Challenge #28--SHARING: July 6th - August 2nd, 2015

It is the first Monday in July and that means it is time for the next challenge to start.  This time around, for Challenge #28 the theme is "SHARING".  Show us your interpretation of what sharing 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.

Sharing is a concept we are taught right from the very start of our lives.  In order to live with others in a family, a group or a community, we need to learn to share.  Were you one of those kids in kindergarten whose report said, 'shares well with others' or were you one of those children still working on understanding the concept?  Whether it is sharing a meal with friends, allocating your time as a volunteer,  donating money to a charitable organization or simply sharing your friendship and love with others, giving of yourself in one form or another is a concept that most of us can get behind.  This month how about sharing your talents, time and love, and creating a card for someone in need.  Whether it be a stranger or someone closer to home, I'm sure there is someone who'd benefit from you sharing a little piece of yourself with them.

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

This month's guest sponsors...

This month we have two returning guest sponsors!

First up is Fresh Brewed Designs.  Let's refresh ourselves with what Heather's company is all about, shall we?!

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

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

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

Check out the great images the team worked with for their projects for the beginning of this challenge. Clicking on the names or the watermarks will take you to their location in the store.

 #3009 Best Friends (girls)

#82-Puppy Love    

 #1407-Besties

#1487-Coffee Shop 1

 Next, that brings us to Limited Runs.  Here is a review of what Nikki's company is all about...

Limited Runs has a LARGE calorie free sweet shoppe filled with over 120 different cupcakes, something for almost every occasion. It's not all cupcakes there are tons of  Christmas, Halloween, Backgrounds, Fairies, Critters and More to see. The store has gone through a re-vamp with new digital stamps added in all the time so pop in an take a look around things. Everyone knows you can't enjoy a cupcake without a coffee so there is a place to even pick up a cuppa. There's always a little something for everyone to enjoy and grab the monthly freebie so you can sample before you buy and add to your collection.

Check out the fun  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 category page they can be found on in LR store...

Christmas Carollers 

(Category: Christmas, section #21-30)

    

First Kiss Pre Coloured 

 (Category: Pre-Coloured Digis, section #1-10)

Moon Pie Set

(Category: Cupcakes, section #1-10)

Lilies

(Category: Flowers, section Flowers 1)

Once again, we are fortunate and blessed to have the chance to work with all these amazing images this month.  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 images from these wonderful companies.

Now check out what my amazing design team came up with to inspire you.   Clicking on the team members' name will take you to their blog where you can check out the details for their inspirational creations...

 

We are very pleased to have Asmah, from Qinaahana Arts and Crafts, as our guest designer for this challenge...

"Hi everyone! Firstly I would like to thank to Lisa for offering me GDT spot this July {you really brighten up my world lisa}. My name is Asmah, a wife and mother to three beautiful girls and one handsome boy living in northern Malaysia. I have been a mass-communicator and television co-producer for some years and now doing what I love most since my childhood -- my passion in arts and crafts, that is! I love artwork, art journal, scrapbooking, making cards, altered projects, home decorating, and photography besides allocating time for sewing, counted cross-stitching, ribbon embroidery, beadwork and needlecraft. My free moments will see me making flowers and embellishments. I love to make my own backgrounds and to experiment, learning happy mistakes along the way ever since my love for mixed media emerged the past couple of years. My style has always been shabby/vintage but most of all, I like to dabble in my work with inks and paints, which is my true forte and happiness. I love getting inspirations from other crafters around the world and all over the place. Nonetheless, my children are my strength and main source to keep me going into my artistic journey which can be viewed at my blog."

Check out the stunning layout she came up with....

My amazing design team and guests never disappoint!  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 sharing in various forms and manners and I hope we have inspired you.

So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to sharing, 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, July 13th when voting will start on the Top Picks for Challenge #27.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON SHARING

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

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:

© 2015, 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.

Font Information:

• Classy Pirate font created by Design TNT
• Andalusia Script font created by Seniors Studio

Please note that the first font listed may be a limited time freebie but was listed for commercial use at the time I downloaded it.   The second font was purchased as part of a limited time bundle with a commercial use license but may be purchased from the designer by clicking on the link above.  It is my understanding, that I am within my rights to use these fonts in my creations and offer them to others for free.  If you download these fonts yourself, 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 July 6th - August 2nd, 2015.
• Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on August 2nd.
• 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.  You can simply add a sentence or two right next to the link for this challenge if you want.
• 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.  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. 
• For Challenge #28, prizes will be the following:
• Three images of the winner's choice from Fresh Brewed Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs, one 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.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper made to order in a couple different ways or three existing papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on the start, midway, pondering for Challenge #28 or the top picks post for Challenge #27.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

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:

An InLinkz Link-up

Design Team Changes

Hello everyone.  I hope that your Path this week has been a positive one. Tonight I am popping in to share with you some changes that are happening to our Design Team.

First off, we are sadly saying goodbye to two incredible designers:  Vicky, from Crafting Vicky, who has been by my side since the inception of the Path of Positivity and Penny, from 9 Hawks and a Dragonfly, who joined us last November.  Both of these ladies have decided that it is time to move on to new adventures in their lives.  Each of these women has brought something incredibly special to the team and I consider myself very blessed to have had them both.  Each of their positive attitudes and wonderful design abilities will certainly be missed around here! 

