A Touch of Class for Aurora Wings

It's time for another challenge at Aurora Wings, hosted by the Stella Team, with the new theme of "A Touch of Class".  Again, this theme is open to wide interpretation and I'm sure you'll enjoy the fabulous variety of projects by the team, but I personally think of "timeless (and perhaps a bit understated) elegance" and nothing says that more to me than pearls.  A gorgeous strand was one of my mother's most treasured gifts from my father and I remember him helping her with the clasp as a final touch to her outfit before going out. It was always that "extra something" that enhanced her ensemble and meant a special evening was in store.  I can still feel their love when I wear it today, so Woman with Gardenia and Pearls was my immediate choice for this challenge.

Here's a closeup of this gorgeous image.  She's colored entirely with Copics with no extra shading with pencils, as I was trying to keep her very soft and dreamy. I printed her smaller than I normally do because I already had the design in mind, so when it came down to the pearls, instead of using the flat backed adhesive ones, I found myself forced to use Liquid Pearls instead.  They still make me nervous, but I've found that the best way to keep them from running together when they are next to each other is to either let each one set a bit before adding the next, or do every other one and then go back and fill in.  Still not perfect, but I'm improving.  Unfortunately I did the pearls prior to die cutting and embossing the image which did flatten them somewhat.  Not really noticeable unless you look on the back but...  Grrr...!!!  Note to self!

This dimensional shot is also to show the pearlescence of the pink die cut, (Spellbinders Fancy Grand Labels One) and the ivory mat.  I've popped both the frame and image, as well as the sentiment and added a few more pearls to balance the design.

The embossing you see was done on vellum with a Stampin'Up folder.  I then cut the roses apart and arranged them on either side of the image.  I found that the vellum tape I had showed through (I tried it first on a scrap) so I used it only where the die cuts overlapped.  However, the roses didn't lay as flat as I liked, so I tried to take the teeniest bit of vellum tape and roll it to tuck under the embossed edges in a few places, which was just enough to solve that problem.  I'm hoping that my subtle details enhance, rather than detract from Mitzi's beautiful Woman with Gardenia and Pearls and bring to mind "A Touch of Class".

We can't wait to see what you come up with.  Our June FB Contest, "Use a Cropped Image" is also going on now and we hope to see you join us there, as well.

Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG/w Optional Wedding Theme, the Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge Embossing Wet or Dry, Pile it On Tic Tac Toe (using center row down emboss, image, die cut), A Beautiful Mess ATG, Creative Fingers ATG, and Crafting with Friends #22 ATG.