Not quite Christmas (colours that is)

Hillbilly Scrappin' has a virtual retreat called Merry & Bright Downunder coming up.  There was a warm-up challenge before the event starts.  The challenge was ... "create something merry… without using traditional Christmas colours". Here is what I created

We could make a small background, tag, journal page, card front - using no red, no green, and no snowflakes! Think Aussie summer colours, beach days, faded eucalyptus, ice-cream pastels, sunburnt skies..or anything not a usual Christmas palette.  There was an optional extra challenge to add one that that says Aussie Christmas - a gum leave, thongs, flies, maybe a cold drink ring mark on the page.. interpreted however you wanted. As you see I created a square card front.

I must admit that I sat on this challenge for at least 3 weeks - nothing would come to me - and then this morning I went to my Colour Cube box and selected a card that inspired me. I loved the leaves strung along the line and the colours.  

It needs to be said that I lack confidence in painting - that 'inner voice of school days' rears its head BUT I had a go - painting with watercolour pan paints (a cheap set) and watercolour paper. Free hand painting of the leaves, mixing colours and having a go.  After painting I fussy cut the leaves and then selected the ones for my card. 
Thank you looking, I will be posting more later of projects I will be doing on the Virtual Retreat. Margaret


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