November's Christmas Card Challenge - Winner!

This was the final challenge for 2012's Christmas Card Challenge.  So many wonderful cards submitted!  I'd like to thank the participants who took part in the challenges - and made some really beautiful cards!

November's winner is:

JPScraps!

Congrats, Jamie!  I'm so thrilled you took part in so many challenges. 

Now a break for the cards to get out in the mail.

The Christmas Card Challenge will begin again January 5, 2013!

Thank you so much for your comments!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - November and Final Challenge

 

Here it is - November - the last Christmas Card Challenge for 2012.   I'm sitting here writing this post with my favorite Christmas music going on the background, thinking about how this Christmas Card Challenge worked out this year.

I'm SO grateful for all the submissions, and truly hope there will be more next year.  I've already planned out the 2013 challenges, made a new logo/header, and am thinking about some (very small) changes.  I stayed pretty close to the plan I had with some changes as the months went along.  

BIG Congrats to JPScraps who participated in so many of the challenges!  She now has a fantastic collection of Stickles and many different sets of stamps.  Each month, I sent out a set of Christmas themed Stickles and a stamp set (hopefully I didn't duplicate any of them).

SO, here is the very last challenge:  

The theme for November is:  RIBBON!  

Use ribbon in any/all creative ways you can think of for your Christmas cards!  Remember, Christmas is coming!

 I saw these cards on a Stampin' Up website, and just LOVED them!  I used the same stamp set a few challenges go for the Christmas Tree Shape cards, and just had to give this a try!

 The cards use the Scentsational Season Framelits Dies, actually named "Holiday Collection".  The ribbon is:  Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots 1/2" ribbon, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon 3/8" ribbon, and Real Red White trimmed Taffeta 1/8" ribbon.  I used Terrifically Tacky Tape to secure the ribbon on the back of the card, and on the side edges so the card wouldn't lift off the base.  The star above the tree is the Champagne glitter paper punched with the star from the Merry Minis Punch Pack.

SO, at the very end of this year of challenges, you should have had 66 cards finished at 6 per month of the 11 month.  I counted tonight as I prepared the post, as as you've seen throughout the year, I actually made more!  12 miscellaneous cards for me from various challenges and some requests including 4 for Mom you saw earlier on the blog with the red/green ornaments she requested, and the 50 card order I completed for my friend.  That makes:  132 cards in all!!!!  72 of which are available for me to send out.

The next dilemma I had was who was getting which card!!??  How was I ever to pick!?  Well, my friend Dee solved that one for me on our most recent weekend card making/crafting day.  She said, "Write them all out, put them in envelopes, THEN address them.  Then you don't know who gets what, but they all have a handmade card from you."  BRILLIANT!  It makes the choosing so much easier!

Alright - I'm done rambling on now, so here goes for the last time this year:  Make your 6 (or more) cards based on the theme, and enter them into the linky below BEFORE midnight CST on November 20th.  The prize winner will be announced and awarded on the 25th of the month, just one month before Christmas, and just in time to get your cards out in the mail for a Christmas Card delivery!

THANKS so much for hanging in with me all year, and PLEASE join us next year!

Don't forget to vote from November 21 - 24th for your favorite!

 Your comments are treasured!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - October's Winner!

TWO MONTHS to Christmas!

Are you ready?  Have you started your Christmas shopping?  Have you finished your Christmas shopping?  Do you shop for Christmas, or make gifts yourself?

I want to congratulate Jamie for winning the October 2012 Christmas Card Challenge!  She has been a PHENOMENAL contributor during the year, and now has a stash of great cards to send without any stress!  WTG, Jamie!

CONGRATULATIONS

Jamie from JPScraps!

Your prize package is in the mail!




Your comments are treasured!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - October!

 

Well, here we are, it's already October 5th!  Halloween is coming quickly, temperatures are cooling off, or at least I think they should be!  Don't forget that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and of course, Christmas is coming!! :)

I'm so curious to hear how everyone celebrates Halloween!  We don't do that much.  I buy lots of bags of candy, and we've started setting up the card table and sitting out in the driveway to watch all the little kids and big kids alike coming down the street.  I'll carve pumpkins using the Pumpkin Masters, so it's nice to hear everyone OOOOooh and AAAAAh over them. :)

Alright, here we go!!

The theme for October's Christmas Card Challenge is:  Christmas Lights!

In any way, shape, or form, you must put some type of Christmas lights on your card - Mine are Kitchen Sink stamps.  There are 3D lights, Cricut cut lights on the Christmas Cheer cartridge, stickers, etc.  So many Christmas Tree Lights! :)

As always, there are the basic rules, 6 cards all based on the given theme, and posted here by midnight on the 20th of October, CST.

HERE is a link to the original post with the rules.  Really, very simple and straightforward!

Just can't wait to see what you've come up with!!  Put mine to shame for sure.

 My cards are a version of the One Sheet Wonders, stamped with Kitchen Sink stamps.  I went CRAZY over these when I first saw them...  Just HAD to have 'em, and I use them very often.
HERE is a link to the stamping tutorial I wrote with photos at each step of the way to show how these awesome lights are made.

I used some of the new Stampin' Up products - the Punch Pack, the die cut edges, the embossing folder that compliments it, and one of the new Christmas Stamp sets.

I was planning on adding some ribbon, but started gluing, and when I was finished, I realized it!  Big OOPS there! :)

Click on the link, and enter your cards below!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!
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September's Christmas Card Challenge Winner

 September 25th!!

THREE MONTHS until Christmas!!  **Are you ready?  **Do you have enough Christmas cards made to send to all your family, friends, and co-workers?

I hope so!  If you don't, there are still 2 challenges coming.  October and November to make some cards for the 2012 Christmas season.

One thing - I already have the challenges set for 2013!  **Can you handle another year?  I hope so - I've had a FANTASTIC time making these cards all year.  It really seems to keep the Christmas spirit going, and I could deal with that for a LONG LONG time!

SO, to announce September's winner......  CONGRATULATIONS to

JPScraps!

Congrats, Jamie!!
I have PART of your prize package ready to go!  Will get it out in the mail soon - just need to ask you one question. ;)



Your comments are treasured!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - September!!

 

 Labor Day has just passed, and here we are, most of us are back in school already, and some are just starting up the school year 2012-2013.  Hopefully your year is GREAT!

The Christmas Card Challenge Theme for September is:  SHAPE Cards!

I thought of making it a Christmas Tree Shaped card, BUT there are so many awesome Christmas shapes out there, why limit your imagination!!??  Trees, Stockings, Gingerbread Men, Lights, Ornaments, OH I could got on FOREVER! :)

HERE is a link to the original post with all the rules.  

In short, make 6 cards based on the theme, link them here using the Linky at the bottom of the post by midnight on the 20th and get your friends and family to vote for your card creations!  Winners are announced on the 25th of the month, and I send out a prize package for your time and effort in participating.

Here are my shape cards for the month, with a link to a video tutorial on how to make them.

HERE is a link to the video from a Stampin' Up Demo, Melissa Stout who first posted this.  I watched it and LOVED it!  As you can see, my cards are a little different, but that's the fun!  CASE it, and make it your own.

As you can see, my cards are a little different from the video.  I forgot the peppermint candy, but will add it before I send them out.
I used DCWV patterened paper from one of their Christmas Stacks, and used Martha Stewart border punches in addition to my Stampin' Up punches.  The star was made with the new punch pack, and coordinating stamp set.

I hope you like the cards this month, I like them even more in person than on the video, and I LOVE that video!  Melissa did a fantastic job!

Remember to get your card creations entered in the Linky on/before September 20th at midnight, CST!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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August Christmas Card Challenge Winner!

 CONGRATULATIONS 

The August Winner of the 2012 CCC Challenge:

JPScraps!

Jamie, I have your package ready to go.

