Challenge #53--Optional Theme: SURROUND YOURSELF...with MUSIC...November 6th to December 3rd

Hello everyone and welcome to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog! It is the first Monday of the month and time for our new challenge to begin.

This time around, for Challenge #53, the optional theme* is "SURROUND YOURSELF...with MUSIC". Here is what you need to know...

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• ALL entries must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. 
• *Each month there will also be an OPTIONAL theme to follow. Participants must follow the optional  theme in order to win the prize for Most Inspirational. If you choose to follow the theme, please follow the instructions below to ensure that you are considered for this prize. 
• All entries that abide by the general rules of the challenge, will be eligible to receive the Random Prize.
• For both prizes, you can make any sort of project you'd like (i.e., scrapbooking page, card, tag, mixed media, digital, etc.). In fact, you don't have to create a project at all. You may just have something to say that is motivational or encouraging in some way, or a written passage that expounds on the nature of the theme. Project, written passage or both! It is completely up to you.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #53.

Challenge #53

Optional Theme:
 SURROUND YOURSELF...with MUSIC

We continue this month with the final challenge in a series of three all based on the intriguing concept to Surround Yourself with Positivity in the form of the arts! Katrina, one of my amazing team members came up with this unique idea. Over the course of three months we have been exploring the positive influence of three different artistic concepts: Art, Literature and Music! So far, we have covered art and literature and this month we are wrapping up our series with the concept of Music!

How does music affect you and your mood? What music do you pull up on your phone, radio, I-pod, cassette player, stereo, 8-track, boom box, victrola? (Did I go back far enough for you?) When you’re feeling unmotivated and sad, do you pull out a Symphony by Beethoven, “Ode to Joy” for example; get rocking with the Beatles' “Here Comes the Sun”; or, do you get “Happy” with Pharrell Williams?

Music has a profound way of changing our attitude, making us feel anxiety, calming us, or making us dance. For example, have you ever considered how affective music is in horror films? Think back to the movie “Jaws” or “Psycho”; we all know those themes and grit our teeth when we hear them! How many times have you felt the urge to cry hearing an old love song…you know the one you listened to a million times way back when.

Then there are the times you’re out in public and a great song comes on and you have to fight to keep your feet still or your mouth quiet! Possibly the elevator is not the place to burst into your favorite Broadway tune or break out a Disco move!

Keep in mind, we are thinking about how different kinds of art affects us as individuals. It’s not necessarily about doing something “visually" music related. For example, if “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a positive song for you, a rainbow image is perfect. Obviously, there is a lot of positive Christmas music to go with images as well.

If you would like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, the challenge this month is to Surround Yourself with Music. Choose a song that inspires positivity in you and share the song (or music genre) and the inspired project with us! We can't wait to feel the upbeat vibes you have to share with us!

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. Remember, we also ask that you please leave a comment letting us know how your creation relates to the concept of music and what you learned about yourself along the way, if it isn't clearly written somewhere else in your post. While you may easily see how your creation ties into the theme, 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 or paragraph 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 $10 gift certificate from Imagine That Digistamp, one of our 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 from Limited Runs, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month.

Talking of our guest sponsors...

This month we have two returning sponsors! It is time to refresh ourselves with the details of these wonderful companies.

First up is Limited Runs...

Limited Runs is a great little shop for all your digital needs. We have tons to play with and even better, they are all set up for those on a budget, with almost all images for only $2.00 and lots of hidden sets and deals in the shop to save you money!!! Who doesn't like to save $$$. We have a huge Collection for the Holidays and also lots of other cuties and not so cute images. We also have cupcakes, coffee, and for those that like the darker side, monsters and even a eyeball cupcake.

Limited Runs is now on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/230242700670077/  too with a Freebie for every 50 Followers.
We also have a Monthly Progressive Challenge running as well. Read all about it here:  https://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.ca/p/here-they-all-are-for-you-our.html

The Challenge itself is on Facebook but don't worry if you don't have Facebook. You can email me a link to your site showcasing your project using the image and I will add you into the challenge so you can win too. The Progressive challenge works in 3 rounds; so, there is a freebie available every 1st round. Just email me if you want to play.

 
Store:  http://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.ca

Check out the fun images the team worked with for their projects for the beginning of this challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to category page they can be found on in the Limited Runs store...

  Bird - Starry Night (Category: Mini Birds, Section: 1-10)

Mini Bird Cowboy (Category: Mini Birds, Section: 21-30)

Flower Mug (Category: Coffee Addicts, Drinks and Sweets, Section: 1-10)

Juggling Snowman (Category: Christmas, Section: 61 -70)

Next, that brings us to
Imagine That Digistamp...

