Cherry Delivered With Extra Sprinkles

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Remember last week when I spotlighted Patsy's card (from Smookiedo) and she had been so surprised that her card had been chosen for a top three placing?  Then, remember what I said in my response:

I know I am not supposed to covet anything (sorry God) but in my heart of hearts, I so wish for the day when I make a top three or top five.  Heck I'd even be thrilled to make a top ten!  As I told Patsy in the comment I left congratulating her, anyone can win through a random generator but to have your card singled out and chosen to be part of the top tier?  Well, to me that is the cherry on top of the sundae.  Sure, there might not be a prize associated with top three but the sense of pride and accomplishment is such an enormous reward all in its own. 

Remember last Monday, in the Motivational Monday post when I talked about the concept of Think*Believe*Achieve.

Well the universe received the message because the cherry has been delivered--with extra sprinkles on top.

While skimming through the winners list over at Feline Playful on Saturday, I came across the name Lisa as a top five achiever over at Eclectic Ellapu.  I thought to myself, "Self, that couldn't possibly be us could it?".  So we I went looking and it wasn't us me.  I hadn't entered the challenge they were referring to.  However, it made me realize that I hadn't been over there to check on the winner for the challenge I did enter back at the beginning of January.  Actually it made me realize that I haven't checked on ANY of the challenges I entered with the card I created for my GDT spot with Love to Create.  I forget to bring that appointment forward in my calendar.

So, I figured I'd better scroll through and see who the winners were of the challenge I did enter.  After checking out the winning cards I glanced at the top five listing and lo and behold, the name Lisa D. was listed there in the second spot (order of entry) with a little number 15 sitting beside it.  So I thought to my self, "self, could that possibly be us they are talking about?".  In all our my travels of blogs and challenges we've I've seen a lot of Lisa's but never any other Lisa D.'s.    I proceeded to go back and find the challenge, skim through the list and what do you know?  My little card for the twins birthday was sitting front and present in the number 15 spot.  

So, after that was done I decided I better check on the other 26 challenges I entered that particular card into.  Would you believe I found my name in another top tier list?  This time it was over at Glitter 'n Sparkle and I made top three!  Top three!  Top three, hee hee!  This time it was even more of a surprise because it only listed my first name and not my initial so I really didn't get my hopes up when looking for entry number 51 but sure enough it was actually me.  Now have you noticed that the first number I placed with was 15 and now the second is 51.  Do, do, do, do--do, do, do, do (and if you don't know what that reference is to, check out Saturday's post).

I would like to thank the following people for making this happen...
First thanks to Joann who chose me to be the GDT for Love to Create's challenge # 47--winter wonderland.  Thanks to the sponsor QKR Stampede for the adorable image I got to use.  Thanks to the twins for needing a birthday card.  Thanks to Blair and Nicole for having the twins!  Especially thanks to my husband for all the love and support he is providing me in my new adventure.  Thanks to....oh, apparently I've run out of time for the rest of my thank you speech...moving on...

So, call me gobsmacked and covered in little red gemstones.  I got me that cherry on the top of the sundae.  You have no idea how THRILLED I am and of course I had to share my good news with all my bloggy friends.

See, some dreams do come true?  It's all about having the right attitude.  So, what are you dreaming of this week and what goals are you setting to achieve them?

Until next time,

Fonts Used:

• Shadowed Serif
• Jenna Sue  

Click the font names to take you to a download location.  These fonts are free for commercial use.

Please be sure to read the Angel policy found under the copyright info tab above.  Below is a quick summary of those Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation.  This specific image may be used on handmade items you intend to sell but please see angel policy for the specifics.
• 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.
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• 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.

Card Design: Love To Create Challenge #47

Isn't it funny that my first two DT gigs are both for blogs having their 47th challenge?  Things that make you say hmmmm......

I am super exicited to be a Guest Designer over at the Love to Create Challenge this week.  I was thrilled when Joann asked me if I'd be interested.  I had put in a request back towards the end of December.  While I wasn't sure I'd be asked at all, I certainly never thought it would be this soon!  However, it all worked out perfectly.  I had a birthday card to create for twin cousins celebrating their second birthday on Jan 4th, and with an adorable stamp from one of the sponsors, QKR Stampede, I was all set to go.

I encourage you to go over and enter this week's challenge where the theme is "Winter Wonderland".  

There are two fabulous prizes to be won this week from our two generous sponsors.

Here is the front of the card I've chosen to showcase...

Here is the inside...

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

• Digital stamp of the two little boys on the sled is from our sponsor QKR Stampede.  It is coloured using Copic(R) markers.  Sled:  C1, C3, C5 (runners); R22, R24, R29 (seat).  Boy 1:  B00, B02, B05 (jacket);B02, B05 (snow pants); Y13, Y15 and Y17 (scarf, mitts, hat).  Boy 2:  G00, G02, G05 (jacket); G02, G05 (snow pants); R20, R22, R24 (scarf, mitts, hat).  Common areas on boys:  C3, C5, C7 (boots); E000, E00, E02 (faces).
• The first part of the inside sentiment is one I created but the actual 'Happy Birthday' is also a digital stamp from QKR.  Both are printed onto Recollection's Cardstock White Paper.
•  Paper:  The card base is from a card set from my stash that I got at Dollarama(R) awhile back; the background blue and white with the snowflakes paper is from Recollection's Signature Collection called Festivus purchased at Michael's; the dark blue shimmery paper I used to back the image (ie. shadow) are Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.
• One of the challenges is 'new something' including using something new on your creation. My something new is the digi stamp which was acquired new specifically for this project.  The snowflakes are also pretty new, they were just bought towards the end of December; however, they may not be considered new enough to qualify. 
• One of the challenges is 'Old and New' meaning to use something old and something new on your entry.  So, as mentioned in the above point, my something new is the digi stamp and possibly the snowflakes (depending on your version of new).  The something old part is well basically everything else.  The dark blue shimmer paper is probably the oldest and was purchased several months ago. 

