We are Neet and Wendy and we would like to welcome you to our fortnightly challenge, ‘Artful Times’, where we are offering a variety of challenges to inspire you to create in whichever style or medium of crafting you enjoy. You never know, we might even inspire you to create something out of your comfort zone and try out something new.

Yes like all challenge sites we have rules and guidelines. We hope you will read and follow them, we have Oyster Stamps as our sponsor, and of course, a winner and runner up will be chosen each month. We may also have the occasional guest designer.



Friday 30 May 2014

Winners - Challenges 54 & 55

Well, after much deliberation we would like to thank you first of all for the lovely entries received.  We did not have many entries for the brooch/pin challenge and the Mail Art one caused some confusion as it was asking for an actual envelope to be decorated rather than it just be mail art ie something to do with mail but we did attract quite a few entries for that one.  We think maybe one or two Posties will be delivering with a smile on their faces if this catches on - hope it does, it certainly brightens our day when a decorated envelope drops through the mailbox.

However the winner for this month is  Julia (10) for her lovely flowers and butterfly envelope in shades of blue


and the runner up is Julie (no 3) with her lovely brooch - unbelievably made out of denim.  Isn't it fab!


Congratulations to you both.  Please can both of you contact Neet whose email address is on her blog (button on the RH side) and she will send you your Blinkies which we hope you will display with pride and instructions for the winner to claim her prize from Oyster Stamps, our sponsors.

Thanks to all of you for your entries - we look forward to you carry on entering our challenges.  Our current one features "owls" - hope you join in.

Friday 23 May 2014

Challenge 56 - Owls - include an Owl in your Project

Hello Crafters.
 Chrissie here this time and welcome to a new challenge at Artful Times.

Wonderful entries for the Mail Art though some weren't decorated envelopes which Neet had asked for so best to read the posts to see just what is wanted for the challenges. I had never done any Mail Art before so wasn't sure what was expected but I did enjoy doing it

I have chosen Owls. They seem to have become very fashionable with crafters of all kinds and it will be lovely to see what you can think up for the challenge. You can make anything you like so have lots of fun creating.

Just to say that this will be my last DT post for Artful Times as I am hoping to explore other things. It has been great joining in here as a DT member and I thank the others on the team for our time together. I will be doing  the challenges and entering for the fun of it as there is always something new to explore.

Here is what we all made.

Neet made these beautiful mini earrings



Chrissie made a card with a secret inside


Von made this


and Wendy did a Deco page


Can't wait to see what you make.

Remember there is a prize of a £10 gift voucher
(excludes Sale items and does not include mailing costs)
for one lucky winner each month (covers two challenges)
so remember "you have to be in it to win it".

Have fun everyone

xxx

ps a note from Neet: Just to say 'Thank You' to Chrissie for some stunning DT pieces during her short stay with us.  I will always remember the blue hat you made Chrissie, it has to be my favourite amongst the many.

And now another 'Thank You' for Von who is also leaving us.  Von and I first started this blog way back with Sam on the 30th March 2012.  I still have the tag I made for the launch.  Von has made some changes in what she laughingly refers to as her "RL" and I know that one of the big RL's involves crafting and she loves it.  So Von, may I wish you all the best in your RL and may the job go from strength to strength.


Friday 9 May 2014

Challenge 55 - Mail Art

Have you ever received a card or a letter through the post where one of your friends has taken the trouble to decorate the envelope?  I had two recently and because the one I got from Oz is such a lovely work of art I had to keep it.

Somerset Studios used to feature "Mail Art" at the front of their mag each time it was published, not sure if they still do it as I don't buy the mag these days.  It was really good to see the different ways people used to decorate them - so you could stamp on them or cut pictures out and decorate them that way, a kind of collage.  Maybe you can think of another way?

Go on, brighten someone's day and make them a card and decorate the envelope - I know it makes me smile when one pops through my letterbox.

Two samples of envelopes from Somerset Studio



and now the ones from the Design Team

This is Chrissie being all colourful and bright


Wendy went with the Little People


whilst Neet went with Alice


Check what the DT have to say and play along with us - make someone's day a happy one with a decorated envelope plopping through their door.



Friday 2 May 2014

Winners Challenge 52, 53

Heavy metal and spray away are the two challenges under scrutiny this time, with spray away proving to be the most popular and although heavy metal had only a few entries they were just wonderful and it's been a pleasure visiting all of your bloggs.

But now what you have all been waiting for the winner and runner up   


The winner is 




Such wonderful detail

and the runner up is




A wonderful us of sprays 

Now if the winner will contact Neet (blog address on her blog, right hand side) she will sent you details of how to claim your £10 gift voucher from our lovely sponsors Oyster Stamps.  and if you both contact her she will send you your blinkies for you to display on your blogs.

If you would like a chance to be a winner next month then why not check out the latest challenge of making a badge button or brooch