Challenge #37--GRACE...April 4th to May 1st

It is the first Monday in April and that means it is time for the next challenge to start.  This time around, for Challenge #37 the theme is "GRACE".  Show us your interpretation of what grace means to you.  You can make any sort of project and/or post as long as it is positive in nature and relates to the theme.

Grace is such an interesting concept. It, as many of the themes we use, has a number of meanings.  As one of my team members, my good friend Pat so beautifully put, "April is nature's graceful segue into full-blown Spring, from cold and grey to warm and colorful."  So one of the ways that we can look at grace is as a simple elegance or refinement of movement.  Grace looked at in this manner not only applies to people but also to nature as Pat indicated.   It also can include the actions of many animals as well.  Our world is definitely more beautiful with elegance, poise and finesse in it.  Then, there is also the concept of grace as it pertains to decency and decorum.  While it sadly feels like decency and decorum are a thing of the past, it does still exist in our day and age--you just have to look a little harder for it.   Of course one couldn't mention the concept of grace without taking in the Christian perspective of it.  Christians strive to be worthy of the grace of God hoping for salvation and His many blessings.  Grace, when used as a verb can mean to do honour to, or credit someone or something, merely by that individual's presence.   All of you readers, grace me by your continued presence each month.   There are more ways to describe grace but hopefully this will give you a place to start.  As usual my team, has come up with some neat ideas so be sure to pop over to their blogs and see how their creations connect with the concept of this challenge.   What direction will you go in?  Whatever approach you take, we look forward to seeing your interpretation on this month's theme.

Don't forget when you link up your project and/or post, to please leave a comment letting us know how your creation relates to the concept of grace if it isn't readily clear within the design itself or clearly written somewhere else in your post.  Remember, the creation must be positive/inspirational/motivational AND adhere to the theme of grace in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes.  While you may easily see how grace relates to your creation, it may not be as apparent to me or the DT members.  That is why we ask that you clarify it somewhere, whether here or in your blogpost.  You can simply write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, if it would be easier.  We just need to know how your project ties into the theme.  Letting us know, clears up any ambiguity that may exist.

This month's guest sponsors...

This month we have one returning sponsor and one that while already a sponsor, is taking a more active role!  I'll introduce the second company and explain further in just a bit.

First up, though it is time to reintroduce Pickled Potpourri Designs.  Here is a refresher of what Pam's company is all about...

Pickled Potpourri Designs (www.PickledPotpourri.com) began in 2013 as an offshoot of Red Rubber Designs (www.RedRubberDesigns.com),  a rubber stamp company. But not all images are destined to become rubber stamps, so Pickled Potpourri was created to offer quality digital  papers, printables and stamp designs to inspire and enable everyone to create art!

We feature old favorites from The Angel Company (which closed its doors in August 2011), as well as new, original collage designs. You'll find a potpourri of images in a wide range of styles to enhance your papercrafting, scrapbooking and other artsy projects at Pickled Potpourri!

Check out the great image the team worked with for their projects for the beginning of this challenge.  Clicking on the watermark will take you to its location in the PPD store...

  Just Dance

 Tulip

Hearts Forever

Next, that brings us to our second sponsor.  Now some of you may have noticed that one of our on-going sponsors is Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.  One of the prizes we offer is a small selection of  digital papers to one random person drawn from all the comments left during each month.  What you may not know, is that the owner of that company is none other than myself and it was time that I stepped up as team sponsor.  I sponsor other challenges so it is high time that I sponsor my own!  Here is a little blurb on what my design company is about...

Are you interested in digital sentiments, papers and other embellishments?  How about a badge made especially for your blog?  If these are items you are interested in, you are going to want to check out Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.  My name is Lisa and with over 200 + posts of  freebies to choose from, and new ones added often, I just might have what you are looking for.  Along with the freebies I offer, I also create blog badges and am in the process of putting some kits together.  Additionally, I'm so excited to now be sponsoring giveaways and challenges at other blogs. 

So, if you have the time, come and take a look.  There is always inspiration to be found among my many different features.   I'd love for you to pop by and visit me.  I hope you have a blast! 

