October Afternoon

Work It Wednesdays | Shanna Noel

Hello there! Happy 2015! I hope this year has started off leaving you inspired and wanting to see things in a new light, and that is exactly what we are going to do here today! 

One of my favorite October Afternoon products in all the world is the alphabetical order background stamp from the Public Library collection, so of course this had to happen.....

I know I know, but BREATHE it's going to be OK, I promise!!! I love this stamp, like to a million bits (ok maybe that isn't a good term here) I really do, I use it over and over again. That being said I love it so much I wanted EVEN MORE ways to use it and I thought HOW FUN it would be as an alpha stamp. I was right folks, its just amazing! 

So now I have this lovely wonky, cool, unique alpha stamp and my lovely handmade journal, I am a happy girl! If you do decide to cut up your stamp keep in mind that this is intended as a background stamp so its a bit of a messier look, but that was EXACTLY the look I was going for! 

For my journalI wanted to use it as a quote book, I love writing funny things that my family says and we can go back and reflect (ok laugh hysterically at) on. 

 

So I challenge you to take one of your most used October Afternoon goodies and find a NEW way to work them!! I promise you, there's no looking back!!! I can't stop using this alpha set now!!

 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

Shanna

Wrap it up Wednesday | Stocking Stuffers

Hi there! Shanna here with a fun way to use your December Story kit. This idea can be used for those that may have bits left over, or for those that bought the kit and may not being doign a December Story album, but just knew they had to have the kit! Every year Santa asks me to help him stock the stockings with fun things I know my family would enjoy! Christmas is heald at our house so we have 10 stockings hanging on our shelf every year and a couple of those are crafty women who love to get little bits and bobs from my craft room. I usually make them up a little goodie bag filled with things like wood veneers, stickers, flair etc from my stash. 

This year I decided to cut up some of the December Story page protectors and use them as little pouches to hold all the goodies. The important thing is to try to keep as many sides of the pouch together leaving only the top open (which you can sew up later) then just slip in an adorable OA journlaing card and take it form there! 

 

 

Have fun getting creative with many different combinations here! Really no two are alike and they are just so much fun to make and equally fun to recieve! I hope you have a creative day!!

 

go.be.inspired.
Shanna

Documenting the Elf

I know I have seen my Pinterest and Instagram feeds explode these past few days with images of Elf on a Shelf. It is such a fun & magical tradition that some families have every year. 

I have had to live vicariously through all these photos of trees and beautifully decorated homes. We just moved this past weekend and I am surrounded by boxes and piles of things that need to be put away. Unfortunately that also includes all of my craft & scrapbooking supplies. So I am very happy that the super talented Shanna Noel is here today to share a 2 page layout with us. 

 

 

and here are a few words about her layout from Shanna

 

I wanted to document this very magical year for us! It is the first year we have included Jaden in on MAKING the magic happen around here! We gave her total ownership of Ella the Elf and it is so much fun to watch that twinkle in her eye again over the magic of the season only for this year she's on the other end of that magic (which sometimes is even MORE fun!!!) I used the December Story Kit to make this spread, I LOVE those leaves and red buttons and a finishing touch!! I hope you have a magical season! 

 

Thanks so much for making October Afternoon one of your online stops today, we really do appreciate it! 

Ginny

 

 

 

 

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 | Head in the Clouds

Hi there! Shanna Noel here with an inspiration piece!! These days with Pinterest there is never a shortage of inspiration, the difference is putting that inspiration to work for you! So I challenge to to do just that, even if it isn't with this piece find something that inspires you and just go for it! 

 

source

 

I love this photo for so many reasons! The textured background makes it look like another layer of clouds, the whimsical way the clouds are dangling, and the color combo is just so much fun!!

***

Today I have Suz with me, I LOVE her work and was excited to see what she would do with this piece. Here is  what Suz had to say about her take on the inspiration piece and her creative design:

When Shanna shared the Designer Inspiration Challenge for this week, I was immediately inspired and knew I wanted to incorporate many of the inspiration piece design elements into my layout; the clouds, the "xoxo", the rainbows of color, and the mixed media background. 

I used a mix of watercolors and gelatos to create the thunder clouds, the rain, and the rainbow.

This layout was a sentimental one for me as the photo was one taken at the top of the London Eye this past May with my mom and my oldest sister, Karen. For those of you who may not know, I lost my middle sister, Linda a few years ago. She should've been on this trip with us, but that was not how life played out. The quote and the journaling seemed a good fit for the feelings I (we) felt about this special and bittersweet moment in time.

The quote: "God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us - in the dreariest and most dreadul moments - can see the possibility of hope." - Maya Angelou
And my hidden journaling: "The weather had been iffy all day and especially so as we went up in the London Eye. Being on this trip without you had been on each of our minds. Just as we reached the top, we spotted this double rainbow. And we just knew. You really were with us all along."

