Contest The Great Triathlon Challenge One: My Angel!

Submitted mine with like... 10 seconds or something left. I cut it way too close to the deadline but it wasn't my plan to do so! I had some severe technical issues. :/

This was my first time since elementary school that I've done something really crafty. I'm just glad that they didn't come out complete junk.

 

I'm so excited to see what everyone came up with

 

Thanks everyone ^^ I'll go ahead and post this little tidbit for now of where I'm currently at... I think I got a little too ambitious. LOL!

Wings by Nevermore Trinkets, on Flickr

 

Ooh...I'm really sorry you couldn't finish in time, those are going to be excellent from the looks of it!

 

Yeah it kind of sucks but at the same time, this is the most creative I've felt in a really long time. I love birds but never really could figure out the whole wing anatomy thing... I've learned a crap ton from doing this project ^^ Plus... if you looked at my flickr, they are also poseable... soo.... definitely could have used more time. LOL!

 

Next year my sisters said I can focus on my stuff first. The last two years I got caught up in helping my sister's GISHWHES team and ran out of time. I didn't think I was gonna submit in time. I must have barely made that deadline.

 

GISHWHES ate up my time this week too! I managed to get in two days of working, just had to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it!!

 

I too was among the last-minute entries. Put a LOT of hours and love into my wings and am rather proud of the result.
Though there was one final touch I didn't get to in time, I'm at peace with where they were at as of the deadline.
For me this was a lesson in not giving up when your first idea.. erm.. "pancakes."

I so look forward to seeing everybodys' results!

Raven, please keep going with your wings too ^^ I was hoping to do a nice wire frame like that, but it completely kicked my butt over 2 frustrating days so I gave up and went on without it. >< Much kudos to you for sticking with the plan and figuring it out! I'll be envious of your fully poseable wings. :3

 

I'm sorry you weren't able to enter the contest .... but it's looking great so far ! I like how you used snaps. That would make for some pretty easy on/off. I'm also super envious at the apparent range of posing options your wings must have XD! I hope you'll post them when they're completed ^-^!!

 

Now I'm really curious to see what people used for a framework that *wasn't* wire!

 

I'm really looking forward to all the submissions! Congrats to everyone who took up the challenge and got creative

I had to give up due to some major time problems and I guess overambitious and not well thought-out engineering ideas.
I already started the competition with commitment issues because I had two (in my mind great ideas) for posable/mechanic wings, thus already spending time and resources divided.
Then I could in the end only really start Friday/Saturday and while the wings looked pretty layed out in a dissassembled state, I ran into a lot of problems. I was unable to finish attaching all the intended pieces in time but even then I would have liked to submit my entry --> you can get an idea of what it is supposed to look like (with all the secondary "feathers" still missing)



The point where I decided to quit because I could not figure out how to fix it in time was, however, a posing problem.
not of the doll, mind you - she can carry the wings without problem

but instead, there is too little friction and too much weight on the armature for it to hold itself up

and the "wings" look like sad little broken things

after spending all this time on them and looking forward to them so much, I'm a bit dissapointed. However, knowing the difficulties of this challenge makes me even more impressed with all the contestants who gave their best in this challenge!

 

I think they look really cool even as 'broken wings!"

 

To the two that didn't finish in time...... damn, those would have been amazing. D:

 

I'm reminded of the saying you can't make a cake without breaking a few eggs...and am now imagining a breakfast buffet with all the broken eggs and pancakes this project left littering everyone's homes. Good for you for not giving up!!

 

I'm still in the process of finishing mine up... but I slept all day today after not sleeping very much the last week so they might not be done today like I was hoping XD

Also windspiel, you need to add something that sits beneath the "joint" of the wings where they attach. I put hot glue there to help prop them up so their weight doesnt cause them to fall down. The main reason I didnt finish in time is because the shoulder "joint" of mine broke and I had to tear it off the base and reglue/reconfigure the wiring so it would stay together AND rotate/pose like I wanted it to... second time was the charm and I also soon realized the right wing was much better than the left (the first one I did)... due to this, I redid that one also XD

Also... you could add a mechanism that "ties" the two wings together and allows them to support one another/helps control their angle/rotation etc. I have something like this too to help the jointing stay on since the ball-and-socket dont like to stay together on mine due to their weight.

 

Wow, windspiel, those are really beautiful.

 

I barely made it myself. I'm sorry Raven and Windspiel didn't make it I think I ended up spending around 50+ hours on mine by the end of it, so when I was still working when 11:40 hit I thought I wasn't gonna make it either.

