1 February 2014

A three colour challenge (without the use of black!) at Our Creative Corner

Hi everyone. It's time for this month's Our Creative Corner challenge, and I'm the host!

This time the challenge is to use only shades of blue, brown and purple/plum - no black lines, even on your stamped or digital images!!!

You can definitely use stamped or digital images if you want to, but you must change the colour of the lines in your image to a shade of brown, blue or purple. White is acceptable as a base, for example a white card blank, but shouldn't be a main colour. Anyone submitting projects containing anything other than blues, browns and purples/plums will immediately be disqualified to make it fair to the other entrants.

And this month we are pleased to announce that one randomly drawn entrant will win a prize from our generous sponsor Nicecrane Designs.


Colour is an important part of the creative process for me. I will often start by choosing the colour palette for a project before finalising the design, and as time has gone on I've learned to try to limit the colours to a maximum of three.
This works for me and I'm excited to see if it is equally successful for you.

A useful tip for those who have never changed the colour of the lines on their digital images; this is easy if you use one of those image or photo manipulation programs available for free on the internet. They will contain transformation tools that make everything sepia, for example. Go on, give it a go. We'd love to see your tags, ATC's, cards, canvases, journalling, 3D art, etc.


As well as sticking to the colour palette for this challenge, I wanted to show that it is possible to use digital images without having those harsh black lines. And just wait 'til you hear what I printed the main image onto!


Let's start by identifying this beautiful digital image. It is a Nicecrane Designs image from the set 'Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady'. I opened it in my photo editing software and used a setting which transformed the black into sepia (the heads of the birds are actually dark brown but seems to look black here despite my best efforts using the camera).



So what did I print this image onto? A piece of Tim Holtz Idea-Ology paper stash 'French Industrial' paper! It takes ink beautifully and there's no reason why you can't use it in the same way you would any other blank card.


Using a fine paint brush, Distress Inks and water I 'painted' over the image to add more colour. This is great as it makes you look like a real artist.


A coordinating shade of brown Distress Ink was blended on the edges of the card to finish this base layer.


The frame was created by layering the mauve textured card underneath a mirror card filigree piece, altered with alcohol inks. The base layer of this frame helped to bring out the colour of the flowers.


The stamped bird at the bottom of the frame is in fact a different species, but by using a similar colour palette/pattern to that used on the others it blended rather well. The die cut branches were useful both for providing a perch and for adding interest around the sentiment.


As mentioned at the beginning, I tend to choose a set of colours towards the beginning of a project and stick with it. This does take some of the time out of the decision making process which can hamper the completion of projects. So, for example, I grabbed Seedless Preserves, Coffee Archival and Antique Linen for the sentiment strip, knowing those colours would work perfectly with the rest of the design.


Now I've shown you mine how about you show me yours!! The Design Team over at Our Creative Corner have come up with more gorgeous inspiration for you, and then it's your turn to put this colour palette to good use. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

31 comments:

  1. Jenny love what you have done to theimage and the softness here is wonderful! Very you ! Hugs trace x.

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  2. Beautifully designed Jenny. I adore the colour palette and how you have used muted shades that blend together so well. The bird image is stunning and I love the frame around it with the perched bird to add more dimension. Just stunning as always my friend. Have a great weekend xx

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  3. A truly stunning card Jenny, and you are so right, those printed images look fantastic in sepia!! (This is definitely one I will remember, - brilliant!)Love how you printed it on the Tim Holtz paper too. Another one to store for future ideas, - thank you! The way you have coloured the birds is so artsy, but then, hey, I think you are an artist anyway! The whole card is so pretty, a real eye catcher!!

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  4. Fabulous card Jenny. I just love those colours and the pretty image. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs Rita xxx

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  5. Beautiful....and you've tinted those birds so well!!

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  6. Thank you for this lovely and challenging challenge, Jenny! :)
    Love your idea of printing on designer paper! This is just brilliant!
    And your card is gobsmackingly beautiful!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  7. Beautiful, Jenny - I love those birds, and always prefer them in sepia! Such gorgeous "watercolouring" of the image, and the gilded frame is lovely. Stunning card!
    And I think everyone's projects look amazing over at OCC - great challenge!
    Alison xx

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  8. I LOVE this!! What a fantastic card.....so innovative!

