Challenge #40--CONFIDENCE...August 1st to September 4th

Hello everyone! I hope that you have all enjoyed the summer thus far. It is the first Monday in August and we're back from our break so that means it is time for the next challenge to start. This time around, for Challenge #40, the theme is "CONFIDENCE". Show us your interpretation of what confidence 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.

I don't know about you, but confidence is definitely one of those skills that I need to practice on. While I may think that I am confident, in certain circumstances all it takes is the wrong look or hearing something negative from someone and my poor confidence balloon immediately deflates. It is at these times that I need to sit back and remind myself that having a strong self-confidence is very important and leads to the following:

• a greater sense of self-worth--the more value you hold in your own abilities, the higher your sense of self esteem will rise. It is important to be proud of who you are and what you can do!
• less self-doubt--doubting your capabilities leads nowhere fast. The more confident you become, the more you will believe you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.
• less fear and anxiety--fear and anxiety can be plagues. I could certainly use less of both these in my life. When we are more confident we are better able to handle situations and less likely to allow fear and anxiety to dominate us. This of course translates into greater peace of mind and less stress. I'm sure that we could all do with a little less stress in our lives.
• less anxiety in social interactions--it is difficult to be relaxed and comfortable around others when our self confidence is low. Think about how you feel around someone who is confident. You are likely to be more relaxed and comfortable in that person's presence. Wouldn't you like to be the person who others respect and welcome into their midst? Working on your own confidence will help.
• greater success--people who are self confident seem to be naturally more successful in life. With less self doubt, fear and anxiety weighing a person down and a greater sense of self-worth, you are able to better achieve your goals.

The more confident we become, the better equipped we are to deal with life in general! Keep in mind that while it is important for us to work on building our own confidence levels, we can also affect those around us in a positive way as well. A kind work or praise at the right time can help to strengthen someone around us whose own confidence might be a bit low. This month, think of someone whom you know who could benefit from a boost in confidence. Is there someone out there who has been trying to find a job who may be getting a bit down? Perhaps you know of someone who is working towards a promotion. Maybe you know of a young individual who just needs that extra push to get them motivated about something. There are so many ways to showcase the theme of confidence.

As usual my team, has come up with some interesting ideas so be sure to pop over to their blogs and see how their creations connect with the concept of this challenge. What direction will you go in? Whatever approach you take, we look forward to seeing your interpretation on this month's 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 confidence 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 confidence in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes.  While you may easily see how confidence 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.

Reference:
Fonvielle, David . (2011-2014). Why Is Self Confidence Important?. Available: http://www.alwaysgreater.com/achievements/why-is-self-confidence-important-benefits-of-self-confidence. Last accessed 31st July 2016.

This month's guest sponsors...

This month we have two returning sponsors!

First up is Ike's Art.  Here is a refresher of what Ike's company is all about...

Hi there – I am Ike……a nickname that I got hooked with many years ago due to my surname, and in my profession at that time, …… they just loved to give nicknames ☺.

I live in Greece and have a passion for kitties ☺

I am a complete nutter or should I say I’m ‘zany’ hahaha. I have a very strange/sick sense of humour and I must admit I spend a lot of time talking to myself. !! Well, I get more sense out of me.! I reckon in a few years I shall be known as the “crazy cat lady” ☺

I am an artist and have a strange mind when it comes to creating my art. I either go completely true to life… right down to the last hair… or I go totally surreal. I have a passion for all things horror/Gothic etc. I’ve always loved horror films and books and I guess that’s why it creeps into my stuff ! Had I been a bit younger I swear I would have been a Goth……luuuuuv it.  Next time around I am gonna be a witch or a cat ☺

I started my Blog a couple of years ago and although I love crafting, my real passion is drawing, and now I just love making digital images.

My SHOP is IkesArt found at www.ikesart.com
My Challenge Blog:  http://ikesworldchallengeblog.blogspot.com                                   My Blog is Ikes World and is at http://suzy-ikesworld.blogspot.com
Exclusive designer for Smeared Ink www.smearedink.com

Below you will see the awesome images that team members used for their projects for the beginning of this challenge. Clicking on the first watermarked image will take you to its section within the Ike's Art store. The second watermarked image is currently a freebie over on one of Ike's Challenge blogs.  You can simply click the watermark to head to that blog...

KT Swing
(located in the People section)

Chessy
(current freebie on one of Ike's Challenge Blogs)

Next, that brings us to Scribbles Designs.  Here is a refresher of  what Sandy's company is all about...

Looking for a unique image or sentiment? Well then! Head on over to Scribbles Designs and check out Sandy's world of her funky imagination and quirky characters. Sandy has loved art, drawing, water colouring and doodling for many years... and with the digital image world she can now share it with all of you. Brrr (Penguin) was her first main character and her other quirky images followed not long after. We hope you enjoy the endearing images available in the store and add Sandy's images to your digital stamp collections.

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 their location in the Scribble Designs store...

#817 Artsy

#951 Sailboat 1

 

#316 Tropical Fish 5

We are fortunate and blessed to have the chance to work with all these awesome 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 Vickie O., from HEARTful Stamper, as our guest designer for this challenge. Check out the cool card she created....

