Challenge #9--JOY: December 2 - January 5, 2013

It is the first Monday in December and that means it is time for the next challenge to start. This time around, for Challenge #9 the theme is "Joy".  Show us your interpretation of what JOY 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.  While it is easy for us to be joyful in a month filled with joy, as many people get ready for their various celebrations throughout the season, it is just as important for us to remember to be joyful the remainder of the year as well.  I hope that after the holidays are over, that you will remember the feeling of joy and carry it with you in your heart through each month in 2014 and beyond.

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 joy 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 joy in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes.  While you may easily see how joy 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.  This way it clears up any ambiguity that may exist.

This month we are fortunate enough to once again have the ever fabulous Fresh Brewed Designs (FBD).  Here is a refresher on what FBD is all about...

If you are looking for some freshly brewed inspiration, then you have come to the right place.  Fresh Brewed Designs (http://www.freshbreweddesigns.com) is a small on-line company that has been offering a wide variety of digital images and rubber stamps since November 2010, designed to meet the needs of paper crafting addicts everywhere.  With over 30 categories to choose from and several new additions to the store monthly, our range of products is expanding all the time. Whether you are looking for one of our uniquely designed coffee inspired images or something entirely different, you are sure to find something to please.  We'd also love for you to visit us over on our blog (http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot. com) where inspiration is always percolating.  We have a digi release at least once a month and other events as well.  Come see us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh-Brewed-Designs/139388879447210) too.  You never know what other goodies you may find there.

Owned and operated by Heather Dennis, loving wife and mother to two home-schooled children, you can always expect personalized service.

At Fresh Brewed Designs we always have a fresh pot of creativity brewing. So stop by and join us for a cuppa whenever you want!

 Look at the beautiful images the team got to work with this month.  Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their location in the FBD store...

This snowman is just so precious.  It is called Have a Tweet Christmas and is the perfect accompaniment to all your Christmas cards.  Everyone loves snowpeople!!! Decorate your own snowmen up with a few baubles and you have another Christmas decoration, only this time for the outdoors.

Let me introduce you to Holly.  She is just who you need to come in and get the house all spruced up for the holidays.  The holly boughs on her hemline continually regenerate so she never has to fear running out of it.  If you'd like to bring Holly into your own home to help you out with the decorating, the image is called Christmas Holly.

Totally adorable, right?  Kitten in a Mitten is wonderful, not only for any of your Christmas cards but for any winter themed creation.  You could also use it simply to let someone know that you are thinking of them.  The winter can sometimes be a very difficult season for some people and a card with this image on it is sure to bring a smile and a little joy to anyone's face.

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...

 

 

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

Thank you PoP designers for allowing me to join you 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. Though I’ve worked in stores, taught classes, and presently work on Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Staff in a number of capacities, I am currently home-bound and there is nothing more rewarding than sharing artwork with my on-line friends. I’d love for you to visit my personal blog Creative Smiles. I promise to visit your blog in return :-)

Here are the stunning cards that Donna created for us...

To check out Donna's joy filled creativity, click HERE.

Once again my design team came through with simply incredible creations all conveying a sense of JOY within them.
 
So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to joy, 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, December 9th when voting will start on the Top Seven for Challenge #8.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON JOY
If you need some motivation to get you started, I've provided a freebie for you...

Credit Notes For This Creation:
© 2013, 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 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 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:

• Tanglewood Tales font created by Nick's Fonts
• WW Flakes font created by Windwalker64

Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  Both these fonts are free for commercial use.

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 December 2nd to January 5th.
• Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on January 5th.
• 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.
• 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.
• This month, prizes will be the following:
• Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals, for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.
• Three digital images from Ike's World  for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• Three images from Fresh Brewed Designs, this month's guest sponsor, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• 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.

GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY...

Please show your support to our fabulous sponsors by going over and checking out their work and saying hi if you have the chance.  In addition to Fresh Brewed Designs, our guest sponsors for the month, we also have our regular sponsors:

 

 

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: