Path of Positivity: Never Give Up on Your Dreams

 

Hello

Welcome to the Path of Positivity Challenge..

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. We have decided that our overall theme for 2024 will be THE POWER OF WORDS.

This month's option is to design a project that is inspired by quotes about Dreams.

Here are this month's quotes, but you can choose your own:

“You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not’?” — George Bernard Shaw

 

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ― C.S. Lewis

“No dreamer is ever too small; no dream is ever too big.” ― Anonymous

“Goals are dreams brought to life.” ― Amy Leigh Mercree  

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” ― Walt Disney

Honours and Prizes include:

• $6 worth of images from Scribbles Designs, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.
• A badge for the following honours: Top Pick, Voter's Choice, Most Inspirational, Random Winner, DT Delight.

Here is my DT project.

I smooshed white card through puddles of Distress Oxide, dipping and drying in-between applications. When dry, I stamped this beautiful woman from Lost Coast Designs directly onto the background and again onto white card. I fussy cut the woman and adhered her over the stamped image. I added some floral stamping (Rubber Dance) in tone on tone Versafine inks and stamped the sentiment from Visible Image.

***

That's all for now.

We would love to see your creations! 

Just make sure that your entry is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way!

 The link up is here: Challenge #122 Path of Positivity.

Many thanks to Scribbles Designs for sponsoring the challenge.

I'll be back with a another Path of Positivity project in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo 

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Wasting Time

 

Hello

The theme at Lost Coast Portal to Creativity this month is For The Men.

Like many, I find masculine cards so difficult to create, however, it's a while since I entered a Lost Coast challenge, so I thought I would give it a go.

Here is the card I made:

I used the Monkey with Banjo stamp from Carmen's Veranda. I made a stencilled background with a layering stencil called 'Modern Weave' from Alex Syberia Designs and Oxide inks. I grounded the monkey on washi tape and added a Lawn Fawn 'Happy Birthday' sentiment and a 'Wasting Time' sentiment strip.

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

* Stamping Sensations Animals, Birds, Creatures 28/02

Craft Rocket Challenges #111 Birthday 28/02

PIP Challenges #2408 AG 03/03

My Time to Craft Challenge #528 Create own background 06/03

Yoga Cat's Christmas

 Hello

At last, it's here .... the Cat Lovers Christmas Challenge, organised by Jo at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 

Each October for the past 8 years, our dear friend Janis Woolbright of Her Peaceful Garden blog, held a week-long Cat Lovers Hop. This week was always eagerly anticipated by kitty loving crafters world-wide and Janis made it a very special week of fun where new friendships were forged. Sadly, Janis passed away in January this year.

Jo consulted with Janis's son and they agreed upon this one -off challenge to honour and remember this truly remarkable lady.

The challenge is running until the last day of October. You can enter up to 6 cards. 

There's a whole host of generous sponsors. Winners will be chosen at random, but you have to be in it to win it, so link up your Christmas kitty cards, leave some comments or just display the above badge on your blog and other social media to be in with a chance of winning. Oh, and don't forget to sign up in the comments section of Day 1.

Jo has some helpers to showcase the companies sponsoring the challenge, so there will be plenty of eye candy and inspiration.

Head over to the Christmas Kickstart Challenge blog and take a look.

The link up page for Christmas Cat cards is here.

***

Today is my day to share a card made with a stamp from one of the sponsors - Lost Coast Designs.

I used Lost Coast's Yoga Cat 5 - he's doing a side bend, but I tilted him slightly so that he looks as if he's stretching on tip toes to decorate the tree top. I coloured him with Copics and gave him a Santa hat, which doesn't't quite fit, but I think it looks jaunty :) He was fussy cut, and placed on foam pads for dimension.  The background has a watercolour, artsy Christmas tree made with a Poly Plate from Crafty Roo Designs (it's called Distressed Tree Mini) and Oxide inks spritzed with water.

I added sequins in festive colours and some tiny gold coloured gems as decorations. The star on top is a wooden one which I heat embossed in gold. I added extra ink around the edges, spritzed with water to add some faux-bleaching texture, and matted onto red shimmery card.

