Path of Positivity: Just to Say ...

Hello

 Today is the start of the June challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

As this year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED  

the option for June is to 

'Send an Unexpected Correspondence'.

This is what I made

I have many thank you cards to send due to a recent, unexpected bereavement. People have been so kind and have showered me with help and support. This is one of my thank you cards.

I used a Spring Morning background and added a fussy cut Boho woman. The images are both from Conjurer of Dreams. The Boho woman is popped on foam for dimension. The flower centres have Glossy Accents applied, so they have some texture too. I matted onto ombre paper and blue card to add some layers and frames, then popped them all onto a pre made card base. I typed the sentiment and then popped that onto foam.

***

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 #132 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: Daisy Mosaic

 

Hello

 Today is the start of the April challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

As this year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED.  

The option for April is to 

make something you inspired by something you find whist spring cleaning your craft room.

This is what I made.

Back in 2019, I took a mosaic workshop with Briony Machin and I made a robin wall plaque. You can see this here: Robin Mosaic. 

I took a second workshop. I started to make a circular, daisy wall hanging, but it didn't get finished in the time allotted for the workshop. I found it recently and decided to complete it. Here is the result:

Cutting the small rectangular tiles is a bit tricky and caused quite a few minor cuts and scratches, but the effect is wonderful and has a rustic vibe. I chose the blues for the sky and greens for the ground and white daisies because of their simplicity.

The mosaic is on a circular mdf board. The tiles were firstly clipped/nipped to size and glued in place with pva glue. Once the board was covered it was grouted, then cleaned up and polished. There are 2 holes, one on either side to screw it into place. 

I have quite a lot of blue plant pots and garden ornaments, so this little plaque fits in perfectly.

***

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 #130 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: Batik Bag

 

Hello

 Today is the midway reminder for the March challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

As this year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED  

the option for March is to 

Make something you wouldn't normally make

This is what I made:

It is a Batik canvas bag. 

I coloured the cream cotton bag with dyes using wax resist applied with a tjanting. 

Below is a close up of the pattern - the cream lines are where the wax was applied. I used a small paintbrush to apply the dyes. Once the dyes were dry, I placed sheets of paper over the bag and ironed over the wax to melt it. The paper absorbed the wax.

***

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 #129 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: Toadstool Jewellery and Card

Hello

 Today is the start of the March challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

As this year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED  

the option for March is to 

Make something you wouldn't normally make

This is what I made:

I follow Emma Parrish on You Tube and love her Etsy Store full of remarkable printables. 

Last year she did a video where she made a set of jewellery and a pop up card. She even gave away the printable free of charge! She used a new-to-me-product called UV Resin. I had to have a go!

I made a toadstool necklace and a pair of toadstool earrings as well as a small gift card with a pop up toadstool. Glossy Accents was used to add texture to the pop up toadstool.

The UV Resin was very easy to use and dries under the lamp in 90 seconds. It is extremely hard and has a glass-like finish.

***

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 #129 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Ally's Angels #91 AG 15/03

Classic Design Challenge Feb?march AG 12/03

Crafters Cafe Challenge AG 12/03

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: Little Red

 

Hello

 Today is the midway reminder for the February challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

This year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED. 

Have you ever received a Valentine's card from someone totally unexpected? If you have, you'll know the joy that receiving a card like that can bring. For this month's option, make and send a handmade Valentine card to someone who won't expect it. You have the power to brighten someone's day!

***

Here is my card made for a friend. I don't normally send Valentine cards to anyone, other than my husband, so this would definitely have been unexpected.

I think the woman in this image is stunning and she looks so thoughtful, just like the person I am sending it to. The image is from a collage sheet from Conjurer of Dreams called 'Red and Friend'. I distresses the edges of the image and layered it onto red card which was also distressed. That was placed onto cream distressed card and finally placed onto a layer of red card. Some simple trim was added to the bottom of the image along with a felt heart and a tiny xoxo sticker was attached.

I made a bookmark with another image from the collage set. It's shape was ideal for making a bookmark, so I matted and layered it onto the same red and cream card and made an eyelet for the ribbon.

***

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 #129 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: For You

 

Hello

 Today is the start of the February challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

This year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED. 

Have you ever received a Valentine's card from someone totally unexpected? If you have, you'll know the joy that receiving a card like that can bring. For this month's option, make and send a handmade Valentine card to someone who won't expect it. You have the power to brighten someone's day!

***

Here is my card for a good friend. I don't normally send Valentine cards to anyone, other than my husband, so this will definitely be unexpected.

I kept my card quite simple and used kraft card for a natural look.

I was inspired by Tracy Evans, and I used her stamp and stencil. 

