New images for September from Aurora Wings

Just in time for next month's spooky season we have some new skullie goodness from Aurora Wings on the Showcase Blog today and of course I couldn't miss these!  I happen to love me some skulls year 'round, but if they don't float your boat, stay tuned for some new Sprites and an amazing new Moth Fairies, as well.  This gorgeous image is called Necromantica and I've made a slightly, okay, well yeah, pretty dark home decor wreath I like to call "Eternally Yours".  I had some nifty black Spanish moss that conveniently had touches of red glitter that went perfectly with my color scheme and added some tulle and gorgeous red crinkle ribbon from DL.Art.  Nice for Valentine's Day, Anniversary, or even a wedding for the right couple, don'tcha think? (You know who you are.) 

Here's a closeup of Necromantica prior to fussy cutting.  I've colored with Copics in my fave color scheme and tried to darken up the wings a bit using an almost full complement of Neutral Grays.  Of course the roses just had to be red.  Sooo romantic!  The leaves blend in a bit, but I was trying to minimize the green.  I generally don't write down my colors, but I believe I used YG99, YG63 and YG61, just enough colors to give a bit of contrast.

Necromantica is available HERE on Aurora Wings.com and HERE on Etsy.

I'm entering this decor piece in the DL.Art September Linky Challenge, Dream in Darkness AG Dark Dreams, Your Scrapbook Place September AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, An Inky Mess (AG mixed media), the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Altered Eclectics Sept (AG mixed media, upcycling, etc)...

Here is the second gorgeous skull image premiering today, called Skull and Roses.  I'm afraid I only have a coloring for this image because I really wanted to color it on darker paper with pencils.  As I'm only a beginner with pencils, It takes me forever, but I do thoroughly enjoy the process thanks to the classes at Kit and Clowder.  This is the first time I've done a Design Team project using my Prismacolors and hopefully won't be my last.  Just gotta remember to start EARLY if I want to get it done in time.  You'll be seeing a project with this fabulous image sometime later next month, I promise.

Skull and Roses is available HERE on Aurora Wings.com and HERE on Etsy.

For those of you who are a bit squeamish about skull images,  There are several more new images on the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog that might be more to your liking.

And of course here's a COUPON good on ANY digital images through the weekend and this time, an adorable Gift with Purchase image, as well.  Find out more in my second Showcase post HERE.

And just a little reminder, our current Challenge Blog theme is "Inspired by Music" and runs through October 13th.  Check out the lovely inspiration HERE by the Stella team and stay tuned for our mid month reminder and more glorious projects by the Aurora team on Monday.  Come join us.  Hope to see you there.

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

Guest Designing for the Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes

As you know I play regularly on the Outlawz Forum, a fun and friendly craft forum with 7 challenges a week plus a monthly Progressive challenge, so there's always lots going on.  If you're not a member, why not check it out.  You'll be glad you did.  This week I'm Guest Designing for Sunday Songs and Rhymes and our song is: 

Song: Happy Birthday

You know it doesn't make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration
'Cause we all know in our minds, etc

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday

Who doesn't need more birthday cards in their stash?  As you may already know, I'm a monthly subscriber to the Kit and Clowder Coloring Classes for both Markers and, more recently, pencils as well.  As a subscriber, Alyce also sends out a free monthly bonus class, theme voted on by the current members and this  one was coloring dragons (still available if you subscribe before the next monthly class, but HURRY!).  The dragon here was provided in the class and this was my first "practice" shot at the class.  OMG!  I had soo much fun with this!  I purposely scaled it (ha, ha, I made a funny) to be card size and colored it with Copics, according to the class colors and set it aside.

The image was perfect for my birthday card for today as the colors also fit the current Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge and birthday twist, so I fussy cut him out and added him to the fun striped paper by Queen and Co.  The birthday sentiment circle and cupcake are new to me from Simon Says Stamp.  The sentiment circle was cut in purple, but I cut the cupcake in white and colored it to match the scheme and give the "frosting a bit of dimension.

