The craft challenge got a new look over the summer and we're ready to get started again!  I think  you'll like what is coming.  You can now purchase your craft challenge packet for August from my shop.

I'll be at the Craft & Hobby Trade show all week bringing you reports from the floor on my Facebook page.  If you want to see the latest new releases, head over there and "like" me!   I'll have more in-depth blog posts coming this week as well.  I'll have one of the first looks at the new Provo Craft machine on Tuesday morning.  Sounds pretty amazing and I can't wait to see it in person!

Congrats to our winner, Bonny and her 3-D Flower.

Bonny wins the box FULL of supplies and next month's challenge packet.

Our other winner for the blog post is Beth.  You can find her post at The Alcazar Blog.  She wins next month's challenge packet.

This month we have so many amazing entries!  You have until July 1st in the evening to get in your votes.  I'll be closing the poll before I go to bed and announcing the winner the next day.

To participate in the next challenge, you'll need to purchase your packet before July 30th (or when they sell out).  You can purchase them at my Etsy shop.  I brought back some really fun stuff from my trip to Italy to include in there!

The supplies provided for this month:  clay, glitter paper, pill bottle, favor cup, and raffia.

What they are competing for: a box loaded of craft supplies.  Seriously.  A flat rate box FULL, FULL, FULL of awesomeness.

1. Captured Creature: BOB

2. Candleholder

3. Mixed Media Collage

4. Homage to Starry Night

5.  Flowers

6. Bird Feeder

7. Flower Container

8.  Laced Rose

9. Fireworks

10. Skate Key

11. 3-D Flower

12. Greeting Card

13. Necklace

VOTE!

I've been knitting quite a bit on this trip.  I spent a couple hours on this project during our train ride from Venice to Geneva.  I had some licorice, a Coke Zero, and some amazing views.

The knitting is pretty easy once the pattern is memorized.  It's definitely not a project for beginners.  But I think any advanced beginner could follow along with the pattern no problem.

I've been doing some shopping, too.  This picture gives a hint to one item that will be going in the August craft challenge packet. This is a cute little stationery store that I found near Campo Del Friari in Venice.  I have a limited number of packets available for August, so if you want to participate--get your packet before they're sold out.

Murano is an outlying island of Venice and is known for its long glass-blowing history.  Now, it is mostly industrial and the artistic glass is mostly for tourists.  I don't care, though.  There are a couple of great museums on the island and some of the factories give tours.  My goal is to take at least 1,000 photos on my trip and I can't wait to show you what I experienced!

Burano is known for its colorful houses and lacemaking.  I may just have to bring back a hanky, doily, or two.  I'm definitely going to check out the Lace Museum on the island.

I'll try to blog as much as I can while I'm gone.  You can bet that something from my travels will end up in the August craft challenge packet!  Because of that, I'm going to need to place a firm limit on how many people can participate as I will only have so many of certain supplies and no means to purchase more once I get back to the states.  If you want to participate, get your packet before they're gone!

Ciao!

]]> http://www.christynelson.net/2010/06/the-art-of-craft-in-italy/feed/ 0 http://www.christynelson.net/2010/05/challenge-announcements/ http://www.christynelson.net/2010/05/challenge-announcements/#comments Sat, 29 May 2010 14:45:03 +0000 christy http://www.christynelson.net/?p=3338

We have our winner for May.  It's Ashley from Cute as a Fox!  She made the robot wall hanging and pulled through with just over 40% of the vote.  She wins a $25 gift certificate to Amazon, courtesy of Toolulu!   She'll also win a free month of the craft challenge.

Our second prize winner is Erin from CheapPeeps.  Any of the entries that writes a post about the challenge gets entered into a random drawing.  Erin wins a free month of the challenge as well!

This was a really fun month for the challenge and you still have time to enter for June.   I'm going to start getting the packets together on Monday so you have until Sunday night to make your purchase for June!   As always, you can find them in my Etsy shop.

The challenge is also getting a little bit of a makeover.  We're going to take July off (any multi-month subscribers will have a month added on to their subscription) and starting in August you'll be able to see the new and improved challenge!

Toolulu is company I own with Deb Averett and we help companies build communities.  We love to help businesses start, grow, and maintain their online presence.  We work with all types of businesses, but the craft/design/diy world is close to our heart and we want to help those businesses succeed.   We take our marketing/PR/communication backgrounds and put them to work for you!  How's that for a word from our sponsor?

Let's get to the voting, shall we?

The participants this month were working with the following supplies:  leather strap, mini mirrors, styrofoam beads, a grapevine wreath, and floral wire.

1. Robot Wall Hanging

2.  Dreamcatcher

3. Birds' Nest

4. Floral Bouquet

5.  May Basket

6.  Altered Box

image copyright the rusted chain

I entered the giveaway for The Rusted Chain.  Check out her shop!  She has some really great stuff.  If I win that one, I'm getting a necklace that says AWESOME.  Too much?  I don't think so.

So, go and show my intern KraftyKash some love and enter her giveaways!

Congrats to Lisa!  She won with her Rosette pin.

It's time to vote!  You are all competing for a $25 gift card to the craft store of your choice and some special goodies from me.  Voting will be open until Friday morning.  At that time, I'll close the poll and declare a winner.  There is still time to purchase your packets for next month!  The deadline for participating in May is Friday, April 30th.

Just to remind you what everyone had to work with this month... burlap, black felt, safety pins, sequins, and ribbon rosettes.

image via thebunnylog.com

1. Thank You Card

2. Rosette Pin

3. Cardigan

4. Baby Doll Pillow

If there are still April craft challenge packets left in my shop, there is still time to participate.  I was on a little trip to NYC earlier this week and I happened to pick up some of the supplies at M & J Trimmings.  You won't want to miss out!

She wins a package from Grippies and a free month of the craft challenge.

Our second winner is Wistful Wrists (check out her shop!).  She wrote a great tutorial she wrote on how to make her Mirrored Note Holder.  She also wins a free month of the craft challenge.

It isn't too late to sign up for April.  You have all day to purchase your packets.