Time for a Trick or Treat Treasure Hunt!!!

It is time for a...

Hello and welcome to the first ever Trick or Treat Treasure Hunt brought to you by the team of Creative Bug Digitals.

This is stop # 3.  It is 10:00 am EDT and time to release the third clue.

If you missed the first two stops, please go HERE (http://scrapbookingforbeginners-naomi.blogspot.com/2013/10/time-for-trick-or-treat-treasure-hunt.html in case the link doesn't work) and start from the beginning to ensure that you understand how to play along and get all the clues you will need to participate.

Clue #3

1. Go the Creative Bug Digitals Store at http://www.creativebugdigis.com.
2. Find the Halloween section. 
3. Click on the second image across in the second row down.  This will bring the image name up for you.
4. What is the first letter in this image's name?  Take that letter and write it down.  This is your third of six letters.

__?___     __?___   __?___     _____     _____     _____

You now have three of your blanks filled in.  Remember you will need to unscramble the word when you have finished collecting the three remaining letters.

To help you find the correct image in the store, I have created a project to showcase it...

Creation Details:

• I had fun coming up with this layout.  Of course, first I had to go and create the eyeball paper and then design the felt ribbons.  Next I had to find some funky glasses which I got from the artist winnond over at freedigitalphotos.net.  Then it was a matter of showcasing Naomi's awesome digital image, creating an appropriate saying to go along with it all, and voila, a new digital layout is born.
• I'm entering this image into the following challenge:  Digitally Sweet Challenges--Anything Goes.

 

Stay tuned for the release of clue #4...

At 12:00 pm EDT, the fourth clue will be released over on Jen's Blog, Krafty Keepsakes (here is the address in case the link doesn't work-- http://jenni45.blogspot.ca/)

If you happen to get lost along the way you can find the complete line up below.  Times are listed in EDT...

The Treasure Hunt starts over at Creative Bug on the Loose at 8:00 am

Go to Vicky's Blog, Crafting Vicky, at 8:00 am for clue #2

Go to Lisa 's Blog, Décosse's Dynamite Doodles, at 10:00 am for clue #3

Go to Jen's Blog, Krafty Keepsakes, at 12:00 pm for clue #4

Go to Suze's Blog, Craftysuze, at 2:00 pm for clue #5

Head back to Creative Bug on the Loose, at  4: 00 pm for clue #6--the final clue.

Now don't worry, if you aren't around for the day, that is okay too.  You will have until Midnight on Friday to complete the treasure hunt.  We want to make sure that all of our readers have the chance to participate.  You'll find all the details you need, including a list of prizes, over at Creative Bug on the Loose.

We look forward to seeing you participate!!!

HAPPY HUNTING!!!

Wonderful Wednesdays: Winsome Words for October

If you are new to my blog and would like to know how Wonderful Wednesdays got started, please click HERE.

Hey Guys!  It is time for the final items for the October kit.  Continuing with our Frightfully Delightful theme, I present you some Winsome Words...

If they look familiar it is because you've seen two of them on recent cards that I have done and the third is from a mini kit I put together for a sneak peek guess win over on Creative Bug on the Loose.  If you aren't following me over there on Saturdays, you are missing out on your opportunity to win even more goodies but I digress...

All three of these word art creations are in png format and while the original size of each is quite large in order to accommodate scrapbookers, you can always re-size the images smaller without distorting the quality.

I hope you like my final offerings for this month's kit and can find some use for them.  If you have missed the previous ones, or if you are new to the site, you can go HERE, HERE and HERE to grab the other items. To find items from previous kits look for Wonderful Wednesdays or look under the individual names of the month, i.e. January Kit in the label section.  If you create a project using one of these images or any of the images I create, I'd love to see them and post them into the 'Your Gallery' portion of the blog.

Next month brings with it a whole new theme but you'll have to wait and see what I have planned.  It has taken me over two weeks to finally settle on a theme so hopefully you'll like what I've come up with!
 
Until next time,

Credit Notes For This Creation:  © 2013, Lisa L. Décosse.  PUO.  However, you are allowed to use these word art images on handmade projects that you intend to sell on a small scale basis provided credit is given.  You also need to include a credit note and a link to this blog should you use any of my images in your creations and post them on your blog.  Please be sure to familiarize yourself with my full terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.  The top two images have been altered using layer styles from Shelby Kate Schmitz of graphicssoft.about.com.

