Mid-Challenge Inspiration for Aurora Wings #74

It's time for a little mid-month inspiration from the Aurora Team for our Anything Goes Challenge #74 at Aurora Wings.  Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I decided to do a Valentine using a non-Valentine image, Kitty Sprite, available exclusively HERE at AuroraWings.com.  Who doesn't love a pile of kitties?  Well, you KNOW I love ME some!  I'd found in my stash some mini conversation hearts that fit purrfectly with the adorable kitties, so there ya go!  The DP is from an ancient K&Company stack and the punch out sentiment and little "smitten" sticker (couldn't resist! it rhymes with kitten) is from a Valentine crafting bundle kit from Authentique.

Here's a closeup of Kitty Sprite, colored with Copics.  Gotta say I get all warm and fuzzy just looking at this purrecious digi!  You've got a better view of the teeny hearts, too.  Pretty sure they're from Mike's, at least a year ago and I loved their smaller size and the cute, more traditional sayings without things like "text me".  Sorry, I don't find that romantic in the least.

Now, you've GOT to go visit the Challenge Blog and see the spectacular projects from my Aurora sisters.  I PROMISE you won't be disappointed!  And hey, why not come play along?  Still lots of time.  Pop on over to our FB Group, too.

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 entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, SUYP #38 Furrything Goes/Meuw Year, the February Classic Design Team Open Challenge #2, 613 Avenue Create Feb AG/Use a Critter, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #99 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, the Outlawz Monday Greetings Love is in the Air, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies AG with critter, CIC #463 (see below), Dragonfly Dreams Include a Heart, Allsorts #505 Love, ...

My Bloody Valentine Hop Day 1

WooHoo!  Darkness reigns again for the 5 Day My Dark Valentine Hop, February 12-16 sponsored by LeighSBDesigns.  It works the same way as the Poe Appreciation Hop did and you can read the particulars on how to participate HERE.  I was all set to post a previous project first because of limited time today, but found some Smeared Ink (no longer trading) images I'd colored previously but never put on a project.  I'd already purchased some (okay, ALL  They're on SALE for the duration of the Hop!) of the LeighSBDesigns new Dark Valentine Collection and found that her Distressed Splatter Heart and a sentiment from the Dark Sentiments Set 1 that I cropped and split in my printing program was the perfect background.  Images were colored with Copics, the main one fussy cut and popped and I distressed the edges with Distress Ink and scissors.  Hope to see you hoppin'.
  

An InLinkz Link-up

Bearly in Love

Before I collected cats, I collected artist teddy bears so it's no surprise that I couldn't wait to color #2024 Bearly in Love, by Sandra Caldwell, for the Sweets for My Sweetheart Contest on her Stamp Fans FB Group page.  Sandra currently has 8 digis on sale for only $1.50, 4 for this contest and 4 Holley's Hip Hip Hippo contest you can check out HERE.

I've used the current Outlawz Wednesday Sketch for my design, with papers from Crate Paper and gorgeous crinkle ribbon from DL.Art.

Here's a closeup of #2024 Bearly in Love.  She's colored with Copics and cut with a stitched tag from Gina Marie.  The little tab on the side is from Authentique.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #222 Pink or Red, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #74 AG, Simon Says Monday Love is in the Air, Simon Says Wednesday It Must Be Love, 613 Avenue Create AG/Optional Love, TTRCD AG week of Feb 6th, Two Crafty Critter Crazies Feb AG/w Critter (3/5), and Crafty Animals AG/w animal.

Hogs and Kisses

Couldn't resist this cutie from Sandra Caldwell called #2050 Piggy Love Angel, not only for the Sweets for my Sweetheart challenge in Sandra's Stamp Fans FB Group, but also for the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge that ends today.  She's colored with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders Labels Four die.  The cloud DP is an oldie from Heidi Grace and made me think of "hog heaven" and the added acrylic xox stickers brought "hogs and kisses" to mind.  What can I say?

Pretty literal interpretation of the sketch (turned on it's side) but it was a fun play.  

