Did you know that tea towels originated in 18th-century England? We’re celebrating this classic kitchen accessory–and Marketplace favorite–with a Spoonflower tradition: tea towel design challenges! For five weeks, we’re challenging you to design a tea towel that you’d proudly put on display in your kitchen, gift to a friend or use to kick off the new year. Our friends at Roostery are helping us celebrate this Spoonflower tradition with the Special Edition Spoonflower Tea Towel.
Like previous years, all tea towel entries will automatically be previewed on a Special Edition Spoonflower Tea Towel during voting. Jump ahead to learn more about the ins and outs of formatting your entry to ensure a picture-perfect preview!
2019 Tea Towel Calendars | Results Announced September 13
We’re kicking off our month long design challenge series with a Spoonflower tradition: tea towel calendars! For this challenge, create a 2019 calendar to welcome in the new year. Get a head start with our 2019 calendar templates or create your own. Entries will be submitted at the Linen Cotton Canvas fat quarter size (27″ x 18”) but automatically previewed during voting as a Roostery x Spoonflower Special Edition Tea Towel. Submissions close September 4, 2018, 3 PM eastern daylight time. Voting begins September 6, 2018. See official rules.
Pro tip: This is a great time to upload a 2019 revision on your 2018 calendars for the new year or move them to private.
Retro Bar Cart Tea Towel | Results Announced September 20
Make a retro bar cart with this DIY tutorial from PMQ for Two!
We’re raising our glasses to elevated entertaining spaces in this week’s challenge inspiration. When you’re creating your design, think of what you might find you on a fully stocked bar cart. Will it inspire the perfect craft cocktail recipe, show off your love for tiki culture or give a nod to your vintage glassware collection? Whether you take your martini shaken or stirred, by the end of this week’s challenge we’ll be saying “cheers” to our winner. Entries will be submitted at the Linen Cotton Canvas fat quarter size (27″ x 18”) but automatically previewed during voting as a Roostery x Spoonflower Special Edition Tea Towel. Submissions close September 11, 2018, 3 PM eastern daylight time. Voting begins September 13, 2018. See official rules.
It’s a Punderful Life Tea Towel | Results Announced September 27
We mustache you a question, although to be honest, we’ve considered shaving it for later. Are you as eggcited about this challenge as we are? Inspired by the pun master in all of us, this week’s challenge is taking a playful turn thanks to the jokes that make us giggle. If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at typography, this is the challenge for you! Entries will be submitted at the Linen Cotton Canvas fat quarter size (27″ x 18”) but automatically previewed during voting as a Roostery x Spoonflower Special Edition Tea Towel. Submissions close September 18, 2018, 3 PM eastern daylight time. Voting begins September 20, 2018. See official rules.
Illustrated Animals Tea Towel | Results Announced October 4
To illuminate the creatures that share our world, create a design that evokes the concept of an animal you love. This week’s design challenge entries will be flying, swimming and even galloping their way onto Roostery tea towels and into your kitchen. Whether you’re inspired by the anatomical detail of Dürer’s Rhinoceros woodcut or want to be more expressive with your lines, now’s your chance to draw your favorite animal in a new way. Entries will be submitted at the Linen Cotton Canvas fat quarter size (27″ x 18”) but automatically previewed during voting as a Roostery x Spoonflower Special Edition Tea Towel. Submissions close September 25, 2018, 3 PM eastern daylight time. Voting begins September 27, 2018. See official rules.
Recipe Tea Towel | Results Announced October 11
As a Spoonflower tradition, the recipe tea towel challenge is anticipated almost as much as the arrival of the favored dishes to the table. A family recipe can hold so much more meaning than the ingredients that make it, and it can take you back in time after just one bite. During this week’s challenge, share a recipe that you hold near and dear to your heart (and belly!). Whether it’s a Christmas classic or a potluck recipe that’s been passed down for generations, be sure to bring your appetite. Entries will be submitted at the Linen Cotton Canvas fat quarter size (27″ x 18”) but automatically previewed during voting as a Roostery x Spoonflower Special Edition Tea Towel. Submissions close October 2, 2018, 3 PM eastern daylight time. Voting begins October 4, 2018. See official rules.
Spoonflower Edition Tea Towel Guidelines
In order to ensure the entirety of your design is captured in a finished Spoonflower Edition tea towel on Roostery, they’ve created a guideline that can be followed to ensure great previews and finished tea towels.
A preview of a Linen-Cotton Canvas Fat Quarter on Spoonflower measures 27″ wide x 18″ tall. A finished, hemmed, Spoonflower Edition Roostery tea towel measures 16’’ wide x 24’’ tall. Your design will be automatically rotated 90º clockwise for the Roostery tea towel preview. Following the guidelines below will ensure that your design looks beautiful as both an unfinished Fat Quarter on Spoonflower as well as a finished tea towel. Need a little help? Download the Spoonflower Edition Tea Towel template here and see our guidelines below.
