Another Cutie for the New Aurora Wings Showcase!

Wow!  The first new release AW Showcase of 2018 brings you not one, not two, but THREE adorable new Sprites.  This time I've used the sweet little Snowdrops Sprite and made a wall hanging depicting Winter's last days and the promise of Spring.  I've cut and popped several layers using Spellbinders Grand Labels Four and the Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Fanciful Labels for the computer generated sentiment.

I love using the png version of Mitzi's Sprites, especially, because you can add them directly onto digital paper or even into a photograph, as I've done here, without the fussy cutting and layering and then color away.

Here's a closeup of Snowdrops Sprite.  She's colored with Copics as the flowers appear in nature, but don't let that stop you from using non-traditional colors as some of the Showcase team has HERE.  They are, after all, magical fantasy creatures, so let your creativity run wild.  My greens pretty much run the gamut from dark to light for the flowers and stems (YG67, 63, 61, 13 and 01 and G82,40 and 20) and I decided to do her hair as if her pigtails sprang from the earth, using E41-44.

Here's are all of the links to Snowdrops 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

Finally, the frosty layer is vellum embossed with the Frosty Ice Folder from Sheena Douglas and fussy cut around the embossing (very carefully) with my craft knife to leave the center free so Snowdrops Sprite could peek out.  There's also a bit of Frantage and some clear mica flakes added to the frame for a bit of texture and a little bow from textured ribbon that also reminds me of frost.  The sentiment is computer generated.  Snowdrops to me always signal the promise of Spring and a new beginning. I know a few of my friends who just can't wait. 

So that's two of the three new Sprites premiering on the Showcase Blog today.  You can see my first inspiration post using another of the newbies HERE.  And shall I show you the third?  Sorry, nope!  I ran out of time, but you be sure to visit the Showcase Blog to see what the team has done with ALL THREE.

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

I'm entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #74 AG, A Snowflakes Promise #47 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, the Outlawz Monday Greetings AG, Polkadoodles Crafting (wk 4 Jan 26) AG, Crafty Creations #359 AG, Crafty Gals Corner #158 AG, Creative Moments #135 AG,   Scrapy Land Challenge #82 AG w/die that Scrapy Land sells,  Sisterhood of Crafters Dashing Through the Snow, W2CB New Beginnings (brand new stamp and the promise of Spring), 613 Avenue Create New Beginnings (new Stamp, promise of Spring), Deep Ocean Challenge #173 Let it Snow, Digi Choosday Wk 5 AG, Ike's World New Beginnings, TTRCD Week of Jan 30th AG, and Whoopsi Daisy Winter Scene.

Sprite Delight IV at Aurora Wings

A new challenge begins today at Aurora Wings and do we have a surprise for you!  Not only is our theme the popular Sprite Delight (IV), but we have an adorable freebie, Pansy Sprite, available to download on the Challenge Blog to use in the challenge (or not) but please be advised, that for this challenge only, you must use an Aurora Wings Sprite (other than the Big Eyed Doll faced images with Sprite in the title) to enter the challenge. 

I've made a wall hanging using Graphic 45 papers from the once Upon a Springtime pack and die cuts from Heartfelt Creations.  It was difficult to choose colors, since there are so many color combos for pansies, but the gorgeous ribbon from the new DL.Art Intimate Bundle, matched perfectly to one of my favorites.

Here's a closeup for the sweet new freebie, Pansy Sprite, all colored up.  You can download this cutie on the AW Challenge Blog HERE.  She's colored with Copics from a pic I found on Yahoo.  To be honest, I find it easiest to find a huge selection of pictures for reference just typing in "pansy", for example, and doing a web search on Yahoo and clicking on the "Image Results" like THESE, rather than Google.

I've also added Pansy Border also available as a 3 Pack HERE to complete my Spring Garden theme.

Here's the dimensional shot of my wall hanging.  I cut the center of the Graphic 45 image with a craft knife and glued it to more Graphic 45 DP, then popped the rest of the image frame with foam before adding the die cuts and fussy cut AW images.  The Pansy border was just attached with Glue Dots at the very edges and Pansy Sprite was popped with foam on top. The Heartfelt Creations gate was attached with 1/8th " Score tape just at the outer edges and the pediment was bowed and attached with Glue dots and adhesive pearls.

Be sure to visit the AW Challenge Blog to download your free Pansy Sprite and see the gorgeous inspiration from my DT sisters.  As always, you may enter up to 3 times with an AW Image and for this challenge only, you must use an Aurora Wings Sprite to enter.  Be sure to check out the newly remodeled Aurora Wings Digi Shop for lower prices and easier navigation, too.  Can't wait to see what you create.

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 (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art March Linky challenge,  TTRCD week of Feb 28-March 6 AG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Spring challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, the Corrosive Challenge March AG, Allsorts Spring Inspiration,  A Perfect Time to Craft Open challenge March, Classic DT Open March, Crafts Galore Encore March AG, Artistic Inspirations #174 AG, Crafting from the Heart #149 AG, Dream Valley Lots of Layers, Crafty Awesomeness March AG, LTSCB #95 AG, Not Just Cards #41 Spring, 

New Challenge at Aurora Wings

Our new challenge starts today at Aurora Wings, hosted by the Aurora Team, with the theme of Black & White with One Other Color.  Our take is different than most of the other challenges with this theme, actually more greyscale coloring (+ one), meaning we're also omitting skin and hair colors from our palette.  (OOOH!  Scary, huh?  LOL)  I've made a wall hanging using the gorgeous Chrysanthemum Festival, with Spellbinders Grand Labels Four for the base and Tattered Lace Oriental Chrysanthemum and Die-Versions Oriental Lantern purchased specifically for this challenge.

Here's a closeup of the beautiful Chrysanthemum Festival.  She's colored with Copics using all Neutral Grays with only Y15 and Y17 as the color accents.  This is the first time I've attempted this greyscale coloring, but it won't be the last. It really was loads of fun.  Be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog to see the stunning work by my teamies.

Here's a detail of the hanging lantern.  It's so delicate, that I decided to cut it 5 times in black and glue them all together to make it sturdy enough to hang alone from the bottom.  Then I used a double layer of yellow card stock (because with one layer it still cut through) and ran it through with only the embossing mat and plate so I could still see the shape, but it was still a solid piece. I then cut around the outside of the lantern shape, just inside the indent and glued it to the back of the die cut to fill in.

I hope you visit the Challenge Blog and are inspired enough by what you see to enter this brand new challenge.  We also have a FB Contest (Use a Cropped Image) going on now until June 30th.

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 entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, As You Like it Favorite Die and Why (I love the Spellbinders Labels Four as it comes all the way up to the Grand Sizes and makes a fab base for wall hangings), Crafting from the Heart ATG, Craft your Passion ATG, Love to Scrap ATG, 613 Avenue Create ATG/Optional Tag, Dragonfly Dreams Say it with Flowers, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends ATG, Corrosive Challenge June Lots of Layers, Left of Center Tic Tac Toe (using Middle Horizontal Row Diecuts, Black, Flowers), Allsorts How Does Your Garden Grow, Let's Color Linky Party 10 ATG, Crafting with Friends ATG, Creative Fingers ATG, Polkadoodles Use a Die Cut, Simply Papercraft ATG, Crafting with an Attitude ATG, Crafty Girls Creations ATG, and Inspiration Destination ATG.

New Release at Aurora Wings

I'm joining the Aurora Wings Showcase Team today to introduce the newest member of the Sprite family, Mushroom Flower Sprite.  Isn't she a girly girl, all decked out like that?  I can see her colored a million different ways, can't you?
She's available in the AW Etsy Shop HERE in jpg form, or HERE in no background png, if you want to add her directly to digital paper and then color her.  (Saves the fussy cutting and extra layers for mailing.)

Here's a closeup of this cutie.  She's colored with Copics with a bit of shading from Prismacolor pencils.  I chose the colors based on the center mushroom in the background, coloring her skin and cap first, and then was faced with hair color.  Hmmm...  The underside of the cap was already dark, I ruled out red because of her flowers, and blond or light brown washed her out.  Okay then, green it is!  Although I used the png version and planned to print her directly on the page, the composition wasn't quite right, so I ended up fussy cutting and popping her with foam after all. (P.S. I also flipped her in my program before printing because it worked better for the design and the background had text so it was not an option there.)

The background and other ephemera all came from the Ephemera's Vintage Garden Woodland Wings Collection which I bought especially for this project.  I wanted her to have a woodsy home and this journal kit was just perfect.  I cropped and printed the journal page several times to fussy cut and layer and also added a bird and another moth from other pages.  I backed it with a moss colored corrugated page from DCWV and added some texture with burlap, Frantage, reindeer moss and a rope hanger.  The distressing was done with a scissors and Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Here's the dimensional view.  Hope you like.  The AW teams have done a phenomenal job with Mushroom Flower Sprite, so be sure to visit the Showcase Blog and check out the amazing projects.  It's so much fun seeing a new digi colored in a variety of ways.  Also note that tomorrow is the last day for our "Say It With Flowers" Challenge, so be sure to get your entries in. The new challenge, featuring the Stella Team, begins on Monday.

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 entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Craft Your Passion ATG, TTRCD April 26-May2 ATG, the Southern Girls Texture, the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Mixed Media challenge, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Inspiration Destination ATG, Crafty Gals Corner ATG, Clear it Out Spring is Here Theme:Nature Stash:Greenery (I used Reindeer Moss and green corrugated card stock), 613 Avenue Create ATG, LTSCB #76 ATG 3/ 3), Crafty Catz Fairies or Something Enchanting and The Cutie Pie Woodland Friends Challenge. 

New Monthly Challenge at Gecko Galz

WOW!  Another month has flown by and it's May already.  And speaking of flying, our new Gecko Galz monthly Challenge begins today with the theme of  "Take Flight" or Things with Wings.

