Aurora Wings Mid-Challenge Inspiration

It's mid-challenge inspiration day for our Black and White with or without a Splash of Color Challenge at Aurora Wings.  I've chosen the gorgeous Angel of Sympathy available HERE on Aurora Wings.com and HERE on Etsy.  I've made an easel card using the Santa's Book die from Precious Marieke.

Here's a closeup of Angel of Sympathy.  I've colored her with Copics using nearly the entire range of Neutral Grays.  The "splash" of blue on her sash is B91,93 and 95.  Although I've made a sympathy card she also works well with all sorts of prayers, Bible verses and words of encouragement.  I've also seen her used as a Guardian Angel door hanger for a new baby with a bedtime prayer.  Isn't she beautiful?

As you can see, she's fussy cut and popped atop the book pages.  The white layer is attached at the center and outer edges to give it a bit more dimension.  I had a bit of trouble deciding on a background.  I couldn't find DP or a stamp that looked appropriate.  I was thinking perhaps just some illegible script and even tried an embossed script background, but the scale was off.  She took up a bit more space than I'd imagined and my placement of her made a sentiment sort of awkward, as well.  I finally found my "Rays" embossing folder from Tim Holtz, which looked to me like heavenly light, so I added a punched dove and die cut swirl from Taylored Expressions.

The sentiment is one I've used before and is one of my favorites.  Have to say it does leave me a bit teary eyed, though.  I added two more doves and a row of blue flat backed pearls to hold the easel.  Although I would say this is not my favorite type of card to make, I don't think there's a more beautiful image available anywhere.

Be sure to visit the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog to see the gorgeous inspiration from the Stella team and come play along.  You'd be surprised to see the many ways we've chosen to add a "splash of color" or not.  Coloring in grayscale is loads of fun and fabulous practice for learning to shadow since you don't have to make so many color choices.  Hope to see you there.

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (current challenge runs through May 19th)

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

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Aurora Wings Digi Shop 

Aurora Wings FB Group 

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I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #81 AG, A Gem of a Challenge #218 Get Well OR Sympathy, the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge Shades of Gray with a Pop of Color, Crafty Calendar May Things with Wings, Creative Fingers #146 AG, Simply Papercraft #57 AG, Pause Dream Enjoy #18 Lots of Layers, Word Art Wednesday Weeks #332 and 333, Scrapy Land Challenge #89 AG w/Die Brands SL sells, A Perfect Time to Craft May AG, Dies R Us #96 Flowers, the World Wide Open DT Challenge (April 15-May 12), Your Scrapbook Place May AG, Digi Choosday Wk 18 AG, TTRCD AG Wk starting May 1, 613 Avenue Create May AG, the Corrosive Challenge #5 May AG, Creates and Makes #21 AG, Create and Inspire AG/optional dies or stencils, Jo's Scrap Shack #232 AG, Crafts Galore Encore May AG, Creative Craft Cottage May #107 Dies or punches, Incy Wincy May Things that Fly, Do-Al(l) Creatives May #17 not square/rectangle and the May Classic Design Team Open #25 AG.