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #75 AG, Simon Says Monday Love is in the Air (literally here), Simon Says Wednesday AG (4/5), Two Crafty Critter Crazies Feb AG/w critter, Crafty Animals Feb AG w/animal and Scrapping4fun challenge 108 Love, Valentine, Wedding, Friendship.

Aurora Wings #63 Mid Challenge Inspiration Post

As we have changed back to a monthly format on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog, we will now have (an approximately) Mid-Month Challenge Post to keep the crafty mojo flowing.  Our theme for Challenge #63 is Anything Goes and I'm using one of the 3 new release Sprites that were Showcased last Thursday HERE.  Meet Happy Pierrot Sprite.  Isn't he just precious?  Although he would be perfect for many occasions, think birthday, anniversary, or any celebratory event, I thought a Valentine's card was more than appropriate considering the date. (And it allowed me to use one of my fave colors combos, WooHoo!)

Here's a Closeup of Happy Pierrot Sprite, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy.  Glad to see this sweet little guy has perked up, although I love his sad little counterpart available HERE as well.  He's colored with Copics and I tried to make his balloons transparent for the first time with the help of white  Prismacolor pencil and a white gel and Posca paint pen, as well.  Gotta say, trying a new technique can be time consuming, but I'm quite happy with the outcome.  Thank you Kit and Clowder coloring classes!  Happy Pierrot was then fussy cut and popped on the die cut base that I'd outlined with a black sticker border.  The edge is a Martha Stewart punch.

The design was supposed to be rather CAS as well, but I got the idea of filling in one of the Tim Holtz thinlits dies with colors from the image.  I always associate a harlequin pattern with Pierrot image, don't you?  But after using the die on both pale pink, as well as black card stock it became as time consuming as a jigsaw puzzle.  Many of the diamonds look alike, but definitely are not.  EIYIYI!  The tiny hearts I added to the open red diamonds came from the Spellbinders Cascading Hearts Card Creator die I cut originally as a background for this card.

I've also die cut the sentiment directly from the white base with a die from Stampin'Up and added the "u" on top from an old Cuttlebug Alpha set.  So there you have it.  I hope you're re-energized and will visit the Challenge Blog to check out the gorgeous inspiration from my Stella teamies and enter our Anything Goes Challenge (perhaps even for a second time or third time, as long as your entries are all Aurora Wings, which runs through February 17th.  Hope to see you there.

Mitzi has also extended the New Release Coupon (good on any digi purchase) at both AW.com and AW Etsy through Tuesday February 6th.

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (challenge runs through Feb. 17th)

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 February Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #221 Love Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #75 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Crafty Gals Corner #158 AG, Mod Squad Valentine-Love, Simon Says Monday Love is in the Air, Artistic Inspirations AG/Be my Valentine, Cards in Envy Love You So Much, Colouring in Scrapland Love Without Borders/Love Without Boundaries, Crafting From the Heart #193 AG, the Marker Pop Feb. Valentine's FB challenge, Whoopsie Daisy Feb. AG/optional Valentine, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, 613 Avenue Create Feb. AG/Love, Dragonfly Journeys #111 Love, CIC439 Love challenge, the Classic Design Team Open Feb. Challenge AG, Crafting with Dragonflies Valentine/Romantic (1/1), Brown Sugar #275 Valentine's Day,  Aud Sentiments #196 Valentine or Love Sentiment, Scrapping4fun Challenge 108 Love,Valentine,Wedding,Friendship  and C.R.A.F.T. #453 Three of a Kind (balloons).

New Sprites Showcase at Aurora Wings!

EEEK!  It's an exciting day on the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog as Mitzi introduces the newest members of the Sprites family.  I'm thrilled to be joining the Showcase team today, so without further ado, Meet Bachelor's Buttons Sprite.   Isn't she a cutie?

A lovely blue always comes to mind when I hear the name of this flower.  In fact, a particular shade of blue is named for it, as Bachelor's Buttons are also known as Cornflowers, but when I looked for images on Yahoo I was surprised to see that Bachelor's Buttons come in many shades.  WOW!  Who knew?  So with Valentine's Day fast approaching, it was out with the blue and in with the deep pinks and reds and I concocted a lacy girly Valentine worthy of her frilly frothy petals.