Thankfully, fate has stepped in and brought a new person to our doorstep as Julie O. from Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers will be joining us.  I have been trying to woo her for the last year and as luck would have it, her schedule cleared enough to allow her to finally join us.  I'm so very pleased to have this wonderful woman join us.  Her positive attitude and beautiful design skills will be a definite asset to the team.  Let's get to know her a bit, shall we?

My name is Julie Odil, and I am thrilled to be designing for the Path of Positivity Challenge blog.  What an honor!  I just love this challenge blog and the philosophy behind it and it brings me great joy to be here!

I’ve always been creative – I play many instruments, like to write, and have been crafty my whole life.  I began scrapbooking about 8 years ago and cardmaking about 4 years ago, but things really took off when I began my blog about 2 1/2 years ago.  It was a life changing experience.  I can’t believe how much fun I’ve had and how many friends I’ve made through my blog. I’d love it if you’d stop by for a visit!

Please join me in wishing Vicky and Penny the best as each of these wonderful ladies continues down a new path in life.  I also hope that you will join me in welcoming Julie to the team. You will get to see one of Julie's wonderful creations tomorrow as she officially comes on board for our next challenge which begins Monday evening.  To visit Julie beforehand, just click on her blog badge or name above.  Please note that Julie was unfortunately the recent victim of a hacker.  As she was unsure that she'd gain access to her old blog, she started a new one.  The links above head to the new blog.  However, she has managed to finally gain access to the old blog and will be trying to transition back over there.  So, just in case you want to start following Julie, be sure to sign up over on her old blog which you can find by clicking HERE.

Please join us again tomorrow to find out the theme for our newest challenge.

May your days be filled with adventure and insight as you travel down life's path!

Design Team Delights for Challenge #26 -- PERSEVERANCE

It is time to share our favourite entries for Challenge #26.  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 May for Challenge #26.  Interestingly, this month there was a split between two particular creations.  Check it out the two entries that really caught our attention...

Teresa--chosen by Desíre, Pat & Suze...

Here is what Desíre had to say:
"My DT delight is Teresa. The mixed media canvas with the photo of her Dad is beautifully done with a great measure of attention to detail."

This is what Pat had to say:
"My DT delight is also Teresa.  I Love Teresa’s Mixed media canvas honoring her dad. The colors are rich and masculine, and I can almost feel the texture just by looking at it."

Here is what Suze had to say:
"My DT delight is Teresa as well.  I love all the textures on the canvas and the colours complement the image beautifully."

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

Katrina--chosen by Vicky, Penny, Monica, Sandy & Lisa (that's me)...

Vicky had this to say:
"My DT delight would have to be Katrina because I totally admire all the perseverance that they have shown to help their son make it to where he is now! My hat off to the parents and for their son who showed everyone that he could do it!!!!"

Penny said this:
"My DT delight is also Katrina. I absolutely love the entire design--so beautifully-balanced, love the fabulous palette and papers, great embellishments, and wonderful photo of her son! Very well-done!"

Sandy said this:
"My DT delight is Katrina too.  It just bubbles love and such great pride!"

Here is what Monica had to say:
"My DT delight is Katrina as well. Loved her story about her son. A true inspiration for perseverance."

This is what I had to say:
My DT delight is also Katrina.  What she wrote about her son is an absolutely wonderful testament to the concept of perseverance.  Katrina and her husband have every reason to be proud of their son's accomplishments.  Part of my career was working with college students who had learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder and many of the students I worked with went through similar hardships as children.  It is incredibly fulfilling to see anyone who has struggled with learning, to succeed in such a spectacular way.  I'm so very grateful that Katrina shared her story with us.

To see the details of Katrina's creation 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 May.  As always we greatly appreciate you sharing your incredible talents with us.

For our DT Delights chosen for this challenge... 

  Teresa and Katrina

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

Please head to the Creative Bug Digital SnapShots store:  http://creativebugdigis.com.  Click to enter the digital snapshots area.  Once you are on the homepage for the digis, scroll down a little bit and you'll see a brown banner on the left hand side that says, "looking for digis".  There will be a Polaroid image right underneath it that says SnapShots (Digital Images).  Click on this.  You'll be taken to a page that lists all the categories of images available for you to choose from.  If you need to see the image a bit closer, just right click and choose 'view image'.  Once you've made your decision, please send me the name of the one image you want and let me know which section it came from.

Additionally, you are entitled to the special Challenge #26 DT Delight Badge. To claim both your digi and the badge (or just one or the other), send your requests to 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, with the subject, "PoP#26--DT Delight Badge and/or Digi Request".   I'm always running a bit behind these days, this month more than usual (of course I said that last month as well, didn't I), so your patience is appreciated.

Our special yearly prize package will also still be taking place.  Remember, if you are chosen as a DT Delight during any of our challenges, your name will be entered into a draw for some digital goodies.  You get one entry per choice; so, if two members picked your card, you will earn 2 entries, three members 3 entries, etc.  The winner at the time will be notified by email.   The next draw will occur sometime in the summer of 2015.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again next Monday, July 6th, when we will be back with the start of Challenge #28.  We hope that you will join us then to learn what the newest theme will be.

See you again soon!