  

I've been making a lot of square cards lately, but the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge called for a rectangle, so rectangle it is.  Yes, if your card fits more than one challenge on the Outlawz Forum, you may enter it wherever it fits.  Only once on the sitewide monthly Linky though, where you can win even more prizes.  WooHoo!  Don'tcha want to join in?

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art September Linky Challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #250 AG (2/3), 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #18 (1/5) and If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #102 4th Anniversary challenge AG (2/5).

Elegant Perfume

Don't faint!  It's not a coffee card.  It's the last day for the Outlawz May Progressive challenge so I thought I'd better get going, eh?  The gorgeous image is from Sandi's Samples and I really enjoyed coloring it with my Copics.  The scheme is like an antique reproduction bottle I have at home, but I'm sure I will try my hand at this image many more times.  It's so beautiful and feminine.  I've also added flat backed gems to jazz it up further. Thank you, Sandi Hugget!

I also have to give a shout out to the Kit and Clowder online coloring classes.  The color combo I used on the "gold" on the bottle was from the December 2017 Monthly Markers class.  I'm now a subscriber to both the markers and pencils classes and even if you don't manage to finish a monthly class, the techniques and color combos Alyce provides (along with art fundamentals and personal feedback) can be used with any images and has helped me improve and enjoy my coloring immensely.  If you're not yet willing to commit, be sure to check out the free classes HERE.

After coloring, I wasn't sure what to do with it, but the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge saved the day (again!).  DP is from the new Graphic 45 Flower Shop pad.  Image and scalloped mat cut with Spellbinders dies.  Gold mesh ribbon and copper metal medallions are from my stash.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #82 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Simply Papercraft #58 AG, Double D Challenges Bling it Up...

Virgo Kitty from SheepSki Designs

Sharing another card done for several of the Outlawz challenges using the sweet Virgo (image#49), available both with and without the Zodiac sign, from SheepSki Designs. It's the current offering for monthly Progressive Freebie Challenge.  Thank you so much, Andrea!  You know I love your kitties!  Since I've been practicing with Prismacolor pencils, with help from the Kit and Clowder monthly classes, I printed him a bit lighter on Mi Teintes paper so I could furry him up a bit.  Gotta say it took me all day, but I enjoyed every minute and am quite pleased with the outcome.

The colors are from the Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge and for once, I'm not last minute for that one.  I'd already started coloring the kitty and wasn't sure if that was black or brown on the swatch, but I think I've got it covered in the DP.  However, I got so wrapped up in figuring out a card design, I sort of forgot the twist, although maybe the 3D Stickers from JoLee's will work for that.

This shows the sentiment tag that slips behind the image.  I've used my Stitched Tags dies from Gina Marie again and the sentiment from Elizabeth Crafts.  I added punched butterflies like the one in the image and  colored them to match.  The crinkle ribbon is from DL.Art.

I'm also entering this in the new SheepSki Designs FB challenge which is AG with optional twist use 2 colors (maybe next time) as well as the SheepSki Blog challenge #13 Animal Magic, the SUYP (cats only) April Furrything Goes challenge, the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies AG/w critter, Always Fun Challenges #54 Use kraft, CCC Digi Creations Include an Animal, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#230 AG, Crafty Animals #13 AG with Animal and TTRCD Week of April 17th AG.

Penguin Elf

One good thing about being sick is when I felt up to it, I could color.  Since nothing was really "pressing" at the moment, I decided to practice pencils on kraft using the free members rewards class from Kit and Clowder I received for being a monthly class member. As long as you stay a member of the monthly classes, Alyce sends an extra free class (that members get to vote on) every month.  WooHoo!  This one if from last December.  The adorable stamp is Penguin Elf from the Crissie Armstrong Digital Collection at Whimsy Stamps.

Here's a closeup of my coloring of Penguin Elf with Prismacolor pencils.  Although I have some kraft paper that has a bit more "Tooth" it is 12x12" so I used some from my 8 1/2 x 11" pack so I wouldn't have to cut it down.  Made it a little harder to blend, but I'm still pleased with the results.  I added some icicles around the top and shaded to frame him in a bit more after cutting with my Spellbinders Grand Ovals.

