Imagine a world without blue .....

Before I get to the main reason for this post, I just had to share with you that I made the Top Three Designs (out of 181 entries) on the Craft Stamper January Challenge - and I've got the button to prove it (look right)!!! Really chuffed about it.

Anyway, to business - the Fearless Four got together again recently, and one of us (step forward Lin) threw down a challenge for each of us - my challenge was to create a canvas without using blue!

I found this tougher than expected, and started with a 10 x 10 canvas board, on which I used paste through a stencil, then gesso-ed the whole thing in black.  I quite like starting with a black canvas instead of a white one.

The stencil I used is a new one by Designs by Ryn - maidenhair fern - beautiful.  I'll be entering this canvas into Ryn's February Customer Creation Challenge.

So starting from all black, I used the Fresco shades of grey (just 3 not 50!) to create the background, and also used the stencil again, but this time just with the paint.




I also started painting a couple of butterflies (cut from grunge paper) with the Fresco oranges/limes/yellow.

Next, I relaid the stencil over the paste ferns and applied some pearl paint (Ranger Dabber), and a little Pebeo Irridescent yellow/green.

I finished the canvas off at home, and after some thought decided to use just one butterfly, and gave it a little dimension and enhancement by using the Pebeo Relief Gilding Paste and mirror gold foil.











Finally, I'm happy - but it was an effort not to use blue, and gave me a bit of brain-ache!

The other FF creations .....

Linda's challenge was also not to use blue!  Love this cute owl, and that is not blue in the background but a combination of greens; my camera has not taken the true colours.

Monica's challenge was not to use any seashells (she has quite a collection!) and no napkin layers.

Great canvas -with a little paint sharing (with Linda) going on in the background!

Lin challenged herself not to use any wooden shapes, or trees, and did two small canvases.  A couple of trees did creep in - but at least they are not wooden!

Love those vibrant colours.


















Our next get together is in March, and I've a feeling I will have all my blue pots of paint on the table!

Happy February - Spring is nearly here!