The stencilled heart (SS12 Heart) is coloured with Polychromo white pencil and edged with HB graphite pencil, smudged slightly to create a shadow. The flower (TE32 Alpha Florals) is stamped in pale ink, Antique Linen, and also coloured with Polychromos - resulting (I hope) in a no-line colouring technique. Some Vintage Photo inking was added to the background along with white paint splatters. I edged the kraft card with Brilliance white ink and stamped the sentiment onto white card, then adhered and added a shadow.

***

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 #128 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Dream Valley #329 Pink or Red 06/02

PIP Challenges #2505 AG 09/02

Try it on Tuesday Romance 16/02

Crafty Calendar  Hearts 28/02

Stencil Fun Feb Pinks/Reds 01/03

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: The Unexpected Cat

 Hello

 Today is the midway reminder for the January challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

This year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED. 

No matter how much planning we do throughout our years on earth, we're going to come across circumstances that we can't plan for. These unexpected things may be small or they may be huge and life altering. The only thing that we can control is how we react to these events.

***

I tried something new and different (for me) for my project this time (inspired by my fellow team mate, Katrina at ScrappyHorses.com) .... digital scrapbooking. I have made digital collage or journal pages before, so the process was not entirely new to me.

Here is my page:

It features our cats, Indie and Casey, because Casey was our unexpected cat.

Indie, our tuxedo cat, was about four years old and very spoiled when we noticed that his food was being stolen from the utility room. We were finding empty sachets in the garden. One day we noticed a black cat, totally bedraggled and weak, and my husband went out to look at him. He came back in to get food and took it outside. The cat must have been scared, as it attacked him, scratching his arm and making it bleed. My husband ended up in hospital with blood poisoning and was on an antibiotic drip for a couple of days. Meanwhile we called in Cat's Protection who came and caught the cat. They asked if we would adopt him once he had been to the vets and received treatment. We agreed, although reluctantly on my part..

When Casey came back to us he was a different looking cat. His fur had been cleaned up and the knots taken out. His ears and his eyes were cleaned, although he still had weeping eyes and a runny nose. He was timid at first and hid away, but eventually he got used to our voices and would venture out and allow us to stroke him.

Long story short, Casey turned out to be the gentlest, most loveable cat you could meet. He was a big, sleek, cuddle bunny who loved to gently head butt his humans and he had the loudest, softest purr and would interact with us via chatters and meows. We weren't expecting another cat to enter our lives, let alone one that would hospitalise my husband in the process, but we were so lucky that its happened.

I made my scrapbook page in PicMonkey. I used papers and elements (photo frames, masks, edges, flowers, lace, grungy marks) from Digital Scrapbook.com and Raspberry Road.

I think this could be my new pastime. It's such a pity there's only 24 hours in a day.....

***

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 #127 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

PIP Challenges #2503 AG 26/01

Dream Valley #328 New 25/01 (new technique)

The Outlawz AG in a Card Free Zone Challenge 31/01

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Path of Positivity: The Unexpected Friendship

Hello

 Today is the start of the January challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. 

This year we are looking at the UNEXPECTED. 

No matter how much planning we do throughout our years on earth, we're going to come across circumstances that we can't plan for. These unexpected things may be small or they may be huge and life altering. The only thing that we can control is how we react to these events.

***

I am anxious and so not very comfortable in social situations with people I don't know and, as such, I prefer to dine at a table for two when we are out or on holiday. However, that isn't always possible. Six and a half years ago, half way around the world, we were taken by the maitre d' to a table for eight people. The couple that we were sat next to recognised our accent, not just that we were from England, but the NW of England, and it turned out that they live just 10 miles from us. 

How incredible (and totally unexpected) is that?

They were very friendly, funny and easy to get along with and we became good friends on that holiday.  When it came to an end, we exchanged phone numbers, not really expecting to see them again. How wrong could I have been? We have kept in touch via social media and meet up in person several times a year for a good, old catch up.

The unexpected in this case has led to a lifelong friendship and made me take a new look at some of my fears and causes of anxiety.

This quote by Henri Nouwen is perfect for my experience:

Here is my project. 

I made a mini book from a single sheet of 12 x 12 inch black card.

The images are from Artemis Journals on Etsy. They are called Retro Besties and they are perfect for my project. I love this style of artwork, the pops of colour along with some white spaces and the retro girls are gorgeous (just like me and my friend :) ).

I matted each image onto textured sky blue paper and added a sticker sentiment about adventures, possibilities, and being open to new experiences. The booklet is tied with black polka dot ribbon.

Enjoy the individual pages:

***

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 #127 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!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

My Time to Craft #550 New 09/01
PIP Challenges #2501 AG 12/01
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #245 AG 10/01
A Perfect Time to Craft #1 AG 28/01

The Outlawz AG in a Card Free Zone Challenge 31/01

613 Avenue Create Jan AG 01/02

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo