Tag Archives: Contests

Contests and build challenges are often a great way to get creative juices flowing. Check out our coverage of new contests here, and congratulate the winners of contests that have finished.

These Friendshiptember builds are out of this world [Feature]

Friendshiptember is that wonderful time of the year where builders of all experience levels come together to create a ship (space, sky, or seafaring, all are fine!) inspired by the colors and minidolls of LEGO Friends. With another successful Friendshiptember in the rear view mirror, we rounded up some of our favorite entries to share. We also sat down with the event organizer Aubree (moctura) to reflect, so scroll to the end to read our interview. But first, let’s see these fabulous friendships!

Brilliantly capturing both the aesthetic and the color palette of the Friends theme, Chad Rhodes first-ever entry is a sight to behold. This ship is smooth and sleek, yet feels like a true crossover for Friends and Space. The Star and Heart tucked away in the top of the ship is a perfect touch.

With another impressively sleek design, Jason Bourassa shows off this colorful ship adorned with embellishments. Even if the jewels or hearts are blasters, they still seem quite friendly. The bright purple engine exhaust is the perfect final touch.

Travel further into the beyond with these builds

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LEGO pirates make a scene as Umbasa LUG x Brothers Brick contest sails to an end [Feature]

Our friends at Umbasa LUG host monthly challenges focused on minifigs and dark fantasy. For September, the community tried something a little different, challenging builders to create not just characters but a brick-built vignette of between 10-16 studs on each side. The Brothers Brick sponsored this month’s contest, providing a copy of Windmill Village Hut to the winner. And without further ado, we’re excited to reveal that the winner is…

blocksofmocs!

Of the winner, Umbasa LUG organizer jdm_bricks said: “We decided that with such a small build, blocksofmocs was able to pack in such an impressive amount of character and detail, that it just had to be put on top. Highlights for us were the whimsical aesthetic, the very lively classic color pallet, the cohesive pirate crew, and the lovely shaping of the boat and waves.”

Congratulations to blocksofmocs, and thank you to all the other amazing builders who participated.

Click to see some of our favorite runners up from the Pirate Vignette contest

Set sail for the pink and purple seas – Friendshiptember is under way

As we reach the halfway point of September, this is your friendly reminder that there’s still plenty of time to break out the pink, purple, and aqua bricks and participate in Friendshiptember! The annual challenge invites builders of all experience levels to create a ship (space, sky, or seafaring, all are fine!) inspired by the colors and minidolls of LEGO Friends. This year, The Brothers Brick is joining the sponsors with a prize of the Friendship Camper Van for one lucky participant.

To participate:

Build a friendship!
Post it to Instagram
tag @friendshiptember as a collaborator

You can make a grand sailing ship like Virgina_bricks did last year:

But don’t worry about needing ton of parts like SHIPtember. You can also enter with a cute little craft like this one from Kayla.

You can learn more about the contest, follow Friendshiptember on Instagram or read Josh Parkinson’s article on the joys of embracing the friendly side.

Heroes of Fur and Feather Grand Prize Winner – Ben Grayson’s adventures of Priscilla Bramblewhisk [Feature]

Over the past four weeks, fifty brave builders joined us for our inaugural role-play competition: Heroes of Fur and Feather. In three challenges, each player created LEGO scenes and lore that advanced the story of their animal hero. There were so many inspiring builds and epic plot twists, but at the end of the journey, one builder consistently won us over with his amazing character, beautifully staged scenes, chilling creature designs, and cozy storytelling. And that builder is Ben Grayson! For completing the quest of winning over our panel of judges, Ben wins a copy of Blathers’ Museum Collection. Thanks to everyone else who participated. Now, we’re proud to present Ben’s series of builds in full.

Pour a cup of cozy tea and tuck in for Ben Grayson’s winning adventure

Summer Faction Festival invites you to show your true space colors [News]

LEGO has blessed classic space fans in recent years with minifig spacemen in new colors, callbacks to old factions, and a couple of re-imagined sets. What we haven’t had in ages is an actual new LEGO faction in the tradition of the 80s and 90s, when every year or two would bring in a new spin on Space. Over on the Eurobricks forums, Bob De Quatre is hosting a contest that lets anyone create a new faction based on a constrained color palette. It seems like an amazing way for veteran Classic Space builders as well as new voices in the community to celebrate LEGO’s space legacy with a creative spin. Large builds, small builds, and even just minifig-focused creations have a category, so why dust off those oxygen tanks and fire up your ray guns and sign up over at the Eurobrick forums.

