Aurora Wings Freebie and Coloring Contest

So excited to be the first to color up this adorable Day of the Dead Sprite Couple that is currently offered FREE to members of the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group.  This is NOT a gift with purchase.  Mitzi is offering this image for the exciting Coloring Contest that runs today through November 1st.  The image will be available in the FB Group through October 28th so join the Group (if you haven't already), grab the freebie and enter the contest.  LOTS of prizes for both coloring only AND full project entries.  Full list of prizes in the Challenge Album in the FB Group.

Personally, I think this adorable couple could work for a wedding or anniversary.  The sentiment says "Together Forever" in Spanish.  The fun DP on the side panels is Bo Bunny and made for fabulous "wedding guests".  The arch was cut with a Spellbinders Gothic Arch and I've used one of Spellbinders Delicate Doilies as a stained Glass rosette behind.  The flowers on either side are the traditional Day of the Dead marigolds (actually Prima flowers that I've wet, smooshed and layered) and I've colored the bridal crown in the traditional colors, as well.

I've used inspiration from several of the challenges on the Outlawz forum to color and complete my card. Here's the current inspiration board for the Outlawz Tuesday Color. 

And I've also tweaked the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge for my design.  (Finally learning to use a sketch for inspiration rather than following it to the letter.  Yay, ME!)

If you think perhaps a skully couple isn't romantic, I beg to differ.  Here's an anniversary gift from hubby for our 40th.  He certainly knows the way to this girl's heart!

  

Here's how to keep up with what'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 also adding this to the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/opt. any Fall Holiday, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Wedding/Anniversary,  the DL.Art October Linky challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #255 AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #91 AG, Dream in Darkness October AG dark, Colouring in Scrapland Oct. AG/opt Halloween, LTSCB #114 Fall Back (anything Fall), ...

Anything Goes at Aurora Wings

It's time for everyone's favorite theme at Aurora Wings this challenge:  Anything Goes!  To be honest, this is the hardest theme for me because I love everything Mitzi does and I've got dozens of ideas in the queue, so making a choice is nearly impossible when I've got free rein.  Fortunately, the new release Double Showcase premiered the adorable Day of the Dead Sprite and I was SMITTEN! You know I love me some Dia de los Muertos and this sweet little Catrina absolutely stole my heart. I've also used the faces of Day of the Dead Marigold Sprite (the traditional flower of Dia de los Muertos).  So it's obviously Party Time, with the bright traditional colors of the Latin Fiesta.  This is not a solemn occasion, but a CELEBRATION!

Taking pix has been a challenge today because it's dark and dreary and we're finally getting some much needed rain.  I did manage to take a pic under my Ott light before fussy cutting so here's her closeup.  she's colored with Copics with a bit of additional shading from my 70% Warm Grey Prismacolor pencil.  I spent quite a bit of time with her, especially on those ruffles.  Great practice and I'm pretty pleased with the result.  she's available in both jpg form HERE and png form HERE, for use with digital papers or merging images.

The papers I used are old K&Co that I've been hoarding because of their fabulous colors and design.  The laser cut paper behind the image reminded me of the intricate papel picado banners used for special celebrations in Mexico. The little banner on the top right corner was cut from BoBunny DP and strung with twine.

I had bigger plans for the little Day of the Dead Marigold Sprites but I ran out of time so I used only their sweet little faces on layered flowers from my stash. You can find him HERE in jpg and HERE in png form.  The die cut behind is from Joy Crafts.  Oh, and BTW, if you prefer your Marigold Sprite without a painted face, you can find him HERE.

If you're wondering where my rather elaborate layout came from, I was inspired by the current one in the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge, where I will be playing along.  There are obviously a few more layers, but I'm proud that I managed to tweak it to my needs without losing the general flavor.  Usually I'm such a stickler that I follow it exactly, so YEA ME for lightening up a bit.

And YEA YOU for hanging in with my lengthy post.  Be sure to visit the AW Challenge Blog for fabulous inspiration from my Aurora Teamies and with ATG there's no reason not to play along. And don't forget this month's  "Pink Ribbon" Contest in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group. 

