May 15th OUAS; Theme "Mum" usin Prima "Nature Garden"

Welcome to the mid monthly reveal for the May sketch at OUAS!

 We would like you to create a layout and interpret the theme "Mum" however you like based on the following sketch. You can journal as little or as much as you like, but your layout must incorporate this theme and the sketch.

Ideas for journalling: you as a mother, your role as a working/stay-at-home mum, sacrifices/benefits of being a mum, one day in your life as a mum, how your life has changed since being a mum, a tribute to your own mum, grandmother, guardian or someone you consider as close as your mum, your relationship with your mum or your daughter, one trait you have take from your mum, your desire to be a mum, your feelings on motherhood, what does it mean to be a mum?, what kind of mum do you want to be? , Mother's Day celebrations/traditions, your favourite Mother's Day gift given/receive etc

For my layout I used one of the new collections from Prima called "Nature Garden".
The colours and patterns are very subdued and easy to work with.

And this is the beautiful sketch that Nadia prepared for us:

I made my example with lots of layers and sooo much distressing.

I painted, inked and misted the different layers and also made good use of my sewing machine to adhere different elements.

My journalling is about the awesome feeling it was to become a mother of three.

I have talked to a couple of my friends and they felt the same after number three was born,...just elation!

At the same time as being so excited about the new family member I also experienced a strange yearning for one more baby,...to be able to experience this undescribable feeling one more time. I was always happy about waiting before having my firstborn. We had so many things in our life with Uni and work and travel that we would not have been able to do with a baby.

But also with every baby you are a little older and at some point you have to realize that you are not going to have any more. Having had two miscarriages before our eldest was born we felt so blessed with one child . Now we have three  intelligent and beautiful children and could not be happier!!

I have hidden most of my journaling in the rolled up scroll.
For the doilies I used my Cheery Lynn die and the branc is one from Prima Marketing.

I used a chipboard ornament from Imaginarium Designs to form part of my title.

I made a small shabby banner from triangles.

I inked the edges and outlined them, I drew a small messy heart on each of them, and then with my finger I smeared paint on top.When the paint dried I added some liquid pearl from Viva.

I really like this photo of Beatrice.She was happy outside jumping on the trampoline whwn I asked her to pose for a few photos. Her hair is all messy like that!!

Why don't take a peek at what the rest of the team cam up with?

Visit OUAS HERE!

Once Upon A Sketch March 15th. "Miss You" "Perfume de Camélias".

Due to a business trip to Milan I am a bit late in posting about our latest challenge over at OUAS.

I cannot believe it has been a week since my last post!!

I just sent my layout to Nadia and will do a quick share here of the challenge and my new page.

 I used the shabby collection from Les Papiers de Pandore and it is called "Perfume de Camélias"

The journalling criteria was to do a page about someone you miss. In our family we miss Alexandra, who is away abroad to attend university.

My journaling is simple and says;
It has now been six months since you went away to start university in the UK.
Here at home we all miss you a lot,but we are lucky that you are not too far away for us to be able to go and visit you!

The photos were taken in France on holiday a couple of years ago.

March 15th Challenge

Journalling Criteria:   Finish this line "I miss...". 

 Tell us about someone you are missing right now and why. Your journalling can be as long or as little as you like, but we want to hear all about someone you are missing!

Ideas for journalling: missing time alone with your partner, missing your old self, missing your children because they are off to school, university or living away from you, missing your children being young, missing a friend you have not seen in a while, someone in another country, someone that has passed away, a mentor whose advice you could use, a relative you wish you lived closer to, someone you regret having an argument with, missing a pet

Remember that you are allowed to also create a card or altered project based on this sketch and theme and instead of the journalling criteria you need to use a quote. 

YOU MUST combine our journalling criteria with this sketch..

To read all the fine print and to see the examples of the designers and guests  please head over to OUAS HERE.

As I promised; just a short post.
Enjoy the rest of your week end!!

March 1st challenge at Once Upon A...Sketch. Meet our guest designers.

