October Afternoon

monday inspo challenge

Good Monday Morning! Becky and Roree here today with an inspiration piece from Pinterest which was pinned by Holly Becker of Decor8. 

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So whether you find inspiration in the overall design, or an individual part of the whole, or maybe the colors or a detail or two, I think you might find something to be inspired by.

Here's Roree's gorgeous card:

Here's what Roree had to say: I just love this inspiration piece. With so many details, you could really go in any direction with it. I decided to focus on just one small part, the book in the top right corner. I love the grid on the book cover, so I decided to used it for the design of my card. I flipped the image vertically so the grid was at the top and the title was at the bottom. I used products from the Farm Girl and Woodland Park collection to create a fun, patchwork grid perfect for a springtime card. 

Here's Becky's layout inspired by the pinterest piece:

Sometimes an inspiration piece is a starting point, but it doesn't necessarily look anything at all like the original...and I think that's okay! I used lots of Midway on this one. 

I hope you'll share your projects based on the inspiration on the OA Flickr board!

FRIDAY FIND: OA Alphabet Bundle

A is for the alphabet … letters of all kinds!

B is for a bundle … which is what you’ll save with this week’s Friday Find!

C is for … oh, you get the picture! 

October Afternoon is pleased to offer this great package of its popular Alpha Stickers containing 10 sheets of 1-inch stickers in 3 different fonts and 10 different colors.

This collection would retail for $40, but it can be yours for the special Friday Find price of ONLY $9.99 (plus shipping)! 

No matter how you arrange the letters, that spells S-A-V-I-N-G-S!

Here’s what you get:

ALPHABET BUNDLE

Boardwalk Alpha Sticker - Licorice

Boardwalk Alpha Sticker – Sea Mist

Boardwalk Alpha Sticker – Ledger

Boardwalk Alpha Sticker – Lime Green

Lunchbox Alpha Sticker – Blueberry

Lunchbox Alpha Sticker – Cherry

Lunchbox Alpha Sticker – Picnic Table

Cupcake Alpha Sticker – Orange

Cupcake Alpha Sticker – Chocolate

Cupcake Alpha Sticker – Pink

Quantities are limited so order yours today … just click the “Buy Now” button below!

SHIPPING RATES
Continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii - $3.50
Canada - $10.55
International - $16.75

 

 

Any Project Life OA fans?

For today's post, I want to share one of my weekly PL spreads, with a twist and a bit of a challenge for you readers!

What I love most about Project Life is that you get the chance to try something new on a small scale, so if it isn't perfect, or doesn't look quite like you wanted, you can try again!

For a week in February, I decided to challenge myself to use October Afternoon's "Make It Merry" collection - scraps from my other projects or leftovers from holiday projects - along with a bit of October Afternoon's "Midway" collection.

Here it is ... my Week 8:

I know lots of us papercrafters keep our scraps from projects. So why not put them to good use? Grab a traditional theme collection and use it for an everyday project like this one.  I'd love to see what you can make!  These colors were perfect for this week and I loved adding in all the bits and pieces from leftover projects!

As you can see, I like to add extras to my week, and I don't mind cutting into the plastics to make the most of them!

For this 4x6 slot, I used my exacto knife to cut into one side of the pocket so I could hide extra journaling and pictures behind my Elsa's photo.  Sometimes, for busy days, I like to add in extra photos or write journaling that I don't want to be seen on the front as a focus. Pull tabs, pockets and these folded flaps all make great ways to add more to Project Life!

I hope this inspired you to try using a themed collection on an everyday layout, card or Project Life spread. If you make something using this challenge, link us up below or share it on the OA Flickr group ... I'd love to see it!

(Watch for more from Guest Designer Shay Tibbs on the blog next Friday)

Technique Thursday: Layers and Lines

Happy Thursday!  It's Jill here, with a project featuring two of my favorite techniques: building layers and creating accent lines.
Step 1. This project began with about a hundred heart-shaped scraps, which might have been tossed after I used my die-cut machine to create heart-patterned lace many layouts ago, but which I set aside for some unknown future purpose. Those hearts definitely found their purpose on this layout! I heaped the hearts in a pile next to my sewing machine and ran them one by one through the machine. In minutes, I had lovely little garlands. I set those aside and started working on the background.

Step 2. In playing with all of those scraps, creating a united whole from individual pieces, I got this idea in my head to create a deconstructed/reconstructed background using the B-side of a sheet of Farm Girl "Rose Trellis" patterned paper. I cut the paper into four wide horizontal strips, and then cut those strips into squares and rectangles of varying sizes. I then folded each piece lightly, turning up edges, adhered the pieces to the background, and sewed over them, resulting in a patchwork feel that added some variation and texture to the background. Sure, the lines are imperfect, but that's the point, given that the layout admits to my own imperfections. 

Step 3. With the background done, I began to build the layers of the layout, pulling together papers from the Farm Girl collection and placing pop dots between layers to give each one a boost. Paper scraps and layers go hand-in-hand: with the exception of the background, every paper that makes up one of the layers is from my stash of scraps. 

