October Afternoon

It's Here! October Afternoon's December Story Kit 2014

Hello there everyone!

Tis' the season for holiday papercrafting and those of us at October Afternoon know you have been waiting (oh so patiently-thank you!) for this year's December kit to be revealed and for it to be available for purchase so you can get to your holiday creating!  We are happy to announce the 2014 kit, December Story (TM), is now available for purchase!

***This year, October Afternoon wanted to give you more options!  Those new options are outlined below and further down in this blog post are detailed product listings of each option, product images, and shipping information.

More photos coming . . .

 2014 DECEMBER STORY KIT

This year, you can choose whether to use your own album, or purchase an October Afternoon Daily Flash album along with the December Story (TM) kit.  The October Afternoon album is just $11.95 when purchased with the kit.  The choice is yours.  You get to decide which album you want to hold your own December Story (TM)!

No Christmas shopping experience would be complete without at least one Add-on to tempt your fancy.  Add an additional clear stamp set and more!  Gift the December Story (TM) Add-on to yourself or a friend!

Your purchase options are as follows:

OPTION 1. December Story Kit Only ($69.95 USD)

OPTION 2. Kit + Add-On ($89.90 USD)

OPTION 3. Kit + Album ($81.90 USD)

OPTION 4. (BUNDLE) Kit + Album + Add-on ($101.85 USD)

 

 

Purchase Options

December Story Kit 2014 $69.95 USD Kit + Add-on $89.90 USD Kit + Album $81.90 USD Kit + Album & Add-on $101.85 USD

Album Color (if selected above)

None Red Black

 

SHIPPING INFO: 

• Continental United States (Lower 48) $9.00 USD
• Alaska and Hawaii $12.00 USD
• Canada $18.00 USD
• International (anywhere else in the world) $30.00 USD

All sales are final.

Happy holidays and happy shopping to all of you! Thank you again for your patience and for your support of October Afternoon! We will look forward to seeing shares of your creations on social media. Please be sure (especially on Instagram and Twitter) to use the hashtag #DecemberStory so we can see what you have been creating with our products!

 

 

 

 

 

October Afternoon December Kit Information & Sneak

Hello everyone! Back today with an update on the October Afternoon December Kits and a share of a few items included in the kit.

There are 12 completely NEW papers (24 designs front and back) and 2 of each of the 12 papers are included in the kit contents! The color scheme is red, blue, green, teal, and a smattering of black. At the far left in the above image is a mock up of the exclusive stamp set; "An Iconic Christmas." This stamp set is designed for stamping the little iconic images and phrases onto journaling cards and is perfect not only for planners (Filoxfax, Kikkik, Day Planners and the like) but also for making gift tags, gift wrap, etc!! The album is a 6x8 Daily Flash type album. There are two color choices:

- kraft with red binding

 -kraft with black binding

NEW OPTION THIS YEAR: There will be an option to buy the album separately from the kit contents (which includes the page protectors) or to buy both the kit contents and the album (as an add-on option).

Thank you again for your interest in the OA Dec kits! Due to an unforeseen delay, one beyond OA's control, the original projected release date could not be met. OA has been working feverishly to have the kits available  for purchase this afternoon/early evening (11/19) CST. Product listing, pricing and shipping info (domestic/international/expedited) as well as the sale button all will be posted here on the blog. 

 

 

Tuesday Inspiration: Shapes

Hi there!  Emily here with today's inspiration piece!  I knew that the fabulous Ginny Hughes would be joining me on this post today, and as soon as I saw this art in my "artsy" pinterest board, I knew it would be perfect for both of us!

(Source: Colocal)

First up, I will share Ginny's take on the layout.  She says, "I was super happy when I saw the inspiration piece from Emily. It really fits my style, and I knew it would be a fun one! The first thing that grabbed my attention was the large text up at the top. I knew it would translate perfectly into journaling and a page title. I opted to turn the bottom half of the inspiration piece on its side to accommodate a 4x6 photo. I used mostly the Public Library collection for this layout. I think the primary colors work perfectly for a sports themed page."

