Path of Positivity Half Way Post

We are half way through the last challenge of the year at Path of Positivity and the last of our colours, Silver, Gold and Other Metallics. With Christmas almost upon us this is a great theme for all those Christmas sparkles. I am sure you, just like me, have an abundance of glitter, embossing powder and mirri card all of which can be used in this challenge. I hope you will join in the fun.

Materials used: 
Sparkle 'N' Sprinkle - Rustic Flowers Snapdragons Digi Stamp Set
textured paper for pencil colouring

Polychromo pencils

metallic gold card

silver mirri card

7 x 5" card blank

I decided to have a go with my much neglected colouring pencils for this card, mainly because the detail on the flowers is so small I struggled to do them with the Copics! I used the less rough side of the paper but did not want to produce an image that was so covered in colour that it look printed, I wanted some of the texture of the paper to show through, especially in the jug.

The challenge is open until the end of the month so you still have a couple of weeks to get an entry in. Remember the theme is optional. 

This month Sparkle N Sprinkle are our very generous sponsors, very apt considering the theme of the challenge!  The prizes on offer are: 

• • $15.00 worth of digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch (based on those projects who have followed the theme).
  • $15.00 worth of  digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle 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. 

You can find all the details and the link up on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.

I hope you will join us on our journey down the Path of Positivity this month. Thank you for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:PIP Challenge #1850 - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams December - Anything Goes 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #96 - Anything Goes 

A Bit More Time To Craft #82 - Anything Goes

Metallic Madness?

The first Monday of the month means time for the start of the final Path of Positivity challenge this year and the end of our year of colour. This month we have the optional theme of Gold, Silver and Other Metallics.

Materials used:
Fred She Said - Lovely as a Leaf Digital Set (From the Sparkle N Sprinkle Shop)
X-Press It card
gold mirri card

7x5 in card blank
aluminium drink can
Tonic Studios Autumn Leaves die set
stitched rectangle die

metalic pens
Copic pens:
leaves - R24, YR15, G24, G94, G99, W5, W7

shadow - W0, W1, W3
metal leaf - Y15, YR15, YR16, YR18, R24, G94, E29, E49

The leaf embellishment is die cut from an aluminium drink can and coloured with Copics.

The open lettering is coloured with metallic pens.

The challenge is open until the end of the month so you have plenty of time to get an entry in. Remember the theme is optional but with all the Christmas sparkle around I am sure there will be some project you will be able to use.

This month Sparkle N Sprinkle are our very generous sponsors, very apt considering the theme of the challenge!  The prizes on offer are: 

• $15.00 worth of digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch (based on those projects who have followed the theme).
• $15.00 worth of  digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle 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. 

You can find all the details and the link up on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.

I hope you will join us on our journey down the Path of Positivity this month. Thank you for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa
Entering the following challenges:
Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #220 - Anything Goes

Crafting From The Heart #231 - Anything Goes 
PIP Challenge #1848 - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks #431 - Crazy Egg/Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #95 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #81 - Anything Goes
Sparkle N Sprinkle December Challenge - Anything Goes: use loose glitter, embossing powder, and/or flocking OR you can use an SNS Stamp Set (either Digi or Rubber!)
Your Scrapbook Place December - Anything Goes

LeAnn's World Challenge

just had time to get an entry into the progressive challenge over on the LeAnn's World 101 Facebook page. This time I have mixed digital and traditional stamping on the same card.



Materials used:LeAnn's World 101 - Stewart (Facebook Freebie until 28/11/18)
Stamps Away - Pilkington Wood
Inky Impression - Sentiment stamp
X-Press It card
designer paper
silver mirri card
stitched rectangle die
various snowflake dies
black archival ink
Dovecraft glitter glue - Crystal
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
eyes - E23, E25, E29
hair - E11, E13, E15, E18
hat - C0, C1, C3, C5, C7
coat - BG90, BG93, BG96, BG99
coat trim - C5, C7, C9
trousers - E44, E47, E49
boots - W3, W5, W7, W9  C5, C7, C9
walking stick - E31, E33, E35, E39
scarf - R29, R39, R59, R89
belt - C7, C9, 100
snow - C0, C1, C3

Having reversed the image and arranging it on the page I printed it out twice, once on ordinary printer paper and again on X-Press It card. I fussy cut the paper version down the left side and made it into a mask. I attached the mask to the card version of the image before stamping out the trees.
I have used the tree stamp 3 times to form the tree taking each one just a little higher than the previous one and lining up the trunks as best as I could. I need to make the tree taller and as it is a physical stamp rather than digital had to work out a way of doing so. Overall I think it worked quite well. I must confess that the little bush is there to hide a black splodge, I dropped the inked up tree stamp, whoops!