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 adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Challenge,  the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Halloween Challenge,  Dragonfly  Journeys Trick or Treat, Glitter and Sparkle ATG, Left of Center Halloween, Robyn's Fetish Halloween Cards, Crafting with Friends ATG, Simply Create Too Halloween, Crafting with an Atitude ATG, Creatalicious ATG/Halloween, Autumn/Harvest/Halloween, 613 Avenue Create ATG, Crafty Sentiments ATG, Scrapping4Fun ATG and TTRCD ATG.

Black, Orange and One Other Color for Aurora Wings

A new challenge starts today at the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog with the theme of  Black, Orange and One Other Color.  Of course, since it's the first week in October, my thoughts turned to Halloween, or more specifically Day of the Dead, but certainly you are not limited to projects in that vein.  I chose the gorgeous Day of the Dead Marie (who just happens to be on sale!).

Here's a closeup of Day of the Dead Marie, available in jpg HERE and png HERE, if you'd like to print her to color on digital background and skip the fussy cutting.  I've colored her with Copics, using mainly black and shades of gray and left the orange and purple to her flowers and rather tattered ribbon.  I decided to cut the feathers in her hair off the image and add real ones in this case.  I love this image and have colored her before in the more traditional brights of the Dia de los Muertos festivities.  You can see that one HERE and read more about the customs surrounding the holiday as it is practiced in Latin countries.

Here's the dimensional shot.  I've used papers from Graphic 45 and Creative Imaginations.  The cross is a Spellbinders die and I've added a wreath of flowers as if it were a decorated grave.  The fence is a Martha Stewart punch to which I've added some tattered stripe fabric tape.  There's also a silk flower from my stash behind Marie for more texture.

One last look at Marie and the computer generated sentiment that means "Always in my heart" in Spanish.  Now hurry along to see the fab inspiration from the Stella Team and put your thinking caps on and join us.  We can't wait to see what you create.

We've also just begun the new contest, "Pink Ribbon", that runs all month in the AW FB Group.  And don't forget there's a fabulous Gift with Purchase that runs through October 9th in both the AW Etsy and AW Digi Shop. 

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'll be adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Halloween or Fall Colors, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Simon Says Monday Halloween, Left of Center 150th Challenge, Dream in Darkness ATG, Crafts Galore Encore October ATG, Glitter and Sparkle Fall/Autumn, Creative Craft Cottage ATG, CCC Digi Creations ATG, Creatalicious Challenge 100 ATG/Let's Celebrate (DOD celebrates the lives of the departed), Dark 'n' Daring ATG and Country View Challenges All Things Spooky.

New Challenge at Aurora Wings

I'm so very excited about this month's challenge at Aurora Wings.  The theme is Day of the Dead-be still my heart!  You know I love me some Dia de los Muertos!  To be honest, I've had this idea in my head for over a year so to actually gotten my butt in gear enough ahead of time to pull it off makes me all kinds of happy.  It did not turn out exactly as originally planned, but I like this version even better.  Grab a cuppa, this is a very long post 'cause I'm all kinds of thrilled about this and I'm feeling VERY chatty.

My biggest hold up was painting the paper mache monument.  I hate waiting for paint to dry and I'm not the swiftest at mixed media. I've got gobs of product, but don't know what to do with it all, so I just mixed some black and white gesso and threw in some sand.  WooHoo!  It turned out darker than I thought, but after a little dabbing of some Deco Art Bleached Sand acrylic paint with a natural sponge, I was good to go.

While waiting for the paint to dry, I had begun coloring the beautiful Bone Queen, also available HERE in the shop (with Copics) but NOT in these colors.  I'd planned on doing a less macabre version using the traditional oranges and yellows of the giant marigolds, often used on Day of the Dead alters, (conveniently also poppy colors).  However, as pretty as they were, those warm colors weren't all that striking against my tombstone... what to do?  

I decided to take inspiration from Mitzi's original print (also available as an ACEO print HERE)  and go with the red...ALL the way with the red, right down to the blood drips on her shoulders, which about gave me a heart attack since I'd already spent hours on coloring, especially the chest bone detail.  It's just Copics.  I was too scared to actually try to DRIP anything.  Too risky at this stage of the game.  Now for the reddish tinge.  I was a bit more light handed there, but found that with a Q-tip and red chalk I could get the shading I was going for.  There was a whole lot of fussy cutting going on, as I did pop her face and the closest blooms with foam.  Finally, I added a silver bird skull charm to her necklace.  One down...

