There’s something about coffee and crafting that just goes together, don’t you think? Whether it’s a warm mug by your side as you create or a coffee-themed card that brings a smile to a fellow caffeine lover, there’s just something cozy about it. Today, I’m sharing a fun mixed media card featuring The Rabbit Hole Designs Caffeinated Critters Limited Edition Bundle, Sip, Sip, Ahh! Stencil, and You've Been Framed Dies. If you love playing with ink, texture, and layering elements to create depth, this one’s for you.
I wanted this card to feel like that first sip of morning coffee—rich, bold, and a little messy in the best way possible. So, I pulled out some Distress Inks, Spray Stains, and my favorite alphabet dies to bring it all together. Let’s take a closer look at how this card came to life.
Coffee Mixed Media Card:
A Caffeinated Fox Steals the Spotlight
The Caffeinated Critters Limited Edition Bundle is full of adorably grumpy animals who perfectly capture that pre-coffee mood. I chose the fox in his robe, coffee cup in hand, because let’s be honest—we’ve all been there. He’s stamped onto Neenah Solar White 80 lb Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with my OLO Markers. I went with warm muted yellow green and rust tones to keep everything in that rich, neutral complimentary palette. Once he was colored, I used the coordinating die to cut him out and set him aside while I worked on the background.
Pro Tip: When coloring critters, adding just a touch of shading under the eyes and around the nose helps bring them to life. It’s a subtle trick, but it makes all the difference in giving them expression and depth.
Dimensional Letters with an Ombre Coffee Effect
One of my favorite ways to add bold design elements to a card is by using alphabet dies. They give you instant customization and a strong focal point without overwhelming the design. For this card, I die-cut the word "COFFEE" using my Upper and Lower Bold Basic Alphabet Dies (from SBC) from Neenah Solar White 110 lb Cardstock.
To give each letter that perfect coffee-stained look, I blended Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, and Ground Espresso Distress Inks over them in an ombré effect. The real magic, though, came from layering the Sip, Sip, Ahh! Stencil over the letters and ink blending Ground Espresso Distress Ink through the coffee ring details. By rotating the stencil for each letter, I created a more organic and varied look—just like real coffee stains on a tabletop.
Pro Tip: If you’re working with small die-cut letters, use a piece of low-tack tape or a sticky mat to hold them in place while blending. It saves you from smudged fingers and keeps the ink application even.
A Textured Mixed Media Background
Now, let’s talk about the background. I wanted it to feel like a well-loved coffee shop table—textured, layered, and full of rich stains and splatters. To achieve that look, I started with Mixed Media Smooth White Cardstock (from SBC) and did a little ink smooshing.
I pressed Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, and Ground Espresso Distress Inks onto my glass mat, spritzed with water, and dipped my cardstock in, drying between layers to build depth. Then, I added some Rusty Hinge Spray Stain and Uncharted Mariner Spray Stain for extra contrast. It might sound like an unexpected combo, but that hint of blue adds just the right amount of dimension.
To finish things off, I flicked on some Salvaged Patina Distress Spritz, Picket Fence Spray Stain, and Tarnished Brass Spray Stain. These final touches added subtle highlights and metallic sheen, giving the whole piece a bit more visual interest.
Pro Tip: When working with mixed media backgrounds, dry between each layer. This prevents colors from turning muddy and allows each layer to shine through with its own unique texture.
Bringing It All Together
Once my background was completely dry, I die-cut it using the third rectangle die from the You've Been Framed Dies, trimming it down to 3 ¾" x 5". I attached it to a top-folding A2 card base, then adhered the "COFFEE" letters down the left side, slightly offsetting them for a playful, staggered effect.
Now, for the best part—the little caffeinated fox! I popped him up on foam adhesive and placed him on the bottom right, as if he was happily leaning into the scene. A few flat sparkle confetti pieces scattered around him added just the right finishing touch without overpowering the design.
Final Thoughts
I love how this card turned out—rich, textured, and full of personality. Mixed media can sometimes feel intimidating, but when you break it down into layers, it becomes a really fun and forgiving way to add interest to your cards. If you’ve never tried ink smooshing or stencil layering before, this is a great way to experiment and see how different elements come together.
If you give this design a try, I’d love to see it! Tag me on social media or drop a comment letting me know how you use these techniques in your own projects. And if you’re a coffee lover like me, this might just be your new favorite card theme.
Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy crafting
Rick Adkins
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