Challenge #15.-The Quirky Silk Road

"The Silk Road is the world's oldest, and most historically important overland trade route. 

For over 2000 years, traders and merchants travelled the deserts of central Asia exchanging goods between the Chinese empire and the rest of the world." 

To get some inspiration, you can watch this video:

It´s my turn -Monica- to set the challenge and I want you to travel the ancient Silk Road and bring projects full of the beauty, colors, textures and sounds of Orient. It´s a challenge where any project is allowed, but Oriental theme. Just show us the treasures and wisdom of Orient cultures: China, Japan, India, Korea, etc...

Our sponsors for this new challenge are:

THAT CRAFT PLACE

SQUIGGLEFLY

THE EAST WIND

The prizes for this challenge are:

1st place:

From That Craft Place

2nd place: 3 images from Squigglefly

3rd place: 2 images from The East Wind

Some beautiful projects from our Guest Designers:

Papersniffer

I paper pieced the digi (Chinese Beautiful from Squigglefly) with patterned papers and added Glossy Accents to the character, then layered up up with various papers, mostly Papermania, but one is a gorgeous, textured one with a glorious shimmer.  The tag and corner elements are also Papermania.  To embellish, I added some black organza ribbon, a bow, black pearls, and a flower that I made with my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals dies.

And now the Design Team:

MONICA

For this fan card I used the stunning "Chinese Dancer" digi from The East Wind and this lovely chinese sentiment "Happy Birthday" from Squigglefly.
I used a lot of red because it represents good fortune and joy in Chinese culture. It is use in Chinese New Year and other holidays and family gatherings.
The Chinese calligraphy for the word "fan" has the same sound as the character of "kindness" or "good". So fans are viewed as good luck charms and expressions of generosity.
I love all the richness behind Orient cultures.

Cazzy 

I love this little Mewshu Pork cat from Squigglefly and thought it went perfectly with the Chinese Thank You also from Squigglefly. I found some Han-ji oriental paper to go with the theme. I added a gold double tassled cord to finish. (Note to self: check which way the card opens before sticking on cat and greeting next time!).

I love this Unky image called Lucy Loo Bookaholic - just look at all that hair, how long it must be! Normally I would keep the sponsors apart but the Chinese Proverb from Squigglefly went so perfectly with this image! Papermania papers, Crafty Ribbons ribbon.

Lyn 

  Here's my card (at last!) Not having my glasses set me back a bit! I've used the Unky image called Lucy Loo Bookaholic too. I was going to 3D her, but every one of my 'Ice Grey' Promarkers has run dry. So, I'll show her as she is for now and with any luck, show her again later with all her other bits added! At the moment the only bit that's been 3D-ed is the book. The papers I used were freebies from Cardmaking & PaperCraft Magazine sometime ago. The punched out Chinese word I think might mean Happiness or Blessings. And I apologise if it's the wrong way round!

Cindy 

- Poor Cindy - she has the flu and managed to send this gorgeous project to Cazzy to put on, before going back to her sick bed. We hope she gets well soon.

 Cindy used the gorgeous Ghetto Fabulous Ashley from The East Wind, and that looks like real silk behind her. The sentiment is from a set called Circle Quotes Set from Squigglefly.

Just look at this fabulous printer tray, what a gorgeous thing to have! Lots of  Chinese ephemera used here.

To see who won the last challenge click HERE or scroll down to the next post.

Please add a link to your blog post (not your blog) or your online photo gallery, SCS etc. using the button below.

Have Fun - The Quirky Crafts Challenge Design Team.

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge 15 - An Octopus's Garden

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone (in the UK) is enjoying this uncharacteristic stretch of summer we're having... we don't usually get more than a week of sun! 

If you would like to find out who won the last challenge click here.

It's my (Daire's) turn to set the challenge this week, and there's a theme (and a song) that's been bouncing around my brain for a while... Octopus's Garden by The Beatles. So this time I want your creations to be inspired by this song... it doesn't necessarily have to feature an octopus, but to be eligible for one of our prizes you must incorporate something from a garden and something from under the sea.

Here's a video of Octopus's Garden to get those juices flowing:

Now check out our great sponsors for this challenge, who are generously offering prizes to our top three entries:

Squigglefly

Squigglefly will be offering three images or sets to our 1st place winner.

Paper Pretties

Paper Pretties will be offering six images to our 2nd place winner.

Robyn's Fetish

Robyn's Fetish will be offering three images to our 3rd place winner.

Are you ready for some inspiration? Look at these awesome creations from our Guest Designers and Design Team for some ideas:

Guest Designer - Leeann

Leanne used  Billingsley from Paper Pretties, look at the fishes on the backing paper, and bubbles paper too.

Guest Designer - Kali

I used the image Birthday Octopus from Squigglefly. I coloured the image with my Copics. I cut out the image and cut a frame for the image freehand. I chose a blue design paper for the background, because it remind me a bit of water. As decoration I used lace and rhinestones. I hope you like this card. 

(We love it Kali - you've included two things we love here at Quirky Crafts, vibrant colour and yummy texture!)

Guest Designer - Marina

Marina used Bubble Fish from Squigglefly, we love the realistic bubbles! With the bubble backgrounds and the matching flowers and sign this is perfect for the challenge.

Daire

I started out this art journal page by copying out the lyrics to Octopus's Garden with a Sharpie, and then covering it in an acrylic wash. I then added another layer of paint, by sponging it over an octopus shaped mask. I coloured the 'Butterfly Blossoms' image from Paper Pretties with felt tips and gel pens, and added a few smudges of craft paint and gesso, to make my garden seem like it was under the water. Originally the butterfly was joined to the flowers, but I snipped him off and moved him, because I thought a butterfly flying around under the sea was appropriately whimsical. My final touches included a doodled border, and a sentiment borrowed from an old copy of Cosmo. I have something else planned for our reminder post, so make sure you head back over next Sunday!

Doris

Doris used images from Squigglefly to make her first card, on the front are Crabby and I think a made up octopus! The paper is like bubbles underwater too.

Inside the card a pop up garden with more Squigglefly images clearly having a great time in the garden with umbrellas and buckets and spades.

For her second card Doris has used Paper Pretties images, and added her own octopus tentacles. Ocean backing paper finishes off this frame card.

Cazzy

This card is made using images from Paper Pretties, I used Daisy (fish in bowl), Billingsley (diving duck), Butterfly Blossoms, Max Splasher (dive bombing dog) and Hani (parrot in treasure chest). Most of these come with several great sentiments, Best Fishes is one that comes with Daisy.

 Lyn

At last, I'm here too! I've used this lovely little fish from Squigglefly. The colouring was done on the computer and most of the background too. The backing paper I did myself. You'll find that and my card on my blog on a Tuesday post!!

Remember, we want to see both something from a garden and something from under the sea in your project, now go get quirky!

Please add a link to your blog post (not your blog) or your online photo gallery, SCS etc. using the button below.

Have Fun - The Quirky Crafts Challenge Design Team.

P.S. Don't forget to pop back over next weekend for some more Design Team inspiration!

An InLinkz Link-up