I tried all sorts of DP, but wasn't thrilled with the way it look with the kraft.  Finally unearthed my old Recollections Warm Wishes stack which was printed on kraft and went with that.  It has shiny foiled hearts so I matted with red mirror card stock  and added a green foil frame and glitter holly with gems for the Simon Says Wednesday Sparkle and Shine Challenge.

I'm also entering this in the Whimsy Inspiration Challenge #105 AG, Always Fun Challenges #54 Use kraft, the Outlawz Festive Friday Christmas theme, the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, the {PIN}spirational Anniversary Challenge #213 AG (5/5, the ABC Christmas Challenge 'H' is for Hats 'I' is for Ice (got 'em BOTH!), Simply Papercraft #76 AG, Winter Wonderland Cute Christmas Critters, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies April #13 AG w/critter and The Holly and the Ivy #27 Anything Christmas Goes and Crafty Animals #13 AG /w Animal.

Pigs Might Fly

Here's one for the Bloobel Progressive challenge on FB.  Of course I picked out my free stamp for joining in the previous month, but I also felt compelled to purchase any others that may be used for the challenge.  You can see them all HERE and use the coupon FANTASTIC50 to get 50% off one or all until the end of the month.  I chose this one to do first because I suggested a flying pig way back when and the quirky Pigs Might Fly image was the original result (Lisa said, at the time, she didn't know how to draw a pig.  LOL).  Well, the suggestion was made again for the Progressive challenge, and lo and behold, meet Fairy Pig. Just had to put them together and it gave me a chance to try the clouds and sky background from the August 2016 Monthly Marker class from Kit and Clowder. Yup, all colored with Copics. Way fun!  Yay, me!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG.

Millie Mermaid

It's a new release day for Sandra Caldwell and I'm showcasing about the cutest little mermaid you ever did see.  Meet #1570 Millie Mermaid and I gotta say I fell in love with her the minute I saw that precious face.  I wanted her to have special treatment so I actually used the background technique from the May Kit and Clowder Monthly Markers Class and I'm absolutely thrilled with how she came out.  This is the first time EVER I've used a class on one of my projects (yeah, my BAD) but it won't be the last, for sure.

Here's a closeup of #1570 Millie Mermaid.  She's colored entirely with Copics with a bit of white gel pen on the bubbles.  Isn't she just the cutest ever?

The actual project is a center step using my Spellbinders Grand Labels One which was a bit of an afterthought. I'd played around with this design and this base was sitting on my table.  That's why you can't really tell from the front because the front mat is so large it obscures the steps but I still love the way it turned out.  The bubble paper is digital from La Isla Bonita from Gecko Galz. The sentiment and shell borders are from Graphic 45.  I've also added a Magnolia die cut, fishy stickers from Little B, a starfish and crab from JoLee's and some netting recycled from a produce bag.  Can you tell I really had a ball with this one?  Every Friday is new release day for Sandra Caldwell so be sure to check out all of the new designs.  Inspiration can be found by my teamies in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group.

P.S.  Sandra is having a fabulous 50% off Memorial Day Sale through May 31 that you must check out HERE.  Patriotic and Americana stamps included are already discounted. Not only that, but if you buy 6 or more (at ANY price) you get 2 FREE (at ANY price!). WooHoo!  Message Sandra Caldwell on FB with # and Name of digis you choose.  Join the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group  to keep up with all that's happening.  Steampunk Silly Contest ends TODAY!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/By the Sea, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Card with Gold Fish,  TTRCD May 16th AG, the May Classic Design Team Open challenge #14 (3/3), Inspiration Destination AG, May World Wide Design Team Open Challenge AG (2/3), Aud Sentiments AG/w Sentiment, Craft Rocket #37 Fantasy, TTPH #125 AG, Crafts Galore Encore AG, Fab 'n' Funky Create a Background, the Corrosive Challenge May AG and Creative Moments #118 AG.