2019 Citrus Tea Towel Calendar by jaymehennel
QUICK TIPS:
- Orient your design so that the top of the design is the left side of the design file
- Let the background color or pattern extend all the way to the edges!
- Keep any main content (like calendars) within the safe area (14.5″ x 22.5″) to ensure it doesn’t get cut off or sewn over
If you still have questions about our tea towel design challenges, send us an email at help@spoonflower.com!
Grand Prize
The 1st place winner for all sub-themes will receive $200 in Spoonflower credit, $200 in Roostery credit and one (1) custom Special Edition Spoonflower tea towel in their own winning design from Roostery ($17 value). Winner will also receive additional exposure in our email newsletters, professional photography of their printed designs, and social media mentions, the extent of which shall be in Spoonflower’s sole discretion.
Second Place
The 2nd place winner will receive $100 in Spoondollars, $100 in Roostery credit and one custom Linen-Cotton Canvas Spoonflower Edition tea towel in their own winning design from Roostery ($17 value).
Third Place
The 3rd place winner will receive $50 in Spoondollars, $50 in Roostery credit and one custom Linen-Cotton Canvas Spoonflower Edition tea towel in their own winning design from Roostery ($17 value).
The rest of the top 10
4th through 10th place winners will receive a $20 Spoondollar credit and one custom Linen-Cotton Canvas Spoonflower Edition tea towel in their own winning design from Roostery ($17 value).
All of the top 50
Each of the top 50 entries, determined as set forth above, not receiving one of the foregoing prizes will be automatically proofed for sale in the Spoonflower Marketplace and Roostery (approximately a $5 value) (the “Runner-Up Prize”) if winners are verified sellers.
It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end, but here at the Spoonflower HQ, we can’t help but feel the excitement for cooler weather and the most magical time of the year – our annual fat quarters sale! To help prepare, we’re challenging you to create your very own cut-and-sew fat quarter project, one of our most popularly requested design challenge themes this year. If this is your very first challenge, don’t forget to review how to submit an entry before you get started and as always, have fun!
Limited Color Palette | Results Announced October 18
Photo by @samuelzeller
While your color palette may be limited this week, the design inspiration for your entry is endless! Using at least three colors from the palette provided, choose a theme that captures your current design style, go-to technique or try your hand at a new trend that’s caught your eye. Limited Color Palette: Lagoon (#005e70), Saffron (#f3a33b), Terracotta (#b84b03), Blush (#dca6a9) and Ocean (#3a6b64). Subtle accents of black/white are optional. Color variations and colors outside of this palette will not be accepted. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21” x 18”. Submissions close October 9 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Voting begins October 11. See official rules.
Cut-and-Sew Fat Quarter Project | Results Announced October 25
Featured cut-and-sew dolls by stacyiesthsu
They may be small, but a fat quarter is perhaps the mightiest cut of fabric. From dolls to pencil cases to DIY ornaments, the real question is what can’t you make with a fat quarter of fabric? During this week’s challenge, create your very own cut-and-sew project for a fat quarter of fabric. To help you get started, Spoonflower designer Ceri Staziker–cerigwen in the Marketplace—is sharing seven design tips for successfully creating a cut-and-sew project. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21” x 18”. Submissions close October 16 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Voting begins October 18. See official rules.
Gender Neutral Nursery Wallpaper | Results Announced November 1
Entries in the Gender Neutral Nursery Wallpaper Design Challenge will preview on wallpaper during voting. Featured design: Red Hens by threebearsprints
These days, moms- and dads-to-be are looking for many more color options than just pink and blue for their nursery walls. Some may choose a bold graphic print, while others might stick to soft textures to help lull baby to sleep. When creating your design, don’t forget to review our top tips for designing large scale wallpaper, a growing trend in nurseries. Entries will be previewed on the wallpaper mockup featured above. Submissions close October 23 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Voting begins October 25. See official rules.
Chinoiserie | Results Announced November 8
Chinoiserie, meaning “Chinese-like”, is a Western movement interpreting popular Chinese artistic styles. Traditionally found in the home as designs on wallpaper, jars, vases and tea sets in the 18th century, the iconic blue and white patterns feature motifs of dragons, nature scenes, pagodas and foo dogs are making a comeback. During this week’s challenge, create your own chinoiserie design featuring the elaborate and intricate elements that are hallmarks of this traditional style. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21” x 18”. Submissions close October 30 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Voting begins November 1. See official rules.
Grand Prize
One Grand Prize Winner each week will receive $200 in Spoondollars. The winner will also receive additional exposure in our email newsletters, professional photography of their printed designs, and social media mentions.
Second Place
The 2nd place winner will receive $100 in Spoondollars.
Third Place
The 3rd place winner will receive $50 in Spoondollars.