March 1st Challenge + Meet our Guest Designer **Iris Babao Uy**

Well hello everyone! How are you all going? I hope you all enjoyed the switch up with Get Creative last month as much as we did. Thank you all for embracing the concept and our new sister blog and I am so happy to see that many of you played along with both challenges. We are back to normal this month, and this is actually our 12th month that we are posting challenges and next month it will be our one year anniversary. Unfortunately this is the last month for some Design Team members who will end their term here at the end of this month, but we will talk about all that plus some new changes on April 1st!

For the time being a new month is upon us which brings a new challenge for the next 2 weeks. 

The current challenge is one that will push you out of your comfort zone because you have to scrap a layout or create a project about YOU. Many MANY people find this daunting...I can understand that. I personally do not have a problem scrapping my self as I want my children and those I leave behind one day to know the real Nadia. But I was SO SO SO surprised to learn that my Design Team really struggled with this. This saddened me...it saddened me as I see SO many wonderful qualities in all of them, yet it astounds me how hard us women are on our selves. We truly are. I think one thing we are ALL good at for certain, is just being WOMEN in this day and age!! 

SO I am particularly keen to see you all find something that you are good at, as little or as big as that might be and be confident enough to share it with us here. I cannot wait to see your entries!! Come on ladies..its time we believed in our selves and put our selves first just this one time..!

March 1st Challenge

Journalling Criteria/Theme:

All About Me!

The focus of your journalling and the theme of your layout has to be based on YOU and something/s that you are really good at. Don't be shy! We are all good at something as small or as big as it might be.

Ideas for journalling: being a good mum, cooking, talking, understanding people, organising, cleaning, gardening, studying, computers, fashion, exercising, scrapbooking, good at my job, maths, languages, writing , drawing, painting, photography, running, craft, sewing. Maybe you can talk about an aspect of your personality..your sensitivity, your 6th sense, your patience, your strength or bravery, your ability to stay positive. 

Remember that you are allowed to also create a card or altered project based on this sketch and theme and instead of the journalling criteria you need to use a quote.

You MUST combine our journalling criteria with this sketch..

We have two wonderful guest designers this month. 

Iris Babao Uy has made this gorgeous page for us:

And Cathy Cafun who won the previous challenge made this stunning  page:

I recommend you visit the Once Upon A...Sketch blog to have a look at all the ten lovely pages made by the wonderful design team mambers. 

As always the work is outstanding!!

Thanks for dropping by!!

Get Creative - Once Upon A...Sketch mix it up for the second time! New "Les Papiers de Pandore"

Hi friends!

How are you? -Ready for a new challenge yet?

Today the second half of the designers at OUAS get a chance to play along at Get Creative , 

the awesome Greek challenge blog and brainchild of Irini Liolia !

This is the beautiful sketch created by the talented Elina.

Normally if you joined in one of the challenges over at OUAS we'd have a journaling prompt for you.
Get Creative doesn't have taht but hey,...why not keep up the good work? I have gotten so used to doing journaling now, so this time I put plenty,- on the back of my layout.

This is the layout I made. I tried to keep faithful to the sketch,but will admit to having executed a bit of artistic freedom,...lol.
I used the gorgeous new collection from "Les Papiers de Pandore" for this.
It's called 'Perfume de Camélias' and as you can see (and as I have said many times already,...)
it is beautiful!!

To create the 'brick' background I used the Crafter's Companion 12x12 mask. It is just great to work with, but it does feel like it 'swallowing half a bottle of mist every time I use it! 

It is great to use with paints too, by the way.

After spraying the mist and letting it dry, I traced the bricks with a pencil, and then painted with gesso in between each brick. I find that creates the impression of mortar.

I embellished mostly with Prima blooms and some others from my stash. I used two different punches from Martha Stewart to make up  the large cross element in the sketch. I added some lace to to soften it up.

Lately I seem to have a fanfold flower on most of my los...

.... -And a banner,too...lol!

To create a space for my title I cut off a piece of corrugated cardboard from a box laying around as evidence of  a recent shopping spree. I painted this too, with gesso and inked the edges. 

A gorgeous piece of lace then serves as a mat for some of my favourite alphas at the moment. 

These are also from Prima Marketing.

The pretty little chipboard butterfly in th lower left corner is by Imaginarium Designs.

You can find it HERE.  

They have some gorgeous product.  And they have started a new Ning site too.

I had another welcome surprise these last few days,too.

