Mona Lisa. . . . .

Challenge #10 at Artful Times is to create something using the theme of Mona Lisa. Yikes!! I wasn't at all sure about this one because I don't have ANY stamps to fit the theme or indeed, any that would come close. A very kind lady (you know who you are!!) suggested that I turn to the internet for some help. I'm not one for digi stamps simply because I love to stamp with something real but I had a little look at Google Images and a little idea began to form in my aching brain.

I found my images and printed a couple off to see which I liked best. Horrors of horrors I'd almost run out of ink and my prints were the strangest hues. Not to be deterred - and unable to magic new ink cartridges from anywhere - I went ahead and printed my chosen image onto artist transfer paper and then ironed it onto fabric. I loved the effect but, if you're observant, I'm sure you'll notice something slightly odd about my Mona Lisa!! Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone else though please. . . . . .

Here's what I made using a fairly non typical pastel but distressed palette:

I used a very different colour palette to the one used on the original Mona Lisa and it's certainly very delicate compared to the colours I usually use!I will say the colours are richer in real life but the photo seems to have bleached them a little. I've tried to adjust them but to little success.

                        

I've made this image large so you can see the centre panel clearly. Mona was printed on ATP and then ironed onto cotton fabric. A little distress ink was added just around the edge of the fabric.
The background of the tag was created from glossy card stock. Using Versamark ink, a script image was stamped and dried. Various colours of distress ink were applied randomly over the surface which made the script pop out of the background. Using the same distress colours, various images were then stamped to complete the background.

I made some grungy flowers from die cuts which were coloured with dylusion and distress inks. Black gems were added to the flower centres.  The sentiment and image was stamped in archival after the background was created. I thought the sentiment was appropriate because it is said that where ever you view the painting from, Mona's eyes appear to follow you.

The lace was die cut from a scrap of the background created and then attached to the main tag using jump rings. I love the effect you achieve by using distress inks on glossy card - I usually avoid it like the plague! I don't think I'll be making jewellery in the future either because attaching those jump rings was so annoying!!

I hope you like the tag and please leave a comment if you do!

Thank you so much to those people who left lovely comments about myDT news - it was so kind of you to offer your support in that way : )