Next came the florals for either side of my sentiment.  On the left is a Poppy corner. (Flipped in my printing program) Again, colored with Copics with some chalk detail on the leaves, buds and pods. The fussy cutting here was brutal, mostly done with an exacto knife.  I normally leave a little white border on imaged so delicate, but it wasn't right for the project.  That little web behind the pod was added for some stability and happened to help balance the design. Mitzi has a huge selection of floral borders and corners that can be used alone or in conjunction with her other beautiful designs.  You can find the whole collection in the Aurora Wings Etsy shop by searching by type of flower or in the Floral Collection of the AW Website's Digital Stamp Shop.

Finally, on the right I added Memento Mori.  This was a fave of mine right from the get go and also supplied me with the sentiment.  Again, I've colored with Copics and lightly chalked with red.  From Wikipedia 

Memento mori (Latin: "remember (that you have) to die"^[2]) is the medieval Latin theory and practice of reflection on mortality, especially as a means of considering the vanity of earthly life and the transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits.

The sentiment is computer generated, cut with Spellinders Labels Four and inked with Distress while in the die.  It's backed by a Grand Labels Four that was run through my Cuttlebug with the Tim Holtz Bricked folder to give it some texture and inked with Versafine chalk ink.

Finally, here's the dimensional shot.  I really planned to do more with the individual flowers on each stamp, but I ran out of time. The good news is, I saved the stamps in these sizes in my Printmaster program, so if I get the inclination to add more, I can at a later date.  

Be sure to visit the AW challenge blog for more fabulous inspiration from my DT sisters and please come play along.  Not all of Mitzi's Day of the Dead stamps are creepy.  There's an adorable Marigold Sprite and even a Catrina Doll Kitty. Check them all out HERE.

Always lots happening at Aurora Wings so here are the important links.

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 Altered Eclectics October ATG (Mixed media) Challenge, the Anything but Cute 31 Days of Halloween Mixed Media Challenge, Eclectic Ellapu Halloween/Dark/Horror, Glitter 'N' Sparkle Halloween Cute or Spooky, The Corrosive Challenge-the Dark Side, Love to Create Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes, Left of Center Good Old Fashioned Horror, Chalk N Stock ATG with Chalk, A Step in the Dark October FB challenge, Simon Says Monday Monster Mash, Forever Dark 2 Challenge #5, Our Creative Corner Horror, The Mirror Cracked Tic Tac Toe (using Halloween, Time: my thought is that the sentiment references time, Red) and Dream in Darkness Halloween is Here.

Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop

Welcome to the 5th annual Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop.  Wow I can't believe it's been 5 years since this fabulous hop was started.  You should have arrived from  Julietta's Blog, or if you happened upon us this by chance and would like to start from the beginning, go to Patty's Blog HERE.  

I've made a mini ofrenda (altar) using the adorable kneeling girl from the Llorona Rubber Stamp set, available as a past offering (July 2014) from Smeared Ink, some mini votives covered in card stock, a punched border and gold border stickers, traditional mini marigolds made from tissue paper and the smallest of the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and a gorgeous cross from Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations.

I've colored  Her with Copics in bright colors to match my ofrenda.  Too bad she looks so sad.  She is either to young or perhaps didn't get the memo that Dia de los Muertos is a happy celebration of life, not death, and a day to remember our loved ones with smiles, not tears.  This stamp set is available exclusively at Smeared Ink and is now available to the public outside the Rubber Club.

The layered cross is set in an arch cut with my Spellbinders Gothic Arches 1. The inset is a die cut sheet from my stash.  I've added more mini marigolds to the top and jewels to the cross.  OOPs!  Sorry the pic is a little tipsy.

I'm adding this to One Sweet Challenge November Dia de los Muertos and Left of Center Happy Halloween.
  

I have several other projects that I recently completed and blogged prior to the Hop that I'd also like to share.  One, a wall hanging using the gorgeous Dia de los Muertos Marie Antoinette from Aurora Wings.  You can find the details of this project HERE.

And  the other, a fun party invitation using Mr. and Mrs. Bones from SCACD. They are also available individually in both rubber and digital form. More details on this project HERE. 