Keep watching your mailbox.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - August

Well, here we are in August...  August 5th.  It's tax-free weekend here,  and SO SO hot!

I want to send out BIG thanks to all the contributors here - last month was GREAT with 3 entries and 2 winners from the voting.  Congrats, ladies!  From now on though, I will only have one winner, so if there's another tie I'll use a number generator or some other impartial way to choose one winner.

Ok, on to more important things!  So, even though it's August, and you might not have participated in the CCC yet, there is still time!  Don't have a blog?  Contact me through the comments, and I'll make sure your pictures get posted in the challenge.  (I've already got a plan for that contingency!)

Here is the link to the original post from January introducing the challenge, and all the (very simple) rules needed to participate in these monthly challenges.

The theme for the month of August is:  Try A New Technique!  You must use some new paper crafting technique you have never used before for this month's cards.  Have you seen something on YouTube you've been DYING to try and haven't?  Here's your chance!  Saw a cool technique on someone's great crafting blog and you just had to try it?  Here's your chance!

The basic rules are the same as always, create 6 or more Christmas cards between today and the 20th.  Get them entered in the Linky below, and get your friends to start voting for your card between the 21st and 24th midnight CST.  I will announce the winner, and get the prize out in the mail!!!

Good Luck!
I'm sure your cards will put mine to shame for sure.

Here are my cards for the August Christmas Card Challenge.  I used a new technique called Sparkly Stained Glass, first demo'd by Mary Director, an awesome, wonderful Stampin' Up Demonstrator.  I saw her video, and loving everything sparkly, I just HAD to try it!!!!!
One thing you don't know, is the previous post I made with only the glitter... those cards were actually made AFTER these, so they still count as a new technique.

Since the cards use a Window Sheet, the light really made it tough to get good pictures of my cards, so you'll see some glare.  Funny though, the lights don't glare like that to your eyes.  Hmmmmm

Ok, enough of me... here are my cards, showing different variations.... More info below!

Each one looks just a little different, so I took some close-ups.  Sorry again for the glare.

This technique isn't difficult at all, but it's so different from anything I did before, I had to give myself a little pep-talk when I started with the reinkers.

This one especially shows how they sparkle!

I am always amazed at how these cards just SPARKLE!!!
I used 3 - 4 colors of reinkers:  Raspberry Ripple and Green Galore were my favorite.  Cherry Cobbler and Wild Wasabi worked really well, and Riding Hood Red and Green Galore were great too!
I think I like the very light green to give it a contrast with the reds that seemed to take over.

I went and got a few colors of Staz-On ink, but it turned out that the Jet Black worked the best.

HERE is the link to Mary's video tutorial.  Thanks so much for this AWESOME technique!!!


Good Luck with your August cards!  Can't wait to see what new techniques you try.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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 A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Wonderful Christmas in July Winner(s)!!

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL news!!!  There isn't just one winner for the July CCC, there are TWO!!

I will be awarding prizes to BOTH winners since they received an equal number of votes in the challenge.  Seems the voters couldn't decide which was the better card, SO... Both entries will receive the prize package.

In light of having two winners this month,  I need mescrapsalot, and Julie M. to send me their addresses so I can get their prizes out in the mail.

You can either email me at msvilarnospam@cox.net OR make a comment here with your address -  I WILL NOT publish them!!

CONGRATULATIONS to both winners!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Voting Ends Tonight at Midnight!

 There are 3 AWESOME card selections that have been submitted to the Challenge for July!
Scroll down to the post or click HERE to go directly.  At the bottom of the post, you'll see the 3 cards.  Click on them, get a close look, and click on VOTE to choose your favorite!

Voting ends tonight at midnight, so get your votes in!
Thanks so much for participating - making cards AND in the voting!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - July!

"Christmas Is Coming!!!"  Since Mom read this comment I wrote in June, it's been an even bigger running joke!  We're having lots of fun with it.

