January Challenge + some changes!

Hi everyone!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope you all had a great time, and as we are a little ahead of everyone here in Australia everything is kind of over for us now. LOL! Its already the morning of the 1st of January and we are all pretty much recovering already. 

Well what better way to kick things off with a brand new challenge, our first for this year!!! I played around with the blog template a little bit just to start the new year fresh. Hope you like it. 

Thank you to everyone who played along with our last challenge! It was SUCH A busy month but so many of you found the time to enter. Thank you. Our Design Team will vote and we will have the winners announced as soon as possible!

I sure hope to keep on bringing you more and more. I really want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for embracing Once Upon A..Sketch and helping  this little idea of mine blossom. I truly and honestly could not have continued this long if I didn't see the awesome number of people tuning in every month providing us with amazing entries, incredible blogs to visit, stories and so much more! So THANK YOU all so much for your loyalty and participation. If it were not for you, we would not have the wonderful atmosphere we have here and all I really wish for is to continue through for a lot longer. 

So, we have 1 major change here starting from this year. Due to time commitments and trying to juggle a life with 2 little kids etc AND try and give 100% here I have decided to only have 1 reveal from now each each month. Up to now, we still had just the one challenge per month but we had split the team in 2 and Team A had a reveal on the 1st and Team B on the 15th. There were also other posts going up for sponsors etc etc etc so all that was kind of stressful as if you know me a little you would know I do not do anything half hearted. Its all or nothing with me and I was really worried about getting posts out. 

SO our team is still split in 2 and they have kindly agreed to take turns in reveals in each month. So for example half of the team will have a reveal in January and the other half in February and so on. Thanks team!!!

But the most important change is one you need to REALLY take note of. Our challenges have always ended on the last day of the month but that is changing as of this month. Our challenges will now end on the 25th of each month to give us enough time to vote and announce the winners before the new challenges go up on the 1st of each month. Please do remember that Sydney is MANY hours ahead of most of the world and your layout MUST be linked up by midnight 26th! SO please do take note of the new due date!

OK, enough talking let's get on with our first challenge of the year. 

Theme: "The start of something new" 

The new year is among us. What better way to celebrate change, renewed hope and having a positive attitude than with a brand new year? A new start...a new horizon and the start of something new! A new year is full of possibilities. So in honor of the start of 2013, we would like you to create a layout and interpret the theme "The start of something new..." however you like. Whatever that sentence inspires you to scrap then go for it. 

Ideas for journalling: Include the theme sentence as your title, a new job coming up or the beginning of a new job and in the past and what it meant to you, a child's new toy, a new house you are building/moving in to or one you have moved in already, a new year and what it means to you, a new attitude, the start of a new school year, a new relationship - yours, a family members, your child's, a new friendship, new wardrobe, new diet, new phone, new haircut...

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.

It is with great pleasure that I announce this month's Guest Designer. This talented and very creative person personally inspires me to get crafting with each project that she makes and I am so happy she is here with us this month. 

Natasha Naranjo Aguirre (USA)

Hi! My name is Natasha & I’m the mother of two wonderful children & the wife of an amazing, supportive man. I am a floral designer by day and a scrapbook designer by night. I first discovered my love for scrapbooking in 2004 but was unable to scrap because I was a single mother at the time. For years I was unable to craft, but my passion for it never faded. I married my soulmate in 2010 and my husband inspired and encouraged me to start creating. If it weren’t for him, I would have never been able to begin doing what I love. As for my scrapping style... well, I don’t know how to categorize my style LOL. I just create using products I love. I love to incorporate different techniques in my work and use a variety of elements. Every day I am inspired by the work and talent of others, and I hope to be able to inspire others with my work as well. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and visit! :o) xoxo My Blog: www.moments-of-tranquility.com My Gallery: www.moments-of-tranquility-gallery.com  My Shop: http://www.moments-of-tranquility-shop.com/

Now here is what Natasha created for our January challenge...

Now please welcome our winner from our November challenge, who has a very beautiful style as well ...

Jess Mackenzie (Australia)

Hiya! My name is Jess Mackenzie & I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be a guest designer here at OUAS! I am a mum of one 4 year old boy Elijah & wife to a rather understanding hubby Tavis. I am a stay at home mum who has not long ago started a wee business where I sell handmade goodies at local markets & online. I have always been crafty & enjoy lots of crafty hobbies like sewing, painting, journalling & of course scrapbooking. I have been scrapbooking for a little over 3 years now and I just LOVE it. I love how it is such a versatile hobby which you really can make your own. I would say my style involves a lot of layers, paints, messiness & random bits and bobs. I really hope you enjoy this challenge as much as I have! Love and Peace xox

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 !!!

Svetlana Austin (South Africa)

** Imaginarium Design chipboard letters

Helena Virpi (Italy)

Florence Teixeira - France 

"On this year, I will cook!"

*Hidden journalling under the spoon.

Vicky Alberto (Canada)

*Hidden journalling on back of layout*

Georgia Heald - (Australia)

*Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics Paper - 1946

*Hidden journalling under shipping tag

Cathy Cafun (Australia) 

*Maja Design Walking in the Forest & Crea Diem papers 

** Imaginarium Design Tinies Cogs and Steampunk Clock

Chantalle McDaniel (Australia)

*Maja Design patterned paper 

** Imaginarium Design chipboard letters

Kelly Foster (USA)

Romy Veul (The Netherlands) 

** Imaginarium Design chipboard frames

Mona Pendleton (USA)

Anna Zaprzelska (Poland)

**Journaling on the back of the layout

Renata Moni (Brazil)

** Imaginarium Design chipboard flourishes

**Hidden Journaling on the folded paper with the roses.

Erin Blegen (USA)

**Hidden journaling on tag behind bottom photo**

**Pink ribbon from Scrapbook Fantasies**

The winner of this challenge as voted by the Design Team will win the prize from our main sponsor and also be invited to come back in March as our Guest Designer.

Our new sponsor for the month of January

 Deer & Fawn Designs

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.

Deer & Fawn Designs is donating this beautiful kit for our January winner...

Here are our permanent sponsors for 2013 and the prizes they are kindly donating. 

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

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!

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 ! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have fun everyone and GOOD LUCK!!

Please remember the new deadline for this challenge is midnight January 25th Australian Eastern Standard Time . 

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