This year our fabulous prizes include 2 $15.00 Gift certificates to the new Snap Dragon Snippets Store and 6 mini Stamp sets from Dilo en Espanol, 3 for the USA and 3 Shipping worldwide.   I hope you've enjoyed what you've seen here.  Now it's time to Hop on to the fabulously talented Ruthie. 

We seem to be experiencing some difficulties with our links  These should be the correct ones.  

Patty 

Snap Dragon Snippets (Spanish)

Julietta

Donna --You are HERE--

Ruthie

Yoshira

Julie

Gaby

Abby

SDS FB page

Aurora Wings New Release Showcase

I'm so excited to introduce you to the newest of the Aurora Wings Marie Antionette digis,  Day of the Dead Marie Antoinette.  Both Challenge and Showcase DT's have teamed up for this special new release on the Showcase Blog.  I was particularly thrilled when Mitzi added this Marie to the collection as Dia de los Muertos is a special celebration in our home.  It is a joyous occasion, a celebration of life, not death, and I wanted to keep the true spirit of the day by using the vibrant traditional colors associated with this day in Latin cultures.

Here's a closeup of the fabulous Day of the Dead Marie.  She's colored with Copics and I've added pearls and a feather to her lovely hair besides fussy cutting and popping the skull adornment.  I've also added a cross charm to her choker as the day is definitely a religious holiday honoring the life of departed loved ones, believing they continue their happy lives, with all things they loved, in heaven.

The sentiments are in Spanish, the first, "Cherish your memories". Celebrations include picnics at grave sites or around home altars honoring the departed. Fond memories are exchanged and stories handed down, which keep the loved ones near and ensure they are not forgotten.

La familia is todo means "Family is everything".  Although altars are made for all kinds of people, special to those who remember, including favorite celebrities, etc., it's mainly a day to connect with and honor familial ties.  If you are interested in the alters (or ofrendas) I set up in our dining room each year and my personal traditions and more about the day itself, please click HERE.

The gorgeous papers I used came from some older paper stacks from K&Co.  In fact, the cut out is from the cover of the Que Sera Sera stack.  The colors and feel were perfect.  Finally , I added a home made stick pin with a heart pin, metal rose and skull bead.  Both the Challenge and Showcase DT's from Aurora Wings have done amazing projects with this fabulous new stamp.  I hope you love her as much a I do and visit the Showcase Blog for more inspiration. And you can find more Aurora wings Dia de los Muertos digis HERE.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday ATG Challenge and Fitztown ATG using Digital Elements. 

FIESTA!!!!

Well, if you've been following me for awhile, you know I LOVE Dia de los Muertos and was thrilled when I found these fun skellies at SCACD.  Without going into the full explanation about the holiday, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Latin cultures, and is a day of honoring and celebrating the life of departed loved ones.  It is a happy, not morbid occasion, with bright colors and banners, so I've made a fun greeting card, or perhaps party invitation. (If I get my act together. LOL)  Sentiment is done with Alpha Beads on the layered banner and the fab DP is BoBunny.
  

First meet Mr. Bones.  Isn't he fun!?  He's new as a digital and can also be found in rubber HERE.  He's colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped.  The enlarged head made me think of a bobble head, so you know what's coming, don't you? 

But first, may I introduce his lovely wife, Mrs. Bones.  In digi she comes with a fun girly sentiment and she is also available in rubber HERE.  Also a special deal if you want them BOTH in rubber HERE.  Again, she's colored with Copics and I've added Glossy Accents to both their eyes to make them shine.  Each head was cut separate from the body so I could add an Action Wobble. 

I wanted them both to bobble but not butt heads (unlike most married couples, LOL) so I added a piece of foam to Mr. Bones' Action Wobble to pop his head up more.  And speaking of married couples, wouldn't they make a great anniversary card?

Here's my attempt to capture them in action.  No, I don't have a smart phone, and yes, I know I'm about the only person on earth over the age of 5 who can say that, but you get the idea.  They totally crack me up.  I suspect you can find me playing with them the rest of the afternoon.  And just so you know, there are more fabulous sugar skull stamps by Carmen Medlin also available In the digi section HERE.  Also, a number of my UK buddies were commenting on the fab Steampunk Wings die from yesterday's post.  Quixotic Paperie is your connection for SCACD Rubber Stamps and Dies in the UK/Europe.

