Happy Year of the Rat

Happy New Year!  It's officially the beginning of the Year of the Rat, the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac and kicking off the Spring Festival in Asian countries, celebrating family and good fortune for the coming year.  This is the 3rd in the series Mitzi has drawn for AuroraWings, available HERE in png and HERE in jpg at AuroraWings.com.  Also available on Etsy in png HERE.

As soon as I saw this image, though, I thought it would make a fabulous retirement card or congrats on a new job card, using either the sentiment "Congratulations on leaving the rat race. Happy retirement" OR "Congratulations on your new job. You've officially entered the rat race." I really think it's suitable for a male or female and quick and easy to color, too.
I used Copics and a sticker sentiment and corners and kept it CAS for a change.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #123 AG, Simon Says Wednesday Besotted with our Pets, Classic Design Challenge January 2020 AG, and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies January.

My Wish for 2020

So sorry I haven't been around.  The holidays were a blur and I was late with everything, as usual.  Not a whole lot of crafting being done, either.  However, the FB challenge at the Stamps by Aurora Wings Group page is in full swing and here is my DT inspiration.  We are no longer offering Blog Challenges, but the monthly FB challenge gives you the same opportunities to win prizes, with the exciting twist that you can now enter past projects, as well as coloring only, which we hope will encourage more people to share their beautiful work.  

The gorgeous image I've used is Abundance, available exclusively HERE at AuroraWings.com.  Here is what Mitzi says about the inspiration for this image.

"Abundance" ©Mitzi Sato-Wiuff/Aruarian Dancer Created for the Enchanted Visions Project's monthly theme, "Abundance". Inspired by the ancient Chinese art of placement, Feng Shui, this image incorporates many items deemed auspicious according to Feng Shui -- goldfish for wealth and prosperity, peaches for health and longevity, peonies for beauty and romance, all presented in the shades of red and gold, which are believed to be the colors that activate positive chi.

I've colored in Copics, using the approximate colors in Mitzi's original.  I've wanted to attempt this image for quite awhile and really enjoyed the challenge.  I thought is was perfect for a New Year's Wish, although it would also be perfect for Thanksgiving using a "Thankful" sentiment, or any occasion you want to offer heartfelt wishes.

Here's a closeup of Abundance.  I've cropped the image to focus on the central portion of the design.  After coloring, I decided the fade out I'd done around the edges tended to wash out the important elements so I fussy cut around the fish tails to fit the Spellbinders Grand Oval I used to mat it.  "Wish" is a Tim Holtz die and "my" was done with the "Haunted" alphabet die from QuicKutz.  I backed the textured metallic cuts with a deep red to help them stand out a bit more.  The lovely DP is from K&Co.

Wishing you all Abundant Blessings in 2020!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art January 2020 Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Celebrate or AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends C#122 AG, Simon Says Wednesday Fun with Florals, 613 Avenue Create AG w/optional Twist-Make it shiny and Classic Design Challenge #1 January.

First Challenge of the New Year at Aurora Wings

Happy New Year everyone!  It's not only the first Challenge at Aurora Wings, but the first post from me in the new year.  YIKES!  I've never let my blog go this long without a post, but there's nothing better than to come back ready and refreshed for the fun new challenges we have in store for you this year at Aurora Wings.  The teams have had a break too, so we're easing into the new year of challenges with the all time favorite theme of Anything Goes.

My project just happens to be a Chinese New Year's project, which falls on February 5th, celebrating Mitzi's new image for Year of the Pig, available HERE on AuroraWings.com and HERE on Etsy.  Here's the closeup of this adorable image, the 12th sign of the Chinese Zodiac with the Chinese character for pig in the background.   While doing a bit of research I noticed that most of the images for this Year of the Pig were in reds and golds.  The Feng Shui lucky colors for the Lunar Year 2019 for those born in the year of the pig are Vermilion Red and Venetian Yellow, so I colored with Copics accordingly.  If you'd like to read more about the lucky colors for all signs of the Chinese Zodiac for 2019 click HERE.

I fussy cut and popped the image and cut some textured gold paper with the Oriental Fan die from Tattered Lace in the background.  My hubby was born in a Year of the Pig and he received a special gift from a Chinese woman who worked for him when we had her and her family over for dinner during the holidays many years ago.  He holds an honored place in our dining room hutch and will be especially lucky this year all shiny and gold.

So there you have it!  A brand new challenge at Aurora Wings for a brand new year.  Be sure check out the fabulous inspiration by the Stella team HERE and come play along.  It's Anything Goes!

I'm adding this to the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #98 AG,  The Classic Design Team Open Challenge Jan 2019, and Ike's World #116 A is for Animals.

Happy New Year (of the Dog)

Happy New Year! I'm trying hard to be make up for my dismal blog showing this December and am crafting up a storm.  And no, I'm not late, I'm EARLY!  This gorgeous image, from Aurora Wings, represents the Chinese Lunar Calendar and the upcoming Year of the Dog celebration on February 16th, which will begin the Spring Festival.  The image is a special New Year's gift from Mitzi for those in the Aurora Wings FB Group and will be available there as a FREEBIE through the weekend along with a fabulous Coupon and special contest to wind $30 in AW digis.  Not a member?  Ask to Join HERE and HURRY!

