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Tuesday 28 July 2009

Previous clues

Day 1 clue

Sponsor 1 - Crafts, cooking, flowers and TV, you don't get many more sweeter than me!
Sponsor 2 - Among our products you'll find a motley crew, flip me the other way to get a cheeky view!



Day 2 clue

Sponsor 1 - Heavenly cards for you to do, Eastern treasures you'll find here too.

Sponsor 2 - Creative ideas in your mind, we've lots of treasures here for you to find.

Monday 27 July 2009

Some of your questions answered....

Q. Do you have to have a blog to take part?
A. No, you can take part via email too, the email addy is on the top right of the screen and a clicky link will be in every challenge post.


Q. I'd like to have a blog but don't know where to start
A. There are instructions on the page on how to create your own blog (scroll down the menu on your right) If you get stuck email and I'll help as much as I can!


Q. What is blog candy?
A. Blog candy is a giveaway usually of craft goodies that you can win by following the instructions on the site.


Q. I'm not a new cardmaker, can I still join in?
A. Of course! Although this blog is designed for newer cardmakers anybody is welcome to play along with the challenges. I would be encouraging you to try something new that you haven't before if you're more experienced though!


Q. What do you class as "new" or "inexperienced" cardmaker?
A. Thats entirely up to you! You may have been making cards 3 years but only for family and friends so may not have made that many or you may have jumped straight into blogging, swaps and challenges 3 months ago and made dozens so there is no definate answer. Anybody can take part in our challenges but if you do class yourself as a bit more experienced then why not have a try at something outside your usual style or comfort zone?


Q. When is the 1st challenge?
A. Challenge 1 is 10th August which is our official opening.


Q. Does it cost anything to take part?
A. Gosh noooo! Not a thing!


Q. I am a scrapbooker, I don't make cards (yet) Can I do scrapbook layouts?
A. Yes you can! Some of the challenges might be a bit more difficult but you should be able to play along just fine!


Q. I want a pretty blog!! How do I get a pretty blog?
A. This really is very easy! If you see a pretty blog around chances are there will be a link to the creators somewhere. Go to their link i.e http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/ or http://bloggerblogbackgrounds.blogspot.com/ for the gorjuss girls ones.

They will all have instructions on site on what you need to do but generally it is...

Go into your customise option (top right)
Add a gadget and select the html option (about 3rd one down) and copy and paste the code across from the site.

To make a personalised banner you need to download this and edit it in software such as paint shop pro or you can edit online at places such as photobucket.


Q. How do I add items to my toolbar?
A. As previous question, you need to go into Customise and add gadgets so choose blog lists, link lists, pictures and more. They are self explanitory when you select them.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

News news news!

The design team is now all in place. They are a mix of lovely ladies from very very new cardmakers up to more experienced with a huge range of skills and styles :)
Some have blogs already, others might get as we go along.

We have one VERY VERY EXCELLENT sponsor who has been immensely generous and is sponsoring us with a prize once a month. I won't say who as of yet as I'll tease you before challenge 1 with it.

We are now officially opening with challenge 1 on 10th AUGUST. As of next monday I'll be offering some blog candy for you to win in the run up to the first challenge. There will also be opportunity for you to ask any questions :)

Friday 17 July 2009

How to.... Link to your post

Nearly all card challenge blogs require you to link to your actual posting and not your whole blog. You can understand this as they may get 300+ entries a week and dont have time to trail round your entire blog looking for their challenge card! If you don't link to your actual card many blogs will disallow you from entering in their prize draw.
So how do you do it?

After you have published your post with your creation click on VIEW BLOG then click onto the actual POST TITLE (See pic)






Look in your browser at the top of the screen and you will see the web address (url) of the ACTUAL post you made. So for example June's crafty place, her web address will be http://junescraftyplace.blogspot.com/ but her actual post she made will be something like http://junescraftyplace.blogspot.com/2009/07/card-challenge.htmlAll you need to do now is click on the web address, highlight it and copy it (control and C). Nip over to the challenge blog and paste (Control and V) it either into their comments box or "Mister Linky" whichever the blog has.


Clear as mud? Have a practice here!

PS.... This takes a little bit of practice sometimes so don't worry if you get muddled up. Ask us anytime for help and don't worry if you get it wrong, you won't be the first and certainly not the last!

How to..... Get blogging!

Someone has pointed you in this direction and now you'd like your own blog but don't know how to go about it all....

Here's how!

Step 1 - Go to http://www.blogger.com/ and click on CREATE BLOG

Step 2 - Fill in the form with your email address etc and continue

Step 3 - Choose which name you'd like to display. This doesn't have to be your full name so e.g "June M"

Step 4 - Name your blog e.g "June's crafty place"

Step 5 - Choose a template, the first one "Minima" is fine

Step 6 - Start Blogging!

OK now you have your blog what do you do???

In your blog click on "Create post" in your dashboard and start typing!

How to add a photo

In your new post click the "add picture" box (See pic below) and a pop up box will appear where you can select to upload from your computer or from a web based album such as photobucket. Select the file you wish to upload.

Once you have done this then click PUBLISH NOW.

There you've made your first post with a picture!

Welcome to the new Crafty Cardmakers blog!

A warm welcome to our new blog!

This site is specifically designed for new, shy and inexperienced cardmakers and bloggers! If this sounds like you, pull up a chair and read on :)

Blogging is a wonderful community full of extremely talented crafters with gazillions of challenges and prizes to be won. Somebody tells you about a great blog and encourages you to have a go at the challenge, you love card making so you have a look then your face drops when you see the amazing design team creations designed to "Inspire" you. Yes they are inspiring but for many they are intimidating. You daren't show your work because it is nowhere near the standard of the design team....

STOP right there!!

People are usually selected for a design team because their work is of a different league. Just the same as the designers you see in magazines, they are there for a reason. Flick through to the reader gallery and you'll see not everyone makes cards like that! No you are normal, you are just somebody who enjoys making them, enjoys a bit of a challenge and maybe some direction.

You may be a member of a card making group and see swaps taking place but don't feel you can participate as you're new to card making or whatever reason.

This is what we are designing the site for, YOU and people just like you. Our design team will be made up of new to experienced cardmakers so you will see a broad range and hopefully have the confidence to jump right in and have a go!

We will be opening with our first challenge on Monday August 24th and they will run every other week. On alternate weeks we will give opportunity for you to ask questions about anything cardmaking, we may also put up tutorials and how to's to help you along.
At the moment it is "Just for fun" but if we can get sponsorship then prizes will be offered!

Our aim is to give you the confidence to join in the wonderful world of crafting on a wider scale, join in challenges on other blogs and take part in swaps on any of the numerous groups and learn new skills and techniques.

I will also be putting up a "How to blog" guide to show you how to create your own blog and get you up and running.


Crafty Cardmakers