Time to Meet Our New Team Members

Hello everyone.  Tomorrow our March challenge starts but first I wanted you all to meet the newest Design Team Members of The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  First up though I must share that Sharon will be leaving us.  The March challenge will be her last one.  Sharon has been a wonderful asset to this team and she will definitely be missed!  Please join me in wishing Sharon all the best as she moves on to new adventures in her crafting life!

Now, as many of you know we recently had a DT Call and we were very lucky that a few inspiring individuals heard our call and tried out for the team.  So it is with great pleasure that I get to introduce you to five wonderful ladies.  As everyone on this team, these newbies are very talented and all uniquely different.  Let's get to know them a bit, shall we?

 Joining the The Sleigh Belles we have...

Mother of 3 kids (2 boys and a girl) and married to my best friend for 39 years. I've been making cards since 2007. My mother inspired me. She never made her own cards but she sent cards to everyone for every occasion. After she passed away a friend introduced me to stamping and the rest is history. I love stamping but I also love using digital stamps. I also crochet and do cross stitch. I hope to retire from my job at Indiana University some time this year. My bucket list is full of crafty things I'd like to try. I want to learn to knit and do quilling among other things.

 My name is Sheena and I have been with my partner John for 17 years. We also have a 15 year old daughter Breanna who is not only growing up too fast but is my whole world. The other member of our family is a crazy Jack Russell Terror named Smudge. As long as I can remember I have always been arty, at school I was always getting top marks but instead of going on to college I entered the workforce instead. When my full time job turned part time I needed something to fill the gap in my days and that is where crafting came in, that was well over over 8 years ago now. I started off with card kits but found them too limiting, I then moved onto CDs and stamping. I then discovered the unlimited possibilities of digital stamps and here we are. I'm very passionate about what I do and I hope that shows in my work. If you would like to see more of my work please head over to my blog at Cards by Sheena

 

Joining the The Merry Maidens we have...

Hi my name is Christine Garner and I am 50 years old.  I have been making cards for several years now.  I use Spectrum Noir Markers and Pencils on my images.  I love doing all kinds of paper projects, including fancy folds and 3Dprojects.  I have been married for 24 years to a wonderful man that encourages me on my crafty things.  I have a son and daughter that are seniors this year yahoo!!!  We have two Guinea Pigs  Coffee and Buttons.  We also have a four legged fur baby Jack.  Looking forward seeing your wonderful creations.

 

 

My name is Janet Hines and I've been a crafter from the year dot. I'm married to a great guy who doesn't mind all my craft stash around the house. Over the years I've had a go at most types of crafting, knitting, crochet, glass Painting, jewellery making to name but a few. But I love making card and getting messy with inky and altered things too. I hope I can bring you some good inspirational ideas but joining the talented ladies here.

I am 70 and live in Sydney, Australia with my husband Tony.  I have two daughters and four granddaughters.  My granddaughters and all their friends call me Granmargaret.  I was made redundant at work at the end of January 2013 so after working for 53 years so I am now retired.

I started stamping and making cards in 1995 and started scrapbooking about 1999 and making ATCs in 2005.  I am still a cute stamper and make simple cards.  My favourite colours are purples and pinks. I started my blog in April 2012 with the help of cyber friends and started joining challenges to give me ideas for my cards and then was happy to be invited to join some design teams.  I have lots of rubber and clear stamps but use mostly digital stamps now as they are easier on my sore hands.

I am group Mum on some yahoo stamping groups.  I suffer from fibromyalgia and arthritis and have eye problems so spend my days making cards, a little scrapbooking and talking to my cyber friends on the internet.  This helps take my mind off the pain.

I have made many more cyber friends since starting my blog.  My eldest daughter Lynda and I are cancer survivors and we thank God for every day and for all our friends who pray for us.  I was excited to be invited to be on the design team for 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.

Please join us in welcoming Donna, Sheena, Christine, Janet and Margaret to the team. You will get to see Donna's and Sheena's first creations tomorrow and then Christine, Janet and Margaret's in a couple week's time.  To visit any of our new teammies beforehand, just click on their names above.

Well, that is it for now folks.  I hope that you will join us again tomorrow evening to find out what the optional theme of Challenge #15 will be.

See you all again soon!

Holiday Time Recipes - Victoria Brittle

Hello all.  I am back this month to share with you a family recipe that is delicious to eat and a tradition in our household.

