Ponderings Along the Pathway...POSSIBILITIES

Welcome to this month's edition of Ponderings Along the Pathway, an exclusive feature over here on the Path of Positivity.  The purpose of this column is to continue with the goal of this blog which is to create a space "designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time".  Providing some motivational introspection on the themes we cover each challenge period, is one way of achieving this goal.

This month it is all about POSSIBILITIES and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

It’s hard to stay positive when we are bombarded with negativity from TV, newspapers, websites and social media. Fortunately, there is escape from the negativity. Challenges met, goals achieved, laughter shared, and positive reinforcement from friends, family and blogs like ours that radiate positivity like beacons in the night. The possibilities are endless!

It all comes down to choices. We can choose to moan about the world’s woes, or we can do something about them. We can tune in to feel-good news and be assured that hope is always out there. We can pity the homeless or we can volunteer at soup kitchens and food pantries. We can veg on the couch or take up a hobby that may just turn into a passion.

Open your eyes to the possibilities of positivity, because they’re right in front of your nose…a sunny day, a child’s laughter, an unexpected call from a friend. Turn this around and you can spread the positivity to others by calling a friend, smiling while you shop, donating time to a good cause.

Possibilities create action. It takes practice to recognize possibilities and determination to act on them. Every path has several forks on the way. It is up to you to choose wisely, step forward and maintain a steady pace. Sure, there are obstacles along the way, but you can turn them into learning experiences, inspiration and the opportunity to clear the path for others.

All you have to do is take that first step. Possibilities lead to opportunities; opportunities lead to action...action leads to possibilities…and the circle is endless."

 

Please be sure to pop over to Pat's personal blog, Patacake Pages, for more inspiration.  That is it for today but please be sure to stop by on Monday when we showcase the top seven for Challenge #16 and open the voting up to you.

May you always see the possibilities before you and choose the positive path!  Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Challenge #17--POSSIBILITIES: August 4th - August 31, 2014

It is the first Monday in August and that means it is time for the next challenge to start.  This time around, for Challenge #17 the theme is "POSSIBILITIES".  Show us your interpretation of what possibilities mean 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.

I love to dream and use my imagination.  It is wonderful to speculate about the possibility of things and come up with endless ideas.  When you dip into your imagination you never know what you may find and that is one of the wonderful things about it.  You may start going off in one creative direction and then as you work through the possibilities, you may end up 180 degrees from where you started.  Anything is possible my friends.  What will you create?
  
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 possibilities 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 possibilities in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes.  While you may easily see how possibilities relate 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.  This way it clears up any ambiguity that may exist.

Remember we've changed up the rules a bit.  As a refresher, please note that:

• Entries will now be limited to a total of three.
• There will no longer be a prize associated with the Voter's Choice.  We will continue to have a Voter's Choice category allowing people to vote on their favourite project but from now on it will be an honourary position.  The person who receives the most votes each challenge will earn a badge as the Voter's Choice. 
• We're also switching up which sponsor is responsible for the Random and Most Inspirational prizes.  You can find out more details about this in the summary below.

This month's sponsor...

It is time to meet our guest sponsor for this month.  Once again, we have someone brand new joining us for this challenge.  Please welcome...

Thank you so much for having us as your sponsor. We at TSB are very proud to offer original digital images and artwork to you. Thank you for giving us a few minutes of your valuable time to look over the store at http://thestampingboutique.com. Good luck in the challenge and we hope to see you over at our TSB Community network: http://thestampingboutique.ning.com.

Thanks so much!
Tracey Malnofski

 Look at the beautiful images the team got to work with this month...

  #237 Escape the Tower-Fairy Digital Stamp

This fairy has managed to escape but now where will she go?  I don't know which way she'll head but I do know that this digi stamp offers so many ideas for different directions you could take it in.  Some of the team were definitely inspired by this image and you'll just have to wait and see where they went with it.

 #349 She Who Paints the Forest...Fairy Digital Stamp

Art is definitely an activity that allows for possibilities to shine through.  Imagine if you could stand back and repaint nature.  Which colours would you choose?