If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  Please be sure to read the Angel policy found under the copyright info tab above for the full terms.  Below is a quick summary of those Terms of Use: 

Along with the Credit Note above... 

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' or 'Lisa L. Décosse' somewhere on your creation. 
• Credit and provide a link if you post a creation on your blog using any of my work in your creations.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.  If you would like to post a watermarked version of the image, please contact me to obtain one.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

Bonus: If you've actually made it to the end of this post I have a little bonus item for the October kit.  It is a date stamp in a purple shade that should complement other offerings in the October kit.  

HOWEVER, I have been rather neglectful and have realized that I never created the bonus date stamps for the past two months!  Oy vey!  I can understand forgetting in August because I was pretty ill but I have no excuse for September.  So let me offer those two up first for you...

AUGUST
In a peach shade to complement the items in the August kit...

SEPTEMBER
This one is even worse because apparently I had already made it and just forgot to upload it.  In a golden brown shade to complement the items in the September kit...

OCTOBER
Finally, here is the one for this month's kit...

Card Design: Ike's World Challenge #4...Krazee Kritterz

It is time for the latest challenge over at Ike's World Challenges.  The theme for Challenge #4 is Krazee Kritterz.  You can join in with a creation using any kind of medium or style but remember that in order to qualify to win the prize you MUST use an Ike's Art image.  If you don't already have an image and would like to purchase one, check out all the awesome images available in the store by clicking HERE.  Ike has an amazing selection of Krazee Kritterz to choose from and what is really cool is that they come in sets so you have lots of different ones to play with.

Check out what I made this week...

General Information:

• Oh my goodness. I am in love with the images in Ike's Krazee Kritterz collections. There are just so many potential uses for them. I'm hoping to have the chance to use each and everyone of them and in the future, also create a set notecards--encouragement, get well, thank you etc.  Hmmm...maybe that will be part of the momma's Christmas present next year.  Oh and these images would be great on cards for kids too.  Additionally, if you are a little twisted (in all the right ways of course), like some of my buddies, you could even make them into rabid zombie creatures. Hey, whatever floats your boat! That is what is so much fun about digital images. However, remember if you are going to modify the image significantly, many artists require you to seek out permission before doing so and some designers forbid altering images in any way; so, always check with the artist's terms first and if they aren't clear, contact them.
  

FRONT

Digital Image:

• Shelf Kat:  This adorable, puffy and fluffy little meowser, is from Ike's second collection of Krazee Kritterz.  You really have to go and check them all out.  There are so many to choose from!  Whether your interest is in dogs, cats, ducks, penguins or other precious kritterz, Ike has got it covered!  If you are interested in 'Shelf Kat' you can find it in the Krazy Kritterz 2 collection in the Animals section of the store or by clicking the watermark below.

• This image was coloured mostly with Copic markers.  Cat:  R20, R22 (ears & nose); YG03, YG06, Recollections white pen (eyes); colourless blender, N0, C1, pencil (fur).  I've used chalk to ground the image.

Digital Sentiment:

• This is one I got as a freebie from the wonderful Paulette of Create with TLC.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to locate it in the store.  If you are interested in the image, please be sure to contact Paulette to see if it is still available for purchase.

Embellishment:

• The little rolled rose on the front is one I made.  

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment:

• Same goes as the one for the front.

OVERALL
Paper Products:

• Card base: Crafts Brand Cardstock, pastel pink -- available Dollarama.
• Designer Paper:  Colourful geometric paper (front & inside)--K & C Company Designer Paper--Best of...florals collection.  

Challenges I hope to enter:
I hope to be able to enter some challenges later this week and/or month.

What will you create using one of Ike's awesome Kritterz images?  Pop over and play along with us anytime during the next two weeks over at Ike's World Challenges. You can find out everything you need to know in order to play, by heading to the challenge blog.  I've linked the logo below to take you there.  While you are over there, please be sure to check out the incredible creations offered up by some of my fellow DT members and be sure to pop in again next week when the second team's projects are showcased to help inspire you.

Until next time,

 

Card Design: Digi Darla's Challenge #86--Monster Movie Madness!

Happy Monday morning to you all.  It is the beginning of a brand new week and that means it is time for my latest Digi Darla's Design project.