 October Afternoon items used in the creation of this layout:

Daily Flash - Flash Chip "Partly Cloudy", Public Library; the 12 x 12 Alpha "Found" Stickers, Public Library Border Stickers, and Public Library Doodads. Daily Flash Alphas; Nightfall "Shop Front", Daily Flash - Apple Cider "Bonfire" 12 x 12 paper, Daily Flash Double Take Stickers - Snapshots ("Love")

 

 ***

The moment I sat down to work on this page I wanted to sew up the background to create this crazy quilted cloud feel and I have to say the process was SO much fun! From there I pulled out the clouds from Daily Flash and allowed those to really set the tone for the whole page. The chipboard stars were a perfect fit and I simply drew little string to "hang" them from the clouds. I love it when a page comes together as you would imagine.  

 

 

 

I hope you have fun using this piece as your inspiration this week! If you play along with this challenge, please share by posting on Instagram with the hashtag #oadesignerchallenge or share on OA's Facebook wall. Have an amazing week!!

 

go.be.inspired.  

Shanna

 

Workspace Wednesday with Shanna Noel

Happy Wednesday! I am so excited to be back here with you today! Last time I was on for Workspace Wednesday I shared where I keep my October Afternoon goodies, today I wanted to share a different storage option I am loving in my craft space! 

 

 

I love these old pepsi crates (and don't tell the others this but THIS yellow one is my fave!!) they are perfect for an open storage solution that is just SO much fun to look at. When I decided to use this in my craft space I took out the dividers (they just slipped right out) so it provided for more storage options. 

 

Then I slipped three cigar boxes in the crate (my husband picks them up for free at a local shop) they just make great little containers for soemthing like this! I used the back space (that didn't have containers) to put all my alphas in. I love that they all fit perfectly (I also use this as a guage for when it is time to purge) and they are super easy to flip through. 

Then I used the three boxes to store all my roller date and design stamps. These don't fit in my traditional stamp storage options so they needed their own home and let's face it, they look adorable peeking out of this box!! The October Afternoon decade stamps are perfect to have on hand for some of the vintage projects I am working on! 

 

I hope you are having fun in your workspace on this beautiful Wednesday. Share on instagram #OAWorkspace and I will make sure to leave you some love!!! 

 

xox

Shanna

 

 

Thursday Sketch: Squares and Strips

Happy Thursday! This week's sketch offers up a simple design at first glance, but it ensures ample space for photos, journaling, and accents. 

As Shanna Noel and I discovered as we partnered for today's post, this basic sketch also leaves lots of room for interpretation. My layout features a fairly direct translation of the four-quadrant design, but I also made the sketch my own by building up the squares layer by layer, incorporating items from the Public Library and Daily Flash collections (with a little 9 to 5 thrown in). 

The strips are my favorite part of the sketch and of this layout. Their staggered placement adds a sense of movement to the page. I also like the effect of enjambment produced by the "run-on" lines and the resulting anticipation created through the transitions from line to line, strip to strip. 

Shanna's interpretation of the sketch had me unleashing a litany of "whoas" and "wows" at first sight. 

Here's what Shanna had to share about her page:

When I saw Jill's sketch I was immediately inspired! My mind went to all sorts of places, I saw the strips as little word strips at first, but then I saw them as a pattern, and that is what I ran with! I created a woven background for my layout, speaking to the little strips on Jill's photo. 

 

I have been going through my great-grandmother's old scrapbooks and having SO much fun hearing her stories. There were a couple duplicates, so I wanted to scrap this photo. I love the felt banners she had all over her book. I have no idea where they came from but they are ADORABLE! What I love about October Afternoon is how BEAUTIFULLY the collections work with modern and vintage/heritage photos. 

 

Thank you Jill for all the inspiration!

Shanna's layout is a reminder that sketches exist to inspire; they don't need to be regarded in terms of exactitude. Even if you just take a single element -- like the strips in this week's sketch -- and riff off of that, the sketch has done its work by sparking an idea. 

So has the sketch sparked any ideas in you?  Here's hoping that it has, and that you'll be willing to share the project that you create in the October Afternoon Flickr gallery!  

Thanks for visiting today! 

-- Jill 

Tuesday Inspiration: Colors, grid, circles... you choose!

Hi everyone, Mou here with Shanna today sharing with you an inspiration piece I found on Pinterest.

This is the inspiration piece (via Pinterest) and below is my take on it...

In my layout, I picked three things from the inspiration piece: colors (rather loosely), circles (layered them too), and the grid pattern.

I picked various papers and embellishments from the October Afternoon lines, such as, Passport (12 x 12 paper) from Travel Girl, Daily Flash Apple Cider (Harvest, Hayride, and Bake Sale) papers, Daily Flash Girl Talk Memory Cards, Daily Flash Snapshots Double Take stickers, and Daily Flash Inspiration Roller Stamp.

And here's another close-up of my layout.

Now, let me present to you Shanna Noel's take on this inspiration piece. 

Shanna says: "I love the inspiration piece that Mou picked out and I was drawn into the color first and then this graphic, grid design. Let's face it, who can resist a grid design?! I decided I wanted the bottom to be the alphabet stamp and from there used the cards  from the public library (one of the favorite OA lines, EVER!!!). One of my favorite things about the OA lines is that they all work so beautifully together! I can't wait to see what you make with this beautiful inspiration piece!"