The rest of the top 10
4th through 10th place winners will receive a $20 Spoondollar credit.
All of the top 50
Each of the top 50 entries, determined as set forth above, not receiving one of the foregoing prizes will be automatically proofed for sale in the Spoonflower Marketplace (approximately a $5 value) (the “Runner Up Prize”) if winners are verified sellers.
Below please find the rules for participating in our Design Challenge.
To Enter
- Log in to Spoonflower. If you don’t have an account, create one.
- Go to your design library. If you don’t yet have any designs, upload the design you wish to enter.
- On your design library page, pull down the Action menu underneath the design you wish to enter in the contest, then select the contest you wish to enter under Enter in Contest.
- Choose the layout option for your design, then click the button that reads “Enter Contest”. If you wish to change the size/dpi of your design, you can do so using the edit option on this page.
- Be sure to wait until your entry preview fully loads, with a message confirming your contest entry, before you leave the page.
- If you decide to enter a different design or make changes, you can withdraw a design by following the same steps, then entering a new design.
- You can only have one design active in the contest at a time. Once the entry period closes, we will ‘freeze’ the submitted designs. ****If you update your design after this point, you will break the image thumbnail and voters will not be able to see your design.
Themed Design Challenge Rules (updated 10/25/2016)
- Official rules may change depending on the contest, and will always be updated on this page as they become available.
Overview. The general idea behind our Design Challenge is that each week members of the Spoonflower community choose to submit designs and we put them up for voting to determine the Design Challenge. Designs can be entered by the designer via our entry process, but each month the winning fabric is selected by community voting. The winning fabric is then promoted through our weekly email, blog, etc. as a fabric for sale. In addition to earning up to 15% on any fabric sold, the winning designer receives a unique prize that will be determined by the design challenge partners and Spoonflower.
Voting. Each week we will take fabric designs submitted by their creators to the contest and open them to voting from the community. The design with the most votes is declared the winner unless stated otherwise. One vote per person is counted. Duplicate votes are removed automatically from the totals. The full results of voting are generally posted on the blog on the day the winner is announced.
Prize. Prizes will vary based on our contest. If you receive Spoondollar credit for winning, please note that this cannot be redeemed for cash. This has no effect on the commission you earn from sales of your winning fabric through our efforts to promote the contest.
If you enter your design, we may or may not offer it to the community for possible selection as the Design Challenge. The best motivation for submitting a design is the chance to share your work with an amazing community of your peers. Please note that all submitted designs must be original and comply with the Spoonflower Terms of Service.
As of July 7, 2011, we began making all ten of the top ten designs in each competition available for sale. By entering the contest, you agree that if your design is voted in the top 10 and is marked for sale that you agree to be bound by the terms of the Seller’s Agreement and become a verified seller. Designs must remain for sale for one week after the top ten designs are announced. Designers are free to change the for-sale status of their own designs at any time after that week. Please note that designs will remain visible in our past contest archive. Should you change the for-sale status of your design, please keep the design public to keep our archive complete.
Designers who sell designs via Spoonflower are required to supply tax information by filling out a W-8BEN or a W-9 form. Spoonflower will make all top ten designs for sale on the day that the contest standing is announced. If you have not completed your tax information at this time, we will automatically select the option to withhold 30% of the Spoondollars you make from sales for tax purposes.
You can complete your tax information at any point. Once tax information is supplied, we will no longer withhold your Spoondollars. Please find instructions for completing your tax information here.
Notes:
- All submitted designs must be your own (you cannot nominate other people’s designs or use designs based upon other people’s work)
- Designs must already be in your Spoonflower account. To have a Spoonflower account, you have to have registered on the site and uploaded a design. Doing so is free, by the way.
- Designs in the contests must be public (to edit which of your designs are public, visit the Designs page in your Spoonflower account.). Please submit no more than one design for each contest. Thanks!
While we do not require that a design submitted to the contest have been purchased first (by the designer), please consider that it’s a good idea to at least see for yourself what your design looks like on fabric before entering it in a public contest. Swatches are only $5!
More Q&A
What if I don’t want my design to be purchased by other people? We will never sell or offer for voting any design without explicit permission from its creator. Making your design public on Spoonflower does NOT mean that it will appear in a Design Challenge. In order to appear in the contest you must specifically submit a design using the process described above. Note that the top ten designs in each contest will be made available for sale.
Can I submit more than one design? Please submit no more than one design for each themed contest.
Am I giving up copyright of my design by entering it? You are not giving up ownership of your design, but by entering your design in the contest you give us the non-exclusive right to make it available for sale in the Spoonflower marketplace for no less than a week per the usual terms of the Spoonflower marketplace, which give you up to 15% commission on retail sales. You will always be credited for your design and you are free to continue to sell it on your own now and in the future. After a week, you are also free to remove your winning design from the marketplace.
Please always feel free to let us know what you think by emailing us.