Present Not Perfect

This month's optional theme at the Path of Positivity is an unusual one - Present Not Perfect. At first glance it seems a daunting theme to tackle but actually I think it is one that almost everyone can and probably has identified with at some point.

Present Not Perfect could be used to describe my life from the moment of conception onwards. When I was born I was a 'blue baby', the term describing babies with heart problems because of the blue tinge to their skin. So although present in the world I was by no means perfect. Thanks to pioneering heart surgery I did survive, scars and all.

Now I am aging and so is my far from perfect heart. Over the past few years the original repairs are needing further attention and help from a pace maker. But I am still present not perfect.

The image I chose to work with for my first sample reflects more my feelings about my crafting. I love stamping and colouring but never really felt it was good enough to share. Then I decided to do something proactive to improve my skills, especially as I got introduced to alcohol ink pens. I started an online class at Kit and Clowder and even though still in the early stages - it takes me ages to do a class - I have already learnt so  much. We are always the harshest critics of our own work but now I feel that even will lots left to work on an improve I can share my colouring and not feel too embarrassed by it. (If you want to find out more about using alcohol ink pens then Kit and Clowder have a free 101 Markers class which you can download from the web site.)

Some wise person once said that if you wait until things are perfect before doing anything you would never do anything. So my colouring, like myself, is now present not perfect in the world.



Materials used:Pickled Potpourri - Stampin Away
X-Press It card
black, blue card
A5 white card blank
printing card
image of Copic pens (from internet)
Copic pens

The image is printed on X-Press It Card and coloured with Copics, trimmed and matted onto black card.

The sentiment is computer generated and printed on white card, trimmed and matted on black card to match the image.

The backing paper is made from an image of Copic pens printed out on white card then cut slightly smaller than the front of the card, edged with a black pen and glued on.

The image and sentiment are layered onto a piece of blue card then attached to the card front.

The challenges at Path of Positivity are always 'Anything Goes' with the theme being optional so even if you are not inspired by the theme you can still have a go. The allocation of prizes is different for the AG entries and the theme entries. All the information is on the blog.

If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize for Most Inspirational. We also ask that you please leave a comment letting us know how your creation relates to the concept of being present not perfect if it isn't readily clear within the design itself or clearly written somewhere else in your post.  You can simply write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, if it would be easier. We just need to know how your project ties into the theme. Letting us know, clears up any ambiguity that may exist.

Remember, in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $7 gift certificate from Pickled Potpourri, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10 gift certificate to the Imagine That Digistamp store, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month.

Thank you for dropping by. Hope to see you at Path of Positivity this month. Take care.

Pippa





I am entering the following challenges:Jo's Scrapshack FFD #186 - Anything GoesCrafting With Friends #42 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers Challenge #129 - Anything GoesCrafty Friends #56 - Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1718 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #167 - Anything Goes