I actually worked with a bit of mixed media for a change.  (Yea, Me!)  To be honest, although I love the final result, getting there was a bit of a challenge. I'm not the most patient when it come to waiting for things to dry and although I've assembled a truckload of paints, stains, sprays, special finishes...etc, I'm somewhat timid about experimenting.  Fear of failing often rules the day and I pretty much hate getting my hands dirty.  That being said...

I started with a chipboard birdcage from Want2Scrap I've had in my stash for years.  I covered the back with one of the new designs from the Gecko Galz Toile Jolie Digital Paper pack.  I wanted the cage to have a sort of shabby chic feel so I brushed it first with Gesso and then with metallic gold acrylic paint and let dry. (or should I say blasted it with a heat gun 'cause I couldn't wait)  When dry, I sponged on ecru acrylic paint.  I wanted to add some Frantage embossing but couldn't heat from underneath because of the thickness of the cage and open areas so I dabbed Perfect Medium in spots, sprinkled on the embossing powder and heated it from the top.  WooHoo!  Just what I was hoping for.

The fab bird images and framed sentiment are icons from the May Free Birds Digital Craft Kit.  Each printed twice and fussy cut and popped for dimension.  I've added lace tape to the cuff of the hand and ribbons to the pigeon and flower spray.  The little resin lock on the cage door is Melissa Frances and I've strung gorgeous silk ribbon through the top for a hanger.  Please visit the Challenge Blog for fabulous inspiration of the rest of the team and we'd love it if you would play along.  All we need is one digital element from Gecko Galz and you're good to go.  (Freebies count, so subscribe to our newsletter and check out Pinterest, too.) A $25 Gecko Galz shopping spree is up for grabs.

I'm entering this in the Crafty Boots Things with Wings, Challenge, Simon Says Monday ATG, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Not Just Cards Challenge #18, and All Crafts Challenge April/May.

Vintage, Shabby Chic, Steampunk at Lacy Sunshine

Our new Challenge starts today at Lacy Sunshine with the theme of Vintage, Shabby Chic or Steampunk.  Take your pick!  I was all set to do Steampunk when I came across the gorgeous Breena Garden Music Box Melancholy Moppet and I knew she'd be perfect!  I made  a vintage banner wall hanging using DP from K&Co, a lace die from Heartfelt Creations, ovals from Spellbinders and music notes from Cuttlebug.

Here's beautiful Breena all colored up with Copics with a bit of extra shading with a black Prismacolor pencil.  She's fussy cut and popped with foam.

And here's the Lacy Sunshine Recipe Card listing all the supplies and colors used.  I gotta say, this makes such a great reference for future coloring as well as this particular project.  Hope you find this helpful to you, as well.

Here's the dimensional shot.  You can also see the bit of distressing I've done to the DP on the banner and oval with the edge of my scissors.  Wasn't quite sure if the project is Vintage or Shabby Chic, but either way, it flies for the challenge.  LOL  Finishing touches were the roses on the music notes and crinkle seam binding bow and hanger.  There's a great variety this time on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog so be sure to check out my teamies' fabulous creations.  Also, don't forget to check out the Loyalty Program digi you can get for free if you used a Lacy Sunshine image in the last challenge or may buy for 50% off for the duration of the challenge.  And for those of you who just like to color, we now have a colored image only category for our challenges.  WooHoo!  Can't wait to see what you create.

I'm entering this in the Allsorts Bingo challenge (ribbons flowers, die cuts), Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge ATG/Spring Flowers, Crafty Catz 2 or More Patterned Papers, DL.Art April Linky Party, Inspiration Destination ATG, Not Just Cards ATG, Craft Your Passion ATG, Papertake Weekly ATG, Natalie and Amy's Frame It Challenge, and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Free Your Beautiful Mind

Today my Gecko Galz projects for the month are being featured on the Gecko Galz Blog.  I've already blogged the others, but if you've missed anything, please go take a look.  My final piece is a wall hanging.  All quotes are from the Gecko Galz Beautiful Words Collage set.  First I re-sized the beautiful minds quote to fit the resin light bulb from Prima, matted it in green and layered on the DP I'd cut to approx 7x9" and matted that in black.

I added dimensional embellies that matched those on the image.  The light bulb is from Prima as are the flowers.  The lifelike acetate butterfly (that I've had in my stash for eons) is from Nature's Illusions. The Tim Holtz keyhole was added with brads.

I've added a small quote to  the left side of the main image, also from the Beautiful Words set and glued on a metal key from K&Co.

I printed the Happiness Quote twice (in different sizes) and used the larger words only for the bottom portion of the hanging which was matted twice and hung with jump rings.  Then I fussy cut the large butterfly from the quote and the other from the smaller version I printed, bent their wings up and attached them in the center only.  I'm hoping this will the spur my creative mojo when I'm feeling down.


I'm entering this in the Anything But a Card Use 5 challenge (5 different embellies, flowers, butterflies, light bulb, key hole and key), Crafty Calender March Add Some Metal, Craft for the Craig, Bingo (using flowers, sentiment, image), Simply Create Too ATG, Digitally Sweet ATG, Crafting with an Attitude , Simon Says Wednesday ATG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG and Aud Sentiments ATG + Sentiment.