Slow Loris Fundraiser Campaign at Aurora Wings

I guess that I am slowing down in my old age. I wanted to get a project made with the cutie below, BUT life has a funny way of slapping down my creativity. At least I got the new Slow Loris Sprite colored. These cuties are now part of the endangered species.

Before I go on with the story behind Mitzi’s campaign (which ends on April 3), I hope that you will take a look at the amazing projects that the Aurora Wings’ designers have created. Click here, and you can also scroll down in the blog to find a link for your contribution, if you are so inclined and I hope you are.

In Mitzi’s words:

“Cute!  Precious! Adorable!  Totally irresistible!  I WANT one!  Right?  Yeeesss, and that's unfortunately causing much misery to these animals.  They have become so popular (Thanks to social media, like the case of the aforementioned viral video of pet slow loris being 'tickled' with arms raised up - to learn more about why this is troublesome, please check out this link) that the demand is driving illegal exotic pet trade in areas of the world where these cute guys naturally live and thrive.  I am not going into the details here because it might be too upsetting to many of you (It certainly was for me!), but too many of these animals in the illegal pet trade are being mistreated.  Even if they find themselves in "good homes" with reasonably responsible pet owners, because they are nocturnal, they tend to get neglected while the human owners are fast asleep.  For those of you who wish to know more about the issues facing these animals, please learn more by checking out this link on wikipedia.

The funds raised in this special event will be sent to the Slow Loris Rescue as a lump sum.  The actual AW fundraiser campaign will take place at THIS PAGE.  If you were a member of AW Facebook group last summer, you probably remember the Numbat Fundraiser we had.  Like that time, I will be offering a gift digi image for your donation of any amount as my thank-you for supporting this cause.  You will be able to use the image to enter a special contest at our FB group for more chances to win more AW digis and other prizes.

But wait!  That's not all!  (Sounding like a pitchman in an infomercial here.)  For a donation amount of $10 USD or more, you will receive one more digi.  These two images are "Special Edition" and offered only as gifts to the donors of this special event, and will not be made available for purchase at my shops in the future.  I hope you find the cause to be worthy in the first place, but I also hope that you find these images cute enough to give you the added incentive to donate (... and maybe even curb your appetite for a live loris as a pet).”

Thanks for stopping by! One of my goals over the next few weeks is to work on my Sprite journal. Only Heaven knows how many of Aurora Wings’ colored Sprites I have waiting on me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

AW Showcase Designer

Sprite Delight III at Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Happy Monday everyone! And what a way to start your week than with a new challenge at Aurora Wings Challenge Blog. This 23^rd Aurora Wings challenge is the third round of Sprite Delight, or Sprite Delight III. I get the pleasure of playing along with the other talented and artistic designers as an Aurora Wings February Guest Designer. Mitzi’s delightful sprites have been a favorite of mine for several years now. I don’t think that I will ever get tired of creating fun journal pages and art cards. All of her sprites can be found in her Aurora Wings Etsy shop.

Mitzi’s sprites are created as flowers, plants, or insects. I do have several Aurora Wings sprites colored and waiting on me for projects. For this project I decided on the Ranunculus Sprite and can be found in her Etsy shop. My color scheme decision making is helped along with an online search for that particular kind of sprite.  Now it’s time for me to start the Copic coloring process.

Copics used for my coloring:

Skin: E000, 00, 04, 11, 21, and R20;

Flower: RV63, 69, and YR20, 23, 24;

Leaves and slippers: G40, 43, 46, 29.

I decided several months ago to start a 6” square “Sprite Journal.” With that said the following pictures and products links are the process of creating my second sprite journal page. (You can find my first sprite journal page here.)

To begin, I trimmed a 6” square of 140lb mixed media paper. After trimming I laid down a coat of DecoArt’s White Gesso. No picture here because I don't think you need to see a "white" page! LOL

The photo above, and before I started adding colors, shows DecoArt’s Doily stencil used with DecoArt’s Modeling Paste. After that was dry, I added DecoArt’s Misters in Orange and Primary Magenta. I added one more mister in Yellow Green and wiped this green with a baby wipe.

I was trying to tone down all the bright colors. At this point I covered the page with DecoArt’s Soft Touch Varnish. I have depleted my stock of DecoArt’s Matt Medium, but this

varnish was lovely to work with.

