Challenge #63 Anything Goes

Happy New Year and welcome to the 63rd Challenge here at Aurora Wings.  The brand new year brings a few changes in format for the Challenge Blog as we are returning to a monthly challenge, beginning the 3rd Monday of each month and a mid-month inspiration post on the first Monday of the following month.  We hope that gives you more time to join in, perhaps even with multiple entries, if you choose to use all Aurora Wings images.  We're easing in after our break with the easy peasy theme this time of...

The rules haven't changed however.

No Back Linking
Must be a finished project with a hand colored image following the set theme
ONE ENTRY LIMIT if using an image other than Aurora Wings
THREE ENTRY LIMIT if ALL are Aurora Wings images
Link to specific post, not entire Blog
Link back to Aurora Wings Challenge
You may link to as many other challenges as you like

Our prizes this month include:

1(one) Artist's Choice Winner to be chosen by Mitzi from all entries using an                 Aurora Wings image (Custom badge+3 single digital images)

1(one) Random Winner (3 single digital images)

Top 3 To be selected by the Design Teams from all entries (Custom badge+1 single digital image each)

Joining us this month as Guest Designer is Lisbeth Bengtsson, aka Scraplyan.

Lisbeth using Crimson Blossoms, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy

and Poppies, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy

Also joining us today are two members of the Aurora Wings Showcase Team.

Debra using Ice Cream Sundae Sprite, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy

Jan using Wings and Petals, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy

And from the Aurora Team

Debbie using Fins and Pearls available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy

Laila using Snowflake Sprite available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy

Silvia using Lotus Sprite available exclusively HERE on AW.com.

Donna using Ballerina Kitties 3-pack Stamp Set available exclusively HERE at AW.com

The challenge will be open at 9:00 am EST Monday January 15th and close at 11:55 pm EST Saturday February 17th 2018 with a mid challenge inspiration post on February 5th. Entries posted prior to January 15th will be deleted. All entries must have a hand colored digital or rubber stamp on their completed project to be eligible. Please follow the chosen theme.  You may enter your project in as many other challenges as desired. Please link to your POST address, NOT your BLOG address and link back to the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog. We would greatly appreciate you removing word verification and switching to comment moderation if you fear spam. In fairness to all, those not following the rules will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding and please have fun. We look forward to your fabulous creations.

Also, because of the difficulties we have experienced with Facebook entries, I regret that we will no longer be accepting them on the Challenge Blog.  Thank you for your understanding.  Feel free, however, to enter your Blog challenge entries in the AW FB Group contest if the theme fits there as well.

If you do not have a blog and would still like to enter this challenge,  please email me at donnamundinger(at)gmail(dot)com with your name, a picture of your entry and Aurora Wings Challenge #63 in the subject line, and I will add it to our Aurora Wings Submissions Blog, where it can be viewed and commented on, and to the Linky so you can participate here. Hopefully this will accommodate everyone.  xx

Challenge #62 Winners

Mitzi and the team want to thank all of you who entered our Anything But a Card challenge.  With our holiday break that was one long challenge, but we were thrilled to see the numerous creative entries.  Thanks so much for sharing your busy time with Aurora Wings and Happy New Year.  Let's get right down to it.

The ARTIST'S CHOICE AWARD ($20 GC and Badge) chosen by Mitzi from among the entrants using Aurora Wings images goes to

#28 Sonya van Stee

In Mitzi's own words, " I love how she turned the Hot Cocoa Sprite into a little panda with her beautiful coloring. The subtle texture and reflected light bring just the right amount of dimension. The red-black-white color palette is stunning, and what a great way to dress up a gift card!!"

The Random Winner ($20 GC) goes to

#21 Treebug (Tina)

And the Top 3 ($10 GC and Badge) in numerical order as they appeared in the challenge, chosen by the Design Team from ALL the entries goes to

#22 Nicola Gold

#24 Lori Podolsky

#41 Susan Sudbury

A huge Congratulations to our fabulous winners! Please e-mail Mitzi at studiomiyabi (at) aol (dot) com, with subject line "AW challenge blog ACA winner/top 3/random winner (*select the award prize that applies to you)" with your list of LINKS (not the titles of the digis) to the digis you wish to receive up to the total amount of your prize.  (all values are in USD, and PLEASE no overages) to receive your prize.

PLEASE NOTE:  Prizes not claimed within a two week period will be forfeited.

Hope to see you all back for our 63rd challenge, hosted by the Aurora Team, which goes live at 9:00am EST today.

OPEN CALL for Design Team Members!