 

yeah... I stayed up for 22 hrs on Friday trying to get things done... but my eyes were hurting so much and I couldnt think straight, so I went to bed and then slept until about 7am when I'd planned on getting up at 4:30am to work on them again. I had to run to the bank and then the post office to return something I bought too, so by the time I got over to my Gran's (where I'd planned on finishing them up and takings pics since the lighting in my apt is atrocious) it was already after noon. I was working on them up until about 10 minutes before the deadline when I knew I wasnt going to make it

 

Very neat! even if they didn't work, I think you should keep trying. I really enjoy how you cut the clear plastic to look like feathers!!
Might I suggest a soft rubber washer between the wing joint at the back and the metal point they are attached to?

 

Entries are up!

Look here!

 

I saw it before I went to sleep!!! AWESOME WORK EVERYONE!!!!!

 

Those are some amazing entries. Just WOW.

 

Initial 1st impressions: 1) Woah so many entries! 2) The EL wire wings are so so awesome (mild jealousy - I was gonna do that but scrapped it I swear! ) 3) And... wow my wings are rubbish!

 

Holy Dinah there are a lot of entries! and that was really hard voting! There were piles that were really awesome! Fantastic work everyone! Can't wait to see what everyone creates for the next one! Whoot

 

I was feeling pretty good about my wings until I saw the competition

 

I second the notion about feeling really good about my wings until I saw the competition lol
still super happy with mine and all, but holy jeez there was some impressive stuff in there.

 

Woooow, I'm just amazed. They're all gorgeous, I'm feeling a lil insecure. ovo;;
Are we allowed to discuss them at all? Not our own obviously. :3

 

Oh wow; tough competition! Everyone's wings look amazing!


(i'm a sucker for brightly colored wings)

 

I'm surprised how many people entered! Oh boy I'm nervous now......

 

Amazing work everyone! You should all feel proud, all these wings are marvelous!

I agree with everyone, I thought I had a fighting chance before looking at all the amazing entries. Geese, I'm blown away... I wish I'd thought to add captions to my materials list *shrug* live and learn I guess
...now... on to the niche eep!

 

wow... lots of entries... but now I'm kind of bummed because it looks like mine would have been among the few that were fully poseable... might have had a decent shot if I'd gotten them done on time! All the entries are so colorful and unique though... wow Amazing job everyone

 

Holllly cow!! I was in the store picking up some glue and tape for challenge #2 when the pics went up and I just stood there for a good 10 minutes scrolling through and admiring the beauty (I think my heart was racing a bit too ^^").

wow....

Wow.......

WOW....!!!

I'm so impressed by the number of entries and all the entries themselves! It's so amazing to see what 100+ people will do given a theme and some loose guidelines and set loose to create. Like others, I also feel really kind of.... like... yeah... nervous and... I know I don't stand a chance. I'm so blown away by the other entries. But at the same time, I still love my own wings despite their obvious, glaring flaws... I'm happy with what I made because it really suits my personality and my doll's personality as well. If it weren't for this challenge I wouldn't have tried so hard to finish. I would've definitely given up halfway through (or never even started). What a ride ... and it's only 1/3 over!!

(PS- do participants get to vote?)

PPS - Again sooo envious of exalted pukis hahaha.

 

Heh... I voted, so I sure hope so XD

 

Umm.. is the voting form supposed to be showing the BACKSIDES of all entries O.O?

 

I'm glad it did, it changed my opinion on some wings that I didn't bother to click on the additional view images.

 

Yes, the voting form shows only the back view of wings. It would have made the form exceedingly too large to include all views. Make sure to check out the thread hosting all the entries for other views!

 

It makes sense, since the form opens in a new window you can flip back and forth. I'm not surprised so many people entered. So glad I didn't get my hopes up.

 

Participants may absolutely vote! You can even give one of the votes to yourself (but not all three! ).

Yay! I'm glad it worked. I figured that was a lot of links to click.

 

I see ^_^ thank you!

Thanks for the answer ^^... now it's a touch decision...



Hopefully before people vote they'll click all the photo links on at least the they're seriously considering. I know my opinion about some changed too after I saw materials used photos and such.

 

So many amazing entries, I have no idea how I'm going to decide on three.
I feel so unreasonably out of my league XD so much pretty, I don't think my entry would even catch my own eye among the competition.

 

I am so blown away by everyone's creativity! It was so hard voting, I ended up making a list of possible entries that fit each bill... took forever. XD But I felt it only fair to everyone.
Now I just have to finish deciding what to do for round 2. :O

 

I knew roughly how many entries to expect and I was still happily surprised! There were so many wonderful entries and it was hard narrowing my votes down from the top five.

