Aurora Wings "No lines" challenge

Happy Monday, if that's possible.

I have a cool card to share with you today.

I made it for the new challenge at Aurora Wings challenge blog.

The new themes are either, "no lines coloring", or color bingo.

As you can see, I went with the "no lines coloring" option.   

I have colored with this technique a handful of times, and I still find

it quite the challenge. But I enjoy pushing my coloring abilities with

new techniques.  I think the key to "no lines", and all coloring in general,

is contrast. Make sure your images cover the spectrum of the darkest darks,

to the lightest lights, for a full dimensional feel.

Now that I see my owl up close on the monitor, I see where I need to go back

and add some white highlights to help with dimension.

I did add teal tulle behind the owl to give him some contrast from the

black diamond shape behind it. 

I broke the seal on my Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells 8 X 8 paper pack.

I've had it for months, but was never sure it fit the project I was working on.

This works, for sure. 

I colored the awesome Aurora Wings Steampunk Owl image 

using Copics in mainly E19, E09,YR08, YR07, YR04, Y38, Y35, and Y13.

I was trying to achieve a metal copper/golden appearance.   

I added the Alice's Clock corner die cut from SCACD, and highlighted it 

using Mercury Glass Stickles.  

Some dew drops in gold, with Mercury Glass Stickles added for fun

and interest.

The papers are much busier than I am used to using together on one project,

but I do like it. Maybe a black ribbon to break it up in the middle? 

I'll be here all day trying make this better. Better just leave it... for now.

Be sure to stop by the AW Challenge blog to see all the incredible art from

the talented DT, and maybe even challenge yourself with one of the themes.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge -  Get Creative

Scrap It Girl - Things With Wings

Open-Minded Crafting Challenges - #12 Something with Wings

Fussy and Fancy - Things with Wings

More art journaling

Lately, it seems that when I am faced with a challenge theme, my first

instinct is to grab for my art journal. I really like the idea of having an entire book filled with my creations at my fingertips. And it's so therapeutic! 

The new challenge released Friday at Dilly Beans is 

Love Gives Me Wings.

I used one of my favorite (out of many) Dilly Bean images,

#274 Heart Monster. He is perfect for so many uses!

This time he got wings and gets to flit about in the clouds.

I used some Dylusions sprays and  a Tattered Angels stencil for the background treatment. I really like the way it came out.

I used some cloud die cuts from MFT, and I used my favorite

stamps from (so long ago) to stamp the single words, 

wings, love, and heart, in white ink and embossing powder.

Terr derr!

Here he is, all gussied up and ready for some lovin'!!

Check out the Dilly Beans challenge blog and see what the DTs created for this fun challenge! 

Creepmas: Day 6 and a Wicked Winged ATC

Creepmas is in full swing now!

I've started to find my groove and now I'm almost an entire day ahead 

of my Creepmas projects. Almost.

Today I made a tag.

I have only made a few tags so far, but I really enjoy making them.

It gives me a chance to play with my Distress Inks and a squirt bottle.

I like making the backgrounds for my tags that way. 

I used Rick St. Dennis' "Creepmas Girl" image.

Ya gotta love a creepy chick with antlers! 

Dontcha?

For the background, I crumpled the tag, ran various distress inks over the high spots, and used sponge daubers to blend in some other colors. 

I spritzed the tag with some pearlized mist, and then stamped the 

"Let it snow" sentiment randomly. 

Popped on a couple of snowflake die cuts and ta-dah!!!

Next up is Aletha for the RSD hop.

The link for the 13 Days of Creepmas hop is on my sidebar.  

 I got so wrapped up in my Creepmas projects,

I forgot to share my Wicked Wednesday ATC with you!

This week's theme is "Wing it" and our sponsor is Stampotique.

I missed the bus when it came time to order my sponsored DT image from Stampotique, but that's okay, I had a few (or 20+) of my own to choose from.   

"Daniel's Tree Topper" is one of my newest stamps from the incredibly talented, Daniel Torrente. 

He originally comes holding a heart, but I wanted to mix it up a bit

and added the skull from the pumpkin cube. I love his lazy eyes!!

I added some dots of color (and Sakura Clear Star gelly roll pen) to give some interest and sparkle to the background.

I am entering this ATC in the Guest DT call for next year at Stampotique.

Fingers crossed..... 

Join us at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge this week! 

Play along and you could win a $30 gift certificate to Stampotique Originals!!