Challenge #23 Midway: Optional Theme...B*I*N*G*O

Hello there everyone! Man, can you believe that we're halfway through November already?! I swear I just got this challenge going just a few days ago.  I also swear that the closer we get to Christmas, the more time speeds up!!!

Right now, it is time to get on with the midway for Challenge #23. Before we get started though, I wanted to remind you all that we have a DT Call going on right now. You can find the link at the top of the right sidebar or you can click HERE to head there now. However, be sure to come back to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles--my personal label--as I'm sponsoring this month's challenge!

Team members worked with a number of different sentiments and papers. Other than the Yuletide Textures paper set, which is this month's paper set and can be seen a bit farther down, below you will find the previews for the different sets they've worked with. I've linked those sets that are available for sale to their respective store locations. If a set isn't currently in a store, I've merely linked it to the design previews page of my personal blog. If you are interested in purchasing a set that isn't currently available for sale, just let me know and I'll get it uploaded. Also, please note that any digi images used on Pat and Granmargaret's cards are from other artists. Please check out the DT Member's post for further details.

The 'Believe' sentiment used on Suze's card

is a freebie on my personal blog that you can find HERE. 

The 'Believe' sentiment used on Pat's card

is a freebie on my Path of Positivity Challenge blog 

that you can find HERE.

 
While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers and any of my other designs this time around, I did create a special set called Yuletide Textures.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of November 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 and my Co-coordinator Pat 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.

Bingo line followed:  Purple, Snow, Charm, Patterned Paper

Bingo line followed:  Star, Doily, Purple, Emboss, String

Bingo line followed:  Tree, Die Cut, Green, Star, Gift Box

Bingo line followed:  Green, Icicles, Pattern Paper, Twine, Sentiment

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 November. 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, along with other types of projects we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Challenge #23

Optional Theme: B*I*N*G*O

Did you play BINGO as a child? Maybe you still do. The fun thing about BINGO is that you can adapt it to play in different ways. For example, the game can be adapted for coming up with different ideas to add to your card or project. If you haven't played a BINGO challenge before it is a pretty easy concept to follow. Simply create a Christmas or other winter holiday themed card using any 5 items listed below in a row--across, down or diagonally, it is up to you. For example, you might choose to work with the items in the first row across--green, icicles, patterned paper, twine and a sentiment. Or maybe you'll choose to use all the items in the last row down under the 'I"--icicles, beads, ribbon, no patterned paper and a doily. We look forward to seeing the different combinations, you all come up with!

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor this month, be sure to follow one of the rows in the BINGO card featured below. Whichever row you chose, just please be sure to mention in your post the items you have chosen to use. Also, 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 EITHER the Holiday Hoopla Digital Scrapbooking Kit OR five different mini kits (of six papers each) from the Christmas and/or Winter section from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.

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 #23 by clicking HERE.

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

• Be sure to join us during the third week of November when Pat will hopefully be here to share a Christmas Tradition and/or recipe with you all.
• Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on December 1st.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #22 will hopefully be posted on December 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!

DT Call...Are you up for the challenge?

 Wow! Can you beilieve it?! The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge Blog is just a little over two years old!  The Link Up officially came on line in its new home here (its first year was on my personal blog) back in October of 2014.  At that time we ran a DT Call and then proceeded to introduce you all to our sponsors, and then our team, who joined us in December. The first actual Link Up began in January 2015 and we've had two other DT Calls since that time.

It has been another wonderful year thanks to our team members, our generous sponsors, and of course, YOU our players!  We appreciate those of you who have been with us from the start, those of you who play when you can, and those of you who are brand new to us this month!  Without all of you, this Link Up couldn't exist.

It also cannot exist without a team to inspire you all each month. While we haven't had a lot of turnover, we have had some, so it is time to add to our team once again!

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up has turned two and we are looking for a few more people to join our dynamic Design Team.

1. Do you currently have an active blog?
2. Do you love to create Christmas and other holiday cards?
3. Are you comfortable working with digital images, digital sentiments and digital papers?
4. Do you love to have fun and hang out with like-minded crafters (i.e., people who are easy-going, friendly, caring, open minded, supportive, etc.)?
5. Do you love to create for the sake of creating and to help inspire others?
6. Can you take good clean/clear pictures of your work?
7. Can you meet a deadline?

