PagesPat's Ponderings

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Another One Bites the Dust

My stash of Christmas cards took a hit last year, so I'm using any excuse to create Christmas cards on my blog. LOL This card uses a digi image from Sparkle n Sprinkle called Winter Flamingos Set 1. I love these wacky birds. I used this image for my DT make at the 12 Months of Christmas earlier this month.

Today I brought the snow to the tropics, not only with my flamboyant friends, but with some added greenery. I made some "faux snow" by rubbing 2 Styrofoam balls together to create white flakes (homemade flocking), and used Liquid Pearls to shimmer up the giant snowflakes and the birds' hats. I drew tiny snowflakes in the upper right corner and sprinkled some crystal fine glitter from Stampin' Up there, on the large snowflake and on my palm trees.

As far as the status of my card stash goes, there's an epic song by Queen that says it all:

Challenges I am Entering:
Always Fun - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - Christmas
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Colouring
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas - Use Patterned Paper
Hiding in My Craft Room - Any Holiday!
Brown Sugar - All Creatures & Double Trouble with:
Double Trouble - 3 Colors & Image
Crafty Catz - Christmas
Sparkle n Sprinkle -Anything Goes w/glitter, embossing powder, flocking

Monday, September 17, 2018

It's Orange at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Autumn is just starting to show off her beautiful colors here in Chicago. In celebration (and anticipation) of the show we'll see in the next couple of weeks, I created a Fall card using a digi image from Imagine That! Digis by Kris called Angel with Birds. I wanted to pile loads of embellishments onto my card, so I made this side step fold card

This month's optional theme at the Path of Positivity challenge blog focuses on SHADES OF ORANGE. You are asked to create a project that is at least 51% of the overall color scheme. This theme IS optional, but if you want a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, over half of the colors in your project must be made up of SHADES OF ORANGE! These shades can be in your images, papers, embellishments, etc. How will you explore the theme of ORANGE in your designs?

If you  follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so you are included in the draw for the prize for Most Inspirational. Sharinghow this month's color makes you feel,by writing a sentence or two in the body of your post or at the bottom of your post next to the challenge link would be appreciated.

Remember, in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. If you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Imagine That Digistamp, one of our guest sponsors this month, you don't have to follow the theme. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, the second of our guest sponsors this month, for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.


Challenges I am Entering:
Crafty Cardmakers - Autumn Colors
The Cutie Pie - Shades of Autumn
Make My Monday - Autumn/Fall Colours
Crafter's Cafe - Autumn or Spring
DigiStamps4Joy - Anything Goes/optional Flower Frenzy
Fabrika Fantasy - Autumn
Papercraft Business Challenge - Anything Goes w/optional Thank You
Pause Dream Enjoy - Cards
Do Al(l) Creative #21 - BINGO (Dies, Pink, Flowers)

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Have a Tweet Christmas at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up

As the challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up is halfway through the month of September, it is time to see what I made with the the following wonderful images from Sparkle N Sprinkle, their guest sponsor this month! Since the themethis month is "Have a Tweet Christmas" I chose to play with Winter Flamingos Set 1 Digital Stamp Set, setting myself up for a non-traditional Christmas color theme of pink and teal.

The designer papers are from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles:


So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for September. Whether you choose to link up ANY type of Christmas or holiday card you've made for a chance to win this month's Paper Kit, or link up two of them simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you!  


Challenges I am Entering:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Critter Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Animals Goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Patterned Paper Goes
Creations in Pink - Mainly Pink
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Animals Goes
Merry Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything DT Project Goes


Saturday, September 15, 2018

Pick a Patterned Paper at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.

It's time for a new challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. It's time to show off your patterned papers (Choose from one or more of the following patterns for your main background paper(s): dots, stripes, plaids, chevrons, or diamonds).

I've created a hybrid card, using both hand-crafted and digital techniques. From Scribbles Designs, I used #829 Happy Halloween and #F96 Scary Cat (FREEBIE) Before I printed my images, I digitally placed a piece of striped patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodle behind the Happy Halloween Wordart. I also fussy-cut the Scary Cat image, turning it from a black silhouette image to my "spooky see-through cat". After that, it was just a matter of layering the images with papers and adding some trim.

So if you're anything like me (paper hoarder), I'm sure you have everything you need to create an awesome project to link up to the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. Hope to see you there!

Digital Images: Scribbles Designs #829 Happy Halloween and #F96 Scary Cat (FREEBIE)   
Digital Papers: DDD Brown from A Grungy Christmas Paper Kit, and 
DDD A Bountiful Harvest Stripes paper

Challenges I am Entering:
 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything w/a Critter Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
Fabrika Fantasy - Autumn
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Animals Goes

Monday, September 3, 2018

September on the Path of Positivity

Just as the seasons change, so do the challenge themes change at the Path of Positivity. This month's color theme is ORANGE. I think Autumn is my favorite season, as it is rich in warm, intense colors. Nature gives us bountiful opportunities to enjoy and record these colors in the last of summer's flowers, the gradually-turning tree leaves and the Autumn crop harvests (think pumpkins, gourds and other hardy vegetables. I believe I take more photos in the Fall than any other season.

