Saturday, December 29, 2012

Meet our Permanent Sponsors for 2013...



Its almost time to say goodbye to 2012! How quickly did this year pass by? For me, personally it has been a year of some highs and some lows so I guess its all balanced out in the end. Can't complain! I would love 2013 to be an even better year and although I have never strongly adapted Ali Edward's  "One Little Word" concept I have always had it as a focus at the back of my mind as each year comes to a close the last few years. My wishes and hopes for the coming year I guess. Well this year, I have already picked it..my word for 2013 is "CHANGE".. change on many levels. I will be 35 in June and I vividly remember turning 25 and feeling as if something changed for me that year. So , I embrace 2013 and my 35th year with the same sentiment and hope for CHANGE on a personal and professional level. I know what needs changing and I am willing to change all that in the coming year. 

Starting with the 1st of January, there are also some changes that will take effect in regards to our challenges here. Not too drastic , but I will explain it all in a few days time when our January challenge goes live!

So what will your one little word be for 2013? Have you thought about it? 

Speaking of change, its time to say goodbye to some of our sponsors that provided so many of you with gorgeous prizes throughout this year. Yes we all do like to play for fun, but its just that much more exciting to play to win something even though we all have a stash to last us a life time LOL! 

I would REALLY love to thank the following permanent sponsors who committed to us when we were just fairly new: 












Thank you so much for supporting our challenges throughout 2012 ! We could simply have not done it without you!!!

There is A LOT that goes on behind the scenes to get prizes organised, collection addresses , details etc etc and people need to be organised and professional and all of these people that donated prizes are all that and more. It was a pleasure to work with you all. 

Having said that, I also wish to thank Patti Hamil ! She looked after all the prizes for most of this year and I mean it when I say I could not have done it without you Patti :) Thank YOU so much. 

Now, its time to introduce to you our new sponsors that will donate prizes for each and every challenge in 2013. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you for offering your generous prizes. Its mind blowing how many people offered to be our permanent sponsors and I actually had to turn some back because it would have just been logistically impossible to organise behind the scenes. 



Imaginarium Designs chipboard, is donating a chipboard pack full of their newest releases valued at AU$50.00 , with free domestic and international shipping 


Imaginarium Designs was created in late 2010 here in Adelaide as we saw a need for some unique designs in the industry!
Chipboard is such an amazing medium to work with ... perfect for Scrapbooking pages, projects, cards and so much more.
Our designers are everyday Scrapbookers and Cardmakers who work in the Papercraft industry and design Chipboard specifically for everyday projects. We make sure that every design is perfect and fits pages and cards as it should! 

We design and produce Chipboard everyday and pride ourselves in custom service and unique designs - nothing is too small or too hard!

Our new and exciting Design Team for 2013 has some incredible international and Australian talent and we cant wait to show you our new designs!






Scraps of Elegance kit club is donating their main kit valued at US$35.95 value, with free Priority shipping within the USA, or free First Class shipping for international winners!

Scraps of Elegance offers monthly kits designed for the scrapbook artist with a style on the romantic side... shabby chic, vintage, elegant. We also have on online store combined with our Sister Club, Scraps of Darkness, a fun and friendly forum with monthly challenges and swaps, and tutorials from our wonderful designers and educators. We hope we will inspire you to Create Something Beautiful Today! 




The Flying Unicorn online store and kit club, is donating a US$25.00 gift voucher to spend at their store with freedomestic and international shipping ! 

Flying Unicorn.. it’s about One of a Kind. We offer an incredible selection of products for all paper crafting artists. Our Kit of the Month if filled with the latest and greatest and includes an off the page project to keep your creative muse flowing! Our forums, a hot and happening place which includes monthly challenges, tips, techniques and friendships that last! 




Julia Cotrim Scrapbooking is donating a patterned paper and canvas collection with free domestic and international shipping 

Julia Cotrim's hand made patterned papers and canvas (12"x12") are unique and very special. The patterned papers are texturized and printed on a very thick cardstock. The patterned canvas coordinate with the papers. Our studio is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 



Sassy Scrappers is donating a AUS$25.00 prize pack with free domestic and international shipping 

Sassy Scrappers is your one stop online Scrapbooking Store. We stock all the major brands and the latest scrapbooking papers, embellishments and tools at the best prices. We pride ourselves on the best customer service and our quick order shipping as we will ensure to have your order out within 24 hours.. Take advantage of our Flat Rate Postage of $6.95 within Australia now..





