Advent challenge Days 1-16

I have to be honest, I've been totally amazed at some of your designs and submissions to Advent Challenge this year! Beautiful, creative, inspiring and unique... here's just a little taster that should get you feeling festive. Thanks to everyone, of all ages who are taking part - I love tuning into facebook, twitter and instagram to see your daily works of art!

Day 1 - Robin

Kicking us off with a very cute Robin is Jan Shepherd of Patternmuse. The Embroidery School even made him into a cute pattern you can download.

Day 2 - Santa's letter

There were some fabulous illustrations for Santa's letter. However this verse from Ruth Ellis (Makey Cakey) was such a unique and creative addition to the Advent Challenge I just had to share it here!

 Day 3 - stars

Yes please!! Mini Rockpool Trading fan, aged 3 (who is becoming quite well known on twitter!) helped make these gorgeous looking brownies. 

 Day 4 - Cake

Good enough to eat! Lovely christmas cake from Jessica Lewis. The robin keeps making an appearance in her beautiful designs since day 1!

 Day 5 - Gingerbread man

A fab gingerbread man from instagram challenger Banburycakes!

 Day 6 - Angel

Maike Thoma of Patternjots, has completely embraced #adventchallenge2013 and has created some quite simply stunning designs! She has even set up a pinterest board dedicated to the challenge showcasing a number of talented designers. Loving her angel!

 Day 7 - Snowglobe

Fabulous snowglobe from Sonia at Apple Kaur Designs. You can also check out lots of her other designs on the pinterest board.

 Day 8 - Favourite christmas song

Miss AT on twitter has been a supporter of Advent Challenge since last years doodle challenge. I love her simple use of typography to lay out the lyrics from her favourite christmas song. 

Are you ready for some serious cuteness? Logan Grew decided to sing his favourite christmas song for our first Advent Challenge video! This is what it's all about :)

 Day 9 - Christmas tree

It's beginning to feel a lot like christmas!! This made my smile, Christmas Tree from Jen Handbury. 

 Day 10 - Snow

Another wonderful design from Maike at Patternjots for day 10 - snow!

 Day 11 - Elf

The very talented, Lesley Todd of Finch Five is doing her own Advent Challenge, but I was thrilled to see she had managed to synch up a few days with #adventchallenge2013. To see her wonderful set of illustrations take a look on her facebook page here.

 Day 12 - Favourite christmas word

I've become a big fan of Slumbermonkey's designs (aka Lindsay Buck) since taking part in a Christmas card swap with her. I love the bright happy colours and shapes against the darker background for Day 12. 

 Day 13 - A Winter's Scene

The adults were set lose on the play mobil to create this fun winters scene from Ruth Ellis. 

 Day 14 - Cracker

Love this!! The Grew family have been taking part in Advent Challenge on facebook... and their eldest son Logan was the star of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer rendition above. I love their youngest, Caspian, in the middle of the cracker. 

 Day 15 - Bauble

I knew Victoria Johnson was taking part but when she sent me a whole batch of her designs so far I was astounded - they are quite beautiful. Keep up to date with her work on her blog.

 Day 16 - Snowman

Another beaut from Slumbermonkey!

Julie Hamilton

Julie Hamilton of Artistically Afflicted is creating a captivating page of all the items... I love her drawing style.

 Pinterest board

Just a little taster of the fabulous pinterest board set up by Maike Thoma. 

Thanks to everyone who is taking part this year! It brightens up my day seeing what you are all creating. And for anyone who still wants to take part, join in whenever you like - even if you decide to just do 1 or 2. All details are here. I'll try to do another update before christmas and then a full round up after. 

Advent Challenge 2013

It's almost December, can you believe it?! So last year we had Advent Doodle, this year it's opened up to Advent Challenge... For each day on the run up to Christmas I've given you a theme or object to illustrate, paint, photograph, make - whatever you want. You might only do a couple of days or you might decide to do each day and create a wonderful calendar at the end of it - why not get the kids involved too? Last year a teacher got her class to play along. 

If you would like to share your creations use the hashtag #adventchallenge2013 on social media such as twitter and instagram. I'll retweet and possibly feature your mini masterpieces on this blog. 

Have fun everyone!

#adventdoodle - We Three Kings

It's day 12 of #adventdoodle and todays doodle was The Three Kings. The doodles coming through on twitter have been amazing so I decided to do a post dedicated wholly to the mighty Kings. Well they are pretty special aren't they! It's never too late too join in, just click here for more details.

Amazingly creative doodle of the Three Kings on a napkin by Anja Rabius

Happy Kings by Kate Cornish

One crown, Three Kings, Two Beards, One moustache and one goatee!

by @lovelfs

Colourful Kings by Sam Osbourne

Very cute kings by Sandra Murta

Happy kings with their gold, frankincense and myrrh by Maria Jose Bautistav

Wonderful crowns by Sally at Sarah Paris Style

Three little kings fitting in my small template box by Chloe Wood

Simple and instantly recognisable Three Kings by Susan @speedqueenie

More cute doodles from Anne @miss_at

Another creative spin by Stephan @S_2K

Hope you enjoyed looking through the doodles. It's great to see how everyone approaches it differently. Tomorrow's doodle is A Pear Tree... get those pencils out! 

#adventdoodle

#adventdoodle is here! All you have to do is doodle one thing a day in December up until Christmas Day... and you will have created your very own, very special and personalised advent calendar. This is for everyone, young, old, designers, complete beginners and people who really can't draw (I always love those kind of drawings best!). There's a template you can use below but I'd encourage you to use whatever is to hand - napkins, newspapers, cereal boxes - doodle wherever and with whatever - pencil, pen, chalk, crayon, lipstick! Include the number of the day if you want. Your doodles can be tiny or massive, just go for it and have fun. 

Most importantly we all want to see your doodles so make sure you Facebook, tweet, instagram and send me any images you are particularly proud of. I'll be posting some up through-out December and then putting the best (and worst!) together to create an ultimate doodled calendar.  #adventdoodle or send me images to hello@fayebrowndesigns.com

So who's in? please share and re-tweet any posts to spread the word #adventdoodle... Christmas is coming!! 

Click and download this template. Otherwise use whatever you can get your hands on! have fun!