Challenge #131: ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS with the Optional Twist…Cozy COCOA Christmas ☕🔥

Welcome Christmas Crafters! It is the first of the month and time for our new challenge! I hope that you and your families are happy and well!

 

Now, I realize that the last thing that many of you want to do is think about Christmas right now but it is never too early to get started on all the Christmas and other December Holiday cards you are going to need when December rolls around! I swear, the older I get, the faster time goes; so, we're going to need those Christmas cards sooner than we think!!! For those of you embarking on getting a start to your stash, we'd love to have you join us and add your cards to our Link Up for a chance to win some goodies! 

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I created it under the Introductions tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the Challenge Details tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog). For your convenience, a summary of the most important rules can be found in the right sidebar under the heading Basic Rules Summary.

Right now, it is time to get down to the business of our latest challenge. Here is what you need to know...

 

Challenge #131

  ANYTHING GOES with the 

Optional Twist: 

Cozy COCOA Christmas ☕🔥

 

Our theme, as always, is ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS (or in celebration of other December holidays). If you want to challenge yourself, you can follow our optional twist of featuring a CUP OF HOT COCOA on your creation.  Think a steaming mug of rich cocoa covered in whipped cream swirls, with marshmallows or chocolate chips blanketing your cup. You can pair your cup with yummy Christmas cookies or other sweet treats if you like. This twist is all about capturing the comfort of a tasty, warm drink on a cold winter day.

Keep in mind though, that you don't need to follow the twist to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win your choice of TWO Christmas or Winter themed mini kits of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles. Following the twist is simply for fun and to challenge yourself if you'd like. 

Here is a preview of February's paper for those adding TWO cards to this month's link up:

 

  

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

 

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for February! 

 

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

Please join us again on February 15th, for our midway post when the Merry Maidens will be here to share their awesome cards. If everything goes according to plan, another outstanding winner announcement will be posted soon. Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to follow us so you don't miss a thing!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:
Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), February 1st until 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), February 28th, 2026 (all times listed are in Eastern Time).  Please click the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page above for all the rules and details. Maximum 10 entries.

 

Challenge #130 Midway: ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS with the Optional Twist…SNOW People ☃️

Welcome back crafters! It is the 15th of the month and that means it is time for the midway of our current challenge. I hope that you and your families all continue to stay well in the various regions that you reside.

 

Right now, as we are halfway through the month of January, it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to! Clicking on the DT names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for both of these wonderful cards.

 

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. Below you will find 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, ornaments and other creative projects in the past, we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Challenge #130

  ANYTHING GOES with the 

Optional Twist: SNOW People ☃️

 

Our theme, as always, is ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS (or in celebration of other December holidays). If you want to challenge yourself, you can follow our optional twist of featuring one or more SNOW PERSONS on your creation. They can be cheerful helpers or playful troublemakers; classic and cozy or whimsical and unexpected! It is time to show that even the coldest of characters can bring the warmest of smiles.

Keep in mind though, that you don't need to follow the twist to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win your choice of TWO Christmas or Winter themed mini kits of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles. Following the twist is simply for fun and to challenge yourself if you'd like. 

Here is a preview of January's paper for those adding TWO cards to this month's link up:

 

 

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 different kind of link up where we have both an Anything Goes Christmas or other December Holiday option AND an optional twist 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). I have provided a summary of the most important rules in the right sidebar.

Click HERE to find the link up for
Challenge #130.

Don't Forget, if everything goes according to plan...

I'll hopefully be publishing another winner announcement sometime in the next 11 days. Then, please join us on February 1st when we'll be back with our newest link up! Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

 

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Challenge #130: ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS with the Optional Twist…SNOW People ☃️

 Welcome Christmas Crafters and Happy New Year! It is a brand new year and it is time for our very first link up of 2026 to get under way! I hope that you and your families are happy and well and that you had an enjoyable holiday season!

 

Now, I realize that the last thing that many of you want to do is think about Christmas right now but it is never too early to get started on all the Christmas and other December Holiday cards you are going to need when December rolls around! I swear, the older I get, the faster time goes; so, we're going to need those Christmas cards sooner than we think!!! Plus, if you start now, you won't have to do all that last minute rushing around come the end of the year. For those of you embarking on getting a start to your stash, we'd love to have you join us and add your cards to our Link Up for a chance to win some goodies! 

 

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I created it under the Introductions tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the Challenge Details tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog). For your convenience, a summary of the most important rules can be found in the right sidebar under the heading Basic Rules Summary.

Right now, it is time to get down to the business of our latest challenge. Here is what you need to know...

