Anything But A Card Colour Challenge. . . . . . . .

This fortnight at Anything But A Card we have a colour challenge for you and the inspiration comes from this image:

You can make anything you like as long as you use something from this colour palette on your piece. You can use all the colours or select those that inspire you the most - it's your call. Don't forget to come back to Anything But A Card in two weeks time to see  the rest of the team's inspiration.

I'm going to admit that I looked at this image and intended trying to use them all but what a mess I made of it! Couldn't mix the right green/blue; the muted cranberry like tone was too dark, the pink was too bright GRRRRRR. . . . . .!

In the end, I decided to use the reddish tone and the pink (or as near to as I felt able) with other colours of my choice and was able to produce something I felt happy with (I also added the green tone on the left in a little place!). I now know that there is a reason why I avoid challenges with these colour palette themes: I'm useless at them!

Here's my make - a tag of course - hope you like it even despite little affinity with the colour inspiration image:

My finished tag which uses two colours from the palette and others of my choice.

The background was created by using random brushings of two blue shades and white acrylic paint (Americana from DecoArt). The face image was then transferred onto the tag using image transfer paper and a photograph which had been manipulated in Photoscape. This particular image was given to me in a recent class (with Mr AS) but I've been playing with my own photos and it's so addictive - watch out for more pieces like this!

The dragonfly was stamped in a cranberry like colour with barely pink was of acrylic over the top to soften and blur the image.Some script was stamped on the lower tag using the same method. Once transferred, the appropriate features were painted black several times to build intensity and layers.

To stamp the dragonfly, I masked off the black features with masking fluid. When removed, this left faint marks on the black so I had to repaint. I then knocked the bottle of fluid over and spent forever trying to get some back in the bottle and the rest off from where it spilt. . . . . .this tag was NOT going well!

Some twisted sari silk was added to the tag to tie in the black used elsewhere.

The washer die cut was added to the tag top and bottom. Painted with black and sprayed with  a shiny 'varnish' - one layer only because I wanted to keep the texture from the card below and just add a subtle sheen.

The flower was cut from various Tim dies. Each layer was painted with acrylic, then stamped and stencilled randomly with archival ink. Once constructed, the bloom was sprayed with the same product as the washer die cut and lastly, sari silk was used for the flower centre - can you see the little extra colour from the inspiration palette I added? (it was all I had of that colour - in anything!).

The washer die cut was given a spray shine finish because I wanted to have a contrast to the very matte look of tag. There you have it then! Do I think I've answered the challenge? Mmmm, not fully no, but I have tried to use something from the brief and turn it around to fit what I like! That's what this is all about really isn't it? Personal interpretation and making art that you believe in. I can't wait to see what you come up with and I'm sure you'll be far more successful than I was with matching the colours! (NO MORE COLOUR PALETTE CHALLENGES FOR ME!!!)