Craft Wars: Decor-creations

Craft Wars Episode 6 (Air Date 7/31/12):  Decor-creations

Image Credit:  TLC.com

Craft Wars is, in my humble opinion, ramping up a notch on this episode.  The challenges got --- uber challenging!  Perhaps that reflects on my own craft prowess (or lack thereof), but I just have to say it was a solid fight this episode...

The Contestants

Andrea Martin
Andrea is a professional upholsterer and loves to upcycle.  Her craft motto is to keep it clean and use handmade flair.

Raymond Lin
He is a sculptor and a museum educator.  When crafting, he likes to take his chances...

Brooke Ulrich
Brooke is a design blogger, she uses thifty decorating ideas with a retro/modern style.

Pop Craft Challenge (1 hour)

This week's pop craft challenge started with a load of glasses, goggles and magnifying glasses being tossed onto the stage.  What to create?  A crafty fabulous LAMP, of course, says Tori...

Andrea begins the challenge with the idea to use a square wood box as the lamp base and wrap it in twine.  She uses the glasses to create decorative flowers (using 4-5 glass lenses as flower petals) with hot glue.

Raymond decides to create a hanging lantern with a drum shaped light.  He uses the glass lenses, after heating and pounding them flat, for a mosaic pattern on the drum. 

Meanwhile, Brooke is tackling a big effort of creating an ombre (blue) lampshade made of glass lenses.  She uses Mod Podge to paint all of the lenses.  In the end --- if she finishes! --- her design would be really craftastic!

Well, as time often does -- it runs out --- Andrea's lamp shade is scantily clad with a few strings of ombre goodness.

The judges now have their chance to comment on the lamp creations.  For Andrea, the judges like her flowers - the detail was good and despite that some of the elements of her design are messy she overall is judged well.  Raymond's attempt to mosaic is criticized - he only has a few lenses, not enough to create a true mosaic.  Further, his design is not consistent.  Brooke is also not doing so hot in the judges' eyes... her sea glass ombre look is inventive but there are only a few strands created and her lamp shade looks unfinished.  Also, the bottom portion of the lamp is uninspired. 

The judges decide that Brooke is done, she must pack her Mod Podge and Rit Dye and head home...

Master Craft Challenge (5 hours)

So, Andrea and Raymond head into the Master Craft Challenge (remember, I said that this week got challenging...)  The challenge is to create bedroom furniture, linens and a wall and to incorporate ZIPPERS into their designs.  Basically, they need to channel their inner Nate Berkus.

Andrea goes for a "Smoke and Mirrors" theme.  She creates a table, headboard, pillows and mirrored garlands.  Her statement piece is a mutli-colored zipper mosaic pillow. 

Raymond goes for a more electic mix of designs in green and white, and creates a tufted headboard, side table, chair and rug made of zippers.  The headboard is a simple and clean design that woos the judges for sure. 

The judges weigh in on Raymond first -- Judge Stephen points out that the bedroom wall is messy, the vertical lines are crooked and messy, Judge Jo also says his stencil work is below par and Judge Erika ends the scrutiny by complimenting the tufted headboard.  For Andrea, the judges really like her attention to crafty details.  He tiled table is a hit, her zipper pillow and gardland are also very well done.  However, Judge Stephen despises the bambook that's incoporated into the side table --- he says she should have glittered the sticks to further compliment her theme.

After a very touch Master Craft Challenge -- the winner is selected for their crafty skills in creating many wonderful pieces.  And the Winner is Andrea!!!

I hope you are still enjoying my summaries, and please comment below if you think Craft Wars is really getting tougher.

Happy Scrapping (& home decor-ing... -- is that a word?)

- Rina