Challenge #8: Optional Theme--Snow People

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Before we get on with today's challenge, Monica and I just wanted to say thanks to those people who applied for our design team.  We've made our decision and letters have been sent out to all the applicants.  We'll be introducing our new members soon so stay tuned for that welcome post.

Now as far as the last challenge went, we had just under 70 cards linked up with 12 of those entries also qualifying for the Optional Theme. It was wonderful to see so many cards.  Our biggest haul yet!  Right now though, it is time to get August'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 #8.

Challenge #8

Optional Theme:  Snow People

  “Snowmen fall from heaven, one flake at a time.”  ~Author Unknown

 Another month has passed and we are one month closer to the big day.  In North America and other places around the world, soon the leaves will start changing and after that we will begin to see signs of winter. As children, we always looked forward to that first flake of snow and of course our first snowman. Now, we still have a few more months to wait for real snowmen, but that doesn't stop us from showcasing them on a card right now.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that there is a snow person 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 2 digital stamps from The Stamping Boutique (3 if your card features a stamp from The Stamping Boutique).

Talking about The Stamping Boutique, how about we get to know them a little bit better...

Thank you so much for having us as your sponsor. We at TSB are very proud to offer original digital images and artwork to you. Thank you for giving us a few minutes of your valuable time to look over the store at http://thestampingboutique.com/ Good luck in the challenge and we hope to see you over at our TSB Community network. http://thestampingboutique.ning.com/
 

Thanks so much! Tracey Malnofski

Store Link: thestampingboutique.com
Challenge Blog: thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.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 Stamping Boutique store where each of these images can be found.

#525 Snowman-Bring it on!!!

#89 Snowfriends

#498 Happy, Happy Snowman

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

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of August 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 a holiday weekend in Canada, 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.  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 August!  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 soon when we'll publish the names of the people who earned the free paper for July along with the winners and top picks from Challenge #7.  Normally this post would go out on the 8th but it will probably be a few days late this month.
• Next, be sure to join us on August 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then on August 23rd, Monica will be back to share another holiday tradition with you all.
•  We'll be introducing our new team members sometime this month as well.
• 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), August 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), August 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 Snow People (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of  2 digital stamps from The Stamping Boutique (3 if your card features a stamp from The Stamping Boutique).  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 (#8) will be announced on September 8th in a special post.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:

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