Challenge #11 - 'Oriental'

Another great challenge last week, some really great projects and we enjoyed looking at them and once again, its going to be hard to choose a winner, but we will and let you know on Wednesday.  Again, look out on Friday for our guest blogger, the winner of our 'Blog of the Week' that we run on the Face Book group.

Right, onto this weeks challenge, we think you'll enjoy this one.

The theme for this week's challenge is

'Oriental'

Self explanatory really, your project must be oriental themed.

Here is what our DT came up with, hopefully, to give you some inspiration.

Debbi

Nicola

Emma

Michelle 

Marleen

We hope that we have given you some ideas and we look forward to seeing all your entries and remember, your entry must follow the theme, if it doesn't, it will not be included.

Have fun and good luck everyone xx

Introducing Lindsay

We would like to introduce you to out guest blogger, the lovely Lindsay Elise Jolly, who was the winner of our 'Blog of the Week' that we run on our Facebook Group.  Lindsay is a talented crafter and, I'm sure you'll agree, an inspiration.  Lindsay has kindly answered some questions for us to help you get to know her, thank you Lindsay. Why and when did you start crafting? I have always crafted in one way or another, my first attempts were at after school clubs and play schemes (going back a little further than I care to remember lol). As I got older I began to love painting and drawing as well and always enjoyed anything creative but it wasn't until much more recently that I really found papercrafting. I have had M.E. (or CFS) since I was 14 and had a particularly nasty case of glandular fever, I had my ups and downs over the years but about 2 and a half years ago I hit my lowest patch ever and was so unwell that I became very isolated by my illness and lost all confidence in myself. It was then that I decided to join a local arts group to try and regain something of myself that I felt I had lost, the group were very understanding about my illness and a couple of ladies in particular helped to encourage me to join in even if I couldn't always make it to event's and workshop or had to leave earlier than everyone else. I found arts and crafts to be extremely good therapy and they helped me to escape a little from the pain and discomfort of my illness. It was also through this group that I met a lady who gave me a lot of advise about a diet that might help to improve my condition and I am very happy to say that things have been slowly but surely getting better for me both physically and emotionally ever since. What made you decide to set up a blog? I haven't actually been blogging very long at all, I stumbled across the world of internet crafting by accident (and boy am I glad that I did). I subscribed to Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine in summer 2011 and after doing so I liked their page on facebook, it was in September that I was a post on there about a DT call for PanPastels, and I thought I would like to try and apply for it, at this point I knew absolutely nothing about blogs and when I got the information about applying I had about 3 days to get a blog set up for the applications. So I found out a bit about blogs and set myself up on wordpress, I didn't expect to get chosen for the DT but I wanted to try. I was so shocked and over the moon when I found out that I had made it on to the team and I am so glad now that I did try as I have so many great new crafty friends because of it. When I got to know a little more about blogging I moved over from wordpress to blogger in November 2011 and I really love being a part of the blogging community. Whats your favourite craft technique/s and why? I don't really have a favorite technique, I am not much of a favorite things kind of person, I like to try everything and some days I will be in the mood for some in embossing others I like stamping and colouring or decoupage etc etc. Sorry not a very helpful answer but what I can say is that I almost never make a card with out using some sort of die cut or another and I wouldn't want to be with out my dies and die cutting machines. What are your top 5 crafty products? Hmm this is a tricky one as I wouldn't want to be with out any of my crafty stash lol but I think my top 5 would have to be; !. Grand Calibur and Dies 2. Promarkers 3. PanPastels 4. Collal Glue Gel 5. House Mouse, Magnolia or Lily Of The Valley Stamps (sorry I know technically thats cheating but I can't pick just 5 things lol) Who inspires you? Another really tricky question, I could give you a list as long as my arm Sue Wilson from spellbinders, Ally from Stamps away, Nikky Hall from Polka Doodles and of course all of my wonderful bloggy friends. I would also like to say thanks to all of the people that have made me feel so welcome in the blogging community and you all brighten my days on a regular basis with your lovely comments and I am so glad to have gotten to know you all. Thank you Lindsay for sharing this with us and good luck with your blog and everything you do. Please visit Lindsay's blog and say hi, like I said before Lindsay is very talented so go and check out her work. http://craftymonster81.blogspot.com/

Winner of Challenge #9 - 'Mono chrome'

It was a hard choice for the winner of Challenge #9 - 'Mono chrome', thank you everyone who entered, we really enjoyed looking at all of them.

The winner is

Pauline

http://craftingwithcotnob.blogspot.com/2012/01/on-top-of-news.html

with this card

Congratulations Pauline, if you contact Jo Austin she will get your prize out to you.

Contact me to get your badge for your blog.

Please visit Pauline's site and say hello.

Challenge #10 - 'Distressing'

A huge thank you to everyone who entered last weeks challenge, again, fantastic projects and its going to be hard to choose the winner, as usual, but a winner will be picked on Wednesday, so keep an eye out.  Also, keep an eye out for our guest blogger on Friday.