Sweet  Laurence  from France decided she wanted to award me this:

It was such a sweet and unexpected pleasure. 

The award is for blogs that have less than 200 followers  and the giver thinks that maybe they deserve to have more,.... :-) Thank you so much Laurence.

Now I have to decide who I want to give it to. There are so many great blogs around. 

I will be back with that news soon!

I hope I have not forgotten anything.

I am writing this I between running the kids to all the different activities.

I hope you have a lovely evening and a sweet Valentines Day, even if you are not celebrating with that special someone. 

My hubby went to China last Friday and will not be back for another couple of weeks.

But I am enjoying having at least two of my girls at home with me!

.

"Crate Paper" " Random" for Once Upon A...Sketch Nov 15 challege

Good afternoon to those who do me the pleasure of dropping by here on a Saturday.

I have been working today as we have a sale at our warehouse this weekend and the next.

We sell out at wholesale prices items that are almost sold out or may have a small damage that makes it impossible to sell them to our discerning customers.

But now I am back and I have a little share for you.

I am a little late posting my layout for Once Upon A...Sketch November 15th challenge,....But voilà,..here it is!

I have turned the sketch sideways and omitted half a circle to the side, but apart from that I have been pretty faithful to Nadia's beautiful sketch that you can see here together with the criteria:

                             November 15th Challenge

     Journalling criteria: This time the journalling criteria focuses on YOU as a woman 

                                    OR ANY female in your life.

                            What is the best thing about being a woman? 

                       Motherhood? Shopping? Make Up? Girls nights? Gossip? 

                   Your journalling can be as long as you wish and in any language, 

            but you must journal at least 2 sentences on the best part of being a woman.

                    You must combine the journalling criteria with this sketch.

      

               I used one of the new collections from "Crate Paper" for this.
                                      It is called "Random" 

                   and looks really pretty with all its quirky elemets.

                 I have some closeups of the embellishments etc for you.

  The beautiful ribbon with pearls and sequins I found at A Million Memories, and they have 

   been selling out a lot of their stock lately with a discount of 50%.I received a large box a 

  couple of weeks ago! The ribbon has a coral shade that is also found in the Crate papers.

               I used one of the dotted papers to die cut some pretty doilies. 

         I think I told you about my new "Cheery Lynn" dies that I bought online.'

                                      I am very happy with them.

     You will see some sweet little crocheted doilies peeking out from behing the flowers. 

  These shy creatures are a gift from the generous Leeann Pearce, who also happens to be

     one of our sponsors this month together with the Canadian kit club "Scrap That!"

As if that wasn't enough this inimitable scrap godess is also our guest designer this month.

                                       We are so happy to have her!!

        The journalling prompt this time is to focus on aspects of being a woman.

        I was going to do a lo about myself, but did not have any suitable photos.

        I used a photo of my eldest DD Alexandra, and scrapped a little about her 

                                      at this time in her life.

               

                    Feel free to take a look at the gorgeous projects from the DT 

                                       and guest artists over at OUAS. 

                         There are so many gorgeous takes on the sketch.

      And you might want to have a little peek at the awesome prizes we have for you!

                       We also have some new members of our design team;

    the super talented Maiko Kosugi, Goergia Heald and Larissa Albernaz. Welcome girls.

                           I think that covers it all,...If not I'll be back!!

.

Check this out! Win Melissa Frances kit from OUAS!

Good Morning ladies.

Today I will tell you about a wonderful opportunity to win a magical kit from Scrap That! 

If you read this and then visit the OUAS blog you have a chance to win it! 

Wow, isn't that great!!?

Check this out...

There is a giveaway happening at Once Upon A...Sketch. 

You have a chance to win this gorgeous album kit featuring Melissa Frances

5th Avenue collection...