 

Challenge #130

  ANYTHING GOES with the 

Optional Twist: SNOW People ☃️

 

Our theme, as always, is ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS (or in celebration of other December holidays). If you want to challenge yourself, you can follow our optional twist of featuring one or more SNOW PERSONS on your creation. They can be cheerful helpers or playful troublemakers; classic and cozy or whimsical and unexpected! It is time to show that even the coldest of characters can bring the warmest of smiles.

Keep in mind though, that you don't need to follow the twist to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win your choice of TWO Christmas or Winter themed mini kits of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles. Following the twist is simply for fun and to challenge yourself if you'd like. 

Here is a preview of January's paper for those adding TWO cards to this month's link up:

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for January! 

 

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

Please join us again on January 20th, for our midway post when the Merry Maidens will be here to share their awesome cards. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be publishing another outstanding winner announcement before month's end. Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to follow us so you don't miss a thing!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:
Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), January 8th until 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), January 31st, 2026 (all times listed are in Eastern Time).  Please click the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page above for all the rules and details. Maximum 10 entries.

 

Merry Christmas!

Challenge #125 Winner Announcement (August)

Hello there to all our Christmas crafting friends!  I hope that you and your families continue to stay safe and healthy out there in your various locations in our world. Egad, I can't believe I'm still so far behind in the winner announcements. It doesn't help that my dad is currently in the hospital with a broken humerus and wrist and my mom is alone at home. We live quite a distance away from them so I've been spending a lot of extra time on the phone as a result! I did manage to get this announcement done and if luck is with me, I just might get another one done before the end of the year...but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it! 🫢

 

For now, here is the winner and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #125 (Anything Goes CHRISTMAS with the Opt. Twist of DIAMOND Shapes). August saw us with 36 entries added to our link up. Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

 

#21. ELLEN

 

Ellen, you are the winner of your choice of TWO Christmas or Winter themed mini kits of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles. (chosen by random.org based on all eligible entries).

Ellen, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (don't forget to replace {at} and {dot} with the appropriate symbols), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #125 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize. Please note that it may take me a while to get back to you so thank you for your patience. In the interim, please grab a copy of the winner badge below for your blog.

 

Next, it is time to get on with showcasing the top three. So, without further ado, here are the Stocking Stuffers for August:

#23. NELLEKE

 

 

#08. MEG

 

#33. ANNIE

 

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Nelleke, Meg and Annie, please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

 

Everyone who links up two cards each month is eligible to receive a free digital paper. Paper for July has now been sent out. If you were expecting one but haven't received it yet, please leave me a comment and I'll look into it for you.

The individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of AUGUST qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the Diamond Shapes Patterned Paper. I have included the preview of this paper below... 

 

 

To all of you who linked up during August, thanks ever so much! We are so happy to have all of you with us and hope that you'll continue to link up your holiday cards as you finish off your stockpile for 2025!!! Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up, as soon as I can manage!

 

Well folks, that is it for this one! If you haven't already, be sure to check out our current challenge going on now this month with the the twist "Anything Goes Christmas". There is still over a week left in the challenge, so you have time yet to enter. You can click HERE to find out all the details along with the link up.

 

Please join us again January 8th when we'll be back with the first link up of 2026!

Until then,

Challenge #129 Midway: ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS with the Optional Twist…Anything Goes Christmas!

Welcome back crafters! It is the middle of the month and that means there are still two weeks left in our current Link Up. Since the team is taking December off, there are no DT samples in this post.

For today, I am just popping in to remind you of the details of our current challenge. Here is what you need to know...

Challenge #129

  ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS

The Sleigh Belles and Merry Maidens have been working hard all year to get their Christmas cards created. As such, I gave the team the opportunity to take a much deserved break from having to post this month.

 

Our theme, as always, is ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS (or in celebration of other December holidays). We're not having an optional twist this month and strictly keeping it Anything Goes as long as it is still Christmas themed.

Link up two cards and earn a free paper each month or enter any card for a chance to win your choice of TWO Christmas or Winter themed mini kits of digital papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles. 

Here is a preview of December's paper for those adding two cards to this month's link up:

 

 

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 different kind of link up where we have both an Anything Goes Christmas or other December Holiday option AND an optional twist 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). I have provided a summary of the most important rules in the right sidebar.

Click HERE to find the link up for
Challenge #129.

Don't Forget, if everything goes according to plan...

I'll hopefully be publishing another winner announcement sometime in the next two weeks; though, I wouldn't hold your breath. My hope was to have another one done by now but with the holidays creeping up,  I'm not sure how likely it is that I'll get it accomplished before the end of the year.

 

We will be back in the new year with new challenges! PLEASE NOTE THAT our first link up for the year isn't scheduled until JANUARY 8TH. This will give the team and myself an extra week to enjoy the holidays. 

 

We fondly hope that you and your families have a blessed holiday!!! We will see you all again in 2026!

 

We look forward to seeing you participate!