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  9. Great challenge and love your card

    Sam xx

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  10. You did an amazing job on this - what a gorgeous vintage image and the way you printed on the paper stash was inspired! I love the whole piece, but I'm positively drooling over that gorgeous frame. Thanks so much for a fun color challenge!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  11. A gorgeous piece of art. Great combination of all these elements.

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  12. But you are a real artist for heavens sake Jenny!! Your adaptation of the nicecrane image is really beautiful. Gorgeous card.

    Congrats on your tag win too! Bet you're skipping! Happy Weekend! Nicola x

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  13. Oh! My! Word! Once again another stunning creation. I love the image, those birds are beautiful. What you have done with the image is wonderful the colours are so subtle, and effective.
    Have a wonderful weekend

    Patricia xx

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  14. This is beautiful, Jenny
    Rosie x

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  15. This is breathtaking, Jenny! Whatever you do, don't come over to my place where you will see I've made a card by just slapping on a die! Oh, my, you do aspire me!! This should be hung on a wall! Enjoy the weekend! Hugs, Darnell

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  16. These are just beautiful. I love the colors you used. I don't really much purple either in my projects but I really like how you used it in yours. :D
    Deborah

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  17. This is gorgeous, Jenny. I love the soft image & your use of the challenge colours.
    Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog too ♥

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  18. Jenny
    Stunning use of Ignacio's bird images. Beautiful delicate colours that speak of gentleness.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  19. This is gorgeous. Love the sepia tones you used to print this. I will try this as i won a set of his designs. I think I am going to order this same set and will try the sepia printing if I can figure out how on my computer program.

    Your card is just wonderful!

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  20. Jenny this is just gorgeous I love what you've done with the image.
    I've tried to buy images from Nicecrane Designs but without success. It wont accept my birth date...It's very frustrating!lol I'll keep trying
    Suzi B x

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  21. Oh wow this is so beautiful and I love the vintage feel. Beautiful colouring.
    Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

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  22. great challenge theme Jenny and I love your project x Wonderful image and the colours are amazing. Have to say that although i have used digi's I am not all that clever with programmes to change them, including sizing.

    Hope to play along xx

    huge hugs

    Annie xx

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  23. It is a brilliant challenge Jenny and you have done the most beautiful job - I love how you printed onto the TH paper and your watercolouring is fantastic. Love this. Anne x

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  24. Wowwwww Jenny, love your colring and all over the brown tones in your outlines,,,,,,,absolutely a delcious to watch and all over the vintage look is perfect,,,, contrsting with the 3D effect on the bird,,,,,,,,What a beautiful way to show my "Nature Notes,,,,," Collection my friend...

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  25. Wow Jenny! Your card for the 3 color challenge is absolutely gorgeous! I love the sweet stamp of the birds and the delicate foliage behind them. The brown stamping and then coloring with the blue is beautiful. I also love your gold die cut frame you've put around them. It really adds such an elegant touch to your card. The plum cardstock in the background and the plum flowers in your stamped picture really compliment each other as well. Beautifully done. <3 Candy

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  26. Jaw dropping gorgeous, Jenny! I love how you used those colors! The bird image looks amazing with that beautiful framing! I can assume gold is OK? Hugs!

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  27. Gorgeous jenny! I love the way you've worked that beautiful image! Great idea to print it on Tim's paper, and the colourings is just perfect, love the way you have framed the image and popped that little bird out. Fabulous work x

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  28. Those birds are absolutely stunning Jenny. I don't really think about using digital images but done like this, I can see many options! Your use of the colours have created a wonderful vintage, watercolour look which I love. Thank you for such a wonderfully stretching challenge!!
    Julia xx

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  29. Very gorgeous colours Jenny. The image lines are beautifully altered and the frame is perfect. Must put learning the digital thing onto my to-do list. *hugs* Mo :o) x

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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