UDI Inspiration Challenge - Modern Art?

You know what stamping friends? It's not often that I am at a loss for words, but this week's Inspiration Photo just stopped me dead in my tracks. I had one of those "You've GOT to be kidding me!" moments when I opened the file from our challenge Mom, Maria.
My next thought was "What the HECK is THAT?" Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Growing up, my Dad and Mom owned a picture framing store and art gallery, so I was exposed to LOTS of different art from about the age of 10. I credit the experience of working for them with a lot of the creativity I've developed over the years as a stamper. My Mom was also a really good oil painter. Watching her paint over the years taught me that I couldn't do it at all! I even have a painting I did at the age of 12 or 13 hanging in my studio as a reminder that I'm not an artist! And even though I didn't need a reminder of that fact, along comes this week's inspiration photo to prove it once again. Honestly folks, I did the best I could here - I'm just kind of at a loss...

Here is the inspiration picture:

Yes, that is REALLY it! Would I lie?!

And here is my pitiful attempt at an interpretation of it:

Actually, it does look better in person, but that's no comfort to me at the moment! HA!
So, I'll give you the brief rundown of what I did and just leave the rest to your comments....

I used the Kind and Caring Thoughts stamp set and stamped the clover in Versamark on Whisper White cardstock. Using the Poppin' Pastels technique, I added 3 colors with my Sponge Daubers to the stamped flowers - Not Quite Navy, Elegant Eggplant and So Saffron.
Once I was done adding color, I took the small flower stamp from the set and inked it up with Whisper White Craft ink, stamping it randomly on the main panel to mimic the white squiggles in the picture. I then used my heat tool to emboss with White Embossing Powder.

The whole main panel is matted with a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock and is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals on a folded card base of Whisper White measuring 3 1/2" x 6 3/4". It's a pretty big card in real life.
Now for the ribbon treatment (this is my favorite part):

I simply took a length of White Organza ribbon and heated it with my Heat Tool, giving it the curl you see in the photo above. Amazingly enough, I did not set it on fire and it really gives the ribbon an interesting look. A second, smaller piece was tied around the cross piece to make a faux bow. I used this ribbon technique for my card that will post on Saturday for the Stamping 411 Sketch this week, so be sure to come back and see what I did with it on that one!

So, there you go - love it or hate it - it is what it is! I think I'll send this one to my Mom because as I told my friend Lissa today - it's a card that only a mother could love! :)

Be sure to check out the other UDI challenge team's projects by visiting the UDI Blog - I know they will inspire you!

Blessings,
~~Robin