Once coloured in I cut the image with the die then stamped on the sentiment. I have added just a little glitter glue to some of the tree branches and on the snow at the bottom to make it look like frost.

The snowflake embellishments have been die cut from silver mirri card.

This blog will be moving over to  a new site at the end of the year. At the moment I am posting on both sites. If you would still like to follow me in the new year please head on over to the new address here and click whatever you need to click to keep getting the posts. Thank you so much.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
LeAnn's World 101 Facebook Progressive Challenge
Creative Moments #157 - Anything Goes/Add a Sentiment
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #407 - Anything Goes
Crafting With Friends #76 - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#261 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #154 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Whatever The Weather
A Gem Of A Challenge #232 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #215 - Anything Goes/Christmas/Winter
Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #94 - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - Christmas Inspiration
Crafting From The Heart #230 - Anything Goes 
C.R.A.F.T Challenge #492 - Make Your Own Embellishments (snowflakes)
PIP Challenge #1847 - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity Challenge - Shades of Green

We are already halfway through this month’s challenge at Path of Positivity with the optional theme of Shades of Green. A great theme for getting started on those Christmas cards with trees and presents, holly and ivy, and don’t forget the mistletoe!

Materials used: 
Ike’s Art – Dear Santa
Card Making Magic embossing folder – 5×7″ Christmas
rectangle die set
X-Press It card
white card
5″x7″ card blank
red gems
red ribbon
Wink of Stella Shimmer Clear
Copic pens:
skin – E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
hair – Y21, Y26, YR24, E25
eyes – B24, B18, B29
tree branches – YG03, YG63, G29, E27
Santa’s hat and bauble ribbon – R29, R39, R59, R89
girl’s clothes – YG00, YG01, YG03, YG06
Santa’s beard and hat trim – white gel pen
bauble hanger – silver gel pen

I made up my card blank by embossing it with the embossing folder and then cutting out the rectangle with a die. I tried cutting the aperture first then embossing but the embossing stretches the card a bit so the aperture went out of shape. The disadvantage to sending the embossed card through the cutter again is that is does squash the embossing a little. If anyone knows a better way of doing it please do share the secret!

The image is coloured with Copics and then de-bossed to add a little frame. The Santa bauble has a touch of wink of stella added to the  had trim which has been coloured with a white gel pen.

I added a cluster of three red gems to three corners to represent holly berries and put the ribbon on the remaining corner.

This image reminds me so much of our girls when they were little. Our eldest had one ornament which was her favourite, a honeycombe paper chick. I’ve no idea where it came from but Becky loved it and at her first Christmas enjoyed trying to eat it!! Our youngest, Rachel, spent her first Christmas sitting under the tree running the strands of lemetta through her fingers absolutely fascinated by the reflected light from it. Both our girls are blonde so I have given the little girl in the image blonde hair. Memories to cherish.

I hope you can join us at Path of Positivity, you still have two weeks to get an entry in. The link and all the details of prizes can be found at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. 

Thank you for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
Your Scrapbook Place – November Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #491 – Christmas
A Bit More Time To Craft #80 – Anything Goes
Crafting With Friends #75 – Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #154 – Anything Goes
Jo’s Scrap Shack FFC #260 – Anything Goes
Crafty Friends #97 – Gemstones/Pearls
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #94 – Anything Goes
A Gem of A Challenge #231 – Anything Goes
Addicted To Stamps #168 – Anything Goes / Use Ribbon
PIP Challenge #1846 – Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #229 – Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #209 – Anything Goes

Chilly Owl

The image for today's card is Chilly Owl from Limited Runs and is the image for their progressive challenge on Facebook. If you played along last time then you get the image for free, if not then it is available at the Limited Runs Stamps store, the link is below.



