Monthly Challenge #1 -- Something New

Good morning fellow crafters!! And welcome to the Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenge Blog and our reboot!! And A Very Happy New Year to Everyone! We hope you have a wonderful year ahead and we hope to see you each month!!
 
We are beginning our new challenges this year and becoming a Monthly Challenge Blog!! We will begin all of the challenges on the 10th of each month. They will finish up on the 9th of the following month. We will then have a random draw for the sponsor winners and we will of course continue our DT Favorites! All of the winners will be posted on the 20th of the month.

Monthly Challenge #1 is all about Something New!! You can try anything new! Maybe you have a certain fold that you have always wanted to try, or a technique? Maybe it a new product that you have you wanted to test out. Maybe its a a new baby, new marriage, etc. Whatever it is, you just let us know in your post what your "new" is and link up here! We can't wait to see all of the new things! This will even help us have some new things to try!! We love getting inspiration from you all! You amaze us!

We want to send a huge thank you out to our January 2016 sponsors:



Please click on the Rules Tab at the Top to read up on the rules!
Deadline: The deadline for this challenge will be midnight on Tuesday, February 9th, 2015. Please make sure to link up before then.

Prize and DT Favorite Information: We will randomly draw the winner for each of the sponsors. These winners will be posted on Saturday, February 20th, 2015. We will also post the DT Favorites at the same time.




Doodle Pantry, LLC
Prize: $10 Gift Certificate
Doodle Pantry is the brain child of Laurie. While she tried to find digital images to meet her needs, she decided to draw her own. And now she shares that God given talent with the rest of us and we are so appreciative! She has a really diverse selection of digital stamps and we are sure you will find something that you love! All of Laurie's images are made for kids of all ages! Her goal is to have a shop full of wholesome, family and children friendly images. She has surely accomplished that and we love them!


Hanne using Vintage Auto
Something New: Paper and Silver Stars, the image and sentiment



Kel using With Heart
Something New: Flat Sequins Confetti



Monica using Vintage Tub
Something New: Paper Piecing with a Digital Image and Coloring Lifelike Bubbles



Rebecca using Love Birdies
Something New: 3 Panel Window Card


Sandy using Balloon Ants
Something New: Making A Box with Notelet Cards and using the Bokeh Technique


Susan using New Years Birdie
Something New: Spotlight Technique and Shaker Card





Imagine That!
Prize: $10 Gift Certificate
All Digital Stamps from Imagine That! are drawn by Kris or her daughter. It is the home of Digis by Kris and Carly's Cuties. You can't get much better than a mother and daughter team with loads of talent! They offer cute, family-friendly images and papers. All of the digital sets include outlines and pre-colored versions as well. Please make sure you check out their fabulous digital stamps! We know you will love them as much as we do!!


Ana Isabel using Baking Chloe
Something New: Polymer Clay to Add Dimension


Berni using Polar Love Something New: Using Paint Chips and New items: the snowflake and Border Circles


Lynda using Baking Chloe
Something New:


NanaConnie using Polar Love
Something New: Heart Dies


Shirley-Anne using Baking Chloe
Something New: New Digi Papers, image and sentiment from a New Sponsor





PolkaDoodles
Prize: $7.50 Euros Gift Certificate
Polkadoodles started in 2009 by husband and wife team Nikky and Kris Hall. Nikky started up her company in the UK and within two months was on tv sharing her products to a national audience. Her fan base grew rapidly and continues to have a loyal customer base today. We are lucky enough to have their awesome artwork to craft with and you will be sure to find tons that you love! Don't hesitate to visit and grab up some amazing items to create with today!


Del using Wandering Star Octavia Frosted Winter
Something New: Frantage


Joanna using Odella Fairy
Something New: New Card Form and New Design Paper


Kraftykoolkat using Wandering Star Octavia Frosted Winter
Something New: Printing Image Straight Onto Pearl Cardstock To Colour and First Time using A Digital Image alongside Stamped Images to Create a Scene



Lynnpenguin using Cat/Kittens
Something New: Card with a Pull Tab Sentiment on the Front



Traceymo using Cat/Kittens
Something New: SVG File and Cardstock






Smeared Ink
Prize: Images Used By The Design Team
Smeared Ink is a small business created by two sisters, Terra and Tori. Both have extensive experience pursuing all things artistic, and bring their unique and different view to the stamp images offered at Smeared Ink. These sisters are rebellious souls who love darker aesthetics, soulful pursuits, and living life to its fullest. Smeared Ink offers both unmounted rubber and digital art stamps that embrace alternative, gothic, edgy, and unique designs. We thrive on different and unusual. We welcome the macabre and devious side of things, and pride ourselves on being one of the first "dark" stamp companies on the scene, paving the way for others and creating a community of alternative stampers.Unfortunately, we are sad to announce that Smeared Ink has closed their shop. We will really miss them.