I added Crystal Craft Twinkles (DecoArt of course) to the page. I think that you can tell in the above photo the reflection of the twinkles.

Still too bright for my taste, so I tried the White Shimmer Mist to help tone it down some.

I was still not satisfied, so decided to mix Americana Acrylic Paint in Hauser Medium Green and Evergreen.

I started dabbing the green on and added a few flower stems.

Almost finished…I cut a couple of die cuts with Spellbinder’s Happy Days dies from designer paper. Next step was using Orange Misters to darken the bright paper. I felt my page still needed something. I have a large stash of chipboard patterns. I choose Make it Crafty’s corners and covered them with DecoArt’s DecoArt Lavish Green Metallic Lustre. (Love this medium! DecoArt has a new color, Rose Gold, and they are getting ready to launch more new colors for 2016.)

The last bits to be glued down were paper flowers (which received a coat of the Craft Twinkles), the sentiment, and the Ranunculus Sprite. My sprite was fussy cut with a bit of the white left around the image and glued onto some black cardstock. That black cardstock was then fussy cut like the first time. I like the main image, or subject matter, to pop off the page. Now my journal page is complete!

This very last picture is a photo of the all the DecoArt products that I got messy with. Don't you love getting messy?

I hope you join us for this challenge. Mitzi has provided you with the cutest pineapple sprite for you to use in this challenge. Hop on over to the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog and pick it up. Isn’t she the cutest?

Thanks for stopping by and a very big thank you to Aurora Wings for this opportunity! If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

AW February Guest Designer

Two New Releases at Aurora Wings

It has been a long time since I posted anything on my blog blog. I hope that changes this year. I have a list of goals (Note: not resolutions), and blogging more often is one at the top of my list.

Now onto the Aurora Wings Showcase…Mitzi has started off the year with some fabulous new images. She has given each of her Aurora Wings Showcase Designers two of the most beautiful mermaids, Lady of the Sea and Guardian of the Sea. These lovelies will be available in Mitzi’s Etsy shop starting today.

I had time enough to color the Lady of the Sea with Copics. Believe it or not, I still have our huge Christmas tree to dismantle. LOL I worked three days on the background and still not satisfied, but it was a fun learning experience. I love it when I watch a video and learn different techniques with Copics! The technique is using alcohol (you can use the Copic blending solution, but alcohol is cheaper) and a piece of burlap. The video was created by Rhea of Passionate Paper Creations. I hope you like my Lady of the Sea.

Mitzi has also given you all a few coupons for the next few days. These are for digital images only, AND one coupon per order. Have fun! I saw a new sprite, so I will be there for sure!

Here are a few more links for Aurora Wings.

There is something always going on at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

(In March we will start with an additional design team,

along with having two challenges each month.)

Stamps by Aurora Wings Facebook group

(There is a monthly contest…

more chances to win Mitzi’s fabulous digital images!)

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me via my email or my website, AJ’s Design Artz.

Have a great weekend my friends! I will be back at my Christmas tree!

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Aurora Wings Showcase Designer

AW Christmas Sprites New Coloring Book

You heard right…a new Aurora Wings Sprite coloring book!!! This one, which makes Mitzi’s second “Sprite” coloring book, is all about Christmas. This “pre-ordered” Christmas Sprites mini coloring book is half size (compared to her other coloring books on the market), slightly smaller than 5.5” x 8.5”. The sprites that found their way home in this adorable coloring book include 6 previously released digital images and 6 brand new exclusives. Yes, that’s what Mitzi said, 6 exclusives, meaning they will be in this book and never available as digital stamps. Each sprite is printed on one side and the other side is left blank. This allows you to frame your work and you will not have to sacrifice an image on the back side. To pre-order please visit Aurora Wings site by clicking here.

The 12 images included in the Christmas Sprites Mini Coloring Book include: Christmas Cactus Sprite, Christmas Tree Sprite, Poinsettia Sprite, Mistletoe Sprite, Little Santa, Holly Sprite, Christmas Wreath Sprite, Amaryllis Sprite, Candle Angel Sprite, and Candy Cane Sprite. The last 6 are the brand new ones.

I was one of the lucky ones that picked out Amaryllis Sprite, and she was a joy to color with Copics (my first choice as a go-to medium). Amaryllis Sprite will definitely be framed.

