bugadrienne

I didn't realize that it would automatically come up as a link. That's cool.

Hello Liliana! It is hard to see, but if it was like a walking piece of detritus it could be a lacewing larva of some kind. Maybe Chrysopidae (Green Lacewings) family. Some of them wear debris on their back. I don't know the species.
Try to copy and paste this to see if you agree:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/72302

Thank you for your help! I'm sorry I have been only coming to this site every once in a while, but I finally changed the name.

They are beautiful!

Hello! You have uploaded quite a few spottings. :-O
I finally uploaded a couple more after seeing your comment on Nat Geo.

Thank you Faredin, I didn't even think about which order to put them in. I am considering adding more.
Thanks EnvUnlimited, I will do that.

Very pretty.
It looks more like an 89. lol!

You are right about having the whole body in the photo. For species that are native to my area, I can usually distinguish the species from just a part of the body, but there are so many different species in different countries that it gets difficult. Perhaps a person who specializes in the mantids in your area still can identify it.
I have a habit of shooting wide. I may lose quality when I crop, but I worry about not being able to get enough subject or background which can't be put back in a photo. Lol!

15cm sounds pretty big!

Try the Thespidae family.