01/06/2026
I’ve absolutely loved creating this mixed media tag using the new Inspired by William Morris collection from Lisa Horton Crafts This collection has encouraged me to revisit one of my favourite creative styles — combining layers, texture and colour to create something rich with detail.
The base is a large MDF tag covered with one of the darker green downloadable William Morris background papers. I lightly sanded sections of the paper back to distress the surface and added Cadence Hybrid Acrylic Paint in Taffy around the edges, along with a few paint splatters to start building texture.
From there, the fun part began!
The flowers and foliage have been die cut using both the Sea Flowers and Larkspur Foliage die sets. Whenever I’m creating a heavily layered project like this, I prefer to blend my cardstock before die cutting. Not only does it ensure everything coordinates beautifully, but it also means I can spend an afternoon creating a whole selection of elements ready for future projects. For these pieces I used combinations of the beautiful Inspired by William Morris Cloud 9 inks.
The composition itself is built around a central flower, with the surrounding leaves and blooms flowing naturally from that focal point. I wanted the design to feel organic and balanced, almost as though it had grown across the tag.
Nestled amongst the foliage you’ll find a small key and lock embellishment. These were painted with Cadence Hybrid Acrylics and then aged further using the William Morris Cloud 9 inks in Red Brick House and Bexley Stone. The combination creates a wonderful rusty, weathered effect that complements the collection perfectly.
To add even more dimension, I shaped and sculpted each flower and leaf before assembling the design. Some elements are glued directly to the surface, while others are raised using foam pads to create depth and shadow.
One habit I’ve developed over the years is laying out the entire design before committing to adhesive. Once I’m happy, I take a photograph of the arrangement to give me something to refer back to. It’s such a simple trick but incredibly useful when working with detailed layered projects.
To finish, I lightly spritzed the piece with water to reactivate the inks and encourage a little movement and texture. Once dry, I added white paint splatters across the entire design to help visually connect the foreground and background.
This project is a perfect example of why I love this collection so much. The papers, dies and inks all work beautifully together, giving endless opportunities for layering, experimentation and creative storytelling.
I’d love to know — are you someone who plans every layer before you start, or do you build your projects more intuitively as you go?
