Friday, September 30, 2016

New Release Double Showcase - Snow Queen and Jellyfish Sprite

"Another Snow Queen?", you ask.  Yes, it is!  This is kind of like a re-release of a previously released digi, but what you didn't know is that the previously released version is only half of the visual story.  This is the original, full-page version of the image as intended.  Some of you, who know my deviantART profile (Look here if you're curious.), may already know where my inspiration for all of my Snow Queens comes from.  It's the story by Hans Christian Andersen that I read as a small child.  "The Snow Queen" by the Danish author, who also wrote, among many others, "The Little Mermaid", "Thumbelina", "The Wild Swans", and "The Emperor's New Clothes" still lives vividly in my psyche, and still is one of my Muses.

The original file was a scan of a pan and pencil illustration (lines done in pen with extensive shading done in pencil), and not a 'quality' one.  A lot of details were frankly not readable, so I had to go over digitally to create a brand new file.  I know a lot of my fans love the details that I put into my illustrations, so I'm pleased to bring this new release to you today.

Now without further ado, please enjoy the beautiful showcase from the talented designers of the Showcase Design Team, along with a guest from Team Stella of AWCB, Sara!








The "Snow Queen" digi is, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, is a full-page digi (coloring page) at 8.5 x 10.5 inches or 21.6 x 26.7 cm (2550 x 3150 pixels) in JPG format.  It has lots and lots of details, but as you can see in the showcase gallery above, there are lots of color possibilities and approaches.  You can find this digi at AW Etsy right here.  

Now, we are off to today's second release!  A complete change of pace, as we go from a stately ice queen to a sweet cuteness of a new Sprite.  Everyone, please welcome "Jellyfish Sprite" to AW's Sprites Collection!  For this portion of our showcase, we have the samples from the Aurora Wings Showcase Designers as well as designers from both Aurora DT and Stella DT of the AW Challenge Blog (Donna, Debbie, Marion, Sara, Myndi, Ann-Marie, Cristena)!












The "Jellyfish Sprite" is available in JPG and PNG formats at the Aurora Wings Etsy shop.   This baby comes at 5 x 6 inches or 12.6 x 15.2 cm approx. (1500 x 1800 pixels).  For a Sprite, she is loaded with details like frilly tentacles and floaty hair bits to make coloring a lot of FUN!  And as you can see in our designers' gallery here, color possibilities are endless!!


And of course, what's a new release showcase weekend without special offers, right?  Have I got something SPECIAL for you this time!  In addition to coupon codes, I have an adorable new "Autumn Sprite" as a GIFT WITH PURCHASE offer.  Now what makes this offer extra special is that I am running this through Sunday, October 9th, 2016 - this weekend + one whole week!  Now, the GWP digi will be sent automatically to all qualifying purchases (a final total, after coupon discount applied, of $10 USD or more) to your email address that's on the record at Etsy.  No need to send in your order number via email.

Please click on this ad to view it larger for all the details.

Codes are for digis only.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Featured Creation by Nana Connie

I'm happy to be back writing up these crafter feature posts regularly again.  This is the third one in three weeks.  Let's hope I can keep it up!

Today, I have a stunning work by Nana Connie, using the Owl Masquerade digi.  Take a look!


The high contrast of the dark base and the colored image area brings dramatic flare to this project.  The die cuts and lace border all utilize this contrast for a stunning presentation.  The lovely owl duo is golden, elegantly complimented by the lavender dress (which also looks beautiful on her blog's layout, by the way!).  The sentiment is perfect as owls have always been associated with wisdom since the ancient times.  You can read more about the details on Nana Connie's blog post at this link.

I actually have four digis in my store that have the theme of  "owl mask" (There are even more if you look for just "owl" or "mask" separately.).  Yes, owls and masks together are one of my recurring themes that show up periodically.  I have another idea for an illustration as I write this, just swirling around in the back of my head...  You can find "Owl Masquerade" at my Etsy shop right here.  It is a JPG digi, 1500 x 2100 pixels at 300 dpi (5 x 7 inches/ 12.7 x 17.8 cm).