Here are a couple of coloring samples of Christmas Cactus Sprite and Holly Sprite. I had fun with these two. I always have fun coloring all the images designed by Aurora Wings. I’ve probably said that enough times that you get the idea.  ;o)

Christmas Cactus Sprite

Holly Sprite

Please take a few minutes and check out the amazing and fun projects that the Aurora Wings Showcase Designers have for you today. I know that each would love a visit to their personal blogs. Some may even have their step-by-step process creating their piece of art.While you are hopping, why not do some shopping. Head over to the Aurora Wings Etsy store and take advantage of this coupon code for all your digital needs.

Head over to our Stamps by Aurora Wings Facebook group. There is always something going on, coloring samples, projects, and contests. Mitzi also has two shops where you can pick up more of her coloring books and digital images, Aurora Wings at Etsy, and her own Aurora Wings Digi shop.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me. Have a fantastic and creative weekend!

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

AW Showcase Designer

Double release at Aurora Wings!

Happy Friday and welcome to an awesome double release at Aurora Wings! When I say “awesome” that always means (for me at least) that Mitzi has designed new sprites to add to her collection of sprites digital images. I love all the sprites at Aurora Wings.

I was able to get both images colored and one art card project completed. The first one, "Ladybug Sprite," is the one I decided to make into a card.

My creative process:

• The first thing was completing the Copic coloring (see above).
• Next was deciding on the cardstock and designer paper. The cardstocks that I decided on was Fun Stampers Journey (FSJ) 12” x 12” FSJ’s Black Licorice, 8½” x 11” Summer Days, Kiwi Slice, and Candy Apple. My designer paper was from Gina K. Designs Poppy Prints.
• With the above cardstock, I trimmed the Black Licorice down to 6” x 12” for a 6” card base. The Kiwi Slice and Candy Apple cardstocks were layered under the Poppy Prints designer paper.
• The main image was trimmed with Spellbinder’s A2 Curved Matting Basics A #5 die and layered with the Candy Apple and Black Licorice cardstocks.
• After I had the base and Ladybug Sprite taken care of I started die cutting all the embellishments. Spellbinder’s Draping Vines Frame was cut in the FSJ’s Kiwi Slice cardstock. That was the perfect size for my 6” x 6” finished card. That die also comes with the tiny flowers that I cut with FSJ’s Summer Days cardstock. There are the cutest tiny humming birds, along with the tiny flowers, but those will be for something else. The “hello” is from Spellbinder’s D-Lites Sentiments Five die and cut from more of the Black Licorice cardstock. This die has curly ques at the beginning and ending of the word “hello.” I trimmed off the end curly que so it would fit.
• Before I finished with the embellishments I sponged the edges of the flowers with FSJ’s Black Licorice True Color Fusion ink. This added a little “oomph” that the flowers needed so they would not get lost on the front of the card. My final touch was the tiny flat-backed red pearls, from my stash, in the center of each flower.

This next image, “Columbine Sprite,” was fun to color, or at least I had fun combining my Copic Bs and Vs. I did a little research on colors for the Columbine flower and these are the colors that caught my eye (purple is one of my favorite colors anyway).

Mitzi is having a 25% off sale in her Aurora Wings Etsy store. Use code DIGISAVE25 for 25% off with a minimum of $10 in digi purchase. This coupon code is good through July 17^th through July 19^th. If you have not joined our Stamps by Aurora Wings Facebook group, now is the time to check it out. There’s always something going on.

I hope you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for stopping by. Please stop by our Aurora Wings Showcase Blog and take a look at what the rest of the designers have created. You will be inspired. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

AW Showcase Designer

New Release at Aurora Wings

 Mitzi has done is again! She has wowed us with another amazing digital image, Owl Spirit, ready for your creativity in her Etsy Store. You are invited to check out our Aurora Wings Showcase blog to see the gorgeous projects from the Showcase designers, jaw dropping gorgeousness. It is joy to see the variety of designs from these artists.

Owl Spirit is an image I thourghly enjoyed coloring with Copics. I’ve got to admit that all of Aurora Wings images are a joy to color.

