Feeling Peckish at Ike's World Challenge Blog

People don't come to the table just to ingest food. They gather with family and friends to spend time together, talk and laugh and catch up with their lives and loves. You could say that food brings people together. Well, FOOD is the optional theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog this fortnight.

I created a card using an Ike's Art image (called The Tea Party) for one of my bff's to let her know how much she means to me. I can pour out my heart to her (and I have), and she will listen without judging, giving advice only when asked. she makes me laugh when I need to, and let's me cry out loud when I have to. So I'm popping this in the mail for her today! No time like the present.

FOOD is an OPTIONAL theme for the challenge; otherwise, it's anything goes. So get out your inks, markers, water colors, paints, scissors, and other weapons of choice, and create something to link up to the challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from her store.

Happy crafting!

Surround Yourself with Literature at the Path of Positivity

I have a secret I’ve kept since I was a young girl. I read books more than once. That’s right. I have favorites that I’ve read ten times already, and still have not got tired of reading them. I’m sure there are lots of people who also have their own favorites. Cuddling up with one of these books is like greeting an old friend. There is a joy in re-discovering the story that unfolds, the way it is told. There is comfort in the secret treasures the author hides in her words, and adventure in a character’s actions.

This sense of friendship inspired me to create a card to give to one of my friends. I just lost one of my best friends, so now I am vigilant in making sure my relationships stay active and up-to-date. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, so I’m not waiting to call up Janie or Joan or anyone else to say Hi, how’s it going? I treasure them like I treasure those very special books I keep reading.

My card is a DT make for the Path of Positivity’s October Challenge. The optional challenge is part of a three part series of Inspiration from the Arts. This month crafters are asked to Surround themselves with Literature and create something that shows how literature inspires them in their lives. It could be a form of poetry, or a series of self-help books, or even a magazine that has affected your lifestyle.

Since I have a few books I think of as old friends, I created a card using images from Sparkle n Sprinkle called Autumn Friends. As Autumn's chill winds start to blow, and night comes earlier, it's the perfect time to curl up with a good book. And since some of my books are old friends, what better way to express that relationship than to use my favorite characters from SNS?

Challenge Details:

• Add your inspirational project or post using the link up below. You will be able to submit your entry until 11:59 p.m. on November 5th.
• If you have chosen to follow the optional theme, you will need to let us know what it is about your project or post that you feel is inspirational  / positive / motivational and how it fits into the theme. Please include this information somewhere within your post. You can simply add a sentence or two at the bottom of your post right next to the link for this challenge if you want. Or, if this isn't possible, come over and leave us a comment on the start post. You must also add 'FT' after you name so we know which creations to add to the draw for the sponsor's prize for Most Inspirational.
• You can link up a total of three (3) creations.
• For this challenge, prizes will be the following:
• $15.00 worth of digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch (based on those projects who have followed the theme).
• $15.00 worth of  digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle 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.

Scribbles Designs Challenge Gets Inspired by a Photo

This month's challenge theme at Scribbles Designs is Photo Inspired 

(photo courtesy Jill Wellington, Pixabay.) 

I was inspired by the non-traditional colors in the photo, using Copics, colored pencils and a white gel pen to give life to my image, a Scribbles digi called Maple Leaf Doodle. After coloring a rainbow across the leaf, I used the colored pencils to blend the colors more subtly. It looked flat to me, so I started highlighting different sections of my leaf, and ended up highlighting all of them (I never knew when to stop even as a kid).
Since color is my inspiration, I thought this sentiment would be perfect for my card. I splashed a couple black jewels for embellishment after adding a washi tape border and canvas bow. A nice simple card for the loveliest season of the year!
What inspires YOU when you look at the photo from Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog? Whatever catches your creativity, go for it, then link it up for your chance to win some free digis from the Scribbles Store.
Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Colour Crazy Craft challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Fall

Mod Squad - Fall Fest

It's White on White at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Sometimes, not always, colors can be highly over-rated. Sometimes, it's nice to surround yourself with an absence of color. That's why this fortnight, the optional theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog is to create "white on White."

For my DT make, I used Ike's Igloo from her World Series Tour  Inuit Set. You can't get whiter than snow and ice, right? I used Stickles and glitter for the snow, and used Glossy Accents for the ice. My card background is embossed white cardstock. I embellished with adhesive and die-cut snowflakes.

I created my card to give to my hubby. It looks to be a long, cold winter for the two of us. I want him to keep in mind that we will always be together to weather whatever weather comes our way, metaphorically speaking. I used a little Glossy Accents to create icicles dripping from the top of my sentiment and then bordered it with more glitter. As Mal would say. "Shiny." (Firefly/Serenity quote)

What inspires you to create without color? Remember, this is an optional theme, so you can always create anything you wish, but are you up for a little challenge? Don't forget to link up with Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from her store!!

Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am entering:

International Art & Soul - Monochromatic 

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Surround Yourself with Literature at the Path of Positivity

This month at the Path of Positivity challenge blog, we continue with the second challenge in a series of three, based on the concept of Surrounding Yourself with Positivity in the form of the Arts!  In September crafters were given the optional challenge to surround themselves with Art(work). This month the optional challenge series continues with the concept of Literature! 

Like art, there are many different types of literature. Stories, books, magazines, leaflets, etc. When you are heading to the library, the book store, or trolling through the Kindle store, are you off to find poetry, romance, self-help, history, biographies, hobby or instructions? 

A great piece of writing has a way of pulling us into another world and creating adventures beyond what we might imagine on our own.  Sometimes it is exciting to escape to another country, time, world, or life. Other times, good writing can teach us about other cultures and acceptance. It’s always beneficial to read about improving our skills or expanding what we know. Many times these literary journeys will inspire us to make changes in our day to day living. 

Whenever I become absorbed in a book, the real world no longer exists for me. I can wander wherever the book takes me, whether halfway across the globe or to mystical realms that can only be imagined...or in today's case, to a hidden refuge with a view of the sea.

 I was inspired to create a set of note cards using a digi image from Sparkle n Sprinkle called "Silhouettes".  While one image from the set has its own background, my other cards feature my own photography in the background, each with different sentiments. Framed in coordinating  cardstock, the flowers in my silhouettes are sporting shimmery black jewels.

Sparkle n Sprinkle is the exclusive guest sponsor this month at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. They are offering a $15 gift certificate in a random draw for one lucky crafter, as long as the project is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. 

If you would also like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, you must follow the optional theme and share how you were inspired by literature. Be sure to add FT after your name when you link up at The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog so that you are included in the draw for a $15 gift certificate from Sparkle n Sprinkle for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.
Good luck and happy crafting!

Emboss It at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Just a midway reminder that there's a challenge going on at Scribbles Designs challenge blog. The theme is Embossing. Do you think I overdid it with my card today? I have five embossed papers on it! Even the moon is part of a punched circle of embossed paper! All to give "Carl", a digi image from the Scribbles Store, the perfect setting for his greeting.
You've got two weeks left to enter the embossing challenge at Scribbles Designs challenge blog for our chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store. Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket Challenges - Something beginning with an "F" (frog)

Through the Purple Haze - Romantic