So here's a closeup of Bachelor's Buttons Sprite.  She's colored with Copics using  the RV shades 10,13,17,19 and 69.  (Amazing that I actually still know the colors, but they still happen to be sitting on my desk.  LOL)  I rarely do hair in colors that are not "naturally occurring" and don't know why because I always love the effect.  Here I was aiming for a rather limited palette and wanted her to stand out from the busyness I had going, so green hair it is. (A combo of the colors used on her boots and dress, G 40, 43, 29, and YG 40 and 43.  I think it's time to clean up my desk!) LOVE her!

Here are all the links to Bachelor's Buttons Sprite on both AW.com and AW Etsy so you can choose your preference.

On AW.com  jpg HERE     png HERE

On AW Etsy  jpg HERE     png HERE

With the layers of Spellbinders Decorative Grand labels One and my XL heart die from Die-Versions (that cut in two pieces, used separately here) and the mix of patterns from the old Madly in Love stack from DCWV there was already a lot going on.  However, I couldn't resist  adding a sweet sentiment via some little conversation hearts and a pretty bow with lace and ribbon from DL.Art.  The center flower is actually layered bridal confetti I colored with the Copics I used for Bachelor's Buttons  Sprite.  Then I sprinkled just a few black gems for balance and called it done.

So are you ready for another?  Check out my second post HERE, but don't forget to visit the Showcase Blog to see the fabulous inspiration by the Showcase Team.

And don't miss the Coupon available through the weekend.  Woohoo!  Have fun!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Love/Thank you Challenge, Lil Patch of Craft Friends #74 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Polkadoodles Crafting (wk 4 Jan 26) AG, Colour Crazy Wk 4 AG, Crafty Gals Corner #158 AG, Creative Moments #135 AG, Scrapy Land Challenge #82 AG w/die that Scrapy Land sells, Mod Squad Valentine-Love,  613 Avenue Create New Beginnings (new Stamp, new heart die),  Digi Choosday Wk 5 AG, TTRCD Week of Jan 30th AG, the February Classic DT Open #22 and the Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge Bingo Board using the bottom row with flowers twist.

Vintage Valentine

Here's a sort of vintage looking Valentine I managed to just sneak in the Outlawz Festive Friday Challenge before it closed.  Playing with dies again, some old, some new.  The background was a discarded negative using Spellbinder's Opulent Ovals.  I'd used the largest die just to emboss, then the next smaller for the cut out.  Didn't work for the original project, but I distressed the edges with scissors, inked with Antique Linen and popped it on a mat of gorgeous gilded crinkle pink specialty paper I'd been saving from my friend Smita in India.  I was going for a pink and red combo to enter the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Pink and/or Red Challenge, and the extra detail was just perfect.  The center Winged Heart die by Die Namites is a new one (for me, anyway) and I've cut it twice, fussy cut and colored the flowers and center heart with my Copics, then shabbied it up a bit with Distress, too.  The sweet Cupids are Impression Obsession.  The final details are the filigree stickers that balanced the design and added to the vintage feel.

I'm also entering this in the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG challenge, Die Cut Divas Use Red or Pink,  Happy Little Stampers AG w/Dies, Let's Create and Craft Love is in the Air, Simon Says Monday Use Your Favorite Tool (Spellbinders Grand Caliber) and Scrap from your Heart Valentines/Mother's Day.

Got a Funny Feeling

Hey there.  Happy Valentine's Day!  I've already done my lovey dovey bit so I thought I might make you laugh instead.  The inspiration actually comes from a true story (with names changed to protect the innocent. LOL)  Long, long ago (when dinosaurs roamed the earth. JK! )my BFF from college went for a romantic dinner with her boyfriend when he unexpectedly popped THE QUESTION.   Not sure it was Valentine's Day, but it could have been.  Hate to say, her reaction was also quite unexpected.   Anyway, as soon as I saw All Shades of Green, by Bloobel Stamps it brought back memories. 

Here's the full Z fold opened.  The second image is called Love Sick.  You really can't have one without the other, eh?  Guess this meant the answer was "NO!" (She's gonna kill me when she reads this. HeeHee!)  You'll be happy to know that she did make it to the "ladies' " in time, though.