 

Imagine That Digistamp is a 'family-friendly' shop that caters to card-makers and scrapbookers alike! All stamp sets that include an outline for you to color also include a digitally pre-colored version for quick & easy crafting. We also offer many digital paper packs, kits/bundles, Word Art, Alphabets, Chalkboard Art, and free Blogwear. What will YOU imagine? 

We also invite you to join in our monthly Creative Link-Up! If you use an image from Imagine That Digistamp on your project (and follow the other rules), you earn a featured set for the month. All entries following the rules earn a chance at a $10 gift certificate to the store! We'd love for you to come over and join us!    

Main Blog: http://imaginethatdigistamp.blogspot.com/
Store: http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/index.html
Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/imaginethatdigis/

Check out the sweet image that one of our team members worked with for their project for the beginning of this challenge. Clicking on the watermark will take you to its location in the store.

Tap Dancer

We are fortunate and blessed to have the chance to work with all these awesome images for the start of this challenge. Thanks so much to our fabulous sponsors. Be sure to come back at the midway when you'll get to see more beautiful projects created with images from these wonderful companies.

Now check out what my amazing design team came up with to inspire you. Clicking on each team member's name will take you to their blog where you can check out the details for their inspirational creations. Please note that due to a bit of a mix up within the team, the split between sponsors is a bit lopsided this month. We have just one project featuring an Imagine That Digistamp image and the remaining projects feature Limited Runs. During the midway it will be the reverse...

Tie in to theme:
"I combined art and music on this one. This image brings to mind the song Vincent (Starry, Starry Night). It was the first thing I thought of when I saw those stars and that bird singing. I love the art of Vincent Van Gogh, and the song by Don McClean."

Tie in to theme:

"My card is inspired by a song that always motivates me to "do better" ~ Pure Imagination from the Original Willy Wonka Movie. There's nothing like hearing Gene Wilder sing that song and at the end when he quietly drinks from his flower cup, it is truly an inspirational experience for me." 

Tie in to theme:

"My song is a country song called Everything Will Be Okay by Home Free.  I listen to a lot of country music and the image chosen reflects this."

Tie in to theme:

"I have two girls who love dancing so the house was always full of music of all types while they lived at home. Now it fills with music again when they visit."

Tie in to theme:

"My music is Christmas music which always makes me feel good and gets me singing along. The particular song I'm thinking of is 'I Wish It Could be Christmas Every Day' by Wizard.  It was first released in 1973 and is such a great, feel good song. If you don't know the song and would like to listen, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r89CjMZDQpQ"

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 'surrounding oneself with music' 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 further connect to the theme.

So what are you waiting for? 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 'surrounding yourself with music'' 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. 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 week when voting will start on the Top Picks for Challenge #52. While normally voting would start on Monday, I'm afraid that it won't be until much later in the week. Hopefully, it will be up by Wednesday or Thursday at the absolute latest!



MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON SURROUND YOURSELF WITH MUSIC...

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:

© 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

• Marin Victorian font created by Cruzine Design
• Aileron font created by Sora Sagano

Click on the font names to take you to a download location. The first font listed was purchased with extended licensing as part of a limited time bundle but it is offered often so you might want to click HERE and see if the bundle is still available. If not it can be purchased from the designer. The second font is offered under an open font licence and thus may be used for commercial purposes. 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.

Additional Elements
I have also used a vector image from the public domain. This image is courtesy of GDJ (Gordon Johnson) via Pixabay. Items in the public domain may be used for commercial purposes.


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 November 6th to December 3rd, 2017.
• Add your inspirational project or post using the link up below. You will be able to submit your entry until 11:59 p.m. on December 3rd.
• If you have chosen to follow the optional theme, you will need to let us know what it is about your project or post that you feel is inspirational  / positive / motivational and how it fits into the theme. Please include this information somewhere within your post. You can simply add a sentence or two at the bottom of your post right next to the link for this challenge if you want. Or, if this isn't possible, come over and leave us a comment on the start post. You must also add 'FT' after you name so we know which creations to add to the draw for the sponsor's prize for Most Inspirational.
• 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. 
• For Challenge #53, prizes will be the following:
• A $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $10 gift certificate from Imagine That Digistamp, 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.

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:
If you have any problems linking up, please be sure to let me know by leaving a comment on this post.

Challenge #53--Optional Theme: SURROUND YOURSELF...with MUSIC
This is the place to link up something that you have created during the month that you consider positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. You will be able to submit entries to this collection up until December 3rd at 11:59 pm. Be sure to add FT after your name if you followed the optional theme.  Please see above for all the rules and details. If you would like to be a Guest Designer in a future challenge, please add the letters GDT after your name.