I dropped the inked sentiment stamp onto the card (I'm so very clumsy), so had to stamp the sentiment onto card, ink around the edges and pop it on foam tape to cover my oopsie.

I'd like to play in the following challenges:

* Critter Crazy #79 Critter 24/10 

Crafty Animals #77 AG 26/10

Crazy for Cats #12 AG 27/10

Most Magical Time of the Year #13 28/10

Aud Sentiments Challenge #306 Ink Blending 28/10

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #79 Christmas Cats 31/10

* SUYP #93 Furrything Goes 31/10

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity #176 Cats 31/10

We Love Stamping Oct AG 01/11

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

Frida

 Hello

The challenge at Lost Coast Designs this fortnight is Strong Women. 

I made this small Frida notecard:

I smooshed, dipped and dabbed Distress Oxides onto white card to make the background.  I then stamped this lovely Woodcut Frida from Lost Coast Designs. I stamped it again onto smooth, white card, fussy cut around Frida and glued it on top. The sentiment is a Small Talk sticker which I think is apt, as Frida was a very strong and brave woman. I matted my piece onto black card and popped it onto a custom made card blank.

That's all for now.

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity #143 Strong Women 14/05

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo 

* Path of Positivity: Happy Cat

Hello

Welcome to the April Path of Positivity Challenge.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme.

This month's option is to design a project that focuses on celebrating something special about our pets (or animals in general).

Honours and Prizes include:

• $6 worth of images from Scribbles Designs, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.
• A badge for the following honours: Top Pick, Voter's Choice, Most Inspirational, Random Winner, DT Delight.

Here is my project. I am remembering all the lovely kitty cats that have been part of my family. From Suzy and Cindy when I lived at home with my parents, to Holly, the first kitty to join me and my husband after we were married, Holly's kittens, Poppy and Patch who stayed with us, then much later, Indiana and Casey. All were unique and funny, they had wonderful, loving characters and they are sorely missed now they are no longer with us.

 I used a stamp from Lost Coast Designs called Happy Cat for my card. I made a garden background using the AALL & Create 'Dandelion Fields' stencil with Oxide inks and used the 'Indulge in Daisies' stamp for the flower border at the base. I stamped over the background (tone on tone) and edges (in black) with the 'X or O' stamps. 

All of my kitties were allowed outdoors and they loved to sit in the garden, often finding a sunny spot if it wasn't too hot or creeping under the bushes for shade. 

I love the expression on this cat's face - look at his smile - it is a beautiful stamp.

We would love to see your creations! 
Just make sure that your entry is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way!
The link up is here: Challenge #100 Path of Positivity.

 

That's all for today! 

Many thanks to Scribbles Designs for sponsoring the challenge.

I'll be back with a another Path of Positivity project in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* MMM Challenge #171 Use a Stencil 10/04

PIP #2214 AG  10/04

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity #141 Something beginning with S 14/04

(Smile, smug, stencil, stamp)

* Dream Valley #267 AG 16/04 Top 3

* Incy Wincy Designs April Animals 25/04

* A Perfect Time to Craft AG 27/04

*Crafting Happiness #122 AG 30/04 Top Pick

* 4 Season Challenge #55 Mood Board 30/04

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Santa Gift Bag

 

Hello.

At Lost Cost Portal to Creativity this week, the challenge is 'It's A Wrap' and with this in mind, I made a decorated gift bag using Gnome Santa in Chimney, a stamp I won in one of the recent challenges.

I made the panel for the gift bag and coloured and stamped some tissue paper to fit inside.

I stamped the Santa in Memento ink and coloured him using Copic markers. He was fussy cut with a thin white border and popped onto a stencil-stamped background which has some die-cut snow banks adhered.  I used white acrylic ink to add splatter as snow and die cut a banner for the sentiment.

I made a starry stamped background to mount the panel upon, using the Reverse Stars stamp from AALL & Create and a combination of Distress Oxides spritzed with water.