Materials used: 
Limited Runs Stamps - Chilly Owl
brown card
X-Press It! card
pearlised white paper
Britannia leaf die
leafy branch die
gold peel off sentiment
small flower buttons
Copic pens:
feathers - W00, W0, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9
eyes / legs - Y13, Y15, Y17, E15
beak - E31, E33, E35, E39
hat - R29, R39, R59, R89
log - E41, E43, E44, E47
grass - G21, G24, G94, G29, G99
sky - B000, B00, B91, B93

The log I drew in myself following instructions from one of my Kit and Clowder classes (well worth the money and so good if you want to improve your colouring skills.)

The leaves are die cut and coloured with Copics. The pearlised paper does not let the Copic ink blend very well so I have tried to use different greens in patches to show definition.

The little buttons and the greeting sticker have been in my stash for a few years now, just waiting for their turn to shine.

Thank you for dropping in. Take care.
Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
Limited Runs Facebook Progressive Challenge #20
Your Scrapbook Place November - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams November - Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1844 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart ##227 - Anything Goes
Ike'sworld Challenge #114 - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
Addicted To Stamps And More #317 - Make Your Mark
Creative Inspirations November - November Chill  (I know the leaves are green and their are flowers in it but this year in the UK we still have green leaves on the trees and flowers in the garden!)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #405 - Anything Goes 

Path of Positivity Challenge #63 - Shades of Green

We are almost at the end of our year long colour journey and for this month we are in the greens. It does seem an appropriate colour to choose as we head towards Christmas. Already the shops are starting to get their Christmas goodies in and displays up. With our clocks changing last weekend and the nights drawing in with the shortening days the anticipation is building up.

I do love Christmas, I love a really winter's day, cold, frosty, snowy if possible but blue skies and winter sunshine. I don't ask much!! It is a joy to have the winter greenery of the fir trees, the holly and the mistletoe when so many trees are bare or brown leaved and the gardens have lost most of the delicate colourful flowers of summer. The Christmas tree speaks of hope that the earth will be reborn, that life will bloom again in the Spring and that winter is not all dark and gloomy.

As I write this we have just had our chimney swept ready to get the log burner fired up again. The scaffolding is up to replace the front windows which should be happening any day soon so this winter we will be lovely and warm - I can't wait!



Materials used:Scribbles Designs - Silent Night Wreath
PSX - Nativity (rubber stamp)
black archival ink pad
Memento ink pads - Cottage Ivy, Northern Pine
stencil brush
dark red and dark green card
X-Press It card
square card blank
Stickles glitter glue - Star Dust
Anita's Clear Gloss
Copic pens:
holly leaves - G21, G25, G28, G29
other leaves - YG00, YG23, YG17, G29
berries - R29, R39, R59, R89 \

The card blank has been folded to create an easel card. The nativity is stamped on a scrap of white card with black ink and then coloured with Denim ink using a stencil brush.

The main image is printed onto X-Press It card and coloured with Copics. The background is coloured with two shades of green ink using a sponge and keeping the centre white.

Glitter glue has been added to the leaves to give a little sparkle and the clear gloss added to the berries.

As always the challenge at Path of Positivity are anything positive goes and is open for a month. The optional theme is Shades of Green and while you do not have to follow it there is the chance of an extra prize for doing so. With lots of Christmas tree and wreath images about at this time of year this challenge would be ideal.

We have two great sponsors this month, Scribbles Designs and Ike's Art. For details of how to enter and the prizes on offer please check out the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. You will also find links to the other team members for more inspiration.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #427 - Christmas
A Bit More Time To Craft #79 - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore #57 - Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude #45 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #489 - Winter
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #404 - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #258 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #154 - Anything Goes
A Gem Of A Challenge #230 - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #93 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #215 - Anything Goes/optional twist Christmas/Winter
Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1844 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #227 - Anything Goes 

Be Thankful AT Crafting With Dragonflies

I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a winner of a recent Crafting With Dragonflies challenge and part of the prize is a guest designer slot so this is it. I had thought of calling this post 'Back to My Roots' because I have had the 'real' stamps out along with inks, dies and stencils. It felt really good to be back using techniques that I started with years ago.
The theme for Crafting With Dragonflies Challenge #116 is Be Thankful.



