Make It From Scratch - The Carnival & Hosting Guide

As I was posting last week's contest entries, I was thinking, to myself, how much fun I had doing this contest, and wondering if I'd be able to talk you into doing it again, maybe a few times a year. I was completely shocked that you were asking me to do it again. You even wanted to do it weekly. ~WOW~ I'm so excited.

I've been thinking about it, and love the weekly idea, but I'm not sure I can make something from scratch, that I've never made before, every week. On the other hand, I love that the contest motivated us to try new things, and I don't want to lose that element. So, I am going to alter things a bit from the first time we did this.

Challenge Week! The first week of the month is dedicated to things made from scratch for the first time. The other weeks you can enter anything you make from scratch. **10/04/2007 discontinuing Challenge week for the time being.

How to Play

1. Post about something you've made from scratch. (cooking, crafts, sewing, be creative)
2. Email makeitfromscratch at yahool.com your post, or submit it here. You can post and submit it anytime, but must submit by Sunday to be included in the carnival to be posted Tuesday. Late posts will be bumped to the next week.
3. All entries will be posted by the Carnival Host Tuesday mornings.

Prizes
Random drawing for Challenge Week. No promises on what the prizes will be. They will be something made from scratch, and I will try to offer a choice. I loved Phelan's idea about giving away what she makes. Maybe you'd like to consider doing that on your blog too.

FYI's
1. Posts must be family friendly. I'm the judge of that!
2."From Scratch" means different things to different people. Take bread for instance, some would consider it "from scratch" to buy the dough and bake it. Others wouldn't consider it "from scratch" unless they ground the flour themselves. I am guessing we are all somewhere between. No set rules here, just make it at whatever level you consider "from scratch."
3. Archived posts are fine by me, but please only one post per blog per week.

Can I Ask a Favor?
Help me promote this. Feel free to swipe the picture and button. I would be happy to email the button code if you are unsure how to swipe it. I'd appreciate a link back to the carnivals on Tuesdays! Thanks!

Any questions? Oh, almost forgot. Let's skip next week, so we all have a little more time. Our first carnival will be February 27th. Get those entries in!

Interested in Hosting? (added 4/23/07)
It isn't hard, but it does take some time. Here are a few guidelines:

1. Anyone who participates in Make it From Scratch is eligible to host.
2. The host is the judge of whether something is appropriate or not. I do not read the entries before forwarding them to you.
3. Only one entry per blog.
4. Please announce at your blog that you will be hosting, and where readers can send their posts to be included.
5. Organize the posts anyway you like. Be creative and have fun with it!
6. Post "Make it From Scratch" Tuesday morning and email me the permalink so I can let everyone know where to find it.

About using a theme when you host. Added 10/14/2007
You are welcome to use a theme for posts (spring, garden, snow or whatever) when you are hosting. Just two things I ask: 1. The theme should be optional. Please include posts that are not on your theme. (As long as they fit MIFS.) 2. Let me know your theme at least two Mondays before you hosting date. (Eight days) That way I can announce your theme when I announce the MIFS carnival the week before you host. Thanks!

If you have any questions, please ask. The hosting schedule can be found here. Email me at makeitfromscratch (at) yahoo (dot) com.