Saying Goodbye is hard to do.

Hi Crafty friends,

Crafting has always been an outlet from my day job. As a technical consultant, I don't often get to use my creative side. I have been fortunate to be able to work at home and the amount of travel depends on projects I am assigned to.

Over the past two years I have had minimal travel and have been able to work primarily from my home office. More recently, the current project I am on has dictated more work with our clients, which means more travel on my part.  While I have tried to manage both my Design Team responsibilities as well as my professional responsibilities, it has become increasingly difficult.  I am slated to be on this project for another year, which will continue to require travel engagements.  

I have discussed this with Lisa and it is with a heavy heart that I have decided to step down as Co-Coordinator of this design team at the end of this month.  I felt it was not fair to continue on when I am not able to provide the time and commitment required to help with this team. 

I have enjoyed helping to bring this Design Team to life.  I especially want to thank Lisa for her understanding and the friendship we have built over the last couple of years. I think by stepping down, when I finally do have time to craft it will be more enjoyable, rather than stressful. I wish all of you the best of luck and I hope to see you around blogland!

Challenge #18 Midway: Optional Theme--Silver & Gold

Hello there folks!  Apologies that I'm running a bit late today.  I completely blanked on what the date was...oopsies.  However, I finally clued in so it is time to get on with the midway for Challenge #18.

As such, it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Lunagirl, our guest sponsor for this month!

Check out the lovely images that the team worked with this month for the midway of the challenge.   Clicking on the watermarks below will take you to their location in the store.

Angel Children Digital Collage Sheet

Christmas Minis 2 (1" Circles) Digital Collage Sheet

 Victorian Christmas Digital Collage Sheet

Christmas Angels Digital Collage Sheet

 

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called An Eclectic Christmas 1:  Silver & Gold.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of June 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.  As I mentioned during the start post, we are sadly saying goodbye to Helen H. as this is her last challenge with us; so, be sure to visit her and wish her well!  Christine, one of our Sleigh Belles, didn't get a chance to post at the start so she is joining us today, and finally, Marji loved the images so much she made a number of cards and is sharing two of her favourites with us here!  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 June.  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.

Challenge #18

Optional Theme:  Silver & Gold

"Silver and Gold means so much more when I see

Silver and Gold decorations on every Christmas tree."

These lyrics are from a song sung by Burl Ives that appears in one of my favourite Christmas shows, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".  Sam the snowman (Ives) sings the song after we meet Yukon Cornelius, an Arctic prospector searching for valuable minerals who meets Rudolph and Hermey while they are trying to avoid the Abominable Snowmonster.   Well, Yukon Cornelius isn't the only one who likes silver and gold.  There is just something about those two minerals together that can enrich any environment.  Silver and gold are especially beautiful during the Christmas season.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that you use a combination of BOTH silver AND gold somewhere on your card.  Whether you choose to use these colours in your image or your paper or choose to use silver or gold embellishments, 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 $15.00 gift card from Lunagirl.

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 #18 by clicking HERE.

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

• Be sure to join us next week when we will be here to share a Christmas recipe with you all.
• Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on July 1st.
• Pat will hopefully be back in July to share a tradition with all of you.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #17 will hopefully be posted on July 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!

Challenge #16 Winner Announcement

Before I start, I have a favour to ask.  At first glance this month, I didn't think anyone was going to be eligible for the prize as not one participant had added FT after their name when entering.  However, after glancing at the cards chosen for the top three and checking out the thumbnails, I came to realize that at least four people did in fact have a gift of some nature on their card.  I'd hate for anyone to miss out on the chance to win a prize from one of our amazing sponsors in the future; so, please remember to let us know if you have followed the theme.  It is as simple as adding FT after your name when entering.

Now, how about we get on with announcing the winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #16.  Are you one of those lucky peeps?!  Let's find out!

SUSAN

Susan, you are the winner of a $12.00 gift certificate from Sami Stamps, our guest sponsor for April (chosen by Mini Web Tool), based on all eligible participants (i.e., those entrants who followed the optional theme).  

  

Susan, 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 #16 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize.  Please note that it may take me several days to get back to you.  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, it is always such 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 #16:

MARTY

SUSAN

MONICA

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers!  Marty, Susan and Monica, 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.  All those who linked up two cards during the month of March were mailed their paper.  If you thought that you had linked two, but did not receive a free paper, please contact us and let us know and we'll look into it for you.

The five individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of APRIL, qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the paper with the red & silver snowflakes which garnered 100% of the votes.   I have included the watermark of it, below...

To all of you who linked up during April, 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 remainder of 2016!!!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up.  I hope to get them mailed by the 15th.  Your patience is appreciated.