I just love everything about this!  The punches, the fun colors, all the little bits of goodness at the top. She did a fantastic job!  When I chose this inspiration, I envisioned staying pretty true to the design. I planned on a big bold die cut title on top and lots of small die cut shapes and photos on the bottom half.  Well, between then and the time that I actually made the layout, my laptop kicked the bucket, and I was basically rendered helpless! ;)  No electronic die cutting, no access to photos other than those on social media, no photo editing programs.  I may have actually had a small panic attack at my desk when I first started this layout, because there was absolutely no way that I would be able to create a layout like the one I had planned in my head. It's crazy how dependent I had become on my computer!  So, this layout is a pretty bare bones, basic layout.  No die cutting and no fancy journaling.  I chose to use four different large shapes, one of which was the square photo. Instead of making the shapes solid, I created each using various embellishments. This layout uses probably 5-10 different October Afternoon collections. I had to dig way back into my stash for a few items!  This layout is pretty old school. I actually used a mug to trace a circle to make that circle of stickers! In spite of my worrying and lack of electronic support, I feel like it turned out to be pretty fun.

I apologize for the poor quality photos.  My replacement computer right now is a six year old MacBook that has seen much, much better days. The only program I have to edit photos is my totally awesome 2011 version of iPhoto!  Hopefully you are still able to be inspired!! We would love for you to play along! Upload your layout to the October Afternoon Flickr gallery, post it on our Facebook page, or connect with us on Instagram via #octoberafternoon. Have a great Tuesday, and happy scrapping! 

Monday Challenge: Thankful

Hey everyone! Roree here with a Monday challenge for you.

Thanksgiving is only a little over a week away so when thinking about a challenge for today, I decided to take inspiration from the holiday. Because Thanksgiving is all about celebrating the blessings in our lives with our friends and family, so my challenge to you is: Create a project based around the word THANKFUL.

I created a card for the the challenge:

I originally planned on using the Apple Cider collection, but I happened to have the Woodland Park collection out and found the sweetest sentiment on one of the Here & Now Chapter pages and thought it was perfect for one the people I am most thankful for in my life, my husband.

I trimmed a couple of the Here & Now Chapter pages down to create the 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" card. Along the top, I added some stitching to frame the "Sign Board" Alphas from the Daily Flash collection,

I finished the card by adding some baker's twine from Sasparilla, a die cut and sticker from Woodland Park, and a puffy button sticker from Apple Cider.

Mandy played along with my challenge, and here is the amazing layout she created around the word thankful and a little blurb about what she is thankful for:

"Lately I've been thankful for many things so when Roree challenged me to create a project based on the word "Thankful" I had no problem getting started. When I started to brainstorm my project I instantly thought of 3 friends who over the last few months(actually longer) have been great support to me and I'm so THANKFUL for these awesome gals I call my friends. Since we live hundreds of miles apart the Milk Money "Social Studies" paper had to be my base paper and from there I went with a large title and bold journaliing. Can't wait to see what y'all do with this challenge! Thanks so much for asking me to join along Roree!!-MK"

So now it's time for you to take my challenge and run with it. Create your own "Thankful" project and share it with us in the OA Flickr group. We can't wait to see what you create! 

Loving Layers

I LOVE layers and have always thought that October Afternoon papers were perfect for layering! 

I loved that this Daily Flash Apple Cider paper coordinated so well with this photo I found on my desk in my "to scrap" pile. For this layout I toned down the background pattern a bit with some gesso before adding my layers.

I love finding fun shapes in patterned paper. I used these triangles as quick and easy accents.

I often use a mini stapler to secure my layers quickly and easily, plus I like the bit of industrial feel they give!

For this second layout I knew that the Public Library line was exactly what I was going to use for this photo. The first saxophone in our house (how many feel my pain ;) ) He was so cute practicing as soon as he got home I made him stop and pose for a quick photo!

Labels and layers again on this layout. I like to mix it up a bit with different shapes in different positions (like the triangle). Labels make perfect layers too!

 

Sometimes a bit of journaling is all you need ;) I finished off the layout with a little stitched banner at the top.

 Have a great week!

Thursday Sketch with Melanie and Alex

Hello everyone! Melanie here today to bring my very first sketch challenge to the OA blog! I think this sketch is typical to my design style, lots of white space and a square picture. What I love is the creative freedom this sketch offers. As you can see Alex and I have 2 very different designs.

I stayed true to the sketch in terms of layers and picture placement. I did change the location of the title and journaling only because it created a more balanced design. Instead of adding my usually strips of papers on each side, I decided to mat the kraft cardstock onto white cardstock, I love the contrast of both colors. What I like best about this layout (aside from obviously the awesome OA products) is the subject that I need to get in the pictures with my girls. I need to make an effort to join in, to ask someone to take our picture or simply use a time app like I did in this picture. To create this layout I used the Apple Cider collection along with Daily Flash Photo Booth Chipboard, Old Oak Alphas, Night Owl Numbers, Nightfall Alphas and Good To Go Tin Pins.

