Aurora Wings Ice & Snow

EEEK!  It's the first Aurora Wings Challenge of 2016 and I'm beside myself with excitement.  Besides LOVING the theme of Ice & Snow, I managed to get my rear in gear early enough to do a mixed media project I've had in my mind FOREVER, using the gorgeous Icy Snow Queen, also available HERE in the AW Digi Shop.  WooHoo!  I started with an 8x8" canvas that I primed with DecoArt Media Gesso.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to stop procrastinating and explore new avenues of crafting, so I'm especially thrilled with this.  (And to organize my craft room, but don't hold your breath on that one.  LOL)

Then I colored the gorgeous Icy Snow Queen with Copics in the B0000-B05 range. I really wanted her to sparkle, so after coloring, I applied a sheet of Be Creative Tape to the entire image, but before I sprinkled on the Microfine Transparent Art Glitter, I applied fussy cut eyes from another print, because I didn't want them to be frosty looking.  This particular glitter is so fine, you can actually color over it with your Copics without damaging the nib, although I did that only minimally here.  I do wipe the tip off though, in case a few particles come dislodged from the tape.  Then I added some DecoArt Liquid Glass to her eyes and lips for shine.  

I tore around the image to avoid a harsh edge and used DecoArt Matte Medium to adhere it to the canvas.  Then I applied DecoArt Modeling Paste with a palette knife and sprinkled it with some Mica glitter and waited (impatiently) for it to dry.

Now the fun really began.  I had a serious stash of stuff to embellish this project, wired stems of crystals, faceted gems, garlands of tiny snowflakes and icicles that I cut apart with nippers.

Then I painstakingly glued them to the gorgeous image  and surrounding "snow" using DecoArt Liquid Glass until I was satisfied...

and added acrylic glitter snowflakes from MAMBI (hoarded for years!) that I layered with various others by JoLee's.  Finally, I adorned the peaks of "snow" with Stardust Stickles and I've gotta say, I haven't been this excited about one of my projects in a long time.  I'm already itching to play with more mixed media.

Be sure to check out the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog for more frosty goodness from my teamies.  We can't wait to see what you come up with.  And BTW, if you've ever wanted to join the Aurora Wings family, check out our Open DT call HERE for a brand new DT.  Applications and Blog Link up due by January 29th, so hurry.

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I'm also thrilled to be entering this in the DecoArt Mixed Media Winter Wonderland Challenge.  WooHoo!  It's about time I get around to using some their fab products that I've amassed in my stash.

I'm also entering this in the Crafty Time January Make it Sparkle Challenge, the Creatalicious Snowflakes Challenge, Creative Craft Cottage Release the Glitter, Dream Factory The Ice Queen, More Mixed Media "Blue", The Sparkles Monthly January Blues Challenge, Left of Center Winter Wonderland, Allsorts Girly and Sparkly Challenge, the Corrosive Challenge New Resolutions, Crafty Friends ATG, the Digi Designs Snow or Snowflakes Challenge, Winter Wonderland Glitter and Shine, Craft Your Passion ATG, the C.R.A.F.T. Not a Card Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG/Stylish and Elegant, Clear it Out Theme: Winter Stash: Snowflakes, Inspiration Destination ATG, Crafting with an Attitude ATG, the ABC Christmas Challenge "A" is for ATG, Crafting for All Seasons Monochrome, A Snowflake's Promise Challenge 14, Glitter and Sparkle Monochrome and The Paper Shelter Shades of Blue.