Perhaps you’ll find your groove like Angus MacLane did with the totally chill Browntron faction (which pre-dates the Summer Faction Festival but fits the rules)

Contest rules after the break

Heroes of Fur and Feather Challenge 3: Heart and Darkness [Contest]

Every year at Delving Day, aspiring heroes travel from the peaceful Valley to Dungeon Crossing. Everyone is taught from a young age that Delving Day proves that all animals are equal. After all, everyone has the same chance of success. Most heroes emerge victorious with rollicking tales to share of their adventures. Sure, a few delvers never return, but it’s a small price to pay for lasting peace. But what if Delving Day isn’t about preserving equality at all, but about protecting those animals who are more equal than others? The truth is coming to light for Olly, Liri, and Kitara, the three heroes created by guest collaborators Jacob Manahan, beyondb0nes, and Red Impala. Brennan (@brickbot_studio) joins the mix with the villain (or anti-hero?) Caelus Velmorne.

Ready to delve into Dungeon Crossing? Let’s go!

Heroes of Fur and Feather Challenge 2: Monster Meyhem [Contest]

Over sixty heroes showed up for Delving Day with many sharing their adventures with amazing LEGO builds and juicy lore. Thanks to all who participated. This week we have a new challenge: “Monster Meyhem!” but first let’s check in on Olly, Liri, and Kitara, our three heroes created by guest collaborators Jacob Manahan, beyondb0nes, and Red Impala. And a special thanks to ASortaOkayBuilder for the critters in this week’s challenge.

Ready to delve into Dungeon Crossing? Let’s go!

Heroes of Fur and Feather – Challenge 1: Delving Day [Contest]

Welcome to Heroes of Fur and Feather: A “Dungeon Crossing” role-play adventure in LEGO! On Monday we put out a call for heroes and already many have answered the call. Today we’ll meet our main heroes and learn what happens on Delving Day. Today’s story ends with a challenge for our featured heroes as well as anyone who wants to play along. It’s not too late to create your own animal hero and participate in weekly challenges for the chance to win Animal Crossing LEGO sets. Share your character and challenges on Flickr or Instagram and tag it #HeroesOfFurAndFeather . Now on to the story!

Roll for initiative and read on

Introducing Heroes of Fur and Feather: A Dungeon Crossing Role-Play Adventure! [Contest]

Calling all minifig fans and role-players! The Brothers Brick invites you to join in a new kind of LEGO adventure – one that celebrates building creativity and storytelling. For the next four weeks, follow along as intrepid heroes created by Jacob Manahan, Red Impala, and beyondb0nes embark on a fantasy adventure in a world that mixes LEGO Animal Crossing with Dungeons and Dragons. Or if you want to play along, roll your own minifig hero and join the story! Participating doesn’t require a massive collection of bricks – just a talent for creating characters at minifig scale and a willingness to get into the story. Check out our Minifig Monday features for the type of builds that we’re talking about. How does it work? Read on for the rules:

Learn how to follow along or participate in the first Brothers Brick Role-Play adventure

A. Lemur explains it all, Episode 2: A call for art! [Feature]

The last time I rapped at y’all an interesting thing happened. Whether it be diverse representation in the Friends line, or the minifigures that come in LEGO Star Wars Microfighters sets, folks online sure have opinions about it. The consensus of said opinions on my last post, at least the ones that chose to share them anyway, was that they didn’t like me or the accompanying AI-generated image of me chitchatting and being as cool as a cucumber. As for not liking me, we did our own scientific research on the matter. We polled nearly a dozen people, and asked whether they’d prefer to encounter me in the forest or some rando dude from the internet. They unanimously chose me! However, I’m willing to acknowledge that our research may be biased because nearly a dozen people were all I could survey in the TBB hot tub last night. As for not liking the AI-generated image of me, the online randos might have had a good point, so we did something about that. Now you get this mugshot of me from 2015 that definitely isn’t AI-generated, so don’t get that idea in your heads. Or is it? Definitely not, maybe. What’s with the mugshot, you may ask? Well, as mentioned in my prior post, I was charged with the distribution of biohazard materials across property lines. (I swear they made up that rule just for me!)