Scrapbooking Fantasies is donating a ribbon pack  for 2 winners valued at over AU$10.00 each plus with free domestic and international shipping 

Scrapbook Fantasies (www.scrapbookfantasies.com.au) is a Scrapbooking, Papercrafts and Mixed Media retailer that opened in November 2002 in Gladstone, Queensland. The well stocked store receives new stock daily, and supports a boutique style online store. The owner Alicia runs Weekly Challenges and many other competitions giving away 100’s of prizes and vouchers every year. The GALLERY hosts thousands of customer creations, and is available for viewing without login. Parcels are posted within Australia at a flat $8.50 or the actual postage rate (whichever is the lesser), or FREE for orders over $65. International parcels are posted at the actual postage rate.



Njoyfull Crafts is donating one of the above prize packs or similar valued at AU$20.00 with free domestic and international shipping 

Njoyfull Crafts is a unique online Australia store, which specialises in ribbons, braid, lace, embellishments, flowers, leaves, sequins, pearls and burlap. Since July 2012, the store also stocks a large range of 12 x 12 cardstock and letters from American Crafts and Bazzill Basics Paper. Narelle is also aiming to sell her own creations. Currently she stocks her own hand-knitted scarves; which will increase closer to winter. Free postage on any orders over $99. Visit the blog at http://njoyfullcrafts.blogspot.com.au/ There is a monthly challenge, visit http://njoyfullcraftschallenge.blogspot.com.au/ for the latest task. 




Get Creative Embellishments is donating a prize pack valued at 15.00 Euro,  shipped free anywhere in the world


Goodmorning! My name is Irini Liolia I live in Athens Greece and I love to play with thread and paper. I run a little ETSY shop called Get Creative Embellishments. Get Creative Embellishments was born out of my passion for decorating my scrapbook pages with unusual handmade embellishments.....they are made with various threads, papers and mediums to make them look pretty. They can be used on scrap book pages, mini albums, cards, altered items such as brooches, headbands, rings.........just Get Creative! 



SA Crafters is donating a prize pack valued at US$15.00 , shipped anywhere in the world. 

Sa crafters : selling handmade stencils, handmade wooden pieces, chipboard products, mulberry paper flowers, charms, shabby chic flowers trims, half pearls and more! 




 Deer & Fawn Designs is donating a prize pack valued at AU$10.00 , shipped free anywhere in the world. 

Deer & Fawns Designs is an online store that offers heaps of Handmade goodies…. Scrapbooking Embellies, Gifts, Jewellery and much more!!! We are constantly adding to our releases and some are limited and once they are sold out they are not re stocked. We have some AMAZING new products in store for 2013 such as J Crochet Baby goodies, more handmade scrapbooking supplies & also more Washi Tape designs….. Make sure you like and follow us on facebook and also become a follower of our blog to see some inspiration from our DT with projects listed regularly for you to see. 



So once again, thank you so much to these generous people who will keep our challenges going in 2013!!!

I wish you all a happy new year and I will speak to you all January 1st with our brand new challenge!!!

All the best, Nadia

Saturday, December 15, 2012

December Challenge - Group B Reveal

Hi everyone!!! How are you all doing? 

Today I wanted to show you the other half of our Design Team's interpretation of our December challenge. SO many beautiful layouts and I hope you find some time over the next 2 weeks to play along :) 

Theme:  It's December...

We would like you to create a layout and interpret the theme "'It's December.. " however you like based on the following sketch. 

Ideas for Journalling: We know that not everyone celebrates Christmas in December, but if you do we would love to hear all about it. If not, then tell us anything that you like about December..celebratory on not! 

Your layout must incorporate this theme and the sketch below. 

Please make sure that we see some sort of journalling on your layouts and please tell us where your journalling is . You are allowed to journal in any language but please tell us where on your page we will find your journalling. Remember journalling has to be a bit more than a title, or a generic comment. Hidden journalling is perfectly fine.




Winner of October Challenge 

Rachael Funnell


Hey there! My name is Rachael Funnell & like YOU.. I Totally adore scrapbooking!! I have been scrapbooking for just over 6 years now & in the last 2 years, scrapping has become a daily part of my life!! & FULLY lovin it... My Style is still evolving but I’m finding cluster’s, layers & something always going on in my background’s are regular things with my layouts... I’m married to an amazing man Jason & together we run a small business!! I work with hubby a 2-3 days a week when needed... Jason & I have 2 Gorgeous children.... Our boy Ethan who just hit the double digits 10.. & our girl Chloee who is8!! We live in the Central Tablelands of NSW Australia.. & LOVE IT! I would like to THANK all the DT ladies that voted for my layout for the October Challenge!!! it was such an honor...



*Hidden Journalling on the back



Now here is what our Design Team created. To see further details of their work please click on their name Now here is what our Design Team came up with. Please click on their blogs for more details on their creations. I am sure they would love to hear from you !!!



Helena Virpi (Italy)
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard border



Eila Sandberg (Sweden) 
*Journalling at the back of the page



Elena Stefanidou (Greece) 
** journaling hidden behind the photo



Melenia Agapides (Greece)
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard border alphas, border & flourish*



Hilde Aaslund (Norway)
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard border & branch 


 Efi Stamatelli (Greece) 
*Hidden Journalling behind the photo



Evgenia Petzer (South Africa) 
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard fence



Kim Price (Australia)
**Journalling on pull out tag behind photo cluster



Camilla Ekman (Sweden) 
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard border
* Maja Design papers



Solange Marques (Brazil)
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard border
* Journalling is in the tag behind the photo.



**Hidden Journalling on the ticket and tag to the left side

Kay Fatula (USA) 
*Imaginarium Designs chipboard frame & border.  
**Journaling stored in the scroll found in the upper right hand corner


Our main sponsor for December is the gorgeous Swedish manufacturer Maja Design 

MajaDesign Corp is situated in Uddevalla, Sweden. We are dedicated to create unique and high quality vintage inspired patterned paper for scrapbooking and crafts. Majadesign was founded in November 2007, and since then been growing over 70 retailers in Sweden and 80 in Europe. Founder Marie Jansson says :  "In the fall of 2004, a dear friend asked me to join her to a scrapbooking course. from that moment, i became totally amazed and thrilled by all the beautiful papers and decorations in the art of scrapbooking. After some time as a captivated scrapper, I got curious to create my own patterns. I have always have had a devotion for color and form, as well as I had great printing facilities close, as I worked at a printers office. Since 2007, I have been blessed to be able to work with my great passion - to design and create colored coordinated paper". 

Here is the link to Maja Design's website - Maja Design 


 Our other sponsor for December is once again the beautiful online store called The Trinket Track..



Welcome to The Trinket Track. The home of the cutest little trinkets around!
Here at The Trinket Track we aim to provide a variety of crafters with a wide selection of embellishments for scrapbooking and cardmaking. Love to make your own accesories? No problem, we have you covered too with a selection of beads, links, ribbon and other little trinkets.
We hope you have an enjoyable shopping experience down the track!
For ideas on how to use our embellishments visit the blog http://www.thetrinkettrack.blogspot.com.au/
 and our store address is http://www.thetrinkettrack.com/



Now here are our permanent sponsors for 2012. For more information please see our sidebar. 















How would you like to be our Guest Designer for the month of February The winner of this challenge with the most points, as voted by the Design Team will be invited to be our Guest Designer in January and create along side our Design Team. This person will also win a $25.00 store voucher from ...




The next four winning entries will win the following prizes

Paper collection from Maja Design - Vintage Summer Basics 


A US$20.00 store gift card from C'est Magnifique Kit Club + FREE postage to anywhere in the world + add any other item in the store at NO extra postage cost from C'est Magnifique kit club. 
.








There will also be 4 randomly picked winners who will receive the following..



2 ribbon packs for 2 winners from Scrapbooking Fantasies. Each pack includes 29 x ½ mt lengths.





** The deadline for this challenge is midnight December 31st Australian Eastern Standard Time . The Design Team will vote and the Top 5 layouts PLUS Top 5 featured layouts will be announced soon after the challenge has finished.

** In order for your layout to be considered as a winner, we need to see evidence of the sketch TOGETHER with the journalling theme and some journalling which includes more than just the title, date of event etc. Hidden journalling is perfectly fine, but please do tell us where on your layout it is. You are also welcomed to journal in your own language. 

**This is an international blog, so anyone can enter

**You are free to combine Once Upon A..Sketch challenges with other challenges. We don't mind at all!!!

**You are allowed to enter only layouts  for our challenges

**Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery and link it on the right hand side of this blog using the Link tool. Please provide a direct link to your post, not your entire blog.If the link tool is down, please leave a comment on the comments section and link your layout there.

**You may enter as many times as you like

**Also, please consider turning off word verification for comments on your blog.

For a complete list of the rules please see the top of this page.