Materials used: 
Free Stamps, Dies and Stencil set from Simply Cards and Papercraft #177
banner die from stash
X-Press It card
Personal Impressions embossing powder - Pastel Lilac
Versamark ink pad
Adirondak Espresso ink pad
Memento Lilac Posies ink padstencil brush
Copic pens:
V01, V12, V15, V17, V09

The sentiment is computer generated and cut with a banner die. The cup cuff has been embossed with the Pastel Lilac powder and coloured with a Copic pen. The coffee bean paper is made using the sencil from the set and Espresso ink. I used the inky brush over the whole piece at the end to tone down the white background.

The cup cuff, steam and little heart embellishment were all cut from the  bits of card left over from fussy cutting the cup and a second lid.

The second lid has been attached to the cup with foam pads for dimension.

I hope my card has inspired you to maybe go along to Crafting With Dragonflies and have a go at the challenge yourself. With Christmas around the corner it is a good incentive to lay the Christmas cards aside for a short time and make up some Thank You cards!

Thanks for dropping by. Take care.
Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
Lemon Shortbread #79 - Anything Goes
Papercraft Challenges #23 - Inspired by a Song (Your the cream in my coffee)
Crafty Creations #377 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments #155 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #403 - Anything Goes
Back to Basics and Beyond #14 - Stencils or Masks 
Crafting With An Attitute #44 - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #257 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #153 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Humour
Less Is More #383 - Dimension
A Gem of A Challenge #230 - Anything Goes 

Taking It Outside The Box

The image for Ike's World Progressive Challenge this month really is a challenge being the grim reaper. A lot of craft challenges and digital stamp companies have taken the halloween approach to October. I am not a fan, never have been, I try to be more a Philippians 4:8 girl. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (NIV)
So you see my dilemma. So I have been pondering all month. I was just going to skip this month and then buy back into the challenge in November but then I had a bit of a brain wave. I have been wanting to try a bit of Bible journaling for a while but never really got around to it so when Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, came to mind I thought I would try out an idea in an old Bible I have been saving to practice in.



Materials used: 
Ike's Art - Death #2 (available on Facebook Page) white tissue paper
bookbinding gluePolychromo pencils:
clothes - Black 199, Cold Grey VI 235, Cold Grey V 234, Cold Grey IV 233, Cold Grey III 232
bones - Cream 102, Ivory 103, white 101
scythe  handle - Burnt Sienna 238, Ochre 187, Terracotta 186
scythe blade - Cold Grey III 234, Cold Grey II 231, Cold Grey I 230

If you read my post a while back on the decorated candle, I used the same technique for printing the image onto tissue paper. There are a lot of  videos on line which will explain the process.

Once I had my image sized correctly and printed onto tissue I very carefully coloured it using the Polychromos. Because it is so easy to tear the tissue I had to work very lightly building up the colour in a series of layers. I did not attempt to burnish as I think the tissue would not be strong enough to take it, that is probably why the photo is showing up areas that are quite grainy looking.

When my image was coloured as best as I could do I carefully tore around the edge leaving a little border then glued it to the page with a bookbinding glue. Because the edge is torn rather than cut it gives a softer join so once the glue had dried it was hard to see where the image and the page meet with the naked eye (the photo shows it up more as it is zoomed in).

When I left school I trained as a librarian and we did a bookbinding and book repairing unit at college. I will always remember the lecturer talking about how evil sellotape is and should never be used to repair books! He was right, of course, over time it yellows and goes brittle and leaches into the paper damaging the pages. Do you know the correct way to repair ripped pages? Go on have a guess! Yep tissue paper and bookbinding glue! I knew that unit would be useful again one day even though I ended up working in school not in a library.

Thanks for popping in. Take care.
Pippa

Shades of Purple on the Path of Positivity

Can you believe it is already the middle of October? It is certainly feeling more Autumnal here in the UK, our long hot summer is receding into memory as the wind and the rain make their presence felt. I quite like the changing colours of Autumn, it's just that it has been a bit sudden this year.
There is still a bit of colour left in the gardens, particularly a lot of purple flowers. Not sure if it is a general thing or just this year but most of the colour left does seem to be purple. We have visited quite a few National Trust gardens recently and they all had purple flowers in abundance.

As you may know this month the optional theme for The Path of Positivity Challenge is Shades of purple and we are now half way throught the challenge month so here is my card for the midway reminder.