Autumn is also a transitional season, as the Earth get ready to take a well-earned rest (actually, she should think about getting some help. Have you noticed or read about the unusual weather patterns and natural events that are taking place this year?!). Anyway, everyone should take some respite while they can, to re-energize and reboot their imagination and power.

This perspective of the season's process of slowing down inspired me to create the digital card above. I used an image from  Lunagirl's Day Dreaming Collage Sheet to showcase my thoughts on Fall. Using papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. I threw on some elements from Pixel Scrappers to embellish my card, and created my sentiment using a font called "Simple Game". Details are below.
Image: Luna Girl Daydreams Collage Sheet, Image 6

DDD papers: September Kit Spatter paper 3; Bokeh Solid Colors 1 Paper Kit Tangelo Paper; Vintage Damask 1 Rich Colors Wine paper

Pixel Scrapper.com: A Janner Halloween Flower Element 9 & Leaf Element 5; Sahin Designs Autumn Day Lace; Sheila Reid's Outdoor Adventures Rustic Wood Frame; Jessica Dunn Pumpkin Spice in the Garden Golden Leaf; PSBT October 2016 by DigiScrapCafe.com

Font: Simple Game

The Path of Positivity challenge blog feels a great need for a 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! Whether you create a card, canvas or illustrated poem, please think about sharing your work at the Path. 

Challenges are monthly, with an Optional theme to follow. The last few months the challenges have been reflections on the positivity of color. If you choose to create with the optional theme in mind, you will be in the running for the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation.
If there are 14 entries or more in any challenge, the DT chooses a Top 7. Those seven entries are then voted on by visitors for the Voter's Choice.
If there are less than 14 entries in a challenge, the DT will choose a Top 3. Visitors to the main  blog will then get to vote for their favorite from those three.
If there are five entries or less, the DT chooses just ONE Top Pick, but every entry will be offered up for voting by the visitors.

There are two lovely sponsors for the September challenge: Luna Girl and Imagine That! Digis by Kris.
So now that all that info is bursting in your head, try taking a walk outside to relax, be mindful and let your imagination fly. Then link up at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog for your chance to win prizes from our sponsors. I'll be looking for you...


Saturday, September 1, 2018

It's the Year of the Dog at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

I love to journal - using words, pictures, photos, items cut from magazines, and sometimes digital images. Today I used digi images from Scribbles Designs called  #417 Dog Bone and Dog Cookie (a freebie) to create my animal rights page. 

My daughter and I rescued a Silkie Terrier almost three years ago, and we feel strongly about rescuing shelter dogs. At first my page was going to reflect my love for Wilson, our rescue pup, but people should be stewards to all living things. 

Anyway, once in a while, a digi image will inspire me to create a page for my journal. I colored him in blue just so he could stand out on my page. My journal is almost complete. l started it three years ago, altering a composition book into a kind of "my life story" look into my thoughts and emotions and challenges and triumphs.

Do you journal? I have a couple journals in which I write mostly, although I will take out my colored pencils and illustrate a few pages. Then I have my vacation journal, a couple art journals and my water colors journal. Oh, and of course, I have my "book of lists" which is a journal whose pages are comprised of lists (I love making lists).

Whatever you create, have fun with it, and don't forget to link up your project or card with Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, where the optional challenge theme through the 14th of the month is the Year of the Dog. See you there! 


Ike's Art Sponsors Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog

Time for a new Anything Goes challenge at Your Scrapbook Place blog. This month's sponsor is the fabulous Ike's Art. Today, my DT make uses a digi image called Coffee Cup 1, from the  "I LUV Coffee" Set at Ike's Art Store. 
After digitally coloring the image and printing it twice, I placed the the images onto a little "scene" I digitally made, placing it all onto layers of die-cuts and handmade papers. I finished off my card with a line of jewels and one of satin roses. You can't see it in the photo, but I did use Stickles to shimmer up the steam coming from the coffee. Here are the details of my card:

Image: Ike's Art Coffee Cup 1
Digital Elements: Pixel Scrapper's Janet Scott's Yellow Room Paper from Oh Baby Baby PS June 2014 Blog Train; Sunny Faith Rush's Lacy Floral Border; Tina Shaw's Back to School Flowers; and Sheila Reid's Yellow Polka dot Grunge Paint from Outdoor Adventure Kit.
Card Base: DCWV
Roses: Paper Temptress
Misc. Embellishments from my stash