Challenge #25 Midway: Optional Theme...Out with the Old, In With the New

Oopsies. Looks like I have two apologies to make. First, I'm so sorry that I still haven't posted the winners for the last challenge. I can't believe how busy these first two weeks of January have been. I hope they are NOT an indication of what is to come or I'm never going to survive it. If it works out, I'll hopefully be posting the winner announcement later this week.

Secondly, I'm sorry that I'm a bit late in getting this midway published. Again, it has just been one of those days. Apologies especially to my Merry Maidens whose patience I am surely testing. Anyway, I'm finally able to get on with it so here we go...

It is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out the lovely 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 the appropriate sections within the digital stamp area of the Ike's Art store.

I Luv My Teddy from the Fleaz Navidad Set  (My Latest Designs section)

Ponies (Animals section)

A Christmas Wish  (My Latest Designs section)

Polynesian Girl--Yet to be uploaded to the store

Now normally I showcase a specific set of papers that I designed for the month. Sadly, I'm still no closer to getting them done. Given the theme of the challenge, the team members opted to use previous papers as part of their 'old'. I need to get my act together and have them ready by the winner announcement for this challenge. At least I have an idea of what to create, now it is just finding the time to implement it.

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of January will earn ONE digital paper.  The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn a full set of six papers.

 Now check out what the Merry Maidens 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.

New Item:

 Image used.

Old Item:  

The paper.

New Item:

 Image used.

Old Item:  

The paper.

New Item:

 Image and the embellishments used.

Old Item:  

The paper and the die used to cut the image.

New Item:

 Image used.

Old Item:  

The paper.

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 January. 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 #25

Optional Theme: 

Out with the Old, In With the New

Happy New Year! It was quite a year last year, wasn't it?! Lots of changes in the world and in our own lives. As we bid a fond farewell to one year and say hello to a new one, we thought that this challenge would be a good time to reflect that same kind of thinking in our projects.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, be sure to include on your card, something old and something new that you have just received in the last month. So dip into your stash AND grab one of your shiny new items or toys, or it could even be a new technique you're trying for the first time, and get busy creating. Please be sure to let us know what your new and old item(s) are.  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 certificate from Ike's Art.

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 #25 by clicking HERE.

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

• Hopefully this week I'll get a chance to post the winners from Challenge #23.
• Be sure to join us on January 23rd when Pat will be here to share a Christmas Tradition.
• Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on February 1st.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #24 will hopefully be posted sometime between February 8th & 10th.
• 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!