As mugshots go, it’s not bad. I was living the YOLO lifestyle back then as evidenced by my sweet green fauxhawk, devil-may-care expression, and aviator sunglasses. In my defense, and if it’ll please the court, Your Honor, this mugshot was the only publishable image of me I had on my phone. The rest are -well- hilarious to be sure but nothing we can publish on The Brothers Brick. Which is why I’m appealing to y’all with…

A call for lemur art!

That’s right! We’d love to see your artistic chops and different styles and mediums. Please submit your original A. Lemur-related artwork using the form below. You may draw me in all kinds of predicaments and situations; why I could be riding a rollercoaster, driving a car, or even soaking in TBB’s headquarters hot tub when Andrew isn’t looking. With your imagination and artistic ability, there’s no telling what hijinks I could be up to! Extra kudos points go to you if you include something green and white in the composition. Kyle says it’s good branding!

What do I get in return?

I’ll come by occasionally to rap at y’all to explain some LEGO terms, maybe talk about events in your area or whatever floats my tail. When I do, and if we use your image to accompany it, I’ll credit you and even provide a link to your socials. With legions of readers worldwide, it could garner you some sweet likes and follows! We’ll even throw a bit of swag your way.

But what do you look like? How are you different from other lemurs?

What’s to stop me from just copy/pasting lemur images and raking in the sweet rewards? Good point! Besides the fact that I can talk, write, and be overall charming and likable, I look a little different from your normal lemur in the sense that I have a green and white striped tail. Andrew dared me to do it a long time ago and I just sort of kept it. I am older now, so I sometimes wear glasses; green, of course. You can depict me in a dyed green fauxhawk, like in my mugshot, but it’s not necessary. Otherwise, I look like your normal, walking’ talking’ smart-aleck lemur.

What are the rules?

Please submit your original art using the form below by September 7th, 2024. Any medium, any style is welcome whether it be digital art, collage, paint, markers, pencils, whatevs! All we ask is that it’s hosted on the internet somewhere for us to go have a gander. Also, please be over 13 years old. No entries from anyone 13 or under will be accepted. I hate to say it but -sigh- please no AI-generated art. As you may have witnessed, we have eggheads already who can do that and some folks didn’t like it. In this scenario, I get to rap at ya occasionally about cool LEGO stuff and whatnot, talented people get credit and attention for their sweet, sweet art, you don’t have to see mugshots or any of those hilarious unpublishable images from my phone, and we keep the naysayers off our backs. It’s a win/win for everybody!

Thanks for reading. Now let’s see what magic you can do!

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The Amazing Spider-Man is amazing as a LEGO-built classic comic cover

I’m an artist but it may surprise some of you to learn that I wasn’t much into comic books as a kid. However, the few comics I had held a specil place in my heart. I had a few issues of Star Wars, Superman, The Hulk, even Spider-Man. Speaking of which, this mind-blowing LEGO creation by Bas van Houwelingen is made to look like a classic comic book cover. This uncanny technique uses both intentionally built sections as well as seemingly haphazardly poured elements to create an amazing cohesive image. Here we see a closeup of Spider-Man as well as Sandman’s fist creeping (or sifting) into the shot. As 3-D art goes, especially in LEGO, you’d normally build Spider-Man with parts of him red, other parts blue and call it a day. But as 2-D artists know, you can often use other colors in surprising ways to give the illusion of a 3-D image. Here we see white, yellow, pink, lavender, green and other colors used beautifully here to tell a complex story.

Not only that, but if you look closely, you may find LEGO elements you wouldn’t normally use to build Spider-Man such as flowers, boats, even a few minifigures. The builder tells us that this work of art took a week to design and is comprized of about 5000 LEGO bricks and utilizes nearly all the red and pink bits in their collection. This technique is a great way to use some of those less-utilized pieces in any collection.

If this already looks a bit familiar to you, then your sharp eyes may have seen that this was submitted to the LEGO Ideas Friendly Neighborhood Comic Book Hero Contest and it was the grand prize winner in the Brick category!

LEGO Ideas ‘We Love Sports!’ winner unveiled at LEGO CON 2021 [News]

LEGO Ideas announced the winner of the LEGO Ideas We Love Sports! building contest during the LEGO CON 2021 today. The Foosball Table by Donát Fehérvári will become the next LEGO Ideas set and will be released sometime in future. The contest was held between December 2020 and February 2021 and gathered more than 800 entries.