DECEMBER CHALLENGE WINNERS..

I hope you all had a really nice Christmas - we did in this house, despite the occasional sibling rivalry that occurs from time to time when my boys get together - but I guess that's family life in all its glory for you!

We now have five lovely 'All Wrapped Up' winners - very carefully chosen by our super-talented Jo Capper-Sandon.  Jo has also provided me with a beautifully worded summary about her choices and the reasons behind those choices - so over to Jo.........

'There may have been fewer entries due to the hectic time of year, but there was some wonderfully skilled work shown both by the team and the participants.

I found choosing just five very difficult.  I'd be useless on X factor picking for boot camp.  In the end I went for a wide and varied cross section on how people viewed 'All Wrapped Up' to be.

An entry I wish I'd made myself was a gift bag made by LAURY.  It reminds me of a scrap page on a bag.  I love the free feel to this with the painted area and frayed edge fabric:

This little Christmas Box by CARLA appeared at first glance from outside to be a delicately decorated box for a tiny gift, but on removing the lid burst open to reveal more wonderful Christmas Crafty Individuals images, using every surface to the full:

 

SAM READ brought a twist to the theme by using her process of applying colour as the 'All Wrapped Up'.  By wrapping the card in cling film Sam achieved a paint effect as a background for the 'Rudolf' card.  Sam also showed us what really goes on in that creative head of hers by adding a second image too, lol:

A little sewing gift pouch was brought to us by ZOEY.  Perfect for those odds and ends that get mislaid so easily and always good for an emergency sewing task.  The stamped images were finished off beautifully with a pearl headed pin (I love to see little details like that):

 

And finally, last but not least, this was the 'Ratatouille' moment for me (if you've seen the Disney film you'll know what I mean when Ego tastes the Ratatouille).  This tag by TRISH LATIMER reminded me of frost patterning on the inside of windows when I was a child living up north in the days before central heating became the norm.  Trish has captured the winter feel perfectly, makes me shiver (in a good way!) just by looking at it:

I wish I could have chosen you all.  It was a tough job.  Congratulations to the five!'

So there we are with the last Challenge of 2011 - thanks to all who entered, and to everyone who supports us with their fabulous entries, hope you will join in with us again in 2012.  If you are one of the ladies named above please get in touch with us at info@craftyindividuals.co.uk to claim a rubber stamp of your choice.

However we have been discussing the timing of the Challenges and have now decided to run them on a bi-monthly basis in 2012, as we think it is going to be tricky all round keeping up with the monthly plan  - those month ends come around so very quickly.  That means there will be just five or six Challenges next year and you will get a full month to assemble your entries.  So no excuses folks - keep those crafting fingers busy and help make the gallery of entries bigger and better than ever in the New Year.

The next Challenge will commence at the beginning of February all being well - so do watch this space!

If you are signed up to the CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS Website Mailing List watch out for a great deal coming very soon especially for you - and if you haven't signed up to it yet go do it now and join in the fun.

Chat to you all again in the early New Year - we wish you all a mellow and peaceful 2012!

Jean x