Monday 18 November 2019

Thankfulness and Controversial Thinking

Can you believe we are halfway through the November challenge and hurtling ever faster towards Christmas. At this time of year there is so much to be thankful for and yet so easily we get caught up in the consumerism of the season.

Before I share my thoughts with you I just want to say that these are my own thoughts and I am open to helpful critique. Also, I in no way want to upset my American friends so if you have different opinions on this please let me know.

On the third Thursday of November the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day, this year it falls on the 28th November. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians when they shared a meal marking the first harvest. Settlers and Indians sharing the earth's bounty in peace. But as is the way in the history of mankind that harmony did not last. The sharing of bounty in a spirit of thankfulness was replaced by avarice and the hunger for acquiring more; more land, more money, more everything.

When we want to justify our position of taking from others we invariably reduce our victims to less than human. So the Indians lost their tribal names and became 'savages', as such they were fair game. European settlers have followed the same pattern wherever they have landed on the earth. The Spanish did the same to the Aztecs and Incas, the Australian colonists to the Aborigines, the British in India, the Dutch in Africa.. The idea of superiority over others was taken to it's pinnacle by Nazi Germany and the Final Solution, wiping out all that was considered inferior, Jews, Gypsies, Coloureds, Gays, the mentally ill, the physically handicapped. It was easy, just spread falsehoods about them and incite hatred towards them so that people don't question what is happening. With the rise of xenophobia and Antisemitism the danger is increasing that it will happen again.

The great sadness in all this is that we forget to be thankful for what we have and start wanting what others have. How different the world would look if the spirit of the first Thanksgiving Celebration had remained the dominant spirit of the the land.

Thanks for sticking with it and I do hope I have not offended anyone, that is the last thing I want to do. And so onto my card, I have used another cornucopia image this time from our on going sponsor Scribbles Designs. I have a thing about the beauty of nature at harvest, all the different colours and textures. I made this one for my friend Melanie, those who have been with me for a while will know that Melanie introduced me to rubber stamping all those years ago. Well she now splits her time between the USA and England having remarried an American. So this is for her and Russ even though they will be in the UK for Thanksgiving Day.


Materials used:
X-Press It card
designer card
rectangle die set
5" x 7" card blank
orange sequins (from stash)
Copic pens:
orange pumpkin - Y35, Y38, YR14, YR18, E15, E18  stalk - E43, E44, E47
yellow/green pumpkin -  W0, Y00, Y11, YG67, G28, G29, G99  stalk - W1, W3, W5
aubergine - V06, V09, V99  stalk - YG01, YG67
pepper - YG03, YG17, YG67, G29   stalk - YG21, YG23, YG25
maize - Y21, Y26, Y28  husk - YG61, YG63, YG67
wheat - YR21, Y26, YR24, Y28
apples - R24, R27, R29, R39, R59, R89  stalk - E19, E09
pear - Y02, R32, YG01, YR02, Y15, Y17, Y06   stalk - E29, E18
maple leaves - YG00, YG23, YG17, YR02, YR04, YR7
leaves - YG03, YG17, YG67, G29
cornucopia basket - E31, E33, E35, E39
background - Y00, Y11

I'm not a great embellisher finding it tricky knowing where to place them but I had a box of sequins for my birthday back in August and felt I really should have a go at using them! The designer layer has been lying in a drawer for some time now waiting it's turn to be useful.

Our two sponsors for this month are A Day For Daisies (on a break but honouring sponsorship) and Scribbles Designs.  For details of prizes and how to qualify, the link up and all other information visit the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. As I write this we have only had three entries though with Thanksgiving coming soon I am sure there must be more of you making cards. So do please join us you have until the end of the month to link up. You never know one of the prizes may already have your name on it. Now wouldn't that be something to be thankful for!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:


Friday 8 November 2019

Scrapper's Delights Progressive Challenge for November

Time for a new progressive challenge on the Scrapper's Delights Facebook page. If you entered last month you should be getting the image sent to you for this month. If you need the image then you can request it via the Facebook page.



Materials used:
Scrapper's Delights - Chibi Skater
X-Press It card
printer card
black card
silver texture paint
dotty stencil
snowflake stickers
circle dies
blue/silver designer card
5" x 7" card blank
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04  R20
eyes - E11, E33, E35
hair - E43, E44, E47, E49
trousers - B91, B93, B95, B97, B99
jumper - YG11, G12, G14, YG06, G05
scarf - R81, R83, R85
boots - C0, C1, C3, C9  Blender
blades - C5

The black and silver background card is made using silver texture paint. I have had it in my stash for some time but never really got around to doing much with it. My idea was that it might just work to give a hint of snow! Perhaps white paste might have been a better option but you have to go with what you have got.

The background for the skater is from a royalty free picture from the internet. If we had some hard winters I would have used a photo of my own but alas it is some time since it has been cold enough for fully frozen skateable ponds in our part of the world. My pond has frozen a few times but at only 4 feet it would be hard going standing on it yet alone skating!!

