Monday, December 15, 2014

Motivational Monday & PoP Midway Reminder: FAITH

 If you are new to my blog and would like to know why I started Motivational Monday, please go HERE.

This will be another packed post as I'll be sharing this month's Motivational Monday passage, a card I created and a couple freebies.  The reflection, my project and one of the freebies can also be found over on the midway post at the Path of Positivity.  This month the theme is FAITH.  On with today's thoughts...  

Have a Little Faith


According to the Google dictionary, the definition for faith is as follows:
fāTH/
noun
  1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
  2. strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
  3. a strongly held belief or theory. 
Faith like love, is something that must be experienced. It is not something that you can touch or hold. While faith doesn't necessarily have to with spirituality alone, there is a quote in the Bible that describes faith quite succintly, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is an acceptance, a belief, a hope--the complete trust in someone or something, even though there is no visible proof for it.
 

Now that we've looked at what faith is, let us briefly explore why it is important.  You may not realize it but you experience a type of general faith,  many times over, every single day.  Right from the get go each morning, many have faith that their alarm will go off on time to allow them to get a start on their day.  Then it is having faith that their car will start or the bus will be on time, to get them to where they need to be. Most have faith that the people around them know what they are doing.  Trusting everyone from the doctor making a proper diagnosis to trusting that the pharmacist knows one medication from another relies on faith.  Trusting that people are competent in their various roles and duties so that society will run efficiently, runs on faith as well.  Without faith in yourself and those around you, you would more than likely have difficulty getting anything accomplished.

Though secular faith might be more prevalent in one's day to day life, it is spiritual faith that most people generally think of when they hear the word “faith.” We are surrounded in our lives by people belonging to a variety of religions and spiritual groups, each having a system of beliefs that they hold to.  Adhering to religious doctrines and values can be very important and life changing for those people involved.  For many individuals facing challenges in their lives, turning to the faith of their religion can help them believe that things will work out the way they are supposed to even if the road there is an arduous one.  Spiritual faith helps to keep people moving. 


Whether looked at from a general perspective or from a spiritual one, faith allows us to exist, believing in the wise words of Bob Marley, that "every little thing, is gonna be alright."  It allows us to push forward through each day with a sense of peace if we allow it.  There is a really great quote that I found that exemplifies this ideal, "Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith" (Author Unknown).  I know which handle I am grabbing.  Do you?

References:
Dobrin, Arthur. (2012). Why Faith Is Important. Available: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/am-i-right/201209/why-faith-is-important. Last accessed 14th December 2014.
Harmon, Beau. (2008-2014). Secular Faith Vs. Spiritual Faith. Available: http://people.opposingviews.com/secular-faith-vs-spiritual-faith-6131.html. Last accessed 14th December 2014.
Maly, Laura. (2010). How Does Your Faith Affect Your Personality?. Available: http://lauramaly.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/how-does-your-faith-affect-your-personality/. Last accessed 14th December 2014.

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Next up, is the card I made using an image from one of this month's guest sponsors, Pickled Potpourri Designs...
General Notes:
  • I posted the inside of the card last week as part of my DS4J progressive challenge post.  Now you get to see the front! I kept things very simple making the entire image the focus of the card.  It was coloured with Copic Markers.
Digital Image Details: 
  • Wish You a Merry ChristmasThis lovely image is from one of our guest sponsors for this month over on the PoP challenge, Pickled Potpourri Designs.  If you are interested in purchasing this beautiful image, click on the watermark or image name to head over to its spot in the store.

Challenges I am hoping to enter:  
...to be added later...

 __________________________________________________________________________________ 
Finally, that brings me to a couple of freebies.  The first was offered up at the challenge start and the second was just offered up today for the midway...

© 2014
Font Information:



© 2014

Font Information:

Please be sure to click on the images to bring them up into the lightbox in their proper size before saving them.  Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  All these fonts were listed as free for commercial use at the time each of these project were made, and as such, it is my understanding, that I am within my rights to use these fonts in my creations and offer them to others.  Please refer to my full terms of service for what you can and cannot do with these digital creations.

These word art creations are in png format and published at 300 ppi. They are quite large in order to accommodate different programs that people work with.   If you are a card maker you can always resize them smaller without distorting the quality.  


Credit Notes For These Creations:
© Lisa L. Décosse. PUO. However, you are allowed to use the sentiments 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 'Download Instructions & T.O.U.' tab at the top of this page. Of important note:  Please 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(s) 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.

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I invite you to go and check out, not only, the fabulous creations some members of my Design Team had the opportunity to create over on the Path of Positivity (click HERE for the midway) but also some of the great entries into this month's challenge (click HERE for the challenge).  I also invite you to come over and enter a project yourself, if you haven't already.  This is the perfect month to be exploring the concept of faith.  I'm sure that you know someone who'd benefit from a reminder to keep on believing.

