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Saturday, November 15, 2014

November Linky Party - Make It A Handmade Christmas Challenge


Christmas is now less than six weeks away.  I'm sure we are all envious and yet inspired by  those that started making handmade items to decorate their home and/or give as gifts, earlier in the year.  But, there is still time to make handmade items for the holidays.  And two remaining opportunities to enter to win one or more of the 70+ prizes that have been donated by generous sponsors for this event.   




SewCalGal wants to recognize and thank all the sponsors that have generously donated prizes for the Make It A Handmade Christmas Challenge.  Click here for a complete list of prizes that will be randomly awarded to participants of these monthly challenges, in December.


This is the November  "Linky Party" for participants in the Handmade Christmas Challenge where you can share what you have made for Christmas gifts or decorations this month.  And you have till the 25th of this month to enter!  We will also have a special linky party, early December, where you'll get one more chance to enter to win prizes, by simply sharing what you have made throughout 2014 for Holiday Gifts or holiday decorations for your home. We'll also have some special awards based on those that enter the December Linky Party (e.g. Who made the most handmade holiday items in 2014, Viewer's Favorites, Who shared tutorials for their handmade items, etc. etc.).

How do you enter?  Quite simple.  You can make handmade  gifts for the holidays or decorations for your home for the holidays, anytime in 2014 and enter in any of the monthly challenges for a chance to win prizes.  Bloggers and non-bloggers can participate and you can make your items anytime throughout the month, but you can only share what you make one time in one monthly challenge (but you can show it again in the December Linky Party when you show all the things you handmade for the holidays).  You get an entry for every monthly challenge you enter as well as an entry for entering the December linky party to show EVERYTHING you've made as part of this year's Make It A Handmade Christmas Challenge and the more events you enter the more chances you get to win more prizes!

Some participants have been sharing tutorials that help to showcase their entry, via their blogs.  I will also be releasing tutorials on my blog, compliments of some creative non-bloggers that wanted to share their techniques for making handmade gifts for the holiday season.  Either way, I'm a firm believer that when you adopt the pay-it-forward approach to helping others it also brings you good kharma to winning prizes.  And that doesn't stop with providing tutorials, as those that are PR Angels and encourage others to make handmade for the holidays should also be blessed with good kharma for winning prizes. 

Rules to enter this challenge:


While there are many sponsors and many wonderful prizes for those that enter in one or more of the monthly Linky Parties in the Handmade Christmas Challenge, that are open to quilters worldwide, as SewCalGal will be shipping this particular prize to the lucky winner and currently has limited funds for shipping prizes, the winner of this bundle will need to be a US resident.

1) Projects need to be made in 2014 (they do not need to be made during the 10 day window of a a given monthly linky party.  But they need to be something you made for a Christmas gift or to decorate your home for the holidays.  Please do not enter projects that you giveaway throughout the year, or previous holidays as that doesn't bring you good quilting kharma!

2) You can enter one or more completed projects, but your linky needs to be in a current post (or non-bloggers can upload their photos and provide a link to a view able line tool like PhotoBucket, Flickr, etc.).   note:  Future challenges will require you to use only Flickr.  Click here to see a tutorial for using flickr.

3) Participants are asked to include comments in their post that share insights on the design(s) they use, any tips they wish to share, and if they made something with their own design they may wish to share a tutorial.  Your help to encourage others to make handmade gifts, throughout the year to give as gifts or to decorate their home, is appreciated.  And, of course, you can also inspire others by sharing your projects, providing tips and tutorials, as well as recognizing the source of the design for your project, should others be interested in making it too!

4) Bloggers are asked to include in their post information that that shows they have taken the "Pledge to make handmade Christmas Gifts in 2014" and are participating in this challenge.  It would be appreciated if you would encourage others to also participate, or at least come look at all of the entries each month, as hopefully we'll inspire other quilters and increase awareness of designs, tips, tutorials to help make beautiful Christmas gifts and decorations.  Your blog post also needs to be dated during the period of this linky party (do not link to old posts).


This linky party will be open thru the 25th of  this month, to give participants plenty of time to enter this monthly challenge. If you are not familiar with how to use a linky click here for a tutorial.

For blogger participants that are interested in posting a badge, the badge code can be found on the main page for this event.  Thank you!

Let's not forget the spirit of this challenge is to make handmade gifts for Holidays or decorations for the holiday season, throughout the year.  We also hope to help increase awareness of designs, free patterns, tutorials and other products that help to make such products. And, your help in inspiring others to make handmade for Christmas is appreciated.  PR Angels are also appreciated.

If you have questions for this Challenge, please read the FAQ.

Email SewCalGal email address copyif you still have questions.


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