This is my card to honor our new Queen. Nancy you have such a wonderful gallery of cards! It wasn't difficult to choose one right off the top! When I saw your Leafy Thanks I was delighted. I have the same background stamp. A geometric design from the vanished southwestern Mimbres Nation.
The geometric patterns of the Mimbres Indian tribe of Southwestern New Mexico date back to 200 AD. You'll see their designs on pottery most of the time. Most of the pottery is classic black-on-white. The Mimbres potters, like the potters from the Santa Clara Pueblo, use a method called "reductive firing" which depletes the oxygen in the clay during the firing and turns it black. After the pot cools, "slip" is applied and the pot is set to dry. Once dried, the pot is polished by hand with "polishing rocks" to achieve the smooth look. The culture and art of the Indian Nations are inspiring to this day. I hope you'll have a chance to visit the southwest and see for yourself.
So, I offer you a hug with my card, Nancy. From the wonderful illustrations of one of Arizona's finest, Terry Medaris. Instead of using the same background stamp I have used one of my Mimbres frame stamps, and one of Terry's illustrations instead of the leafy branch. I did not add a sentiment on the outside, but will include one in the inside. Just haven't found the right one yet (she smiles).
I've been playing around with Alcohol Ink Monoprinting - love, love it! After creating the monoprint and allowing it to dry, I stamped over it with Terry's stamp inked with Archival Jet Black. And boy did I use my heat gun. Always heat set your piece or you will have a mess (don't ask me how I know this, I just do - quote courtesy of Susan Liles).
I hope you like the card, Nancy. And to those who visit, thank you very much.
Date: Friday, June 6, 2014 GMT Views: 1253
Favorited:6
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Fri, Jun 06, 2014 @ 8:14 PM
Talk about a WOW factor! I definitely want to stamp with you! This is amazing and I now want to go back and collect more of those phenomenal stamps! Alcohol monoprinting is something I haven't heard of or tried but I'd LOVE to. I grinned ear to ear to see this Susie and thank you SO much for creating this beauty! Thank you too for the wealth of information on Mimbres. I have visited the southwest and loved all the artwork there but was not armed with this info!
Registered: November 3, 2005 Location: Fairport Harbor, OH-IO, Lake Erie shoreline Posts: 60042
Sat, Jun 07, 2014 @ 5:47 AM
WOWZA! What a work of art! Thanks for the info too - it was very interesting. It looks like a lot of work to achieve this beautiful effect. I'm sure Nancy will master it in no time!! I know how she is!!! Beautiful tribute to Queen Nancy.
------------------------------ Karen ~ Thanks for stopping by my gallery. Proud Fan Club Member - FS525, QFTD49 Life is better in a beach town!
Registered: July 9, 2008 Location: Stars Fell on Alabama Posts: 74740
Sat, Jun 07, 2014 @ 8:35 AM
Quite a stunning creation, Susie. Love the image and the technique.
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Registered: February 9, 2010 Location: Mentone, California Posts: 7361
Sat, Jun 07, 2014 @ 4:13 PM
I too, am not familiar with Alcohol Ink Monoprinting but I intend to look it up. This card has such a WOW factor with the intense colors backing your amazing image in front. Thank you for all the information you added to your details...so interesting! This is an INCREDIBLE tribute to our Queen Nancy...Pinned and Faved for sure!
Registered: September 21, 2006 Location: In the beautiful Sequatchie Valley, Home of the Paper Clip Project - The National Cornbread Festival Posts: 26563