individual tag bases. Each tag measures 16 × 8 cm, creating small pieces that still allow plenty of space for layers and texture.

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Next, I printed the heart images — two different designs, one for each tag — on 160 g printer paper. After cutting them out, I glued the hearts onto the tags as focal points.

I chose black and white images to enhance the sense of drama and contrast against the colourful, layered backgrounds.

Black and white heart focal points layered onto colorful mixed media tag backgrounds.

To finish the tags, I added shading and highlights to the hearts using black ink to give them more depth and definition. I used the same ink to darken the edges of the tags, framing each piece and adding contrast.

The text elements were written on leftover cardstock and cut into small strips, allowing them to sit naturally on the tags. As a final touch, I added white paint splatters to bring everything together and add a sense of movement and texture.

Finished mixed media tags with layered details and expressive contrast.

Final Thoughts

Working on these tags reminded me how powerful small formats can be. Even the tiniest pieces can hold layers of emotion, contrast and story when given the space to breathe.

This project was all about intuition. Letting colour, texture and simple words come together naturally. Small pieces, big feelings.

Feel free to leave a comment or share your thoughts - I always love hearing from you.

You can find more of my mixed media and art journal work on Instagram @susisscraps