Materials used:A Day For Daisies - Christmas Shopping
X-Press It card
purple paper
white paper coloured with purple ink
flowers and leaves cut with Britannia dies (from stash)
fancy rectangle die set
5x7" card blank
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
lady's dress - V20, V22, V25, V28
girl's dress - V0000, V000, V01, V12, V15
lady's cloak and girl's hat - V05, RV66, RV69, V09, V99
hair - E21M E25M E29
grass and hat leaves - G21, G94, G99
red box and flowers - R29, R39, R59, R89
yellow boxes - Y13, Y15, Y17, YR18, E15, E18
blue box - BV0, BV02, BV13, BV04
girl's boots - C3, C5, C7, C9

The little flower I already had in my stash made and not used on a previous project, it was pure chance that the colour worked with the picture! I have not added a sentiment to the card because I am not sure yet how I will use it. It could be a Christmas card or even a winter birthday card so for now I am leaving it open.

I hope you will join us along the path. Remember the theme is optional although following it makes you eligible for another chance at the prizes on offer from our two sponsors this month. All the details and how to enter can be found at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.
Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
A Bit More Time To Craft #78 - Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft #10 - October Anything Goes
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #46 - Anything Goes/Gear Up for Winter
Your Scrapbook Place - October Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1841 - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #91 - Anything Goes
A Gem Of A Challenge #228 - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #255 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T Challenge #486 - Christmas 

I Don't Do Halloween

Time for a new challenge at Path of Positivity and this time in our colour journey we are focusing on Purple.
Purple is my favourite colour which I think I may have mentioned before. I love the richness of the deep hues that make me think of the Magi at Christmas even though no one knows what they wore! Purple does get a mention in the Bible but in a different context suggesting it was a colour cloth for rich people. Of course purple is also associated with Easter, the soldiers mocking Jesus put a purple robe on him, again although they meant it as mockery, suggesting the royal connection.
The lighter tones of lilac are also beautiful, more delicate and make me think of Springtime with the purple crocus and even the odd puple looking bluebell.
So really purple is a colour for all seasons.



Materials used:Limited Runs - Snail Mail #1
X-Press It card
purple card
white card
scalloped edge rectangle die
Victorian edge cutter
Adirondak Wild Plum in pad
Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap
5" x 7" card blank
Copic pens:
shell - V05, RV66, RV69, V09, V99
body - YG21, YG03, YG17 YG67
grass - G21, G94, G99
sky - B000, B00

The image and sentiment are printed together on the X-Press It card and cut out with a rectangle die. The edges have been highlighted with the Frayed Burlap ink. The middle layer is cut from white card and coloured with the Wild Plum using a stencil brush.

We have two fantastic sponsors this month, Limited Runs and A Day For Daisies. To find out the prizes on offer and how to enter please go to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog where you will find all the details. While you are there please do take a look at the amazing work from the rest of the Design Team.

I hope to meet you along the Path. I'll be the one wearing purple! Take care.
Pippa


Entering the following challenges:
A Bit More Time To Craft #77 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #208 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #222 - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore #56 - Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1839 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #213 - Anything Goes/Clean and Simple
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends #90 - Anything Goes
HIMCR #372 - Freestyle 
FFC #253 - Anything Goes
Crafting With Friends #74 - Anything Goes 

I Don't Do Halloween

The image for the Progressive Challenge at Limited Runs is Dracula, all be it a cheerful one! However I am not into Halloween at all so have done a bit of alterations to him to make him less vampirish, if that is a word!



Materials used:
Limited Runs - Progressive Challenge #19 Image
X-Press It card
red card
rectangle die with faux stitched edge
5" x 7" card blank
small black button
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
teeth - E000, E41, E42
cloak - C3, C5, C7, C9, 100
             B23, B24, B26, B18
jacket - R29, R39, R59, R89
pocket - C0, C1, C3, C5
shoes - C3, C5, C7, C9

To alter the image I have just drawn in some teeth with a black fine liner and covered his skull broach up with the button. I was really fortunate to come across the quote online as it fitted the image so well.