 Supplies used in my Owl Spirit project:

Copics;

Fun Stampers Journey cardstock in Sweet Berry, Bubble Gum, Oatmeal Cookie,

and Hazel Nut Blend;

Designer paper from Heartfelt Creations (collection unknown);

Fun Stampers Journey Hazelnut Blend True Fusion Ink;
Taylored Expressions Designs Birch Trees die;

Spellbinder’s Ivy die;

Fun Stampers Journey Spring Bloom Minis die and Tattered Bloom Mini die;

USArtQuest Prills (you can also purchase the lovely little round things from Heartfelt Creations.);

DecoArt’s Crystal Craft Twinkles for the glitz.

And now you can see two views of my finished project. The side view is showing the glitz a little more, I hope.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all are having a great weekend. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

AW Showcase Designer

A Celebration at Aurora Wings

Today we are celebrating Aurora Wings two year anniversary with her online store Etsy.  This weekend, in our Stamps by Aurora Wings Facebook group, there is going to be a lot of happenings. You don’t want to miss it!

One of the happenings is a freebie from Mitzi. I would like to introduce you to Linnea Sprite. Isn’t she the cutest? She is perfect for art cards, scrapbook pages, or mixed-media, really anything you want.

 Of course I colored Linnea with Copics. The Copics I used are:

Skin: E000, 00, 04, 11, 21, R20;

Leaves, Shoes and Bloomers:

YG21, 23, 25, 67;

Linnea Petals: RVoo, 11, 14, 23, 29, R59;

Background: W1, 2, RV00;

Grounding: W2, 3.

Here's a little more information I know you will enjoy!

I hope that you do join us this weekend. In the meantime, head on over to our Aurora Wings Showcase blog. You will see what the other designers have created. I know they would love a visit to their personal blogs.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

AW Showcase Designer

AJ’s Design Artz

New Release at Aurora Wings

Mitzi, owner and creator of Aurora Wings, has been busy this past month. This new image is her second new release in the past few weeks. Meet Miyabi, a geisha apprentice. She was the inspiration behind my finished 6”x6” mixed-media piece. She was also a joy to color with my Copics too.

Copics and other coloring tools:

Skin: RV00, R22, 24, 27;

Ear and Nape of Neck: E000, 00, 21;

Hair: C1, 3, 5, 7, 9, Black 100;

Flowers in Hair: R22, B21, 64, 66;

Kimono: T1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10;

G40, 82, 94, 99;

YR21, 23, 24, 31,

B23, 34, 37, 41,

R20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 89;

Obi and Hair Ribbon:

R20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 89;

Background Flowers:

B23, 34, 37, 41,

R20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 89,

V20, 22, 25, 28,

B03, 21, 66, YR21, 23, 24, 31;

Spicas: Lipstick and Gold;

Wink of Stella: Gl. Blue and Gl. Gold;

White gel pen;

Memento Marker: Rhubarb Stalk.

The finished mini wall art…I may have to keep this one for myself. You can find Miyabi in two versions. The Miyabi Figure Only Version here and the Miyabi Full Version here.

Now I would like to take you on a journey of my creative process. DecoArt mediums have been my choice of products for several years now. I love how easy they are to create with and the delightful colors in the fluid acrylics receive top marks from me.

My DecoArt products used in today’s project are:

Americana Glazing Medium

DecoArt Media Line:

Matte Medium;

Black Gesso;

Fluid Acrylics in:

Primary Cyan,

Carbon Black,

Quinacridone Burnt Orange;

Shimmer Mister-White.

Other supplies:

Assorted paper, die cuts, doiles, and acrylic flowers;

Designer paper;

Metal butterflies.

The above photo shows my first step of painting the black gesso on the 6”x6” stretched canvas. Now comes the fun of adding all the die cuts, strips of designer papers, and paper flowers for the background texture. All of these layers were adhered to the canvas with matte medium.

My next steps were adding all my glazing layers (see above). Each of these layers was carefully wiped with baby wipes. You do not want to remove all the glaze but you do want each layer to fully dry between layers. I added some matte medium to the flowers so I could do this same glazing technique on the flowers. The matte medium adds a coating to surfaces. This helps with making everything non-absorbent. NOTE: The glazing colors were accomplished with a 1:1 ration of fluid acrylic and glazing medium.

I have shot my finished piece at an angle. I hope you can see the dimension. The main image has been fussy cut and adhered with adhesive squares to raise it away from the canvas.

I hope that you head over to the AuroraWings Showcase blog and check out the talent of the other Showcase Designers. I feel honored to be working alongside these wonderful artists. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me.