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Hello! Wilna Furstenberg here with a fun challenge... USE YOUR RUBONS! We all have a few sheets in our stash that we have never used... so today Lexi and I will show you some pages where we just went ahead and used them!
Lexi's page:
Wilna's Page:
We'd love to see your projects on the OA Flickr gallery. Thanks for participating!
Love
Wilna Furstenberg
Mother's Day is right around the corner -- May 13! -- and while finding the right gift can take a lot out of you, the same need not be true for the card. Each of the following cards came together in just minutes, using cardstock, some scraps, a few stickers, a bit of adhesive, and a sewing machine.
The first card is intended for the mother who is truly the heart of the family.
To create this card, grab a heart-shaped punch and punch away! Adhere the punched hearts side by side using pop dots, and then add a little accent (like the red chipboard heart from the Sidewalks Chip 'n Stick shapes). Of course, you need not use hearts. Any shape repeated this way is bound to be eye-catching. It also helps to use similar colors and/or papers from the same line. I used the Cakewalk line here, repeating similar colors for a unified effect.
The next card has a retro feel.
We've all heard the expression, "You're the man." On Mother's Day, though, this card gives credit where credit is due. Building on that idea, I trimmed images of women from a sheet of "Shorthand" 9 to 5 paper, clustered them together, and machine-stitched around them.
The final card is simple yet bold. I'd like to think that it's perfect for holding a gift certificate for a spa day, or at the very least, a massage. Every mom needs a massage from time to time -- believe me!
I get a kick out of the sense of movement created by the black and white chevron design (from the B-side of the "Coffee Break" 9 to 5 paper), and I love the added texture of the red fabric, which is part of the new "Fly a Kite" fabric collection. I folded a strip of the fabric in half, and ran it through the sewing machine, creasing sections of it along the way to create a ruffled effect.
So there you have it -- three ideas for quick, can-do Mother's Day cards. I'd love to see your ideas in the OA Flickr gallery, too!
-- Jill
Hey everyone! Roree here, and I have this week's Sketch Challenge for you.
While trying to come up with a sketch idea, I thought it would be fun to use up those scraps and embellishments that we all have laying around our craft rooms. Here is what I came up with:
Perfect for those little odds and ends pieces, right?
I created two cards using the sketch as a jumping off point. Because they are on a smaller scale than the layout, I adjusted accordingly.
For my first card, I used the Sasparilla collection.
I used bits and pieces from the Flower Sack and Miscellany packs, plus some stickers from the Word Sticker sheet. They are perfect for this type of sketch.
And I just love the wood grain and colors in this collection!
For my second card, I used the Sidewalks collection along with the new Washi Tape from the 9 to 5 collection and a few leaf stickers from the Fly a Kite collection.
I used the Flower Sack flowers and banner, leaf stickers, and sun in place of the squares in the sketch.
Two totally different cards inspired by one sketch.
I hope you enjoyed today's sketch. There are definitely lots of different directions you could go with it. If you get a chance to play along, don't forget to post your project in the OA Flickr group. I can't wait to see how you interpret it!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Roree
Congrats to Michelle Brooks who left this nice comment:
I love this whole collection, and cannot wait to buy everything! My favorite is the sheet of paper called "shorthand", and of course the journal cards. October Afternoon, you just keep wowing me.
Michelle, email us your information within 30 days and we will get your
9 to 5 Collection Kit prize out to you.
Happy Wednesday!
October Afternoon
We are very happy to announce that October Afternoon's 'Fly a Kite' line has been released in fabric! This line of fabric is manufactured and distributed by our wonderful partners at Riley Blake Designs.
If you liked the paper, you're going to love the fabric! We are so excited to launch this collection. We love seeing our designs made into quilts, clothing, bags and so many other creative sewing projects.
Here is a fun summer shirt that DT member Vivian made for her beautiful daughter.
You can purchase the "Fly a Kite" fabric patterns at Fat Quarter Shop, other online stores, or in a local quilting store near you.
If you would like to be the WINNER of this 'Fly A Kite' October Afternoon fat quarter stack, please leave a comment telling us about the fun projects that you will make if you win the stack!
October Afternoon
With Mother's Day just a few weeks away, who isn't going to be in search of a thoughtful gift for mom or grandma any day now? If you're from a big family like mine, then you are likely in need of several gifts for the mothers and grandmothers in your life.
All mothers treasure photos of their children, and one of the tried-and-true Mother's Day gifts through the years has been photos of those whom they love best. Rather than stick a photo in a generic frame and be done with it, however, why not add a personalized touch and a few lovely layers with some help from October Afternoon?
This year, I'm making frames for all of the mothers and grandmothers in my family. Here's my approach.
