Flowers Challenge Results

The deadline for our latest design challenge was May 31st, and this time we had a whole month to work on our entries... and the response was huge! Loads of artists and crafters entered flower-themed items to the challenge group over on Flickr, most created specially for the challenge. With so many entries, it was hard to decide to vote for, but after much umming and ahhing, the winners were declared:

In first place was Greygoat with her San Francisco art knickers "If you're going to San Francisco or indeed anywhere even slightly groovy, be sure to wear some flowers on your pants"
Second place went to TheDevil'sWallpaper for two paintings. 'Daisies' - "Because the floral theme was all looking so bright and happy"...
...and 'The Fake Lily' - "Some of us are not lotuses. Some of us drown in an environment where others thrive" And third place went to Reform for this page from her sketchbook:
The other awesome entries were:

Alicub's modern florals cards
AmandaWilliamsDesign's flower photo
Askey's "Rose" illustration
Arty Allsorts' "Geum" and "Primrose" photos - images to be added soon!

Bianca Snow's caramel dot hair flower

Bunny's "Freesia" illustration

Feltbug's felt vessel with flowers
Gilfling's "The fuscia lantern" and "Traces of flowers"
Gillyflower's "Woodland Flora" necklace
Honeybeedz's crystal flower necklace

Koniskiw's "the little bee" ACEO
KoolKookyKreatures' flower brooch and "down the garden path" painting

LittleMissRiver's flower painting

Lovealittle's slashed silk flower bag and flower needlecase

Lupin's urban rose garden photo

Marmalady's crochet bookmark, smiley flowers cards, spring flowers cards and crochet brooch

Memake's blue flower bag

Nonsuch's 'high tea' card

Pinkangel's fabric flower pendant
SakuraFubukiDesigns ceramic and pearl sakura necklace and melted glass sakura tapas dish - images coming soon!

Seaurchin's "forget-me-not" pendant and "mermaid flower" pendant
Stitchworks' handmade felt bag and flower pin

Swirlyarts' flower brooch
... and Yumptatious' "flowers of joy" felt brooches

Many of these items are now for sale in the entrants' Etsy shops... or you can see all these photos and more over on Flickr.
This month's challenge theme is "fairy tales" and the deadline is the end of the month - midnight on 30th June. The themes for the next few months are due to be selected soon, to give everyone plenty of time to fit the challenges in to their busy lives! New themes will be announced in the challenge group and reported here shortly afterwards.

Moviestars Challenge Results

The entries for the "moviestars" design challenge were revealed on Sunday, and after many votes were cast the award for best item went to...

... memake for her Cary-er Bag featuring the lovely Cary Grant appliqued in denim
In 2nd place was reform's distressed collage of Virginia Grey
3rd place went to lupin for a selection of star pins - one set literally stars themselves, this set inspired by 13 yr olds who want to be "famous" when they grow up.
The other challenge entries were...

"You know my name" collage made and brilliantly staged by littlemissriver
"Brad's necklace" by honeybeedz who describes her design as "just the kind of thing that Brad would wear to declare his love for Angelina. Far more tasteful than a vial of her blood!!"
And (last but by no means least) "MM backstage" by askey who says "please don't report me to the copyright police!!"
The next challenge:
As mentioned in an earlier post, we've decided to switch to monthly challenges from now on as a new theme every fortnight is rather a lot of crafting to squeeze into our busy schedules... So, we'll be taking a break for a couple of weeks and then the challenge for May will be "Flowers", deadline Thursday May 31st, when entries will be posted to the flickr group by 2pm BST and voting will be conducted for 24 hours via the Etsy forums (voting is open to anyone on Etsy).
Then in June our theme will be "Fairy Tales", perfectly timed for Midsummer!

Next Design Challenge: Moviestars

The theme for this fortnight's design challenge has been selected and it is "moviestars"... All entries will be posted to the challenge group on flickr by 2pm on Sunday April 15th, and voting will begin soon afterwards.

Votes can be cast in the Etsy forums (only one vote per person - pick your one favourite!) and will be totted up 24 hours after voting begins (to allow people in all timezones a chance to vote). Results will be posted in the voting thread and then later on this blog. Enjoy!

EDIT: A Change of Plan: advance notices of all the challenges will be given from now on, and the challenges will be MONTHLY to give everyone more of that valuable planning time & a chance to fit the extra crafting in around their already busy schedules. After Moviestars will come "Flowers" (deadline 31st May) and then "Fairy Tales" (deadline 30th June).

Ninja Challenge Results

The entries for the Ninja Challenge are in, and the winners have been declared!

The grand winner and newly-crowned Ninja Queen was Kezzaroo with a cuddly plush bedtime ninja.

Kezzaroo explains: "Having worked closely with the ninja for many years i have decided to show you what the ninja looks like at bedtime. Wearing his pink pyjama onesie *with feet attached of course* How does he get into such a snug ensemble i hear you ask? Just a regular bum flap..."









In joint 2nd place were Lilley with a trio of polymer clay ninjas...









... and memake with a ninja purse designed so "you know your money is protected"










3rd place went to askey for this ninja greetings card (image shows card opened flat - folds at central line)












The other great challenge entries were:


Ninja Ted by Wildcat Designs. "During the day, he's Tartan Ted. But at night...he becomes NINJA TED!!!"










Ninja Baby, Ninja Kitty & Ninja Bunny Brooches by Lupin.










Cloud Ninja by Little Miss River - "The only problem with being a cloud ninja, is that unless its night time...you're still pretty visible"







Kooky Boutique's earring & necklace combo "for the the nin-jette about town".










Ninja Cuff Bracelet by Honeybeedz








Goldyone's Ninja, pictured "hiding under the cliff looking for a fight".









'Rubbish Ninja' by The Devil's Wallpaper. "He is only a yellow belt and he wears it on his head and he wears his stars as acessories so he got kicked in the eye"






Ninja Dog by Bunny who says "this isn't really a 'proper' entry. I just didn't want to be left out!"








Ninja bib by Blue Marmalade











And last but not least: Wizard of Oz Ninjas by Alicub. "Not all ninjas are 24-7 killing machines you know! Some like nothing more than hiring costumes from the local shop, dressing up and signing along to their favourite musicals....."