This week for Challenge #86 the theme is "Monster Movie Madness!".  It is my month for picking the themes and for my choice this week, I want to see a project that pays homage to your favourite monster.  Werewolves, Vampires and Ghouls, oh my!  Show us what kind of inspiration you can get from a monster movie.  Since Halloween is almost upon us, dust off those creepy or scary movies and create a project that depicts your interpretation of your favourite monster movie.  Now for those of you that are faint of heart, cute monster movies qualify too.  Just be sure to let us know which monster movie you used to help inspire you.

One person will be the lucky winner of FIVE Digi Darla (DD) images!  AND any entries using a DD image get entered into a SECOND drawing for THREE images. So, you could technically win eight images!  If you do use one of Kim's wonderful images make sure you let us know by writing DD after your name when you enter. 

I've used the following Digi Darla's digis in my project this week:

• Halloween Boy 

Here are the card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

General Notes:

• The movies I have been inspired by are ANYTHING vampire related from Nosferatu to the Blade Trilogy and everything in between.  Although the image I had to use was a bit cutesy compared to the vampires in the movies I adore, it is a vampire nonetheless.  Additionally, the bats on the front also represent icons from these movies.
• I also wanted to avoid making a Hallowe'en card and opted for something I could give the hubs, regardless of the time of year. 

FRONT
Digital Image:  

• Isn't this backdrop freakin' cool?!  Well I think it is.  It is an image that is in the public domain and for awhile I've been trying to figure out how to make a digital paper out of it.  Somehow I'm going to get it done because it is just too awesome to not use.  This image was designed by Larisa Koshkina and it is available over at PublicDomainPictures.net.
• The image all on its own was absolutely perfect for the front of my card as it sets a cool and eerie scene.

INSIDE

Digital Image:

• Vampire boy:  You can find the image of the cute little Vampire boy in the DD store by clicking on the image name or watermark linked above.
• He is coloured with Copic Markers.  Skin & Facial Features:  E000, E00, E02, R20, B91, R32, R35, 100.  Hair, Cape, Shoes:  C5, C7, 100.  Bow Tie & Pants:  C1, C3, C5.  Vest:  R22, R24, R29.  Shirt: Colourless blender, R20.  Pumpkin:  YR02, YR04, YR07.  Recollections white marker for the teeth on boy.  Coloured pencils were used for the ground and background.

Combination Digital Image/Sentiment:

• Batty over you:  This cute little combination image and sentiment is a new one from Scribbles Designs.  It was perfect for use on this card.  
• The bat and block letter word have been coloured with Copic Markers.  Bat:  C5, C7, 100.  Batty word:  R22, R24, R29.  Recollections white marker for the teeth on bat.

OVERALL
Paper Products:

• Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white. 
• Black paper used as matting on the inside of the card is Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, black. 

Challenges I am hoping to enter... 
We'll see if I can find the time this week to do so.

So, how about you come on over and show us YOUR wonderful talents by entering this week over at Digi Darla's Challenges?  While you are there please check out the great projects from the rest of the design team.  We always look forward to seeing the delightful creations you come up with. 

Until next time,

Winner Announcement for My World Card Making Day Celebration!

Hello my lovely peeps.  It is time to finally announce the winner for my World Card Making Day Celebration. 

If you will recall, I had asked you to come over here and link up to three of your favourite creations from the past year AND leave me a comment telling me WHY it was one of your favourites.  I am pleased that a total of 25 cards were linked up by 10 different people.  

Since there were just 25 cards linked up, I wasn't able to offer more than the five prize packages. Maybe one of these days, I'll garner up so more interest but until then, I suppose that makes the odds better for you guys right?!  So, without further ado, here are the winners, chosen by Random.org, for each of the five prizes I offered...

Fifth Prize

The sentiment package, with a total of five sentiments all in png format goes to...

 15. Edwina Brown  

Fourth Prize

The solid paper package, with a total of six solid papers all in jpg format goes to...

 20. D~ Designs by Dragonfly

Third Prize

The ribbon paper package, with a total of six papers with a curling ribbon design all in jpg format goes to...

8. KT Fit Kitty

Second Prize

The combined paper package, with the six ribbon papers and the six solid papers all in jpg format goes to...

