Introducing Jennifer Hufford, our September Guest Designer

1} Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Jenni Hufford lives in Indianapolis, IN and is married to Todd. She is a stay at home mother to Jonah James (5 years) and Jordan Nicole (3 years). She enjoys applying the creative aspect of scrapbooking into every day activities with her family. In addition to scrapbooking Jenni's hobbies include photography, cooking, blogging, traveling with her husband, and spending time with her close knit extended family and friends.

2} Tell us about your scrapbook style and how long you have been scrapbooking?
I was first introduced to the hobby by my mom when I was in high school. She surprised me with three huge scrapbooks of my birth until high school at my high school open house. It was SO neat to look through the books at my life-time memories. It wasn't until I had my first child five years ago that I began to scrapbook. When he was born he had some unexpected complications and spent 12 days in the NICU (everything turned out fine). Once we were home safe and sound, I was left with so many thoughts and stories I wanted to document and share, so I began to scrapbook. In a sense, scrapbooking was my therapy as I process those 12 days.  I have been scrapbooking ever since.

Describing my style is so hard for me to do - I feel like it's always changing. But, at the moment I would say I am really into textures, details, grids, and layering. You will usually find staples somewhere on my layouts and always handwritten journaling.

3} Are you a layout person or a card person...or both?
I am definitely a layout girl!   Cards intimidate me!

4} What is on your scrap desk right now?
I am currently reorganizing my scrap space so it's a MESS at the moment.  But usually you will find lots of Lily Bee and Elle's Studio (and photos!) scattered on my desk.

5} What is your favorite October Afternoon line of paper?
This is a hard question to answer!  October Afternoon has released FABULOUSLY fun lines but if I have to choose I REALLY loved the Report Card line.  I think products from this line was the first OA I ever purchased!

6} What can you NOT scrapbook without?
The Glee channel on Pandora and my long reach stapler :)

7} What is your favorite source for inspiration?
I love browsing galleries like Studio Calico or Two Peas for inspiration.   More recently I love spending time on Pinterest- there is endless inspiration there!

8} Favorite TV show?
Well, if we able to change the channel from Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George, my husband and  I enjoy watching Glee and Celebrity Apprentice (when it's on!)

9} Favorite 7th grade memory?
I don't know if this is my "favorite" memory-- but it's definitely the most memorable.   The big thing for my friends and I in 7th grade was being "dropped off" at the mall for a few hours on a saturday.  we would all meet up and have Luca Pizza for lunch and blow all of our allowance money at Contempo Casuals.  Well, one saturday, a friend and I decided to see a movie at the mall.  We were both a few dollars short, so when no one was looking, we dunked our hands in the mall water fountain and took some change!!!   I thought it was the funniest (and smartest) thing ever until I told my mother and she was horrified and told me that the money in the fountain is donated to charities.  I felt awful.  And she immediately took me back to the mall to throw money back into the fountain.

10} If you you have a dinner with anyone living or dead who would it be & why?
I would love to have dinner with my Grandfather-- Clay Conner.  He died when I was only four years old so I have very little memories of him.   He led an incredible life and served in WW2 where he was listed as Missing in Action for 34 months and had a $20,000 price on his head by the Japenese Army.  During the time he was MIA he lived and survived in the Philippine jungles, and organized an army of 3,000 Philippine locals, and had a major part in giving out key military information to the returning American forces.   Before his death he wrote a memoir of his war time recollections which is currently being reviewed with an editor to be made into a book.  He was a man of great faith with incredible life experiences-- i would love to spend time with him again over dinner.

She currently designs for Lily Bee Design and Ella Publishing, and is the Project Kit Coordinator for Elle's Studio. You can visit her personal blog Hufford House , which is full of personal anecdotes and inspiration.

Here is the first project from Jennifer...

I had so much fun going through the box of goodies sent to me from October Afternoon!  I decided for this first layout to include a variety of patterns from the beautiful Sidewalks Line.  I used the "B" Side of "Ring Around the Rosie" as my base.  The grid design inspired me to look through my trusty punch collection and find my 3/4" square punch by Creative Memories.  I love how the punched square looks centered inside the grid.

After placing various patterns inside the grid, I stitched around the edges, and added embellishments.   The twirly twine was added to create an unexpected flow in this linear/grid design.

Please help me welcome Jennifer to the OA team!

Comments

[Amy H]

Yay, Jenni!! I love that you are here! FABULOUS layout, my friend!! :D Can't wait to see wheat else you'll be sharing this month!!

[Tracie Claiborne]

WOW!!!!!!! Love this. It's one of the best layouts I've seen in ages!

[Beth W]

This is brilliant-I have such a hard time lining things up. Never thought to use paper like this for the background.Can't wait to see more of your creations.

[Monika Wright]

Loved learning more about you Jenni and can't wait to see what other inspirational goodies you have for us!

[natasha g.p.]

I LOVE what you made. I'm going to scroll back up to see it again!!

[Audrey W.]

Loved this little "snapshot" of you, Jenni! With a family history as rich as yours, no wonder you love to scrapbook! Very fun layout, too! :)

[conniemelancon]

Welcome Jennifer! Love all the layers and details on your LO.

[Ruth S]

Love that grid LO - what a great idea! Thanks for the inspiration Jennifer ;)
I have a q for the OA techies, hope you can help. I have a new blog design and would like to add the OA foxy blinkie to my sidebar - can I do this? What is the http code I'll need? Thanks for your help!
I OA!!!! Thanks, Rx

[Amanda J]

Fabulous layout Jennifer!! Can't wait to see the rest of your projects!! :)

[JenniferSanborn]

Great layout!!

[Kathie Reihing]

I absolutely love this page. I can see the time, love and care this page took. Congratulations of your accomplishment!!

[Vanessa Menhorn]

Congratulations, Jennifer! Wow, your layout is gorgeous! It is so fun to read that a lot of scrapbookers are intimidated by cards - for me it is vice versa!