The Party Continues on the AWCB

Well I'm winging my way home from Florida and our nephew's beautiful wedding, probably as you read this, but managed to work ahead for this Mid- Inspiration Post for our special 4th Anniversary Party/Sprite Delight V Challenge.  I hope you've all collected your "party favor" as she is still available until the challenge close on April 14th and look forward to you joining us with ANY of Mitzi's adorable Sprites.

Okay, I'm sure those of you have been experiencing Winter weather far longer than normal are not thrilled to see a snowy card, but I'm fond of doing Christmas year 'round and to be honest, I had a major Copic catastrophe with my original image and plan and this cutie was started for some other challenges. Pretty sure Hot Cocoa Sprite, available HERE on AuroraWings .com and HERE on Etsy could melt even the coldest heart though, don'tcha think?

Here's a closeup of Hot Cocoa Sprite.  He's colored with Copics and fussy cut after gluing him on some light turquoise card stock.  I then glued him to a snowflake ornament and clipped him to a double stitched tag from Gina Marie.  The gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon is from DL.Art.

I thought this turned out so cute that it would be fun to make him removable from the card to hang on your tree, so here he is doing just that.  WooHoo!

If you're more in the mood for Springtime, be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and see the gorgeous makes by my Stella team sisters and don't forget to grab you "party favor" while you're there.  Hope to see you join in our Sprite Delight V/4th Anniversary Celebration.  Double prizes this time.  WooHoo!

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (current challenge runs through April 14th)

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, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #79 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #227 AG, 613 Avenue Create AG/optional Use Vellum, the Classic Design Team Open #24 AG, the Colour Crazy Craft Challenge Wk 13 AG, A Perfect Time to Craft Open #4 AG, QKR Stampede #289 AG, the World Wide Open DT Challenge #03 AG, Simon Says Monday A Trio of Something (wooden tiles), the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Card with a Bow and Christmas, Creative Fingers #144 AG, Creatalicious #136 AG/opt friendship, Christmas at Sweet Stampin' AG Christmas, 

Wag the Dog

I knew I forgot something on my doggie card with the Ike's Art FB Progressive Freebie.  There was one more Outlawz challenge I wanted to enter before we left.  Saturday Paper ala Mode asked for an interactive card.  Well, I'd printed the image twice, in case I screwed up so here's another coloring and card and this time he's on an Action Wobble so you can "wag the dog".  HeeHee!  Sorry for the crap coloring.  Started this as 1:30 AM (because travel stresses me out) and my markers were gooky...sigh...  More fun DP from that Pet's Mat stack by DCWV. I tried unsuccessfully to take a video with my phone, or should I say I didn't know how to upload it, but you get the idea, don't you?

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge,  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

You are Purrfect!

Trying to get all my bases covered at The Outlawz Challenges and did this as a final one for Festive Fridays for their Card with a Cat theme using the colors from Tuesday Color (blue + my choices of green, white with use a rubber stamp as my twist).  You know I rarely use rubber but I love these little kitties from Nikoart from back in 2009 (sadly no longer trading). They were cut with a Spellbinders Postage Stamp die.  The sentiment was just sitting on my desk...PURRFECT!  I really wanted to color a kitty for this challenge, but fur takes sooo long and I ran out of time.

I'm also adding this to the SUYP March Furrything Goes (with a cat) challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG.

It's a Dog's Life!

Just trying to sneak in a few challenges since after today I won't be crafting for a few.  This cutie is the first Progressive Freebie over in the Ike's Art FB Group and is still available until the end of the month if you want to join in.  Fortunately he was easy to color (with Copics) and I found the paper and the sentiment in my stash from the old DCWV pet stack.  WooHoo!  It also worked for the Outlawz Monday Greetings Animal theme this week, so there ya go.

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Movie Challenge inspired by "Marley & Me", Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG.

It's Wine Time!

Couldn't miss another of the fab themes for Festive Fridays on the Outlawz Forum this week as it's all about WINE.  Oh, yeah!  I'd actually planned this card for awhile using fun images from Sandra Caldwell.  Love the Sizzix die I used, but it's a bit fiddly to put together (and to photograph).

The first section uses #478 Dozen Roses and #411 Wine Me Up.  The images were colored with Copics and cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels One and Scalloped Labels One.

The sentiment was computer generated and the final image is #141 Too Tipsy.  I'd personally say he's saving the day.  Little speech bubble die is also from Spellbinders.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, TTRCD Week of March 27th, A Bit More Time to Craft #64 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG. 

Egg Decorating with Bloobel

There's a fun contest going on over at the Bloobel Stamps Create and Share FB Group page that I just couldn't pass up.  Lisa has a full page of Egg Decorating goodies available for FREE HERE to join in.  Well, you know I love me some Bloobel so I had to join in, but instead of the free egg I decorated the one (using the stuff from the decorating kit) from Easter Chicken because her expression just "cracks me up", (pun intended).

  
Here's a little better pic of Easter Chicken.  I figured that that huge egg might be a little worse for wear after being laid by such a little chicken so I used the paint splats, patches and Band-aids from the FREE Easter Egg Painting stamps to decorate it.  I colored with Copics and added some cracks, as well.  My original plan was just to color it so I printed it HUGE. as well, then realized it looked so bare I wanted to make a card with it.  Instead of fussy cutting (because it would have been a GINORMOUS card) I took a pic of my coloring and resized and removed the background so I could add this cute retro Easter Bunnygram from Gecko Galz behind it. Turned out pretty cute, eh?

I'm also adding this to the Outlawz Festive Fridays Here Comes Spring theme, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, TTRCD Week of March 27th, Make My Monday Easter Fun, A Bit More Time to Craft #64 AG and Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG. 

Let's Cuddle

What's with the snow?  Well, I won some adorable stamps from Oddball Art on Holley Barnhart's Blog celebrating her 8 seizure free years after multiple brain surgeries.  I chose to use img #423 Yeti Love to work with first because of several challenges on the Outlawz Forum, not to mention the March Itsy, Bitsy,Teenie, Weenie challenge on the Oddbal Art Challenge Blog.  They do look pretty "teenie, weenie" in that blizzard, don'tcha think?  My cool new embossing folder is from Apple Blossom from the Craft Stash in the UK.

On the Outlawz the Saturday Paper ala Mode challenge is Cute and Cuddly so I merged the two cuties together so they could cuddle and the Outlawz Twisted Thursday calls for Seasons.  Hard to imagine that some of you guys out there are still shoveling snow.  YIKES!!  They're colored with Copics and fussy cut to add to the scene.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge,  Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG, Winter Wonderland Outdoor fun, Craft Rocket Something New (New stamp and embossing folder I just got YESTERDAY!)  WooHoo!, and A Snowflakes Promise #49 AG (using Sponsor image.  

The Outlawz Progressive +

Okay, it's kinda getting down to the wire for our trip and I still have LOTS to do.  I actually colored and created it in the wee hours of this morning because I couldn't sleep.  This cutie is for the Outlawz March Progressive challenge with the adorable "Catch of the Day" image by Ann Fenton of Anne's Digital Art.  Thanks you, Anne!  He's colored with Copics and I've added some clear Wink of Stella ( my new favorite product) to the fish so it sparkles. 

I also managed to loosely follow the new Outlawz Wednesday Sketch so WooHoo for that.  It's not the last day and for once I tried to be a bit creative.  The image and mat is cut with Double Stitched Rectangles from Kat Scrappiness.  The clouds are Spellbinders to which I've added teeny bug brads from Queen and Co. (so fitting for a boy,I think) and sun die is from Verve.  The sticker sentiment is from Carta Bella.

I'm also adding this to the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Seasons challenge (Summer), the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, QKR Stampede #288 AG, TTRCD Week of March 20th, and the Southern Girls #180 Die Cuts.

Sugar Plum Sprite for the Outlawz

I love playing at the Outlawz Festive Fridays because they have 4 themes each week and one of them is always Christmas.  I've used the gorgeous little Sugar Plum Sprite from Aurora Wings, available HERE on AuroraWings.com and HERE on Etsy for this week to remind everyone that Aurora Wings is celebrating their 4th anniversary of the AW Challenge blog with a special party and "party favor" to join in.  Stop by the Challenge Blog HERE to collect yours and play along with her or ANY AW Sprite.

I've added a beautiful die cut snowflake from Impression Obsession and a die cut sentiment from Tim Holtz for Sizzix. Papers are from the Recollections (Nutcracker inspired) Ballet Stack.

Here's a closeup of Sugar Plum Sprite.  She's colored with Copics with Stardust Stickles for some sparkle and a faceted Jewel Crown.  She really isn't just for Christmas, but for any little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina, don'tcha think?

HOpe you come and join the party at the AWCB.  Current challenge runs through April 14th and prizes are DOUBLED for this challenge.  There's plenty of time to play along, so what are you waiting for?

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (current challenge runs through April 14th)

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 March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG,  ABC Christmas Challenge G is for Glitter (used Stardust Stickles but hard to see), Scrapy Land #86 AG w/any die brand Scrapy Land sells, the Merry Christmas Challenge #12 AG Christmas, the Southern Girls Die Cuts and the Holly and the Ivy Anything Christmas Goes.

It's All Perspective

Here's one using the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch for last week and the gorgeous image called Hello, from SheepSki Designs who just happens to be sponsoring the challenges there this month.  I definitely wanted to use a SheepSki image, but chose this one specifically because of the sketch.

I did a fair amount of damage at the Scrapbook Expo earlier this month and was dying (HA!) to use one of my new dies from Elizabeth Crafts and thought this particular one would be perfect, not only for the sketch, but also for Andrea's gorgeous image.  I've added adhesive gems and sequins with Nuvo Drop to the centers to bling it up a bit.  The panels behind were done by spritzing Dylusions Sprays though a plastic produce bag onto watercolor paper.  Once dry, I spritzed again with water and blotted. I LOVE recycling produce bags and save all sorts of them both to use as stencils or or trim a bit and use "as is" to add texture to a project.

