Have you experienced.....

Hay girlfriend, you BETTER HAVE Alpena, Michigan on that coast to coast map!!!! So, in reading all this wonderful stuff, here is a challenge idea for next year: Do a layout on what the spirit of MOC means to you. Wouldn't that be awesome??????? HUGS HUGS HUGS!!!!!

 

Love you, dear Cynthia, and MOC, and the community here.
It's just amazing.
Going through the challenge threads and seeing the kindness and support, everyone reaching out to help each other...It's a beautiful thing.

 

At some point, in every single MOC, someone makes me CRY. This year, that someone is YOU. Thank you, dear Margaret. Those words and the feelings behind them are EVERYTHING. You all have heard my little "Cheers" mantra for TLP before but it always bears repeating. This should be a place where "everyone knows your name and they're always glad you came" just like the old show theme song said! I believe we can have a break from the difficulties of the world here, a respite where LOVE, caring and creativity are the guiding lights. Thank you so much to ALL OF YOU who hear that call and live it out in this community. It means more to me than you will ever know. I also see and hear how much it means to many of you. There's power in it, friends.

*cue the ugly cry*

 

It is magic. Alchemy. Turning scraps of life into art, turning challenges into belief. This is my third MOC and each time I come away with far more than I started with. I'm more, in a sense. More me, more set in my skin, more creative, more inspired.

 

I think the spirit of MOC is what makes this place so great. It extends beyond just the Month of January- I feel it year round! AND... I just have to say I did not love that challenge of yours- I believe I had to redo my layout a few times! lol! BUT the best thing about MOC is stepping outside of your normal box & challenging yourself. I love that- even if I get grumpy about it! lol! I have learned something new EVERY year & many times repeated those challenges that I didn't love at first, but came out with some of my favorite layouts!

 

This is my 3rd MOC and every time I hate to see it end! I really have to think on some of the challenges but always end up with something new I've learned. This year I've printed up the challenges each day (wish I'd have done that the last two years) that way I can remember and hopefully use them more. I go crazy in the shop every week when new things come out and there is always something I love! I remember your if wall could talk challenge and really had to think to come up with something but I did it! Love, Love, Love the Lily Pad!!

 

I loved that challenge, Cynthia! I still remember the page I made, too. It definitely was the first thing I thought of when I read the prompt.

How I've missed you all this past year!

 

This is my 2nd MOC and you know Cynthia (@MrsPeel) I can't scrap like you. I am not a great storyteller but I love the MOC - it is a great challenge to do so different styles and I learned a lot. There are so many suggestions that inspire me and I try to implement them. I do not always succeed as I would like, but I would like to complete the MOC this year, too. Thank you for all the hard work and thank you to all who have a look on my pages and leave a comment.

 

This year has been a wee bit different for me.
I can not think of a better place to spend all of January,than at the pad,-doing MOC -,looking at amazing work,-and feeling the flow of inspiration. (Not even Gastric flu could keep me away for long,lol)
So because I feel like that, and because this is the 6th time I am lucky enough to be around for MOC, I added an other challenge to my self ; do most challenges in PSE 15..(in stead of CraftArtist my preferred program ) Hmmm ....every challenge is a challenge within a challenge,they take ages to do,but I am having the time of my life,using brushes and styles, in a new way, before I only used Photoshop for the template challenges. So yes, the spirit of MOC is alive and kicking,and with every frustrated sign,there is a big grin of satisfaction when each challenge is done..
I loved your if walls could talk challenge btw. Loved the bucket list challenge this year too..

 

oh my, I do feel the spirit! like everyone else said here, the Lilypad is more than important to us, is a very friendly forum, full of talented ladies and always ready to help in any subject we may need!

about the MOC itself, this is my second year doing it, but I did visited some of the last year's challenges and used again on my pages. this year I'm behind 3 days, so I'm trying to catch up on the pages!

