Challenge #58--Optional Theme: PASTELS...April 2nd - May 6th

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. However, just before we do so, I have an apology to make. To say that the universe has thrown a few extra challenges into my life in these past number of weeks, would be an understatement. Unfortunately, these challenges are affecting me both physically and mentally; and as such, it has also meant that I have about three hours less a day to work on computer and blog activities which is putting me rather farther behind. I'm not sure when this trend will end but it does mean that I'm going to have to sacrifice certain things in order to catch up. That probably means that our posts, especially the top picks and winner announcements, will not be up to their normal standards in terms of framed images, etc. I hope that you can all understand. Each minute I can save is precious and allows me to work toward checking one more thing off my list! Right now on this blog we are two winner announcements behind. My hope is that I'll be able to catch up with one of them within the next couple of days. There is the possibility that I may be a few days late with the free sentiment I normally provide at the start and midway of the challenge as well. I'll see what I can do but I can't even guarantee at this moment that there will be one for this month, though I will do my best. Your patience while I walk this difficult path is appreciated.

For now though, it is time to get back on track with the reason for today's post. We have just entered the fourth month into our year long study of colour. Every challenge we have in 2018 will be 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 #58, the optional theme* is "PASTELS". 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 #58. Thank you so very much to Katrina who has come up with this month's theme description.

Challenge #58

Optional Theme:  PASTELS

Where does your mind go when you think of pastels?

Maybe your thoughts go to Easter, spring and nature with all the lovely shades of new greens and violets. Possibly the soft colours of the new speckled eggs in the nests, the light fur colours of new baby animals or dream sickle skies enter your imagination.

Pastels seem to evoke feelings of new life for many. Maybe that is why baby clothes and nursery items seem to be so popular in those colours.

Even the world of fashion chooses pastels for their spring lines, and 2018 is highlighting pastels with the colours being displayed as the “Sundae Style” and “ice cream colours trend”! What is prettier than a dish of orange, lime or raspberry sherbet or a lovely cup of strawberry ice cream in that delightful pink?

This challenge, our focus is on different shades of PASTELS. We want to see a project that is at least 51% of the overall colour scheme. You can also use some different colours if you'd like but please 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 PASTELS spectrum! You can use the pastel colours to fill in your image(s) with, and/or they can be in your choices of papers and embellishments. Just make sure that the majority of your project focuses on different pastel shades. 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 do PASTEL shades 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 $15 gift certificate from Sparkle N Sprinkle, our sole guest sponsor 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 for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

Talking of our guest sponsor...

We are very pleased to have Sparkle N Sprinkle back as our sole guest sponsor for this month's challenge. Here is a refresher of what they are all about...

Sparkle N Sprinkle is a small company with a big heart owned and operated by Margaret Myers.  SNS specializes in hand-mixed embossing powders and glitters. Our quality, deeply etched rubber stamps are closely cropped on Cling Mount Cushion ready for your acrylic block. Produced in our local Shoppe in Ruskin, Florida, the stamps are already indexed on a laminated color storage sheet for your convenience. SNS sells a variety of other paper crafting tools and products, including a new line of digital stamps and many other exclusive products.   You can find Sparkle N Sprinkle on line at:   http://sparklensprinkle.net

Sparkle N Sprinkle is our sole sponsor this month and is generously providing us with both prizes! Check out the amazing 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 the page they can be found on in the SNS store...

Church Sympathy

Pet Sympathy

Jefferson Birds

Bicycles

Isabella

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 sponsor. Be sure to come back at the midway when you'll get to see more beautiful projects created with images from this wonderful company.

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...

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 the 'PASTELS' 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 'PASTELS' 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 range of PASTELS 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 week (Monday if possible but later in the week is highly probable) when voting will start on the Top Picks for Challenge #57. Hopefully, I will also get the chance to post the winner announcement for #55 at least, sometime in the next week as well.



MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON COLOUR...
If you need some motivation to get you started, I've provided a quote for you, which you can find below. Please note that the quote is being offered up with two different spellings. While I spell 'colour' with a 'u', my American friends, followers and readers are apt to spell it without one; so, I am providing an option to cover both spellings of the word.

British version:

American version:

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:

© 2018, 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

• Exquise-FY font family created by Font You

Click on the font name to take you to a purchase location. This font family was purchased with extended licensing. 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.


