Inspiration Hits Today

 My cousin set me a pic today and suggested that it would be a great piece to Zen doodle.

And this is what the photo inspired me to doodle:

I know, it looks nothing like the original photo, but this is what inspiration does to a person. We don't see things as they are. We see things as we perceive them. It's a very personal process.

So if you're at one of those popular art nights with "the girls", don't knock yourself down because your canvas doesn't look like the instructor's project. It's not supposed. to be a copy, but your interpretation of the example. And that's why we never criticize another person's art unless asked for our opinion. If we don't like it, we can answer back with "it's totally you!" or another generalized comment.

In other words, be kind to all artists...

Inspired while on the Path of Positivity

What inspires you to  create? Is it the list of challenges on Paper Play? A new image from your favorite store? A favorite quote, a catchy tune or something someone says to you in passing?
When I started crafting, I met a great woman online who inspired me to explore more than I was doing at the time. My style exploded, my techniques expanded and suddenly my comfort zone had no boundaries.

Her name is Holley Barnhart, and if not for a brilliant surgeon, she would not be around to share and inspire anyone, let alone me! So once a year she celebrates her "new life" with a blog bonanza. I am so happy for her, and so happy that she is in my life. Thank you Holley.

The Path of Positivity is always pointing the way toward positivity, acknowledgment and encouragement. This month's optional theme at the challenge blog is INSPIRATION. What better way to feature this theme than by using a unique, limited image from Ike's Art called "Holley's Brain."

I created a mixed media canvas with whatever I could find in my scrap pile that I felt matched Holley's personality and soul. Then I took a picture of it and mailed it to her as a thank you for helping me become the artist that I am today.

In order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes at the Path of Positivity, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. Prizes this month include:

A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.

One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Challenges I am Entering:

Moving along with the Times - Have a Heart

Bleeding Art - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ANything Mixed media Goes

Splashy Mix - ANything Goes

Get Inspired on the Path of Positivity

The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog is offering an optional twist on its Anything Goes theme: focus on INSPIRATION. If you would like to challenge yourself, create a project to uplift and/or motivate someone in your life. However, remember that the optional twist is just for fun.

This card is for my neighbor. She adopted a dog around this time a year ago. He is a rescue, a cute senior beagle (except when he howls). LOL She had lost her husband a few years ago and decided to fill her empty house with barks and dog hair. She also got cuddles and licks and unconditional love.
Using an Ike's Art image called "Kindness", I colored it with Copics and placed it onto a card front created from embossed and stitched metallic paper. The greeting didn't show up well against that background, so I crimped some red (for love) to back up the words, "Happy Adoptiversary!" I helped my image pop out from the background paper by using dimensional tape and a die-cut snowflake peeking out from behind it.
So I made this card to celebrate her dog's Adoptiversary! We rescued our dog, Wilson, a senior Silkie Terrier, three years ago. He's one of the family now, and we couldn't be happier. If and when we're ready to adopt again, my daughter and I agreed to look for another senior dog. It makes your heart melt to see their blank stares turn into looks of love after they know they have found what it is to be loved and cared for (again or sometimes for the first time). Don't we all need just that?
If you're trying to decide if you're ready to get a dog, please consider adoption from a shelter. They have dogs and cats from 4 weeks old to seniors, playful to mellow, all of them just looking to be loved and to love in return. Go ahead and, "make their day!" 
And if you're interested in playing along with the challenge at the Path of Positivity, please note that ALL projects must be positive, encouraging or uplifting in some way (so make sure you mention you are following the theme this month).
 Prizes this month include:

A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.

One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

You have until February 3rd to link up to three projects to the first challenge of 2019 at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog!  Go for it, crafters!

Challenges I am Entering:

Get Creative - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

Happy Craft - Anything Goes