Welcome to Mixed Media, Volume 02
Where postage stamps meet fairy-tale cottages
Scroll past the links and descriptions to browse the Legacy Star Designs Galleries — with image descriptions and links to each volume.
Each piece in Mixed Media Volume 02 starts from the same foundation as Volume 01 — scanned vintage ephemera, here pulled from old planners and stationery: checklists, postage stamps, mason jar illustrations, apothecary bottles, ledger handwriting. Onto that scanned background, an original illustration is hand-painted digitally — roses, koi, butterflies, mushrooms — built by hand on-screen rather than with real paint or AI generation.
Where Volume 01 leaned gothic and moody, Volume 02 is warmer and more whimsical — soft sepia, olive, and amber tones with pops of muted pastel running through hand-painted subjects like rose bouquets, monarch butterflies, koi fish, and a tiny mushroom-shaped fairy cottage. The planner-style backgrounds (checklists, notes, stamps) give it a "keeping a nature journal" kind of charm, like flipping through someone's illustrated field notes.
Where it works well
The planner-adjacent backgrounds make this set a natural for journals, spiral notebooks, and desk pads, while the painted subjects — especially the roses and koi — translate nicely onto apparel, tote bags, pillows, or coffee mugs. It'd also make charming stationery pieces like stickers or a zipper pouch.
A cluster of monarch butterflies drifts across a soft sepia-toned background of postage stamps and postal markings, with strings of pearls and a hint of rose blossoms woven in. It's delicate and airy — closer to a pressed nature journal page than a bold graphic.
The lightness of this one makes it a natural for scarves, phone cases, or you can always Stick it. It also works nicely on a journal or spiral notebook cover for a softer, nature-journal aesthetic.
A tiny mushroom-shaped cottage sits nestled among white daisies, with dragonflies hovering at each corner and a backdrop of scanned mason jars and vintage script. Sweet, cottagecore, and a little bit magical.
An easy favorite for whimsical, fairycore-leaning items — think a pillow, tote bag, or backpack. It also translates sweetly onto a journal, notebook, or set of magnets.
A single koi glides through a pond of round lily pads, rendered almost entirely in warm amber and gold against a black-and-white checklist-and-stamp background. Quieter and more graphic — elegant and a little zen.
The calmer, more graphic quality suits a laptop sleeve, mug, or even a T-shirt nicely. It also holds up well as a poster or art print for a more understated nature motif. And don't forget to Stick it, with stickers or magnets.
A weathered cowboy boot overflows with a loose bouquet of golden-red roses and baby's breath, set against a background of "check list," "note," and monthly planner grids in warm sepia tones. A hand-drawn rose motif and a decorative ink blot anchor the lower corners, giving the piece a scrapbook, "Texas keepsake" feel.
This one's a natural fit for anyone shopping with a Texas or Western theme in mind — wall art for a ranch-style kitchen, coasters, or a spiral notebook with some regional character. The rose-and-boot combination also lends itself well to stickers and magnets or tote bags for gift-giving with a local touch.
A pastel pink scooter, decorated with painted roses on its side panel and wheel wells, sits parked against a background tiled entirely in hundred-dollar bills, with a strip of ornate damask wallpaper along the left edge. The combination is playful and a little tongue-in-cheek — a "treat yourself" scooter dream rendered literally in cash.
The bold, graphic scooter shape reads well at almost any size, making it a strong candidate for stickers, phone cases, and tees aimed at a younger, impulse-buy crowd. The money-and-damask background also gives it a bit of humor for anyone who'd enjoy a "retail therapy" mug or notebook.
A golden koi swims through swirling teal and lavender waves, surrounded by pink cherry blossoms and scattered black ink splatters over a faint vintage note-paper background. Compared to piece 03, this koi leans decorative and ornamental rather than calm — more tattoo-flash energy than pond-side stillness.
The bold color palette and cherry blossom accents make this a good fit for apparel and drinkware aimed at a koi or Japanese-inspired aesthetic, as well as a poster for a bolder, more colorful room. It would also work nicely on a phone case or sticker for anyone who wants koi imagery with a bit more punch than piece 03 offers.
A cluster of pale, ruffled mushrooms climbs up the right side of the piece, set against a moody, ink-and-watercolor background of apothecary bottles, mason jars, and looping vintage script. Soft washes of blue, pink, and yellow bleed through the sketch lines, giving the piece an alchemical, old-world feel distinct from the softer cottage tones of piece 02.
The apothecary-bottle backdrop makes this one especially suited to stickers for candle labels, journal covers, or wall art for anyone drawn to a witchy or cottage core aesthetic. The mushroom cluster alone also stands up well cropped onto magnets or drinkware for a smaller, subtler product.