 If you answered yes to the above questions, then you should keep reading to find out what else you need to do in order to apply for a spot on The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Design Team. 

We’re looking for a few enthusiastic, dedicated, dependable, team-oriented, designers to join us.

Prior Design Team experience not required.

What do you need to do? 
First of all, you must have a blog that you keep current. 

 
Next, send us an email to serve as your DT Application.  It must include the following information:

1. Your name and blog address.
2. Why you think you’d be a good fit with The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.
3.  Let us know what your experience is working within a design team.  If you don’t have any DT experience, that is okay too!
4. Please attach three (3) different Christmas cards showcasing your talent (don’t worry, it doesn’t matter how new you are to card making).  These projects can be pre-existing cards.  However, we’d like one (1) of those cards to showcase you using digital papers since you will be using digital papers on ALL the cards you create as part of this team.  Additionally, at least one of the cards you choose to share with us needs to feature a digital image that you have coloured in yourself since you will be colouring in sponsor's images each month as well.  If you don't have any digi papers but want to give it a shot then you can grab a freebie HERE.  Additionally, you can find four other holiday themed papers HERE.  Please note that you can use digital papers the same way you use digital images--you can easily resize the paper and then print it out and cut it out to attach to your card base.  Using digital papers does not mean that we are expecting a digital card--although digital cards are welcome--in fact the majority of the cards the team makes are traditional type cards.
5. Any other relevant information you’d like to share.

What do you get?
We are NOT looking for people who are into design teams just to grab every digi they can; or, for people whose sole mission is to promote themselves.  If that is you, then I’m afraid you just won’t be a good fit with us.  HOWEVER, if you love to have fun, enjoy colouring digital images, are willing to work with digital papers, and want to help inspire your fellow Design Team members along with our readers, then this is the place for you!  And of course, each month you'll have the opportunity to work with sponsor's images and be given a selection of digital papers to work with. 

Other Details…

1. Terms are for six months long (with an option to extend if mutually agreeable).  Your first official card and post will be due in February or possibly January if we can get you set up in time.
2. You will be assigned to one of two teams--the Sleigh Belles, whose cards are showcased at the start of the challenge, or the Merry Maidens whose cards are showcased during the midway.  On average you will need to create 1 project a month. 
3. You may be asked to participate in special events, i.e. blog hops, etc. but these will be planned and discussed well in advance.
4. All group communication and file uploading will take place on a special blog for DT Members so you will need to become comfortable working within the Blogger environment.  It is a private group and only The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up DT members will have access to it. 

So, are you up for the challenge?  

If you are interested in becoming a member of our team AND can meet the obligations outlined above, please send us an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or by clicking HERE to bring the address up in your email program).  Please put "12 MoC DT Application" in the subject line.  Please submit your application by December 15th.  This will allow us time to get new members set up on the DT blog and them set up for their first official challenge in February or possibly January if there is enough time to do so.

For more information regarding how the link up began, please check out the Introductions tab at the top of the page. To find out more details on how the link up works, please check out the Challenge Details tab.

Please help to spread the word...

We would love it if you could please let your own readers know about the challenge by adding our DT Call Badge to your sidebar.

In closing, both Pat and I would just like to say, thank you so much for your interest in applying for our design team!  We look forward to hearing from you and seeing all of your creations! We can’t wait to see who will be joining our incredible group!

Challenge #21 Winner Announcement

It is time to announce the winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #21. Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

TRACY M.

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

Tracy, 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 #21 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 #21:

 MARYVONNE

CHEREMANE

LAURA

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Maryvonne, Cheremane and Laura, 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 August were mailed their paper earlier today. 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 eleven individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of SEPTEMBER, qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the birch trees paper which garnered 55% of the votes. I have included the watermark of it, below...

To all of you who linked up during September, 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 last couple months of 2016!!!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up. I am actually hoping to get them mailed as soon as this post is out. Won't that be a nice change! ;)

As always, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out a 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 Nature of Christmas Mini Kit is
(chosen by random.org)...

ANS GILBERT

Ans, 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 #21 PAPER KIT WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize.

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 "B*I*N*G*O". You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Also, be sure to join us during the fourth week of November, when Pat will hopefully be here to share some more holiday traditions or another recipe! We'll also be posting a DT Call in the next week or so and would love for you to apply if you are interested. 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 #23: Optional Theme...B*I*N*G*O

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. It is the first day of November and that means it is time for our next challenge to get started! Apologies to all of you and especially the Sleigh Belles for the lateness of this post. Unfortunately, I had a dental appt. earlier this afternoon and I just didn't have the chance to get this post ready yesterday.

However, I am here now so it is time to get on with the challenge. Here is what you need to know...

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 #23.

Challenge #23

Optional Theme: B*I*N*G*O

Did you play BINGO as a child? Maybe you still do. The fun thing about BINGO is that you can adapt it to play in different ways. For example, the game can be adapted for coming up with different ideas to add to your card or project. If you haven't played a BINGO challenge before it is a pretty easy concept to follow. Simply create a Christmas or other winter holiday themed card using any 5 items listed below in a row--across, down or diagonally, it is up to you. For example, you might choose to work with the items in the first row across--green, icicles, patterned paper, twine and a sentiment. Or maybe you'll choose to use all the items in the last row down under the 'I"--icicles, beads, ribbon, no patterned paper and a doily. We look forward to seeing the different combinations, you all come up with!

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor this month, be sure to follow one of the rows in the BINGO card featured below. Whichever row you chose, just please be sure to mention in your post the items you have chosen to use. Also, 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 EITHER the Holiday Hoopla Digital Scrapbooking Kit OR five different mini kits (of six papers each) from the Christmas and/or Winter section from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.

Now some of you may have recognized the name of the sponsor--Décosse's Dynamite Doodles. For those of you who don't know, Décosse's Dynamite Doodles is the label that I design under. I figured that it was high time I not only provide the alternate prizes but also the main prize for the challenge as well. And on that note, for those of you who are unfamiliar, it is time to learn a little bit more about my brand...

Are you interested in digital sentiments, papers and other embellishments? How about a badge made especially for your blog? If these are items you are interested in, you are going to want to check out Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.  My name is Lisa and with over 200+ posts of freebies to choose from, and new ones added often, I just might have what you are looking for. Along with the freebies I offer, I also create blog badges and digital kits for sale. Additionally, I have also been excited to have been able to sponsor a number of giveaways and challenges at other blogs.

So, if you have the time, come and take a look. There is always inspiration to be found among my many different features.  I'd love for you to pop by and visit me. I hope you have a blast!

Main Blog: http://decossesdynamitedoodles.blogspot.ca/                                     some designs can be purchased at: http://buyscribblesdesigns.blogspot.ca/                                           some sentiment sets along with a special Breast Cancer Awareness digi paper pack can be purchased at: http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/c331/DD_Doodles.html

Team members worked with a number of different sentiments and papers. Other than the Yuletide Textures paper set, which is this month's paper set and can be seen a bit farther down, below you will find the previews for the different sets they've worked with. I've linked those sets that are available for sale to their respective store locations. If a set isn't currently in a store, I've merely linked it to the design previews page of my personal blog. If you are interested in purchasing a set that isn't currently available for sale, just let me know and I'll get it uploaded. Also, please note that any digi images and the sentiment used on Susan's card are from other artists. Please check out the DT Member's post for further details.

 
While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers and any of my other designs this time around, I did create a special set called Yuletide Textures.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of November 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. The Bingo line they followed is included below their card. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

Bingo line followed:  Sentiment, Deer, Washi Tape, Blue, String

Bingo line followed: Green, Die cut, Tree, Gift box, Star

Bingo line followed: Star, No Patterned Paper, Free Space, Snowflakes, Sentiment

Bingo line followed: Star, No Patterned Paper, Free Space, Snowflakes, Sentiment

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for November! 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, Pat and I and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

• Join us on November 8th or 9th, when we hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #21. 
• Then, be sure to join us again on November 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then during the third week of November, Pat should be here to share a Christmas tradition and.or 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), November 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), November 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.
• Only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of EITHER the Holiday Hoopla Digital Scrapbooking Kit OR five different mini kits (of six papers each) from the Christmas and/or Winter section (winner's choice) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.
• 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