Just a very quick post...re Design Team call...

The deadline is Sunday lunchtime 12:00 GMT for the call so please get your entries in on time if you wish to be considered - we've had lots of entries and anyone outside this time will NOT be considered! Just also to say thankyou to everyone who has already sent their applications, sorry but there are too many to reply and acknowledge you all! We will announce the lucky peeps next week!! thankyou all again and good luck everyone! xx Nikky xx

Week 45 Challenge - Gift Box

Hi everyone, Nikky here...

Just a quick hello from me and a reminder to check out the Design Team call - the deadline is Sunday so please see the post below this one to find out what you need to do if you want to enter! We're looking for more than one person so go for it!

Also, please make sure you check in with us next Friday for news of the Polka Doodles blog hop - we have over £400 of goodies to give away to lots of lucky people and it's a hop with a difference!!

Be there or be square!!

Whoop whoop - so get entering that DT call and the blog hop next week! Sadly we have some news this week that we've lost a couple of our teamies...the lovely Kris has left us for a little while due to some family commitments and the fabulous Brenda has also left us to concentrate on other things - I'm sure you'll see them both around in blogland and we wish them both well and good luck and tally ho!

It's Friday again and that can only mean another Polkadoodle challenge! Christmas is creeping up rather fast so, as I (Ruth) am setting the challenge this week I've gone with the idea of:

Make A Gift Box

If you are stuck for inspiration, just have a look below at the Design Team creations - gift boxes are not just for Christmas! The deadline for this challenge is Sunday 21 November at 12noon GMT and please remember not to enter your creation into more than 9 other challenges. We are in awe of all the challenges you do link one creation to, but you won't be considered for a top three place.

Before we move on, I need to announce the winners of challenge 43 which was Fliss' Autumn theme.

First Place: Colette
Second Place: Clairebears
Third Place: Faye

Congratulations! Please email Nikky for further details.

Oh, and before I forget - you HAVE to check out the challenge for next Friday - this is going to be one that you DON'T want to miss! The post will go live at 9am GMT as normal, but it will be one that you need to be in on! Lots of opportunities to get your hands on some very wonderful Polkadoodle products as Nikky has already mentioned!

Right, on with the Design Team creations for a Gift Box!

Ruth: It seems that Fliss and I are on the same wavelength this week! I've made four boxes from the take out box templates on Paper Boutique - Creative Christmas and printed papers from the same cd on the reverse. I know that these boxes don't look finished. It's because they are unfinished! They will be used as little gift boxes when we have our Christmas Day meal. I don't yet know how many I need to make hence the bare look! They will get blinged up and have a little gift inside when the big day comes!



Enfys: I covered a little tin box with my favourite gingham paper from Sundae of Seasons and printed out the apple bucket as a black and white stamp, and coloured with Promarkers, then cut it out. The apples were coated with glossy accents. I have put little cinnamon scented candles in the box, but forgot to take a photo of that!

Tracy - I have used Meeshelle without her wings from the Fairy Flutterfly stamps, on a Christmas icicle box, which is from the CD Paper Boutique 2 - Creative Christmas . The poinsettia is a stamp from the Crimbo doodles stamp set, and I have used Promarkers to colour the image.

Claire - I decided to give the Christmas Pud box a go! It's from Paper Boutique 2 - Creative Christmas CD. I added some stickles, wire, sakura and a tag in the shape of another pudding from Sundae of Seasons CD.

Fliss - I decided to get ahead for Christmas and made a couple of little boxes using a template from the Creative Christmas CD which you can print on the back of some decorated paper. I used some of the pretty festive swirl papers from the Jingle Jangles CD and added embellishments of punched snowflakes with Martha Stewart punched trim and then cut out leftover embellies from my stash of Creative Christmas bits and pieces. These are really fab for small gifts of jewellery, make-up or a few choccies etc.

Lis-m - I printed of a couple of sheets of card from the Paper Boutique Creative Christmas cd, using the main blue snowflake paper for the box and an additional layer in the dots. I used a Martha Stewart punch to create a border round the box, added a few gems, layered some nestie snowflakes and a button on top. Of course (who can resist), its Fairy Flutterfly Gracie, coloured in to co-ordinate to give even more cuteness!

Emma Hi, I have made a handbag style gift box. Using the printed box template from the Paper Boutique Volume 2 CD - Creative Christmas, I just printed out the box from the CD, stuck it all together, aged it up a little with distress inks and glitter, then I threaded a wire with seed beads through the top for a posh handle and tied chocolate brown satin ribbon in a bow to the front. Finally I added a 'handbag charm' by re-using a part of an old necklace.

Tracie: I used the Stamp Doodles Joy to make my little Christmas gift box, maybe Santa will fill it with something sparkly and expensive for me?

Jenny I've made the milk carton from Paper Boutique Vol 1 and made it into a little Candy Shoppe using the decoupage pieces from Paper Boutique Vol II Creative Christmas. The chimneys double up as fastenings for the box.

Dee: I too have made a milk carton box from the Paper Boutique Vol 1 cd. I have avoided Christmas this week and made it as a gift box for a new home pressie. I decorated it with letters from Not for Girls cd and bits of scrap paper that I think are from Back to Nature cd (please forgive me if they're not). The house image is a bit of a tease, and a sneaky peek of something new coming your way very soon, so keep your eyes open.

Don't forget - the deadline is Sunday 21 November at 12noon GMT and please remember our 10 challenge rule! Good luck!

*****

We are looking for creative talent to join us here at the Polka Doodles challenge blog.

So if you'd love to get your work seen and have fun please follow the instructions below:

Criteria for Team Members:

You must be able to enter at least 3 weekly blog challenges a month and have a blog. 

It is part of your duties to leave comments on the challenge entries on a weekly basis.

You must be able to contribute fully to the team and be able to commit for at least 6 months. Please make sure you really consider this - many people jump in without really considering the commitment we are asking for and what is required. 

An important part of your duties is to create samples for Polka Doodles products which will be seen on the website, shows and Create & Craft TV. The deadlines for these samples are very short and are a pre-requisite for the DT members. From time to time you may also be asked to make additional samples as and when required.

Payment: there is no payment for this work, but you will receive Polka Doodles products to enable you to make the samples and your projects and obviously these are free for you to keep and use.

The Design Team call is open to anyone and everyone, no matter what your ability. We have a diverse pool of creative talents and are looking for individuals who can complement the team. This does not necessarily mean we are only looking for advanced crafters, we have a variety of reasons for choosing new members. If you feel proud of your work then please let us see it.

To enter please email Nikky here with a link to your blog and tell us why you want to be on the team. 

Closing date for entries is Sunday 14th Nov at 6pm.

Good Luck!! x