I made some matching tissue paper. I took some plain tissue paper and dabbed it into puddles of Distress Oxides and dried it thoroughly so that it could be stamped with the Santa in Chimney stamp. Whilst I had Oxides on my mat, I added some seam binding and made a pretty ribbon as well.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Aud Sentiments #288 AG 29/11

The Male Room #156 Gnomes 30/11

* Lost Coast #133 It's A Wrap 31/11

* CRAFT Challenge #619 Winter 31/11

* Creative Knockouts #429 Winter 01/12 WINNER

Addicted to Stamps #419 Any Occasion 10/12

The Holly and Ivy Challenge #106 AG Christmas 30/12

* Happy Halloween

 

Hello!

Today I am sharing a card I made for the challenge at Lost Coast Designs. 

I used one of Lost Coast Designs Yoga Cats (number 5) and borrowed a hat and broomstick from Tim's Snarky Cats. I stood the kitty on one leg so that he looks as if he is dancing :) The background is smooshed Distress Oxides with the door from Door and Window Set stamped in black. I bleached out some of the door arch's colour. I added some white and black script stamping as well as white splatters.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Aud Sentiments #285 Fall/Halloween 18/10

* Creative Moments #224 AG 20/10

* Crafty Catz #568 Trick or Treat 21/10

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #167 AG 23/10

* My Time to Craft #468 Halloween or Fall Colours 28/10

* Two Old Bats Halloween 28/10

* Crafty Calendar #10 Halloween 28/10

* Creative Fingers #217 AG 29/10 TOP 3

* Angies Digital Stamps #56 AG 30/10

* 613 Avenue Create #11 AG 31/10 TOP ROCKER

* Lost Coast  Halloween 31/10

* Allys Angels #51 AG 07/11

* Neon

 Hello,

I was intrigued by the current challenge at Lost Coast Designs. 

It has a Neon theme. 

Now neon wouldn't normally be on my desk, but I had a rummage through my many drawers and I found some neon paints.  They are, to be honest, decades old so it was no surprise when it came out of the tube with a texture like cottage cheese. Unperturbed, I mashed it with a pallet knife and brayered the heck out of it until it resembled something close to smooth.

Here is my project. It's a panel that I stuck into a small art journal. I used a Lost Coast Designs silhouette stamp called Grunge Flower Profile:

I brayered the orange neon paint as well as I could to provide the base of the background. I then used a PaperArtsy stencil and sponged on some pink neon paint, fading it out towards the bottom right corner where my image would be. I added some neon pink splatters and some black ones too. The image was stamped onto the background, then again onto white card which I fussy cut and adhered. 

The sentiment is a snarky sticker from a Tim Holtz sentiment sticker pad. I added a black mat to help the neon pop a little more.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Lost Coast Portal to Creativity #127 Neon 14/08 WINNER

* Use Your Stuff #428 Inspired by Real Life 14/08

The quote just about sums up how I'm feeling right now!

* Pammies Inky Pinkies #2132 AG 15/08

* Crafting Happiness Challenge #108 AG 15/08 TOP PICK

* Dare 2b Artzy Aug AG 31/08

* Lost Coast Portal: Save The Trees

 

Hello

Over at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Blog they have a challenge called 'Save The Trees'. I have been meaning to enter this for the last two weeks and today realised this is my final chance.

So here I am, last minute, with my air dry clay brooch. I used the quirky fish, from the Fish and Heart Set, to stamp the image into rolled out clay. I carefully cut around the edges of the stamped clay and set it aside to dry. The clay dried the colour of stone which I liked.

Once dry, I added some alchemy waxes - mostly gold, but there is a little turquoise and green in there.  I added a brooch pin to the back using Glossy Accents to hold it in place.

 I shall wear this with pride!

That's all for now!

Thanks for visiting.

Cat Lovers Hop: Day 1 - Happy Cat

 Hello!

Today is the start of the Cat Lovers Blog Hop and I am so delighted to be taking part again!

I would like to thank Janis from Her Peaceful Garden for hosting the Blog Hop each year.  She does a tremendous job and is supported by many repeat sponsors.

