Meet the DT: Jacqueline & Mynnette

Well, we hope that you've enjoyed learning about our DT girls!  We are so glad to have each and every one of them with us!  This week, we (Jacqueline & Mynnette) would like to let you know a little bit about us!  Here we go...

Jacqueline Dee

I live on the Herefordshire/ Worcestershire border in the shadow of the great Malvern Hills but I was born in and grew up in Bridgnorth, Shropshire - I place I visit very regularly.

I married the love of my life, Clive, 21 years ago and we have two lovely grown up children who are now 20 and 19. Oh and we have kitty - my lovely Louis who loves to help out in the craft room!

I have been crafting all my life and I am also a trained Botanical Illustrator, my passion however lies with stamping and inking and colouring.

 I am extremely lucky that my husband is so supportive of my crafting hobby - so supportive that he even helped me set up a small stamp making business. I also use our home as a base for my workshops and he is the best bag carrying, tea and coffee maker ever!
My life took a turn for the better when I discovered blogging - it opened up a world of like-minded people who have become friends - good friends even though I have never met them face to face.
I started the Make My Monday Challenge blog closely followed by the 52CCT which was a joint venture with Mynnette and I am now a proud DT Addict on Addicted to Stamps.
there are never enough hours in the day for all I want to achieve - I think I may have to give up sleeping!

Mynnette Kitchen

 As you all know, my name is Mynnette!  My last name is Kitchen.  Everyone asks how to spell it, and I want to LOL when they do...and when I respond with, "You spell it like the room in your house," every now and then I get a really confused looking person standing in front of me.  I know I shouldn't think that's funny, but I really do!!!

I've been crafting for as long as I've been alive, but seriously stamping and paper crafting for about 7 years.  I LOVE learning new techniques and that is why I started Technique Tuesday!  Anything new is fabulous, except special folds.  They scare me.  But I'm working on it!  I LOVE all sorts of crafting supplies, but Stampin' Up! is one of my absolute favorites.  I don't really have a "style" per se, but I LOVE learning all sorts of new styles!  I especially love CAS style for it's dynamic simplicity, but I adore the pile it on shabby chic style as well and am trying to get better at it.

I've been married to my DH for almost 8 years and have an adorable fur baby named Hundie!  She is the best puppy anyone could ask for (even though she's 3 and technically too old to be called a puppy).  We've never had furniture chewed up, etc.  Her worst fault when she was younger and first with us was getting into the trash.  She no longer does this and we are just head over heels in love with our sweet little girl!  We live in Derby, KS, a medium sized city just 10 minutes from Wichita.

In addition to crafting, I love to read, cook/bake, cross stitch (even though this hasn't happened in a while), make digital prints & digi stamps, and sing.  I come from a very musical family and have been blessed with a gift and love for music! :)  It's another favorite pastime that I enjoy immensely! :)

There you have it!  You know everything there is to know about all of us here at 52CCT!  We enjoy being able to see your creations each week and are so thankful for your participation!  Merry stamping, friends! :)

August 2012 Sketch Challenge - Top Honor

Hello everyone!  Seems as if we may have stumped you a bit this time with the sketch challenge (or maybe everyone is just really busy right now).  In any event... we still had 8 amazing entries this week .
We know you are anxious to find out who the Top Honor goes to and that Top Honor goes to.... Rocky.  Look at these fabulous progressive shaker squares and her monochromatic color scheme.  Fabulous! Congratulations Rocky - don't forget to grab your badge to display on your blog.

We loved ALL the entries this week and decided that each of them were worthy of Honorable Mentions for the sketch challenge - so Congratulations to each of you who participated and shared your wonderful cards with us!! Great job ladies - we are so glad you decided to play along! Grab your badges and display them proudly on your blogs.

We so appreciate that you play along with us each week and share your beautiful work with us.  This week's challenge is a Color Challenge.  Can't WAIT to see what you come up with!  Merry Crafting.  



August 2012 Color Challenge

Good morning and welcome to a new challenge here at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown. I (Jacqueline) am responsible for this month's round of themes and challenges and today I have a Colour Challenge for you - take a look.

Please note that these colours are the only ones you should use and cards submitted using any additional colours may not be considered for our Honorable Mentions - don't be scared though, just scroll down to take inspiration from the fabulous work made by the dt this week. Please remember to click on the names and visit the blogs - we love to hear from you!

Mynnette

Louise

Danielle

Ruth



Jacqueline
(no card this week - family break)

Patty

Please link up your projects below, and follow these rules:

*Please link back to our blog in your post so that others can join in the fun.

*We would love it if you added our button to the side of your blog

*Please make sure to link to your POST, not your blog.

*Please make sure NOT to back link.

*In order to be considered for Top Honor or Honorable Mention, you must link up by Friday at 6:00pm GMT.

*You are free to enter this challenge and 10 others only.

