Challenge #7: Optional Theme--Holiday Traditions Ornament Exchange

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  It is incredible to believe that we have reached the end of our first six month term with the link up in its new home.  As such two of our DT have decided to move on.  So today we say goodbye to both Margaret G. and Kim R.  They were both wonderful DT members and while we are sad to see them go, we wish them only the best in all their new adventures.

If you missed our special announcement we are currently looking for new people to join our team.  Are you one of them?  If you are interested in finding out all the details (including the chance to earn a free digi paper), please check out the DT Call post by clicking HERE.

Now as far as the last challenge went, we had just over 50 cards linked up with 16 of those entries also qualifying for the Optional Theme. Unfortunately, one of the entries had to be disqualified as it showcased tags and not a card.  Remember, this is a cards only challenge to help get you avoid the panic of the holiday season.  Keeping that in mind, its time to get July's challenge under way.

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards) throughout the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.
• Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.
• Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow.  Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme, will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.
• Every holiday card you submit to the link up, earns you one chance to win a special digital Christmas kit that will be offered up after the year is complete.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #7.

Challenge #7

Optional Theme:  Holiday Traditions Ornament Exchange

Holidays are all about traditions. Getting together with family and friends for an ornament exchange is one many people celebrate. It's fun adding a new ornament to your Christmas tree each year, so lets add a new Christmas Card "with ornaments" this month.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that there is a Christmas ornament featured prominently somewhere on your card. Whether it is part of your image, part of your paper or just an embellishment, it is up to you. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.
 
Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of 3 digital stamps from Robyn’sFetish Digital Stamps.

Talking about Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps, how about we get to know them a little bit better...

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to award 3 digital stamps of the winner’s choice to the winner of this challenge.

Store Link:  http://robynsfetish.com/shop/
Challenge Blog:  http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com

Check out the great images that the team worked with this month for the start of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their page in the Robyn’sFetish Digital Stamps store where each of these images can be found.

Putting Up The Tree

A Bell For Christmas

Christmas Ornaments

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called It's Ornamental, based on the theme for this challenge.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of July will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll in the sidebar on the top right hand side. (Given that it is Canada Day today, I might be a bit late switching out the polls this month so your patience is appreciated.)

Now since we're in a bit of a transition with two members down, some of the team had the time to create a second card to help out.  Therefore below you will see projects from the Sleigh Belles along with two members of the Merry Maidens, Suze and Julie.  Check out what they came up with to inspire you.  I also had a chance to get my card done for the start of the month.  Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful creations...

So what are you waiting for?  It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for July!  Whether you choose to link up two Anything Goes themed cards simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you!

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

We have a packed month as usual; so, Monica and I hope to see you back with us soon!

• Join us on July 8th when we'll publish the names of the people who earned the free paper for June along with the winners and top picks from Challenge #6.
• Next, be sure to join us on July 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then on July 23rd, Monica will be back to share another holiday tradition with you all.
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month.  Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY
Each month we'll include a summary of details for the particular challenge taking place.  If you are new, please be sure to familiarize yourself with all the details and rules in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page.  Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), July 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), July 31st, 2015.  
• You need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards each month in order to qualify to receive that month's digital paper.
• This is NOT a progressive challenge.  You can jump in at any time.
• You can link up as many holiday themed cards as you want as long as each entry is with a new project.  No backlinking.  HOWEVER, if you decide to follow the optional theme of our Vintage Theme (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of three digital images from Robyn's Fetish.  You must add 'FT' after you name so we know which cards to add to the random draw for the sponsor's prize.
• Make sure when entering your project that you mention The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up in your post with a link back to this blog.
• Please remember to link directly to your blog post where we can see your creation, and not just the generic link to your blog. Generic blog links will be disabled or deleted. 
• The winners and top picks for this challenge (#7) will be announced on August 8th in a special post.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

An InLinkz Link-up