ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for...

I can't believe that we've reached the penultimate ABC Christmas Challenge of the year...and it's Lols' turn to choose the theme, which is:

'Y is for Yule Tide'

Here's some info on Yule Tide from my lovely DT buddy Annie:

Yule Tide, the darkest time of the year when we wait for the old solar year to pass in order to celebrate the birth of a new sun. It takes about 3 days after the Winter Solstice, the longest darkest night of the year, before the days gradually start to lengthen again and the celebrations can begin in earnest – and can carry on for almost a month! There are many folk traditions from earlier times that are now incorporated into the more modern Christmas and New Year celebrations, but in villages across Northern Europe and Scandinavia many of the old traditions survive as we wish you all a “God Jul!”

The tradition of decking the halls with boughs of holly is reminiscent of the pre-Christian times when the evergreens in the depths of winter represented life and the red berries the seeds of life to come. Candles were associated with the Roman festival of Saturnalia when Ops, the wife of Saturn, was remembered with the giving of gifts as a token of love and respect on her sacred day of 20^th December. All over Northern Europe and Scandinavia candles are lit, especially on the night of the Winter Solstice, in celebration of old customs and beliefs that still linger.

So, as the old solar year passes and we start anew, we remember our ancient past and celebrate the Yule Tide with the giving of gifts, lighting of candles and decorating our homes with greenery. We celebrate with family and friends, giving thanks for the feast at our table that was raised and grown in and from the earth nurtured by the rain and the sun. We toast to a new year and a new growing season and hope that the new sun will shine, the rains be gentle, the winds soft and the earth rich and abundant once again. Wassail!

So with this in mind, we're asking you to include one (or a combination, if you like) of the following on your project:

Holly & Berries

or

Red & Green

or

Candles

We are sponsored by our lovely teamie Lacey from Wags 'n Whiskers and she will be giving one lucky entrant this fab prize!!

4 of their most popular Christmas digital stamps!!

Ok, so on to my card. I've used the colour scheme of 'Red & Green', with this fab Penny Black image and sentiment from the 'Holly-Jolly' set. I coloured the image with watercolour pencils, and added some 'Tiara' Stickles to the star, and Glossy Accents on the baubles. The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' glitter pad by My Mind's Eye, I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and the Large red gems are from Paperchase. I'm not sure where the gold ribbon came from...it was buried in my messy ribbon bag!

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Daring Cardmakers - Spotty Stripy Christmas
• Digi Doodles - Red & Green
• Totally Gorjuss - Oh Christmas Tree!

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous creations by my lovely ABC Christmas Challenge DT buddies.