PagesPat's Ponderings

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Digital Freebie Today

I am continuing my adventures and explorations in digital paper creating, and thought I would share a patterned paper from a collection I call Satin Dreams. This one is called Nites in White Satin, and is   12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi.Regarding TOU, please credit me if you use it. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, patacakespages.blogspot.com
Just click on the image to bring it up, then right click to save as.

Giving Thanks at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Here in Chicago, we are balanced on the precipice where Autumn's warm days and cool nights are about to shift to cold days and longer, colder nights. And as the seasons start their shifts, I like to pause, look around and really appreciate everything in my life.
There have been a lot of changes this year. My husband's health has deteriorated with the confirmation of his ALS diagnosis. We both lost our jobs and family health insurance. But...
I am thankful for these things which have produced so much good in our lives:
Because Bill was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he receives government disability as well as VA compensation for a 100% service-connected disability.
Because of the compensation, we get to keep our house.
Because of a federal Veteran's Grant, construction is underway to make our house handicapped- accessible.
As veterans with no earned income, we are entitled to free healthcare and equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, glasses and such.
Because I lost my job, I now have the time to take care of Bill, driving him to doctor appointments, running errands and sharing in his bucket list of things he would like to accomplish or do before he can't.
There are just so many blessings for which I am thankful. Family, friends, a car, our new rescue dog, Wilson; my five senses which gives me the ability to see the changes in the season, to hear with delight my newest grandson's first words (uh-oh seems to be popular right now), to taste and smell the food which is also a gift and to touch the comfort around me.
The list is endless, but what I am most thankful for is the gift of 40 years of marriage to my hubby, to be enjoyed more deeply as the rest of time goes by.
I created my card to show how much our rescue dog has changed our lives in a good way. He always seems to know when we need an extra snuggle, and is so excited when we come home from a shopping trip or the show. The Ike's Art image is called Pooch with Leaf.
What are you thankful for?
Whatever it is, you can be thankful that Ike's World Challenge Blog offers the theme of Thanksgiving, where you can link your creative project and get your chance to win some awesome digital images.
Finally, thank you for visiting my blog today! Happy crafting!

Monday, November 28, 2016

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

It's time for my favorite type of challenge theme - Anything Goes - and the Outlawz Monday Greetings offers an Anything Goes challenge theme on the last Monday of every month. So today my Anything Goes card uses images from one of two sponsors for the week, Melonheadz
Melonheadz offers sets of cute and family-friendly images, like the one I used, Christmas Carolers. After choosing a photo I had taken from Chicago's last Snowmageddon, I placed all my little carolers facing my own house, along with their puppy, a friendly cardinal and, although my frame by Brooke Gazarek of PixelScrappers.com hides it, a holiday swag on my front tree. 
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I am in double-time, trying to get handmade gifts finished and my cards mailed out. I can't do anything with my house and decorations, as it is in demolition mode, but the contractors think it will be finished by Christmas. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Meanwhile, the second sponsor for this challenge is Robyn's Fetish,
whose lovely image, Cabin in the Woods, I used to create one more Christmas card. So, what will you create for the Anything Goes challenge at the Outlawz Greetings challenge? I'll be looking for your card or project this week, so don't forget to link it up, and say HI, Pat!! LOL
Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Ready for Some Christmas BINGO at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up

We're playing BINGO at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up this month!
Take a look at your BINGO card below and choose a line (up, down, across or diagonal). Then create with the elements in that line. Too much for you? This is an optional challenge, and it's always Anything Christmas Goes. BUT...
...if you want a chance at winning some awesome digital kits from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, you must create with the BINGO theme. That's right, crafty peeps, Lisa Decosse is sponsoring this month's challenge.
Here are the details of how and what you can win:


My card uses background paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Bokeh Multicolor Patterned Paper Set1 Mini Set, framed by A Grungy Christmas Purple Textured Paper. My sentiment is also from Lisa, her Holiday Hoopla Word Art Collection, framed with Frame 1 from the same set.
The image is from DeeDee's Digis' Happy Owlidays.
Do you believe? I believe you have until the last day of November to create following the BINGO theme for your chance to win prizes!

