We're ALL TIED UP at the 12 Months of Christmas

I just realized my post did not publish on the 1st as it should have, so I offer apologies and roll out my DT make with little to no fanfare. This month the optional theme at the 12 Months of Christmas is All Tied Up. Your card must have some form of wrapping ribbon, raffia, twine or bows - something that would keep presents from unwrapping themselves! LOL

My card sports a bow with a digi image from Limited Runs called Girl with Bunny Slippers.

Another way to incorporate the theme in your card is to use it in your embellishments or paper, like I did with the scenic paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles paper from her "North Pole" Patterned Paper mini kit.

I hand-colored my image, then popped it onto my digital paper with sentiment. My bow and other embellishments are from my stash of Christmas supplies leftover from last year.
However you interpret the theme, if you do so, your card will be in the draw for a $10 gift certificate to the Limited Runs Store.

The theme is optional, so if you don't want to create with the theme in mind, you still win one free digital paper as long as you link up a minimum of two cards to the challenge.

So what are you waiting for?! Christmas is right around the corner!! Let's get those cards done, and DON"T forget to link them to the 12 Months of Christmas Blog.

Happy Crafting!

Challenges I  am Entering:

Cutie Pie - Winter Layers

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

Animal Friends - Winter (must have animal)

Crafty Animals - Anything w/Animals Goes

Digi Doodle Studios - Christmas/Winter

Fabrika Fantasy - Christmas/Winter
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Goes
Papercraft Business - Christmas Animal
Sheepski Designs - Anything Christmas

Gearing Up for Winter at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up

Autumn is finally here, although Mother Nature has thrown in a few days in the 80s (F) just to keep us on our toes here in Chicago. So who's to say she won't surprise us with a blizzard next week?!
Whether she does it next week or in a couple months, it's time to head to the back of your closet and dig out your long underwear and other winter gear. So I think you get the connection between that last sentence and this month's optional theme at the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog, "Gear Up for Winter".

The guest sponsor is Pattie's Creations, and the image I used from her shop is called Penguin Igloo. I have the perfect sentiment on the inside of my card: May your home be warm with Christmas cheer, and Peace be yours the whole year through"  That is a rubber stamp from Stampin Up. I decided to lighten up my card by using alight pink/coral coloring and pretty much kept it monochromatic. I also played around with the placement of my image, finally deciding to keep it off-center of the frame layers I built up. For shimmer, I added Stickles to my penguin's hat and the cuffs of the mittens on my background paper; Liquid Pearls to the snowflakes and the snow on the ground; and Liquid Glass to my penguin's beak and feet. AND I am keeping my promise to make two cards instead of one each time so that I have a double stash going!

So, in order to have a chance at the prize from Pattie's Creations, you need to create a card that features warm winter clothing or other winter accessories (hats, mitts, muffs, scarves, sweaters, boots, etc.). The items MUST be attached to a person's body, like skates, skis, snowshoes, etc. AND  it must If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for 3 images from the Pattie's Creations store.

Of course, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards at the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win the featured paper set from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Just if you want to try your chance at the 3 free images from Pattie's Creations.

Challenges I am Entering:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything w/a Critter Goes

Classic Design Team - Anything DT Make Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything w/an Animal Goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything w/patterned Paper Goes

Creations in  Pink - Anything Mainly Pink Goes

Love to Craft- Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Mix It Up - Anything Goes w/optional Monochrome

Monochrome Magic - Monochrome or Monochrome w/a Ribbon

Sparkles Christmas - Christmas is for Kids

The Creative Crafters - Anything Goes

Spreading Love at the 12 Months of Christmas

Today I made a special Christmas card for my daughter. AND, I'm going to be smart this year and before I store it, I'm going to pop it into an envelope with her name on it so I don't go crazy looking for it when the holiday rolls around.
I used a digi from Mari Digis Stamps called A68 Merry Christmas 3. I also used some beautiful holiday paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: Two papers from her new Winter World of Love Paper Kit and one from her A Touch of Frost Paper Kit.

When it comes down to it, Christmas is all about spending time with the people you love! Even if family members live far apart, most try to get together to spend a portion of the holidays together if they are able to. Family is precious. So are close friends for that matter. It is the people who are nearest and dearest to us in our lives that are always there for us, no matter what reason we may need them! Being able to enjoy their company at Christmas time makes those connections all the more special!

That is why this month the challenge theme at the 12 Months of Christmas Lin-Up is to create a card specifically for someone you love.  It could be for your partner or spouse, for your son or daughter, or your parents. Maybe you have an aunt or uncle that you are really close to, or perhaps there's a special friend in your life that means the world to you. It doesn't matter who you make the card for, just that it be for someone that you love very much. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so you are included in the draw for the prize from our guest sponsor, Mari Digis. 

 

Please mention which particular loved one in your life you made the card for. If it isn't obvious, mention it in your post or write a note next to the link up for this challenge. Keep in mind that if you don't say who the loved one is, you will be exempt from qualifying for the prize.

Keep in mind though, that you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win the featured paper set. 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. You can see them all at the main blog when you link up your own Christmas cards!

Challenges I am Entering:

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Fab & Funky - Christmas

The Merry Christmas challenge- Anything goes w/optional wreath

The Holly & Ivy Christmas challenge - Anything Goes

Deep Ocean - Let It Snow