Challenge #5 Sprite Delight

Welcome back to our fifth challenge here at Aurora Wings. Please scroll down for our Winner's Post for Challenge #4. Mitzi and the team wish to thank you for all the amazing entries for our No Lines or Color Bingo Challenge and hope you join us again for our Challenge #5 with the theme of

Yes, Mitzi's cute as a button creatures have become total faves among the Aurora Wings fans and here's your chance to show them off.  Those using an Aurora Wings Sprite may enter up to THREE times, but those of you choosing a flower fairy from another company must limit your entry to ONE.  And please remember, we DO need to see a hand colored digital or rubber stamp , to be eligible. 

Our prizes each month will include:

1 (one) Artist's Choice Award Winner to be selected from entries using Aurora Wings digis ($20 GC and Badge)

1 (one) Random Winner ($20 GC)

Top 3 Winners to be chosen by the DT ($10 GC and Badge)

And don't forget our Christmas in July Contest is still going on through July 31st on our Facebook Group Page.  

 Before we go on to the fabulous team inspiration, we must say a fond farewell to our lovely DT Sister Janet Babar, who is stepping down from the team due to other commitments.  Thank you, Janet, for your friendship, inspiration, and gorgeous creations. We wish you all the luck in the world in your future endeavors and hope you won't be a stranger to Aurora Wings.

On a happier note, please welcome Laila aka Koneko as Guest Designer for our Sprite Delight Challenge.  Laila has continuously WOW'ed us with her beautiful creations, both here, on the Challenge Blog, and on the Aurora Wings FB Group page.  She was also the Artist's Choice winner for Challenge #3.  We're just thrilled to have her join us this month.

So shall we begin our fabulous DT inspiration?

GDT Laila using Fuchsia Sprite

Debbie using Cherry Blossom Sprite

Karina using Calla Lily Sprite

Sandra using Whimsical Wild Violet

Alyce using Snapdragon Sprite

Donna using Kawaii Fairy, Wisteria Sprite, Morning Glory Sprite, Hydrangea Sprite,

Calla Lily Sprite, Tiger lily Sprite, Dahlia Sprite, and Petunia Sprite

Gloria using Morning Glory, Lotus, Tiger Lily, Hydrangea, Bamboo Shoot, 

Snapdragon, Wild Rose, and Bearded Iris. 

Lorraine using Lily of the Valley Sprite (and 11 more on the special Showcase blog post!)

Aletha  using Mitzi's Dahlia Sprite

The challenge will be open until 12:00pm EDT July 21st and close at 11:55pm Saturday August 16th. Entries posted prior to July 21st 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. ONE entry per person if not using an Aurora Wings image, THREE entry limit if ALL entries include an Aurora Wings stamp. 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.

Special Bonus

Here's a freebie Sprite digi from Mitzi for those who want to play in Challenge #5!

It's the Sunflower Sprite.

EDIT: This digi is no longer available as a freebie now that Challenge #5 has been closed.

You can purchase this digi and many others at AuroraWings Etsy shop and AuroraWings.com.

Challenge #4 Winner's Post

Mitzi and the team wants to thank you all for the fabulous entries for our No Lines or Color Bingo Challenge, with special kudos to those who tackled the No Lines technique or did BOTH! Again, the creations were AMAZING making our winners choices so difficult. However, choose we did, so without further ado.....

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

#27 Jeannean

The RANDOM WINNER ($20 GC) goes to 

#21 Cathy

And the Top 3 ($10 GC and Badge) in no particular order, chosen by the Design Team

from ALL the entries goes to

#18 Laila

#23 Teresa

#6 Lotta

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/top3/random winner" 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) to receive your prize.

Hope to see you all back for our fifth challenge which goes live at 12:00pm EDT today.

Interview with Aletha J. Williams

Here's a quick reminder that our current challenge theme is choice of "No Lines" or "Color Bingo".  The challenge page is right here.  Deadline is Saturday, July 19, 2014, at 11:55 pm EDT.

