Challenge #49--Optional Theme: PRESENT NOT PERFECT..Midway

Hello folks. It is the third Monday of the month and that means that it is time to present the midway for Challenge #49. Sorry I'm running a bit later in the evening than usual, as I mentioned at the start of the challenge, this is one of those months where the dates for the three challenge blogs I coordinate all converge together. Thankfully it only happens a couple of times a year!!! 

As we are a unique kind of challenge blog, please be sure to check out the START POST FOUND HERE, for all the rules and details you need to know in order to enter. For now, here is a refresher of what our theme is all about:

Challenge #49

Optional Theme: PRESENT NOT PERFECT

Have you ever been in the position where you wanted to participate, but you just didn’t feel you had the talent to compete or be accepted? Have you ever wanted to reach out, but you just didn’t know the perfect thing to say? Have you wanted to share, but simply couldn’t for fear of making a fool of yourself?

We’ve all been in one, and most likely all, of these situations at some point! The need to be perceived as perfect is so strong in some and it keeps us from being present and in the moment.

Our challenge for you this month is to step out of your perfection zone and be positive about what you have to contribute! Perhaps you visit the site and enjoy the work of others and share something with us for the first time! Maybe you’ve shared many times, but now you will try a new technique you’ve been afraid to try for fear of failing. Possibly you’ve wanted to try doing a video or pictorial teaching aid to go along with your art. Another idea, is to make a sympathy or encouragement card for someone who might need to know you are thinking of them. Don’t worry about the perfect words; a lovely picture can go a long way to convey your thoughts. Of course, you could always share a card encouraging someone else to step out of their zone or letting them know just how wonderful they are just by being present in your life!

Yes, there really is something to this saying, ‘present not perfect’ that is so positive and freeing. Just jump into the moment and give what is uniquely you!

If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize for Most Inspirational. We also ask that you let us know how your creation relates to the concept of being 'present not perfect' if it isn't readily clear within the design itself or clearly written somewhere else in your post. While you may easily see how the concept of being 'present not perfect' 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 in a comment on this post or in your blog post. 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.

Remember, in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $7 gift certificate from Pickled Potpourri, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10 gift certificate to the Imagine That Digistamp store, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month.

Talking of our guest sponsors...

To learn more about this month's guest sponsors, be sure to check out the START post; and of course, also visit the individual sponsors themselves. Below you will find the watermarks for the wonderful images that the team worked with for the midway. Just click on any watermark to find that image's location in its respective store.

From Pickled Potpourri Designs...

Botanical Minis

Pink Polka Dot Calendar Set

Hoppy Frog

Daydreaming (Katrina)

Forever Friends

From Imagine That Digistamp...

Well Wishes

Freda's Flower Basket

Thank you so much to this wonderful company for allowing us the opportunity to work with such incredible images during the midway!

To help inspire you further down the path of being PRESENT NOT PERFECT, check out the wonderful projects my Design Team had the opportunity to create. Suze has been rather busy this month creating a beautiful calendar. She showed us two of the months at the start of the challenge and we get to see six more, now! Also, Pat created two! Clicking on a team member's name will take you to their blog where you can check out the details for their inspirational creation(s).

Also, I too managed to create a project for the midway of the challenge but unfortunately,once again, I won't be able to upload it to my personal blog until Tuesday or Wednesday. One of these days, months, years, I might actually catch up and be on time!

inside of card...

Thanks again to my incredible design team! As always, each of them have their own unique styles and ideas which amaze me to no end. Each of these projects has showcased the concept of being present, not perfect, in various forms and manners and I hope we have inspired you throughout this challenge. Be sure to go and visit these talented ladies so you can see how their projects tie in to the theme.

Why not join us, if you haven't entered already? Create a project and/or post that is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature and join our link up. If you've opted to follow the theme of being present, not perfect, for the chance to win the Most Inspirational prize, 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. Also, don't forget to leave FT after your name so we know to include you in the running for the prize. Easy, peasy! You can enter our latest challenge by clicking HERE.

Also, I know that the participants would love for you to go and pay them a visit. Remember we're creating a Path of Positivity to follow one project at a time and we'd love to see you somewhere on that route even if it is just by leaving a comment on an entry from someone who has touched you somehow with their project and/or post!

Don't Forget...

You have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to vote on your favourite entry for Challenge #48.  Voting is quick, easy and painless so I hope you will consider casting your vote if you haven't already. Winners for challenge #48 will be posted next Monday if everything goes according to plan. You can find the Top Picks post HERE.

LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

ON BEING PRESENT NOT PERFECT?

If you need some additional motivation to help inspire you, I've provided another sentiment on this month's theme (the first is available HERE), free for you to download.

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:

© 2017, 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

• Braveheart Script & Braveblood fonts created by Artisans

Click on the font names to take you to a download location. These fonts were limited time freebies that came with a premium commercial use license at the time of download. They can currently be purchased from the 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.

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 find out the impetus behind why I started this challenge 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, though please note that the newest challenge details still need to be updated). Additionally, you can find a quick summary of the details related to this challenge, towards the bottom of the start post. 
 

 Click HERE to head to the current challenge post & link up!

GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY...

Please show your support to our wonderful guest sponsors by going over and checking out their work and saying hi if you have the chance.  As mentioned above, this month our guest sponsors are...

Our ongoing sponsors include...

 

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

We look forward to seeing you participate!