Come Join The 12 Days of Christmas Quest

Hello everyone.  I hope that you have been enjoying the holidays thus far and have had some precious time spent with family and friends.

I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing my special 12 Days of Christmas Quest on my personal blog again this year, where you can 'play and win'.   Each day there is a simple task to do in order to earn a holiday themed paper.  If you enjoy working with digital papers, this would be a great way to add some new holiday themed ones to your collection; so, come on over and play if you have the time.  It started on Christmas day which is officially the first day of Christmas, and will run until Jan 5th.

Since this is a busy time of year for most people, anyone who participates will have plenty of time to complete the quest as I'll will accept answers up until January 12th, 2016.

If you are interested, you can find all the details for day one by clicking HERE to start from the beginning. Then for day two, click HERE, for day three click HERE and for day four click HERE.

Here are preview of the papers from the first four days...

Then there will be eight more to go over the course of the remaining days of Christmas.  The task for each day will be posted at 6:00 p.m. on my personal blog, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.   I hope you'll consider playing along.

 Don't forget...

• You have three more days to get your cards linked up for December if you haven't already done so.  You can find the details for Challenge #12, with the optional theme of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, by clicking HERE.  

• Be sure to join us again on January 1st for the first new challenge of the year! 

• We have a DT Call going on right now.  For all the details regarding how to apply, please click HERE. 

Just a few more days left in 2015.  I hope you are making the most of each and everyone of them!

Happy holidays all!

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Traditions: Eggnog

Well, it is a few days before Christmas and my last traditions post of the year. I hope that you have enjoyed some of the posts I have shared and perhaps learned along the way where some of our holiday traditions have come from.

Next year I will continue with a monthly post, but I thought it might be fun to share some holiday recipes, instead of traditions. So as a segway into that, I thought it might be fun for my last post to talk about the tradition of a drink that is associated with holiday celebrations... Eggnog!

While I enjoy the sweets of Christmas, one of the things that I look forward to every holiday is Eggnog. It is a frothy holiday drink made out of eggs, sugar, cream and typically sprinkled with some nutmeg.

Now some of you may be thinking...umm I think you forgot one of the main ingredients, but while many do spike their eggnog with Rum, it is not a required ingredient.

Eggnog came to the U.S colonies in the 18th century and originated as a wintertime drink. It is said that expensive liquors such as brandy and sherry were added to the drink to keep it from spoiling. This drink was not for the ordinary folk, but was shared among the British aristocracy before making it to the colonies.

When the drink made it to the colonies, the colonist substituted rum instead of the heavily taxed brandy or wine. The drink was first known as egg-n-grog as rum was referred to as grog and the bartenders served the drink in small wooden mugs called noggins.

So as you enjoy your holiday cheer this year, perhaps be light on the eggnog, not just for the alcoholic content, but for the added calories it packs as well. Some of these drinks are known to pack in upwards of 400 calories a glass.

To get you started on next years holiday recipes, I have found a fun recipe for eggnog courtesy of Allrecipes! Enjoy and happy holidays.

Amazingly Good Eggnog

• 4 Cups of Milk
• 5 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 12 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 2 1/2 cups light rum
• 4 cups light cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1. Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
2. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
3. Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

References:
Elizabeth Diaz. (2011). a brief history of eggnog. Available: http://time.com/3957265/history-of-eggnog/. Last accessed 12/22/2015.
Jolie Lee. (2014). Christmas traditions explained: The Eggnog.Available: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/12/22/christmas-traditions-explained-eggnog/19796657/. Last accessed 12/22/2015.


Image courtesy of:   https://pixabay.com/en/eggnog-cocktail-christmas-beverage-221043/

Challenge #12 Midway: Optional Theme--Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Hello everyone!  We have reached the midway point of Challenge #12.  Before we start though, it is time to say a few more goodbyes as this post marks the final contributions of Kemly Sc. and Julie.  Edwina is also leaving us officially as of this month but was unable to create a card due to health issues.  Along with Moni (who's final project was showcased at the start of the challenge),we are sadly losing a total of four members of our team.  Each of these ladies has done a magnificent job each month with their unique creations.  We have been so fortunate to have them along the journey with us this past year here on The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  Please join me in wishing ALL of these incredible women the best as each of them moves forward in life's adventures!

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 Rick St. dennis, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out the beautiful 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 their page in the Rick St. dennis stores where each of these images can be found.

Skating Santa

 

Cocoa and Cookies Santa

Santa Cookies

 
Sally Stardust

 .

Dancing Santa

 
Night Before Christmas

Christmas Couple

  

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Santa Claus is Coming to Town, based on the theme for this challenge. 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.

Now check out what the Merry Maidens came up with to inspire you.   I even had the time to whip one up for a change and Monica is here to share a card too.  Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards.

***Psst...if you can't find Santa in Julie or Kemly Sc.'s cards, look closely at the silhouette paper.  He is in the sleigh.***

 

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 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! 