I'm really glad you could stop by for the 8th installment of the Designer Interviews. Today, we are getting to know Aletha J. Williams!  Everyone, please meet Aletha.

Aletha J. Williams

Mitzi: I think the first card I saw from you that was made with one of my digi's was "Hydrangea Sprite" with "Believe" sentiment that you uploaded to the wall almost the day I first set up the FB group back in November of 2013. I remember the rich, luscious colors, and beautiful details throughout, which I've come to learn that are characteristic of your work. How long have you been coloring/paper crafting and how did you get started?

The bright and richly colored creation by Aletha with "Hydrangea Sprite".

Aletha:I have had some form of art in most of my adult life, but as far as coloring/paper crafting that began in 2000 with my plunge into Stampin’ Up! and working at Hobby Lobby (and, yes, Hobby Lobby got most of my check!). I have always been very good with colors and when I discovered Copics in 2009 (that’s when my health went you know where and I became disabled) the rest is history.

Mitzi: Oh, my.  I can just imagine how tempting to spend all the paycheck on things you see around you right at your workplace every day!  I've been in that situation.  I'm glad that you had your Copics to keep you busy when your health failed.  I would imagine that it helped you through to have an easy access art form close by.  Next question.  I couldn't help but notice you have made a lot of cards with my Sprites. What appeals do they have for you?

Aletha's beautiful card in shades of purple with "Fuchsia Sprite".

Aletha: Other than me being a big fan of fantasy, your Sprites are so much fun to color and create with. Also, our latest grandson was born in November 2013 and he has this otherworldly essence about him. He reminds me of your Sprites. This is also what his father, my son, looked like at his age.

Indeed!  He IS the Sprite baby!  CUTE~!!

Total cuteness!

Mitzi: Awww.  You're right!!  Your grandson does look like a sprite!  The outline of the face and those eyes!  Just adorable! :D  *squee*  Now, a totally random question for you...  Are you a cat person or a dog person? (I like to ask this often... ^^; )

Aletha: I am a cat person, meaning that I will take a cat before I take a dog, BUT I am a sucker for puppies and rescues! We have always had 3 dogs and 3 cats, but we are down to just one cat. LucyFur is 19 years old and still very active. I also love lizards and dragons, but my faux lizard and dragons will be the only ones I can have. 

LucyFur

Mitzi:  What an awesome name - LucyFur! That's wonderful that she's 19 years old and still healthy.  :D  And I love your dragon & lizard collection!  Now, Aletha, when you're not coloring and crafting, what do you enjoy doing?

Aletha: I love to shop online and spend my husband’s money! I have been going through pulmonary rehab lately, so there has not been much time for anything else.

Mitzi: Well, hey, what girl doesn't like Retail Therapy, right? ;)  I like shopping online between illustration sessions myself.  Hehe.   Now, here's my 'random' question for you.  What is your favorite genre of music?

Aletha: I really can’t say other than my tastes are eclectic. If I like the voice I usually want the album. I am really big fan of female recording artists: Merchant, Nix, Lorde, St. Vincent, etc.

A gorgeous mixed media piece with "White Poppy" digi.

Mitzi: Eclectic it is! I was curious what your answer was going to be since I couldn't guess what you'd say. ^_^  Now, something a little different... If you were to describe yourself as a single color, what would you see yourself as and why?

Aletha: I would have to say I am purple. You can combine so many colors with purple and they all pop!

Aletha's gorgeous "Petunia Sprite"in glorious purple.
This baby was commissioned by Aletha.

Mitzi:Aha!  I imagined you as a purple.  Probably because I've seen how you color your projects.  And from what I've seen, you use purple beautifully.  I love purple, too.  It's a color with a wonderful vibration.  Now, getting back to the topic of arts & crafts,  what is your favorite art/craft tool and why?  This is something I ask everyone. 

Aletha: I know that you asked for one, but I have three. First is my Xacto. When an image allows it, I fussy cut the images so my project will have a 3-D aspect to them. Next are my die-cutting machines, Big Shot and Grand Calibur.