Even if you're one of the ones feeling a little outclassed right now, be proud that you finished a project and got it entered! I love that so many members who aren't typically crafty are willing to tackle this crazy contest even though it seems daunting. The second challenge is a challenge for sure, but keep up the amazing creative and resourceful thinking you did in the first round and you'll make it to the third round no problem! You are going to love the third challenge too, I promise!

 

wow...that's a LOT of wings
Very happy to see the results of everybodys hard work at last. Pretty! I will do my voting later on, I just woke up

 

Awesome! I had no idea the voting form showed all the backs of the images, and I think it would be really convenient info to put at the top of the voting thread. It was taking me so long to get through looking at all the entries while clicking all the links, browsing through each image tab, closing them again, and opening the next batch >_< ! Now I only have to click for checking detail shots and material lists, which is a lot less effort for me. I'm also grateful because I was really bummed when I saw only front views were shown in the entry list, since my front shot is easily 1000x my least favorite photo of my three, though I had a suspicion it would be that way from past contests I remember, haha. I'm glad that the voting form itself shows the back photos too, though my favorite photo of my project is by far the collage, so I hope a lot of people manage to see that one, haha!

There are some great entries here, and for the aesthetics category in particular, I'll have a really hard time choosing! I'll be honest, for engineering my interest is rather lower, though my vote is probably on the paper fan styled wings that can actually open and close. It's so creative, and I love the origami/inventor look it has! It's such a unique entry. The resourcefulness category definitely grabs the least amount of interest for me, hahaha, since I'm most concerned about the pretty above clever recycling materials. But I did really like the effect of the one made with soda cans, how when you flipped to the back there was such a 'pop!' and realization moment. There was another that reminded me of cake icing or something, and I think it was made mostly of embroidery floss and fabric, and I liked that as well.

I really liked numbers 7, 13, 21, 27, 40, 47, 52, 56, 57, 64, 75, 81, 84, 93, 110, 114, 123, 124, and 128, plus FUN2 and FUN7. I listed a lot of numbers there, huh, hahaha. I'm too tired now to finish looking at all the detail shots and materials, so I'll have to review them all again tomorrow and place my final vote then. It's a little sad though, because with how voting works with the categories and all, there are some entries I like that I think are great just as they are, simple and without added elaborateness, but I don't think I'll vote for them for any of the actual voting categories. Entries 40 and 123 are two examples. I love those kinds of wings, and that's the type of accessory I might want to actually buy from a shop as an accessory. Especially those plushie 123 wings >w< ! And the transparent wings look so convenient to wear and versatile, suitable for many types of dolls or styles. The types of wings I would actually like to buy or have a doll I own wear is very different from the type that's really unique and dazzling and crafty but not really compatible with other dolls or anything but one specific look. I think that's interesting to think about.

I noticed I also have to pay careful attention to materials though. There was a lovely pair of wings that look great, but I realized the hardest part was premade and not hand-made like I originally thought, so it took away a lot of the impressed factor for me ^^; . It's great that they look great, and can be used by the owner for their doll, so I'm not trying to rag on anyone for material choices, but it does effect how I see at as a crafted item in a competition.

I've been trying to examine how many of the entries were put together too, to get some inspiration and learn a bit, but I wish there had been a text material list included with the entries for voters to see. Many of the photos make it very hard to discern what the materials are and what materials in the photo were actually utilized. Once the contest is finished, I think a QA type thread for people to ask contestants questions about their projects would be helpful!

OMG I talk entirely too much once I start, which is why I try not to start, hahaha, so sorry for the text spam! This contest just has me so excited is all. The next contest looks more challenging for my skill set, but I'm so looking forward to giving it a try! Good luck everyone, with the wings vote and with the next contest!!

ali

 

Hmm, I think engineering is the hardest category for me to score because, this being dolls, I'm also biased towards pretty and imaginative instead of functional XD... I really want to give my votes to the most out-of-the-box or best pulled together even if a little obvious wings... but engineering hmmm. Also, it's kind of hard to tell how some of the wings work without being able to touch them. Right now the only category I'm decided on is creative use of materials I think... gotta ponder the rest while working on challenge #2.

 

Over a hundred entries! Were there this many to choose from last year? I am so impressed with everyone who entered but voting is going to be hard!