AngelicBadGirl using Venice Mask 5
Something New: New Brother Scan and Cut and Braying Technique


Annette using Behind
Something New: Cardstock, Ribbon, Box and Bling



BBsButterfly using Behind
Something New: New Feathers, Ribbon Tape and Colored Pencils


Deanne Saunders using Milagros Frame
Something New: New Basic Grey Embellishments and New Glitter


Kerri Hibberd using Venice Mask 7
Something New: Used New Silhouette Cameo, paper and first time using feathers

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy New Year from the Open-Minded Crafting Fun Design Team!!

Good evening everyone! First we just want to send out one last HUGE thank you to Vicky Fortier, who we miss dearly. She was a part of the beginning of Open-Minded Crafting Fun and it would not have ever happened had it not been for her support and the time she put into this challenge blog. You are very missed. Next, we want to send out a huge thank you to Carol and Erin for running the blog while Susan was away. You are all amazing for doing what you did. You are missed and appreciated more than you could ever know. So, thank you so very much for everything from the bottom of our hearts.

Next, we wanted to post a little Happy New Year to everyone from the entire Design Team and we wanted to introduce you to our team as well!!  We have our first monthly challenge coming up on the 10th of January at 6 am EST. It is ready to go and we are all excited to have everyone playing along! All of the challenges will be posted on the 10th of each month and the winners and DT Favorites will be posted on the 20th of the following month.

So, without further ado!! We are going to introduce you to the entire Design Team... including members that have stayed with us and those that are new to our team!!

These are our Design Team Members that stayed with us during our switch to a Monthly Challenge. Thank you all so very much for staying with us. We are so lucky and honored to have each and every one of you on our Design Team Family. You all are wonderful and so great to learn from. Thank you!!

• Ana Isabel -- The Red Mullet Band
• AngelicBadGirl aka Samantha Brooks -- AngelicBadGirl
• Berni Cuttino -- Chasing The Dream
• Del aka Adele -- Designed By Del
• Hanne Makela -- Handmade By Hanne
• Joanna Gorecka -- Handmejki Aluny
• Kel aka Kel Acopan -- Scraps & photoGRAFFS
• Lynda Cooke -- My Handmade Life - A Crafter's Blog
• Rebecca Wong -- Scrapping With LUV
• Shirley-Anne Barber -- Stamping For Joy
• Susan Kennedy -- Scrap A Thousand Words

Now, we would like to welcome our new members to the team. Thank you all so much for joining us!!  We look forward to the great time ahead!! You all are so talented and it has been a joy to get to know you so far and we look forward to getting to know you better!! Thank you all!


Annette Stapylton -- Annettes Hobby Rosettes
Hi, my name is Annette Stapylton! I live on the South Coast of Nowra NSW Australia with my hubby and two little dogs and have been scrapping for approx 10 years on and off. Since retiring 5 years ago I have been scrapping full time as a hobby only. I am the Owner/Creator of the World Wide Open Design Team Monthly Challenge and I also am the owner/creator of My Besties Meet at the Scrappers Corner Monthly Challenge. I also am the owner of the Facebook Group Meet at the Scrappers Corner which currently has 1589 members and this site is for chatting, listing various challenges, promoting, posting projects, sharing all types of crafting and tutorials etc. Its just a fun friendly group.


BBsButterfly aka Elizabeth Britt -- BBsButterfly
Elizabeth Britt has been a public school and online educator for over 15 years teaching English to students from grades 6^th through college, and Masters level Teacher Education courses. She currently lives in Oklahoma City with her husband of 15 years, 6 dogs, a cat, and a bird. She has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She is fairly new to blogging and YouTube tutorials, but is excited about sharing her art with the world. Her specialties are papercrafts, altered items, and mixed media. She is a member of the DecoArts Helping Artist program and new to the Open-Minded Crafting Fun Design Team for 2016.


