GPP Street Team

CRUSADE No. 30 ~ Winner!

 

That's right, you are all winners.  Taking the leap to share your own work, and your interpretation of the challenge deserves a group *high five*.  Thank you for coming here to show us your writing style, your use of words and text, and your journaling habits or experiments.  We had 60 entries this month which means we've broadened the circle of friends, and gotten to see lots of cool stuff.  What I love about these crusades is that so many artists come together to focus on one thing each month, making it a great learning experience for all of us.

I've made some executive decisions about the crusades:  I will no longer be selecting a name from the Top Hat.  Here's what I learned about myself - I was continually running behind in getting the gifts wrapped and sent.  If you've been a Top Hat Pick then you are nodding your head as you know I was never too swift in mailing out the gift offering.  (I only just mailed packages for the past three winners - THAT is really behind!)  So, in order to give myself a break and not always feel like a failure, I've chosen to end that part of the process. 

When I began this plan, of presenting creative challenges, I intended to use this platform to be a sales tool for my own rubber stamp line, and therefore the gift would be thanks for helping me promote my business.  That never happened, and the crusades took a different direction.  I have enjoyed creating challenges that get you to think about the artistic process instead of pushing my stamps.

I do all of this on my own - preparing and presenting the challenges, giving you a place to promote your own sites, offering tricks and techniques, community, encouragement, and monthly gifts.  It is alot of work!  I do enjoy it all, but it is time to eliminate the winner/gift part.  I know you'll understand and hope that doesn't change your interest in coming here to play.  Learning and participating is its own reward, right?

I'm still working on the next crusade since I was busy with visitors this week.  Stop back soon to see what I'm cooking up for No. 31.

CRUSADE No. 29 ~ Winner!

 

Congratulations to Lay Hoon, our friend from Malaysia.  She is the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 29!  Lay Hoon has played along in twelve crusades so I am thrilled her name was drawn from my trusty hat by my daughter.  She is an enthusiastic player and often posts more than once for each challenge.  This winner also reminds us that our community is global - we even made some new friends from Brazil this month.  Welcome to all new players!!

Bravo to all of you who came to play, and courageously shared your work so that we might all learn from your experiments with Brush Effects.  I could see lots of light-bulbs going off, and it was fun to see how you are using many of the tools and tricks we have discussed here.  I'm sure you've figured it out by now, I have been trying to break down my personal creative process into simple and separate steps for you to try.  Tomorrow I will offer another challenge that is one of those processes, so come back and check it out.  In the meantime pop over and congratulate Lay Hoon.

One more thing - it's been very heartwarming to see so many crusaders join in my fundraiser for fellow crusader Paula (her other blog is HERE.  Thank you.

CRUSADE No. 28 ~ Winner!

 

Wow!  Another great turn-out for the Portion Control Challenge!  Thanks to all of you who came to play, and for the terrific Team Spirit I've witnessed with generous and thoughtful comments.  You are all winners!  The Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 28 is Hanna Andersson.  She shared two blog entries this month, and has played along in nine crusades!  Congrats Hanna!

I am preparing the next prompt and will post it this week.  We just learned tomorrow is a "snow day" (we are in the middle of a big storm) so I may be sleeping in but will try to get organized and post soon.  *round of applause for everyone*

edit:  oops, missed an "s' in her last name.

CRUSADE No. 27 ~ Winner!

 

Top Hat Pick is Cath Sheard!  Cath made three entries for this challenge by exercising her talents with pears.  She has played along in nine crusades!  She is also one of the most dedicated players as she always leaves comments for other artists.  Congrats Cath!!

We had many players this month, including a handful of new ones - hats off to all of you for Shaping Up!  I hope that you had fun and started *seeing* more shapes in your world.  I've said this several times - when you try on a new shape it's like seeing with new eyes.  It's all about awareness.  When we narrow our focus we can actually widen our view!

Stop by Cath's place and give her a *high five*.  New crusade is in the works - check back for details this week (hopefully Monday).

CRUSADE No. 26 ~ Winner!

 

Happy New Year!  Thanks to all of you who participated this month, and this year!  The Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 26 is Julie Thornton from the UK!  Julie played in three crusades this month - quite an accomplishment at this busy time of year.  Bravo Julie!

I hope that you take the time to document your own scents not only for this season, but throughout the year.  You'll thank yourself in the years ahead, to be able to go back and capture memories through the tucked in fragrances. 