  23. Jackie C 

Grand Prize

 A COMPLETE MINI KIT with:

12 papers in it:  6 with ribbons and 6 without.
5 sentiments AND the bonus individual curling ribbons goes to...
 2. Suze #1

 

Congrats Ladies!!!

So, Edwina, D~, Kitty, Jackie and Suze--please send me an email by clicking HERE, with the subject heading "WCMD Celebration Win" and I'll send off your prizes to you as soon as I can.

Thanks to those of you who had the opportunity to celebrate with me.  I had such an enjoyable time visiting each of your favourite projects.  You are all incredibly amazing designers and it was a privilege to check out your work!!!

I also want to individually thank:
Edwina,
Suze,
Desíre, and
Jennifer
...for going the extra mile and posting about my celebration on their blogs.  I hope that each of you enjoyed your bonus goodies for doing so.

Well folks, that is it for now.  However, before I go, I did want to mention that while I was really hoping to kick off my blogiversary celebration this weekend, it looks like I'm going to be a little delayed.  I just haven't had the time I need to get all the goodies ready.  Hopefully, I'll get it done very soon.

Until next time,

Card Design: From the Heart Stamps October Challenge

I can't believe it is time for me to post my card for the From the Heart Stamps progressive stamp of the month challenge.  It might have something to do with the fact that I'm actually a whole week ahead this month!  At least I am managing to keep my cards up to date (fingers crossed it stays that way), even if I can't manage to keep up with anything else.

In order to enter this challenge, you must either have received the latest image by having participated in the previous month or you can buy the stamp for the current month's challenge.  Everyone who enters and follows the rules is a winner because you automatically get the stamp for the next month's challenge.  Stop by the site and check out the rules for yourself.  While you are there, have a look around.  They have some really great images.  Below you will find the card I'm entering for the October challenge. 

Here are my card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

General Information:

• The image that I received this month leant itself rather well to the card design I decided to go with.
• I present to you my very FIRST 'I have no idea what it is called' folded card.  I have seen this card fold a few times.  A few months ago I saw it on Suze's (Craftysuze) blog for another progressive challenge that we are both part of and I promised her at the time that she had inspired me to finally go ahead and try to create it.  Well, it took me awhile Suze but I finally managed to get it done!  Now I just need to know what the heck the actual card fold is called.  Can someone help me with that???
• Since the card fold wasn't too complicated for me to figure out, I just used Suze's card as a reference and created my own sizing to fit my purposes.  Given I wasn't sure what it was called it was kind of hard to do a search for a tutorial.  Don't think putting in "I have no idea what it is called card fold" into a search bar would have got me very far.
• It is good practice because I have a fancy fold coming up in a month over at another challenge blog and this one went so well I think that I'll use the same fold for that challenge too.

 FRONT  

 Digital Image:

• The image on the front, Havest Medley, is available for purchase over at From the Heart Stamps.  Click HERE or on the watermark below to go to its location in the store.  I really like windowpane effect of this stamp.  What an awesome quote too.  In hindsight I probably shoud have grounded each of the images.  To be honest I'm not sure how I forgot.  Oh well, these things happen.
• Each area of the image has been coloured with Copic markers.  Pumpkin:  Corn & Yellow Leaf:  Y32, Y35, Y38.  Corn Stalk, Pumpkin Top & Green Leaf:  YG61, YG63, YG67.  Red Leaf: R32, R35, R39.

Other Details:

• Since I'm so proud of this first attempt at this particular card fold, I'm going to show you how it looks from a few different perspectives.

                         Partially opened...

                               Fully opened...

 
INSIDE 

Digital Sentiment:

• This is one I got as a freebie from the wonderful Paulette of Create with TLC.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.  While I have used it recently, once again it was the perfect match to the type of card I was creating.  Not sure why the yellow matting looks like such a different colour from above.  Weird.

• While the image is no longer available for free, you can get it as part of the Stuffed Digi Stamp Set available in the store now.  Click on the watermark below to head to its location in the store.

• I've coloured this image with Copic markers.  Colours used include:  YG00, YG03, R32, R35, Y35, Y38.

OVERALL
Paper Products: 

• Card base: Michael's Recollection's Card Set, large.
• Designer Papers:  The chevron paper (front and inside) is from Recollection's The Sweetest Thing Paper Pad.
• Green paper used for matting is Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.
  

Challenges:

From the Heart Stamps -- progressive stamp of the month challenge 

 
Thanks for popping by everyone!

