October Afternoon is pleased to welcome Ashley Horton as its guest designer for the month of January!
Ashley lives in southern Alabama with her husband, Tyler, and their three children, Madison, Emma and Reese. She's been a stay-at-home mom for the past four years and home-schools their First Grader. Before making the decision to stay at home, she spent 11 years working in the office at their church home, where she did computer work and designed the church newsletter, bulletin, posters and different graphics needed for church publications.
Ashley says her office experience helped give her a push when she started scrapbooking 7 years ago. She already had plenty of experience in working with and altering photographs, so from the moment she heard about scrapbooking, she was instantly hooked!
Ashley thinks of herself as a traditional scrapbooker, but she likes to use digital elements, such as altering photos or using digital elements by printing them out and using them on traditional pages. She describes her view of scrapbooking as "freestyle."
"I don't worry about scrapping photos in order, and I recently decided to stop trying to keep my layouts in chronological order in my albums," she says. "I have found this gives me more freedom to create, rather than worrying about the way I choose which photos to use or the order in which I store them."
Over the years, Ashley has had the privilege to design for several challenge blogs and currently designs for Love My Tapes, Creative Scrappers, the Artful Delight Kit Club and Get It Scrapped! She has also been published several times in Creating Keepsakes magazine and on-line issues of Scrapbook News & Review and ScrapStreet magazine.
Her future goals include designing for other kit clubs and some of the great manufacturers.
"I am truly honored to be a guest designer this month for October Afternoon. I have been a huge October Afternoon fan since I discovered all of the great manufacturers that existed outside of craft stores!" she says.
When she's not taking care of Mom duties, home-school work, or crafting, she enjoys cooking. A self-described "picky" eater, Ashley has discovered she likes to try new recipes and has even been brave enough to try new things. She also enjoys reading and could spend hours (if she had that much free time) reading a book or watching movies with her hubby.
We asked Ashley some questions to help you get to know her better:
Are you a layout person, a card person, or both?
I am definitely a layout person. I have attempted a card or two, but really struggle when it comes to cards. I think it's because cards don't involve a photo. My photos are the central inspiration for the design of my layout and the story behind it, so when I am not using a photo it really limits my creativity.
What is on your scrap desk right now?
Other than a huge mess ... my paper trimmer, laptop, my awesome new Silhouette Cameo and my camera.
What is your favorite October Afternoon line or product?
Hmmm ... this is almost like asking to choose your favorite child! :) I think I would have to say Rocket Age, because it was one of my favorite boy lines once I started doing layouts for our little boy.
What can you NOT scrapbook without?
Definitely my laptop, brown pen, Cameo, spray mist and washi tape.
What is your favorite source of inspiration?
I love to look at the blogs of my scrappy friends and the galleries at Two Peas and Club CK. But I think inspiration can be found all around us.
What is your favorite movie or television show?
This could be a super long list, but I will keep it short and go with Lord of the Rings trilogy for favorite movie and Castle for favorite television show.
What is your favorite food?
I am a steak and potatoes kind of girl. And one of my most recent favorite foods is chicken fajitas.
Besides scrapbooking and papercrafts, what do you do for hobbies or enjoying during your "free" time?
I like to cook, read and watch movies.
If you were a superhero, what power would you possess and why?
I would have to go with super strength, because I think that would be a great one to use in protecting and helping others.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
It is very difficult to choose just one person, but I think I would like to have dinner with Anne Sullivan. I have always admired the work she did with Helen Keller and how amazing it would be to hear the story directly from Anne!
Watch for Ashley's guest designer posts on the October Afternoon blog every Friday during January. Meanwhile, check out a few of her finished projects below!
Congrats Ashley!! How exciting for you! I love your layouts. :)
Posted by: Kate Vickers | January 09, 2013 at 12:33 PM
So excited for Ashley!! Love her work and she's a fabulous person, too! Ashley, Have fun with this guest spot, girlie!! :)
Posted by: Diana Fisher | January 06, 2013 at 07:09 PM
Congrats Ashley! Your layouts are exquisite! Well deserved to be chosen as guest designer! Have fun this month!
Posted by: Kim | January 05, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Congrats Ashley! Wonderful layouts! Looking forward to seeing more of your work using OA's wonderful products.:)
Posted by: Cassandra | January 04, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Love Ms. Ashley!!!! Congrats on your guest spot girlie and I can't wait to see what you come up with!!!! hugs, Katrina
Posted by: Katrina | January 04, 2013 at 10:46 PM
Congrats Ashley!!! I just love love love your creations and these are all AMAZING!!! So HAPPY and EXCITED for you!!!!!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | January 04, 2013 at 08:31 PM
This is so awesome! Congrats!!
Posted by: Kelly R. | January 04, 2013 at 07:09 PM
Beautiful pages, I see what you mean about the photos being an integral part of the design! You really know how to direct the eyes around the page!!
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | January 04, 2013 at 07:00 PM
LOVE Ashley's work and am so happy to see her here!!! I just subscribed to the blog so I don't miss any of it!
Posted by: soapHOUSEmama | January 04, 2013 at 05:48 PM
Love your work, Ashley!
Excited to see you designing for OA this month :)
Posted by: Mary Jo | January 04, 2013 at 02:36 PM
Congrats Ashley! I am a big fan and happy to see you guesting here!
Posted by: Heather Leopard | January 04, 2013 at 02:15 PM
Wow I love your layouts. Love your style. Very talented. Congrats on being a guest designer for the month. I hope you are able to get a full year position soon!!!
Posted by: Jessica Toulmin | January 04, 2013 at 01:17 PM
Congrats Ashley! Looking forward to seeing your OA layouts.
Posted by: Jeannie L | January 04, 2013 at 01:01 PM
Beautiful as always Ashley. Congrats my friend...you are so amazing!
Posted by: Erika Hayes | January 04, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Yay Ashley!! Congrats on guesting. And have to get excited about a southern neighbor! You rocked these LOs! Each one so unique. The designs and details are amazing!!
Posted by: Patricia | January 04, 2013 at 12:01 PM
SO fun Ashley! congrats to you--LOVE your pages!
Posted by: Diana Waite | January 04, 2013 at 11:37 AM
congrats 2 u my friend, this is awesome! :)
Posted by: laurie lariviere | January 04, 2013 at 09:44 AM
Can't wait to see more Ashley...congrats!
Posted by: Kathy Skou | January 04, 2013 at 09:27 AM
So happy for Ashley! Love her work and can't wait to see what she does for you!
Posted by: Sheila | January 04, 2013 at 09:22 AM
I am a huge fan of Ashleys! Congrats and I can't wait to see her GDT layouts!
Posted by: Tina Walker | January 04, 2013 at 08:46 AM
I love Ashley's style of scrapbooking and am a follower of her blog. Glad to see her here as a Guest Designer for my favorite paper company.
Posted by: Sherry Eckblad | January 04, 2013 at 06:43 AM
Ashley!! Congrats on being the guest designer. I was so excited to see a fellow peep on here. I love your layouts! So happy for you!
Posted by: Kelly Jean | January 04, 2013 at 05:54 AM