Here's a close up of Shanna's adorable layout!

Hope you'll find something in the inspiration piece that triggers your creative imagination. Thanks for stopping by :)

New Designer Spotlight: Shanna Noel and Melanie Blackburn

Every Friday this month we will be introducing you to the new members of the October Afternoon Design Team! Today, we have the talented Shanna Noel and Melanie Blackburn.

Shanna Noel

Hiya! My name is Shanna Noel and I am super excited to be a part of the OA family! I live in Sonoma County California with the love of my life and our two wonderful daughters!!

Are you a layout person, card person, or both?

I like it all! I love to play with different techniques on different formats, it keeps me inspired! 

How would you describe your style? 

While I love white space and bright colors I am not sure I have a signature style, I love to try new techniques and am always inspired by the latest trends. 

From my Studio Calico September Gallery  

What is on your scrap desk right now?

I just finished working on a layout for later this month with the Public Library line, seriously how cute is that line!? 

What is a favorite tool or product you cannot scrapbook without?

My sewing machine!! I love adding that finishing touch and the texture it creates is just so much fun!!!

What is your favorite October Afternoon line?

YIKES! How in the world am I supposed to pick just one?! Since I used Public Library last, let's go with that.. the vintage school elements steal my heart EVERY time!!

What is your favorite source of inspiration?

You!! This community is such a source of inspiration, I am always amazed and honored that I get to be a part of it! 

 

From my Studio Calico September Gallery 

What is your favorite movie or book?

Serendipity (movie) have you seen it? I don't know why but I love it to pieces! 

What is your favorite food?

Living in Sonoma County I am lucky enough to be surrounded by some amazing food and I have to say I love it all, trying new things is my favorite! 

What is a favorite childhood memory? 

Building forts from the couch cushions with my little sister!

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

Great question!!! I think my Grandpa, I was so young when he passed away I have a couple questions I am dying to ask him! 

Melanie Blackburn

Hello! I'm so excited to be here today and part of this inspiring team! I'm a mom of 3 girls, married to my high school sweetheart, life is busy but I try to be creative every day, even if it's simply organizing my scrap space or editing pictures. 

Are you a layout person, card person, or both?

I prefer making layouts, especially 8.5x11 but every once in a while I will make a card or a mini album. I love we have so many creative options. 

How would you describe your style? 

Layered!! I love adding layers, bits of papers to add as much depth as possible to a layout. I love playing with various techniques and mediums. I'm not afraid to experiement!

What is on your scrap desk right now?

Nothing! I just did a major clean up and my desk is ready to tackle an upcoming project for OA! I do have to clean between each project, I have a tiny work space so there is no room for things to pile up.

What is a favorite tool or product you cannot scrapbook without?

Like Shanna it's my sewing machine!! I have to add stitching to every single project, it just doesn't feel complete without it.

What is your favorite October Afternoon line?

One?! This is hard, but I do have a strong love for Public Library. We are a family the loves to read, my oldest is devouring the Harry Potter books, I just finished a series of books and my middle daughter is learning to read, so this collection is very appropriate for us right now.

What is your favorite source of inspiration?

Everything! From other scrappers to home decor inspiration to of course awesome products!! Inspiration is all around us and I really try to remember this. 

What is your favorite movie or book?

The Time Traveller's Wife, both the movie and the book. I read the book in my 20's and was delighted when the movie was released.  

What is your favorite food?

Pizza! I love a very good authentic pizza with fresh ingredients. My husband and I always joke that we could live off pizza alone.  

What is a favorite childhood memory? 

Picking raspberries at my grand-father's. We would visit and enjoy a swim in his pool and in between pool time to run to the garden to eat fresh raspberries. 

 

We can't wait to see what fun projects Shanna and Melanie create!!  Stay tuned next Friday to meet a couple more new members of our fabulous Design Team! 

Workspace Wednesday | Shanna Noel

Hiya all! I am so excited to be here at October Afternoon for my first post with you guys! As I was very excited to join this team I wanted to gather all my beautiful October Afternoon goodies and keep them all in one place. What I like about having it all in one place is that all of the October Afternoon goodies work so well together, each line working perfectly with the next! Recently when my mother in law went to the flea market I asked for her to keep an eye out for a couple crates that would work perfectly with my OA embellishments. She never dissapoints and came home with these two adorable crates and I just added a little name plate to the front for an extra touch of character! 

 

I love when you are walking by you can just peek inside and get a little breath of inspiration! 

 

 

I made sure to find a "front and center" location for these in our craft room because seriously how can you not smile when you see that little crate of adorable supplies?! 

 

 

 

 

 

How are you storing your favorite October Afternoon supplies? Did you make something from recycled wood or repurpose your favorite vintage container? We would love to see what you are up to! Just use hashtag #oaworkspacewednesday on Instagram and I will head on over to give it some love! 

 

xox- 

Shanna