#358 The Fairies Frolic Digital Stamp

 

This is another beautiful stamp that lends itself to a bevy of possibilities.  Where are these fairies frolicking off to?  You be the one who decides.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these fantastical images, clicking on the watermarks will take you to their location in The Stamping Boutique store.

Now check out what my amazing design 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...

 

We are also pleased to have Donna Ellis from Creative Smiles, back joining us this month...

Thank you PoP designers for allowing me to join you once again this month. My name is Donna Ellis, also known on line as “de” (from my pottery throwing days). Short n Sweet - I am married to the love of my life in “rural” Central Florida. Stamping became my craft of choice as health concerns caused me to give up other crafting mediums. These days I enjoy sharing artwork with on-line friends, reading, and gardening. I’d love for you to visit my personal blog Creative Smiles. I promise to visit your blog in return :-)  http://creativesmiles2.blogspot.com/

Donna created two gorgeous cards for us...

I am so blessed to have these woman on my team; and, of course, to have a guest DT of Donna's calipre!  They always come through with incredible creations and this month is no exception.  These are all beautifully unique creations interpreting the concept of POSSIBILITIES.  

  
So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to possibilities, 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 on Monday, August 11th when voting will start on the Top Seven for Challenge #16.


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON POSSIBILITIES
If you need some motivation to get you started, I've provided a free 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:
© 2014, 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.

Font Information:

• 2Peas Gift font created by Two Peas
• Labtop font created by Apostrophic Lab

Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  These fonts were listed for commercial use at the time of this creation and as such, it is my understanding, that I am within my rights to use these fonts in my creations and offer them to others.  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  August 4th to August 31st.
• Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on August 31st.
• 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.
• 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 seven have been determined.  There will be a separate post detailing the top seven.  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 seven.  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 #17, prizes will be the following:
• Two images (or three if you use a TSB image on your creation) from The Stamping Boutique, our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• Three digital images from Ike's Art for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.
• There will also  be:
• One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• 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!

An InLinkz Link-up

Design Team Delights for Challenge #15

It is time for my Design Team to share their favourite entries for Challenge #15.  As always, in each challenge you, the readers, get to voice your opinion by voting for your favourite and so it is only fitting that my Design Team get to do so as well.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to join along our Path during the month of June for Challenge #15.  While it is always a difficult decision, each team member managed to find a particular entry that really caught their attention.  Take a look... 

Kate a.k.a. K8--chosen by Vicky...

Vicky had this to say:
"I chose #10.  I just love how Kate states that happiness comes from her grandkids.  It's often the smallest details that bring the most happiness and what she describes here is pretty exactly this!":

"Happiness for me is to borrow my grandchildren even if the whole body aches and hurts, you take it for the joy matters more. This is my smallest granddaughter Zmilla!  She puts her head to the side and gives me the most delicious smile and say I love you grandma!!!  Then happiness is indescribable..."

To see the details of Kate's creations and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Cheryl Ann--chosen by Monica...

Here is what Monica had to say:
"For my DT Delight I chose #16: Cheryl Ann.  The theme is Happiness and when I saw this card it made me smile. I love the little bug and the bright colors. It is a card that will make anyone happy!" 

To see the details of Cheryl Ann's creations and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Gloria--chosen by Desíre...

Here is what Desíre had to say:
"My DT Delight is #35: Gloria.  Not only is her card gorgeously cheerful but the wording inside her card is very true i.e.: You can never have too much happy."

To see the details of Gloria's creations and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Donna--chosen by Suze and Sandy...

Suze had this to say:

"My choice is #28: Donna, as this sentence really touched me":

"Sometimes we have to make difficult choices in our lives in order for Happiness to overcome Unhappiness."

Sandy said this:
"I enjoyed so much of this card… the layered embossing, the step card, all her thoughts of happiness… it hit the mark with me big time!"

To see the details of Donna's creations and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Viv--chosen by Pat...