*We'd really appreciate it if you'd turn off word verification so that we can comment more easily! We know a lot of you do this for safety, but it takes a very long time to comment when verification is activated, and you may lose your comments from us...just sayin'. ;)

Still Time to Play Along - August 2012 Sketch Challenge

Hello all - hope  you are having a most wonderful week!  Just a quick reminder that there is still time to enter and play along with our August sketch challenge.  Ready, Set and Go pull out your favorite supplies and get crafting!  We just can't wait to see what you create!

 This week's sketch by our wonderfully creative DT member Jacqueline has lots and lots of possibilities. You don't need to follow the sketch exactly - you can use circles instead of stars (or hearts) or shapes instead of squares (gingerbread men) -  just make sure we can still see the elements of the sketch - three rows, three shapes across the top and bottom and and three main images (of any shape) placed at the ends along with a sentiment.  Easy, Peasy - right? Here is another card using the sketch. 

    

Our DT has prepared some wonderful samples to inspire you - click HERE to see the original post and to enter this week's challenge. We hope to see your "sketch"y creations!  Merry Crafting! 

Meet the DT: Ruth Muzeen

Well, we've got just one last amazing DT member to introduce you to before we have to tell about ourselves...UGH! ;)  We've enjoyed getting to know these wonderful ladies so much and hope you have as well!  Without any further ado, let's have Ruth Muzeen tell us about herself!

Ruth Muzeen

Hello, my name is Ruth and I'm a stamp-a-holic!  I live in West Sussex with my incredibly patient and supportive hubby Owen and our sweet cat Tingha. 

I have been stamping and card making for about ten years now so you can imagine how much stuff I've acquired in that time!  My obsessive addiction is not entirely helped by having a well stocked craft shop within walking distance of my home!  I find it almost impossible to resist new crafty goodies but I am now operating a 'something enters the craft room = something leaves the craft room' policy to prevent me from becoming overwhelmed and running out of space completely!

My card making is a sort of therapy for me and I really miss getting inky if I haven't stamped in a few days.  I try to do something in my craft room every day although sometimes it is just tidying up after I've made a huge mess!  My favourite images are flowers and butterflies - and snowmen and snowflakes are firm Christmas favourites!  I truly can't imagine life without stamps, punches, dies, ink and paper - and sponge daubers!  

I run a card making group once a month for ten lovely ladies.  My favourite afternoon of the month - you can't beat being in a room with like-minded individuals, inspiring, creating, sharing and having a good laugh!  OK, an afternoon in a room with Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp MAY just beat that LOL!

When not crafting I enjoy reading, doing crosswords, games, going to the cinema and spending time with friends having fun.  Oh, and spending far too much time on the computer!

Every year since starting to make my own Christmas cards I've said that I'm going to start making them earlier rather than having the desperate rush in November and December.  Yep, every year I've said it and every year I haven't done it - until 2012.  A friend introduced me to the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge blog early in the year and I resolved to become a regular participant.  To be honest, based on my failure in the past, I did worry that my enthusiasm might wane!  I found I so enjoyed taking part in the interesting challenges each week and loved seeing my Christmas card box fill up, it was easy to carry on.

I was chuffed to bits to be invited to be a DT member.  It was such a boost to my confidence - I'm afraid I am my own worst critic.  I'm absolutely loving it - the ladies are all so great and so inspiring!  I am looking forward to making and sharing many more Christmas projects.  I really hope you enjoy seeing them - and maybe even getting inspiration from them - if that is the case I'll be a very happy crafter indeed!

Ruth

Thanks for sharing about yourself, Ruth!  We are so glad to have you here in our 52CCT family! If you want to know all about the founders of this site, Jacqueline & Mynnette, then stay tuned for next week...DUN DUN DUN!!!!! Merry stamping, friends!!! :)

Brads Embellishments Top Honors & Honorable Mentions

Hello all you lovely crafters! Embellishment Challenge #7 was to use Brads (at least 3 of them) on your Christmas card or creation.  As usual we were just delighted with all the wonderful entries we received - such great talent out there!  Thanks so much for playing along with us each week and continuing to inspire us.  Without further ado (drum roll)... here are the Honorable Mentions (in numerical order):   

Susie (#2)


Pia (#5)

Tara (#7)

Carol (#9 )

Rocky (#11)

And... for her amazing gift box w/ a twist and lots and lots of brads... our Top Honor this week goes to:

Kylie (#4)

Congrats to all of you and thanks for playing along!  Don't forget to grab your badges and display them proudly on your blogs.  Don't forget to check out our FACEBOOK PAGE for our FACEBOOK FAVORITE this week too! 

Our next challenge is a sketch from the uber-talented Jacqueline.  Our design team had quite a bit of fun with it - hope you will give it a go and show us what you've done with it.  Merry Stamping!