Hello was colored with Copics with a little Prismacolor pencil detail because I'd printed her out pretty small.  Then I brushed her with some clear Wink of Stella to make her shine.  I couldn't get a good pic of that in my light box, but when I brought her back into my craft room the incandescent overhead light picked it up quite nicely.  The starfish she's reaching for is from JoLee's and the sentiment is a the Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker.

I'm entering this in the SheepSki March/April FB challenge, DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, 613 Avenue Create #207 Reuse/ Upcycle (produce bag as stencil for background), Aud Sentiments Bingo (middle row across 3D item, Digi or Stamp, Markers or Pencils) and Crafting with an Attitude AG , Pause Dream Enjoy #12 Photo Inspiration, ...

A Three-fer for the Outlawz Challenges

I've been a busy gal with DT responsibilities but I did have some spare moments to do a few for Challenges on the Outlawz Forum.  Monday Greetings called for St. Patrick's Day, Twisted Thursday has a Bingo board and I went for the right row down (Wet or dry embossing, Any shade of Green and Polka Dots) and finally one of the Festive Friday themes was also St. Patrick's day so there ya go. This cutie, called #1378 Leprechaun Kitty, is by Sandra Caldwell.  He's colored with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders Labels Four die.  The shamrock behind him was fashioned from 3 Spellbinders hearts and a stem cut with a circle and trimmed, then embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.  

The sentiment idea originally came with last year's March freebie on SUYP from Ike's Art but unfortunately my digi files still aren't accessible since my computer croaked so I had to make my own. (Of course I was in a hurry and having a Sr. moment and didn't think to look at the Fabulous freebies Ike generously provides to enter at SUYP and now I see, there it is!)

I'm entering this in the SUYP March Furrything Goes challenge, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #224 Green, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, Always Fun Challenges Dogs or Cats, Crafty Cardmaker's #207 Go Green, Incy Wincy No More than 3 colors(excluding black and white), Di's Digi Challenge Lots of Green, Crafty Gals Corner #161 Make it Green and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies March AG w/critter.

Happy 4th Anniversary AWCB! Let's CELEBRATE!

We're celebrating our 4th Anniversary on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog with a special party and the extremely popular Challenge theme

We're even offering a little "party favor" to enter the challenge so be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog to collect yours!  BTW, for this challenge we are only allowing AuroraWings Sprites, so don't miss out (hint, hint).

I have made a "Hidden Secrets" box inspired by my friend Sharon Hudson's project I first saw on the Outlawz Forum.  Although I've seen this type of box done before, I thought Sharon's project was particularly beautiful and she offered a link to a tutorial that was by far the easiest to follow HERE (in both cm and INCHES! so no need to convert.  YAY!) and just perfect for the Sprites I had in mind.

First I have Blueberry Sprite available HERE on Aurora Wings.com and HERE on Etsy.  All these cuties have been colored with Copics.  The lacy strip that circles the box is a large MS punch used on both sides of a 12" strip.

Next is Strawberry Sprite, available HERE on Aurora Wings.com and HERE on Etsy.  She was the most challenging to color because it was the first time I've attempted the "dimples" from the seeds thanks to the Elements of Nature Class from Kit and Clowder.  That was fun!

In between I've added a computer generated sentiment cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels Four.

Finally, here's Raspberry Sprite, my personal favorite berry to eat.  She is currently available exclusively HERE at AuroraWings.com.  I ran the double  ribbon around the entire box under the punched strip to close.

On top I've added several of the middle size of Spellbinders Delicate Doilies, cut to fill spaces and separate when opening the box, along with velvet leaves, berries from Hobby Lobby and some Prima flowers with Nuvo Drops centers.

And here it is open to reveal 3 drawers for some "hidden secrets".  Isn't this fun?  I strongly recommend HEAVY card stock for this project and STRONG tape or glue to put it together.  Michael's has 110 lb in white, black and color assortments (100 sheet packs)  that are great for projects like this, and also for card bases, under their Recollections brand.   Not so great for intricate metal dies, but they have 65 lb for that.  Thanks to Sharon for her inspiration.  I truly enjoyed making this project.  Now be sure to visit the AW Challenge Blog to see the gorgeous inspiration from my Aurora Teamies, collect your "favor" and join the party.

OOOH!  And just in case you missed the weekend Coupon, it's been EXTENDED through Tuesday March 20th.  WOOHOO!

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (current challenge runs through April 14th)

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 March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, TTRCD for week of March 13th, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #225 AG, Classic DT Open March #23 AG, the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #03, the Corrosive Challenge #3 March AG, 613 Avenue Create #207 AG, the Colour Crazy Challenge Week 11 AG, Creative Fingers #143 AG, QKR Stampede #287 AG, Polkadoodles Crafting Wk 11 AG, A Perfect Time to Craft March AG, Crafts Galore Encore March AG, Colouring in Scrapland March AG, the Cutie Pie Challenge #121 Spring Cuties, Crafting From the Heart #199 AG, ...