I'm entering this in Left of Center using the LOC theme, Simply Create Too Halloween or Use Lots of Orange, the Outlawz Friday Coloring Challenge, Doodle Pantry Any Digi Goes, the Oddball Art Halloween/Spooky/Creepy challenge, Mema's Crafts October Tic Tac Toe Challenge using Die cut or Punches, Pearls or Bling (her earrings and necklace) and Rubber or Digital Stamp, TTRCD ATG Oct 14-20, Aud Sentiments ATG, and Crafty Little Fairies Only One DP.

Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop

If you are looking for Simply Steampunk, please scroll down.

Hello everyone and welcome to our:
Hola y Bienvenidos a nuestro Blog Hop del

Thank you for joining us in celebrating Day of the Dead/El Dia de los Muertos with us!

We have a super cool line-up for you! Now, if you are here from Monica

then, you are heading in the right direction! But, if you happen to be visiting and want to hop with us make sure you start over with Abby, out blog host!

Muchas gracias por venir a celebrar el Dia de los Muertos con nosotras!
Tenemos unas chicas super talentosas participando con nosotros en este bello blog hop! Si vienes de con Monica vienes por buen camino, si llegaste a visitar y quieres brincar con nosotras entonces comienza en el blog de Abby! La anfitriona de nuestro Blog Hop!

Abby and Gaby started this event back in 2010! That's 4 years ago already!

This is one of Abby's favorite days to celebrate because of the meaning of what Day of the Dead is,

and what can be better than a super cute cartoon to illustrate what Day of the Dead is!
Abby y Gaby comenzaron con estos blog hops desde el 2010! Pueden creer que ya son 4 años!
Este es uno de los dias preferidos para celebrar de Abby porque le encanta el mensaje que tiene, y que mejor manera de explicarlo con una linda caricatura!!

It's all about celebrating LIFE!

El Dia de los Muertos se trata de celebrar la VIDA!!

 
My project is a little banner using the adorable Dulcinea Sugar Skulls Sticky Wings digi (scroll down to find yours) from Lacy Sunshine, and the Mini Calaverita clear stamp set from Dilo en Espanol.  The banners were cut by hand and Dulcinea is mounted on a Nesties Mega Classic Scalloped Oval.

I've printed her out 3 times, colored her with Copics, fussy cut and popped her for dimension. 

Here you can see the dimensional shot.
 

All of the skulls were colored first, them run through my Xyron right side down and glittered with microfine transparent Art Glitter to resemble sugar skulls.  It is so fine that it will not damage your Copic tips, so I recolored after glittering for the vibrant effect.  The two sugar skulls flanking the main image are from the Mini Calaverita set from Dilo en Espanol featured below.

The sentiment is also from the Mini Calaverita set.  It translates to "Here is your little (sugar) skull."  Remember, Dia de los Muertos is a joyous happy occasion celebrating family members who are gone but not forgotten.  Sugar skulls often bear the names of loved ones.  If you would like to revisit my previous posts and learn more about the traditions I follow at my house each year, please click Here for 2010, HERE for 2011, and HERE and HERE for 2012.

 

Dilo En Español has a couple of stamps that are perfect for this event!

Dilo En Español tiene unos sets que van perfecto con esta hermosa fecha!

Mini Calaverita

2x3 stamp set

and 

Mary La Catrina

4x4 stamp set

Please visit Abby's Blog for a list of all the fabulous prizes and rules for qualification. 

 

Next on the hop is:                      

ORLIS

and just in case you get lost!

Here is the line-up:

 

Abby- www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com

Gaby- www.gabycreates.com

Xochitl- www.cricutcritter.blogspot.com

Michelle- www.scrappinwithmybug.com

Candace- www.papercraftsbycandace.com

Monica- www.monicascreativemadness.com

Donna- www.donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com - you are HERE

Orlis- www.bauldeandrea.blogspot.com

Patty- www.cardsbypattytanuz.blogspot.com

Lizeth- www.super-scrapbook.blogspot.mx

 

I'm also entering this in the Lacy Sunshine Anything Goes Challenge, 613 Ave Create Anything Goes, Simon Says Monday Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Charisma Cardz Anything But Cards and Creative Knockouts Banners and Pennants.