I was so excited ( and worried) when Robin asked me to join her incredible design team... did I really want my card surrounded by cards made by 3 of the artists I admire most? Well, I decided that the best way to keep improving is to hang out with the people that inspire you. When I saw the challenge was to use flowers, sunflowers popped into my head. This was going to be a simple mosaic card. Somewhere along the way, " simple" morphed into " everything but the kitchen sink" , and I probably would have used the kitchen sink if it was the right color. I made the mosaic stamp last year for a challenge that required us to make our own stamp. In that box that most of us have for " things I might need one day" I had left over pieces of rubber from unmounted stamps. I cut these into random shapoed pieces and glued them onto an acrylic block, leaving spaces around each piece. I stamped the sunflower a few times and colored with copics. Then I stamped over the colored image with my mosaic stamp and clear versa fine ink. I heat embossed with UTEE. Then I held my breath, crossed my fingers, and sponged black ink all over the sunflowers that I had colored so carefully. The embossing acts as a resist and when you wipe the black ink off it only stays in the places where the spaces between the rubber were. It is called a mosaic technique, but I think it looks like broken pottery. I colored and fussy cut some extra leaves and flowers. The swirly vines are made from a IO swirl tree that I cut up. I added some stickles just for fun. I hope you will play along... it will look like the Rose Parade in April. TFL, Francie
Date: Thursday, April 2, 2015 GMT Views: 2253
Favorited:6
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Creative Crew SU Design Team Alumni
Registered: May 18, 2004 Location: Southwest Michigan Posts: 37094
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 8:51 AM
Wow, is this ever cool! I love that mosaic technique done with your home made stamp - I am impressed! I love sunflowers and you've colored yours beautifully. The papers and gingham ribbon you chose look wonderful together with your focal image.
------------------------------ Claudia Splitcoast Fan Club Member
Registered: August 15, 2007 Location: Twin Cities MN Posts: 50660
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 9:30 AM
OMG leftover rubber pieces..and I've been tossing mine all these years!! That mosaic technique is so cool...WOW! Amazing coloring ..love sunflowers to begin with...fab details (b/w checked bow)...this card is an A+...believe me your addition to the design team is well deserved..you have nothing to worry about ;)
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105268
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 10:24 AM
Just amazing, and you are a great fit hanging out with the three artists. Your card sure puts you in their (and your) league. Congratulations.
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.
Registered: October 30, 2007 Location: Posts: 26718
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 1:42 PM
All the lovely color here just pops because of the black and your sunflowers are gorgeous! I had to laugh at the story of how your card "morphed" - that 's the story of my life in crafting!
Registered: April 6, 2009 Location: Weyers Cave, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley Posts: 31192
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 3:17 PM
This is so beautiful, Francie! It looks like the Broken Glass Pie Mom made when I was growing up, only in place of the brown was white whipping cream!
Congratulations on being part of the team!
------------------------------ ~Roberta
�Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.�
― Lou Holtz
Registered: October 19, 2007 Location: Packer Country, WI Posts: 72090
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 3:40 PM
Remarkable card....I'm so glad you are a member of this challenge team. Your use of vibrant colors produces so many amazing cards. Thanks for sharing your talent and time. Fav'd
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 7:15 PM
Francie, this is AMAZING! There is so much to take in that I had to go back and look several times! Your techniques are incredible and love the idea that you made your own stamp! You ARE a talented artist and so happy you joined the team!
Registered: January 6, 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 20543
Fri, Apr 03, 2015 @ 8:09 PM
The depth of color on this just make it pop in the gallery! Fabulous art!
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