It’s Dare to DIY Time Baby.

For the third year in a row, I’m joining Kim (Newly Woodwards ) and Michelle (Décor and the Dog) for the Dare to DIY challenge, and we are welcoming Katja from Shift Ctrl Art to the fold this year, too!

If you’re new to Dare to DIY, let me fill you in. It’s Kim’s pet project (6 years running—that’s pretty amazing), meant to brighten and enrich the holiday season. Every week from now through Christmas, we’ll be working together and encouraging each other to get creative, have fun, and do-it-ourselves this season. I know this is often a stressful time of year for people. But if you’re the sort of person who is energized and excited by creating something unique, who loves to give handmade gifts and design your own holiday décor for your home and spend your holidays making and sharing, this is the perfect way for you to be inspired and share your hard work.

You know what I love most about Dare to DIY? It’s the connection and community. There are lots of link parties out there . . . and I gave up participating in most of them years ago, because so many of them felt like nothing more than meaningless, empty attempts0 to lure people to my blog. Dare to DIY feels so different. I’ve met so many fantastic blog friends through Dare to DIY, because it isn’t a ‘drop your link and run’ sorta party. People meet each other here, and chat, and share encouragement and ideas, and make friends. I mean, I don’t want to get sappy or anything but there’s something special about Dare to DIY and the people who join in on it.

Are you in?

Here's the plan:
Each Monday, the link party goes live for that week's Dare to DIY challenge. You can link up as many projects as you wish, as long as the posts correspond with the theme of the week. You can link up on any of the four hosts’ blogs.

The linky will stay live through Wednesday. Later in the week, each of us will spotlight at least 3 projects we loved from the week on our blogs. We'll also pin those projects on our shared Pinterest board.

The only rules:
1. Please follow the Dare to DIY theme of the week (see below).
2. Please link back to Dare to DIY on the host's blog.
3. Please go to at least two other blogs and comment. This is a party. So get to know a few other bloggers.

And here are the themes:

Dare to . . . be thankful!
Party Date: Monday, Nov. 24
DIY a thanksgiving project to remind you to be grateful during this season. Ideas include a Thanksgiving advent calendar, artwork and banners.

Dare to . . . entertain!
Party Date: Monday, Dec. 1
DIY something for your table. This could be something from last week's Thanksgiving table or a new Christmas look. Get creative and use things in new ways. Or go true DIY and make something totally new. Ideas include place mats, table runners, place cards or centerpieces.

Dare to . . . give handmade!
Party Date: Monday, Dec. 8
DIY a gift made by you. Nothing is more special to give than something you created, so share projects that will be go in brown paper packages this holiday season. Ideas include bath and body items, kitchen gifts, hand-sewn clothing or home decor.

Dare to . . . deck the halls!
Party Date: Monday, Dec. 15
DIY something new to deck your halls. Did you find something in a catalog that you wish you had? Wreaths, stockings, pillows or advent calendars? Make it! Inspire us all to do the same.

So, who’s with us? Will you dare to DIY?