Until next time,

A Year in Review...

Wow.  Can you believe it?  Décosse's Dynamite Doodles is exactly a year old today.  Who knew a year ago that this is where my life would be centred! Therefore, I thought that today would be the perfect occasion for reflecting on my first year in blogging; so, sit back, grab a bowl of popcorn and join me in my rumination.

For quite a number of years I just existed.  After I became disabled I had to let go of the person I was and become someone new based on the things that my body would no longer allow me to do.  The first several years were very difficult ones and I found myself in a pit of despair for about three of them.  Thankfully, I was able to latch on to a bit of hope and with the help of my husband, drag myself back up.  I began to adapt and once I let go of the dreams I once had and begin to accept this new reality, I did much better.  However, I didn't really have anything to do or focus on.  I certainly didn't have anything where I could practice using some of the skills I had developed in my earlier life.  So, I simply lived from day to day, doing what I was capable of around the house (which wasn't much at all unfortunately), watched TV and read.  Once I was able to sit for longer periods, I did manage to get back into some painting and do a little cross stitch each evening because with that I could just stretch out on the couch to work on it and take the pressure of my back.  Then in November of 2011, I made my first card and over the course of the next few months created a few more.  Then when I discovered the card making world that lay within the Internet, my world was never the same.  

I certainly couldn't have imagined that this is where the main focus of my life would end up.  Two years ago I barely knew what a blog was, then during the spring of 2012 as I was able to spend a bit more at the computer, I began to learn about an online world where the generosity of many abounds and inspiration is metered out daily.  So, after seven months of sitting back and watching from a distance, I decided it was time to jump into the foray myself.  As some of you know, I originally started my blog so that I could post cards in order to enter some challenges.  Boy, have things taken a 360 degree turn!  Now, I have become so busy, it is rare occurrence when I do have time to enter any challenges.  What a difference a year makes!

One of the things that I have learned during this time, is how much I missed using my brain.  Watching television and even reading didn't take much effort.  I suppose the Sudoku and cross word puzzles I would complete worked out a few extra brain cells but my mind wasn't getting the work outs it needed.  Getting back into thinking, planning, organizing, writing, and creating are finally giving my brain muscles the activity that they need to once again thrive. 

Another thing that I have learned is how much I missed working as part of a team and feeling wanted and useful to others again.  Whatever job I had in my old life, I was always part of a team atmosphere and we each had our various roles and responsibilities to fill.  It is really important for me to feel like a useful functioning member of whatever team I am part of.  I never realized that I would find those exact same kinds of feelings within the design teams that I now belong to.  It may be played out in a different format and within an online world, but it is very much like the teams I used to be a part of--my input is valued, I have obligations and deadlines, I receive feedback for what I bring to the group.  Once again I have a role to fulfill and that it is very empowering.  Additionally, when I am able to help out anyone in need, whether it be my team leader, a fellow team member, or just a reader of my blog in general, with something that they are struggling with or just being able to provide information or direction, I am once again engaging in teaching skills that have laid dormant for far too long.  Being a functioning member of society may not seem like much until you no longer feel that you are one.  I am really happy to once again feel like I belong somewhere and know that what I bring to the virtual table is respected by many of the people sitting there beside me.  

I think that the most incredible blessing that could ever have happened during this past year is the friendships that I have amassed during this time.  One year ago, I had one close friend that I talked to all the time and two other friends that I only talked to occasionally.  I'm sorry to say it was a bit of a lonely world that I lived in.  When you are practically housebound, it is difficult to go out and meet new people or even cultivate existing friendships.  I have never really been surrounded by a big circle of people but when I became disabled, and then worse, depressed, slowly that circle closed in until only three remained.    I had no idea when I began this blog how much wider that circle would become.  Now there are so many people in it, I have lost count.  This is the truly biggest blessing that I have received over this past year.

