Out of my comfort zone

I had to try my hand at ATCs again for the Paper Artsy challenge and today I'm following Claire's colour scheme to challenge myself out of my usual colours.

I started with a background made with Infusions and Fresco paints (something for another set of ATCs, coming soon...) and for an unfathomable reason, decided to play with Distress Oxides. Yes, I kid you not, on top of acrylic...

Needless to say, spraying water on top creates a magnificent polished stone effect but oh... the ink doesn't dry and has a tendency to come off on everything it touches.

I persevered nonetheless and used hairspray to create a protective barrier. It did the trick, however the spray did soften all the previous textures I had achieved with the water... Never mind.

In the corners I used a doodle stamp (freebie from a magazine) in black Archival ink and added a white highlight with an acrylic pen (Graphmaster) in honour of the Lost Coast Design challenge.

For the focal image, I stamped, fussy cut and mounted on dimensionals, 2 images from the Big Anthropormorph Birds set by  Lost Coast Designs. After that I couldn't fit anything additional. I must say, not being used to that size of canvas, I found it a struggle to create on such a small space!

When I finished the project, the colours were much, much brighter and darker than when I took the photo, which I conclude means the D.O "oxidised" over time. I'm aware that it's something that happens, I just don't know what did it in this case. Humidity? the acrylic base? Any clues, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for coming by,
Also entering the SanDee & amelie's Steampunk, Paperbabe and Fashionable Stamping challenges.