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge is "O" is for Outrageous, so I just had to join in.  Also the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode says Make a Funny Card, I'll also be adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Pink/and or Red Challenge, TTRCD Week of Feb 14 AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG.  

Trollin' for Love

So many fun Valentine images to choose from out there these days, but I really couldn't resist this new one from Sandra Caldwell, #1377 Troll Cupid.  She totally makes me giggle.  Just look at that face!  The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge is always Anything Goes, but the twist this time is a Heart Shaped Valentine so I dug out my Spellbinders Nested Hearts and and Scalloped Nested Hearts and went to work. Found a small scale heart pattern Dp in my stash from American Crafts and came up with a sentiment I thought was pretty cute. Couldn't resist some conversation hearts from M's and some kissy lips to hold the easel up.  MWAH!

Here's a closeup of #1377 Troll Cupid.  I nearly colored her in Smurf tones, but I wanted to keep the Valentine palette so I went with Copic pinks and reds, with a little lavender thrown in for good measure.

Time is running out for Valentine's Day, so I hope you visit Sandra's Etsy shop, Babycakesdnd and check out all the fab images Sandra has to offer.  New releases every Friday and some surprises here and there so visit often!  There's also a number of sale digis for several challenges, including the current FB contest, Glamour Girls going on now in Sandra's FB Group so check them out HERE and come play along.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Pink and/or Red Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG (2/17), Dies R Us Challenge #66 Hearts (2/14), Crafty Friends AG (2/14), Creative Corner Perfectly Pink (2/15), Making Memories Crafting #2 Use red+Other Valentine color, Simply Create Too February Love,  Aud Sentiments Valentine or Love Sentiment, Simon Says Monday Young at Heart, Simon Says Wednesday Cute, Through the Purple Haze Valentine/Love, LTSCB February Who Loves You Baby, TTRCD AG Week of February 7, House of Cards Love Theme and/or Colors and Use Your Stuff Love is in the Air.

Love and Romance from The East Wind

Welcome to the first Blog challenge of 2017 at The East Wind.  Our theme this time is Love and Romance, how perfect for Valentine's Day.  Bet you can't guess who this is for, (wink wink) and for once I'm ahead of the game.  As soon as I saw the gorgeous Aurora 'be my Valentine' I knew she'd be THE ONE for MY ONE and our perfect Love Story.  (P.S. She's on sale for just $2.00 for Valentine's Day)  I'm thrilled to be using my new Santa's Book dies from Precious Marieke, (so much more versatile than just for Christmas, don'tcha think?) to make a book shaped card.  I've added a heart shaped doily, some epoxy hearts and I little bow I've cut from trim.  My original thought was to make it a lot more frilly, but then decided he'd prefer it this way.

Here's a closeup of the gorgeous Aurora 'be my Valentine'.  She's colored with Copics with some epoxy hearts over the center one in her hands and the little one to the left in her hair.  Big surprise it's red, eh?  And although it took me quite a bit of time, it was really fun to color.  Unky draws such gorgeous hair and her eyes are so expressive and full of love.  I hope he can see that when he looks into my eyes, even after all this time.

The sentiment, both inside and out was computer generated using the Storybook Font.  More epoxy hearts and a satin heart bookmark so he can always find my loving words and remember our very special Love Story.  I hope you feel the same about the love of your life.

My DT sisters have more gorgeous inspiration and we hope you join in our new Love and Romance Challenge at The East Wind.

New releases now come out each Wednesday and there is a special limited time "package deal" for all of the February releases at one low price (and before they all are available individually) HERE. 

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Craft Rocket It's a Love Thing (2/14), Come and Get It 3 or More Layers, February Classic Design Team Open ATG, CCC Digi Creations #66 Add a Heart (2/13), LTSCB February #94 Who Loves You, Baby!, House of Cards Feb. Love Theme and/or Colors, Crafty Friends #50 Girly (2/09), Creatilicious ATG/optional Add Some Hearts (2/14), Simon Says Wednesday Color of Love, Crafting from the Heart ATG (2/5), Tuesday Throwdown #328 Love Notes(2/6), the Outlawz Monday Greetings Everything is Love challenge, TTRCD ATG Week of January 30th, Digistamps4Joy ATG/optional Red for V-day, Dies R Us Challenge #66 Hearts (2/13)  and the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Tic Tac Toe (using top row, Red, Punch or Dies and Heart).