There are some people in particular that I would like to take a moment and thank:

Sandy of Scribbles By Sandy, Scribbles Designs & The Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog
Sandy found me and became a member of my blog within my first week of operation.  She was also the first person to ever give me a spot on a design team.  What makes this uniquely special is that she had only ever seen one of my cards; yet, she trusted in my abilities enough to give me a chance representing her wonderful line of images.  This act gave me such a boost in confidence, you really have no idea.  A few months later, after having seen the storylines that I created for some of her digis and for other digi lines as well, she wanted to create a special promotion for me and I became the Strategic Content Developer for Scribbles Designs.  Sandy has so much trust in me that she doesn't even want to proof what I have to say about the digis before the posts come out.  She prefers to be happily surprised when they pop up on the blog.  This act of trust in me has also elevated my confidence.  Sandy also jumped on board the Path of Positivity, first as an advisor, then as a team member and finally as an on going supporter. I count Sandy among my list of new friends.

Naomi of Creative Bug on the Loose & Creative Bug Digitals
What can I say about Naomi?  She and I became very close very fast and she is now someone I consider one of my very best friends.  Our professional relationship started with her asking me to colour some of her images so she could showcase them on her blog.  Who knew that would lead me to stepping in and becoming her Promotional Coordinator.  She basically allowed me to roll right in and take right over certain aspects of her blog and store, having the trust and faith in me to get things done, no questions asked.  That kind of faith in me has been incredibly humbling.  Additionally, she too jumped on board the Path of Positivity as a team member and became a regular monthly sponsor.

Vicky of Crafting Vicky, The Darker Side Of Me--Crafting Vicky & a brand new challenge blog Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenges
Vicky has been part of my life since November 3rd, 2012.  On November 2nd, I came up with the idea of my Saturday Showcase feature and put out the call to a few different people who's work I had enjoyed since discovering the wonderful world of card making and digital images.  This only gave the people I reached out to less than 24 hours to respond.  Vicky came through and was more than happy to allow me to showcase her work in my very first Saturday Showcase and she has been by my side ever since.  In every capacity, she is always there to support me and encourage me and has truly become a dear friend.  She also isn't afraid to slap me around when I need it which is an integral part of all good friendships.  Very few days, if any, will go by when we don't correspond about something or other.  Knowing how swamped I have become and knowing that I am missing getting the latest time sensitive freebies, she has even started taking the time to send me links to them so I can pick them up on time!  Vicky too jumped on board as an advisor for PoP and offered her services as a DT member even though she was on over 20 other teams at the same time.

Suze of Craftysuze
Suze has also been there right from the beginning, becoming a follower in my very first week.  Over the past year, not only has she become a friend, she has also become one of the biggest users of my digital papers.  I never knew how my creative offerings would be perceived or whether anyone out there would ever want to use them.  Well, I soon found out that I can always count on finding one or more of my new digital paper creations or other designs within Suze's projects.  Right now, there are 20 cards on the 'Your Gallery' page of my blog that Suze has created and several that I just haven't had time to add yet.  Suze has definitely helped me get over some of the self-esteem issues that I was experiencing early on and I will be forever grateful to her for that.  Additionally,  she jumped on board, no questions asked when I was looking for someone to help showcase Naomi's images and also became one of the advisor's and team members for PoP.

Ike of Ike's World, Ike's Art and the new challenge blog Ike's World Challenges
Ike has been another lady who has supported me from the time she found me.  She has inspired me, helped me to grow as an artist and like all good friends straight up tells me 'what's what' and gives me a kick in the pants when I need it. Like all the ladies above, she was there for me right from the moment I decided to create my own challenge blog and became and advisor and regular monthly sponsor from the get go.  While she was a part time team member for the first few months, Ike has come on board as a full time member as of our latest challenge. 

Desíre of Doing Life
I began to get to know Desíre at the beginning of 2013.  Since that time she has become an incredible supporter of my sentiments and was a huge promoter of the Path of Positivity right from the get go entering her cards in all the challenges and creating posts specifically to promote the challenge.  Now that she is on the team she is just as supporting and shares everything on her Facebook page.  Additionally, she lead DS4J to my door as one of the sponsors for PoP.  I can always count on Desíre and she too is someone that I can easily call a friend.

Heather of Heather's Coffee Break, Fresh Brewed Designs and the Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Blog
Within minutes of our first contact, Heather is also someone that has become very special to me.  I reached out to her to ask her if I could create a showcase around her cards and images and we have been fast friends ever since.  In addition to her support of my personal blog, she also stepped in as an initial advisor to PoP, has become a regular sponsor and created the incredibly beautiful banner on the challenge blog just because she was inspired to do so for me.