This weeks challenge is 'Distressing', your projects should be made using distressing inks and techniques.  Here are what our DT came up with to give you some inspiration.

Marleen

Debbi

Nicola

Emma

Michelle

Don't forget, your entry must correspond with the theme.

We look forward to seeing all your great entries, good luck everyone x

Could it be you?

Hi everyone!!

I just wanted to pop on and say HI and I hope you're looking forward to the Pick of the Day next week on Ideal World... how exciting is this going to be?? I know I can't wait!

I also just wanted to say that our Challenge blog is looking for some new Design Team members. Could it be you?? If you're interested, then please express your interest under this post, with a link to your blog.

Our Challenge blog aims to bring people together with their crafting, giving ideas and inspiration each week on themes, or sketches.. We don't supply products to work with, but love to share our ideas. If this sounds like something you'd love to be a part of.. then please leave a comment. xx

Winner of Challenge #8 - 'Anything but Square'

It was a hard choice for the winner of Challenge #8 - 'Anything but Square', thank you everyone who entered, we really enjoyed looking at your work.

The winner is

Barbara

http://u-inspire-me.blogspot.com/

with this card

Congratulations Barbara.

Please visit Barbara's site, so talented.

Challenge #9 - 'Mono chrome'

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who entered last weeks challenge, fantastic projects and its going to be hard to choose the winner, but a winner will be picked on Wednesday, so keep an eye out. 
Now to this weeks challenge, 'Mono chrome', your projects should be made using only one colour plus your base colour.  You can get some really effective designs using this simply technique.  Here are what our DT came up with to give you some inspiration.

Emma 

Debbi

Marleen

Nicola

Can I just mention that if your project does not correspond with the theme, your entry will not be counted.

We look forward to seeing all your great entries, good luck everyone x

Challenge 8 - 'Anything but square'

Challenge 8 - 'Anything but square' 

Welcome to the first CBN challenge 2012, a nice an easy one to break you into the new year. The theme for this challenge is 'Anything but Square', basically, your project should not have any squares.  

Here are the DT's make, hopefully they will give you some inspiration.

Emma

Debbi

Nicola

Marleen 

Michelle

There are lots of shapes out there, so, get your thinking caps on and we look forward to seeing all your great projects. 

Good luck everyone.

An Interview with Rachael Housley

Hi Im Rachael Im 32 and I blog over at www.angels-23craftcorner.blogspot.com. Im married and have a beautiful 14 year old daughter Bethany. I work full-time as a Town Centre Community Warden. I enjoy socialising with family and friends and I have interests in spirituality. I'm very new to crafting and I try to craft whenever I get the chance to.

When did craft become a part of your life?

I got into crafts in August this year by booking myself and my daughter onto a cardmaking class. My daughter Bethany has very good artistic flair, so I thought she would enjoy this. It turns out I enjoyed it more. I found myself in absolute ore. I loved it and from then on Ive been hooked.


Your faviourite craft project to date?

This will have to be my Santa claus card I recently made I love it, I enjoy stamping and using my promarkers.

Who Inspires you and why?

I gain lots of inspiration from The Crafty Bloggers Network Blog and facebook group. There are so many talented people on there. They are a family community and they help when I need any advice and give lots of encouragement all the time. I go on there daily as I love looking at all the different projects that are uploaded.

Whats the three websites/Blogs you visit most often in a week?

My first ever website I visited was www.docrafts.com this is where I started out, by joining the community gallery and forum and suscribing to Creativity Club. I love watching Creativity Club Tv, Ive been uploading my work from day one. Then I discovered the Facebook group Crafty Bloggers Network. I also met Jo Austin at a demonstation once at The Range in Rotherham and since then I became a follower to her Blog Timeless Expressions http://timeless-invites.blogspot.com/, another blog I like to visit often is Dawn Lancaster at www.dawn-dawnscrafting.blogspot.com.


Have you made any close friends in craft?

I have made lots of friends since crafting, particularly cyber friends. It's great networking, what would we do without technology.


Ever thought about making a business out of crafting?

Definitely, I would love to do this full time and make a business from it. I know its tough competition with so many talented people out there. My daughter loves to draw and she has been designing some art work that she would like to use to create digi stamps and clear stamps, maybe in the future.

You can visit Rachaels blog at angels-23craftcorner.blogspot.com

Challenge #7 Winner

First of all we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing all your crafty projects in 2012. Thank you everyone for all the fantastic projects that was entered in the challenge, we found it hard to choose, but, we finally made our choice....

....the winner is ...

Lindsay

with this wonderful project

Congratulations Lindsay.

To see more of Lindsay lovely work, please visit her blog

http://craftymonster81.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-gift-made-using-panpastel.html

Don't forget to join in the first CBN challenge of 2012, it starts on Monday 9th January, we look forward, as always, to seeing your projects.