Stunning DT work with "Chrysanthemum Festival".

Mitzi: That's great!  Hehe, I know I'd have a hard time narrowing down to one favorite tool, so I understand where you're coming from.  You do have the distinction of not pickcing Copics among my designers, though. :D   The next question is another one that I love asking everyone. Just for fun, when you were little, what did you want to be when you grow up?

Aletha: I really wanted to be an artist or a book maker. I loved making itty bitty books for my dolls who were my club members. Of course, I was always the president of said clubs. 

Mitzi: Oh, now, that's pretty cool!  ^_^  And here's my last question.  This is yet another one that I ask my designers in every interview.  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go visit?

Aletha: This is a toughie because I am on oxygen 24/7, but if I could get there somehow I would want to go to New Zealand!

Mitzi: Oooh,  New Zealand would be awesome!   *mind wandering*  Well, Aletha, thank you for the fun interview.  It was great getting to know you beyond the beautiful creations you make. ^_^ I'd also like to thank the readers who stopped by to join us.  Be sure to check out and give some love to Aletha's blogs.  She has two -- "AJ's Designs" here and "AJ's Alternative Endeavors" here.

I'll show you some more of Aletha's fabulous creations here.  Enjoy!

Beautiful in shades of purple with "Bluebell Sprite 2".

Striking in green and purple with "Rose Fairy 2".

Gorgeous colors and stunning design with "Snapdragon Sprite".

And don't forget to join our Challenge #4 "No Lines" or "Color Bingo" here.  Also, do join us at the very active Facebook group Stamps by AuroraWings, if you're not already a member, for even more opportunities for fun challenges, mini-contests, discount codes, & so much more.

Till next time, happy coloring!! :D

Challenge #4 No Lines or Color Bingo

Welcome back to our fourth challenge here at Aurora Wings. Please scroll down for our Winner's Post for Challenge #3. Mitzi and the team wish to thank you for all the amazing entries for our Butterflies challenge and hope you join us again for our Challenge #4 with the theme of

This month we're giving you a choice to try your hand at No Lines Coloring, (search "no lines coloring" for resources if you are unfamiliar with the technique, or check out Alyce Keegan's tutorial below) but if you find that more of a challenge than you're up to, you have the option of choosing a color scheme from our Color Bingo Card, either down, across or diagonally.   You can choose to work with a range of shades within a given color, from intensely saturated to more delicate.   The colors do not have to be exactly the intensity of the shades presented in the Color Bingo Card.

 If you really want to challenge yourself, try BOTH.  However, we still DO need to see a hand colored digital or rubber stamp as well, to be eligible. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

Our prizes each month will include:

1 (one) Artist's Choice Award Winner to be selected from entries using Aurora Wings digis ($20 GC and Badge)

1 (one) Random Winner ($20 GC)

Top 3 Winners to be chosen by the DT ($10 GC and Badge)

And don't forget our  Clean and Simple Contest is still going on through June 30th on our Facebook Group Page.

No Lines Tutorial by Alyce 

Now how about some inspiration from our fabulous team?

Debbie using Hydrangea Fairy 2 and No Lines Technique

Karina using Hydrangea Fairy and No Lines Technique

Gloria using Steampunk Owl and No Lines Technique.

Aletha using Chrysanthemum Festival and Color Bingo Black/Yellow/Blue

Janet  using Orchid Fairy and Color Bingo Green/Red/Purple

Donna using Strawberry, Blueberry and Raspberry Sprites

and Color Bingo White/Red/Blue

Sandra Using Bone Queen and Color Bingo Black/Green/White

 

Lorraine using Marie Antionette and Color Bingo White/Brown/Pink 

We certainly would be thrilled if you would visit our individual blogs to find out more about these fabulous creations and leave us a little love. xx

The challenge will be open until 12:00 pm EDT June 16th. Entries posted prior to June 16th 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. ONE entry per person if not using an Aurora Wings image, THREE entry limit if ALL entries include an Aurora Wings stamp. 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.