After a nice summer break, it's
time for a new challenge at Path of
Positivity! I have been a regular participant here since I stumbled upon this challenge 5 years
ago, mainly because it inspires a positive mindset and encourages positive
actions! (To learn more, read the Intro provided in
2013 by POP's creator, Lisa D.)
Lisa establishes annual goals and monthly themes. The goal for 2025 is "Embrace the
Unexpected in our lives." The theme for September is "Take a Walk & Find
Inspiration from Something Unexpected that You See Along Your Route.”
The following excerpts are taken from this months introduction that Lisa provides HERE. Henry Miller said, '"The moment
one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a
mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself'."
The optional project (or twist) for September is to actually go for a walk and pay attention to what is around you, swatching for something unexpected that you see along
your route. If it is too cold outside, head to the mall, a museum, or another
indoor venue. For example, you may come across an old tree that you
have passed again and again but rarely paid attention to. This time, though, you might want to stop and really look at it. Feel
the texture of the tree. Can you incorporate this same rough texture into your
creation? What colours are the leaves? Where I live, the leaves are already
starting to change colours. Think of how you can incorporate these colours into
your project. Are there any birds, animals, or insects in the tree? You might be
influenced by something that lives in the tree rather than the tree itself. It
doesn't matter what it is that you draw inspiration from; just choose something
that inspires you. There
is always more to discover, no matter how familiar something seems.
(A
few added notes- the monthly twist is completely optional. As long as your
creation is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature
consider entering it into the POP challenge and you might $6 worth of
images from our sponsor, Scribbles Designs, and/or
be honored as one of our special "picks"!
On a recent walk I focused my attention on signs of beauty and life in my
little world… and I found many! I was thankful for the beautiful day. The sky
was a gorgeous shade of blue with a few high wispy clouds. The air smelled
wonderfully fresh after an early morning shower, and a cool breeze teased my
hair. Flowers added shouts of color to the neighborhood, and many birds and
other critters, especially squirrels, were enjoying the day with me. This was
all lovely, but I saw nothing I’d consider “unexpected” until I turned up our
front walk and noticed a large yellow butterfly dancing through the flower
garden that my sweet husband planted and tended for me! We regularly see bees
and butterflies amid the flowers, but I’d
never seen a butterfly as bright yellow as this one, and it’s wings were not
the typical shape. I paused to watch it dance from bloom to bloom, and was
thankful for the bright, and unexpected, way God has wrapped up walk!
·
Instructions for Z-fold card base can be found HERE.
·
Butterfly Digi-A Freebie from
The Graphics Fairy-
(B&W
Butterfly clip art)
·
Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique
markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·
Front Sentiment “Thinking of You” from my scrapbook stash.
·
Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·
Patterned paper, misc. items and tools from my stash.
Entered into:
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge-
Anything Goes (
Sept)
(optional twist- Stripes)
Another of my
favorite challenges is Park Hopping-My Happy Place. It's a fav mainly for two reasons- 1) the
host is one of the kindest and most generous people I know, and 2) it has helped me to develop a whole bucket list
of theme parks I want to visit before I… well… kick the bucket!
So I
was thrilled when asked to be a guest DT for the September challenge, which has
a theme of Willie Wonka, i.e. CHOCOLATE!!! I had so much fun making this card, and
not just because it required me to purchase a chocolate bar from a local
convenience store. (Note- since I don’t believe in wasting supplies, chocolate WAS
eaten in the making of this card!)
My
candy bar is dark chocolate (of course!) and although all the scoring of
squares was a bit time-consuming, the tutorial I found on the web and my old
Scor-Pal (a tool I seldom use) made it pretty easy!
Supplies:
· Tutorial for
Chocolate Bar Card found at Splitcoaststampers (I found a few
on Pinterest, too. The one here is a gift card holder!)
·
Scor-Pal (available from many shops on the web)
· Front Sentiment- “But
First, Chocolate”-a freebie from The Hungry jpeg (HERE)
·
Front Sentiment “Chocolate doesn’t ask silly questions…”- freebie from
skogstokiga.blogspot.com- (Sadly, blog is closed)
·
Inside Sentiment- Desert Diva Freebie (You did it
Congratulation-graduation)
·
Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·
Patterned paper, cardstock, gold foil from candy bar, and other items from my stash.
·
Cardstock, wrapper/gold foil from a candy bar, and other items from my stash.
Entered into:
Simon
Says Wednesday Challenge-AG
This card for the Park
Hopping Willy Wonka inspired challenge features donuts fussy-cut from colorful
school folders! Don’t they look yummy enough to eat? The sentiments are
computer generated. Easy Peasy!
·
Donut photos- School folders from the local Dollar Store
·
Sentiments-Computer
Generated
·
Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.
·
Confetti patterned paper, cardstock, other misc. items and tools from my
stash.
Entered into:
Colorful
Options Monthly Challenge: Sept Color Board (Anything Goes)
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