Monday, August 12, 2013

Challenge #4 Top Seven: Voting Open August 12th to August 22nd, 2013

Welcome to the Challenge #4 PoP ToP!

The DT has been hard at work narrowing entries down for our second Top Seven.  Why seven and not the typical three, four or even five?  Well, we strive to be different over here on the Path of Positivity.  Additionally, seven is a spiritual number and thus right in the wheelhouse of the vibe we are looking to project; so, seven it is.  However, narrowing the field down to seven is not an easy task and I think it is only going to get harder as time goes by. 

It is time to get on with it so please let me introduce you to the Top Seven for Challenge #4 (in no particular order)...







Congrats Ladies...

As a participant who has been chosen in our Top Seven, each of you is entitled to a special Top Seven badge. Please email me by clicking HERE, with the subject "Challenge #4 Top Seven" and I'll email your badge to you. Also just a reminder that those of you from the last challenge are also entitled to a badge. I forgot to add this last time so if you were part of our Top Seven for Challenge #3 and are reading this please email me by clicking HERE, with the subject "Challenge #3 Top Seven".  I'm also still waiting to hear back from three of the winners for Challenge #3. Your prizes and badges are still waiting for you! 

Have Your Say!

Now the really hard work starts.  It is time for you, our readers, to vote for your favourite entry.  Which participant most inspires you?  Remember, you are not necessarily voting on a creation that was made.  One of the top seven in particular doesn't have a creation at all; however, what she does have is an incredibly moving post.  Please let us know who your choice is by placing your vote below using the Inlinkz feature. 

Voting open for 10 days:
August 12th to August 22nd

So, come have your say in determining the Voter's Choice for Challenge #4!  Don't forget to leave a comment after you have voted.  There will be a prize for one lucky voter who leaves a comment (chosen randomly).   You should be able to visit any of these lovely entries by clicking on the thumbnail or name in the linkup below, after you have voted.  Why not pay a visit to your favourite and let them know how they inspired you.

Good luck everyone!



Important  Note:
Please note that in order for this to work, I must add all the entries but I can only do this AFTER I have published this post.  So there will be some overlap time between when this post is published and when you will be able to vote.  Once I have uploaded the entries there will be a total of seven images below on which to vote.  If there are less than seven, it means that I am still in the process of adding the images and you should come back in a little while to make your vote.  Thank you for your patience!

Link Up:

Monday, August 05, 2013

Challenge #5--Optimism: August 5 - September 1, 2013

It is the first Monday in August and that means it is time for the next challenge to begin. This time around, for Challenge #5 the theme is "Optimism". Show us your interpretation of what optimism 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.

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

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.  We have a digi release at least once a month and other events as well.  Come see us on Facebook (http://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!
The design team had fun choosing the images they wanted to work with and were lucky to get the opportunity to play with a few different images.  First off there is the lovely Fresh Brewed Designs image called April Swings...


I love the carefree, happy nature of April.  She looks like she doesn't have a care in the world.  I think this is a look most of us would sport if we could.  If you are interested in purchasing this digital image, clicking on the watermark will bring you to her location in the store.

A couple people chose to work with the image, Thinking of You--Girl in Window...


There is something that really draws me to this image.  I get captured in the feeling of longing and wishing that this young girl exudes.  Along with these feelings you can also gain a sense of hope too.  Heather has captured these feelings so well, they are almost palpable.  If you are interested in purchasing this digital image, just click on the watermark to get to the store.

Another of our team members, Vicky, who is also on the Fresh Brewed Designs team, worked with a different image.  The image she used is aptly called Peace Be Still...

There is such a stillness and remote beauty to this image.  I definitely see how Vicky was drawn to its serenity.  You can find this image in the store by clicking on the watermark as well.

Sandy made the choice to work with the image called Chick's First Flight...

Need a lift creatively or otherwise? Chick's First Flight will get you where you need to go.  Owning him is just a watermark's click away.

Now check out what my amazing design came up 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 also pleased to have a guest designer joining us again this month.  I invited Chana from Redora Lee and 613 Avenue Create to come over and play with us...
I am a happily retired wife (44 Years), mother of two and grandmother to six. My husband and I live in a suburb of the beautiful City of Atlanta, Ga. In 2010, I returned to card making after a five year hiatus. I have been fortunate enough to work with some really wonderful ladies on some great design teams. I own a weekly challenge blog, 613 Avenue Create, in partnership with Kathi Silvia. I have no particular style. I like to try different things, but lately I have been leaning very heavily toward Vintage and Shabby Chic. I am thrilled at the opportunity to Guest Design for Path of Positivity.