I'm pulling together the Crusade for January.  Check back (hopefully tomorrow).  As always, I appreciate that you come here, to share your artwork, your personal stories, and your encouraging comments.  Raising a glass *clink* to another year filled with creativity.

CRUSADE No. 25 - winner!

 

Yay!  We rocked this crusade!!  So many terrific showings of the properties of gesso!!  Thank you for jumping in and sharing your work to inspire us and leaving your comments to encourage us.  The Top Hat Pick for No. 25 is Kim Mailhot.  Kim, who is listed in the links as Kimbo too, has played in at least 6 crusades.  She's got alot of good stuff going on at her blog so be sure to drop by - and see what she's got rockin'.

You are all winners - you made time for art.  *High Fives All Around*.  Let's keep up the momentum.  Journal page challenge ahead.  I'll be posting tomorrow.  Today Kim gets the spotlight.  Congrats girl!  Gift package on it's way soon.  (Ingrid - I didn't forget you, just fell behind with Thanksgiving company.) 

CRUSADE No. 24 - Winner!

 

I'm late!  Top Hat Pick of Crusade No. 24 is Ingrid Dijkers!  Congrats to Ingrid who has played in at least 7 challenges.  Please stop by her blog and see all the cool things she does.  I LOVE her journaling style and I know you will too. 

Thank you to everyone who participated this month.  I know it wasn't an easy prompt so I appreciate all of you who took it on and shared the journey with the team.  I know your thoughtful posts will encourage more to give Final Wishes some consideration.

I am not ready to post the next Crusade but I'll have it ready later in the week.  I was asked to host an in-service workshop for my school district and I'm still prepping for it - it's on Wednesday.  I'm thrilled to be an advocate for visual journaling, especially to the art teachers in our schools!  See you in a few days, and congrats Ingrid!

Crusade No. 23 ~ WINNER!

 

I reached into the Top Hat and this months pick is Kathryn Antyr.  Congrats Kathryn!!  I just looked through the past crusades and find it amazing that she has only participated in the last three crusades - must be because she has shared more than once on two of them.  I feel like I have known her longer than four months which is probably how you feel too as she is not only a generous sharer but she is a great commentor too.  Happy to know you Kathryn. 

Thanks to all of you who played this month and congrats for participating in the grand clean up.  If you're like me it's a work-in-progess.  I'm still clearing the slate of deadlines and I'm still trying to make some headway in the organization of supplies.   But I'm doing it.

I'm writing the crusade for October and will post it tomorrow.  In the meantime, stop over at Kathryn's site and *high five* her for winning, and see what she's doing with Soul Journaling! 

Crusade No. 22 ~ Winner!

 

Congrats to Julie from the Land of Lost Luggage.  She's the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 22 ~ Pay It Forward.  Julie has been a crusader for the last 7 challenges so I'm sure you have all been to her blog.  She's a fab talent, a great sharer, and a generous commentor.   A little prize package will be on the way to you soon Julie, thanks for playing and always expressing your team spirit.

Thanks to all of you who played this month - we have read about kindnesses both recieved and given, and in turn have gotten to know you better.  You made us think.  You made us grateful.  You made us nod as we agreed that we could do something similar or were inspired to jot down notes of things we can do, and will do.  I love these insurance ads (click on tv) as they are simple reminders that it's within us to Pay It Forward, no matter how small.  I know that even if you didn't play this month, that you are thinking about it, and doing it. 

Next crusade goes up tomorrow.  Pop over and drop Julie a comment to congratulate her today.

CRUSADE No. 21 ~ Winner!

 

Slowly getting back in the swing.  While I was away I was totally unplugged - like zero access to my sites and email.  And the dates of our vacation changed so I'm really trying to get my bearings here.  I think I have finally caught up and have added all the participating links for Crusade No. 21.  I pulled a player from the Top Hat this morning, so please help me in congratulating Jeri Ann!  She has been a crusader for 5 (or is it 6?) challenges.  She's always an enthusiastic player and shares both her own work and her heartfelt and encouraging comments too.  Thanks and congrats JeriAnn!!

I will prepare the next crusade for August and will get it posted this weekend.  Thanks to all of you who came by to check in on me and offered your condolences for my sister.  We are all about making connections here - so I appreciate having heard from so many of the friends made here.  xoxo