FAQs 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge

Frequently asked questions about the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge

Where do I buy Umbrella Prints Trimmings packets?
The Umbrella Prints online shop; there are 6 different delicious packets to choose from this year!!!

What are Trimmings?
Little packets of inspiration, Umbrella Prints fabric pieces about 10 in each pack (25gms) lovingly hand selected by the designers in a mixture if any of our patterns in any of our colours. Organic hemp/cotton and organic cotton printed fabrics, beautiful for crafty projects, collage, small patchworks, button making, artworks, illustration, animation..... the sky is the limit. We save these pieces from end of rolls, odd cuts, product cutting remnants, experimental print runs.  Recycle, reuse, reduce.

What is the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge?
Its a unique creative challenge, open to all, where people make or do something with one packet of Umbrella Prints fabric Trimmings. The focus of the challenge is on creativity, presentation, imagination, resourcefulness and celebrating that from small things big things grow.
Its our seventh year running!!!

What do I do to be in this competition?
It's really simple

1. Buy your Umbrella Prints Trimmings from our online shop 

2. Make anything you like! surprise us! AND we have a patchwork/quilters category.

3. Take a clear, simple & beautiful photo of what you make/do with your Umbrella Prints Trimmings. Less is more!!! Remember the Umbrella Prints Trimmings are the special guest in your creation.

4.  Post your photo to the internet (so that it is accessible, we want to pin your photo)
Instagram #umbrellaprintstrimmingschallenge & make sure it's not private.
Pinterest
Blog or Tumblr
Flickr (make sure it's not locked)
Website
and share your story linking to Umbrella Prints.

5. Most importantly, email umbrellaprints@yahoo.com.au with a link to where you have shared your photo online so that we can find you!

We will pin your photo to the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge  board on Pinterest on June 1. Come check out what everyone has made. 


DATES
Challenge Starts            March 1 (Buy your Trimmings packet here)
Create your entry          March 1 - May 31
Entries Close                  May 31
Viewing                          June 1 - 6 (Comment & repin!)
Winners Announced     June 7

MORE QUESTIONS
I bought a packet of Umbrella Prints Trimmings earlier can I use it to enter?
Yes; if you purchased a packet of Trimmings in the last year you can enter; you just won't be in the running to win Golden tickets which are released in Trimmings season. We also release 5 New Trimmings packets each year featuring our latest designs and colours.

What is 'Trimmings season'?
You can buy Umbrella Prints Trimmings all year round but between March-May we turn our focus to the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge, associated extra prizes and activities; this is the 'Trimmings season'.  Its a great time to celebrate what our customers create.  The rest of the year we are busy designing and producing beautiful fabrics as meterage and product.


Is the challenge international?
Yes; if a posty can get there in time and you have a letterbox you can enter!

But I can't sew?
We never said you had to sew anything ;)

But I don't have a blog or Pinterest or Instagram account?
That's ok, email us a photo of what you have made and we will pin it to Pinterest on your behalf. 

What are the prizes this year?
We have two major prizes this year, both will be chosen based on skill & creativity.

Makers' Prize (open category - surprise us!)
$300 worth of Umbrella Prints product for the most innovative, beautiful, creative and well presented entry as judged by our industry judges, Soule Mama & Petalplum.


Patchwork/Quilters' Prize
To celebrate the skills of the quilting community we have $300 worth of Umbrella Prints organic fabric or product to give for the most outstanding quilt, chosen by our industry judges, Soule Mama & Petalplum.

and we have ... 
5 Golden Tickets
How fun will it be to find a Golden ticket in your Trimmings packet! We will be slipping shining golden tickets into 5 lucky packets. Ticket holders receive an Umbrella Prints prize valued at $50.

+ the very popular Audience Prize
In order to encourage the love and sharing of all your hard work we will randomly gift a lucky person who comments* with $100 worth of Umbrella Prints fabric.

*Entries are posted to this Pinterest board on June 1 - comment on all your favourite Trimmings creations to be in the running to win this prize.

How do I take a nice photograph of my Trimmings and my creation? 
Don't skimp on the standard of the photographs of your work! Keep it simple (less is more!), good, clear photos get noticed more, pinned more and show off all your hard work!

Our top tips for taking nice, clear photographs are

1. natural light is often best; watch out for harsh shadows, too much sun, out of focus
2. get in really close
3. use a plain background; keep it simple (look out for distracting objects & remove)
4. lock in your focus ... on the TRIMMINGS. Click on or manoeuvre your focal point onto the fabric.

Want an opinion? email us umbrellaprints@yahoo.com.au please give us plenty of time to help

How many times can I enter?
As many times as you would like but one packet of Trimmings per entry please.

Do I need to use the whole packet?
Great question, no and yes, it is a Trimmings Challenge to see what you can do with one packet.

Can I combine your trimmings with other fabrics eg vintage fabrics in my project?
Of course but keep in mind that your Umbrella Prints fabrics need to be the focus of your project!

Can I make something with someone else's sewing pattern/idea?
We really love to see your own ideas, however if you do want to use another person's pattern/idea you MUST have their permission, credit them and link to them.

I've entered before can I enter again?
Yes! Welcome back!

What have entrants 'done' before?
You can view our past winners Cate (Fabri'cate), Alisa Coburn, Monica Hajek,  Nova and Lisa Stubbs) and entrants work here, here, here and here .  View our past Trimmings Challenge entrant boards here.


Can I enter a movie/animation? Yes


I'm stuck?
You are only limited by your imagination.
Stick it, hang it, wrap it, sew it, stitch it, combine it, daub it, deconstruct it, mix it, cut it, film it, add it, bend it, stiffen it, embellish it, patch it, and on and on....

What if I do the same as someone else?
No two packets are the same, no two people are the same, no two projects will be the same.

What's the most important thing to remember?
Please read our instructions carefully and remember to email us the link to the photos of your work by May 31 2016


Have fun!

Are you still wondering about something? email us umbrellaprints@yahoo.com.au xxx!