Hi!  Mitzi here.  We're kicking off 2018 with an OPEN CALL for design team members!  My teams and I would like to encourage anyone who is interested to go ahead and apply to be a part of the AW family whether you're an experienced design team member or a friendly and enthusiastic crafter who enjoys working with AW images.

Here is a list of things we ask that you kindly do as a part of the AW family.

• Design a card or other project as inspiration for our challenges once a month.
• Write up a friendly and fun blog post (preferably with lots of additional pics of your project and info like colors used or tools used) and schedule your post to coordinate with the timing of the challenge posts (or mid-challenge posts) at our main blog.
• Help spread the word about our monthly challenge, plus any special events or deals (sales, discount codes, or gifts) advertised at our Facebook group on any social media you like to use.  It's vitally important that you don't just post your inspiration pics and blog links at our main group on FB.  "Spread the word" means 'at different craft and coloring groups' and 'among your circle of friends on your personal FB profile'.
• Be friendly and comment on challenge entrants' posts for the comment number you are assigned for.
• Be kind and supportive of the AW family of designers, and comment on your teamies' posts when there's a challenge post, mid-challenge post, or a showcase post.
• Be friendly and supportive of other craft enthusiasts at the Stamps by AuroraWings FB group by hitting 'like' buttons or commenting.
• Enter other challenges with your inspiration/sample creations so more people can see your gorgeous stuff.
• Be there to cast your votes on the DT's Pick Top 3 polls when each challenge closes.
• Check the secret DT group on FB on a regular basis (Doesn't have to be every day, just at least a few times a week.) for group communication.

Below is a list of qualities we are looking for in a DT member.

• Has a blog of their own - this is a MUST.  It can be Blogger or WordPress.
• A big fan of Aurora Wings' digital stamps and love coloring and crafting with them.
• Be an organized person and stay on top of the challenge schedules.
• Love entering different challenges and enjoy blogging about your craft projects.
• Be familiar with the basic blog functionalities, and have the initiative to look things up like time zone differences.
• Does not have to be an advanced crafter/colorist, but creates with passion and joy.
• Good at (We are not asking for "perfection".  It's an issue of "willingness".) written communications in English (via e-mail, Facebook PM, etc.) and enjoy sharing details of your work in your blog posts.  We love to see blog posts that talk about your creative inspiration, methods and techniques, any back stories to share, and what's going on in your life... that sort of stuff, not just one small pic with a link pointing to the challenge post with little else to read about.  Because that's just boring.
• Experience with designing for blogs (showcase or challenge) helpful, but not required if you're willing to learn... and learn FAST
• Be friendly and be able to let your writing reflect that quality about you.
• Be able to stay with us for a period of 1 year.  
• Be proactive about necessary communications - if something comes up in RL and you can't meet the deadline, we ask that you kindly let us know... and not at the absolute last minute. 

Here's what the designers who join our family will get.

• Your custom blog badge as a designer for AW Challenge Blog
• Access to AW digis for use on your DT projects
• Access to a small, designers-only FB secret group, where most communications will take place. We are a family of friendly, smart women, who are not into drama.
• Having your sample work featured on AW's Etsy listings with your blog links and on FB group cover
• Designers-only perks like special discount code and access to some new release digis
• Opportunity to create additional samples for special events or AW Showcase Blog posts

How to apply

If this is something you're interested in, please link one of the following of your choice via the linky tool below - 1.) your blog (main URL),  or 2.) your specific blog post that features a project using an AW image.  We are not asking you to fill out any application form this time.  Many crafters have all the relevant information already up on their blogs - either on the sidebars or in links across the top to pages with additional info.  Please make sure there is a way we can contact you via a link on your blog (somewhere in the sidebar) aside from the comment feature. (Don't worry about this if you are on my friends list on FB or a member of the Stamps by AuroraWings FB group.)

PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT ON THIS POST WITH YOUR INFO, LINK TO YOUR BLOG, ETC.  ONLY THE APPLICANTS WHO FOLLOW OUR SIMPLE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE CONSIDERED.  Please DO NOT send email to me or members of my DTs.   And please, no Etsy convo or FB PM regarding the open call or the results.  Thank you.

Deadline for application:  Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11:55 pm EDT US.
Please expect the final decision to be made within a week after the application deadline.  The designers chosen for the position will be contacted (may be FB PM, email, and as a last resort, a comment on your blog) as soon as the decision is made.

ADD YOUR LINK HERE TO APPLY

Our Current Challenge (through Jan. 13, 2018)

https://aurorawingschallenge.blogspot.com/2017/12/challenge-62-anything-but-card.html

Join Our FB Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/StampsByAuroraWings/