The Beauty of Unconditional Love

My daughter-in-law has asked me for another memory box in which to place keepsakes of my newest grandson. Since I had already created a memory box for her, I decided that the next one would be for Jonathan's daddy. I think there is nothing as beautiful as the unconditional love that a parent can give their children. No matter what toll the terrible two's, thrilling three's or heart-wrenching teens take on parents, their love is everlasting.
So my memory box was created with the Path of Positivity's challenge theme of Beauty this month. I colored up a digital image from Sami Stamps called Daddy's Kisses and placed it in a photo flip pocket, so that when the pocket is flipped, you can place another photo on the other side, like below.

I took an over-sized photo box and Mod Podged it with lovely royal blue tissue papers for the bottom, and black & white herringbone for the cover. Coordinating ribbon embellish my photo and my sentiment, while stars adorn the top of the box. I plan to add more to the sides of the memory box before giving it to my son and his wife.

Meanwhile, we have reached the midway point of this month's theme of Beauty at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. Show us what you think Beauty is in a card, layout, canvas, photography or essay. We have two sponsors this month:

Sami Stamps

and Luna Girl

SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION:

• A $12 gift certificate from Sami Stamps, 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 Lunagirl, 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 designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge time-frame.

• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

POP Challenge #11 is All About LOVE

This year many of you know that my family grew when my son got married to a woman with a family.  My total number of grandkids grew from one to five!
Now the house is filled with laughter when they are over.  The girls and I craft together.  The boys help papa cheer on "da Bears" during football games (and now that the Super Bowl is over, "da Hawks," Blackhawks, that is).
Mac & Cheese is a constant side dish. There might be more mouths to feed, but there are more hands to clean up the food and dishes before dessert is served.
There are so many more presents to buy for, but more fun shopping for them.  Candy is more handy, but I get to craft more favor bags and treat holders.  The Wii is getting a workout, but when I join in the fun, I get a workout as well.
How do I feel about all this?  I LOVE it!
I love having kids in the house again.  I love making cookies and cooking for a crowd and playing cards and board games.  I love dressing up and going trick-or-treating again.  I LOVE having a bunch of grandkids, and as my altered wall art project says, "If I had known grandkids were so much fun, I would have had them first!"

I snagged a barn-shaped shadow box from my local Goodwill.  Here's the before picture (I always forget to take a before picture, so this is the best I could do).  After applying several coats of acrylic paint for a base, I printed the sentiment from Microsoft Word and adhered it to the "rafter" of my barn.
I added embellishments to it and then zeroed in on the photos I wanted to use.  I gave them depth by building different thickness layers of cardboard and foam board before adhering them.


I used a cute digi image from Scribbles Designs called Heart Doodles 2.  Coloring it with Copics and Spectrum Noir markers (BG10,72; Y15; and PL1), I added some diamond glitter glue from Studio G and a few leftover skittles to bring out the sparkle,
I popped the image onto embossed paper and distressed the words KISS, KISS.

Once my wall art was basically finished, I threw on the charms, flowers, jewels, stickers and tiny seashells into each boxed-in photo to help tell each photo's story.  For example, the one (lower left) with my grandson Frankie and granddaughter Bella and cousin on his arms. That photo was taken at my son's wedding reception, and they had chosen a beach theme, so seashells embellish it!

I wanted to show my LOVE for my grandkids with this photo collection for this month's Path of Positivity Challenge, which (surprise, surprise) asks for your projects and posts on the subject of LOVE.
Challenge runs from Feb. 3 – March 2. 
You can use any stamp or image, or none at all.
You can create an art project, card, layout, or write about what you truly LOVE.
It's all up to you!

This month, the sponsors and prizes are:
   Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

    Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

    Three digital images from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

    One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.

     One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles as well.

Tell us what YOU love for your chance to win these awesome prizes.  And please let us know how we're doing in the comments section.  See you there!

Added bonus: Sandy of Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog (and guest sponsor at POP) has a special challenge: BLING IT ON!  USe a Scribbles Designs digi image and load on the bling for your chance to win free digis!  I know I am!!