The progressive challenge runs for a month so there is plenty of time to get an entry in. You can also enter the Scrapper's Delight's Challenge at the same time on the blog here. Look out for all the amazing bundles and deals coming up for November too.

Thanks for dropping in.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:


Monday 4 November 2019

Feeling Thankful Despite It All!

The theme for this month's challenge at Path of Positivity is Thankfulness. Now I have to say that this year is not one I feel particularly thankful for on first thoughts, it has been horrible. Not a case of 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' more like 'Five Funerals and a Wedding'. I admit there are times when I have been tempted to sink into a wallow of self pity, however so far I have managed to keep away from that particular path to nowhere. Despite all the sadness that has predominated this year and some ongoing issues that could potentially lead to more heartache, there has been much to be thankful for as well.

I am enormously thankful to our NHS all over the country who have made loved ones leaving a pain free and peaceful affair and shown such sympathy, no more than that empathy towards those left behind to grieve.

I am thankful that my niece had such a fantastic day for her wedding and that family and friends were able to gather to celebrate and share the day with the happy couple.

I am thankful that my hesitant and belated decision to let my gorgeous girls organise a 60th birthday party amidst all that has been happening made for a joyful day to recharge and regroup ready to face life's not so enjoyable events.

I am thankful that even the dark days can be shared with a loving husband and family and that mutual support can overcome.

The problem is with thankfulness is that once you start thinking about it there are just so many things to be thankful for. You only have to read a paper or watch the news to find plenty more reasons to give thanks.

And who to I give thanks to the most? The verse on my page says it all. So I do 'Give thanks with a joyful heart' as the hymn says.




Materials used:
A Day For Daisies - Butterfly Harvest (sadly A Day For Daisies is taking a rest from trading but will be back)
Imagine That Digistamps - Subtle Harvest Kit (I cannot find this in the shop so it may have been a fan freebie at some point)
Ex-Press It card
printer paper
gold glitter paper strip
book page die set
A5 sketch book
Copic pens:
orange pumpkin - Y35, Y38, YR14, YR18, E15, E 18  stem - E43, E44, E47
green pumpkin - YG61, G21, YG63, G85, E43, E47  stem - E11, E13, E15
red apples - YG00, R11, R35, R37, R59
pear - Y02, R32, YG01, RY02, Y15, Y17, Y06
green apples - YG21, YG03, YG25, YG17
purple berries - RB66, R56, R59
corn cob - Y15, Y18, YR16, YR18, E08, E19, E49
corn husks - E42, E43, E44
red berries - R14, R17, R27
blue flowers - B21, B23
purple flower - V05, RV66, RV69, V09, V99, YR12, YR15
butterflies - V0000, V000, V01, V12
cornucopia shell - E11, E33, E35, E39
grass - G21, G94, BG96, B99

After colouring the design I cut it with a book page die and edged it with brown ink. The background paper is made using Paper Leafy from the Subtle Harvest kit, reducing the size, copying, pasting and repeating the process a couple of times to get the leaves very small.

The different and sometimes unusual themes that the Path of Positivity Challenge have are great fun but not always ones that lend themselves to a card, at least not to a card I can use. I had this idea for next year that I would make a book of helpful, positive quotes and sayings with the themes that did not fall easily into the card category. However I decided to start my book early and what better way than with being thankful. I made my design to fit an A5 card so that it fits into an A5 sketch book. I am looking forward to seeing what other challenging themes end up in the book over the coming months!

The Path of Positivity challenge runs until the 1st December and the theme is optional, although with Thanksgiving coming up in America I expect there will be many of you running with Thankfulness!
Since offering to sponsor us A Day For Daisies is taking a rest from trading, however they are fulfilling their sponsorship commitments for rest of the year. Our ongoing sponsor Scribbles Designs is also offering a prize, details will be on the Path of Positivity Blog along with the rules and how to enter. I hope you will join in with us.

Thank you for dropping in.

Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:






Friday 1 November 2019

Time for some new Chibis at Scrapper's Delights

This month's new releases from Scrapper's Delights features three Chibi images that can be used for any occasion where presents are involved! So even although thoughts are turning to Christmas at this time of the year I have made a birthday card with the image I was allocated.





Materials used:
Presscut Step 6 die set
white card
green mirri card
orange, purple card
X-Press It card
gold sentiment sticker
green satin ribbon
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04, R20
hair - YR20, YR24, YR27, E39, E59
t-shirt - V05, RV66, RV69, V09
eyes - C0, C3, YG03
trousers and hair ribbon - G02, G17, G29, G99
present ribbon - Y02, Y15, Y19, E39, E59
present - V15, V17, BV08
socks - C0, C1, C3, V05, RV66, RV69 
stacked parcels - V15, V17, BV08, C1, C3, C5
                            YG00, YG21, YG03, YG06, BV20, BV23, BV25, YR31, Y38, YR68

Do visit the Scrapper's Delights store and have a look at the other images available from today. While you are there why not have a look at what else is available, you may find just the right image for a project you have in mind!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges: