Ponderings Along the Pathway...WISDOM

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 WISDOM and PAT is here to share her thoughts on the subject...

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference...
    -From the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

Wisdom is not just about being smart, nor is it about having all the answers.  It is determining what to do with what you know, what you’ve learned from your experiences and what your gut feelings are telling you. Knowing what is coming is not enough -- you must anticipate the consequences as well.  Knowing what must be done is only the beginning- you must have the courage and determination to do it.

Some people are math whizzes, some write eloquently, and some have lightning-fast reasoning. Not all these people are wise, but I think they can be.  I think wisdom is another path in our own self-discovery. Learning from mistakes and applying knowledge with experience are stepping stones to becoming wiser.  Patience, responsibility and experimentation are the wildflowers that make our paths sweet-smelling and colorful.  I think we can all be wise if we let ourselves wander up this path. I’d love to find you there waiting for me when I finish my course. If I don’t, no worries-- I’ll wait for you!

 

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 #13 and open the voting up to you.

May you always be guided by wisdom. Have a great weekend everyone!

Challenge #14--WISDOM: May 5 - June 1, 2014

It is the first Monday in May and that means it is time for the next challenge to start.  This time around, for Challenge #14 the theme is "WISDOM".  Show us your interpretation of what wisdom 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.

Wisdom comes from experience.  We are not born being wise.  Yes, it is true that some individuals are born with larger brain capacity and will have larger IQ's.  However, brain power on its own does not guarantee that a person will act with wisdom.  It is only by living and gaining experience that we can truly become wise.  How will you interpret the idea of wisdom?  We look forward to seeing your projects and/or passages. 

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 wisdom 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 wisdom in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes.  While you may easily see how wisdom 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.

Now it is time to meet our guest sponsor for this month.   Once again I am pleased to have with us... 

South African crafters are new to the digital stamping world, with the first South African online digital image store launched in 2010 – Digistamps4Joy (or DS4J) http://www.digistamps4joy. co.za/eshop/ (clicking on the logo will take you to the store as well) .  In May 2012, Margy Kieser took over ownership of DS4J, and there are now two South African artists who contribute to the more than 600 images available. Margy has taken the store to new heights and the store now stocks digis that are cute, whimsical, artistic, sometimes serious, and sometimes humorous. The store has PAYPAL and EFT (South African) facilities.  Digistamps4Joy offers a monthly freebie on the first Friday of every month, and holds regular bi-weekly card challenges on our BLOG (http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com) that draws entries from all over the world. We are also active on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/DS4Joy) and Paper Craft Planet (http://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/digistamps4joy).

The design team got the opportunity to work with one of the following two images this month.   First up we have the totally fabulous Dozy Owl...

Hee, hee.  I just love this image.  Owls are often portrayed as a symbol of wisdom so Dozy is a wonderful choice for the team to work with.

Some of the DT also got to work with the image called Gramps...

If wisdom mainly comes through experience, then an image of an aged individual is another great choice to showcase the concept of this month's theme.

Now our Guest Designer this month is on the DS4J team so she chose a different image to work with.  This image is called Cherry Blossom Time...

While the image itself isn't a typical symbol of wisdom, it still works for the theme.  You'll just have to check out the card to see how.  But that is what is wonderful about our individual creativity!  Themes can be interpreted in such a variety of ways.  It is all how you, yourself, work it out, which is why we always ask for clarification if it isn't apparent. 

If you are interested in purchasing any of these incredible images, clicking on the watermarks will take you to their location in the DS4J 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 very pleased to have Jackie, from the DS4J design team, as our guest designer this month...

Hi, My name is Jackie Cornfield. I am a happily married mother of two and grandma of one. All girls and we adore them!

I manage two craft shops and card making/papercraft is a massive passion of mine. I try to do it daily!

I am on three Design Teams and just love it, blogging has become my major addiction! There is no cure!!

To visit Jackie's personal blog, Get the JC Look, click HERE.

Here is the pretty card she came up with...

As always, my design team and our guest have come through with gorgeous creations all conveying a sense of WISDOM within them.
 