Just a word of caution, if you decide to alter any images please check with the TOU of the company, some artists do not agree to any changes in the overall look of their art work. I checked with Nikki at Limited Runs before messing about with his teeth!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
Limited Runs Progressive Challenge #19 (Facebook)
Addicted To Stamps And More #311 - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #375 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments #153 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #399 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #207 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #221 -Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1838 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #213 - Anything Goes / Clean and Simple
A Bit More Time To Craft #76 - Anything Goes

A Bit Further Along The Orange Path

It's the half way point of the challenge at Path of Positivity with the optional theme of Shades of Orange. For my card this time I have actually got around to trying out a stepper card die I had for Christmas!
Orange is a very popular colour at the moment as Autumn comes creeping into the Northern Hemisphere. Pumpkins are starting to appear in our shops and the leaves are just starting to turn on some of our trees in the woods. After the unusually long and very hot British summer it is something of a shock to discover that the temperature has plummeted over the past few days. We have been having some of our windows replaced and with no glass in for much of the day the house has gone really cold. It is quite a relief to be slaving over a hot laptop!!



Materials used:Imagine That Digistamp - Bambi and Max
Imagine That Digistamp - Volcano and Trees
Whimsy Stamps - Animal Print Papers (mine where a freebie from the Facebook group some time ago. The link will take you to the nearest equivalent in their store.)
acrylic greeting stamp from stash
various shades of orange card
X-Press It card
Crafts Too Presscut Stepper Card #6 die set
square orange gems
black archival inkpad
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
hair - YR14, YR16, E08, E18
outfit - E31, E33, E35, E47, E59
YR14, YR16, YR18, E08 (and cat)
club - E31, E33, E35, E39
stone - E41, E42, E43, E44
bones and buttons - E50, E51, E55
tree - E42, E43, E44, E47, E49
grass and leaves - G21, G24, G94, G99
coconuts - E21, E23, E25, E27, E29
sky - B0000, B000, B00

I used up quite a few snippits making the embellishment mats and layers for the side parts of card. Needless to say the snippit box is still overflowing!

There is still time to join in with us this month either with the optional orange theme or without. Just be sure that if you would like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, over half of the colours in your project must be made up of shades of orange. The shades can be in the colours you choose to fill your images with, and/or they can be in your choices of papers and embellishments. Just make sure that the majority of your project focuses on the varying shades of orange. Also make sure you add FT after your name when you link up your project, it makes it a bit easier for the DT to see which entries qualify as having followed the theme.

We'd also love to find out how this month's colour makes you feel, if you'd like to share that with us. What kinds of feelings does the colour orange evoke in you? You can write a sentence or two in the body of your post, write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, or simply leave a comment on this post if you'd like.

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 $10 gift certificate from Imagine That Digistamp, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, the second of our guest sponsors this month, for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

Thanks for popping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations #207 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #220 - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers #218 - Autumn Colours
PIP Challenge #1837 - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #90 - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Journeys #129 - Fall/Fall Colours
A Bit More Time To Craft #76 - Anything Goes
Cards Galore Encore #55 - Anything Goes
Pixie's Snippets Playground #335 - Anything Goes
Crafting With Dragonflies #113 - Anything Goes (card only) 
Imagine That Digistamp Creative Playground

Happily Ever After

The current progressive challenge at LeAnn's World 101 Facebook Page features a lovely image entitled Cindy, for obvious reasons.



Materials used:LeAnn's World 101 - Cindy (digital stamp) 
Clarity Stamp - Word Chain 05 Dream
brown card blank (DL size)
craft card
X-Press It card
Adirondak Archival ink pad - Sepia
black card candi
circle die
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
hair - E11, E13, E15, E18
dress - BG90, BG93, BG96, BG99
            E84, E87, E89
shoes - C1, C3, C5, C7
broom handle and bucket - E33, E35, E37, E39
                                                 W00, W0, W1, W3, W5
broom head - E07, E08, E09, E18
floor - E70, E71, E74, E77
wall - E41, E42, E43, E44
star - Y02, Y06, Y19, E15

I shall be picking up a mop and bucket tomorrow instead of pens! We have just had some of our windows replaced including the kitchen and bathroom so there is dust everywhere. Tomorrow will be wash down day.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
LeAnn's World 101 Progressive Facebook Challenge #13
LeAnn's World 101 Blog Challenge #6 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #397 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments #152 - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #374 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #75 - Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft September - Anything Goes
Your Scrapbook Place September - Anything Goes
A Snowflakes Promise #54 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #219 - Anything Goes
Create And Inspire #77 - Anything Goes
PIP Challenge #1836 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #213 - Anything Goes/Optional Twist Clean And Simple
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #89 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #152 - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #249 - Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations #150 - Fairytale/Fantasy
If You Give A Crafter A Cookie #104 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #206 - Anything Goes

Just Hanging

I love this image from Limited Runs, it reminds me of my youngest daughter, any excuss to be up a tree or hanging from a pole in the park! Usually there is a progressive challenge on the Limited Runs Facebook page but this month they have a second sponsor so have made it an open challenge using any Limited Runs image. How could I not do this one?!



