The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up: May 2017

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AND RECIPES - FUN WITH FOOD

Turning Everyday Food into Holiday Sensations

"Then he slunk to the ice box. He took the Whos' feast, he took the who pudding, he took the roast beast. He cleaned out that ice box as quick as a flash. Why, the Grinch even took their last can of Who hash." — from How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

I love trolling the book sales for holiday recipe books and magazines. Everything tastes better when it is sprinkled with holiday magic. Not only cookies and desserts, but breakfast lunch and dinner, too! A large part of the holidays involves food and get-togethers around the table. Why else would the Grinch bother stealing the holiday food out of the Who's refrigerator if he didn't think it was an important part of celebrating the holidays?

However, I am a lazy cook when it comes to whipping up something special for the holidays. I like celebrating, don't get me wrong. I just want to use plain old everyday food and turn it into that festive food everyone loves, especially the kids. And let's face it, there's always a little kid in each of us when it comes to the holidays.

A good compromise for my style of food and fun is to troll the book sales for holiday recipe books and magazines. I found some great ideas to make ordinary food turn into holiday fun, starting with Christmas morning:

From the McCormick website, I fell in love with these Christmas Tree Waffles. While you may use their “from-scratch” recipe, the food coloring can go into any waffle mix, as long as you have a circular waffle iron.

You can also create Christmas characters out of pancakes by adding any red or green fruits, spreads and sauces, like those pictured below.

For side dishes, I love to arrange veggies or fruit into holiday shapes, like this tray of watermelon slices. I've made veggie trays of green, red and yellow sweet pepper slices, which form the boughs of a Christmas Tree. Don't like to shape? Just arrange your veggies in rows of green and red! Easy to arrange and creates a wow factor. If you're serving a dip or sauce with your fruit or veggies, you can sprinkle red and green candies for fruits, and chopped scallions and red pepper for veggies, and you have instant holiday!

When it comes to dessert, I have two things that are my go-to foods: rice krispie treats and jello.

With rice krispie treats, there's a whole world of holiday "crafting" open to you. Shape them with your hands, use molds, color them, dip them, decorate them - I have done it all. Just be careful if you decided to color them. I always end up with red and green fingers!

Admit it, rice krispie treats are not just for kids! If there's a plate of assorted sweet treats in front of me and those crunchy goodies are on there, they're mine! And they are so easy to change into holiday goodies. And so easy to take along to a party, or give away to departing guests. Win-win!

As for Jello, I have made a seven-layer "cake" whose layers are colored with Jello, jigglers shaped with holiday cookie cutters and a Jello mold made with lime Jello and whole strawberries.

My favorite dessert presentation is to make Jello in clear glasses. Tip the glass while the Jello is chilling for a new slant on style. Add some whipped cream and a couple sprigs of mint or a strawberry for extra pizzazz.

When it comes to giving a party, whether for family, neighbors or your child's classroom, making the food as festive as the decorations and cards goes a long way toward being the ultimate hostess (or room mom).

We're all crafters here. Changing up your media from paper and ink to food stuffs and food coloring will be easy! Your art will go a long way toward putting everyone in the holiday spirit, including yourself!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Challenge #29 Midway: Optional Theme....Cute Christmas

It is the 15th of the month, and that means it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their sweet images from Mari Digis, our guest sponsor this month!

Clicking on any of the image names will take you

to their spot in the Mari Digis store.

A68-Feliz Natal 3

A67-Feliz Natal 2

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

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of May 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 below.

DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of May. Poll will be open until May 31st, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

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.

https://dianesfavouritecards.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.granmargaret.blogspot.com.au/

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 May. 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 (theme description created by Pat)...

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 #29

Optional Theme: Cute Christmas

What I love about Christmas Day is the endless squeals of delight and sighs of satisfaction. The day is filled with "awww. isn't that cute" as toddlers have more fun with unwrapping a present than the presents themselves. A child's innocent kiss of thanks for presents all around the room provide smiles all around, and the reactions of those receiving presents just melts my heart. There are so many cute elements of the holiday that we just can't resist offering an optional theme of Cute Christmas this month. Whether you create your cards with cute images or use a cute sentiment, this month's cards will bring smiles and sighs of pleasure to all.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your overall card can be described as cute (i.e. cute image, cute papers, cute embellishments, etc.). IMPORTANT: 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, have a chance to win a special mini kit of digi papers 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 the same three digis used by team members, provided by Mari Digis.