I am NOT a candy maker, and truth be told, I still have not mastered this recipe. While the ingredients are simple, in order for brittle to come out perfectly, the temperature of the candy must be just right. I highly recommend a candy thermometer if this is the first time making brittle.

Ingredients
You will need:

• 1 C blanched almonds, toasted and chopped finely
• 1 C butter
• 2 C sugar
• 1/2 C unblanched almonds
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 12 ounces milk chocolate

Instructions

• Prepare almonds and set aside
• Melt butter n 2 quart saucepan.
• Add sugar and unblanched almonds and cook over medium heat stirring constantly with wooden spoon.
• Cook until sugar has carmelized (approx 15 minutes)
• Add vanilla and turn out immediately onto a buttered 9 x 14 inch baking sheet with 4 sides
• Distribute almonds evenly
• When cold, spread thinly with melted chocolate and sprinkle with chopped almonds
• When chocolate has hardened, break into pieces

The trick is NOT to under cook or over cook! But once you master this, it will easily become a family favorite!

Enjoy!

Challenge #14 Midway: Optional Theme--Winter Wonderland

Hello everyone!  We have reached the midway point of Challenge #14.  Apologies that I still haven't managed to get the winner announcement post out yet.  I was feeling better but now another of my medical conditions has flared up--I'm getting rather annoyed with these conditions affecting my computer and crafting time!  Hopefully, I will be able to get the winner announcement done sometime this week--fingers crossed anyway.

Right now, it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out the fun snowy images that the team worked with this month for the midway of the challenge.  Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their spot in the Scribbles Designs store.

#895 Snowflake Mason Jar

 #871 Let It Snowmen

 874 Snow Fun

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

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of February 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.   Marji loved these images so much, she ended up using all three!  We showed you one at the start of the challenge and this post will feature two others.  Additionally, one of our newbies, Granmargaret (who'll be properly introduced soon), decided to participate in this challenge too.  Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all 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 February.  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:  Winter Wonderland

Soon spring will be upon us in North America and other parts of the world, but for right now snow still covers most of the ground around us.  Let's capture this winter wonderland on our cards this month.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card has some snow on it in some form or other.  Snow, snowmen, or snowflakes, it is completely 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 a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

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 #14 by clicking HERE.

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

• Be sure to join us on February 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 March 1st.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #14 will be posted on March 8th.
• 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!

Delay--Winner Announcement

I am afraid that there is going to be a delay in posting the winner announcement for the last challenge.  I've been under the weather these past few days and just haven't been able to put it together.  I will get to it as soon as I possibly can!

Challenge #14: Optional Theme--Winter Wonderland

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  It is a brand new month and time for our next challenge to get 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 #14.

Challenge #14

Optional Theme:  Winter Wonderland

Soon spring will be upon us in North America and other parts of the world, but for right now snow still covers most of the ground around us.  Let's capture this winter wonderland on our cards this month.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card has some snow on it in some form or other.  Snow, snowmen, or snowflakes, it is completely 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 a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

Talking about Scribbles Designs, how about we get to know them a little bit better...

Looking for a unique image or sentiment? Well then! Head on over to Scribbles Designs and check out Sandy's world of her funky imagination and quirky characters. Sandy has loved art, drawing, water coloring and doodling for many years... and with the digital image world she can now share it with all of you. Brrr (Penguin) was her first main character and her other quirky images followed not long after. We hope you enjoy the endearing images available in the store and add Sandy's images to your digital stamp collections.

Click HERE to head to the store and HERE to check out the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.  

Check out the cute and quirky 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 spot in the Scribbles Designs store.

#895 Snowflake Mason Jar

 #871 Let It Snowmen

 874 Snow Fun

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

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of February 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 Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you.   Marji from the Merry Maidens had some time to make a couple extra cards this month so we're showcasing one of them at the start.  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 February!  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 February 8th, when we'll publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #13.  
• Be sure to join us again on February 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then on February 23rd, Monica will be here to share a Christmas recipe with you all.
• Pat will also be here this month to share a Holiday Tradition.
• 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), February 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), February 29th, 2016.  
• 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.  HOWEVER, if you decide to follow the optional theme of a Winter Wonderland (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of  a $10 gift certificate to the Scribbles Designs store.  You must add 'FT' after you name so we know which cards to add to the random draw for the sponsor's prize.
• 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. Generic blog links will be disabled or deleted. 
• The winners and top picks for this challenge (#14) will be announced on March 8th in a special post.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:

An InLinkz Link-up