Mermaid With Message In Bottle-Aurora WIngs

 

 

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm excited to share my mermaid creation!

You might know that for the last couple of weeks I've been taking Copic classes from Alyce at Kit and Clowder.

 This image called, Mermaid with Message in Bottle- by Aurora Wings is one of the images Alyce showed us how to color up in her online class.

Here is how lovely she looks with Alyce's coloring.

Amazing right!?! I actually decided to take the color class, after I had already talked myself out of it because of how uniquely Alyce colored up this enchanting mermaid image.

I was inspired!

The scales I colored on the face were not working out how I wanted and the skin color underneath was starting to turn blotchy! Somehow, with a little patience and most likely due to the fact that I was coloring on Make It Crafty paper, the image was salvaged! 

There's a lot going on in her hair especially with all those bubbly bubbles.

It amazes me how great the hair always turns out with this color strand technique...

 even though it sometimes starts out looking like it's going to be a hot mess!

 This awesome image and coloring technique definitely kept me challenged!

The class is money well spent! Thanks Alyce!

 I couldn't stop staring at this coloring after it was all done, even the mistakes I had made didn't bother me.

 It must be those eyes!! They are captivating!

I was so inspired by what I had just colored that I decided this was the image that I was going to use in the new Prima Metal Frame I had just picked up at my LSS over the weekend.

It was a combination of this image as well as the fabulous frame that inspired me to create this finished piece of art.

How awesome are these new Prima frames! 

When you use them to create 3D cards the possibilities are endless!

 I also picked up a retro tv frame as well. I'm going to hoard it until I come across the perfect image and theme to use with it.

As I was going through my stash to pick out the things that I felt would reflect the image I found this antiqued key with scripture engraved on it.

 I looked up the scripture, and that verse became the beginning of the story I wanted to create.

It turned into a spiritual reflection piece that resembles a little bit of me.

The scripture on the key is Ephesians 6:19

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

I added an anchor, because Christ is the anchor for my soul.Hebrews 6:19

 If I had to sum up the bible(The Message) with one verse it would have to be John 3:16

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 That felt like the right verse to share so that's what I wrote on the  paper message in the miniature glass bottle.

 I added some  beach sand, shells, and mermaid scales into the bottle as well, and hung a little silver dangle charm with the word HOPE engraved on it.

There are many scriptures about Hope and some of my go to verses are found in the Psalms. One of my favorite about hope, is Psalm 119:114

I added the awesome TH metal crown to the top of the frame because it reminds me that I am a daughter of The King 2 Corinthians 6:18

Just meditating on that promise makes me stand a little taller, and smile a little brighter :)

I had also just picked up a package of the new Prima Junkyard Findings Street Signs and thought "This Way" was the perfect sentiment for the "entrance" of my "card"

(I could also have used the "Your Path" street sign. It was a toss up)

I was born into a very spiritual family and this all made perfect clear sense to me but my husband, who is newer to spirituality said he just didn't get the "This Way" thing. I quoted  John 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

..so yes, "This Way" to the treasure!

Yeah, I like when it all comes together like that!

I save all of my broken jewelry to use in art projects at some later date and I upcycled some great pieces to adorn this frame with! 

The links of chain with pearls and crystals are from a pair of old jeans. Jean jewelery I guess? The strands would dangle from two belt loops.

It was such a hipster look that it's a wonder that it's not still trending!  

I think the chains look better on the frame than it did on my jeans...just sayin!

The strand of tri colored rhinestones used to be a bracelet but the stretchy in the metal somehow got out stretched. How does that even happen? I hardly even wore it!

 It came in a set of three strands and the other two strands of the bracelet are still functioning like a bracelet and not an anklet like this one was.

I love detail so I had to keep adding to my 3D card.

I embossed a TH chipboard label diecut with Shabby white Frantage, and used it to frame the polymer clay embellishment that I made. It says Dare To Dream.

I've created a polymer clay embellishment tutorial here.

I added a mirror in the shape of a water splat,(that's right, a water splat shaped mirror) some cheese cloth, a few paper flowers, a starfish charm which also got embossed along with the anchor, with more Frantage.

I also added a strip of silver netting ribbon and a few crystal baubles to the inside bottom of the frame  and used the foliage part of the TH Tattered Pine cone die to make the colorful glittered corals that are placed among the flowers.

I added some pearl and rhinestone recollections which were perfect to create more bubbles coming out of the mermaids hair. I love that little detail!

I found a colored jem in the shape of a cross and added that to dangle from one of the broken chains.

 I wanted to add some beautiful sea shells to this piece but I guess that's one thing I don't really have in my craft stash so I grabbed a treasured shell from my souvenir shell jar to adorn this oceanscape.

I adhered everything with E-6000 silicon glue.

I gave the bottle in the image a coat of glossy accents and quickly wiped some silver alcohol ink to the street sign,

Oh I almost forgot about the smexy retro mermaid on the side of the frame!

Isn't that embellie fun!

 It's a lasered wood piece that I found in a mixed media shop. I glued a magnet on to the back and stuck it to the front of the frame.

I think that's all the deets!

I love how it turned out! 

Thanks for stopping in today! Hugs! 

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
Aurora Wings Anything goes
Simon Says Glitter 
The Outlaws Twisted Thrusday 
Rhedd's Creative Spirit Anything goes 
MarkerPOP Anything goes #39 
Craft's and Me Anything goes 

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