Step 4. The beauty of using pop dots between layers is that doing so creates additional space to add accents. I take an over-and-under approach, adding some accents over layers, some under (like the button line), and some in both areas (like the heart garlands).  There's no need to thread buttons in a button line like the one featured here, since the button holes aren't visible. 

Step 5.  I added the journaling, measuring the area with a ruler before printing to ensure that I could still place a photo in the bottom right corner without obscuring the words. 

Step 6. The finishing touch was to add a few splatters of spray ink. To prevent it from getting on the photo and journaling, I covered those areas with pieces of scrap paper and then let the ink drip over the exposed areas. While those spray ink bottles were open, I took a small paint brush and added some additional color here and there to the paper hearts. 

That's it -- a layout comprised mainly of layers and lines! 

If you have a layout featuring layers and/or lines that you'd like to share, please be sure to post it in the October Afternoon Flickr gallery.  We'd all love to see it, I'm sure! 

Queenbanana takes the prize!

Thank you to everyone who posted a comment on the blog reveal of our new Travel Girl collection!  This line has received rave reviews and will begin shipping to stores in April!

As promised, one lucky commenter has been chosen at random to win a Travel Girl collection kit.  That winner is Queenbanana, who left this comment on Feb. 24th:

Finally, a line just about me. I am your travel girl.... Israel, Paris, London, San Juan, Rio so far. And this is just the line to doucument all the fun. Would love to win and add travel girl to all my other treasured OA products!

Congratulations Queenbanana and thanks again to everyone who posted comments!

 

tuesday sketch

Welcome to Tuesday and a new chalkboard sketch!

This sketch features a grouping off to the left side of the page, with two rectangles and a few embellishment clusters. 

Kindergarten screening is always a big day. Sigh! My layout combined product from 9 to 5, Midway and Farm Girl. I swithched out the rectangles and played around with misted shapes in their place. The title was cut from my Cameo.

Mou joined me for the challenge and changed it up by creating an 8.5x11! Here's what she had to say: "Lexi's sketch was so simple and yet so full of potential. You could interpret it in so many ways. I made my layout using papers and embellishments from Farm Girl, , Midway, and Woodland Park collections. It's so much fun to mix and match elements from various October Afternoon collections."

Now it's your turn. Load your layout into the October Afternoon flickr group and show us how you interpreted this sketch.

Thanks for joining me and have a great Tuesday! -Lexi

Monday Challenge...using mason jars

Hey there, it's Michelle Wooderson here today with a challenge and joining in is the very talented Marcy Penner.  It's no secret that I have a love for mason jars.  I use them for actually canning my homegrown veggies and jellies but I also love to use them for all kinds of home decor and storage solutions too.  My challenge for Marcy was to use a mason jar image from the Farm Girl collection on any kind of project.  For my project, I chose to work with the Farm Girl 12 x 12 Mason Jar patterned paper & the 8 x8 Paper Pad that I just love and some tags.  

I also love this 12 x 12 Patchwork patterned paper from the Farm Girl line.  I cut thin strips and stitched those to the bottom of my manila tags.  

Next I cut out the mason jars that have tomatoes on them from the 8 x 8 Paper Pad and the 12 x 12 patterned paper.  I used a small "b" side grid paper from the 8 x 8 Paper Pad and typed "fresh salsa".  I cut out the words and adhered them to my small white tags with pop dots.  I also attached the jars to the larger tags with pop dots.  

Now I have a nice head start on some handmade tags that I'll add to fresh jars of salsa that I make this summer.  We always have the "salsa" section of the garden that has tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeno peppers and onions so there is always a batch of fresh salsa being made.  I love to bake up my own tortilla chips & give a jar of the salsa and a bag of the chips to neighbors and family.  

Here's a sampling of some simple packaging that I like to do.  I use a waxed paper bag and twine to create a simple jar topper, then add my tag before tying a knot.  I think I need a whole sheet of that 12 x 12 paper with just the tomatoes, don't you think?  Note: you can visit my blog to find out more about how I create the jar toppers.  

I was excited to see what Marcy would create with the mason jars and she did not disappoint.  She created a cute tag using a fun, confetti window.  

Here's what Marcy had to say about her tag:

"I cut the center of the mason jar and punched out some confetti. I sandwiched it in between two pieces of vellum and sewed the mason jar over top of it. I used a combination of Cakewalk, Farm Girl, and Witch Hazel on this project. They all work so well together!"

Such a sweet little tag Marcy created, don't you think?  I love that we both used manila tags, did some fancy cutting on the jars and typed out little sentiments.  I think this tag would be adorable on a mason jar full of candies or gum balls...or how about jelly beans for Easter?

Thanks for playing along with me today Marcy!  I hope you all give the mason jars a try.  Thanks for stopping by.  

FRIDAY FIND: Cakewalk Bundle

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate … birthdays, anniversaries and holidays! But this week on the Friday Find, we’re celebrating savings!

