Willow Designs

Willow Designs is our new sponsor for January 2010.



Willow Designs was created by Sharon Armstrong, a graphic artist based in the UK. Her cute designs are available as printable downloads, stamps, papers and CDs.

Willow Design's cute characters, including Winnie, Walter, Petunia and many more are perfect for all kinds of paper crafting. Both children and adults will fall in love with the beautiful designs.

Willow Designs also has a very popular challenge blog - Willow Sketchie Challenge.

You can find out more about their designs and see lots of inspirational projects by clicking on the logo above.

Challenge #2

Everyone here at ECP: The Challenges wants to thank everyone for their kind comments and for taking part in our first challenge. We loved every entry!

Now on with our second challenge...


Create something based on one of the following projects from ECP...


Christmas Bag - http://www.easycraftprojects.net/Projec ... as_bag.pdf
Stockings - http://www.easycraftprojects.net/Projec ... ocking.pdf
Calender - http://www.easycraftprojects.net/Projec ... lendar.pdf
Recycled Glass Jars - http://www.easycraftprojects.net/Projec ... ecycle.pdf
Picture Frame - http://www.easycraftprojects.net/Projec ... erfect.pdf

You can create anything you like - a card, scrapbook LO, altered projects, ATC...whatever. You can also interpret the projects to suit you.

This challenge is also being sponsored by The Cutting Cafe. Every entry will be put into the draw with those from challenge one to receive any three sets of your choice from The Cutting Cafe.

Here is what our fantastic DT have put together to inspire you...

Avril
Inspired by the Christmas bag project.

Jane
Inspired by the Christmas bag project.

Juliana
Inspired by the Stocking project.

Katie
Inspired by the Stocking project.

Lisa
Inspired by the Recycled Glass Jar project.

Marlies
Inspired by the Recycled Glass Jar project.

Nancy
Inspired by the Picture Frame project.

We can't wait to see what you create!

The deadline for the challenge is Thursday 31st December at 11.59pm GMT. Our next challenge will be online on Friday 1st January 2010.

Challenge #1

Our design team have been very busy over the last few weeks preparing projects to inspire and challenge you. We have also lined up a great sponsor - The Cutting Cafe -  who are giving away any three of their printable sets to one very lucky winner this month.

To be in with a chance of winning, leave a link to your project in the comments below. We'll choose a winner at random from all those who took part in challenges #1 and #2. If you don't have a blog to post your photo on then you can also email it to us at challenges@easycraftprojects.net.

On with the first challenge....

We are challenging you to create something using TURQUOISE!!

We don't mind what you create -  a card, altered project, scrapbook page, mini book, piece of jewellery or something completely different!

Here is what our fantastic design team have put together to inspire you...

We've also used The Cutting Cafe's 'Christmas Is All Around' and 'Christmas Gift Tags' sets.

Avril

Jane

Juliana

Katie

Lisa

Marlies

Nancy

We can't wait to see what you create!

The deadline for this challenge is 17th December 11.59pm (GMT). Our next challenge will be posted online on Friday 18th December at 8pm GMT.

December Sponsor...

We would like to introduce you to our very first sponsor at ECP: The Challenges. Every 4 weeks we will be choosing a winner from all those that have participated in the last two challenges to win a prize.

Our first sponsor is.... The Cutting Cafe!



Here is what the owner of The Cutting Cafe has to say...

"Hello my name is Regina Easter. I have 4 wonderful children and an awesome supportive husband. I have for as long as I can remember loved all the aspects of creating things with paper and drawing.  So it was only fitting that I decided to open up The Cutting Cafe and I am loving every bit of this new venture.  The Cutting Cafe offers affordable Printable Stamps and Cutting Files. The Cutting Files which are basically just like templates are files that you Print out using your home printer, Cut, Assemble and then Embellish.....Very Easy.....The Cutting Files also come in the format where you can cut out the files using some of the latest Machine Cutters like the Pazzles Inspiration, Bosskut Gazelle and Cricut (with Scal software). The Printable Stamps are just that, images that are sent to you through email that you print out using your home printer. After the images are printed out, you can just color them in like you would any other stamped imaged...One great thing about the Printable Stamps and Cutting Files is that you no longer have to worry about finding space to store all of your stamps....You can keep them all in a folder in your computer and use over and over again."

The Cutting Cafe have provided us with this month's prize - any three sets from their entire range!

We'll be back later this evening with our first challenge!

And the winner is...

All the DT here at ECP: The Challenges want to thank everyone for their support so far with the challenge blog. We've been bust working on projects to inspire you and can't wait to share the first challenge on Friday!

Now down to business...

All the comments and followers were put in a bag (twice for those who added the blinkie as promised).

Lisa's OH John was asked to choose a name at random to win all that lovely stash. And the winner is...

Lohmatik!

Congratulations to our very lucky winner. Email us at info@easycraftprojects.net and we'll get your prize posted out to you!

If you didn't win, don't be sad. You have the chance of winning a prize with us every month by playing along with our challenges. We'll see you tomorrow!

Giveaway!

This post will stay at the top until the end of the giveaway. To continue reading our blog and finding out about our DT, please scroll down the page.

To celebrate the launch of our brand new challenge blog at Easy Craft Projects, we're giving away a whole load of craft goodies to one lucky winner!

You can enter by either...

Becoming a follower of ECP: The Challenges by using the button on the right, or...

add our blinkie to your own blog and leave a comment here with a link to it (adding the blinkie will enter you into the draw twice!).

You can choose both options - giving you 3 entries into the draw.

The prize includes Core'dinations Whitewash cardstock, cards & envelopes, scrapbook in a tin, quilting fat quarters, stamps, ink, glittered papers, ribbons, buttons, flowers, flock, rhinestones, eyelets, and lots more embellishments!

A name will be drawn at random and announced on the blog. The closing date for entry for the giveaway is 23.59 GMT on Wednesday 2nd December.

Our first challenge will be going live on Friday 4th December!

Introducing Lisa Swift

Lisa Swift lives in Derbyshire, UK with her partner John. She works part time in her family's craft shop and runs the local Rainbow unit. After dabbling in various crafts since she was a little girl and gaining her art skills from her grandad, Lisa became addicted to papercrafting in 2005. Studying art at A level, she loved to play around with materials, get messy and mostly have fun - this continues to the present day and there's no product she wont have a go with.

Here's what she has to say about her art...
"My favourite craft would have to be scrapbooking. I also love photography and I always take my photos thinking about how I could scrap them! I would probably say my usual style is a bit vintage but I do love to play around with some bright and funky designs too."

Lisa founded Easy Craft Projects and Craft Journal in 2006. She has also been on the design team for Kaboodle Doodles and a guest designer at Pencil Lines for their birthday celebrations this year.

You can view some of Lisa's work over on her blog.