The June Challenge

Welcome to the June challenge! This month we are going for a cheerful festival of colours so the scheme for this month is Rainbow.

Beads at Granville Island 2007

For your piece to qualify for the challenge you must use at least five of the following colours from the rainbow song: red, yellow, pink, green, purple, orange and blue. The shades can be as bold or as subtle as you like. You can also add black, white and crystal clear to your chosen rainbow colours and you can, of course, use beads with an AB/rainbow finish.

Now here's the twist...to coincide with this month's leftover theme we'd like you to include leftovers somewhere in your entry. This twist is entirely optional but if you choose to use the twist as well as the colour scheme then you will receive two entries into the draw! If you do use leftovers please let us know with your submission so that you can receive your second entry. To clarify, leftovers are beads that are left over from previous projects. Your challenge entry does not have to be made entirely from leftovers, including some leftovers will be enough to qualify for the twist.

How do I enter?
There are two ways...
1. Email your photographs to Liz at ottbs@bigstring.com
2. Or add them to our Flickr group pool.

Choose whichever way is easiest for you, you don't have to do both. In either case, please mention that it's for the June Challenge so I know that it's your entry. We're happy for you to post your photos on our Facebook group as well but please make sure that you've also submitted as above. Entries that have not been emailed or added to the Flickr pool will not be accepted.

What can I make?
Anything as long as it involves beads! Any technique is accepted, from beadweaving and stringing to wire work and bead embroidery. Lampworkers and polymer clay artists are also welcome to submit beads they've made. I'm sorry but any entries that do not include beads in some form or another will not be accepted. Your entry must be made especially for the challenge, please do not submit something that was made before June 1st 2012.

Does it have to be my own design?
No. We're happy for you to make something using a pattern from a book, magazine or tutorial but if you do please let us know the designer's name so that we can give full credit.

What about findings?
Findings (clasps, earwires, metal spacer beads etc) are exempt from the colour challenge so you can use silver, gold or any other colour findings that fit in with your project.

When is the deadline for entries?
The deadline is 6pm (UK time) on Saturday the 30th of June.

Can I enter more than once?
You can make as many pieces as you like using the chosen colourway. All entries will be shown here on the blog but you will only be entered into the draw once (or twice if you've used the twist).

I'm not in the UK, can I still join in?
Yes of course! We welcome submissions from around the world so don't worry if you're not in the UK. Our sponsors have agreed to post prizes overseas so you can still enter and be eligible for the prize!

This month's sponsor is Rachel of RB Beads the prize is this fantastic collection of Swarovski crystals! The collection consists of 50 4mm bicones in each of Violet Opal, Siam, Denim Blue, Purple Velvet, Rose Alabaster, Turquoise, Chalk White, Electra, Turquoise 2XAB, Sapphire, Antique Pink and Cyclamen Opal.



The winner will be drawn by Liz after 6pm on Saturday the 30th of June, using the random list generator at www.random.org and announced later on the same evening.

Good luck everyone and happy beading!

PS. In case you're wondering, yes, those are hanks of beads in the photo ;)