Monday, September 03, 2018

Challenge #61--Optional Theme: SHADES OF ORANGE...September 3 - September 30

Hello everyone and welcome to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog! We are back from our summer break and hope that you have all enjoyed a positive summer season. If your road has been a difficult one then I hope that you will be blessed with hope and peace to help ease your journey.

It is the first Monday of the month and time for our new challenge to begin. We are just about to explore the seventh month into our year long study of colour. Every challenge in 2018 is dedicated to the theme of colour. Each month we will focus on a particular individual colour grouping (blue, red, yellow, etc.) or on a specific colour collection (pastels, metallics, etc.). Since colour is so important to our everyday lives, we thought this would be an interesting Path to explore.

In January, I presented a brief essay on how we are affected by colour, its impact on us, the symbolism of it, and the psychological effect it has on our everyday lives. If you are new to this series and would like to review this essay, or you would simply just like to refresh yourself on its details, you can find it by clicking HERE and scrolling down to the Title, "Theme Ideas for 2018".

Right now, it is time to get on with the details of our newest challenge. This time around, for Challenge #61, the optional theme* is "SHADES OF ORANGE". 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 for Challenge #61.



Challenge #61

Optional Theme: SHADES OF ORANGE

Did you know that orange is considered to be a very popular colour? I didn't realize that but it will not come as news to a team member of ours as orange is one of her favourite colours! Orange is a blend of two colours bringing with it the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. What kinds of thoughts and feelings do YOU think of when you think about the colour orange? For some, the different shades of orange bring ideas of action, vitality, and endurance. As such, it is a colour that is often seen in athletic wear making it a go to colour for hitting the gym. However, the power of orange doesn't stop there, it is also associated with the concepts of joy, warmth, enthusiasm, creativity, success, encouragement, determination, fun, enjoyment, change, balance, freedom, expression and even fascination. The number of characteristics that orange influences is simply amazing!

When delving into the colour psychology of orange we find that it is optimistic and uplifting, bringing a sense of spontaneity, along with a positive outlook on life. Additionally, orange offers emotional strength during difficult times helping us to bounce back after disappointments and despair. It also assists in the recovery from grief and is a great colour to use during difficult economic times. Given these considerations, it is easy to see how the colour orange can aid in revitalizing our spirit, keeping us motivated and helping us to embrace a favourable perspective regarding our longevity. Therefore, it is important for us all to find ways to incorporate this incredible colour into our daily lives. Something as simple as using an orange coloured pen or pencil can have an impact on our spirits.

Studies show that the colour orange can also create certain physical effects within a person. For example, being exposed to orange can increase a person's hunger, strengthen socialization and encourage two-way communication. If you love to have people sitting around your kitchen table then the use of orange will keep your guests eating and/or talking for an extended period. On the other hand, if someone within the family struggles with weight-loss issues, then it is probably best to avoid painting the kitchen orange. Other physical effects of using the colour orange includes stimulating a person's mental activity, heightening one's sense of activity, boosting aspirations, elevating the oxygen supply to the brain, amplifying contentment, and building up assurance. Furthermore, orange is known for assisting in decision making, and enhancing the concepts of happiness, confidence, and understanding. It is a warm and welcoming colour that encourages adventure, competition and independence and respect for one's self and others. Yet for all the colour's impressive attributes it is the "most rejected and underrated colour of our time" (Olesen Jacob, para. 5).

As orange is a great colour for channelling creativity it is the perfect colour for use in both professional and personal projects. In terms of design, the colour is exceedingly visible. Thus, it is a great colour to use for catching someone's attention and also promoting the most important aspects of your creation. Designers often use the colour orange to delineate something tropical, something fun, or something for young people since this particular colour is highly accepted among the younger generation.

Taken to extremes though, too much orange can cause a person to appear superficial and insincere. An over-abundance of the colour can also cause one to become self-centred and influence other self-serving characteristics such as pride, arrogance and indulgence. Other negative qualities of having too much orange in one's environment can result in a person becoming too dependent, over-bearing, pessimistic and unsociable. On the flip side of things, too little orange can cause loss of motivation, lower one's self-esteem, and increase feelings of loneliness. Once again, it comes back to finding the right balance when using this bright and vibrant colour.

This challenge, our focus is on different SHADES OF ORANGE. We want to see a project that is at least 51% of the overall colour scheme. Your project doesn't need to be completely monochromatic so a spattering of other colours is fine. Just be sure that if you would like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, over half of the colours in your project must be in the ORANGE spectrum! The shades of orange can be in the colours you choose to fill in your images with, and/or they can be in your choices of papers and embellishments. Just make sure that the majority of your project focuses on the varying shades of the orange family of colours. We can't wait to see how you explore the theme in your designs!

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. While it isn't mandatory, we'd also love to find out how this month's colour makes you feel, if you'd like to share that with us. What kinds of feelings does the colour ORANGE personally evoke in you? You can write a sentence or two in the body of your post, write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, or simply leave a comment on this post if you'd like.

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 guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate from Lungirl, the second of our guest sponsors this month, for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

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 Lunagirl

http://www.lunagirl.com/
My name is Karen, owner of Lunagirl Images. In 2004, after collecting vintage ephemera for most of my life, I started digitizing and restoring images and designing digital supplies for artists and crafters (my husband collected antique books and prints, so we had quite a house full!) We are proud to have been the first company to offer digital vintage image collections of this size and quality at prices affordable to the home crafter.