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 different 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 #29 by clicking HERE.

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

If I can pull it off, I'll try and get another winner announcement done.
Our new challenge will start on June 1st.
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!

Monday, May 08, 2017

Challenge #26 Winner Announcement

Hello to all our Christmas crafting friends! I'm popping in to announce the winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #26. While I'm still a couple behind, at least I'm getting the post out on its proper date and even time for a change! We had only 37 entries in our February challenge which is definitely down from the previous month. Hopefully, people will start getting into the swing of adding to their card stash and joining us in future months!

Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

MARIE B.

Marie, you are the winner of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor for February (chosen by miniwebtool.com based on all eligible entries).

Marie, 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 #26 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 #26:

MARGREET

ROSINA

DEBRA

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Margreet, Rosina and Debra, 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 January have previously been 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 11 individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of FEBRUARY, qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the Elves paper. It was actually tied with another paper so I had to flip a ruler (didn't have a coin) and the side assigned to the Elves came out on top! I have included the watermark of it, below...

Something interesting to note this month was that almost everyone who linked up during February, was eligible to receive the digi paper. While we may have had 37 entries, there were actually only a total of 13 people--only two of those people linking single cards. Things that make you say hmm....

To all of you who linked up during February, 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 as you work on your stash for 2017!!!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up. I'm hoping to get them sent by Thursday of this week.

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 A Cartoony Christmas Mini Kit is

CHRISTINE H.

(chosen by random.org)

Christine, as you were originally entitled to receiving the freebie as you entered three cards in February, I will instead send you the full set when I do the mailout for the individual paper.

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 "Cute Christmas". You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Please join us again on May 15th when the Merry Maidens will be here showcasing their cards for our current challenge. I'm also hopefully going to get the winner announcement for #27 done sooner rather than later if I can manage. Other special posts may be published throughout the month; so, 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,

Monday, May 01, 2017

Challenge #29: Optional Theme...Cute Christmas

Howdy Folks! Welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. It is the first day of May and that means it is time for our next challenge to get under way! The snow may be gone from most areas in the Northern hemisphere but that doesn't stop us from our quest to add to the Christmas and other December Holidays Card Pile!

Right now, it is time to get down to business. 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.
ALL entries adhering to our basic rules also have the opportunity to win a mini pack of digi papers each month as well.
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 #29. This month's theme description was created by Pat!

Challenge #29

Optional Theme: Cute Christmas

My name is Maria Emilia and I love to draw. I live in Goiânia, a busy City in Brazil. Now I provide some artwork for you, who are looking for beautiful pictures and even a little " fashions", suitable to their projects scrap and artistic creations! On digital stamps.

Store: http://maridigisstore2.blogspot.co.uk/
Main Blog: http://maridigischallenge.blogspot.com.br/

Check out the really cute images that the team worked with this month for the start of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image names will take you to their spot in the Mari Digis store.

A68-Feliz Natal 3

B63-A estrelinha

http://maridigisstore2.blogspot.ca/2015/11/b63-estrelinha.html

A67-Feliz Natal 2

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

1. Snowmen

This linky list is now closed.

Linky Tools | Linky Blog 2013

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles 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...

http://loosestitchesandunraveledthreads.blogspot.com/

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for May! Whether you choose to link up two Anything Goes themed cards simply to earn your free paper this month, link up one or more cards for your chance to win the mini kit of digi papers shown above, 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!

We hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #26 as soon as we can get to it. While it is normally scheduled for the 8th, these past few months it has been rather late. Sorry for any inconveniences this may cause anyone.
Then, be sure to join us again on May 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
Then during the third week of May, hopefully Pat will 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), May 1st until 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), May 31st, 2017. All times listed are in EST.
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 the same three digis used by team members, provided by Mari Digis. 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.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:
If you have any problems linking up, please be sure to leave a comment.

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge #29
Please link up your Anything Goes Christmas and/or December holiday themed CARDS with the optional theme of Cute Christmas, below. Be sure to add FT after your name if you followed the theme. Please see above for all the rules and details.