SO, July is here!!  I'd LOVE it if you would post a comment on this post and tell me what YOU are doing for Christmas in July!  I know our local Hobby Lobby's will be putting out the Christmas ornaments and trees already....  I want to check out all the new ornaments for sure.

Our theme for July is.... SANTA!
You can use your Cricut (like I did) to cut a Santa and decorate him...  Use a Santa Stamp from any one of the many stamp companies out there.... OR use your punches to MAKE a Santa!  I've seen some really cute ones!!  I love the Victorian style so much, I had to use this Santa.  He took lots of inking and details, but I really like him!

The basic rules are the same, create 6 Christmas cards based on the theme of the month, take a photo showing all 6, and enter it into the linky from your blog or website.  **Don't have a blog of your own??  1.  You could start one.... or 2. contact me, and I have a solution for that issue.

Click HERE for the original post including the (very easy and straightforward) rules to the Challenge.

Get your cards made, and entered into the Linky below by the 20th!!! Can't wait to see what you've made!

Put mine to shame, I'm sure!

Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

June's Christmas Card Winner!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Today is the 25th of the month, so looking at the entries and votes...

JPScraps 

Your Christmas Card Challenge entry got the most votes!!

I have your address, and your package is on its way!

Congrats!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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 A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Voting starts in 12 hours!!!

IF you made cards for the June challenge, you have until MIDNIGHT tonight to get them in...  and then voting goes for just 4 days!!!

Stop by and take a look at the cards on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and  24th... the winner will be announced on the 25th -

Oh, and Happy 1st Day of Summer ~ from the Christmas Card Challenge!  :)



 Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - June!!

 I can't believe the year is passing us by so quickly!!!  Here we are, already in June, and my thoughts are never far away from Christmas!  I've even got Christmas music playing in the background as I write this post.  :) While I made this month's cards, I realized I've already got 36 cards made!  That's the entire amount we sent out last year... so this year, I'll have even more to send!  I'm so excited!

I am so happy to report that two very talented ladies joined me for the May Challenge!  Hope to see your submissions again this month, girls!!  I hope some more people will join me as well.  (Tell you a secret..... I already wrote up a list of ideas for next year!!!!)

Whenever Mom wanted us to do something around the house, and we didn't move fast enough for her, she would always say,  "Christmas is coming!".  Well, it sure is!  Here we are, half the year already gone.

Our theme for June is.....  PUNCHES!!!
You can use your Stampin' Up punches, EK Success, etc.  ANY punches will do to make a Christmas card.  Don't have any punches you say??  I understand!  I started with my Cricut.  You can also use cuts from the Cricut - there are so many great carts out there!

The basic rules are the same, create 6 Christmas cards based on the theme of the month, take a photo showing all 6, and enter it into the linky from your blog or website.  **Don't have a blog of your own??  1.  You could start one.... or 2. contact me, and I have a solution for that issue.

Click HERE for the original post including the (very easy and straightforward) rules to the Challenge.

Get your cards made, and entered into the Linky below by the 20th!!! Can't wait to see what you've made! Put mine to shame, I'm sure!

 

 I CASE'D this card from another Stampin' Up demonstrator, Melinda Pasqual - It was SO cute!!!  I did make lots of changes, but the original idea was hers.
I am using the new "Be of Good Cheer" DSP, and Gumball Green cardstock and ink to stamp the sentiment. 

 Here you can see the other cards to make a total of 6 for the month.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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25th of May - Christmas Card WINNER!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Today is the 25th of the month, so looking at the entries and votes...

JPScraps 

Your Christmas Card Challenge entry got the most votes!!

Leave a comment with your address (I won't post it!)  OR email me with your address so I can get your prizes out in the mail to you.

Congrats!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! May

Got it!! I went back to the original Blogger interface to fix the picture... I used White embossing powder on the snowflakes and tree, silver embossing powder on the Season's Greetings, and large rhinestones to cover the glue dots to adhere the vellum onto the card!