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:  Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Santa will soon be here. Are you ready for him yet? To ensure you are not on the naughty list you should probably get all those last minute Christmas cards created and sent out. Since you have to make them anyway, why not create one according to our optional theme this month for your chance to win yourself some extra presents this Christmas.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, we want to see a Santa image somewhere on your card. Now we are looking to see the big old jolly guy himself, no Santa substitutes please (i.e. no Santa frogs, Santa mice, Santa children, 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 3 digital images from Rick St. dennis.

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 #12 by clicking HERE.

 Don't Forget...

• Be sure to join us on December 23rd, when Monica will be back to share the final holiday tradition of the year with you all.
• Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on January 1st.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #12 will be posted on January 8th along with the name of the winner for the special end of year goodies draw.
• There might even be some Christmas treats along the way!  You never know...
• 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 #11 Winners Announcement

 Before we start, don't forget we have a DT Call going on right now.  If you're interested, you can find all the details you need to apply by clicking HERE.

Hello everyone.  I'm popping in today to finally announce the winner and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #11 along with the list of individuals eligible to receive a free digital paper for November.  Are you one of those lucky peeps?!

Please note that there are still prizes and digital papers that have not been claimed from past months.  Were you a lucky past winner and may have missed it?  It might behoove you to check our Challenge Win Information page listed at the top of the blog (or you can click HERE to go there now but be sure to come back and check this post as well).

WIES

Wies, you are the winner of a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store, our guest sponsor for November (chosen by Mini Web Tool), based on all eligible participants (i.e., those entrants who followed the optional theme).

Wies,  please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click HERE to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #11 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize.  Please note that it may take me several days to get back to you (or weeks as we get closer to Christmas!).  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.  With so many wonderful entries to choose from, this was once again a difficult task for the design team.  We did however settle on three awesome creations.  So, without further ado, here are our Stocking Stuffers for Challenge #11:

GAIL L.

DESÍRE

 DONNA R.

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers!  Gail, Desíre, and Donna R., please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

Next up, it is time to share all the names of those people who linked up two cards in November which makes each of them eligible to receive the eleventh free digital paper of 2015.  Just one more to go this year!

A record breaking 54 people linked a total of 154 cards.  Only 33 of those individuals linked up a minimum of two cards each qualifying them to receive the digital paper from November. With 40% of the votes the choice was the pink glitter paper.   I have included the watermark of it, below.

So, the following people need to send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click  HERE to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC November Paper" to make arrangements to receive your free paper:

• Wies
• Valerija
• Ursula Uphof
• Suzanne R
• Steffi H.
• Repolainen
• Rainey's Craft Room
• Terrie (Paper Addict)
• Megan
• meg  
• Marie B.
• Margreet
• Margaret A.
• Lisa Lynn
• KT Fit Kitty
• Jennifer Greco
• Hazel
• Ginny B
• Gail L
• Eemeli
• Dorothy S
• Donna Rinckel
• Desire Fourie
• Denise's Patch
• Crafty Cards By Marg
• Crafting Vicky
• cheiro urgia
• CG
• Cathy(KraftyKoolKat)
• Carrie's Custom Cards
• Cards by Sheena
• aussie aNNie
• ArtCardBox

Welcome to Margreet, Jennifer Greco, Dorothy S, Marg, CG, aNNie, and ArtCardBox, all linking up two cards for the first time this month.  We also once again saw several new faces linking up just one card.  Hopefully these ladies, along with our other regulars who only linked up one card during November, will get the chance to link up two this month so they can earn the next free paper.  To all of you who linked up this past month, 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 throughout the year!!!

Now, as always, if you thought you had linked up two cards but don't find your name in the list above, just let me know and we'll sort things out. We will also add these names to the 'Challenge Win Information' page as soon as we get the chance, for anyone who doesn't see this post.  I ask that you be patient with waiting for me to send out your paper. I promise that I'll get to it as quick as I can.  As I mentioned in October, in the new year I will be implementing a new system and will be sending out the papers to everyone who earned them without you having to request it.  I am hoping that it will actually save both those of you who have earned the paper and myself some time.  For the remaining months of this year though, we'll stick out the old system.

Once again, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out the set of six papers to one lucky individual.  The papers are all made so why not have an extra prize!  Here is the watermark for the full set..

The winner of the Glitteratti Set 1 Mini Set of Papers is (chosen by random.org)...

STEFFI H.

So Steffi, instead of simply requesting your paper for November, instead please send me an email (address and link above), using the subject, "12MoC: Glitteratti Set 1" and I'll make arrangements for you to receive the full set of six papers.

Well folks, that is it for today.  While you are here, please be sure to check out the details for our current challenge going on now (if you haven't already), with the Optional Theme this month of being a "Sant Claus is Coming to Town".  You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Also, be sure to join us on December 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!  Then on December 23rd, Monica will be back to share the last of the holiday traditions for 2015 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!

Until next time,