The animals are from the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac and those born in any given year are said to possess the characteristics of the animal.  The dog is considered one of the most likable of those in the Zodiac and are loyal, faithful and honest and always stick to their code of ethics. Their characteristic word is action.  

Here's a closeup of Year of the Dog. Mitzi used an Akita puppy as her model and I colored him with Copics in one of the many variations of fur colors and patterns of the breed.  The Chinese character is in the image is 'Dog' and I'm guessing the plum blossoms signal the beginning of the Spring Festival, that focuses on home and family and the hope for good fortune throughout the year.

I've used the Outlawz Wednesday sketch for the card design as the image itself reminded me of the a lot of the sketch, even with no embellies.

Again, I'd like to mention that our Anything BUT a Card Challenge is still going strong on the AW Challenge Blog until Saturday January 13th and you can enter up to 3 times if you use an Aurora Wings image.  

Also, don't forget to pop over and collect this gorgeous Year of the Dog image, such a generous New Year's surprise from Mitzi, and check out the special contest (all you have to do is COMMENT) where you could win $30 in AW stamps and Coupon in the AW FB Group.  If you aren't a member yet, you might want to join. (And hurry, this ends Jan 7th!)

There's always lots going on at Aurora Wings, so here's how to keep up.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (New challenge runs through Jan.13, 2018)

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop 

Aurora Wings FB Group 

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art January Linky Challenge,  the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #219 New Year Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #72 AG, Crafty Animals January #10 AG w/Animal, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Jan AG w/Critter, the Outlawz Festive Friday New Year theme, Simon Says Monday Something New, Simon Says Wednesday Something New, Crafting by Designs Jan. AG, Your Scrapbook Place January AG.

Another Resolution Page for Sparkle and Glitter with RSD

I'm having a ball with my New Year's Resolution Book.  Here's another page I'm sneaking in under the wire for the New Beginnings challenge at Sparkle and Glitter with RSD.  Been feeling a bit out of sorts after all of the gastric indulgences over the holidays so my healthful Resolution #2 is to Eat More Roughage.  Not quite sure I'll be going this far but I happy as a clam being able to use more of the cool Creepmas images I both bought and won during Rick's 12 Days of Creepmas Hop on his other Blog, Airless Chambers, and didn't get to play with.

I've used Creepmas Snacks (who I don't happen to see in the SHOP right now) and Christmas Tree Monster, who seems more than a tad upset at the mo at the fate of some of his baubles.  They're both colored with Copics and metallic gel pens and I've used more of my K&Co Christmas Cheer DP.  Better cut this short now so I can beat the Linky. 

Macabre Monday Nightmarish New Year

We're BAAAck! time for a new Macabre Monday at Haunted Design House. It's a new year and we're exploring all of those well meant but PITA New Year's Resolutions. Mine's pretty self explanatory and uses one of the new Occasions Lil Grumpies Set from Smeared ink (so is the "bottoms up" sentiment). He's (she's?) colored with Copics and metallic gel pens and I've used Rain Dots for the champagne bubbles. "bottoms up" is also part of the Grumpies set which I crossed out with a pen.

The green foil mat is embossed with the Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles folder (how fitting) and the label cross the bottom is from my new Dymo Caption Maker. Remember those things? They're back! The fabulous "Dreadful resolutions" sentiment is a freebie from Tiddly Inks. You can snag it on Christy's blog or in our Tiddly Inks PCP group HERE. So come on guys, get your creep on, check out the rest of the minions resolutions and play along with Macabre Mondays. And just in case you think I'm getting soft with a pink and green color scheme here, just think of the green as bile and the pink as petechial hemorrhage. (Have a nice day!)

Happy New Year at the Cuttlebug Spot

Since this is the last challenge for The Cuttlebug Spot until after the New Year, we're celebrating 2011. Had a bit of a tough time with this since I'm not even close to being ready for Christmas, so the thought of New Year's puts me over the edge) but I browsed through my pics for something "New Year's related" and came across this vintage photo from (?) and thought it was a hoot. I printed it 4 times and cut it out with decreasing sizes of my Nesties Classic Rectangles so I could get the pyramage effect. The fun shaped mats behind are Nesties Wonky Squares (I even love the name!) and the white one is embossed with the Cuttlebug Seeing Spots folder. (Looked like all the bubbles in the photo) The larger mat is cut from holographic paper which was sort of difficult to cut because there's a thin sort of plastic coating which didn't want to cut through, even after running is serveral times through the Cuttlebug. The groove was certainly enough to allow me to carefully follow the lines with my scissors, though. Phew! the large black mat is embossed with the Cuttlbug Polka Dots folder which is 5x7. Wish they all were.

The image layers were popped to give the 3D effect and I thought the tinselly fiber looked sort of festive and vintage. 2011 is cut with the Quickutz Haunted Mini Alphabet. (Yes, I know it looks like the Cricut Blackletter font, but I really try hard to keep my Cuttlebug Spot cards all Cuttlebug whenever possible.) The stars are peelies. So I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season but still has time to stop over to The Cuttlebug Spot to see the rest of the DT projects, which are infinitely more creative than mine. Nilda is even giving you a break by only requiring a comment to be in the running for this week's prize from The Craft Barn. Okay, gotta go. Another hair appointment and then back to the city. When the heck I'm I gonna finish my decorating?