 

I hosted a lot of challenges at The Digichick, and was always amazed at the amazing variety of pages produced by a single set of instructions. Being on this side of it, I tend to hesitate a bit because I am a rule follower. I want to, and can, go outside the box, but sometimes I feel I am stretching the challenge too far. But it is so fun to take a set of instructions and run with it to create your very own vision. I am so struggling with a few of them though! (grid and WoW- I'm looking at you!) I will prevail though!

One really weird thing that I'm struggling with is the 12x12 size. I've been doing mainly PL pages, and to do just a few photos on one HUGE page for these challenges is stumping me! I have a hard time filling it up without it looking like my hard drive threw up! I did the 12 days of Christmas last year, and really loved the TN style and size. So I have tried to incorporate that into this year's MOC. Now I just need one of those TN templates that makes my page part of a book!

And yes, I love all the love in the galleries and community feeling! I haven't CT'd for a while and I miss the scrapping community so much!

 

I just love this forum! Makes me so want to meet some of you in person one day, I just know we’d all get along so well cause of the family feel we have here already.

 

Oh, @MrsPeel -- you always know how to get me in the feels. (I'm a poet & I didn't know it!)

I really enjoy participating in MOC in January to help with Christmas letdown but also to celebrate my birthday (the 26th) all month long! Having a focus for my pages is so helpful when otherwise I could stare at my photos or EHD all night and not get anything done.

I'm also the first to admit that I love to be petted & told I'm pretty... so getting two Froggy Favorites this month has been so special to me.

YOU are the magic, darling Cynthia.

 

YOU. This community. is why I love this place so much. Because everyone feels genuine & like they actually care about each other and worry about each other and encourage each other. MOC in particular this year has been AMAZING for me in getting out of a depression type slump & seeing all the GOOD here. It fills my heart to be here even though I often feel I'm woefully inadequate at expressing & sharing as I should.

This place is magic & safety & love. January with MOC just turns that dial on high so the feeling can stay all year.

I love everyone here at The Lilypad!!!!

 

I really can't add any more to everything that you have all said. I love this Happy, Creative, Safe & Loving place

 

Yes! This month has been especially fun. I've released all expectation of finishing anything. I'm in it to play and learn and make pretty pages. I have enjoyed every single challenge so far!

 

Megan, if you normally scrap in a different size (such as 8.5x11 or A4), you can still do that and have them upload to the gallery without them looking "wrong." Several people regularly scrap & upload these sizes, even ATCs, and they look fine. If you're interested and/or need help with this, just let me know, and I'll be happy to send you some info.

 

See, now I'm tearing up. The Pad always pushes my mushy buttons...lol. We're going to have to share a box of tissues! Love you lots, Laura. Thank you for being you and giving us this magical place. Your value in our lives is more than you'll ever know!

 

Just in case I forget on the 26th, have a Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

 

@MrsPeel You have that right Cynthia... From the very first MOC when I became more active and got over my shyness here in the community, I gained friendships here that are so wonderful.. we share our lives, and our art with.

I am so thrilled too that on occaision we will see where some of the members meet in real life (Like I had the opportunity in 2017 with you!!) It is a delight to share the meet and greets in person when photos are shared as many have over the years.

I love the challenges, I love too, that some of the techniques from precious challenges are also kept in the learning pad for future reference to review to use again.

The challenges for the MOC are to get us out of our comfort zone, and to expand our creativity. It is a fun exploration and what we gain from each challenge is wonderful. I remember the first MOC and seeing the "AJ" challenge and said , oh that is not my style, and while the AJ challenge challenged me, I came to love that mixed media/blending and the AJ style for really gets my creativity going and learning the PS program better.

The pad is a magical place... a place of learning, a place of love, a place of friendship. I am thankful to Laura, the designers and everyone who makes the Lily Pad and the community the best place to be

The MOC gets the juices flowing but it is Laura, the designers, the Pollys and the community that makes this place the best!!!

Hugs to all!!