So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to wisdom, 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, May 12th when voting will start on the Top Seven for Challenge #13.  Also, be sure to check out the next Ponderings Along the Pathway post, coming out at the end of this week.


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON WISDOM
If you need some motivation to get you started, I've provided a quote for you, which you can find below.

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 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:

• Speedball No 3 font created by Nick's Fonts
• ActionIs font created by Brain Eaters

Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  Both of 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 May 5th to June 1st.
• Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on June 1st.
• 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 Digital Stamps 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.
• Five images from Digistamps4Joy, 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 Digistamps4Joy, our guest sponsor 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!

An InLinkz Link-up

Design Team Delights for Challenge #12

It is time for my Design Team to share their favourite entries for Challenge #12.  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 March for Challenge #12.  While it is always a difficult decision, each team member managed to find a particular entry that really caught their attention.  Take a look...  

Gloria--chosen by Vicky...

Vicky was moved by a particular comment that Gloria made:

"Our lives are busier than ever and I think we all need to be reminded to take time to stop and smell the flowers. The sentiment inside is all about wishing someone a wonderful life of flowers and songbirds serenading them. I love flowers and I love listening to the birds sing.   What a wonderful gift to have those two things in your life.

"To me that's the truth of it all and the idea of reminding someone to take the time is very thoughtful in our busy lives." 

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

Mimi--chosen by Pat, Lynda and Sandy...

 This is what Pat had to say:
"I love Mimi's Box Card with the Ice Cube tray inserted to bring home the sentiment on her card for her sister."

Lynda had this to say:
" I love that this card is a tribute to her thoughtful sister that sets the thermostat in her house so her company is comfortable".  Here is an excerpt from that post:

"When I go to visit, bless her, she puts the heating on and melts just so I can survive and not turn into an ice block."

"I am sure her sister will love getting this project and it is so thoughtful to recognize her "warm" gesture that she makes when she comes to visit!"

Sandy said this:
"I love the creativity and fun with this special project for her sister."

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

Susan K--chosen by Monica...

Here is what Monica had to say:

"The Card box was a fantastic project and I loved the idea of sending a gift within a gift.."

To see Susan's creation and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.

Shona--chosen by Desíre and Suze...

Here is what Desíre had to say:

"Not only is her card gorgeous, but her whole post was dedicated to honour the thoughtfulness of her (and I am sure some of us'), special friend in blog land, Donna Ellis." 

 Suze had this to say:
"I was immediately drawn to the layered flowers on this card and the shades  of colour and glitter.  After reading her post, I feel she has really captured the feelings of  thoughtfulness."

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

Vic--chosen by Lisa (that's me)... 

There is just something that draws me to this card.  It is possibly a mix of things.  I love angels, I love the colour purple and I'm always a sucker for an uplifting sentiment.  Sympathy cards are often difficult for many of us but Vic does a wonderful job in the creation of this one.  Such a thoughtful card for someone going through a terrible time in their lives.  I'm sure the recipient will be brought much comfort when reading it.

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

 Creative Congratulations to all of you!

Thank you to everyone who played on our Pathway during the month of March.  As always we greatly appreciate you sharing your incredible talents with us.  Now if you were chosen as a DT Delight, then we have a special treat for you.   Not only are you eligible for a special DT Delight badge, we will also be having a draw at the end of our first year for a special package of digital goodies.  So, if you are chosen as a DT Delight during any of our challenges, your name will be entered into the draw.  You get one entry per choice; so, if two members picked your card, you will earn 2 entries, three members 3 entries, etc.  The draw was supposed to take place in April but we need to hold off a bit.  It will happen soon though.  The winner at the time will be notified by email.  In the interim you are more than welcome to copy your framed card above and add it to your blog to share with all your readers; and, don't forget to email me at 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, for a copy of the special Challenge #12 DT Delight Badge.  I'm always running a bit behind these days, so your patience is appreciated.

Thank you for stopping by today.  We will be back tomorrow, Monday, May 5th to start Challenge #14.  We hope that you will join us then to learn what the newest theme will be.