Would you like to have your project featured on this blog?   You get a custom blog badge and a free digi if your work is featured.  All you have to do is add the pics of your projects with AW images into our special album at the FB group.  I'll put a direct link here to make it easy for ya!  (Of course, you'd have to be a member of our group before you can add a pic.  Send a join request, and one of us, the group admins, will approve it. )

We just kicked off a new challenge at Aurora Wings Challenge Blog yesterday, in case you didn't hear about it.  The theme of our latest challenge is "for Men and Boys".  Anything you make for your husbands, sons, brothers, fathers, boyfriends, nephews, grandpas, ... or anything with masculine feel would be great for this theme, whether it's in the images themselves, color schemes you use, or overall style.  Have fun with it, and join our challenge!


And we are in the final ten days of our monthly contest at our FB group!  Don't miss!


Till next time, happy coloring and crafting, everyone!








Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Featured Creation by Rita

Hello, friends!  Glad you can stop by for another Crafter Feature today!  It is starting to cool off in the northern hemisphere, and leaves have just started changing colors where I live.  I still have many flowers blooming in my garden, and bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and humming birds are still visiting. But I know that they won't be around that much longer...

I saw this delightful work by Rita Krogsund pop up in the Showcase Blog Submissions Album at the Stamps by AuroraWings FB grouop the other day, and I just had to spotlight it - before the growing season is over.


 Isn't it beautiful?  It's soft, sweet, magical, and simply adorable!  The whole thing looks like a page from a children's story book with all the sweetness.  The sentiment is one of my favorites, and goes so well with anything that has a flower in the image.  And since the Ladybug Sprite is holding a single flower, it's utterly perfect!  You can see more pics of this project (step by step) and read about the details on Rita's blog post right here.  (You'll find a translator about halfway down the sidebar, if you're like me and need translation.)

The "Ladybug Sprite" is an insect sprite among my ever-growing Sprites Collection, and comes at 1500 x 2100 pixels (5 x 7 inches or 12.7 x 17.8 cm at 300 dpi - can be printed larger at a lower resolution without losing too much in terms of line quality).  Available in JPG or PNG at AuroraWings Etsy.  Also available at AuroraWings on DGS right here.


I would like to take a moment to mention our current challenge at AWCB.  Our theme is 'Fantasy'.  How easy is that?  You can use any of the lovely women and girls, mermaids, even the darker images (Get ready for Halloween, Samhain, Day of the Dead, what have you!), angels, and of course, Sprites!  There's still plenty of time left to color up something and create your winning piece.  This challenge will close at 11:55 pm EDT US on Saturday, Sept. 17 (3:55 am GMT on Sunday, Sept. 18).


  And on our FB group, our September contest theme is 'All Things Autumn'.  I can imagine a project that would work for both of AW themes this month, can't you?  Fantasy in autumn colors.  Yeah!  Well, if you miss the deadline for our Challenge Blog above, you'll still have time till the end of the month with this contest.  It won't close until 11:59 pm EDT US on Friday, Sept. 30.  Hope you'll join us!


Till next time, happy coloring & crafting!




Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Featured Creation by Jane

Crafter Feature is back at AW Showcase Blog!  How long has it been since the last one?!

I feel so bad about not having done one of these in a year...  A year!!!  Seriously, time flies when you're [ just fill in the blank ].  Is it just me or time seems to go by faster as you get older...  I'm sure I'm not alone feeling this way.

Today, I'm happy to feature a creation by Jane Proffitt, who submitted a lovely Moon Goddess coloring.


She gave the goddess lovely golden skin tone, gold and pearl jewelry, shiny black hair, and striking green eyes.  And gave the image a lovely frame to complete a lovely presentation.  Isn't she just stunning?  You can visit her blog post of this project at this link to read more about her work, see which Copics she used to achieve this beautiful coloring, etc.

"Moon Goddess" digi can be found at AW Etsy at this link.  She is also available at AW digi shop at my site on this page (Note to EU customers: All digis are, on average, 25% cheaper for you if you purchase on my site, compared to AW Etsy.  Both of my shops are EU digital VAT compliant, but set up very differently, and that's the reason for the price difference.).  She comes in JPG at 5 x 6 inches (1500 x 1800 pixels at 300 dpi).  (You can print her a little larger than the originally intended dimension without losing too much in line quality.  Most AW digis can be printed at about 150% (1.5 times) the original dimensions and still be perfectly suitable for hand coloring.


Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope to be bringing crafter features more regularly as I restructure my business to allow myself more free time.  If you'd like your AW projects considered for a feature on our blog, please add your project photos to the submissions album at Stamps by AuroraWings FB group.