August 2012 Sketch Challenge

BEFORE I TURN THE TIME OVER TO JACQUELINE, I (Mynnette) would like to make a point of something that has been troubling our DT.  We want ALL of you to continue to enter, but we need you to know that IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE RULES OF OUR CHALLENGE, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO  WIN ANY OF OUR HONORS AND/OR PRIZES.  So, please take time to review the rules, either at the end of this post or on our rules tab.  Thanks and merry stamping!  Over to Jacqueline!

Good morning everyone and welcome to the start of a new round of challenges here at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - it's my turn (Jacqueline) to set the challenges and as always at the start of the month we have the Sketch Challenge - take a look...

Please feel free to rotate or flip the sketch and some of the shapes may be substituted too however we still need to see the basic sketch in your Christmas cards.

Now scroll down to see what the dt have come up with for you this week - don't forget to click on the names to visit the blogs

Mynnette

Louise

Danielle

Ruth

Jacqueline

On break this week

Patty

Please link up your projects below, and follow these rules:

*Please link back to our blog in your post so that others can join in the fun.

*We would love it if you added our button to the side of your blog

*Please make sure to link to your POST, not your blog.

*Please make sure NOT to back link.

*In order to be considered for Top Honor or Honorable Mention, you must link up by Friday at 6:00pm GMT.

*You are free to enter this challenge and 10 others only.

*We'd really appreciate it if you'd turn off word verification so that we can comment more easily! We know a lot of you do this for safety, but it takes a very long time to comment when verification is activated, and you may lose your comments from us...just sayin'. ;)

Meet the DT: Danielle Vincent

Hello, friends!  Welcome to another week of learning a bit more about our fabulous DT.  This week we'll be learning more about the lovely Danielle Vincent!  Let's read what she has to see about her darling self! :)

Danielle

Hello! My name is Danielle Vincent and I'm so happy to introduce myself as one of the new design team members of the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge.  I'm so looking forward to working with this wonderful group of talented ladies sharing our different styles and gaining inspiration from each other and all of you who participate in the challenges.  I hope to be visiting many of your blogs and promise to leave a positive note whenever I can.  Now for a little about me...

I have a son who recently graduated from high school and will be on his way to college soon and a daughter who is in middle school (I had to wait til the first one slept through the night to have another - LOL).  My husband, whom I've been married to for 22 years, is incredibly tolerant of my card making obsession.  I also have two of the cutest (and sometimes naughtiest) little Shitzu-X dogs - Pele and Izzy, that I refer to as my furry babies.  I've been an accountant (a CPA) for 16 years (that's how I pay the bills :o))  but my real passion is cardmaking and scrapbooking! I've been scrapbooking memories for my family for about 8 years. I got introduced to cardmaking about 4 years ago and well... what do I say..I immediately became addicted!  This hobby of mine started as a form of stress relief and has turned into the most wonderful obsession I could have ever imagined.  

After following some amazing blogs for the past couple years, I decided that it was time to challenge myself and take my creativity to the next level - sharing my work with others and trying new things.  I started my blog - D's Crafty Connection - in February and immediately jumped in with both feet and started entering challenges.  I haven't settled on one definite style yet - I'm still playing around and having fun as I continue to challenge myself.  I just can't tell you how excited I was to have been selected as DT member for 52CCT!

I LOVE all kinds of craft products but am especially partial to Stampin Up.  I was introduced to Stampin Up products by a wonderful demonstrator that I call E.T - for Evil Temptress because everything she showed me I wanted to have!   About two years ago I became a Stampin Up demonstrator myself and I have made some wonderful connections with a great group of amazing women through this. I'm looking forward to making some more wonderful connections through my blog and my creations with many of you. Hugs!

Danielle

Thanks for telling us about yourself, Danielle!  We're so glad to have you with us!  Come back next week for another spotlight on another darling girls! :)  Merry stamping, friends!!!

Some Challenge News!

Hi, friends!

This is just a quick post to let you know that Honorable Mentions, Top Winner, and Facebook Favorites for the next few weeks may be running a little late as both Mynnette AND Jacqueline have family obligations to attend to!  No fear--our fabulous DT gals will still be commenting on your amazing entries, etc., but winners and all that may take a back seat.  All challenges WILL post on time with the linky in tact, so we cannot wait to see what you've got up  your sleeves!

Merry Stamping!
The 52CCT Gals

Wreaths Top Honors & Honorable Mentions

Welcome, friends!  Let's get right to it! ;)

Honorable Mentions in Numerical Order~

#2 Kath

#3 Julie

#6 Susan

#11 Lindsey

#13 Carol

Top Honor~

for her fabulous

aperture card is

#8 Liz!!!

Congrats to all--don't forget to check out our FACEBOOK PAGE for this week's FACEBOOK FAVORITE!!! :)  Merry stamping, all!