 

I was blown away when Alex shared her take on the sketch. I loved that she flipped the sketch around and the fact that she used a large picture, I love the boldness of this layout! Thanks Alex for playing along!! Here's what Alex had to say about her layout;

When I saw Mel's sketch, it felt like if she made it especially for me. It was perfect and it didn't take me long to get started. I chose to flip the sketch and to use one big horizontal photo. I interpreted the square in the sketch as a cluster of embellishments. I have used the Daily Flash Apple Cidercollection, having my favorite Bonfire paper as a background. As for embellishments, I have used Flash Blurbs, Memory Cards, Snap Caps, Tin Pins, Pop Drops and Daily Flash Partly Cloudy flash chips. My title is made with the Old Oak chipboard alphas. I also used the Dandelions alpha stickers to write my son's name in the lower left corner of the photo. I had so much fun playing with this sketch!

 

 

I hope you are inspired!!! Share what you make with us in the OA Flickr Gallery.  Share on Instagram and/or Facebook and use the hashtag #octoberafternoon.  Tag me on IG @melblackburn05, so I can see what you create!

It's A Wrap Wednesday

  

I know it's not Christmas yet but I love getting all my shopping done early and take the time to wrap up our presents in a special way. I almost always start off with kraft paper and then just add my favorite embelishments from there. The October Afternoon Christmas collections are some of my favorites, and they have lots of fun little embellishments that are PERFECT for adding to the top of your gifts!!

 

One of my favorite things to do is to make custom ribbon like the deer ribbon you see on Addison's gift above. Take your favorite October Afternoon stamp along with Staz-On ink and ribbon muslin fabric, simply stamp teh design over and over again just becareful as the ink is drying that you don't make a hot mess! This is a fun way to add a personal touch to those very special gifts you have taken the time to pick our for the special people in your life! 

 

Do you enjoy using your scrapbooking products when you are wrapping up gifts? Use hashtag #OAitsaWRAP  to share your latest project!!!

Have a wonderful day! 

Shanna

Tuesday Inspiration: Colored Stripes

Hello readers!  This is Laura here today with an inspiration image to share with you guys, and two pages based off it.

I pinned this image on Pinterest forever ago, and I have just loved it ever since.  I love the gorgeous colors, the paint like brush strokes, and most of all, the great quote.  I think there are so many directions you could go with this image.  I've just been itching for the chance to use it as an inspiration piece.  Thankfully, today is the day. 

I decided I wanted to use the quote and make it serve as both the title, and journaling for this page.  Being as there isn't really any action going on in my photogrpahs that needed explaining, I though it could work well.

One of my most favourite supplies is simply alpha stickers, you can just have so much fun with them, and I loved mixing and matching so many different fonts and colors to make the quote interesting.  Knowing that my page was going to be quite busy I wanted a background paper that felt light and airy, and this bokeh "Focus" paper from Snapshots Daily Flash worked great.

I thought that the washi tape from the Girl Talk Daily flash line matched the inspiration so perfectly I just had to use it.  It also helped visually "ground" some of the words, and helped this busy page feel a little more cohesive.

I'm pretty sure these great stickers from the Travel Girl line are one of my all time favorites; I just love the soft blue color, and thin red outline they have.  I also wanted to point out something very unusual for me, and that is that this is almost a completely flat layout apart from the one tiny enamel heart.  I'm not sure I've ever made such a flat page, but I still love it :)

I have the amazingly talented Patricia with me today, to share her take on the inspiration image.  Here is what she had to say.

"The repetition in Laura’s piece instantly caught my eye, then the color, then the paint strokes, and last, and I think the post impactful part of the design for me, the way the words were placed.  I used strips of Apple Cider  and Public Library pattern paper and washi tape for the lines of repetition and then used the Everyday roller stamps and Public Library Tidbits placed along the edge of them.  I stopped about 3/4 down the layout, and then placed my small photos in a row, also adding to the vertical repetition of the lines.  I broke up the lines a little with stitching, more die cut shapes, Public Library stickers, Daily Flash stickers, chipboard, and tin pins, and Apple Cider stamp."

I just love her page, don't you? So many amazing details.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope that you feel inspired to get crafty too.  Please share your projects on our Flickr group, and use the hashtag #octoberafternoon on other social media platforms so we can see all your awesome designs!

Have a great day!