Samara of Romancing the Canvas, Fairy Tale Fountain & File oh Fever
While I've only know Samara a short period of time, she too has become a fast friend.  One of the things I love best about her is the that she always puts so much time, thought and energy into every single comment that she leaves. She opens up her heart and lays it bear for all the world to see.


Given how busy these ladies are, I am very fortunate that each has been able to come on board the crazy train with me, in one capacity or another, and helped me make the Path of Positivity such a success.

There are also some other ladies that I'd like to mention...

Jennifer of Krafty Keepsakes
I met Jen through Naomi who was trying to help Jen out with something on her blog.  Naomi thought I might be able to assist with the problem and I jumped in to do what I could.  With helping Jennifer out with her blog I've developed my own abilities and learned new things which have lead me in different directions.  Jennifer also jumped on board, no questions asked when I was looking for someone to help showcase Naomi's images which was a very big help to me.

Lisa M. of You Made Me Ink
I've know Lisa for awhile now.  She has been there for me as an advisor, helped me anytime I needed a little assistance or just to answer a question.  She has let me use her work on numerous occasions and just like Vicky jumped in and allowed me to showcase one of her cards during that very first showcase with less than 24 hours notice.  I can also always count on her humour to keep me going.

There is also  Deb (A Look Through My Eye), Patti (Scrap Close 2 the Heart, Edwina (Edwina's Creations), Mandy (Made by Mandy), and Shea (Glitter and Bonbons) who have all become awesome supporters and people I can easily call friend.

To all of you ladies listed above and to anyone I may have inadvertently forgotten...
I can't imagine my life without any of you in it.  Your generosity knows no bounds and I look up to all of you ladies.  You are always there with a kind word, a helping hand or a kick in the pants--whatever I need to help get me through and I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you.   

To those of you who have also put your trust and faith in me in one capacity or another, I can only hope that I always live up to your expectations and that I never let you down! 

Now to every single one of YOU who has become a follower or a regular reader and especially to those of you who take the time to share your thoughts with me and say thank you when I've offered up a freebie...  Without all of you, there would be no reason to continue this blog.  The work that I do here, and with the other blogs that I create for, truly has become a full time job.  Without all of you standing behind me, I wouldn't be able to continue to do what I do.  I only wish that I was able to visit each and every one of you more often.  It seems these days that I don't have time to visit anyone's blog and that truly crushes me.  While I have been blessed with the chance to do so many new things, the reality is that each of them is chewing up all of my time.  Not only am I neglecting you guys, I am also neglecting my husband and for both these things I am so very sorry.  I often joke about needing to clone myself or needing to find an assistant that will work for digital creations instead of money, but there is reality in these statements.  The only obstacle that I seemed to have come up against during this past year is that of needing more time.   Unfortunately, I am already spending on average, about ten to twelve hours a day between actually making cards and other tangible items and all the computer based activities surrounding everything else I am involved in.  Thus, there is no more time that I could possibly devote to my new found activities.  Somehow, I have to figure out how to become more efficient without giving up the things that make me who I am.  Sure, I could resort to just providing a snapshot of my card and some very basic detail of where the images come from.  Sure, I don't have to create writeups on all the newest digis coming out of the various stores I represent.  I guess I could stop doing showcases altogether which on average can take over 12 hours to put together for each one.  I suppose I could stop doing research and bringing you posts on things you may not know about or motivational posts in general.  I'm sure I could also spend a lot less time helping people out, answering their questions or ignoring their correspondence.  All of those things would surely give me some more time.
BUT...
then I would no longer be me.  I wouldn't be being true to who I am deep down inside.  So somehow that means I need to figure something else out.  I have absolutely no idea what that will be but I do hope that you will stick around and be patient with me until I do so.  I hope that you will stay by my side over this next year as I continue to develop my skills as an artist, designer and creator.  I hope that you will support me in my quest to try and find a store and earn a little money from the creations I make.  I hope that you will continue to provide me with feedback on everything I do and continue to support all the different people that I promote, even if it is simply to pop by the person's blog or store and have a look around.  Finally, I hope that I can continue to count on your support and friendship in general as I continue down this exciting pathway and branch off in new and different directions.

Now, you know me, I can't let an important occasion go by without offering up any goodies; so, please come back and join me this weekend when I reveal my latest giveaway. 

Thank you all for joining me today and for being part of this journey with me.  May this be year one of many!

Until next time,