Step One: Start with a plain, inexpensive wooden frame. You might not consider a "cheapie" frame a treasure, but just wait until you pretty it up. Mine cost a whopping $2.50 each.
Step Two: Take the frame outside to a well-ventilated area and spray paint it. I used black, but any color will work well. Consider matching the color to one of the colors in the photo that you will be using. Acrylic paint could also work well, though you may want to apply a layer of gesso first.
Step Three: As the frame dries outside, head back indoors to work on the photo mat. I used a rectangle of sturdy Boarding Pass patterned paper, trimmed it to fit the frame, and layered neutral-toned Boarding Pass Miscellany over it.
Step Four: Embellish the foundation with ribbon and twine. I machine-stitched lengths of trim from the Boarding Pass (yellow), Sasparilla (lace), Farmhouse (gray), and Sidewalks (green) collections.
Periodically, I placed my photo on the mat prior to stitching to be sure that I had positioned the trim properly.
Step Five: Machine-stitch around the photo, and place the finished photo mat in the painted frame. For the photo below, I omitted the glass due to glare, but added it later. The glass is optional anyway, depending on how bulky you make the foundation.
I just know that my mom will love this framed photo of her granddaughter. The problem is that now I don't want to part with it. Ha! Luckily, I know how to make more, and now, you do, too. :)
-- Jill
Hi there everyone. Marcy here to start your week off with a challenge.
I love using the same element multiple times on a page for emphasis and direction. Sometimes when I want to put a lot of elements on my page I find that using a repeating element allows me to do that while also keeping my page calm and cohesive at the same time.
So I decided to toss the challenge of using repetition to Vivian today... and here's what she sent back to me.
What perfect photos for the Sasparilla line! Here's what Vivian had to say about using repetition on her pages.
"Repetition is a technique I use often on my layouts to help create flow and direct the viewer's eye across and around my page. On this layout, created with the fun new Sasparilla line, I repeated colors, shapes, patterns, and motifs. The three primary colors repeat, as do stars (most raised on pop dots and accented with twine), cowboys, horses, and bandana prints."
And here's how I interpreted the use of repetition.
I love repeating star patterns on my pages, so for my layout I used my Silhouette to cut out a star pattern on a piece of white cardstock.
I used a variety of different patterned papers behind some of the stars and lifted the die-cut paper up with pop-dots.
The stars add an interesting design element to the layout with the repetition of the same pattern also being relatively sedate.
How about you? Do you ever use repetition on your pages?
Hi OA fans! It's Amy here today with a little tour of my ever-evolving basement craft space.
My room is quite small, only about 9'x12'. It's a half-room in our basement that adjoins with a small living space. It's recently undergone yet another re-organization and therefore isn't quite complete, I need to tidy a few things up, still but this gives you a pretty good idea of where I work. This is my main work space. I scrap just to the left of my computer. To the right of my computer is my sewing machine and my Cameo, it's pretty crowded - I have to move my sewing maching each time I want to use my Cameo! LOL. Oh, well, it works! I don't have a counter-height desk, but I still stand most of the time while I scrap. It's taken quite a bit of time to get my space workable, especially since it's a very long and narrow space, there's been a lot of trial and error in how I've stored things. Now I think I've gotten it where all of my most used items are easily accessible and within reach, so I'm really happy about that I think they will stay like this for a while, finally! :)
To the left of my desk, I keep my albums, my printer, some more supplies and my most recent projects.
At the back of my room I keep all my cards, and in this little set of drawers I keep all of my punches. The best $20 spent at a yard sale, ever! :D
Just to the right of me when I'm sitting at the computer, is my Expedit storage unit. I have baskets in it where I keep miscellaneous embellishments, tools, mini albums, etc. One of my most recent changes is how I now store my paper that is older than the past year. I now have everything separated by my favorite side, then by color. These used to be stored in vertical files and I never saw all the paper I had - now it's all visible and easy to access, so I am thrilled with this new system. It's going to work great for me! My more recent papers are stored by collection in vertical files - and that works great for me.Now, I thought I'd share a few ideas on how I store some of my October Afternoon products. Like my Mini Markets and Sticky Keys stickers. I have them nicely stacked together, and easily within reach on one of my shelves in front of my work space.
For all my Sprinklers, I have a 3-tiered storage unit with all of my most used items. My Sprinklers proudly sit at the top along with my sample tags that I created to coordinate with each, both in splatters and in mist, so that I can easily see how each will look when trying to decide which to use while creating a project.