These cards were basically very simple, just embossing on the Pacific Point cardstock, and an embossed tree in white on vellum. The silver embossed sentiment and rhinestones add nice sparkle and shine to the cards.

OK.... So blogger has changed their format without telling anyone, and I am in the middle of figuring out how to: 1. Write comments between the pictures, & 2. Rotate the picture to its intended portrait view so you can see it properly. Obviously, Blogger didn't seek to inform anyone of these changes... so I have to do some looking around, and probably loud complaining!! RRRRRRRRR

Alright... Here we go! It's May! Can you believe it!??

I am THRILLED to say that we had someone join the Green April challenge, and her package is on its way... Yes, it's coming!

I'm very excited to announce the May theme since I took the liberty of making the (unusual) color choice since it's my birthday month, and I just had to choose my favorite color! Unfortunately, I have more than one.... so you will have two options this month on the theme!

The theme for May is: Blue! or Purple!!
These two are my very favorite colors, and you have the creative choices to add touches of color to the overall theme selection as always.
Part 2: Your sentiment must also include a Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, or Happy Holidays on the front.

Click HERE for the original post including the (very easy and straightforward) rules to the Challenge.

Get your cards made, and entered into the Linky below by the 20th!!! Can't wait to see what you've made! Put mine to shame, I'm sure!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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25th of April! Winning Cards!!

 CONGRATULATIONS!!! Today is the 25th of the month, so looking at the entries and votes...

Julie M

Your Christmas Card Challenge entry got the most votes!!



Julie, leave a comment with your address (I won't post it!)  OR email me with your address so I can get your prizes out in the mail to you.

Congrats!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Only 10 hours left!!!

 I'm THRILLED to say that someone added cards to my April Christmas Card Challenge this month!

Now it's your turn.... go to the original post....

scroll down to the bottom, and vote for her!  YES, she's the default winner, but it's always nice to see that people voted for you!!!

Click HERE to go to the post and vote.

THANKS!!!!!

Hope to see more for the May Challenge!!! :)

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! April 2012

Well, I can't say I'm really thrilled with the response I've had with my 2012 Christmas Card Challenge. I've taken part in these in the past, and had a blast.... so I thought it would be a GREAT idea to do one myself. I planned out the themes for each month, and put together prizes for each month so when people participated, they would have 6 more cards ready for this coming Christmas, AND some nice things to add to their scrap stash. BUT with the exception of January, no one has participated!

With all that said, (just had to vent)... I am NOT stopping this right as it's beginning. SO.... here goes.

The theme for April is: GREEN!
Since Spring is here so early, and I love the Spring so much since everything is blooming and starting over for another year of growing, our theme this month is Green! OK, so an all green card will be boring, so you can use white, and one other (SMALL) accent color. :)

Click HERE for the original post including the (very easy and straightforward) rules to the Challenge.

Get your cards made, and entered into the Linky below by the 20th!!! Can't wait to see what you've made! Put mine to shame, I'm sure!

Here are my cards for this month.

Your comments are always appreciated!
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The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! March

Happy March 2012!

Has March come so soon?? The weather here has been unseasonably warm, and the daffodils and grape hyacinths are already in bloom!

Here is the March 2012 Christmas Card Challenge!
I hope you join in.

The theme for March is: Snow!
It usually snows here in March, so as a last homage to Winter who is quickly coming to a close here, Snow is going to be the theme.

Click HERE for the original post showing the rules and regs.
In short: Make 6 christmas cards with a snow theme, enter them here in the linky by March 21st, and hopefully YOU will will this month's prize!

Here are my cards for the March Challenge: Isn't he an adorable snowman?

I used my Stampin' Up markers to color Mr. Snowman, Christmas Red stickles to highlight the holly berries on top of the bird house, and Diamond stickles to fill him in because snow is so sparkly!!! He is covered with a dryer sheet to simulate snow, and the card base is stamped in Versamark with snowflakes as a background.


Click on the Linky to enter your cards! Please join in, and win some awesome Christmas themed prizes!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.