Well, that is it for today!  Have a great week ahead everyone!

Until next time,


Card Design: Scribbles Designs Challenge #24--'Tis the Season!

http://scribblesdesignschallenge.blogspot.ca/
 It is time for the next challenge over at the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.

This month for Challenge #24, the theme is appropriately 'Tis the Season!With the holiday hoopla in full swing, we thought that it would be the perfect time for doing a holiday inspired picture inspiration challenge. The great thing about pictures is that one person can be moved by one aspect and another individual may see something totally different. So, whether you are inspired by the colours, the shapes, or the objects themselves within this particular picture, it doesn't matter. This month it is all in the eye of the beholder.

Photo credit Petr Kratochvil of PublicDomainPictures.net
(
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=13064&picture=christmas-shop)

In order to participate in our challenges you DO NOT NEED TO USE A SCRIBBLES DESIGNS IMAGE on your project but you must follow the monthly theme and the other rules that have been established for our particular challenge blog.  You can find them, along with the prize information, listed in the right hand sidebar of the challenge blog.  This challenge will end at 9pm PST on January 14th.
 
You can purchase your Scribbles Designs images HERE and there is a free image over on the challenge blog as well to help get you started.  Also, be sure to check out the special Freebie Friday posts as it is another great way to build your Scribbles Designs collection.
 
To help inspire you, I've created a card using Twinkle Brrr.  This card is for my poppa.  I have found memories of my father wrapped up in the tangle of Christmas lights, just as Brrr is below, hee, hee.

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


FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Twinkle Brrr:  Hee, hee.  I just adore this image.  Brrr is just so cute all tangled up and that expression on his face is priceless!  This image was coloured in with Copic markers and I used a coloured pencil to add some ground to it.
http://buyscribblesdesigns.blogspot.ca/2013/10/228-twinkle-brrr-300.html
Embellishments:
  • The tiny pompoms are Crafts brand and were purchased at Dollarama.

INSIDE
Digital Sentiment: 
  • One I created specifically for this card.

OVERALL
Paper Products:  
  • Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • Designer paper is from Recollection's Bright Christmas paper pad.
  • The green paper used as matting on the front and inside is Michael's open stock scrapbook paper. 
 Challenges I am hoping to enter... 
***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***
So put on those thinking caps and design a project that fits our theme. If you need some images to help you out you can check out all wonderful ones that are in the Scribbles store. You have an entire month to enter at the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, so I hope to see you there. If you have some time I invite you to go and check out the wonderful inspiration offered up from my colleagues on the DT. We always look forward to seeing what you come up with for each month's theme!   

Until next time,

I'm Sponsoring...The Outlawz Challenge Blog

http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/monday-greetings
Whoop!  Whoop!  I'm so happy to let you all know that I am sponsoring the latest challenge over at the Outlawz Challenge Blog.  This will be my final sponsorship for this year.  While you do have to sign in, it is free to be a member of Outlawz and there is a different challenge every day of the week to keep you busy.  Every Monday it is the Greeting Cards Challenge.  That is the one that I am sponsoring this week.  The rules of the challenge are that your project must have a greeting/sentiment on the outside.  The theme this week is to use Music Design PaperThe weekly winner is announced at the beginning of the following week and the prizes are awarded monthly.
 
Since it is Christmas time, I decided to allow the team members to choose anything from my Holiday Hoopla kit but I also made up a special set of music themed papers called, Familiar Refrain.  These will also serve as all the prizes for the winners.


 Here is a refresher as to what is in the Holiday Hoopla kit...

  • One person will receive the full mini kit.
  • One person will receive both paper sets (patterned and textured).
  • One person will receive the word art set.
  • One person will receive all three element sets (frames, lace/ribbons, brads).
Then, as a 'Christmas bonus', I'm also offering up the following set of papers to one lucky individual...

So, that makes a total of five different prizes!  I hope that you'll consider playing along in their challenge.  To help provide some incentive, I am offering up one of the papers from this kit as a freebie. 
https://app.box.com/s/rnhbt2clnjcul4kl91bq
This digital paper is in 3600 x 3600 pixels, in jpg format and published at 300 ppi. To grab it, click the download button to be taken to a download location.  In the zip folder you will find a copy of the paper, its preview sheet, the credit information and my terms of use which are standard to all my folders. 

You can find out all the details you need to enter the challenge over at the Outlawz Challenge Blog.  To head there now, click HERE but don't forget you need sign in to play.  I hope to see some of you there! 