 

I'm actually a stickler for functionality... so while looking through all the entries, I skipped over pretty much any that did not seem like they could actually work for the doll if they were real, ones with feathers that didnt look like they would make the doll fly or werent anywhere close to accurate (basically looked like they'd work.. not so much looked exactly like real feathers), and also mainly looked for poseability and or distinct separation of feathers (or webbing) so they resembled actual wings of some kind... I'm really perfectionistic and OCD about details though so... there were only a handful of ones for me to pick from based on the criteria I was looking for. Not being able to see them very well/see the materials in the tiny pics was making it difficult too. I'm going to go back through them probably tomorrow before I vote just to make sure I didnt miss anything but yeah XD I also want to look back through them to see about the materials used too because I do like unique use of creativity when it comes to finding nifty things to make things out of... for example... I made mine out of tooth picks and wire I had laying around from previous art projects. I also used two earring studs (from my "lets make earrings" phase), hot glue, a little bit of cardboard for the armature to attach to, and some sculpey (to make sockets for ball and socket joints in the shoulders... earrings were the "ball" part ^^).. and last but not least... random smart fab samples in black that I got free from Smart Fab on facebook awhile back

 

I think it's a good thing that different people are looking for different things in the entries x3. It will even things out!

 

Oh so many gorgeous entries! Voting for only three is annoyingly restrictive! It took me a good hour to decide which ones I likes the most according to each category. Also...I wish I'd made my wings a little smaller for the next challenge...

 

How I will ever pick three I have no idea!!

 

wow some people really did think outside the box! Well done everyone!

 

Oh wow! so many entries! and so many pretty ones!
Congrats all!

 

Wow, I love all the entries! Congrats on being so creative and resourceful. There are a lot of entries I like - voting was really hard.

Thanks for the sympathies and lovely encouragments on my wings! I'll finish them but probably at a much slower rate than I was previously working at XD

I would like to see yours finished! Also thanks for the suggestion. I was also thinking of adding a string/pulley system to the wings so that it looks like my doll can fold/unfold them via length asjustment of the string. it'll just take a bit longer because in that case I want to add a more rigged construction leading the strings to her front were she might use them.

Thank you! I'll try to do that. This joint is actually a ball joint because I wanted to give it similar mobility to what our shoulders have, so it still might not work but I'll figure it out and post pics again when I'm done

 

I really can't get over how wonderful the variety is. Loads of concepts, many different skill levels (thank heavens) and how on earth does a person CHOOSE? Even some of the very simplest designs are over-the-top beautiful.

What a blast. I almost trashed the whole idea about 2 days in but am glad I stuck it out -- as one of the "Crafts R Not Us" crowd I feel terribly accomplished to have come up with anything at all.

Now to go back and try to decide.

But what I *really* want to know is how #85 worked that cat into the design. Very clever! (my cats were also trying to "help"... *sigh*)

 

If you have cats.... their fur will end up in anything you make whether you want it to or not. So the cat probably was incorporated into the design.

 

Well fortunately, "looking exactly like real feathers" wasn't one of the criteria. There are also bat wings, and fantasy wings, and steampunk wings, and gossamer wings, and wings on houseflies, and... you get the idea.

It's good to have a set of criteria in your own mind when voting, though. Helps narrow it down. I'm getting hung up on "ooo, pretty!"




... And Layn -- *GIGGLE!* Yeah that's a true fact.

 

I'm going to my parents' house next week, which means at least one of the kittens is probably going to incorporate herself into my entry for part 3! By sitting on it, if nothing else!

 

That's a very good point . I'm glad the designs weren't restricted to typical feathered bird/angel wings.

Come to think of it the design I am likely voting for most creative doesn't have feathers at all, the one I'm strongly considering for engineering is also non bird style wings (I actually missed it but on my 50th look through the entries I spotted it and WOW ... I don't know how well it would support a doll in flight but can easily imagine it really being on the creature it is modeled after ), and the one I'm considering for appeal... yup, featherless. I actually wanted to do that kind of wing myself but I wasn't sure I could pull it off in a way that stood out enough. Anyway.... I'm still taking my time... slowly.. soaking in all the beauty!

And, yeah, I seriously hope we can ask questions or comment directly at sometime. I want to know how some of those wings were made because I want to make them for my own dolls haha >.>!!!





Ohhh I also have to say I'm so impressed with the various halters/etc people created to attach the wings to their dolls. Some are like jewelry... some are like clothing... it's like double eye candy.

 

Wow I had no idea how many people were entering, these are amazing and I'm blown away! so many crafty people and pretty wings

 

Good lord. "Most Aesthetically Pleasing" was absolutely the hardest category. There were so many ways in which all of them were aesthetically pleasing -- I had to pick one to put down but it was more like "ONE of the most aesthetically pleasing." So many of them were so beautifully suited to the doll, so many excellent executions of a concept...

I think everyone who voted gets hazardous duty pay.

100% agree! I have at least a dozen "HOW did you DO that?"s running through my head.