Deanne Clarke-Saunders -- A Little Bit O'Paper
My name is Deanne Clarke-Saunders. My hubby and I live in Paradise, Newfoundland Canada. I was an elementary teacher for 23 years but retired early. I am now an Early Childhood Educator (couldn’t stay away from the kiddies!!). I have always enjoyed playing with paper, scissors, glue, and ESPECIALLY crayons and pencil crayons, ever since I’ve been a small child. I just couldn’t stop playing, so I continued by scrapbooking and card-making! I love it!!! My hubby calls me a paper hoarder. He just MAY be right, but I’d never tell him that!!! A man doesn’t need to know he’s right!!! haha!


Kerri Hibberd -- The Occasional Crafter
Hi I’m Kerri a part time teacher from the UK. I’ve been card making now for just over 2 years. I found that crafting helped me unwind from teaching and helps me relax. I started out by just making cards for family and my confidence has slowly grown. I married my very supportive husband back in 2012 and he puts up with all my mess! I’m not a very tidy crafter. I’m also a mother to a gorgeous toddler who keeps me on my toes!


Kraftykoolkat aka Cathy -- Kraftykoolkat
Hi I'm Cathy Tanner. I am a 64 year old crafter living Hertfordshire UK. I spend all my time crafting and blogging. I had to retire from work early through ill health and my crafting keeps me going. If I am not crafting or blogging I am on the internet looking for crafty things to buy, I am lucky to have a dedicated crafting room in our apartment. (BUT, I do have to let the other half in occasionally to do his hobby as well !!! )  I have been happily married to Tony for 30 years.  I have a Stepdaughter that lives in France with her husband but sadly no Grandchildren. My favorite technique is colouring Stamps and Digi images with Promarkers/Graph’ It  markers and using all the lovely dies that there are on the market.


Lynnpenguin -- Lynnpenguin's Creative Corner
My name is Lynn (aka Lynnpenguin) I have been crafting my whole life and enjoying many different creative avenues. I've been an avid Scrapbooker and Cardmaker for over 15 years. I came across blogging about 3 years ago and love it. I enjoy being part of several design teams. I love to colour with Copic Markers and also dabble in pencil crayons. I collect penguins and have over 3,000 of them (so please don't send me any!). I live in Southern Ontario, CANADA in the Greater Toronto Area with my husband and son.


Monica Maier -- Monica's Craft Corner
I am married with 3 boys, and work part time at Michael's. I've lived in IL since 2003 but was born in TX. I grew up a "military brat", so I've been lucky to call TX, FL, Germany, IN, AZ, NC and IL home at some point in my life. I've been crafting things since I was little. I've dabbled in painting (canvas, wood and plaster houses), sewing, wreath making, crochet, scrapbooking and card making. Card making has become a favorite, why by a card if I have the supplies to make my own!


NanaConnie -- Granny's Attic
I'm a Nana to 6 and great-Nana to 2; family is very important to me, second only to my love of God and church. I've been crafting all my life and my interests include sewing, crocheting, painting, ceramics, short stories and poetry, plus creative cooking and baking. Once I retired, I really discovered papercrafts, including scrapbooking and card making. These days, making cards seems to have eclipsed all other creative pursuits because of the relatively immediate reward of seeing the completed project. I love serving on Design Teams and playing in challenges. I'm so excited about rejoining the Open Minded Crafting Fun team. :-D **(And we couldn't be more happy that you have rejoined us!)**


Sandy How -- Sandy's Creations
I am Sandy How. I've been married for 40 years and we have 5 wonderful children and 5 beautiful grandchildren with another due in March. I spend my time babysitting, singing in the church choir that we attend each Sunday and performing concerts with another choir of 80 plus choristers and crafting. I teach cardmaking at a community group and love getting together with friends during the week to craft as well. I've dabbled in several types of craft but for the last 10 years cardmaking has been my favourite with stamping and paper embroidery being my top two interests. Having internet access has certainly helped to see and learn new techniques and enjoy looking at what other fellow crafters create.


Traceymo -- Mowbray Designs
Hi I'm Tracey, I live in Oxfordshire in UK, married with 2 wonderful sons. I have been papercrafting for over 11 years now. I love to craft! Love colouring in using digi stamps is a must for me. But have dappled in scrapbooking & jewellery.

Thanks to everyone!!  And we all look forward to the year ahead and having all of you play along!! Thank you to the amazing sponsors that have joined us for this year. Thank you for your generosity! You can find all of the sponsors on the side bar. See you on the 10th of January for our first challenge this year!