Main Blog:   http://decossesdynamitedoodles.blogspot.ca/ (Design Previews can be found HERE.)
Some designs available for purchase at:  http://buyscribblesdesigns.blogspot.ca/

I've included previews of the sets that team members used elements of for their designs. 

Pippa used a patterned paper, some textured ones plus four brads from this set...

Along with digital resources from other designers, Pat has used three different
doilies, one textured paper and one of the buttons from the this kit...

Pat also used one of the flowers and the leaf spray from this kit 

which is available for purchase by clicking HERE.

Pat also used a paper from this set...

and finally, Pat used a sentiment from this set...

We are fortunate and blessed to have the chance to work with all the awesome images this month from Pickled Potpourri Designs and it is my pleasure to be able to sponsor this challenge as well.  Be sure to come back at the midway when you'll get to see more beautiful projects created with images from PPD and myself!

Now check out what my amazing design team came up with to inspire you.  Clicking on the team members' name will take you to their blog where you can check out the details for their inspirational creations...

My amazing design team never disappoints!  They each have their own unique styles and ideas.  As always I am blown away by the quality of their projects!  Each of these projects has showcased the concept of grace in various forms and manners and I hope we have inspired you.  Be sure to go and visit each of them so you can see how their projects connect to the theme.

So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to grace, provide an explanation of how your project and/or post relates to the theme somewhere in your post or come over and leave a comment with the explanation.  Easy, peasy!

If you have some time, please visit other people participating throughout the month.  I've included the summary of the challenge details below.  If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

I hope to see you back next Monday when voting will start on the Top Picks for Challenge #36. 

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON GRACE
If you need some motivation to get you started, I've provided a quote for you, which you can find below.

Please be sure to click on it to bring it up into the lightbox in its proper size before saving it.

Credit Notes For This Creation:

© 2015, Lisa L. Décosse. PUO. However, you are allowed to use the sentiment on handmade projects that you intend to sell on a small scale basis provided credit is given. You also need to include a credit note and a link to this blog or my personal blog, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, should you use any of my images in your creations and post them on your blog. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with my full terms of use found in the 'Download Instructions & T.O.U.' tab at the top of this page. Of important note:  Please do not share my images with family, friends, etc. Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc. Instead, please direct people to my blog(s) so they can grab the image for themselves. If you would like to post a watermarked version of the image, please contact me to obtain one.

Additional Credit and Font Information

 
Fonts used

• Mutlu font created by Gazoz
• Exquise-FY font family created by Font You

Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  The first font was free and listed for commercial use at the time of this creation.  The second font listed is one I purchased with extended licensing as part of a bundle (bundle no longer available but font can be purchased from designer).  It is my understanding, that I am within my rights to use these fonts in my creations and offer them to others for free or for sale.  Always check to make sure the terms haven't changed before using the font on something you sell.

You will notice that the sentiment may appear huge depending on what software program you download it into.  You can always reduce the size without distorting the overall look.

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY

Whether you are new and need to familiarize yourself with all the details,  or a returning participant and just need to refresh yourself, you can always find out everything you need to know in order to enter this challenge in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page. I've provided a quick summary below.  Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Each Path of Positivity challenge will remain open for approx. a full month.  Entries for this challenge will be accepted from April 4th to May 1st, 2016.
• Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on May 1st.
• When you link up, leave a comment summarizing what it is about your post that you feel is inspirational  / positive / motivational and how it fits into the theme if you have not included this information somewhere within your post.  You can simply add a sentence or two right next to the link for this challenge if you want.
• Don't forget to come back throughout the month and visit others that have participated. 
• You can link up a total of three (3) creations.
• Voting for this challenge will begin once the top picks have been determined.  There will be a separate post detailing those picks.  You will then have the opportunity to vote on the creation or post that you have found to be the most inspirational of the chosen picks.  Be sure to leave a comment telling us what it was that inspired you or something in general if you uncomfortable disclosing any details of your vote. 
• For Challenge #37, prizes will be the following:
• The 'Mommy Dearest' Digital Scrapbooking Kit from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $7 gift certificate from Pickled Potpourri, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• A small selection of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on on posts published during the challenge time-frame.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

If you ever have any questions be sure to EMAIL ME or just leave me a comment.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:

An InLinkz Link-up