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 April 2nd to May 6th, 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 May 6th.
• 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 PASTELS 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 #58, prizes will be the following:
• $15.00 worth of digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch (based on those projects who have followed the theme).
• $15.00 worth of  digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle 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 #58--Optional Theme: PASTELS
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 May 6th 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.

Winners & Design Team Delights for Challenge #52--Opt. Theme: SURROUND YOURSELF...with LITERATURE

Hello and happy Monday ummm...Saturday! Yeah...so things obviously didn't go according to plan. I got a little derailed this week but I am getting back on track.

So, it is finally time to present the winners for Challenge #52. First we'll share the names of the Voter's Choice, the Most Inspirational and the Random Winner and then we'll move on to showcasing our DT Delights. Who are all the lucky peeps? Well, let's find out.

Without further ado, here are the choices...

Drum roll, please....BBBbbbrrrrrrrrr pish

 The people have spoken and their choice for Challenge #52 is....

SANJA

Sanja, you are entitled to receive a cool and awe inspiring personalized badge for your blog as the Voter's Choice for Challenge #52. Please feel free to copy your badge below...

 In the category of Most Inspiring, our winner is...

DARLENE

Darlene, you have won a $15 gift certificate from Sparkle N Sprinkle, our sole guest sponsor during Challenge #52.

Darlene, you are also entitled to a lovely, one of a kind personalized badge for your blog as the Most Inspiring choice for Challenge #52 which you can find below...

The Random Winner for this challenge (chosen by Random.org), based on all eligible participants is:

DONNA E.

Donna, you have won a $15 gift certificate from Sparkle N Sprinkle, our sole guest sponsor during Challenge #52.

Donna, you are also entitled to a neat and unique personalized badge for your blog as the Random Winner for Challenge #52 which you can find below...

Big Congrats to...

  sanja, darlene & donna

If you have won a prize during this challenge, please send your message to popwinners {at} gmail {dot} com (be sure to replace 'at' and 'dot' with the appropriate symbols), or click HERE to bring our email up in your program, with the subject heading, "WINNER PoP Challenge #52" to make arrangements to receive your prize. Please note that I am rather behind these day so it may take me a while to get back to you but I promise I will. Thank you for your patience.

Now it is time to announce our DT Delights from this challenge. 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 the eight people who took the time to join along our Path during the month of October for Challenge #52. Check out the entries that really caught our attention...

Sanja-chosen by Pippa and Julie...

Pippa said this:
"My DT Delight is Sanja. A great idea for bookmarks, with amazing colouring on small images and fantastic sentiments. I just love her projects."

Julie had this to say:
"My DT Delight is also Sanja. I love her coloring and the use of bookmarks for the literature theme. It's a great project!"

To see the details of Sanja's creation and read more of what she had to say click HERE.

Deanne--chosen by Suze...

Suze had this to say:

"My DT Delight is Deanne. I love the colour combination and the touches of glitter added to the image. And such a gorgeous bow accented with the flower."

To see the details of Deanne's creation and read more of what she had to say click HERE.

 Jane (Mistyblues Creations)--chosen by Katrina...

Katrina said this:
"My DT Delight is Mistyblues Creations. I just adore Jane's mixed media canvas! So many lovely textures and colors. The coloring on her focal image is absolutely stunning! This piece tells a story of its own!"

To see the details of Jane's creation and read more of what she had to say click HERE.

Creative Congratulations to all of you!

Thank you to those who played on our Pathway during the month of October. As always we greatly appreciate you sharing your incredible talents with us.

For our DT Delights chosen for this challenge...

Sanja, Deanne and Jane

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

Please click HERE to check out the image previews. They are arranged into general categories; although, due to the nature of some of these images, they have been repeated in certain applicable categories. Be sure to click on the watermarks to bring them up into the lightbox for better viewing. Now, I apologize but unfortunately, the owner of CBD is MIA right now and her blog background needs some serious updating as her images are all out of Flickr 3rd Party Hosting.  As such it is extremely difficult to see anything on the blog. However, the jpgs themselves are fine and the name of the image is written right on the jpg so you should be able to see the names without a problem.

If you are interested in claiming a digi, please send me the name of the one image you want and let me know which section it came from. Send your request to popwinners {at} gmail {dot} com (be sure to replace 'at' and 'dot' with the appropriate symbols), or click HERE to bring our email up in your program, with the subject, "PoP#52-DT Delight Digi Request". I'm always running rather behind these days, so your patience is appreciated.