I have windows with deep ledges on either side of my computer. That is where I store all of my most used products, like my October Afternoon products! All of my OA embellishments are stored in this cute little basket by collection, the most recent at the front. This is where my buttons, Wrap Packs, Miscellany, Rub-Ons, Tin Pins, Wrap Packs and all of the other embellishment related goodies from October Afternoon live waiting to get used with much love!Right next to this little basket I have two additional boxes on my window sill just above my workspace dedicated to my OA products. One for embellishments I'm hoarding that just can't part with like rubber charms, Wild Cards, buttons and tin pins from collections past. And the other for unfinished mini books and OA stamps. This system has been very successful, and works very well with how I create my projects for OA!
Well, that's going to do it for me today! I hope you enjoyed taking a little peak into my Craft Room. It was fun sharing it with you! Thank you so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend!
joining me today is becky with her amazing layout inspiration for all of you. i absolutely LOVE this page (and her cuuuuute puppy)
you add such joy layout by becky
(click pics to enlarge)
and this is what becky had to say:
This sketch brought an idea to my mind immediately and even though I interpreted it pretty literally, I enjoyed pulling it together and adding my own touches. That to me is the sign of a great sketch!
for this sketch, the focal is the argyle background element, so i decided to make that the focal of all my cards and play with the various layering interpretations of it.
hello card
(click pics to enlarge)
i rotated my argyle element on this card and layered the elements in the center instead of above the argyle. i stitched through the centers of the argyle elements as you generally find with argyle patterns.
on my second card, i decided to rotate the argyle elements vertically so as to create a taller card
best friends card
i layered the argyle pattern once again instead of above it to scale for the card size
(see the chipboard corners? do you ever have some of those leftover or don't like to use them on lo? these are really fun on the argyle pattern)
i stitched through the centers once again
and to show you how easily you could use circle elements, like the ones that come in the 9 to 5 line, i created another secretary appreciation card for hubby to give to another of his secretaries.
what would i do without you?
exchanging the argyle for circles, i stitched through the centers and then layered the elements in the corner
danni & becky
9 to 5 showcases the daily adventures of office life in a colorful and fashionable line of retro-styled scrapbooking products. Filled with fun and exciting papers, embellishments and ephemera, 9 to 5 is inspired by the office fashion of yesteryear.
It’s full of bold prints, vintage office supplies, and authentic ephemera. The retro office look and feel is on-trend and highly desirable by all secretaries or anyone wishing to be one, whether young and old.
9 to 5 is a perfect fit for any customer who is a cubicle dweller, loves vibrant colors and patterns, or collects typewriters and vintage office memorabilia. It’s time for a break – let’s gather ‘round the water cooler and drink in the hip and trendy look of 9 to 5.
 PP754 - Shorthand |
 PP755 - Coffee Break |
 PP756 - Paid In Full |
 PP757 - Dictation |
 PP758 - Meeting Minutes |
 PP759 - Typing Pool |
 PP760 - Girl Friday |
 PP761 - Operator |
 PP762 - Steno Pad |
 PP763 - Supply Closet |
 PP764 - Italics |
 PP765 - Boardroom |
 PP766 - 8x8 Paper Pad |
 CB838 - Printed Chip Shapes |
 SS420 - 12x12 Shape Stickers |
 SS421 - Word Stickers |
 DC156 - Miscellany |
 SS422 - Label Stickers |
 SS423 - Mini Markets |
 SS419 - 12x12 Alpha Stickers |
 SS294 - Sticky Keys |
 DC157 - Journal Cards |
 EM871 - Flower Sack |
 EM870 - Little Flyers |
 EM868 - Tin Pins |
 EM869 - Buttons |
 EM874 - Designer Brads |
 DC170 - Tidbits |
 DC168 - Here & Now Chapter |
 DC169 - Doo-Dads |
 SI972 - Sprinklers (set of three) |
 ST386 - Variety Rubber Stamp Set |
 ST387 - Background Rubber Stamp Set |
 EM872 - Washi Tape - Date |
 EM873 - Washi Tape - Day |
 PP753 - Collection Kit |
Deciding on a favorite is a hard thing to do with this line. Please share with us your favorite item(s) and we will draw a grand prize winner from those who leave comments. We will announce the grand prize winner of a 9 to 5 Collection Kit on Wednesday, April 25.
Some of our design team members have showcased 9 to 5 on their blogs today. Hop on over to see their creations and have other opportunites for 9 to 5 product prizes.
Order of Blog Hop:
October Afternoon at October Afternoon - you are here
Amy Heller at My Paper Sweets & Me
Wilna Furstenberg at he{art}
Becky Novacek at Becky Novacek Photography Blog
Vivian Masket at Right Side Up
Danni Reid at Danni Reid.
Marcy Penner at Hello Forever
Thanks for participating and good luck!
October Afternoon