October Afternoon is offering a bundle of one of its most popular collections – Cakewalk – at an incredibly low price! Cakewalk’s vintage imagery is timeless yet contemporary. It’s colors are fun and bright. And this collection is versatile, making it wonderful for use in scrapbooking, home decor, gift wrapping and much more.

Here’s what you get:

Cakewalk Bundle

12 Sheets of Paper (two each of six different designs)

Cakewalk 12 x 12 Alpha Stickers

Cakewalk Word Stickers

Cakewalk Label Stickers

Mint-Green Mini-Market Stickers

Cakewalk Wrap Pack

Cakewalk Flower Sack

Cakewalk Doo-Dads

Cakewalk Tidbits

Cakewalk Little Flyers

In this fantastic Friday Find, you can now purchase this bundle for ONLY $19.99 (plus shipping)!

That’s more than 50 percent off the retail price of these papers and components! Now THAT is a reason to celebrate!

Quantities are limited, so order yours TODAY! Just click the button below … it’s a piece of cake!

Shipping Rates:
Continental U.S., Alaska & Hawaii - $9.00
Canada - $15.00
All Other International - $22.00

Easy DIY decor for your place or mine

Guest Designer: Shay Tibbs

Hello there! I hope you’re all as excited about March as I am and I hope you enjoy my first post as guest designer here at October Afternoon!
 
Today I want to share with you a little DIY home project. I just got a new place this past Saturday and have been in decorating mode.  I thought it would be super fun to share with you.

Quick & easy with just a few supplies, a house can really be turned into a home with one of these:  

All you’ll need is a few supplies you may have around the house or that can easily be picked up from Home Depot or Lowe’s:

a can of spray paint
chicken wire
a frame [any size you want!]
string or twine that goes withyour theme
a few pictures
clothespins
your favorite OA line - even if it’s just bits & pieces!
 
For my project, I decided to use Farm Girl, and it inspired me to grab up pictures my grandmother had around the house of her childhood! What perfect papers and embellishments to add to those old black & whites she has boxes filled with!

To start, I spray painted my frame with yellow, left it for a while while it dried, and pre-cut my chicken wire. I then found some twine and decided how I wanted it to drape between my frame, simply tying it onto the chicken wire.

After that, I just added pics - these are photos from my grandmother’s childhood. I layered it with the Farm Girl banners, chipboard pieces, brads,  andjournaling cards - and here’s how it turned out:

I really think this turned out cute and it was so easy! Now I want to make them for everyone … such a perfect gift! My grandma will be thrilled to have a frame to display these in and Farm Girl was such a great line for an around the house project!

See you next week!

Accordion Book Tutorial

Hi all... Marcy here with a little mini accordion book tutorial for you all.  

I wanted to create a little mini to house just a few of my favorite photos from the past year.  Something I could throw in my purse or put in a little basket on my coffee table.  And if I was going to use my favorite photos, then I may as well use my favorite collection too... Midway.  :)

I started by assembling the structure of my entire mini from one sheet of 12x12 cardstock.

1. Start by scoring lines so that you have 12 - 3x4 sections on your cardstock.

... and now trim them like so...

2, 3, 4 and 5.  Start folding them as shown.

You're basically folding accordion-style going up, then across, then down, then across and then up again.

6.  This is what it looks like all folded up.

7 and 8.  When it's folded up go ahead and label all your pages 1 through 12 and also your cover and your back.  This will make putting it together a lot easier once you start adding paper and embellishments.

* Notice that the numbers down your center row will be upside down.

So, now you're ready to make the actual pages.  Go ahead and choose your background papers.  I chose 6 of my favorite patterns from Midway and Make it Merry and trimmed those to a little less than 3x4 so that some of the white of the cardstock would show as a matte.

Print and trim your photos.  I printed these slightly smaller again and trimmed them with a white border.

Start playing with your papers and arrangements.  I wanted to make sure I like the photos and patterns together on ajacent pages.

At this point I also went ahead and embellished the piece that would go on my cover.

I wrapped thread around my fingers, bunched it up and stapled it to a piece of patterned paper. Then I added the chipboard polaroid and some stickers.

From here I started adding my patterned paper and photos.  Remember how the numbers you wrote in the center column were upside down?  Make sure that your images in that row are upside down as well.

Once I adhered everything down I added a little stitching.

When the mini's folded up it looks something like this.  Not quite done though.

When I closed it up a few of the pages had openings on the top.  These were perfect for adding tags for my journaling.  I sewed the bottoms of the pages closed and left the tops open.

Time to flip it over and work on the spine.  

1.  I decided to use washi tape to keep the spine tight and together.  Just hold your mini closed tightly and cover it.

2. Trim a length of ribbon and run it across the front and back of your mini.  Your back and front covers you made will cover this.

3 and 4.  You should end up with something like what is shown in these last two images.

And here is my finished project.  Sweet and simple.

I love little projects like these.  :)  Great for gifts or to keep for yourself.... Hmmm... maybe I'll have to make another one for Mother's day.  ;)