Wednesday 1 April 2015

The April Challenge

Welcome to the April challenge! This month we're going bold, bright and almost Bollywood in style as we'd like you to create something in in vibrant shades of Pink, Orange, Purple, Blue and Metallic Gold!


You can use any shade or shades of the above colours but please make sure you use all five in your piece - no other colours please! Metallic gold is...well...metallic gold! This means you can use any gold beads with a metallic finish and they can be shiny or matt. If you don't have any metallic gold beads then you can incorporate this colour using your clasp, focal, charms or other findings.


THE TWIST:
This month we'd like you to incorporate some FRINGE into your work. This could be done with beads as in a simple straight or looped beaded fringe or coralling etc. or you could use fabric trim. I'm sure some of you will think up some original ways to include some fringe so use your imagination! Pre-made beaded trim is accepted as long as you've used beads elsewhere in your project - remember we are all about tackling that bead stash! Remember, the twist is optional, you don't need to include it for your entry to be accepted but if you do you will receive two entries into the draw.


THE PRIZE:
Our sponsor this month is Valentina and she's offering £25 to spend in her Etsy shop Beads and More By Yashma!


HOW TO ENTER:
Simply email a photograph of your entry to Liz at ottbs@live.com. The challenge runs until Midnight on Thursday the 30th of April and the winner is drawn and announced the following day. The challenge is open to beaders worldwide.

RULES & OTHER INFORMATION:
Entries must have been started on or after April 1st 2015.
You can make any item, it does not need to be jewellery.
You can use any craft technique but it must include beads.
Findings are exempt from the colour challenge.
Your entry must be a finished piece.
If your entry isn't your own design you must credit the original designer.

There is more detailed information on the challenge here but if you have any questions please leave a comment below or email us. 

Good luck everyone and happy beading!

The March Challenge - And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who joined in with our March challenge. Despite the challenge theme, it wasn't 'grim' at all! It's been wonderful seeing which Grimm fairy tale each entrant selected for their inspiration and how they chose to interpret the story into a finished beaded piece! As usual we have one lucky winner chosen at random and you can see the results at the bottom of this post. Please take a look at the beautiful entries along the way, you can click on the photographs if you want to see them in their full glory!




















































Everyone's names went into the list randomizer at Random.org and the lucky beader whose name is at the top is...


GILL TOFTS


Congtratulations Gill, you're the winner of the £15 voucher to spend at Old Bicycle Shop!

We hope you enjoyed this challenge, please pop back later today as will be posting a brand new challenge for April :)