Materials used: Limited Runs Digital Stamps - Jazz
X-Press It card
blue card
white card made into trifold card blank
Spellbinders  Cut, Mat, Create die sets 1A and 1B
Britannia Dies leaves strip
paper flowers from stash
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04  R20
hair - E42, E43, E47, E49
dress - RV63, RV66, RV69, RV99
            Y13, Y15, Y17, E15, E18
eyes - E35, E37, E39  Blender
pole - R29, R39, R59, R89

The apperture in the card blank and the blue liner are cut with the Spellbinders dies. Jazz I have stuck by just the ends of the pole so that she is free swinging a bit. The flowers and the leaves were already in my stash.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #89 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #75 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #206 - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks #418 - Crazy Egg Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #213 - Anything Goes
Limited Runs Stamps Facebook Challenge

Path of Positivity Goes Orange

It's the start of a new challenge at Path of Positivity after our summer break. This  month the optional theme is Shades of Orange. With all the heat over the summer in the UK it has been a fairly dominant colour with the sun's heat in the day and the wonderful sunsets at night. However orange is associated in most crafter's minds with Autumn, the changing colours in the trees, the harvesting of the pumpkins, even making chutney's and marmalades ready to mature for Christmas presents or the Christmas table.
I have chosen to do something a bit different this time and have made a candle to share with you. It is really easy, especially as I used a pre-coloured image, and there are plenty of videos on YouTube to show you how it is done should you wish to give it a go yourself.



Materials used: 
Lunagirl - Summer Garden Digital Collage Sheet
white pillar candle
tissue paper

All I have done is to print the image out on tissue paper then very gently melt it into the candle. You can also print out a line image and colour it carefully first, that works well too.

I hope you will join in with us this month either with the optional orange theme or without. Just be sure that if you would like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, over half of the colours in your project must be made up of shades of orange. The shades can be in the colours you choose to fill your images with, and/or they can be in your choices of papers and embellishments. Just make sure that the majority of your project focuses on the varying shades of orange. Also make sure you add FT after your name when you link up your project, it makes it a bit easier for the DT to see which entries qualify as having followed the theme.

We'd also love to find out how this month's colour makes you feel, if you'd like to share that with us. What kinds of feelings does the colour orange evoke in you? You can write a sentence or two in the body of your post, write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, or simply leave a comment on this post if you'd like.

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 $10 gift certificate from Imagine That Digistamp, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, the second of our guest sponsors this month, for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

Hope to see you on the path. Thanks for swinging by. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:A Bit More Time To Craft #75 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #206 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #218 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations #50 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #213 - Anything Goes/Clean and Simple
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #89 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #151 - Anything Goes

Horsing Around

I love horses, but not as much as I love penguins but don't tell any passing horses that! When I was young I did not go in for imaginary friends but I did have a stable full of imaginary horses.  I can even remember that my favourite was called Chestnut but I have no idea what the names of the others were. When Ike had this horse image for her Progressive Challenge I had to make it into a chestnut, it seemed only right. I found a great quote to go with it as well.

Materials used:  

Ike's Art - Spain - World Tour Series

brown card

5x7 tri fold card blank

printer paper

X-Press It card

Copic pens:

fur - E50, E31, E33, E35, E39, E59, E49
hat - E97, YR27, E99, E37

        R29, R39, R59, R89

        G02, G05, G07, G29

eye - E13, E15, E37

stable door - B91, B93, B95, B97, B99

I was feeling really brave for this one and had a go at drawing and colouring the stable door. The dark blue blobs are supposed to be knots in the wood.

I have cut the aperture from the front section of the card and behind it, on the middle part, I have mounted a piece of dark brown card that has been scored to look like the wood inside the stable.

I coloured an off cut of X-Press It card to look like a blue stable door, cut it to size and attached it below the aperture.

Having coloured the horse image I fussy cut him and then attached him behind the aperture using foam pads so that he looks as if he is looking out of the door.

I love the quote I found  so rather than hid it away inside the card I decided to put it on the front.

