Friday, February 28, 2014

Mix-Ability - Kintsukuroi

I'm hosting this week's Mix-Ability challenge over at Splitcoaststampers... this week we're using the art concept below as inspiration. I love the concept of kintsukuroi, and the symbolism of these repaired pieces being more beautiful in the broken places. We've all had painful experiences, and our response is a choice - to remain broken, or to live from a place of brokenness that makes us real, stronger and more beautiful.

photo source
I needed this challenge this week! After the last few weeks' events I have been feeling creatively stifled, and this helped me to process some things. Catharsis!

To create my first card, I started with a piece of cardstock that has long been used to protect my work surface when I paint. It's full of stamped portions, and the paint that spills over the edges of my other work. These pieces are my favorite bases for mixed media work.


I loved the red in this one - it really had an Asian feel. I cut a 3.5" square, then die cut the Leafy Branch die across the square. I carefully removed the cut piece, making sure I saved all the negative pieces that separated from the square. I cut another cardstock square slightly larger and painted it with gold Lumiere Acrylic Paint, then I cut the same branch from that piece. I laid the lower portion of the square onto a double-stick sheet, pieced the gold branch in, then pieced the top portion onto the adhesive.


 The sentiment is from my last stamp release, and the bird dies can be found HERE.


For the second card, I used leftover pieces... the remaining painted gold cardstock, the branch die cut, the other half of the linen and red cardstock pieces, and another bird.


Here's how I laid out the pieces before die cutting the circle. Lydia's butterfly inspired me!


Here's an angled shot so you can see the sheen on that gold paint - I love it! The embossing folder is by Darice.


No rules for this challenge, except to use 2 or more art mediums, and to represent this art form in any way that is meaningful to you. I loved making these cards, and I hope you'll play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by!

6 comments:

  1. Hi Dina
    Wow what lovely cards, and thank you for introducing me to a new word that expresses my life so well at the moment, "kintsukuro" I never thought of gold being the binding and that it could be so beautiful. Your words have really encouraged me today.

    Brenda

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  2. Beautiful cards, Dina. And, I agree with you, I love the look of my paper pieces after cleaning my brayer. This is a wonderful challenge. I hope I'll be able to play but I'm not sure. I find after a week of commuting into D.C. and back that I'm either so tired or so behind in other areas of house work that creating takes a back seat. Finding balance and managing time can be a tough one for me. This is a great challenge to help one refocus and find the center again. Thank you, Dina.

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  3. Your cards are gorgeous. It is a good idea to use cardboard which protects your work surface. I also keep them. We can do great things with.

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  4. Absolutely beautiful Dina! Have been in a bit of a craft slump lately, you have truly inspired me today. Love your work!

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  5. Very pretty cards...a neat technique!

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  6. Wow Wow Wow!

    I totally agree that this is a fantastic vehicle to channel our creative nature back into play! Such a beautiful representation of spirit :)

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