The Future

Having given this a lot, and I mean a lot, of consideration I've made the decision to no longer carry on with the monthly challenges. There are a number of reasons. 

The main one (I don't feel comfortable saying this but it does need to be said because it is the main reason) is the sheer number of challenges out there mean that a lot of people try and make their project fit the criteria for as many as possible. That in itself I don't have an issue with but very often the criteria is not even closely met. If a company/challenge blog gives you a colour palette it doesn't mean take one colour that just happens to be on a card containing no other colours from that palette and say it meets the criteria. If someone has worked hard to make/find a palette and their design team have provided inspiration based on those colours then it isn't fair. If they say use a bird or a flower then it doesn't mean use a star. I won't allow my challenges to be drawn into that any more.

Another reason and again I am not comfortable with saying it but I have had enough of is the sheer rudeness and lack of manners of some people in comments or by email. Just this morning I've had an email saying simply - 'you forgot the linky!'. That's one of the more polite ones. I purposely don't put a linky in the just for fun months and always say to put a link to any project you have made in the comments section as we love to see what you have made. I used to put a linky but then I would be bombarded with messages from people a few days after the closing date saying I had forgotten to draw the prize even though it clearly said there was no prize that month. Hence the change. However I'm coming to the conclusion that people just aren't interested unless there is a prize which brings us back to the problem of making a project fit as many challenges as loosely as possible. I saw one the other day that had tried to be fitted into no less than 50 challenges. To me that is not what crafting is about which is why I've always had just for fun months and only a few prize months. That's what creating should be - fun and not about winning as much as possible. 

I appreciate that this decision is not going to be popular but I cannot let it carry on like this. I want to be true to what I feel and not comply with the sheep way of doing things. 

On 1st March I will be launching a new venture so if I haven't offended you with my comments and feelings above then please watch this space. 

February Challenge

Welcome to February

I've chosen a palette from Design Seeds this month.

How do these colours inspire you?

This month is a just for fun month embracing what crafting should be about - having fun so there is no link but we would love to see your creations via the comments section. For some inspiration here is what the design team created:

HELEN

The colours in this months challenge are right up my street so when my friend Lea asked me to help her scrap her photos of Paris I knew exactly what I was going to do. I have used lots of products and techniques and full pictorial details can be found on my blog.


Astrid

Difficult colors to use for me, but this photo of my stepdaughter let me use some pink and purple.

Shell here, with my creation for this month. I just love these colours & the flowers in the photo are just beautiful. So I decided to use both flowers & colours & ended up making this....I hope you like it!

Eleni

I loved the colours for this challenge and I was inspired to grab my art journal! The quote that I chose was inspired by the photo!

We will have some news for you later in the month about a different direction we are taking.

Chris / Doodle Pieces

 

 The main focal point uses my Original Asian Geisha Digital Stamp Design.
I colored her with a combination Bic and Sharpie markers