Happy Holidays from Scribbles Challenge Blog!

It's that time of the year, crafters! Time to get going (or finishing) that stash of Christmas cards. With that in mind, the new theme at Scribbles Challenge Blog is "Happy Holidays." Whether you celebrate St Nick's Day, St Lucy, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas or any other winter holiday, link up your card or project for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store!
For my card, I used a FREEBIE from the store called Ornaments. Of course, all my papers and embellishments came out of my stash. I colored my ornaments in non-traditional colors and adhered them to my card with dimensional tape.
Do you put up a Christmas tree? How do you decorate it if you do have one? Not only do I have the store-bought globes, but some very precious handmade ornaments, created by my mom, my grandma, me (as a kid and an adult) and the kids and grandkids. They give my tree history and character. Of course, I also pile on the lights and garlands to finish it off, with an angel on the very top to watch over us.
However you celebrate the holidays, have fun! And don't forget to link up your Holiday project at Scribbles Challenge Blog!

Lest We Forget...

The new challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog is Remembrance/Military Tribute. Did I ever mention I served in the US Army? It was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away (the mid-70's). I wanted to do something different, go places. learn skills I'd never learn at home, see the world. So, instead of heading off for college (which neither I nor my parents could afford) or finding a secretarial job, I up and joined the Army.
While serving my three year stint, I flew in an airplane for the first time, learned a trade, lived in California, and got to spend some time in Europe. I also met and married my husband of 40 years. While not involved in any wars or conflicts at that time, the government could choose to send me, my husband, and every other serviceman and woman anywhere they chose. We were ready to defend our country if needed.
Times have changed - while I may have been the first female mechanic to work on vehicles at my post, the VA hospital today has a whole wing for Women's Health. Nowadays both hubby and I rely on the Veteran's Administration for our medical needs. I see a lot of veterans from World War II through the most recent injuries in the Mideast. I feel very privileged to be among these true heroes of freedom.
So today I created a card to celebrate the differences made by women willing to put themselves out there as soldiers. Often people forget that there are female veterans as well as men. I just read a post on Facebook of a woman veteran who parked in a parking space reserved for veterans and got yelled at for parking there. Just like some disabilities are not obvious, not all veterans are male.
I am leaving my card in the lobby waiting room for any and all veterans. I want to show them how proud I am to be counted among them.
Image used: Ike's Art Army Female

Monday, November 7, 2016

Appreciation is the Theme at the Pth of Positivity Challenge Blog

November is a month in which Autumn is in full swing in the northern hemisphere, with cold winds briskly blowing the fallen leaves as if sweeping clean the sidewalks of summer's bounty. It is also the month to be aware of everything in your life, appreciating what you have, where it came from and how you can share your own bounty.
November is the month in which we delve deeply in thanksgiving, and what is appreciation without acknowledging it with gratitude and good deeds. In fact, William Arthur Ward said, "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
With that in mind, the Path of Positivity asks you to show us your cards and projects that follow the challenge theme of Appreciation. A simple thank you card, a holiday gift for a neighbor, something that shows you are aware of something or someone whom you appreciate.
I created a digital card to thank the many veterans who have served their country. I am a veteran myself, as is my husband, and our medical needs are met through the local VA Hospital. I will be printing up my card and leaving them everywhere for patients during November as a reminder that their time, their courage and their commitment is appreciated, no matter when or where or how they served.
I used two kits from Kitten Scraps, one of two sponsors this month. The kits are "Patriotic Kids" and "This Year Boy November Papers." 
Kitten Scraps (KS) 
Bio:
My name is Nathalie and I design under the name of Kitten Scraps. Check out her blog and Facebook page which offer layout ideas and the occasionally freebie. While you're there, stop by her store to check out the latest kits, CU items and SVG Files.

Our second generous sponsor is A Day for Daisies:
A Day for Daisies (ADFD)
Bio:  
A Day For Daisies provides themed categories of over 3000 digital illustrations and a fast growing line of new clear polymer stamp sets, including fairy tales and magical mermaids, cutie kids, vintage illustrations, sentiments and lovely designs for all occasions!
WEBSITE: www.adayfordaisies.com
BLOG: http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Day-For Daisies/142905905744876?ref=ts 
ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/adayfordaisies 

How will you show your appreciation this month? The Path of Positivity would love to see and hear what you create!