Monday Challenge - Let's Celebrate Fall

Happy Monday! Melanie here today with our Monday Challenge "Let's Celebrate Fall". Some of us are lucky and get to enjoy beautiful  Fall weather and October Afternoon has the perfect collection to go with all your Fall pictures - Apple Cider.

For this project I selected one of my many "where I stand" picture that I've taken this Fall. I have a very hard time resisting a lovely pile of leaves, so I've induldeged more than once. To create this layout I used the Apple Cider collection  paired with the Daily Flash Stars and Hearts, Daily Flash Navigate Letters and   Daily Flash Tin Pins. I wanted the leaf pattern paper to be the focus on my layout, I therefore added a block of paper and kept the embelishement on the paper to a minimum. I used my punches to create negative images that I added throughout my layout. As usual I added a small cluster of embelishements using photo corner, tin pin, star chipboard and diecuts. I like adding these fun clusters they really create lovely accents on my layouts. 

 

Playing along with me today is the fabulous Emily Spahn! When I opened her email and saw her layout, I gasped, I am blown away by this amazing layout and I know you will be as well. Here's what Emily had to say about her layout; 

The Apple Cider line is one of my favorites in the Daily Flash Collections and I have a plethora of fall photos right now, so I was super excited when Mel chose "Let's Celebrate Fall" as our Monday challenge! A few weeks ago, I used the Apple Cider collection to create a fun Fall banner for my dining room, and I had a few large leaves left from the project that I thought I could work into this week's layout.  I used two of the Apple Cider leaves as the main focal point of my layout. I sewed them down (It was the first time I've used my sewing machine in a year!!!) and added some cute Apple Cider embellishments around the leaves. I originally planned on titling my layout, "King of the Fall" like a play on "King of the Hilll," but unfortunately I just could not make the long title look good, so I cut it down to "Fall King."   My favorite thing about the October Afternoon collections is how seamlessly they work together.  This layout, while prominently featuring Apple Cider, also includes bits and pieces from at least five other OA collections!  

Up for the challenge?  Think you can bear to use these cuties on your project?  Share what you make with us in the OA Flickr Gallery.  Share on Instagram and/or Facebook and use the hashtag #octoberafternoon.  Tag me on IG @melblackburn05, so I can see what you have created!

November's Guest Designer | Allison Waken

Hi October Afternoon fans! My name is Allison Waken and I am thrilled to be guest designing this month for October Afternoon. I have always been a fan of their fun patterns and products and can't wait to share with you what I've been working on for this month!

I am an Arizona native. I've lived in the desert all my life but my heart lives at the beach (my favorite subject to scrap). I am a wife of 13 years to my high school sweetheart and we have 2 boys and 2 dogs (who are also my favorite subjects to scrap). I worked as a marketing manager and photographer for a local furniture manufacturer for 12 years until about 2 years ago when I quit to blog and design full time. 

I could not love my job more as crazy as it is sometimes! I've been scrapping since high school but really started up again about 6 years ago when I dove into digital scrapping. I found a new love for paper scrapbooking when I realized there was more out there than what I could find at my local craft store and now I do a bit of both!

Q: Are you a layout person, a card person ... or both?

A: Layout! I do make occasional cards but definitely prefer layouts.

Q: What is on your scrap desk right now?

A: Um, what isn't? OA apple cider is on top with photos, snacks, drinks, Studio Calico kits, LEGO minifigures...

Q: What is your favorite October Afternoon line or product?

A: I have been a LONG time fan of the label stickers. 

Q: What can you NOT scrapbook without?

A: A stapler

Q: What is your favorite source of inspiration?

A: Magazines

Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show?

A: Right now I'm loving Sons of Anarchy and Scandal but my all time favorite show is Friends!

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: I consider myself an adventurous eater but I'm always up for Mexican food!

Q: What is your fondest childhood memory?

A: Roadtrips! Once on a long drive my brother and I played an entire game of "throw the Cheerios" and my parents never found out...until they had to clean the car.

Q: If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what power would you possess?

A: Sunshine Girl - I could harness the power of the sun and bring warmth (or heat) wherever I wanted. No blizzards here!

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who
would it be and why?

A: I'd have dinner with Walt Disney and ask him anything my son wanted to know.

You can find out more about me and my work here:

Blog:  All for the Memories / All for the Boys

Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/allisonwaken Username: @allisonwaken

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/allforthememories

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AllisonWaken

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/allison_waken

Galleries:  http://www.studiocalico.com/users/allisonwaken