October Afternoon

Kim Watson Guest Post - Sasparilla

Hi Kim here... I am so stoked to be guesting here at OA for May. I have always been a fan of October Afternoon, not only because as a company they always generously support the Creating Keepsakes magazine Dream Team but they have a fabulous mixture of product lines & designs as well as awesome quality too. These qualities make everything so easy to design with. I have a project to share with you today designed with the super fun Sasparilla collection.

Being specifically themed means it was the perfect choice to capture thememory of my little boy living out his wildest cowboy fantasies on this huge white horse.  I have to say I don't know how he could be so calm riding so high up... I was nervous just watching the little guy from a distance. When designing the page, it went without saying that I would need to use the cute map paper.

Together with bakers twine & brads I created a 'map of his Cowboy adventures', (which incidentally were all yelled to passers-by as he rode around the fair). I also used some bits from the Flower Sack mix and Miscellany packs, plus some stickers from the Word Sticker
sheet to add to the cowboy vibe.



I love how it is the repeated circle shapes in the form of buttons, stickers & chipboard accents help the page cohesion? My most fave by far of all the accents, is the bright yellow Sheriff's star which stands out as a strong focal point.

I was so happy with how the page turned out, I created this sketch of my page. Please feel free to use it. If you do, remember to upload your page to the October Afternoon Flickr gallery for everyone to enjoy.

Thanks for joining me today. Have a GREAT Friday & weekend!

Cakewalk Spotlight - WINNER

Congrats to *Queen* Britt who summed it up quite nicely:

Wow. This collection rocks!

Britt, email us your information within 30 days and we will get your
Cakewalk Collection Kit prize out to you. 

Happy Wednesday!

 

October Afternoon

 

Tuesday Tutorial: Mosaic Flowers

With Mother's Day right around the corner, I (Vivian) thought I'd show you a quick and easy technique today that you can use on your Mother's Day cards. This technique was inspired by a quilt I saw in the Pottery Barn Teen catalog:

I love the black borders around each flower petal; the black makes the colors and patterns pop against the colorful background. The chevron rug next to the bed is a nice touch as well.

I decided to create a project inspired by this look by using elements from the Farmhouse Flower Sack:

In addition to the Flower Sack, I grabbed some black cardstock and patterned paper from both Farmhouse (the B side of Guest Room) and 9 to 5 (the B side of Coffee Break) and created this card, loosely inspired by the quilt:

As you can see, I decided to turn my flowers into trees against a polka dot patterned paper that looks like the night sky lit up with stars. I added a strip of herringbone patterned paper (this element mimics the chevron rug next to the bed in the image above) and a heart from the Flower Sack, which I also bordered with black. A phrase banner from the Flower Sack completes the card.

To re-create this look with Flower Sack elements:

1. Cut a Flower Sack element into "petals," using either scissors or a paper trimmer.
2. Adhere each piece of the cut Flower Sack element onto a scrap of black cardstock, leaving space between the petals.
3. Cut around each flower, leaving a bit of a black border around the outside edge.
4. Adhere black-bordered flowers to a patterned paper background and embellish as desired.

We'd love to see anything you create based on this idea! Please post projects to our October Afternoon Flickr Gallery so that we can take a look!

Monday Challenge - Design Team Scraplift

Hey everyone!  Roree here.  It's Monday, so it's challenge time again.  The girls on this team are so talented, and I admire their work so much.  They are always coming up with inspiring projects and fun techniques that I want to try.  So, I thought it would be fun to have a Design Team Scraplift Challenge. 

This is an oldie but a goodie from Marcy: 

Harvest Festival by Marcy Penner

(You can see it originally posted here.)

I just loved the chevron pattern that she created, and I have been wanting to try it for such a long time.  I decided to create a card using the chevron pattern for my background. 

Here it is:

Happy Times by Roree Rumph

I used the blue patterned papers from the Farmhouse collection to create this fun background. 

I added some machine stitching along the edges, because I just love stitching on my cards.

I also used some of die-cuts from the Farmhouse Flower Sack along with Label Stickers, a Button, and some Sidewalks Ribbon to create some soft and pretty flowers, because who doesn't love flowers?!

Marcy played along with my challenge this week, and she chose this layout by Becky to work from:

Add Such Joy by Becky Novacek

(You can see it originally posted here.)

Here is what Marcy came up with:

All Too Often by Marcy Penner

She played off of the argyle pattern in Becky's layout using triangles to create the fun background on her layout.  

Such a fun mix of patterns from the 9 to 5 collection, don't you agree?  I just love it!