Tip Your Hat to The East Wind

Our new challenge at The East Wind starts today with the theme of Tip of the Hat (include a hat).  I'm a huge fan of hats now that I wear them nearly all the time while outside for any length of time (to keep the red from going funky), so I had a hard time choosing an image with all the great ones at The East Wind.  I finally chose Lucy Loo "Lucy Style 'I Love You".  I happen to love her 'tude!  Did the card in sot of "punk" colors and thought the cool die I won from The Frantic Stamper fit the bill.

Lucy is colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils.  I tried to make her hat look like tweed.  Added a glitter foam heart and black and pink Alpha Beads.  This was a particularly fun one for me.

Here are all the important Links:
Challenge Blog
Show Room Blog
FB Group
FB Fan Page
Etsy Shop
Hope to see you around!

I'm entering this in the Fantasy Stampers Pretty in Pink, Kit and Clowder February Love, Allsorts Anything Other Than Birthday, Creative Fingers ATG, Fussy and Fancy It's All About Love, 4 Crafty Chicks Valentines, Simon Says Monday Red+Pink, Cute Card Thursday Perfectly Pink, In the Pink Love is in the Air, and DTBST Happy Valentine's Day. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you're doing what you love, with whom you love.  Here's a little cutie I did for the PpinkyDolls FB Valentine's challenge. 

This is one of her earlier images, called I Love You, so it didn't have much shading.  Did the heart and skin with Copics and most of the hair and clothes with pencil.  Doily is Cheery Lynn and the Hugs&Kisses from my new Tim Holtz die.  Aren't those heart shaped Alpha Beads adorable?  xox

I'm entering this in the Digi Galore February ATG Challenge, the Allsorts Any Occasion Other Than Birthday Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday w/Optional Use a Doily Challenge, Kitty Bee Favorite Color Combo (red, black&white), Simon Says Monday Red+Pink, 4 Crafty Chicks Valentines, and Addicted to Stamps and More ATG and Fussy and Fancy It's All About Love.

Aurora Wings Valentine's Challenge

Our new monthly challenge starts at Aurora Wings today and the theme is Valentines.



We know this day inspires lots of emotions, both positive and negative, so frilly and frothy or dark and sinister, we wanna see 'em, whatever they are.  Now, at first glance, you may think this is an anti-Valentine, but I beg to differ.  It speaks to the lovely thought that there's someone for everyone (and it's sort of an inside joke between me and my man.  LOL)  Gotta say, love is a bit sweeter when there's a little humor involved, eh?  The base is Spellbinders Grand Labels One and the fancy version too.  The heart doily behind is just that, a doily, colored black with a Sharpie because I didn't have a heart die large enough and the fabulous Drippy Butterfly is from Cheery Lynn.  (Clearly I need more Cheery Lynn dies)

So here's Corpse Flower Sprite.  Ummm...well, what can I say.  Besides his rather provocative shape and unusually large size, is odiferous scent is more than a bit...shall we say, piquant?  Oh, I might as well tell it like it is, basically, he stinks!  (But he's pretty damn cute in a well, I don't know exactly what way, but I think he is.)

And the object of his desire?  A corpse, of course, or at least what's left of one. This gorgeous stamp is called Memento Mori, meaning remember your own mortality.  The attraction is obvious, don'tcha think?  So I've horrified the majority of the Aurora Wings fans but still think there's a fun loving dark side among them...somewhere...  LOL  My DT sister's projects run the gamut of Mitzi's fabulous designs, so be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog  for fabulous inspiration and please, come play along.  And if Valentines don't float your boat, come join our Gemstones Contest on our FB fan page which runs through January 31st. See ya there.

I'm sharing this with Left of Center using the LOC theme, the Cheery Lynn Sweethearts (Add a Heart) Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG, TTRCD ATG Jan 13th -19th, That Craft Place Love/Valentine, Crafty Hazelnut's January Patterned Paper Challenge and A Step in the Dark ATG.