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Tuesday, 6 January 2009

Experimenting with something new!!

Saturday's Workout 36: salted backgrounds
DCM 'giving thanks'
Rainbow Lady 41: new ideas
Theme Thursday: something new

The challenge this week on Saturday's workout is to make and use salted backgrounds, a technique which is explained here.

I thought that if I tried out a new technique I could also use the result for the challenges this week on Rainbow Lady and Theme Thursday, both of which were asking us to try something new.

Now, I'm willing to try anything once (or perhaps twice!), but, oh dear, this wasn't exactly a success (to put it mildly) - I used dye ink pads as instructed and tried to follow the tutorial, but this is what I ended up with:



I realise that I should have been bolder with the original dyes before applying the salt.

And then I had an idea to try Adirondack Color Wash, cranberry, lettuce and stream, instead of dye ink pads - well, they are water-based dyes, after all! And I did have better success with these:



However, I don't like wasting anything, so I decided to try and rescue my first pathetic attempt. With a bit (well, OK, a lot of imagination), it suggested a seascape background to me. So I swiped over the disaster area with some chalk ink pads - blue iris, yellow citrus and a touch of tangerine. This has then formed the basis of the background of this card:



I then used some of the color wash background on this card, just adding the 'thanks' sentiment and K & Co 3D flower stickers:



As I added 'with special thanks' this card is suitable for this week's DCM challenge: giving thanks.

Please click on the various links to see these wonderful challenges that inspire us to try new things (even if they don't turn out as expected!)



17 comments:

  1. Well Hazel I don't think you sound too pleased but I think they have turned out great. I really love the second one. Well done for persevering and getting a great result and thanks for playing Love Cynthia x

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  2. Well done Hazel, it looks fab as a background.

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  3. WOW, I love both of those backgrounds Hazel! They have turned into lovely cards X

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  4. I think you've done a great job Hazel - the backgrounds work really well - and a Gold Star for trying something new! lol

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  5. I think you probably need to slosh a *lot* of colour on to get it to work out like the one in the tutorial! Great save though, the first one has made a fab seascape background and I really like the splodginess of the second one (splodingess is like wonkiness and should be embraced and celebrated ;o)

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  6. OMG what a stunning backgroud.
    Really fabulous colors. I love it.

    Thanks Hazel for playing this technique on SaWo.

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  7. You are so right, Joanne - I should have put much more ink on it - not sure whether I'll try again - think I might (practice makes perfect after all ...)

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  8. I really love the colours on your first attempt Hazel and I think the effect is great.
    I always think the joy of trying out new techniques is that even 'mistakes' can be fab. As I'm not able to craft at the moment I'm really enjoying reading about other people's crafy projects!

    PussXX

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  9. What fun, just the sort of thing I like to play with!

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  10. Well rescued!! The first one had me thinking 'sea' as well - possibly 'sea at sunset' with the orange.

    Maybe I'll try some 'splodges' too!

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  11. Beautiful artwork, great backgrounds

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  12. Beautiful cards, great backgrounds!

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  13. Well done on your 'rescue mission'. The cards (and the backgrounds) are great! :)

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  14. Well done on a job well saved Hazel!

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  15. you did well by rescuing them in this way instead of chucking them in the bin.
    The outcome is great .

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  16. Well done for having the courage to try out a new technique Hazel. It’s not one I’ve ever had a go at but will add it to my list of ‘must try’s)

    I think you’ve done a great job and the background goes really well with your images

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  17. What a success Hazel.

    Well Done for being so clever & making two superb cards.

    Hope to see more of your specialist backgrounds soon. XX

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