Until next time,
 

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Card Design: When One Door Closes...Another Opens

Hey folks, today I'm here to share some news regarding a couple changes in the teams I work with.  Heather over at Fresh Brewed Designs has made some changes to the team, cutting it in half.  While I am no longer officially on the team, I still love Heather and her images dearly so will still be promoting her when I can in the new year.

This change in status opened up some time in my schedule.  Now while I should have been all sensible, left things alone and kept a bit of breathing room, the exact same day I was let go from FBD, I got a message from Kris B. from Imagine That! Digis by Kris, asking me to join the team.  I've been wanting to be part of this team these past 11 months since Kris' last DT call, but was never able to join due to my other team obligations.  Well, since the stars apparently aligned for me to be able to now join, how could I possibly say no!!!!

So while I have been an unofficial cheerleader of Kris' images for the past year, I am so pleased to announce that I am now officially part of the IT! DkB design team.  

YaY!  In less than one month, I've been able to check off two things from my scrapbooking/card making bucket list--the first becoming part of the Create with TLC design team and now becoming a member of Imagine That! Digis by Kris.  Boy oh boy, Christmas has definitely come early for me this year!!!!!!

Of course I had to make a card to share with you as my first official DT duty.  Check it out...

General Details:
  • On January 4th, my cousin Blair's twins will be having a birthday.  Two days actually, after their daddy's (I'll be showing you all his card when I do my next Pattie's Creation post).  This card is for those sweet little boys!

FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Snowing Cupcakes: When I saw this set, I just knew it would be perfect for the twins' card.  Clicking on the name or the watermark below, will take you directly to its location in the store.  One of the great things about Kris' work is that the full sets in the store come with a coloured version.  This makes it perfect for time weary people like myself.  Having the coloured version available made it possible to finish this card in one night instead of two.  That is definitely helpful, especially right now with my battling the Christmas Crazies.
http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p274/Snowing_Cupcakes.html
Digital Paper Products:
  • I also had the opportunity to use two different papers from a set that was gifted to me by Kris at the beginning of the year.  The two gingham papers are from her wonderful Gingerbread Papers set.  I love the colours and they went so well with the image!  I've linked the preview to their location in the store as well.
http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p74/Gingerbread_Digi_Papers.html
Embellishments:
  • The little half pearls are Crafts brand and were purchased at Dollarama.

INSIDE
Digital Sentiment Details:

OVERALL
Paper Products:
   
  • Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • The paper I used as matting is from Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.
Challenge I am entering... 


Don't Forget...

You still have half a month to enter the two challenges taking place on the Imagine That blog.

S.O.T.M. Challenge
'Use Any' ChallengeClick on the left image for the current Stamp of the Month Challenge! 


 
Click on the right image for the current use ANY IT! digi challenge!


http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/index.html
Well my first post as an official DT member is complete.  Stay tuned for more Imagine That! Digis by Kris creations, coming your way soon!

Until next time,

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Blogger Word Verification Changes

Hey everyone I'm just popping in to share some Blogger changes with you.  Some of you may have noticed that every time you leave a comment on my blog, or even in a private DT blog and possibly other places where you never used to have fill in a CAPTCHA, that you are suddenly required to prove you are not a robot.  Well I can guarantee with this blog anyway, that word verification is still OFF. 

From the research I've done, it apparently has to do with the third party cookie filters in regards to the recently added Google One account logins. The suggestions were to enable (stop filtering) "third party cookies", in our browser and on our computer. Now I don't know about you, but I'm not really comfortable with changing that feature.  I was secretly hoping Google would fix things.  HOWEVER, I have just learned there is a way around it.  Thanks to Helen from Crafting Helen, who suggested to just leave the CAPTCHA area empty and simply click the 'publish your comment' button anyway.  So, far I've done exactly that on four separate comments I've left on different blogs and they have all been published.

Just thought I'd share this with you in case you're experiencing the same frustrations. Hopefully, Blogger won't realize the mistake and we'll continue to be able to it this way. 

Until next time,


Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Card Design: DS4J Progressive Christmas Card Challenge...December

http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.ca/2014/01/monthly-christmas-challenge-january-2014.html
It is time to submit my card to this month's Progressive Christmas Challenge taking place over at DigiStamps4Joy.  This will be the last one for this year in this challenge.  Thanks to DS4J, I was able to add 12 cards to the Christmas Card Pot.
 
Christmas Card Count to date: 29

Here is the great DS4J image we get to use this month:
This is a great funky image to finish out this year's challenge!

Here is my card, I hope that I haven't forgotten any important details: 

General Information:
  • I'm doing something a bit different this month.  This is the inside of a card I created for the midway of The Path of Positivity but I didn't want to wait until the middle of the month, so I'm posting it now.  You'll get to see the front of the card next week.