At Lunagirl.com (and in my etsy shop) I currently offer you several hundred unique digital collage sheets and dozens of themed craft CDs -- over 30,000 images so far! They are a great resource for card making, scrapbooking, jewelry making, and much more, easy to use, carefully researched and curated, all thoughtfully organized and lovingly cleaned up, ready to you to use in your projects. I love altering and embellishing these beautiful and fascinating images and seeing what my customers create with them.

In addition to digital art and design, I enjoy painting on wood, creating assemblage icons and shrines, reading history books, bellydancing, cooking, and sewing with my vintage Singer. I'm also blessed to be the mom of two teenaged boys.

If you're looking for something in particular in vintage style, feel free to email me at info@Lunagirl.com!

Main Blog:  http://www.LunagirlMoonbeams.com
Pinterest:    https://www.pinterest.com/lunagirlart/
Store:         http://www.lunagirl.com/
Etsy:          https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lunagirl

Below you will see the fabulous collage sheets that team members used images from for their projects for the beginning of this challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their location within the Lunagirl store.


Summer Garden Collage Sheet
Summer Garden Digital Collage Sheet - Lunagirl



Day Dreaming Collage Sheet
***Preview and link to follow***





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

 Picture
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 year round Creative Link-Up! Use an image from Imagine That Digistamp on your project (and follow the other rules) for your chance to win a gift certificate to the store. Winners chosen every 15 link ups. We'd love for you to come over and join us!        

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 Imagine That Digistamp store.


 Humphrey's Sunflowers
https://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p266/Humphrey%27s_Sunflower.html


Bambi and Max
https://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p754/Bambi_%26_Max.html


Pumpkin Kitties
https://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p707/Pumpkin_Kitties.html


We are fortunate and blessed to have the chance to work with all these awesome items 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 items 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…


http://muddypawsandinkyfingers.blogspot.ca/




http://scrappyhorses.blogspot.ca


patacakespages.blogspot.com/




http://craftinghelen.blogspot.ca/

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 various 'SHADES OF ORANGE' range splendidly and I hope we have inspired you. Be sure to go and visit each of them so you can see how their project further connects 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 'SHADES OF ORANGE' for the chance to win the Most Inspirational prize, make sure that you add FT after your name so you can be included in the running for the prize. Remember, we'd also love to find out just how the different SHADES OF ORANGE affects you, so be sure to lets us know if you can, somewhere in your post or come over and leave a comment. 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 (hopefully) start on the Top Picks for Challenge #60.


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON COLOUR...
Unfortunately, I am still facing considerable challenges in my personal life which are all affecting the time I have available to work on the computer. While things were almost back to a semblance of normality at the start of August, the last few weeks have brought forth new calamities: I have injured myself, my mom was admitted to the hospital on August 23rd and her health is deteriorating instead of improving, and sadly, my husband's sister died last week due to a massive stroke that was completely unexpected. As such, I have not had the opportunity to create a freebie for all of you. If I can manage it, I will get it uploaded to this spot or added to the midway depending on when, or even if, I can get it created.


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 September 3rd to September 30th, 2018.
  • 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 September 30th.
  • If you have chosen to follow the optional theme, you will need to add 'FT' after you name so we know which creations to add to the draw for the sponsor's prize for Most Inspirational. While it isn't mandatory, we'd also love to find out how this month's colour makes you feel, if you'd like to share that with us. What kinds of feelings do the different  SHADES OF ORANGE personally evoke in you? You can write a sentence or two in the body of your post, write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, or simply leave a comment on this post if you'd like.
  • 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 #61, prizes will be the following:
    • A $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch.
    •  A $10 gift certificate from Imagine That Digistamp, the second 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.

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 #61--Optional Theme: SHADES OF ORANGE
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 September 30th 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.

Members of the EU Please Note:

  • By entering your Personal Information (i.e. name, blogpost address, email address) into any type of link up on this blog, you are giving your consent to having your name and blogpost link visible to everyone who visits this site. While we also request that you submit your email address when adding a card to any link up, this particular piece of Personal Information is kept private. It is only visible to me, Lisa Décosse, the owner of this blog or my designate (see more on how your email address is used below).
  • By commenting on any post on this blog, you are also giving your consent to having your name and blogpost link visible to everyone who visits this site (unless of course, you have left a comment by remaining anonymous). 
  • If you are a winner or top pick in an event that you have entered, a copy of your entry information will be published in a separate winners announcement post. This entry information may include the following: 
    • your name and/or possibly your blog name
    • the blogpost address of the card that you linked up
    • a copy of the image that you originally linked up
Your continued use of this blog and any services it may provide will constitute your acknowledgement and acceptance of this notice.A full Privacy Policy is being created and when completed will be added to a separate page on this blog.





References: 
Author Unknown.. (2002). Color Wheel Pro - See Color Theory in Action. Available: http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html. Last accessed  3rd Sept. 2018. 
Author Unknown. (2017). The Color Orange. Available: https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-orange.html. Last accessed 4th March 2018. 
Bourn, Jennifer. (2011). Color Meaning: Meaning of The Color Orange. Available: https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-orange/. Last accessed 3rd Sept. 2018. 
Grumman Bender, Rachel . (2013). How Color Affects Our Mood. Available: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/27/how-color-affects-our-moo_n_1114790.html. Last accessed 3rd Sept. 2018.
Oleson, Jacob. (2017). Orange Color Meaning – The Color Orange. Available: https://www.color-meanings.com/orange-color-meaning-the-color-orange/. Last accessed 3rd Sept. 2018.

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