Additionally, you are all entitled to the special Challenge #52 DT Delight Badge which you can find below...

Be sure to join us on Monday, December 4th, to learn what the optional theme for Challenge #54 will be. There is still a little over 24 hours left to link up your projects in our current challenge, with the optional theme of SURROUND YOURSELF WITH MUSIC. Click HERE for details. I hope that you will consider coming over to play with us. As always, we'd love to have you join our Path!

Challenge #52--Optional Theme: SURROUND YOURSELF...with LITERATURE...Midway

Hello folks! It is the third Monday of the month and that means that it is time to present the midway for Challenge #52.

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 #52

Optional Theme:
 SURROUND YOURSELF...with LITERATURE

We continue this month with the second 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 are exploring the positive influence of three different artistic concepts: Art, Literature and Music! Last month we focused on art and this month we are continuing our series with the concept of Literature!

Like art and music, there are so many different types of literature. Stories, books, reports, circulars, leaflets, handouts, etc. When you are heading to the library or book store, where do you go to find that special book? Are you off to find poetry, love stories, self-help, history, how-to, hobby or something else?

A great piece of writing has a way of pulling us into another world and creating adventures beyond what we might imagine on our own.  Sometimes it is exciting to escape to another country, time, world, or life. Other times, good writing can teach us about other cultures and acceptance. It’s always beneficial to read about improving our skills or expanding what we know. Many times these literary journeys will inspire us to make changes in our day to day living.

Is there a literary work that has had a positive influence on your life or art?  If you would like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, share your inspiration and creation with us. We’d love to see your project and hear about that writing/story/book!

Keep in mind, we are thinking about how different kinds of art affects us as individuals.  It’s not really about doing something “visually" literature related. For example, if you loved stories about animals, then animal digis would work well.  Or if you love gardening books, florals would be great. 

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 literature 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 $15 gift certificate from Sparkle N Sprinkle, our sole guest sponsor 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 for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

Talking of our guest sponsor...

To learn more about this month's guest sponsor, be sure to check out the START post; and of course, also pay them a visit. Below, you will find the watermarks for the sets that the wonderful images came from, that the team worked with for the midway. Just click on any watermark to find that set's location in the store.

From Sparkle N Sprinkle…

DREAM CATCHER MAIDEN

AUTUMN FRIENDS

NASTURIUM 

PALM HAMMOCK

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

To help inspire you further down the path of SURROUND YOURSELF with LITERATURE, check out the wonderful projects my Design Team had the opportunity to create. Don't forget that I have included a brief synopsis from each of the team members tying their projects into the theme so that you can see how they have interpreted this unique concept. Clicking on each team member's name will take you to their blog where you can check out further details on their inspirational creations...

Tie in to theme:

"There are a select number of books that I have read again and again."

Tie in to theme:

"Next to all my children's books are books about horses. Everything from college text books about Equine Science to Equine Philosophy/Quotes; Horse Paper Doll Books to Trivia; Training to Cartoons! Yep, I have an entire bookshelf devoted to it! I have horse books in the bedroom, barn, my art room, my music room, the family room...they're everywhere!" 

Tie in to theme:

"I chose the image because there are some books I read over and over. They have become old friends to me."

Tie in to theme:

"I am drawn to fiction about tropical islands and holiday locations and also enjoy reading about other places that I wish I could visit."

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 surrounding oneself with literature, 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 surrounding oneself with literature, 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. FRIDAY to vote on your favourite entry for Challenge #51.  Voting is quick, easy and painless so I hope you will consider casting your vote if you haven't already. Winners for challenge #51 will be posted next Monday if everything goes according to plan. You can find the Top Picks post HERE.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LITERATURE...

If you need some motivation to get you started, I've provided a quote for you, which you can find below. Please note that this is the same quote that was offered at the start of the challenge.

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

• Andalusia Script font created by Seniors Studio
• De Arloy font created by Panji
• Beradon Frames font created by Serbanescu Mihaela, BlackCatsMedia

Click on the font names to take you to a download location. All three fonts were purchased with extended licensing. 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). 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 sponsor by going over and checking out their work and saying hi if you have the chance.  As mentioned above, this month our guest sponsor is...

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!