CLOSED: Nerd Games - Winter 2021

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Welcome to the Nerd Games!

Runs January 1, 2021 - March 31, 2021

This is a craftalong where nerdy crafters all over the world can share our projects and give each other encouragement - that’s really all there is to it! If you feel you might be a nerd, or enjoy some nerdy things of any kind, or if you’re just nerdy about crafting, you’re more than welcome here!

HOW TO JOIN

Simply make any craft, take photos of it, and post them in this group with the following header, which will be explained below:

Prompt: (Write the name of the prompt you are entering your craft for here. Don’t forget to include the month!)
Team: (Choose one of four, listed below)
Project Name: (Name your craft anything you like; fanciful titles or simple labels/descriptions are all fine)
Project Link: (Paste the link to your community post for the bonus points)
Brief Description: (Tell us anything you’d like to about the craft, such as how you made it, and why it fits the prompt .)
Project Photo(s): (Post photos of your awesome craft here, so we can ooh and aah over it!)

THE TEAMS

There are four teams to choose from, and no requirements for joining any of them; simply choose one that speaks to you, put the team name in your first project header, and presto - you’re a member! You will remain on the same team for the entire season. You may change teams in future seasons.

• Team Running with Scissors: Maybe you like to craft with fabric or paper.
• Team Knotty by Nature: Maybe you like to knit, crochet, or macramé.
• Team Palettable Art: Maybe you like to draw or paint. Or just love color.
• Team Bits and Bobs: Maybe you like working with various notions, or have varied crafting interests.

Either type in your team name, or use these emojis to indicate your team!

THE PROMPTS

Prompts will be posted on a monthly basis in the post below. Please choose a prompt. Monthly battles are the only time sensitive prompts. The non-battle prompts are open for the entire season. See THE POINTS section below for point values and several additional crafting opportunities for each of your crafts. You can craft specifically to fit the prompts, or you can craft first and then find a prompt to fit it into. We’re pretty lax about slightly stretched interpretations of the prompts; just explain in your description how it fits!

• Monthly prompts will close at 11:59pm Central Time on the last day of the current month.

BONUS POINTS

We are trying to keep things simple, so there will only be one type of bonus point available. COMMUNITY POINTS will be given when you post a link to a post you’ve made within the Lettuce Craft community, and will be worth 20 bonus points for each project shared. Please be sure to participate in the entire community and not just in the craftalong!

THE POINTS

This competition is just for fun and the points are for nothing more than motivation and bragging rights, but go ahead and rack up points by posting projects for you team! Points break down as follows:

• Monthly battles and prompts: 20 points each (must take at least 30 minutes of crafting time)
• Free Range: 20 points each (must take at least 30 minutes of crafting time. Up to six allowed per season
• Big Time projects: 50 points each (must take at least 5 hours of crafting time. Up to three allowed per season)
• Zaps: 10 points each (any craft that takes less than 30 minutes to make. Up to five allowed per season)
• Research Projects: 100 points (must take at least 20 hours of crafting time. Up to two per season)
• Bonus Points: COMMUNITY bonus points (worth 20 extra per project) are the only bonus opportunity available at this time.

Special Note:
All prompts are supposed to be crafted within the current season. However, we have decided to make an exception to this rule. Let’s say you craft something for a swap near the end of the Summer season. You’ve sent the swap package, but it hasn’t been received yet. Fall season begins, your partner has received their swap item, and you are ready to post. You may go ahead and post your project from the previous season for the current season.

THE RULES

• Players must craft to the best of their abilities and have a minimum of 30 minutes of crafting time per submission, unless otherwise noted.
• A project can only be submitted for one prompt or crafting opportunity.
• A project does NOT have to be "nerdy,” it only has to fulfill the prompt as you see fit.
• Submitted projects must be started and completed during the current season, unless otherwise noted.
• There is SO MUCH to do in the Nerd Games. Do not feel like you have to craft everything. Do what inspires you.
• We welcome all players from the Nerdyverse, no matter their Geekdom. We even welcome non-nerds!
• We are never mean.
• We never exclude someone.
• We will keep it clean-ish (PG-13).
• Never hesitate in contacting the Gamemakers (@storerboughtcreation or @Smeddley) with your questions, concerns, or ideas.

Team Roster and Checklist

Team Running with Scissors:
Lynx2Lancer
Bunny1kenobi

Team Knotty by Nature:
storerboughtcreation
roler
ezrib

Team Palettable Art:
gozer
Smeddley

Team Bits and Bobs:
megwell
geekgirl
Inselaeffchen
Tanath
craftADDchick

[Smeddley (* Nerd Games Lieutenant *)]

PROMPT PALACE

Please post your projects with the following header:
Prompt: (Write the name of the prompt you are entering your craft for here. Don’t forget to include the month!)
Team: (Choose one of four, listed below)
Project Name: (Name your craft anything you like; fanciful titles or simple labels/descriptions are all fine)
Project Link: (Paste the link to your community post for the bonus points)
Brief Description: (Tell us anything you’d like to about the craft, such as how you made it, and why it fits the prompt .)
Project Photo(s): (Post photos of your awesome craft here, so we can ooh and aah over it!)