This year is the sixth hop and it's a crazy week filled with crafting, commenting and celebrating cats of all sizes. There are fabulous sponsors and prizes to be won, but best of all, friendships to be forged with like minded cat lovers from around the world. 

Why don't you come and join us?

Here's Casey, my kitty, with a little message for you all!

Here is my first card using Happy Cat from Lost Coast Designs:

I made an autumnal, inky background by smooshing card in distress oxides, one colour at a time. I used Fossilised Amber, Carved Pumpkin, Fired Brick and Vintage Photo. Some water droplets bleach out some colour and white acrylic ink was splattered over the entire background using a fan bush. The background floral stamps are from Antique Botanicals by Rubber Dance Art Stamps. They are stamped in Fired Brick and Vintage Brown to blend into the background and also in black as an edging frame for the focal image.

The beautiful tabby cat from Lost Coast Designs had its first inking - it was inked directly onto the background and also onto white card. The white card one was fussy cut and adhered over the one on the background. 

I added some torn, striped washi tape to ground my cat and inked around the edges in black.

That's all for now!
Pop over to see what the others cat lovers have been up to
click here

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in the following challenges:

 My Time to Craft #443 Halloween/Cats 29/10
Moving Along with the Times #123 Animals/Birds 30/10
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Furry Friends 31/10

Love to Craft Oct AG 31/10

SUYP #59 01/11

Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenges #2043 02/11

SSS Monday Challenge Inspired by Movie (CATS) 02/11

Cardz TV #126 AG 05/11

I love feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

Stay Weird

Hello!

I had a play today with one of my new Lost Coast Designs Stamps. The current challenge at The Lost Coast Portal to Creativity blog is Tag You're It, so that is what I made. As long as you use a rubber stamp on your tag project you're good to go!

I used the Aud Chicken stamp and teamed it with the Carmen's Veranda sentiment, Stay Weird. I used The Day of the Dead Angel's dress hem to create the border.

I made the tag from card which was coloured with Brushos applied through a stencil (Lotza Dots). The reverse of the stencil was covered in Brushos inky goodness, so rather than waste it, I stamped it into the white spaces. White and black paint splatters were added to the background and the edge of the tag was inked with Faded Jeans Distress Oxide.

I stamped a wavy line from the Fish and Heart set to ground my chicken. The chicken was stamped onto the tag and onto white card. I fussy cut the card and glued it to the tag. The sentiment was stamped and cut into strips so as to fit onto the tag. The edges of the sentiment were inked and when it was adhered to the background, I went around it with a black fine line pen.

How quirky is this aud chicken...

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Lost Coast Portal #92 Tag You're It  14/02

***

* Lost Coast Designs: Dias De Los Muertos

Hello!

It's no secret that I am fascinated with the Dias De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration. 

It is a time for honouring family members who have passed away and asking them for guidance. A time to remember those who have died, and for personally reflecting on life and death. We tend to do this in private, but to do it openly and to actually celebrate a time when the dead are believed to return for a short time, and to welcome them with photos, candles, flowers and special food is just something else, I think!

I made a card for Lost Coast's 'Dia De Los Muertos' Challenge:

  

The stamp I used is Day of the Dead Angel from Lost Coast Designs. I printed her onto white smooth card and coloured her with Copic markers. I added lots of white Posca pen dots and fussy cut her.

The background is Distress Oxide smooshing. I used Stormy Sky and Victorian Velvet. I splattered water and white paint over the oxides. I used one of the stamps from the Fish and Heart Set to stamp around the edges and inked the edges in black.

The Angel was popped onto the background on foam pads and some small paper flowers glued around her feet. To finish I matted the background onto black and purple card.

I know this is not a celebration that everyone enjoys, so thank you for looking!

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in the following challenges: 

* Pammies Inky Pinkies #1944 AG 10/11
* Addicted To Stamps #366 AG 12/11
* Crafty Friends #122 AG 15/11 (3)
Lost Coast Portal #87 Dias De Los Muertos 15/11 WINNER

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments.