How to make a mosaic-style drawing

First I make a simple line drawing.

I know that the lines I draw cannot intersect. I stop my lines so that they don't cross.

I draw LARGE floating shapes above and below all of my lines.

These shapes are too small to draw floating shapes in between. Hmm...

I'll simplify my drawing by taking that part out and replacing it with shapes.

How will I make the stem of the cattail?

I need to turn the line into a shape. I will make the line a rectangle.

I am finished drawing LARGE floating shapes.

If I finish early I can... Ask a teacher to make a photocopy of my original floating shape drawing.

Then I can use colored pencil sticks to color in my shapes.

I can choose 4 colors or less for my design.

Black will become the wood part on my final design.

Colored floating shapes will become the rice paper part of my final design.

Done and ready for the laser cutter!