Battle Royale Prompt
Choose a side and craft a project to represent your choice. Must be completed within the month of issue, by 11:59 om, Central US time, on the last day of the month. Players may only submit one project per month/Battle. Battle Royale prompts are worth 20 points each and are eligible for all available Bonus Point opportunities.

• January Battle: Blizzard (snow) vs Sleet (ice) - CLOSED
• February Battle: Reduce or Reuse - CLOSED
• March Battle: Leprechaun vs pot of gold

Challenge Prompts
You may complete challenges at any time during the season, but you may only submit each prompt one time. Challenge prompts are worth 20 points each.

January theme:
Woke up to snow for the first time this winter, and @craftADDchick had already given me the most brilliant set of prompts that fit with this perfectly! So, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, LET IT SNOW!!!

• Dendrite- Something that is 6 sided, has a branching pattern, or grows larger from the middle outwards
• Firn- A project that has been sitting in the WIP for over a year, or something that will last for over a year
• Lake-Effect Snow- Something that is made using water, or is from/represents a very specific part of the world
• Sastrugi- Something that has ridges, stripes, or parallel lines
• Snow squall- Something that can be made relatively quickly, or something that you had to make quickly for something unexpected

February theme:
Eco-Friendly - More amazing prompts from @craftADDchick! Thank you so much!

• Solar-something yellow, round, or that protects you from the elements
• Wind- something that moves, is very light, or is transparent
• Hydro- something that uses water, can be found around the world, or is necessary
• Geothermal- something that uses heat, is inside of something else, or is made with natural materials
• Biomass- something edible, green, or something that can be changed into something else

March theme:
Luck!

• Four leaf clover: craft something that grows, has four parts, or makes you feel lucky.
• Horseshoe: craft some thing That can support something else, has something to do with horses, or that gets hung on a wall.
• Rabbit’s foot: something soft, can fit in your pocket, or usually comes as a pair (feet).
• Rainbow: craft some thing that features multiple colors, has an arc shape, requires water, or could be seen in the sky.
• Good luck charm: Craft something that to you embodies good luck, or is the shape of one of the Lucky Charms marshmallows, or is “magically delicious“.

SPECIAL BONUS RAFFLE TICKET OPPORTUNITY!
Random Acts of Kindness - if you make and donate an item to charity, please note it when you post the project for an extra FIVE (5) raffle tickets for next season’s raffle!

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

Here we go!

Prompt: January: Firn
Team: Running With Scissors (gonna try a new team this term.)
Project Name: No-Sew Re-Upholstered Ottoman Storage Footstool
Brief Description: This has been on my to -do list since around March of last year. This should hopefully continue to last much more than a year. We’ve had the un-upholstered version for a long time!
Project Photo:

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

Prompt: Zap # 1
Team: Running With Scissors
Project Name: Sympathy cards
Brief Description: My husband’s grandfather passed away and I made these sympathy cards for his mom and grandma. (The stamp on the back was handcarved for me by @annchen in the Secret Santa Swap)
Project Photo:

[megwell (Megan (she/her))]

I’m also taking up the banner for a new team this round.
Prompt: Dendrite (January)
Team: Bits & Bobs
Project Name: Scrappy Embellishments, Volume 1
Project Link: Scrappy Jobbers
Brief Description: I spent the anniversary Zoom yesterday making a variety of embellishments with various bits I had at hand. This group gets bigger from the middle out (except the paper clip, which is branchy).
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Snow Squall (January)
Team: Bits & Bobs
Project Name: Scrappy Embellishments, Volume 2
Project Link: Scrappy Jobbers
Brief Description: This kind of embellishment is made quickly (they all were, but I’m counting only the ones in this photo toward this prompt).
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: Sastrugi (January)
Team: Bits & Bobs
Project Name: Scrappy Embellishments, Volume 3
Project Link: Scrappy Jobbers
Brief Description: These all contain stripes/parallel(ish) lines of some description.
Project Photo(s):

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Prompt: January Lake-Effect Snow
Team: Running with Scissors
Project Name: seahorse card
Project Link:
Brief Description: This card features a bit of watercolor (the coral), so it’s made with water. The background is made with blended distress inks, which were a gift from @gozer (thank you )!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: January Snow Squall
Team: Running with Scissors
Project Name: hat for my dad
Project Link:
Brief Description: My father loves his smoker! And he wears a lot of hats. So this idea was born. It was pretty quick to work up the stencil on my silhouette and painting it was pretty quick, too! I painted it during the anniversary zoom meeting.
Project Photo(s):

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

Do you use a special type/brand of paint when you paint with your stencils? They always turn out so good! (We bought my dh a smoker for Christmas this year!)

I love how the background turned on your card. Very pretty!

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Thank you!

I use Tulip matte fabric paint. The real trick is to take your time and not have too much paint on your brush. Whenever I get impatient and load the brush too much, I get bleeding paint and regrets.

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Honestly though any matte fabric paint will work. I’ve used Martha Stewart brand as well.

[gozer (Becca)]

Prompt: December Blizzard
Team: Palettable Art
Project Name: Rose Embroidery Necklace
Project Link: Embroidery Necklaces
Brief Description: I decided to switch up teams this season since I love color and I am going to try to encourage myself to draw more. I picked BLIZZARD since I think the little French knots look like snow.
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: December Lake-Effect Snow
Team: Palettable Art
Project Name: Bee Embroidery Necklace
Project Link: Embroidery Necklaces
Brief Description: I used water to dissolve the original pattern and draw my own design. Then I used water again to dissolve the ink I drew my design in.
Project Photo(s):

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Both gorgeous, @gozer!

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

These are both so amazing!

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Prompt: January - Battle - Blizzard
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Minnie Mouse Dress
Project Link:
Brief Description: I made this dress for Minnie Mouse fanatic Grumpy Frog. I asked her to smile, and this is what I got

I went with blizzard because the dots look like snow
Project Photo(s):

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

It’s adorable! It looks like she has room to grow and enjoy this for a little while!

[storerboughtcreation (Jamie Storer - Nerd Games Captain)]

Lol. It’s just a little big. The punk took it off right after I took the picture and won’t put it on again. Two year olds

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

haha, you will wear that Mickey Mouse dress I made for you, you will! She runs away giggling…haha…yep!

[Lynx (In a world where you can be anything, be kind.)]

Prompt: January: Lake Effect Snow
Team: Running With Scissors
Project Name: Puffins on Rocks Felt Square
Brief Description: There is water and it represents areas where you find puffins!
Project Photo:

[roler (Laura)]

Hi all! Hooray for another new season! I’m finally joining @storerboughtcreation on Team Knotty by Nature, since she got me hooked on her yarny ways!

Prompt: January - Lake-Effect Snow
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Toucan Amigurumi
Project Link: Toucan Amigurumi
Brief Description: Toucans are from Central and South America! I have never been to either, but think it would be fun!
Project Photo(s):

Prompt: January - Dendrite
Team: Knotty by Nature
Project Name: Cuttlefish!
Project Link: Cuttlefish!
Brief Description: This cuttlefish branches out into many tentacles! Interestingly, they were all made as part of the body, not sewn on! So it really felt branchy as I made it.
Project Photo(s):

[roler (Laura)]

@Lynx

Here we go!

Nice job with the reupholstering! That’s something I’m not brave enough to try myself; my parents were just about to get a ton of stuff reupholstered right before the pandemic hit (so the project is on hold), but they were definitely hiring people for it, not DIY. I’m impressed by your work!! And it’s such a pretty color.
The sympathy cards are beautiful. I’m sure they were very much appreciated!
Your puffin square is soooo cute! What are you planning to use it for? I think a wall hanging made up of several squares in that style would be awesome.

@megwell

Scrappy Embellishments

First of all, I can’t think of anything more appropriate for team Bits and Bobs than your adorable embellishments. Those look so fun! I used to scrapbook a LOT, but haven’t in years. I know I would love to use things like what you made if I ever start up again!

@Bunny1kenobi

seahorse card

Your seahorse card is so pretty! I really like all the soft gradients and bright colors.
And as I said in the zoom party, your hat turned out great! Very clean lines, and a fun message for your smokin’ family!

@gozer

Rose Embroidery Necklace

Ooh, your necklaces are great! Embroidery is one of the (far too many) crafts that I would love to get good at someday. You’re motivating me to try more (if I can put the yarn down for five minutes).

@storerboughtcreation

Minnie Mouse Dress

This dress is just so cute!! And she’s got room to grow into it, which is always good for a kid her age!

[Bunny1kenobi (Deanna 🇺🇸)]

Prompt: zap #1
Team: Running with Scissors
Project Name: s&p shakers
Project Link:
Brief Description: I recently broke my glass pepper shaker. I was pretty upset because I really liked that set. But my hubby bought this nice, and LARGE, stainless set. There are so many holes, though, that the spices run through really fast. So to slow things down, and label the shakers, I covered some of the holes with vinyl.
Project Photo(s):