Use a Christmas Sentiment at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge This Week

Welcome to another opportunity to add to your Christmas card stash. The Outlawz Monday Greetings has a new challenge, asking crafter to create a card with a Christmas Sentiment. My card is a Clean And Simple (CAS) one, showcasing a sentiment stamp from Eureka Stamps, one of two sponsors this week.
The image is called Peace on Earth. After coloring the sentiment with Copics, I used Photoshop to finish off my card, then printed it before popping it onto cardstock. Digital resources include (from) Pixel Scrappers.com: Janet Scott, Sheila Reid, Pauline Thompson & Dream4ever Designs.
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The Outlawz Greetings is also being sponsored by The East Wind, whose image, Baby It's Cold Outside, is featured on my card below.

I created this card using the never-ending stash I seem to have built up over the years. I swear, I will continue to ruthlessly clean out my craft room and use up my stash! I have no business stepping into a craft store except for adhesives.
So, get ahead on your own Christmas card stash and get in line to win free digis from Eureka Stamps and the East Wind!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

It's Furry-thing Goes Today!

There is a purr-fectly fun challenge blog called "Show Us Your Pussies," which allows cat lovers to create with their favorite feline craftiness. Any type of project is welcomed, so I created this fun sign to hang on my daughter's door. She is the real kitty lover in our house, as my allergies cannot take any kind of cat (poor thing).
I created the background paper with resources from Pixel Scrappers Janet Scott (Kitty Illustrations 02, Ball of Yarn) Sheila Reid (Furry Friends Silly Kitty), and Marisa Lerin (Pet Illustration 15, Small Paw Print).
The framed quote was created using Ike's Art digital image "Kitty Love." The borders are from Pixel Scrapper Sharon Grant (It's a Girl Thing Border 1) and Amanda Brown (Reflections Flower) There are awesome digital elements and papers to be had at pixelscrapper.com, and it's free to join their community of scrapbookers.
Now for a treat, I am offering my visitors the Playful Kitty digital paper that I created. This free paper is 12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. Credits include Pixel Scrapper Janet Scott’s Kitty Illustrations 02, Ball of Yarn; Pixel Scrapper Sheila Reid’s Furry Friends Silly Kitty; Pixel Scrapper Marisa Lerin’s Pet Illustration 15, Small Paw Print. TOU, please credit me if you use it. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com  As always, leaving a little love is always appreciated. Thank you! (Just right click on the image first to get the best resolution, then right click and save to your computer)

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Fall Is Fabulous at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

The Fabulous Fall challenge over at Scribbles Designs challenge blog is at its midway point. Hoping to inspire you, I've created a -fold card using three images from Scribbles Designs. Two of them are freebies: Acorn & Leaf. Maple Leaf Doodle is available for purchase HERE.
My card sports three cut-outs on the first fold, which is where I placed my Copic-colored images. I decorated a simple sentiment with a couple more leaves after using a strip of twine to break up the colors of my cardstock papers.
I decorated the side face with a quote on friendship, and made sure there was a place for me to write a short note on the inside. I like making cards like this one, as it makes an awesome presentation when it sits open.
I'd love to see your take on Fabulous Fall at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis. Happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering:
Crafty Catz - Use diecuts or punches


Spooky Love at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Time to remind you of the newest challenge over at Ike's World Challenge blog. The theme this week is "Spooky Love." I created my card using a digi image from Ike's Art called Beauty and the Beast, sticking with Fall colors to celebrate in the new season in the northern hemisphere.
 I have some music to inspire you as you get inspired and create your own project for this theme. Don't forget to link up at Ike's world Challenge blog for your chance to win free digis!
Challenges I am Entering:
Cards 4 Galz - Fairy Tale/Fantasy (Beauty & the Beast)
Alphabet challenges - R is for Recipe (pearls, digi stamp, lace)