INSIDE
Digital Image Details:
  • WE 3 Kings (1): If you aren't part of the progressive challenge and would like to purchase it so that you can join in, click HERE or on the watermark above to find it in the DS4J store.
  • I used Copic Markers to colour the image. Also, I flipped the image before printing.
Digital Sentiment Details: 
  • This fabulous sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  It is from the "Tis the Season 2" Vintage Image Transfer and Word Art Set that you can find in the store by clicking HERE or on the watermark below.  To find more great sets in the store, click HERE; and to check out Paulette's blog, click HERE.
  • I used coloured pencils to colour the pine cones and branches.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/CreateWithTLC/10424539/_tis_the_season_2_vintage_image_transfer_and_word_art_
OVERALL
Paper Products:  
  • Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
Digital Paper Products: 
  • The paper used on the inside is one of my own digital papers.  It is from the textured paper set in my Holiday Hoopla Kit.
Challenges I am entering...
Other Challenges I am hoping to enter...

If you are interested in joining the DS4J progressive Christmas card challenge you will need to contact Desíre (her details are at the bottom of the post). I've linked the badge at the top of the page to take you to that post. 

Well, one more card is finally done!  Woop, Woop!!!  Movin' on t the next one in the list!!!

Have a great evening/night/morning/day all!

Until next time,

Sunday, December 07, 2014

Promotional Post: New Christmas Sets over at Imagine That! Digis by Kris

http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/index.html
Do you realize that there is just a little over two weeks before Christmas is here? Oh the joys of Christmas panic.  If you haven't yet got all your Christmas cards completed, then be sure to go and check out all the lovely new sets over at Imagine That! Digis by Kris.  There are some precious images that I am just itching to get my hands on.  Take a look...

http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p322/Miceskate.html
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. These squeakers are just so stinkin' cute, aren't they?!  I love the idea of using the image to make a card for a special friend.

http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p321/Christmas_Horseshoe.html
This is such a neat image.  In fact it would make a great decoration for the front door or for somewhere else in the home.  I love the puns in this set too:  "from our horse to yours", "Neigh bor".  Hee, hee.  Just too cute.

http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p320/Snowmen_Trio.html
Then there are these adorable snow people.  I just love snow people snow very much.  This family is just too cute and would be great for wishing friends and family, warm holiday wishes.  

http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p290/XOXO_Snowmen.html
YaY!  More snowmen.  These too are perfect for a card for someone very special.  It is always great to have a reason to send more hugs and kisses in the mail.

To check out a few wonderful samples made by some of the DT using the above two sets, click HERE.

 
The final one I have to show you is the set for this month's progressive challenge. I can't believe it but this will be the 12th set I've earned as a participant in the progressive challenge. Boy how time flies and I've en-JOY-ed every single minute of it. ;) To check out some wonderful cards made by the DT using this set, click HERE.

 Of course, these are just the latest Christmas themed sets.  You can find many more over at the store in the Christmas section which you can find by clicking HERE.  Don't forget, Kris also offers up some wonderful digital papers and there are a eight in the Christmas section alone.  You can find the Christmas themed digital papers by clicking HERE.

To see one of those papers and sets in action, be sure to check out The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up blog.  I am very lucky to have such a wonderful friend like Kris who designed our blog jacket especially for us using elements from the Christmas Snowflakes digital paper set along with images from the adorable Joyous Reindeer set. 



In case you weren't aware, Kris also offers up free blogwear.  There are some beautiful designs available which you can find HERE.

'Use Any' Challenge
Just before I go, I also want to let you know about something new taking place over at the Imagine That blog.  Starting this month and continuing into next year, IT will be running TWO monthly challenges. Along with the monthly progressive 'Stamp of the Month' challenge, Kris has decided to add a new one called 'Use Any IT digi' challenge!  With this new challenge, you are allowed to enter using ANY Imagine That! Digi by Kris (although it must be an actual image that you use and not just a sentiment).  Unlike the progressive challenge where everyone who enters is a winner, earning the set for the next month, in this new challenge Kris will draw winners who will each win a $10.00 coupon code to spend in the store!  The number of winners will depend on how many players end up participating.  You can enter as many times as you'd like as long as it is a new project each time and of course it must have any Imagine That! Digis by Kris image on it.  For more details on this new challenge and to link up, click HERE.

Oh boy, now there are even more great reasons to join in over at Imagine ThatMake sure you become a follower over there so you don't miss all the wonderful things happening over on this great blog and sign up for the newsletter to earn valuable coupons!  
 
Well, that is it for tonight folks.  Time to head off the computer and get working on some of the other items on my Crazy Christmas To Do List!  
 
Until next time,


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