Challenge #24: Optional Theme...Welcome to the North Pole

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Wow! Can you believe it?! The big month is finally here! The month you have all been working extremely hard towards, in order to avoid year-end Christmas card panic. It is hard to believe that in just a few weeks Christmas will be upon us once again! How did you do this year with meeting your card quota? Me? I've nowhere near completed the number that I need; however, given the fact that our address book has been missing for over a year now, I don't really have many addresses to send them to even if I did get them made. Though I have a feeling, I'm going to be printing out a series of digital cards anyway.

Moving on....have you seen our DT Call yet? So far, we haven't had much response so hopefully there are a few people out there who might be able to join us. You can find all the details you need for applying by clicking HERE.

Right now though, as it is the first day of a new month, it is time for our next challenge to get started! Here is what you need to know...

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 #24.

Challenge #24

Optional Theme: Welcome to the North Pole

Welcome to the North Pole. On the left is the road that will take you to Santa's Workshop. Follow to the right and you'll find the Penguin Pavilion. Unfortunately, its Santa's busy season and with just 24 days until the big event, the elves are just too busy to take you on a tour. However, you are more than welcome to take a look around by yourself. Just be sure not to touch anything or you will end up on Santa's naughty list. Oh, and be sure to grab a cup of cocoa and a candy cane from Mrs Claus before you head back home.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, be sure to include an element that might be found in the North Pole (fantasy version of course). Examples include: elf type images, Santa, Mrs Claus, presents, toys, images that have a sign for the North Pole in them, penguins, reindeer, polar bears, etc.  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 a $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs.

Talking about Limited Runs, it is time to refresh ourselves with the details of this great  returning sponsor...

Limited Runs has a LARGE calorie free sweet shoppe filled with over 120 different cupcakes, something for almost every occasion. It's not all cupcakes there are tons of  Christmas, Halloween, Backgrounds, Fairies, Critters and More to see. The store has gone through a re-vamp with new digital stamps added in all the time so pop in an take a look around things. Everyone knows you can't enjoy a cupcake without a coffee so there is a place to even pick up a cuppa. There's always a little something for everyone to enjoy and grab the monthly freebie so you can sample before you buy and add to your collection.

Check out all the fabulous images that the Sleigh Belles got to work with this month for the start of the challenge. You'll get to see the images that the Merry Maidens worked with at the midway. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to the page they are located on in the Limited Runs store...

Santa Headshot (Christmas, section: 71-80)

Penguin Cupcake Set (Christmas, section: 21-30)

Igloo Penguin Cupcake (Christmas, section: 11-20)

Red Nosed Reindeer (Christmas, section: 71-80)

 
While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Welcome to the North Pole.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of December 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.

I'm also attempting something new here that might get more poll participation. I've built in a link up right here that allows you to 'like' a particular paper. I'm still going to keep the poll for now as I have no idea whether or not this will work.

DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of December. Poll will be open until December 31st, 11:59 p.m.

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for December! 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, Pat and I and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

• Join us on December 8th or 9th, when we hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #22. 
• Then, be sure to join us again on December 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then during the third week of December, Pat should be here to share a Christmas tradition and.or recipe with us 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), December 1st - 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), December 31st, 2016.  
• If you wish to receive the free digi paper being offered up for this month, you need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards. 
• This is NOT a progressive challenge. You can jump in at any time.
• Only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs.
• No backlinking.
• 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.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:

Okay so I'm trying a new link up. Only problem is that you can't see it in preview mode so I don't know if it is set up properly. If you have any problems linking up, please be sure to leave a comment.

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge #24
Please link up your Anything Goes Christmas and/or December holiday themed CARDS with the optional theme of Welcome to the North Pole, below. Be sure to add FT after your name if you followed the theme.  Please see above for all the rules and details.

Challenge #13 Midway: Optional Theme--Sketch Challenge

Hello everyone!  We have reached the midway point of Challenge #13.  Before we start though, I just wanted to mention that today is the final day for the DT Call.

Would you be a good fit with The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up?  Joining the team would allow you to get a great start working on your Christmas card stash for 2016 and if you like playing with digital papers you can add a minimum of six to your collection each month you are with us, plus at least one digi image each month from our fabulous sponsors.  At the end of a six month term you'd amass a minimum of 36 digi papers and six + images.  Stay a year and you earn double that--72 Christmas themed digi papers and 12 + images.  How's that for incentive?!   If you are interested, please click HERE for all the details.

And on that note, it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out the lovely images that the Merry Maidens got to work with this month for the mid point of the challenge.  Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to the section within the digital stamp area of the Ike's Art store where they can be found.

Kat Tree (Animals section)

Holly Fairy (My Latest Designs section)

Shelf Kat (Animals section)

 Holly (My Latest Designs section)

Santa Hunk (My Latest Designs section)

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Merry Mix 1.  Since it is a sketch challenge I decided on an eclectic set for this challenge. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of January 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.

Now check out what the Merry Maidens came up with to inspire you.   Pat even had the time to create two--one following the sketch and one not.  Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards.

Here is the extra one that Pat made using an image from Ike's Art, although this one doesn't follow the sketch.  Remember, to participate in the link up, your card needs to be Christmas or December Holiday themed, but you only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win the sponsor's prize.

So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for?   It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for January.  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! 

Here is a refresher of the details for this challenge...

Please remember that this is a CARDS ONLY link up.  While we've had some lovely tag entries in the past, we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Optional Theme:  Sketch Challenge

It is the start of a brand new year and the perfect time to have our very first Sketch Challenge.  I don't know about you, but when my mojo is waning, and sometimes even when it is not, I love to draw inspiration from a great sketch.  Monica has designed the awesome one you see above for this month's challenge.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, we want to see you use this sketch on your Christmas or other December holiday card.   Monica has provided the inspiration for the basis of your design, now you just have to run with it.  You can flip it on its head if you like but we must be able to see all the elements of the original sketch in your card in order to qualify for the prize.  If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw.
 

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 a $15 gift certificate to Ike's Art.

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab.  As this is a unique kind of link up where we have both an anything goes Christmas option and an optional theme to follow, be sure to read all the details and rules you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

You can find the Challenge Details Summary along with the link up for Challenge #13 by clicking HERE.

 Don't Forget...

• Be sure to join us on January 23rd when Monica will be here to share a Christmas recipe with you all.
• Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on February 1st.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #13 will be posted on February 8th.
• If you thought that you had linked up two cards in December to earn a free digi paper but still haven't received it, please contact us.  All papers have been mailed out to those who qualified.
• 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!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

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