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!

Challenge #51--Optional Theme: SURROUND YOURSELF...with ART...Midway

Hello folks. It is the third Monday of the month and that means that it is time to present the midway for Challenge #51.

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 #51

Optional Theme: SURROUND YOURSELF...with ART

We have something different to share with you over the next three months and we hope you will all enjoy it. Katrina, one of my amazing team members has come up with a really intriguing concept. This fall our themes will be to Surround Yourself with Positivity in the form of the ARTS! Each month for the next three months we'll explore the positive influence of three different artistic concepts: Art, Literature and Music!

To kick it off we will start with Art! One of the best parts of having computers is having access to the works of the  artistic masters in our own home! We can google famous artists from Botticelli, Monet, or Rembrandt to Remington, Rockwell, or Noel and see their works! We can check out political cartoons, comic strips, and graffiti! We can also study sculptures, glasswork, and architecture.

Look around your home and consider what is hanging on your walls. Usually we choose to hang pictures or artwork that makes us feel happy and positive. Everything from our dishes to our furniture tells something about our artistic likes.

Now it’s time to walk around your house and really study what’s there. Check out some art on the web or in a museum. Turn in your paper to the comic strip. Find out what sort of art inspires you in a positive way! Then, if you would like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, share your inspiration and project with us; we can’t wait to see what you create and learn about yourself on this journey!

Keep in mind, we are thinking about how different kinds of art affects us as individuals. It’s not really about doing something “visually" art related. For example, any positive image that reminds us of any piece of art works or we could use the style of a famous painter on any image. I've 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.

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 art 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 $12 gift certificate from Bugaboo Stamps, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month.

Talking of our guest sponsors...

To learn more about this month's guest sponsors, be sure to check out the START post; and of course, also visit the individual sponsors themselves. Below you will find the watermarks for the wonderful images that the team worked with for the midway. Just click on any watermark to find that image's location in its respective store.

From Lunagirl…

Animals:  On the Farm Digital Collage Sheet

Animals:  At the Zoo Digital Collage Sheet

Daydream Digital Collage Sheet

From Bugaboo Stamps…

Cowboy

Beautiful Blocks Life

Thank you so much to these awesome companies 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 ART, 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:

"I have made a card/picture inspired by a print of a needle felted wall hanging that I saw several years in a row at a local craft show. The piece is very 3D and very large. It was not for sale but even if it was I doubt that I could have afforded it. My eldest daughter surprised me at Christmas with the gift of a framed print of it. The picture is called 'Peace In The Valley' and the artist is Joan Prowse. If anyone is interested here is a link to her web site: http://www.joanprowse.co.uk/"

Tie in to theme:

"I really enjoy horse art whether it be Victorian horse art or wild mustangs running.  I love cowboys loping over hills to women riding sidesaddle in flowery meadows.  Horse shoes, leather saddles, signs, it's all in my house....yes, amongst the Victorian children and angels~ it's a bit eclectic!"

Tie in to theme:

"I created a set of note cards, inspired by the jumbled collection of vintage collection pieces and modern design in my home. I tried to incorporate that mix by adding a bit of modern embellishment to the vintage photos from one of our sponsors, Lunagirl".

Tie in to theme:

"I sprayed three canvases some time back with the same colour Dylusions Ink.  Managed to complete 2 of them and couldn't decide what to do with the third one.  I'm happy to add this one to the other two as it looks much better up on the wall as a set of three!"

 

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 art, 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 art, 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. tonight to vote on your favourite entry for Challenge #50.  Voting is quick, easy and painless so I hope you will consider casting your vote if you haven't already. Winners for challenge #50 will be posted next Monday if everything goes according to plan. You can find the Top Picks post HERE.

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 sponsors by going over and checking out their work and saying hi if you have the chance.  As mentioned above, this month our guest sponsors are...

 

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!

Challenge #50--Optional Theme: FAITH, HOPE, LOVE…Midway

Hello folks. It is the third Monday of the month and that means that it is time to present the midway for Challenge #50.

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 #50

Optional Theme: FAITH, HOPE, LOVE...

Faith, Hope and Love,
but the greatest of these is Love. 
~1 Cor. 13:13

June is upon us and as we enter the summer months in North America, many venues will be preparing for the commencement of the wedding season. It is a time of year when we see a great number of couples, young and old alike, prepare to walk down the aisle. A time when two individuals come together to combine their lives and go forth with the hopes and dreams of living a fulfilled existence with another by their side or to renew said committent. It is truly a blessing to be able to witness the union of two beings coming together in faith, hope and love--the greatest of these being love.

Therefore, this month, in order to have a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, we want to see you create a wedding card, an engagement card or even a wedding anniversary card that reflects the concepts of faith, hope and/or love. It is time to put on those rose coloured glasses and get a little mushy.

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. We also ask that you let us know how your wedding or engagement card relates to the concept of faith, hope and/or love, if it isn't readily clear within the design itself or clearly written somewhere else in your post.

While you may easily see how the concept of 'faith, hope and/or love' 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 in a comment on this post or in your blog post. You can simply write a sentence 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 three images from Pattie's Creations, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a scrapbooking kit from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month.

Talking of our guest sponsors...

To learn more about this month's guest sponsors, be sure to check out the START post; and of course, also visit the individual sponsors themselves. Below you will find the watermarks for the wonderful images that the team worked with for the midway. Just click on any watermark to find that image's location in its respective store.

From Pattie's Creations…

Two Hearts With Rose

Ladies Corset 

Pumps with Flower

From Décosse's Dynamite Doodles…

 Flower Power Kit Patterned Papers available
for sale on their own or as part the full Flower Power Kit

 in the Scribbles Designs store. You can find it HERE.

 

Flower Power Kit Textured Papers available
for sale on their own or as part of the full Flower Power Kit
in the Scribbles Designs store. You can find it HERE.

 

Heartland Mini Kit available for purchase in the Scribbles Designs store.
You can find it HERE. 

Hearts & Swirls Patterned Paper 

from the future 'Love is in the Air' kit:

A Matter Of Time Pocket Watch Patterned Papers
 available for purchase in the Scribbles Designs store. 

You can find it HERE.

 

Clockwork Patterned Paper  

from the Multi-year November Kit: As Time Goes By

Freebie available HERE.

Glitteratti Set 1

Mommy Dearest Textured Papers available for 

purchase in the Scribbles Designs store. 

You can find it HERE.

One of the papers used in Pat's project (cranberry coloured plaid paper) is a freebie currently offered up on my blog. You can find it and some others HERE.

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

To help inspire you further down the path of FAITH, HOPE, LOVE…, check out the wonderful projects my Design Team had the opportunity to create. Clicking on a team member's name will take you to their blog where you can check out the details for their inspirational creation.

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 faith, hope, and/or love, 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 faith, hope, and/or love, 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. Wednesday to vote on your favourite entry for Challenge #49.  Voting is quick, easy and painless so I hope you will consider casting your vote if you haven't already. Winners for challenge #49 will be posted next Monday if everything goes according to plan. You can find the Top Picks post HERE.

LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

ON FAITH, HOPE, LOVE…?

If you need some additional motivation to help inspire you, I've provided another sentiment on this month's theme (the first is available HERE), free for you to download.

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

• Love Moon font created by Genilson Santos

This font was purchased with a premium commercial use license at the time of download. It can currently be purchased from the designer. Simply click on the font name above to be taken to where you can purchase it. It is my understanding, that I am within my rights to use this font in my creations and offer said creations 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 sponsors by going over and checking out their work and saying hi if you have the chance.  As mentioned above, this month our guest sponsors are...

 

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!