This is what Pat had to say:
"My DT Delight choice is #3: Viv, whose card is an eye-pleasing blend of pretty papers and pastels, lacy trim and lacy doily, and great sentiment and image. She wrote":

"Happiness is a nice cuppa and a cupcake."

 To see the details of Viv's creations and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Edwina--chosen by Lynda...

 Lynda had this to say:
"My DT Delight choice is #8: Edwina. Her coloring and design of the card keep the focus on the sentiment which is wonderful.  Her writeup about her card touched me":

"Today I made a card that means happiness to me. Happiness is found when you are content. Contentment comes from loving someone, keeping busy, and have hope in your life. If you lose love and hope you cannot be happy.   Disabled people have managed to find happiness even though they cannot do things. They use their minds and are mentally active. Yet they still have hope and some even find true love after becoming disabled. Such a thing happened for my husband and myself. We only had 4 1/2 years together, but they were happy years. I took care of him 24/7 by myself. It was a labor of love. I still miss him. My happiness was full, in him."

 To see the details of Edwina's creations and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Julie O--chosen by Lisa (that's me)...

Yes it is a birthday card and some of you may be wondering what it has to do with happiness.  While, as I have indicated before, it is all about how you tie your card into the theme.  If Julie hadn't come over and left a comment (or had the statement somewhere in her blogpost), her card would have been disqualified.  However, Julie succinctly wrapped up how this particular card ties into happiness by stating: 

"It's a birthday card for my BFF. So, just the thought of creating it brings happiness. I love coloring flowers more than anything, and I used a beautiful flower image on this card. I love shaped cards, I love crinkle ribbon, and I LOVE stickpins (especially when made for me by a special friend). All those components go into this card, and just looking at it brings me happiness. When I mail it across the state to where my BFF now lives, I hope the happiness travels with it."

It isn't always about the card itself but can also be about the feelings that a person gets by creating the card.  Julie filled this card full of love and happiness by using all the things that make her happy and hoping it will spread to the recipient.  That is a lot of happiness for one small birthday card and perfectly connects to our theme.

To see the details of Julie's card, click HERE.

 Creative Congratulations to all of you!

Thank you to everyone who played on our Pathway during the month of June.  As always we greatly appreciate you sharing your incredible talents with us.  Now if you were chosen as a DT Delight, you are eligible for a special DT Delight badge.  Technically, the creations chosen as DT Delights were not supposed to start falling into our new rules, earning them an image if chosen, until challenge #16.  However, I don't think that is fair since the people in #14 were included in the draw and that would leave those in #15, just high and dry so I am going to change it and start with this challenge.

SO, that means that...

Kate, Cheryl Ann, Gloria, Donna, Viv, Edwina and Julie O.

 are all entitled to one image of your choice from our on-going sponsor...

Please head to the Creative Bug Digital SnapShots store:  http://creativebugdigis.com.  Scroll down a little bit and you'll see a brown banner on the left hand side that says, "looking for digis".  There will be a Polaroid image right underneath it that says SnapShots (Digital Images).  Click on this.  You'll be taken to a page that lists all the categories of images available for you to choose from.  Once you've made your decision, please send me the name of the one image you want and let me know which section it came from.  Additionally, you are entitled to the special Challenge #15 DT Delight Badge. To claim both your digi and the badge, send your requests to popwinners {at} gmail {dot} com (be sure to replace at and dot with the appropriate symbols) or by clicking HERE to bring the address up in your email program, with the subject, "PoP#15--DT Delight Badge and Digi Request".   I'm always running a bit behind these days, so your patience is appreciated.

Our special yearly prize package will also still be taking place.  Remember, if you are chosen as a DT Delight during any of our challenges, your name will be entered into a draw for some digital goodies.  You get one entry per choice; so, if two members picked your card, you will earn 2 entries, three members 3 entries, etc.  The winner at the time will be notified by email.   The next draw will occur sometime in the summer of 2015.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again tomorrow as we will be back with the start of Challenge #17.  We hope that you will join us then to learn what the newest theme will be.