Paper Mosaics in an Afternoon by Marie Browning ( ISBN # 13978-1-4027-2443-5) Sterling Publishing is not a new book, but it is one I pulled from my stash when I needed some ideas for Holiday gifts.
I thought it would be a good book to review and to give you an idea of a kind of papercrafting you may not have experienced. As usual, Marie provides wonderful projects, step-by-step directions, and glorious photos. The term “mosaic” refers to a picture created with many small pieces. Traditional mosaics are made with tiles, stones, glass and the like. Marie re-creates this look with paper, varnish and resin. She covers a short history of mosaics, and then takes us thru the tools and techniques needed to make outstanding mosaics you will be proud of. From trays to photo frames to coasters and even a child’s table, the projects are varied and easy enough for a beginner. With the variety of papers available today, there is an unlimited source for this craft. I especially liked the idea of punching medallions from a shaded origami paper to decorate a small box. The faux marquetry plate uses papers printed to look like wood grain to mimic this technique popular in the 17th century. By using art prints from a calendar and greeting cards, Marie created a kitchen ensemble with a whimsical look. Using foam core board to elevate some of the “tile” pieces adds a wonderful dimension.
I was so inspired by this book I had to try these techniques.
Here is my first attempt.
This was a gift for my daughter. I took the photos of my grandson a few years ago, and I’ve always loved the whole collection. Combining them into this wall piece lets her look at the “ Many Moods of Ryan” as I titled it. I used my computer to create the words, and printed all the photos on lightweight photo paper.
One of my sons is an avid poker player, so I scanned poker chips for this piece.
The playing cards are real, and I used scrapbook papers to cut out the lettering.
My other son is a jazz buff. A calendar provided most of the images for his gift. I drew the silhouette and created the word art on my computer. Using black and white made this project more dramatic.
Purchase this book if you want to unleash your creativity and create amazing works of art to amaze your friends!