"Limited Edition Melissa Frances" Kit Contents 

(kit by Scrap That! - Canada's best kit club) 

Envelopes and Tags Book

5th Avenue 6 X 6 Paper Pad

5th Avenue Sticker Book

5th Avenue Diecuts

2 Mini Envelopes and Tags

Trinkets & Baubles

Diamond Chandelier Drops

“Mom” Expressive Transfer

Vintage Architectural Molding Appliques

Crepe Paper - Light Blue, Pale Pink, Cream, Pastel Green

4 ZVA Pink Transition Mini Roses

6 ZVA Cream Mini Roses

Vintage Seam Binding

All you need to do is: 

1) Be or become a follower of the Once Upon A...Sketch blog

2) post about this give away on your blog or Facebook page or wherever you like, 

together with this picture and a link back to Once Upon A...Sketch

3) Link your blog, or Facebook Page or wherever you posted about this giveaway 

on the bottom of the giveaway post at Once Upon A...Sketch using the 

Inlinkz button. 

The details

* open worldwide

*you have 1 week from today - this giveaway will end on midnight 

Friday November 25th ( Australian Eastern Standard Time) 

Good Luck to all of you!!!

.

At OUAS It's your turn to pick the winner! My layout using 3ndypapir, "Meeting Julie"

It is that time of the month again.
On Sept 15 the new OUAS sketch was revealed with all the gorgeous pages made by our guests and our designers.

The guest this month is the talented Stacy Cohen whom I have admired for the longest time.
We also have a beautiful page by Lisa Barrie, who won a guest spot with a fabulous entry earlier.
Remember that you ALL have the chance to win and be a guest designer!
It is such a wonderful opportunity.

Before I tell you more about the challenge I will show you my take on the sketch:

I used papers I had from 3ndypapir and I scrapped a photo of my friend Julie Blanc and me taken this summer in Provence. She is such a charming and lovely lady and it was great meeting her IRL. She is also a wonderful scrapper with an elegant style and runs the paper company Les Papiers de Pandore.

Let me not keep you in suspense;
This is what Nadia had to say about the challenge this time:

"Welcome to our next challenge for the month of September! I am so excited to post this challenge as my super AWESOME Design Team have been thinking of ways to throw some twists in how we pick the winner. We thought it would be fun for you all out there to pick the winner! This challenge will end on the 29th of September , which is 2 weeks from today and you will all have a chance to vote for the winner and Top 5 projects for one whole day on the 30th of September before the new challenge is posted on the 1st of October.

The catch here is that everyone can only vote 1 time, but of course you can get everyone you know to vote for you! As it gets closer to the day I will remind you all, and we just cannot wait to see who you will pick!"

So on to our September 15th challenge.

Journalling Criteria: This time you need to journal 2 lines directly on your photo. You can write on your photo, you can print your writing on your photo,  you can use journalling strips on your photo etc. There is no theme this time, just a journalling technique criteria. 

I cut the pp with the roses in two halves  and made them overlap so the roses would go in the right spot for my design and with enough to be able to roll up the paper edge..
I sew on a couple of strips top and bottom instead of the punched borders of the sketch, and the rose patterned pp is also sewn on.

 The two tags are from the elements sheet that contains vintage images and tags. Very pretty indeed.
I did some distressing and inking to get the right look.

I added some Prima roses and some older ones from my stash. The blue Prima swirl was a larger one that
I cut up to fit in on my page and design. The white swirl was made with a pearl string.
As I am still having serious computer issues I was not able to print on my photo and decided to just write my journalling and stick it on top of the photo. Just like that!!

 As you can see my page is quite bulky,...they are really hard to fit into an album, so mostly they lay around or are stuck in boxes. If you have a good tip on storage it would be very welcome...

Thanks so much for visiting again and for any comments you might care to leave.
I know there have been quite a few blogger issues (again...) lately and commenting has been difficult.
I do appreciate them though when it all works!

I will leave you with a few tips about our sponsors this fortnight.

3ndypapir is a tiny, Norwegian design company. 

Owner and designer Gudrun Loennecken creates all the whimsy, vintage patterned papers. These papers are perfect for all paper lovers: cardmakers, scrapbooker and all papercrafters.

It is all designed and printed in Norway on heavy weight, high quality paper

Our web adress is: http://3ndypapir.blogspot.com/

Our second sponsor is the truly AMAZING...

Imaginarium designs,  is a new chipboard company founded in 2010. It is the combined collaboration of  a Mother and Son team who both work in the paper craft industry.

And they are sponsoring our DT the whole year long,...Fantastic!!

Thank you SO much to our lovely sponsors . We couldn't do this without your support!