Is there any of the OA designers' work that you just love and have been dying to try for yourself?  Well if there is, now's the time to try.  You have been challenged!  ;)

If you get a chance to play along with today's challenge, don't forget to post your project in the OA Flickr group.  We love to see what you are working on! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

~Roree

Introducing our May Guest Designer - KIM WATSON

 

Hello! My name's Kim Watson. I live in the beautiful city of Cape Town-that's on the very tip of South Africa—with my delish husband, two of the sweetest kids & a cat who runs our home with his evil stare. Designing for *Creating Keepsakes* magazine as a Dream Teamer for 2010, 2011 & 2012, Fancy Pants Designs & Cocoa Daisy kits, as well as a busy Mum & part-time Graphic Designer means I keep busy. I make time for myself, walking on the beautiful beaches or mountains that surround my home. Secretly my fave hideout is my (almost revamped) craft room surrounded by all the things that I find most beautiful: photographs of my cute family, color, texture, paper, fabric, wool and paint. Scrapbooking my life & thoughts through a medium I love, makes me so happy.  You can read more about me on my blog, at
http://kj-starre.blogspot.com/
and Pinterest http://pinterest.com/KimWatson/
and Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/KJStarre

Looking back I have been scrapbooking for 8 years ... I cannot believe it been that long..wow! It has been a fun journey of self discovery on an artistic level. I find that my career as a fashion designer definitely influences every thing I scrap whether I realise it or not so one can always find crazy color & pattern mixing on my scrapbook pages. I think my 'signature' would be scrapbooking everyday events using multiple photos, machine stitching and layering.

~~

Here are Kim's responses to a few questions we asked her:
Q: Are you a layout person or a card person...or both?
A: I'm definitely a layout person, but enjoy the 'quick creative fix' that making a card gives.


Q: What is on your scrap desk right now?
A: A ton of unfiled paper.... it looks like a 'dogs breakfast' actually. Have you ever had those crazy moments of searching for 'that-thing' & turned your scrap table upside down to find it? Well my table is the result of one of those berserk moments. No I won't be including a photograph of it LOL.


Q: What is your favorite October Afternoon line of paper?
A: I really love everything, but one of my favorite lines is Farmhouse collection, with it's strong modern-vintage vibe & timeless influences. I really enjoy the color combinations...there is something so pleasing about yellow, blue and red thrown in together with happy neutrals. With the super mix of embellishments & page accents, the whole line is awesome.


Q: What can you NOT scrapbook without?
A: I can't scrapbook without  patterned paper...yes! Oh & my trusty sewing machine & little family of typewriters...and my precision scissors for fussy cutting & my die cutter...love that thing! OK my list is growing...I'll stop now.


Q: What is your favorite source for inspiration?
A: I admit I have become a Pinterest fan... a myriad of inspiration there on any and all subjects. I do however occasionally peruse the more popular scrappy web sites, but usually the 'assignment' or products I am working with inspire me the most.

Q: Favorite TV show?
A: I don't watch much TV but I really love Survivor, The Voice, Fringe & I have recently started watching Touch.


Q: Favorite 7th grade memory?
A: I had just moved to a new country so I remember feeling lost for a long time that is until I joined the dance & drama club, & discovered I had a love for the stage. I loved making people laugh and the club helped that happen.

Q: If you you have a dinner with anyone living or dead who would it be and why?
A: I'd love to have dinner with the man called Jesus... I'd love to spend face time with him, and ask his view on life, the universe & what it must have felt like as God, to leave heaven & have to live within the confines of this crazy mixed up planet.

~~

Please welcome to the October Afternoon Community - Kim Watson. 

Sketchy Thursday

Time for your Thursday sketch, chalkboard style. That's just how I (Lexi) like to do it :) 

Nothing too fancy here...photo, title and journaling lined across the middle, with a scattering of embellishments floating from one corner to another. 

Here's how Vivian interpreted the sketch and what she had to say:

"I loved the simplicity of this sketch! I followed it pretty closely, combining papers and embellishments from the Sasparilla line. This sketch allowed me to use a variety of fun embellishments: a Tin Pin, Flower Sack elements, and stickers." That little posse is too cute! 

And for me, I used this sketch a little differently:

I turned the sketch into an 8.5x11 and mainly used the 9 to 5 collection, which I think has the perfect colors and patterns for boy layouts.

This 9 to 5 Date washi. Be prepared. It might show up on every project I create in the future!

Want to give the sketch a try? Load it up and share in our OA Flickr group or even link us up in the comments below.

Thanks for joining me today and have a wonderful Thursday!