 My amazing design team and wonderful 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 the concept of confidence in various forms and manners and I hope we have inspired you.  Be sure to go and visit each of them so you can see how their projects connect to the theme.

So what are you waiting for? Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to confidence, 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 next Monday when voting will start on the Top Picks for Challenge #39. 

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE ON CONFIDENCE
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.

Extra Elements
The spoon element was an extra that came with an exclusive freebie created by Celcius Design through Deal Jumbo. These extras, along with the Valencia font can be purchased HERE.

Fonts used

• Cookies & Milk font created by Phitra Design
• Little Wizzy font created by Junik Studio

Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  Both of these fonts were free and listed for commercial use at the time of this creation.  As such, 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 Aug 1st to September 4th, 2016.
• Link up your inspirational post below using Inlinkz. You will be able to submit your link up to 11:55 p.m. on September 4th.
• 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 #40, prizes will be the following:
• A $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art,, 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:

• A small selection of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on on posts published during the challenge time-frame.
• 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

The Path of Positivity is Taking July Off

Hey folks!  I was supposed to come back on Wednesday and officially announce that we're taking a break but alas, I forgot.  I have sticky notes and 'to do' lists and even reminders in my calendar for the majority of the things I need to do but apparently I forgot to remind myself about this one!

Some of you may have noticed that for the last few posts I've been eluding to the fact that we'd be taking some time off.  My team has been working so hard these last few years and I decided at the year's start that it would be a nice idea to give them some time off.  Since summertime is slower for challenges in general with many people going on vacation, I decided that July would be the perfect month to take a break.

So, on that note here is the plan...
We'll be back on August 1st with a brand new challenge and then on August 8th, we'll be back to announce the winners from Challenge #39!  I know it is a bit longer to wait, to find out if you were one of our lucky winners from June's challenge but this way it keeps our schedule the same once we return.

If you are waiting to hear back from me regarding an email you sent in, don't worry, you won't have to wait until August for me to answer it.  I'll be doing my best to get to your emails sometime in the next week.

On behalf of myself and the design team, we wish all of our followers, players and readers, an absolutely fabulous month of July!

Stay safe and stay crafty and we'll see you all again in August!

Design Team Delights for Challenge #38--EMPATHY

Hello to you all on this rather warm and sunny Tuesday evening!  If you happen to live in Canada, a belated Happy Canada Day; and for those living in the U.S., a belated Happy Independence Day.

Before we start, I just want to apologize for the delay in getting this post out.  Last week was one of the busiest weeks I think I've ever experienced, having to post 15 posts (across five different blogs) over the course of five days--10 on Friday alone.  As such, there was unfortunately no way to get this posted in its usual spot on Sunday.  I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.  It is a good thing that there is no challenge in July (I'll be doing a quick separate post to let everyone know tomorrow) or I'd really be in trouble!

Anyway, it is time to share our favourite entries for Challenge #38.  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 #38.  Check out the entries that really caught our attention...

Jennifer--chosen by Katrina and Julie...

Katrina said this:
"My DT Delight is Jennifer. I could feel the sadness in this card; that image with its light coloring surrounded by the dark, complex background told a story for me...and that quote is perfect":

"It may not be ok today. It may not be ok tomorrow. But it WILL be ok."

Julie had this to say:
"My DT Delight is also Jennifer. Her sentiment fits our empathy theme so well. I found that saying very moving. I also loved her mixed media background. This piece is beautiful." 

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

Deb--chosen by Pat...

This is what Pat had to say:
"My DT Delight is Deb. I love the affirmation and how she perceived it, and the way she colored her page."  

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

Susan--chosen by Suze and Pippa...

Suze said this:
"My DT Delight is Susan's first entry. This project is beautifully coloured and layered."

Here is what Pippa had to say:
"My DT Delight is also Susan's first entry. I love the unusual shape to her card and her colouring is wonderful. The whole composition is so good, it's one your eye is drawn to and you want to go and look at it again and again."

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

Susan--chosen by Lisa (that's me)...

My DT Delight this time around is Susan--her second entry.  While both entries are lovely, there is just something about this one that resonates with me.  I'm drawn to the overall shapes created and presented on the black backdrop.  The red colours simply pop and the touch of yellow and green compliment beautifully. Sympathy cards are very difficult to do but Susan has created a lovely one here.

Susan talks about how important empathy is and how she definitely feels that is one quality she has in spades. She also talks about the importance of passing on this trait to her children and hopes that she has been successful in doing so.

It is important that the children of today have models to show them how to live an empathetic life. This is a trait sorely needed in this world of ours.  I'm glad that Susan's kids have her as model. Hopefully, they themselves will continue to model empathy to those they come in contact with creating a ripple effect of understanding and compassion along the way.

 To see the details of Susan's 2nd 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...

  Jennifer, Deb and Susan

  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.

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 by clicking HERE to bring the address up in your email program, with the subject, "PoP#38-DT Delight Digi Request".   I'm always running rather behind these days, so your patience is appreciated.

Additionally, each of you are entitled to the special Challenge #38 DT Delight Badge which you can find below...

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 2016.

Thank you for stopping by today.  As mentioned previously, we're taking the month of July off so please join us again on Monday, August 1st, when we will be back with the start of Challenge #40.  We hope that you will join us then to learn what the newest theme will be.  Have a great summer everyone!