Here is the incredible creation Chana came up with...


Aren't  all these creations just fabulous?  Each of them touches on the designers' own ideas as to what optimism means to them. 

So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to optimism, 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, August 12th when voting will start on the Top Seven for Challenge #4.

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


Font Information:
Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  Both 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. 

I've added a 'Download Instructions & T.O.U.' tab at the top of the page.  If you download any sentiments please ensure that you familiarize yourself with my terms of use.

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 August 5th to September 1st.
  • Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on September 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.
    • Three images from Fresh Brewed Designs, 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 Fresh Brewed Designs, our guest sponsor for the month, we also have our regular sponsors:
 
 









That is me and I'd love for you to visit me
on my personal blog.



If you ever have any questions be sure to EMAIL ME or just leave me a comment.

We look forward to seeing you participate!



Inlinkz collection begins below:

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Design Team Delights for Challenge #3

The entries in Challenge #3 were just fabulous, weren't they?  Just as you all got to voice who your favourite was, so did the Design Team.  However, it wasn't easy with so many amazing entries! Thank you to everyone of you who joined along our Path last month for challenge #3.  You really made it very difficult for the team to choose their favourites! Here are the ones that really stood out and inspired our team...
Donna Ellis--chosen by Desíre...
"Donna's third entry is my very favourite dt choice, just reading the paragraph she has posted with her awesome card says it all".  Excerpt that Desíre is referring to:  
In times of hardship I require moments of peaceful reflection - regardless of where I am, what is happening, the circumstances which present themselves to me, it is remembering/reflecting that true Love will bring Peace to my soul. And my Soul flies to that Love. Strength allows me to "rise" higher than the pain and limitations of my body. Strength allows  me to see the good in all people, regardless of what they may say or do. Little fears can become big fears, unless I reflect, allow Peace to pervade, and Love to bloom. For me, Love is not so much an "emotion" or something I "feel", but rather, a State of Being.  
To see the details of Donna's card and read more of what she had to say, click HERE.


Carol--chosen by Vicky...
"The one that touched me the most is # 6 just because I totally relate to what she wrote and how a child's confidence can so easily be crushed, and it takes a lot of strength to gain it back some way.  Yup I'm a sentimental.." 

To see the details of Carol's project and check out her post, click HERE.


Donna Ellis--chosen by Suze and Sandy...
 Suze and Sandy favoured this creation, also by Donna, and were both touched by this sentence in particular: "Having the courage and strength to forge and enjoy life under any circumstances".  Sandy added:  "her card is strong & bright and full of the expectation of good things!"

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


Jen--chosen by Naomi...
 "I choose Jen's card because there is a strong feeling of strength resonating from the girls eyes, they say that everything will be OK.   I love that Jen did this card for a friend that is going through a rough patch."

To see the details of Jen's project and check out her post, click HERE.

 Vickie--chosen by Lisa (that's me)...
 Vickie's post reflected a conversation she had with her son regarding a scripture verse she had shared with him, as he and his wife were in preparation for buying a new house.  However, it didn't end up being a smooth process as things kept getting in the way.  She talked about the importance of "having faith in the face of discouragement", and that, "trials can be a difficult thing" but that "knowing what and whom to believe in is the key".  She tempered that with making sure people understood that she wasn't saying that simply believing in something will get you the result your looking for.  It is all about having faith, praying and believing that God's will, will be the right path for you.  Faith and prayer are definitely instrumental in keeping anyone who believes in a Higher Power strong in the face of all the misfortune that may possibly transpire in their lives. These concepts are definitely reflected in the verse on her beautiful card.

Creative Congratulations to all of you!

Thank you to everyone who played on our Pathway during the month of June.  You all did an amazing job.  The hard work you put into your creations was evident.  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 the 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.  The draw will take place around the anniversary of when the Path of Positivity came into existence which will put the draw date sometime in April 2014.  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 for a copy of the special Challenge #3 DT Delight Badge.

Thank you for stopping by today.  We hope that you will join us again tomorrow to learn what the newest theme for challenge #5 will be.