FLY A KITE Fabric Spotlight - Winner

Congratulations to Angie Simonet!  She posted the following on our bog last week about the Fly A Kite Fabric, to win the fat quarter bundle:

Oh my goodness are these eye candy or what? Love them! I would make a layered skirt for my 2 year old with a matching purse! I would also create a home decor piece by adhering the fabric to the back of a glass plate! So many possibilities! ~ Angie Simonet

Angie please email [email protected] with you full name and address within 30 days to receive your prize. 

OA

Cakewalk Spotlight Blog Hop

Another day, another reason to celebrate! Life is a Cakewalk, and it’s time to party with October Afternoon’s new line.  Whatever you’re celebrating – a birthday, an anniversary, a life milestone – Cakewalk is sure to please.  Classic in style, warm and fuzzy in color, this celebratory line is the perfect canvas to preserve special memories of happy times.

Cakewalk’s vintage imagery is timeless yet contemporary.  Young and old are sure to be enchanted by the line’s beautiful papers, embellishments, and ephemera.  Whether you’re two or 102, Cakewalk’s illustrations and graphics will delight both avid and casual scrapbookers.

Cakewalk is perfect for customers looking for a festive and heart-warming collection of scrapbooking products.  This versatile line has something wonderful to offer for every special occasion, so send in your RSVP today!

 

PP768 - Guest List	PP769 - Party Hat	PP770 - Buttercream
PP771 - Candy Buttons	PP772 - Sugar Stix	PP773 - Hula Hoop
PP774 - Candles	PP775 - Kazoo	PP776 - Paper Straws
PP777 - Confetti	PP778 - Streamers	PP779 - Gift Wrap
PP780 - 8x8 Paper Pad	CB839 - Printed Chip Shapes	SS425 - 12x12 Shape Stickers
SS426 - Word Stickers	DC158 - Miscellany	SS427 - Label Stickers
SS428 - Mini Market Stickers	SS424 - 12x12 Alpha Stickers	SS295 - Sticky Keys
DC159 - Journal Cards	EM879 - Flower Sack	EM877 - Little Flyers
EM875 - Tin Pins	EM876 - Buttons	EM882 - Designer Brads
DC173 - Tidbits	DC171 - Here & Now Chapter	DC172 - Doo-Dads
SI976 - Sprinklers (set of three)	ST388 - Variety Rubber Stamp Set	ST389 - Background Rubber Stamp Set
EM880 - Washi Tape - Celebrate	EM881 - Washi Tape - Numbers	EM878 - Wrap Pack

PP767 -
Collection Kit

We want to know your thoughts on this line and for leaving us a comment we will enter you in a grand prize drawing for a Cakewalk Collection Kit.  Winner will be announced May 9, 2012.

Hop on over to our some of our design team's blogs and see what they have done with this line and for more opportunites to win Cakewalk products.

Order of Blog Hop:

October Afternoon at October Afternoon  - you are here
Lexi Bridges at Night Owl
Vivian Masket at Right Side Up
Danni Reid at Danni Reid.
Stacey Kingman at Still The Same Girl and Yet…
Marcy Penner at Hello Forever
Wilna Furstenberg at he{art}
Becky Novacek at Becky Novacek Photography Blog
Jill Sprott at Use Your Words
Amy Heller at My Paper Sweets & Me

Thanks for participating and good luck!

October Afternoon

Tutorial: gift envelope ideas

Good Morning! Becky here today with a simple envelope tutorial. I have gifts on my mind right now, with both Mother's Day and graduation celebrations coming soon. I like to give gift cards and money, but I don't like to give them without some flourish. Creating custom envelopes is SO quick and easy! 

For your template, the easiest idea is to use an envelope you have as a template. Carefully, take it apart.

Forgive the first two not so great images.

After you cut out your envelope, use a bone folder or ruler to crease the folds.

Then put a little adhesive on one flap that overlaps the other two. So easy!

After you have your envelope put together, it's fun to customize it with simple premaid embellishments.

It's not just a girly project. I made a more masculine version for a graduation gift.

I used a larger envelope as a template, so that a little wad of cash would fit.

A simple pattern paper strip made a perfect band to hold the cash together. Office supply tags provided a place to write a few sentiments and sign our names.

I tucked one tag behind the cash and one in front. 

The Mother's Day envies are little more feminine with a few more embellishments.

One of my very favorite October Afternoon papers is this floral. 

The sticker embellishments are perfect for this. As well as a simple little vintage flower bunch with OA ribbon...these little flowers are getting harder to find, so I hope Mom feels special.

You can't go wrong with adding a few buttons, right? 

I hope this simple gift idea tutorial inspires you. I'd love to see what you make, so please share your take on the OA Flickr group!