PagesPat's Ponderings

Monday, October 15, 2018

Gearing Up for Winter at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up

Autumn is finally here, although Mother Nature has thrown in a few days in the 80s (F) just to keep us on our toes here in Chicago. So who's to say she won't surprise us with a blizzard next week?!
Whether she does it next week or in a couple months, it's time to head to the back of your closet and dig out your long underwear and other winter gear. So I think you get the connection between that last sentence and this month's optional theme at the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog, "Gear Up for Winter".

The guest sponsor is Pattie's Creations, and the image I used from her shop is called Penguin Igloo. I have the perfect sentiment on the inside of my card: May your home be warm with Christmas cheer, and Peace be yours the whole year through"  That is a rubber stamp from Stampin Up. I decided to lighten up my card by using alight pink/coral coloring and pretty much kept it monochromatic. I also played around with the placement of my image, finally deciding to keep it off-center of the frame layers I built up. For shimmer, I added Stickles to my penguin's hat and the cuffs of the mittens on my background paper; Liquid Pearls to the snowflakes and the snow on the ground; and Liquid Glass to my penguin's beak and feet. AND I am keeping my promise to make two cards instead of one each time so that I have a double stash going!

So, in order to have a chance at the prize from Pattie's Creations, you need to create a card that features warm winter clothing or other winter accessories (hats, mitts, muffs, scarves, sweaters, boots, etc.). The items MUST be attached to a person's body, like skates, skis, snowshoes, etc. AND  it must If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for 3 images from the Pattie's Creations store.

Of course, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards at the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win the featured paper set from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Just if you want to try your chance at the 3 free images from Pattie's Creations.


Challenges I am Entering:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything w/a Critter Goes
Classic Design Team - Anything DT Make Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything w/an Animal Goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything w/patterned Paper Goes
Creations in  Pink - Anything Mainly Pink Goes
Love to Craft- Anything Goes
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
Mix It Up - Anything Goes w/optional Monochrome
Monochrome Magic - Monochrome or Monochrome w/a Ribbon
Sparkles Christmas - Christmas is for Kids
The Creative Crafters - Anything Goes

Shades of Purple Dominate the Path of Positivity


The challenge at the Path of Positivity is midway through its theme on SHADES OF PURPLE. This optional theme asks that most of the overall color scheme is some form of  purple. If you do follow this theme, you will have a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, a $12 gift certificate from A Day for Daisies, one of the guest sponsors this month.
I got to play with a lovely digi image from A Day for Daisies called Hepburn Dress.I adore this image. It whispered to me, "Keep it simple. Let me speak for myself."
So I did my best to make this card as "CAS" as possible. I have a problem with CAS cards. I tend to keep adding more and more onto the cards. But this one stayed my hand, and I love what I created. All supplies are from my leftovers stash

You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs. However, all projects must be positive or affirming in some way. In this crazy world we live in, we need all the support and encouragement we can get, and the Path of Positivity is "a unique challenge blog designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time!"
I can't wait to see what you create!

Challenges I am Entering

Winter Fun at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog


Like the seasons, the challenge themes over at Scribbles Designs change, too. Today begins a new challenge, WINTER IS COMING. So I got to play with a Scribbles Designs digi image called Snowman Snapshot #840. I made a special hybrid card for my granddaughter, Bella. This is a card she can put in her scrapbook. She is about three years old in the black & white photo.

I popped a patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles behind my Bella and the snowman, then framed them both with a leftover piece of paper from Creative Memories. I finished off my card with a small bow I made.  
paper from DDD

This WINTER IS COMING challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog runs from today for a whole  month, so you have plenty of time to create for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Designs Store. Just don't forget to link up your projects at the main blog! See you there!

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Ike's World Challenge Blog Salutes Edgar AllenPoe

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I took an independent study course on Edgar Allen Poe. My final grade was based on a 30 page paper on the author and poet - his life, his love and his work.
The new challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog, Celebrating Edgar Allen Poe, fits in perfectly with my educational background AND my love of Ike's Art digis!
I've colored and collaged several digi images from Ike's Art Store to showcase one of my favorite quotes from the author - "Believe nothing you hear and only one-half that you see". My project includes the following:
Pixel Scrappers Melo Vrijhof's Painted Edge Overlay 6; Mischief Circus' 
Krysty's Designs Boring Evening Patterned Paper 13

Do you like the writings of Poe? What's your favorite poem or story? The Tell-tale Heart was one of my favorite stories, and of course The Raven my fave poem. He is the perfect master of Halloween, don't you think? If you've a mind to create with Mr. Poe as your muse, don't forget to link up at Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance for free goodies from her store! 

Challenges I am Enering:
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything w/patterned paper Goes
Oddball Art - Happy Horrors



Monday, October 1, 2018

Shades of Purple Color the Path of Positivity

The Path of Positivity has offered a series of color challenges this year. This month the focus is on SHADES OF PURPLE. This optional theme asks that most of the overall color scheme is some form of  purple. If you do follow this theme, you will have a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, a $12 gift certificate from A Day for Daisies, one of the guest sponsors this month.

My card today uses a digi image from another guest sponsor, Limited Runs. The image is called Cat in a Pumpkin. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs. 

You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of a $12 gift certificate from A Day for Daisies for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

My cat is very happy. He has a sweet tooth and it seems that sweet tooth will be satisfied with all that candy he's collecting! I have fun handing out candy at Halloween. I make it into a game for the trick-or-treaters. I will buy a pumpkin and stab it with an ice pick (very Jason-like) until I have a bazillion holes in the pumpkin.

I also buy a box of full-sized candy bars and a big bag of Dum Dums, or any small lollipops. I color the tips of as many lollipops as there are candy bars. And the pops go into the pumpkin, adding the colored tipped ones. When the kids come trick-or-treating, they get to pull a lollipop. If there's NO colored tip, that is their treat. If they pull one with a colored tip, you should see their eyes light up when they receive a full-sized candy bar.

Crafters have the whole month to create (using the theme or not) and linking up their projects at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog for their chance to win some awesome gift certificates from the sponsors. Anything goes as long as it is positive, encouraging or affirmative.

So let your Muse settle in and have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:
Colouring in Scrapland - Halloween
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Make My Challenge - Animals
Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Fall
Dragonfly Journeys - Happy Halloween
The Paper Players - Tic Tac Toe inspiration (2nd vertical column=patterned paper, pumpkin, orange)


Anything Goes at Your Scrapbook Place

The month of October is filled with changes in color, texture, temperature and attitude. I always get a little excited when October bursts upon us. The leaves are styling their show stopper colors, dropping a crunchy,  intoxicating path on which to walk. The wind is crisp, promising sunshine but warning us to keep that sweater close by. After the sleepy heat of August and September, I welcome the season of Fall with open arms.
Today I created a Halloween card to celebrate the Muse who hovers over my shoulder with so many ideas I can't keep up with her. I used a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps, the guest sponsor at Your Scrapbook Place. It's called Cupcake Skelekins. There's a whole line of cute little Skelekins at the Bugaboo Store, along with zillions of cute, sassy and whimsical images.
Since the patterned paper I used for the background is so busy, I cut a circle out of cardstock and doodled around my Skelekin to make her pop. Everything I used for my card is from my stash of leftovers. I have enough stash to create for the rest of the year without buying anything except adhesives (but that's no fun, is it?)
The challenge is Anything Goes and crafters have a whole month to create and link up their projects in order to have a chance to win a gift certificate to Bugaboo Stamps Store. Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:
Cards in Envy - Something Spooky
Crafty Cardmakers - Ribbon or Lace (ribbon)
Cupcake Inspirations - Bump in the Night Photo Inspiration
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle (AG)
Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - M is for Monsters

Pick a Patterned Paper at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Today marks the midway point of the challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The optional theme is to "pick a patterned paper, specifically dots, stripes, plaids, chevrons, or diamonds." Since Halloween is right around the corner, I opted to create this side step card using the following digi images from the Scribbles Designs store:
I used patterned papers with circles as well as with stripes, although the striped paper is hiding behind the tombstone. 

Crafters have until October 14th to create and link up their projects at the main blog for a chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Designs Store. Can't wait to see what you come up with! 
Challenges I am Entering:
Brown Sugar - All Creatures Great & Small
Colouring in Scrapland - Halloween
Crazy for Challenges - Anything Fall
Cute & Crafty - Fall/Halloween
Make My Monday - Animals
Dragonfly Journeys - Happy Halloween