September theme

Hello everyone, we thought this months challenge was a nice easy one, but it seems clear from some of your entries that some peeps are really struggling with what is a frame and what is not a frame, or otherwise not reading the challenge post properly !!

A frame is according to the Cambridge dictionary............"a frame into which a picture fits", just what we thought as well.

So this is what has been decided, in fairness to entrants who already have or do make real efforts to create a proper frame in line with the theme, they will be the people whose work will form the basis of entries considered for the prize shown on the challenge post. All other entrants who have already or wish to use nesties/dies as the base matting for their image as opposed creating or using a frame, will be put into the hat for a smaller token gesture prize.

We hope this way nobody will be prevented from entering and you can all join in the challenge fun.

Special Note: for this one month only, anyone who has already entered but not used a frame, may enter a second card providing their second entry has a proper frame in line with the theme. In this instance their second entry only will be eligible for a prize and that will be the one shown on the challenge blog.

September challenge

Good Morning everyone and welcome to our September Challenge here at Stampalot.

This month we are getting into the frame with the theme...................

"It's a Frame Up"

Your entry can be anything you choose providing you frame something on your project. It can be a frame made from nesties for example as some of the DT have done, or a ready made frame, but to be absolutely clear, matted nestie shapes with an image stamped on top will not be considered to be a frame. .......that means either the image or sentiment must be set within an actual frame. We want to be able to say 'What a great frame !'

Our wonderful sponsors Sir Stampalot have put together a fabulous collection of crafting goodies for this months prize. There have been so many new products hit the shop this month that you will want to check out the Whats New section so as not to miss out on those must have items.

Oh, and watch out for a new weekly feature that Sir Stampalot are promoting. It’ll be called ‘Freebie Friday’ and it’ll be sent to you via their email newsletter so if you haven’t already signed up, you’ll need to sign up here or or use the “stay intouch… sign up to smudges” icon on the home page of their website (left hand column) here.

So on to some inspiration............................

Our Guest Designer this month is Sylvia Anne who has created this stunning card for us

Brenda

Chris


Clare


Francesca


Lynne


Pinky


Sally


Tracy

August winners

Well what a month it was and despite the little problems with Mr Linky early in the month you really really wowed us with your wonderful artwork.

It was a delight to visit such a fabulous array of different styles and projects which as you may expect made the DT's job really hard when it came to selecting our favourites and as with last month there were a good number of nominations........................perhaps I should explain how we come to our winners each month............each DT member and Sir Stampalot themselves select their Top 4, each nominee is awarded points from first down to fourth and then votes added together so we have our winner and Top 3. A simple process and one we feel is fair as all the DT's have different crafting styles,which mean all entrants stand equall chances of winning.

So here are the lucky peeps who scored the most votes this month.....................

In first place and winner of the yummy collection of goodies from Sir Stampalot is...............

Gini

With an absolutely adorable creation

Congratulations Gini, please mail me brenda@ibas.co.uk with you full postal addy so you prize can be sent to you.

And this months Top 3 are...............................

Danielle

With a charming Summery creation

Jill

With a super box with a saucy twist

Suzanne

With a beautifully decorated box

Well done all of you, please grab yourself our Top 3 logo and wear on your blogs with pride.

Mr Linky problems - August Challenge relaunched

As some of you will probably have noticed, the August Stampalot challenge was taken down yesterday, and we are relaunching it today.

We had major problems as our Mr Linky widget appears to have been hijacked and had over 350 bogus entries, including some from our own DT without them knowing! We tried for days to sift through them, but it was an impossible task. Brenda has been in touch with the Man from Mr Linky who said 'I am sorry to say I can offer no sure explanation why the widgets appear to have merged at some point.' - Guess that's a no then.

Therefore we decided to start again. For those of you who had already entered please accept our apologies and we'd be very grateful if you could pop your link into Mr Linky once more, even if we had already left you a comment.

So, here it is again, and lets all keep our fingers crossed that he behaves himself from now on!As it's holiday time and lots of peeps have things planned, we would have another nice simple theme for you:

*************Whatever You Fancy**************

That's it in a nutshell, you can create whatever you like, although I must remind you to please check the challenge rules before you link up your work.
Here is the fabulous prize from Sir Stampalot.

Our Guest Designer for August is Esther and look at the super creation she has made for us................

Brenda

Chris

Sorry, no project this month

Clare

Francesca


Lynne

Pinky

Sally

Tracy

Thanks for your patience! Let's hope normal service is resumed, and that Brenda can get back to her unpacking.

Sally

Should Mr Linky go AWOL, or throw another hissy fit, you can leave a message with an html link to your post in the comments section.

Have you checked your entry is valid and that you have combined your entry with no more than five other challenges........if you have the DT will not comment on your work and you will not be eligible for the prize or Top 3.

July winners

As they say, better late than never, but at last I have sorted the votes from all the entries for July and what a mammoth task that was for the DT, such fabulous work and the decisions were so so hard to make. Thank you all for joining us again, we really do appreciate all your support.

So on to the lucky winner of that super prize from Sir Stampalot..............................

Brenda

(no of course it's not me, but a stunning piece of work I would be proud to call my own)

Brenda, please mail me brenda@ibas.co.uk with your full postal addy so I can arrange for your goodies to be sent off to you.

And our Top 4.....voting was so close I made an executive decision, my doesn't that sound posh............wonder if I can get a salary to match ?

Joanna

Mariana

Claire

Manuela

Congratulation to you all, well deserved credit for your super work. Please grab our Top 3 logo (all 4 of you) and wear with pride.

Challenge rules

Hello everyone, sorry to be Mrs Grumps, but a little word about challenge rules.

Day five of this months challenge and we are thrilled to see so many of you joining in the fun.................but please do check the rules before you link up your work..........they are on the sidebar, at the top of the blog and above Mr Linky.

I know most of you do abide by the rules, but sadly some of you don't, which spoils the fun for all of us. And even if you have six entries or less when you enter and the DT have visited you, that does not mean will not check back to see if more challenges have been added.............yes, some peeps really do that.

So there is no misunderstanding, you can combine your Stampalot entry with a max of five others.............that means six in total. Any breaking that rule will just be marked ineligible and not be in the voting for the prize at the end of the month.

It takes the DT a lot of time to visit your entries and they love doing it, but they do get a bit miffed wasting their time visiting those folks who don't bother to check their entry is eligible, when they could be commenting on those who do play by the rules.

July challenge

Hello everyone, time for another new challenge so I hope you are all rearing to go because we have made it really simple for you this month with:

***********Anything Goes***********

As you will see from the super inspiration the DT have come up with, we are all in Molly mode showing you just how fabulous the new Molly Blooms Summertime Fun collection is, just right for all those Summer creations. You can find them all here at Sir Stampalot waiting to make their way to your craft desk.

And as you might expect, this months fabulous prize has several of the new stamps along with lots of other summery crafty goodies to keep the lucky winner occupied for days.

Now for a look at what the DT have come up with to set you on your way, a really wonderful display with each DT members using them in their own unique style, proving just how versatile these stamps are.......................

Brenda

Chris

Clare

Francesca

Lynne

Pinky

Sally

Tracy

Note about our July winner and Top 3: They will be a bit late being posted as I will be on my holibos, so look out for them about 9th August.......but the August challenge will be all scheduled and ready to go on 1st of the month......proving Mr Blogger is playing fair that is.

Before you link, have you checked our rules and are you sure your card is eligible for our challenge ?