Let The Fun Begin - OPAM Signup OPEN!!

Well ladies ... IT'S HERE!! Yes, sign to join in all the fun of OPAM 2016 is now officially underway! :0)

WOO! HOO! We've got a brand new, fresh logo, thanks to my Beloved Geek Boy and do you see that total?? So far, all of you clever clogs creaters have finished 43,409 projects whilst playing along with OPAM over the last seven years ... WOWSERS!! :0) Never in our wildest dreams did May Britt and I think this is where OPAM would go when we started the very first one in 2009. And my GORGEOUS Partner-In-Crime for the last six years, Sweet Peg and I are continually blown away at not only the number of projects you gals have finished (cos that's only one goal of OPAM) but also the variety of projects your creativity leads you to.

And we can't wait to see what 2016 brings! :0) So whether you're a "Repeat Offender" or a "Newbie" if you would like a low-stress, non-fuss, encouraging way to get some of your projects FINISHED in 2016, then we hope you'll play along with us for OPAM 2016. Whether you're a serial-starter, a lapsed stitcher getting back into the swing of things after a break away from the sewing room, or your mojo has taken a trip to the Bahamas without you and you just need a little nudge and a deadline to motivate you ... then scroll down and read the OPAM guidelines, then email me or my Partner-In-Crime Sweet Peg to join us. We hope you'll find OPAM an encouragement to take a bit of time out of your busy schedule just for YOU ... to be creative and to recharge your batteries. 

Let the fun begin!

Til Next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS

The One Project A Month (OPAM) Challenge Guidelines 2016

The idea of the “One Project A Month Challenge" is pretty simple ... To try to finish at least ONE craft project by the end of each month. This can be something you’ve had partly done for a while (a Work In Slow Progress WISP), a pattern you bought ages ago that you finally get around to making up, a kit that's been sitting in your craft cupboard that needs to be made up, or a completely new project. This is meant to be a low-stress challenge  - if you don’t finish a project every month  - that’s fine! We understand sometimes life interferes with our plans. We also realise some projects are meant to be long-term and have a LOT of work involved, like a quilt or a cross-stitch. The main aim of the OPAM Challenge is to give us all a bit of a motivational boost and to give us all a big world-wide cheer squad to encourage and inspire us.

However, there is quite a bit of time and work involved in running OPAM, so Sweet Peg and I have some guidelines we ask people to read AND please only sign up if you intend to follow through. If for some reason during the year you decide you don’t wish to remain part of the OPAM Challenge, just drop Sweet Peg or me an email to let us know. Please read through ALL guidelines before you sign up.

1. Participants must have an ACTIVE BLOG. If you change your blog address, drop us an email telling us your old address and what you’ve changed it to. It it's a private blog, please sign at least one of us in so we can check in with you from time to time.

2. Numbers won’t be limited for the sign up for OPAM 2016, BUT ... it WILL CLOSE on February 1 ... You must sign up before that or miss out on joining in the fun.

3. Participants can sign up via email to Kris or Peg, or via a comment on EITHER blog AS LONG AS it includes all asked for information.

4. Participants MUST provide all info asked for. * Name (first and initial of surname in case of double up names); * Email; * Blog address.

5. Participants MUST have the OPAM Challenge badge on their blog sidebar and link it to either Kris’s or Peg’s blog.

6. Participants MUST keep a list of each month’s finishes on their blog sidebar and update it BEFORE the last day of each month. (This is easiest if you add each project as you finish it.) If you can put this directly under the OPAM badge on your sidebar it will be easier for Peg and Kris to find it. You may also choose to have a separate OPAM 2016 page on your blog.  That’s fine too as long as it’s clearly labelled.

7. Only ‘soft’ crafts are included in the OPAM Challenge, ie. Projects made from fabric, thread or wool. Some examples are: embroidery, patchwork, quilting, cross-stitch, knitting, crochet, practical sewing (curtains, clothes etc), long stitch, appliqué.

8. QUILTS: A quilt will only be counted as a finish if it is COMPLETELY finished ... Quilted and bound. Flimsies/tops won’t count as finishes.

9. BOM’s: Blocks that are part of a BOM (Block Of the Month) program will only be counted as a finish when they are joined, quilted and bound. Individual BOM blocks DO NOT count as a finish.

10. If you can email Peg or Kris your list of finishes each month BEFORE the end of the month, this would be appreciated, as it cuts down the amount of time it takes to check finishes for the month. (and saves Peg and Kris from getting square eyes!)

11.  Lastly, participants MUST ... Have fun! After all, the reason we craft and create is to relax, have fun and take some time away from the “Have to do” tasks to do the “Like to do” ones! :0)

GET CREATING!! :0)