Challenge #4: Optional Theme--Colour Challenge

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  Once again we had just under 50 cards linked up in the last challenge with a few more people following the theme this time around too!  From a quick glance it appears that some participants actually qualified even though they didn't add the FT after their name. While we may catch some of them, it is always important to let us know whether you followed the theme so we can include you in the draw.

Well, now its time to get this month's challenge under way.  I can't believe that it is April!  It is incredible that we're through a quarter of the year already!  Unbelievable!!!

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 #4.

Challenge #4

Optional Theme:  Colour Challenge

Rich reds, glorious golds and lush greens.  These are just a few of the colours generally associated with Christmas.  However, you can also find, shades of pink, beautiful blues and royal purples during the holidays as well.  This month's challenge is all about colour.  However, instead of the typical colours one might see around the holidays, we want to see cards using non-traditional colours.

 

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card showcases at least THREE of the colours from the palette below.  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 $12.00 gift card from Sami Stamps.

http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/merry-christmas

Talking about Sami Stamps, how about we get to know them a little bit better...

Hello! I'm so happy to be here as a Sponsor for the 12 Months of Christmas! Sami Stamps provides a variety of high quality Digital Stamps in both JPEG and PNG formats. I hope you enjoy crafting with Sami Stamps images as much as I enjoy illustrating them!

If you're having fun here, please feel free to come check us out!

Click HERE to go to the Main Blog, click HERE to go to the Blog Shop, and HERE to go to Sami's Etsy Shop.

Check out the sweet 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 the Christmas and Gifts page in the Sami Stamps store where each of these images can be found.

Holly Owl

 

Ornament Kitty

Mistletoe Kisses

 Christmas Gift Mermaid

 Whiskers in my Stocking

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

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of April 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 colour 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 might be a bit late switching out the polls this month so your patience is appreciated.)

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you.  I (Lisa) also had the chance to make a card for the start of the challenge.  Unfortunately, we have lost Sue for the time being.  Her printer has crashed and she won't be able to get a new one any time soon.  Sue will definitely be missed until her return.

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 April!  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 so Monica and I hope to see you back with us soon!

• Join us on April 8th when we'll publish the names of the people who earned the free paper for February along with the winners and top picks from Challenge #3.
• Next, be sure to join us on April 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then on April 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), April 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), April 30th, 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 Colour Challenge (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's $12.00 gift certificate from Sami Stamps.  You must add 'FT' after you name so we know which cards to add to the random draw for the sponsor's prize.
• The winners and top picks for Challenge #4 will be announced on May 8th in a special post.
• 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.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

An InLinkz Link-up