Challenges I will be entering the card into: 

• Make It Monday -- MIM #122:  Anything Goes (always)
• Challenges For Everybody --  Challenge #11:  Anything Goes 
• ATCs and Cards With Attitude -- Challenge 30:  Anything Goes/Celebrations
• Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude -- Challenge 30:  Anything Goes/Celebrations
• Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps -- Challenge 94:  Anything Goes 
• Paper Crafting Journey -- Anything Goes Challenge
• Word Art Wednesday -- Challenge #61 - Trust/Anything Goes   
• The Stamping Chef -- Challenge #1:  Celebrations
• Jen's Digi Stamps -- Challenge #1:  Celebrate
•  Papertake Weekly -- Anything Goes
• Stampin' for the Weekend -- Challenge 25:  Anything Goes 
• Simply Create Challenges -- Linky Party #16
• Simon Says Stamps Challenge -- Simon Says...New Something
• 613 Avenue Create -- Challenge #1:  Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges -- Challenge 48:  Anything Goes
• Eclectic Ellapu -- "Snow Much Fun" Challenge
• Gingerloft Challenge -- GL Christmas or Winter
• Glitter 'n Sparkle Challenge Blog -- Challenge #14:  Anything Goes
• Pan Pastel UK -- Challenge #1:  Anything Goes
• Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog -- Challenge #141:  Anything Goes
• Catch the Bug Blog -- January Anything Goes Challenge
• Broken Box Stock -- Winter Theme
• Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge -- Challenge #164:  Anything Goes
• QKR Stampede -- Challenge #20:  Anything Goes
• Joyful Stamper -- Inspire Me Fridays 90: Anything Goes
• Jellypark Challenges -- Old and New Challenge
• Without Words Challenge  -- Baby It's Cold Outside
  

There is the chance that I may add more to this list at a later time.

Well, I've survived my first post as a GDT member.  I hope I did the Love to Create Challenge Blog proud. 

I apologize if there are any formatting issues.  This is a scheduled post and we all know Blogger has a mind of it's own.  If it turns out that something looks wonky, I'll fix it as soon as I'm able to.

 Thanks so much for stopping by and please leave some love if you have the time.

Until next time,

Design Team Coup

Hello everyone!

I hope you are enjoying your holidays.  I wanted to share with all of you two more coups I've managed in the last couple weeks.

First of all, I am proud to announce that I will be designing for Tuesday Alchemy.  TA held a DT call a couple of weeks ago at the time that I entered one of my Christmas cards into their then current challenge.  It was actually the first time I had ever visited the site and thought 'what the heck, it never hurts to put my name forth'.  I figured the odds of having someone contact me were nil to zero.  Well, to my utter surprise, within four minutes of my adding my name to the DT call, Corrinne, the DT leader, let me know that, and check this out,  my "creations are perfectly lovely" and that I'd "be a fantastic addition to the team".  Well, call me gobsmacked and dipped in glitter!  I couldn't believe my luck and I am so thrilled to be part of this unique group of crafter's.  Of course, there is that doubting, lack of confidence part of me that wonders whether they just had so few people apply for the DT that they were hard up for warm bodies and forced to take on who ever came along.  Yeah, I know, I'm working on it.

The goal at Tuesday Alchemy is to inspire & challenge creativity along with promoting handmade artists & crafters.  I love this philosophy and am really happy to be part of the gang.  A new challenge is posted every two weeks on a Tuesday and the current challenge, ANYTHING GOES, is opened until Monday at 11:59 pm.  You can share whatever handmade art or craft project that you'd like and what I love about this challenge blog is that you can ALWAYS enter as many times as you want AND combine with other challenges.   Please go have a look.  There are some awesome prizes available from the current list of sponsors.  Now, while TA is the second DT that I have become a member of (Scribbles Designs Challenge is the first), it will in fact be the first team that I will be posting for as our very next TA challenge goes live on Tuesday, January 1, 2013.

Then just today, I found out that my request to be a guest design team member for the Love To Create Challenge Blog was also accepted.  Here as well, I figured the odds of being chosen were pretty low given the number of people applying for the position but I guess they liked what they saw too because I've been asked to design a card for their January 7th challenge.  So that is roughly five or six DT cards I'll be designing just for the month of January alone!

I'm really excited about all these opportunities opening up and I am so happy that all of you are around to share this journey with me during the coming year.  It is certain to be an interesting and busy year, that is for sure!  I hope you will all mark your calendars with these dates, come join in the fun and submit a project to each of these challenges.  I'll be sharing more information on the details of each challenge when I post the card I'll be showcasing.

Until next time,