As always, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out the set of six digital 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 Gifts Galore Mini Kit is 

(chosen by random.org)...

MARGARET

(from Em's Paperdaze)

Margaret, as you were one of the individuals who is eligible to receive a free paper this month, I'll simply send you out the full set, hopefully within this next week.  Thank you for your patience.

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 "Silver AND Gold".  You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Also, be sure to join us on June 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!  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,

Challenge #18: Optional Theme--Silver & Gold

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  It is the first day of June and that means it is time for our next challenge to get started!

Before I continue, I once again have some more team changes to share with you all.  First off the bad news.  Unfortunately, Helen H., one of our Merry Maidens has decided to leave.  You'll see Helen's last project during the midway.  Helen is another uniquely talented individual that will genuinely be missed on the team.  Helen joined us September of last year and it has been a joy to see her cards each month.  Helen's positive attitude and seriously talented skills will be greatly missed.

I do have some good news though.  Remember Julie O.?  Julie was part of our inaugural design team but regrettably had to leave due to an increase in hours and  responsibilities at her place of employment this past December, after having been with us for a full year.  Well, Julie missed being on the team and working on her Christmas card stash so much that she asked to come back.  Given that I didn't want to let her go in the first place, I jumped at the chance to bring her back home where she belonged.

So,  please join me in wishing...

• Helen H. nothing but good fortune as she moves on to new adventures in her crafting life!
• Julie O. a gigantic welcome back! This time around Julie will be part of the Sleigh Belles team.

Now it is time to get on with the new challenge...

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 #18.

Challenge #18

Optional Theme:  Silver & Gold

"Silver and Gold means so much more when I see

Silver and Gold decorations on every Christmas tree."

These lyrics are from a song sung by Burl Ives that appears in one of my favourite Christmas shows, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".  Sam the snowman (Ives) sings the song after we meet Yukon Cornelius, an Arctic prospector searching for valuable minerals who meets Rudolph and Hermey while they are trying to avoid the Abominable Snowmonster.   Well, Yukon Cornelius isn't the only one who likes silver and gold.  There is just something about those two minerals together that can enrich any environment.  Silver and gold are especially beautiful during the Christmas season.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that you use a combination of BOTH silver AND gold somewhere on your card.  Whether you choose to use these colours in your image or your paper or choose to use silver or gold embellishments, 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 $15.00 gift card from Lunagirl.

Speaking of Lunagirl, it is time to refresh ourselves with the details of this amazing returning sponsor...

My name is Karen, owner of Lunagirl Images. In 2004, after collecting vintage ephemera for most of my life, I started digitizing and restoring images and designing digital supplies for artists and crafters (my husband collected antique books and prints, so we had quite a house full!) We are proud to have been the first company to offer digital vintage image collections of this size and quality at prices affordable to the home crafter.

At Lunagirl.com (and in my etsy shop) I currently offer you several hundred unique digital collage sheets and dozens of themed craft CDs -- over 30,000 images so far! They are a great resource for card making, scrapbooking, jewelry making, and much more, easy to use, carefully researched and curated, all thoughtfully organized and lovingly cleaned up, ready to you to use in your projects. I love altering and embellishing these beautiful and fascinating images and seeing what my customers create with them.

In addition to digital art and design, I enjoy painting on wood, creating assemblage icons and shrines, reading history books, bellydancing, cooking, and sewing with my vintage Singer. I'm also blessed to be the mom of two teenaged boys.

If you're looking for something in particular in vintage style, feel free to email me at info@Lunagirl.com!

Main Blog:  http://www.LunagirlMoonbeams.com Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunagirl-Images Pinterest:    https://www.pinterest.com/lunagirlart/ Store:         http://www.lunagirl.com/ Etsy:          https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lunagirl

Check out the great images the team worked with for their projects for the beginning of this challenge. Clicking on the names of the images below will take you to their location in the store.

Christmas Minis 1 (1" Squares) Inchies Digital Collage Sheet

Jolly Old St Nick Digital Collage Sheet

Christmas Minis 2 (1" Circles) Digital Collage Sheet

Christmas Children Digital Collage Sheet

 
While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called An Eclectic Christmas 1:  Silver & Gold.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of June 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.   Julie was so excited to be back that she created two cards for the challenge 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 June!  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 and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

• Join us on June 8th, when we hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #16. 
• Then, be sure to join us again on June 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then during the third week of May, Monica should be here to share a Christmas recipe with us 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), June 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), June 30th, 2016.  
• If you wish to receive the free digi paper being offered up for this month, you need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards. 
• 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 Silver & Gold (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of a $15.00 gift card from Lunagirl.  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. Only permalinks are accepted.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:

An InLinkz Link-up