Did you have any imaginary friends or animals when you were young? I wonder if the children of today enjoy as much imaginary play outside of school or if they get their 'entertainment' from electronic devices.  I hope not, while technology can be very useful there is still a need to let the imagination run wild. It makes me smile when I see children making up stories and acting them out in games of 'Let's Pretend'. It's easier to engage with them when they are not glued to a phone or tablet. If ever the power runs out I hope our children still know how to make their own amusement.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa 

Entering the following challenges:
Ike's Art Facebook Progressive Challenge #6 

Addicted To Stamps And More #306 - Anything Goes
Back To Basics And Beyond #10 - An Aperture Card
Crafting By Designs #August - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #88 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #74 - Anything Goes

Things you can do with a white flannel (part 1)

 I even made use of the tag from the flannel on the back of the card. At this point it is possible that I had been exposed to too much glue!!

In the words of Victor Meldrew 'I don't believe it!' Apologies to those of you who do not know about the British TV show 'One Foot in the Grave'. What don't I believe you ask, well I don't believe it is almost two years since our youngest daughter got married. It only seems like yesterday that I was colouring in endless invitations, orders of service, place name cards, cutting out endless triangle boxes for the favours and scouring all the charity shops for boots for the table decorations.

A bit of research and I found out that the second wedding anniversary is cotton and that's when I had one of my sillier creative ideas, cotton = cotton flannels and so this card was dreamed up.

Materials used:

white cotton flannel
silver mirri card
blue card
red card
clear heart gems
silver number stickers
A5 card blank
heart dies
Copic pens:
R29, R39, R59, R89

I used a medium sized heart die to cut the shapes out of the flannel. It did take a couple of passes through the Grand Calibur but I think it is more to do with the age of my machine, it is not cutting quite as well as it used to. 

Having coloured the hearts with the pens, very carefully so as not to spoil the nibs, I used a smaller die to cut the centres out. I used the size inbetween to cut out silver card to fit behind the appurture I had created and then cut red hearts using an even smaller die.

I printed the sentiment onto the blue card before trimming it to fit the card front. It is the same blue card we used for the wedding invitations and there is still a lot left, I somewhat over catered!! I thought using it would be a reminder of the big day.

Having assembled all the elements and sticking them to the card the final job was putting on the gems and the numbers.

I even made use of the tag from the flannel on the back of the card. At this point it is possible that I had been exposed to too much glue!!

Finally a little reminder of all the crafty fun we had preparing for the wedding.



It's been fun taking a trip down memory lane. Thank you for accompanying me along the way. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
PIP Challenge #1833 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #74 - Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft August #08 - Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore August #54 - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards August - Anything Goes
Creates and Makes #23 - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #373 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #394 - Anything Goes 

Rainbows and Wishes

Time to share another progressive challenge make using an image from LeAnne's World 101.



Materials used:LeAnne's World 101 - Princess On A Cloud
DDDoodles - Rainy Days Papers
acrylic greeting stamp
black archival ink pad
shimmer card
X-Press It card
pink gems
pink star gem
Dovecraft Dual Brush Marker - lilac
Gelli Roll - Clear Star
Posca pen - Silver
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
hair - E42, E43, E47, E49
pillow - RV00, R81, R83, R85
leggins - G12, G02, G05
eyes - E33, E35, E37
wings - YG11, Y13, Y15, Y17, C1
hair bow - Y11, Y13, Y18, Y38
rainbow ring - V05, RV66, RV69, V09, V99
G02, G17, G29, G99
Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17, E15, E18
R29, R39, R59, R89
wand - R39, R59, R89
stars -  Y13
cloud shadows - V20

I printed out the image twice and cut out the wand and princess from the second image, using it to 3D decoupage ontop of the first image.

The crown has been coloured in with the Gelli Roll and Posca pens and small gems added to the tips of the point. The pink star is one I have had in my stash for more years than I care to remember! I think it came in a bulk buy when my girls were small for gluing and sticking sessions on wet holidays, the eldest is now 31 so we are talking decades ago! It just goes to show that even bright pink stars have their use eventually.

The backing paper is printed out on paper that has a very fine glimmer to it although the photograph has not picked it up very well.

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
LeAnne's World 101 #5 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #74 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #212 - Anything Goes/Optional Twist Magic/Fantasy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #88 - Anything Goes 
PIP Challenge #1833 - Anything Goes