Cakewalk: October Afternoon Sneak Peek

Getting this post up a little late today after a very full work day and then dinner out with my family. If you haven't already visited the October Afternoon blog today, here is Sneak Peek #2 from October Afternoon:

This line is full of cute kids and animals plus a lot of great basic patterns. The colors are really gorgeous!

Guess what? Today was a happy mail day and I now have lots of new October Afternoon Cakewalk and 9 to 5 sitting on my desk. It's even better in person. Significantly better. Trust me. I'm about to start the CHA creating frenzy...look out...

Bella Blvd Sneak Peek: Week 1, Day 5

Remember earlier this week, when I shared the Baby Boy and Baby Girl collections and I was excited about the new flag embellishments? Well, there's another embellishment that has me super excited: Designer Tape! Yup. Tape. It comes in two different widths and four different patterns are available in each width. 
 

I love the versatility of the patterns here! I could see combining the 3/4 inch tapes on a spring layout, using the Red Dot and Pickle Juice Dot tapes on a Christmas card, combining Red Dot and Blue Gingham on a Fourth of July project, combining the Pink Stripe and Pink Flowers on a little girl layout, etc., etc., etc. - the possibilities are endless!

If you like what you see, be sure to check out the Bella Blvd blog for additional details, and be sure to leave a comment over there for a chance to win the new Designer Tape!

Bella Blvd Sneak Peek: Week 1, Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of Week One of Bella Blvd's Sneak Peek Weeks! Today's reveal is the We're Expecting collection. This collection can stand on its own or can be used with the Baby Boy and Baby Girl collections revealed earlier this week. It's perfect for documenting a pregnancy and would also be fantastic for baby shower cards. I can also see using the ruler papers for school-themed layouts, or maybe a layout about how my kids are growing so fast they keep outgrowing their clothes! :)
 

Don't you love that cute ultrasound chipboard element and stamp? I've never seen anything like it before!

Be sure to stop by the Bella Blvd blog to see this collection in detail and be sure to leave a comment there for a chance to win the We're Expecting collection!

9 to 5: October Afternoon Sneak!

There is far too much excitement around CHA sneak peeks right now for me to blog about such mundane things as the fox I saw in my backyard yesterday or the fact that I was in bed for the entirety of the long weekend with the flu. Rest assured, I have jumped on the Project Life bandwagon and am documenting all of these things and will share those with you once the CHA craziness has abated.

Today, October Afternoon revealed its first sneak (hello brad, I've been waiting for you for a long time...):

I've seen some chatter indicating that some of you out there in cyber-scrap-land aren't sure this line is for you if you're a stay-at-home mom, or someone who doesn't like her job, or someone who has no work photos and never intends to take photos of work, etc., etc., etc. I can appreciate having those concerns. However...without further ado, here are 10 ways you could think about using the themed parts of this line (and not everything is themed - this is, after all, October Afternoon! :)):

1. Make a layout about your desk, whether you are a "my desk is always clean" type or, like me, a "how many layers under is that important field trip form I was supposed to sign?" type. If you are the former, you'll probably want to take a picture or two for that layout. If you're the latter, you might want to go photo-less (or maybe just apply some glue to cardstock and throw a bunch of office-themed embellishments at the cardstock to replicate what your desk looks like).


2. Make a "congratulations on your new job!" card for anyone you know who's just gotten a new job or a promotion.


3. Scrap your obsession with "Mad Men." Sure, that girl at the desk doesn't have Joan's curves, but she does have the red hair! :)


4. Make a back-to-school layout.


5. Scan and then print out your child's schoolwork or homework (or your schoolwork or homework, past or present) and make a photo-less layout showcasing that piece of schoolwork or homework.


6. Document your work history, with or without photos. I am actually thinking about making a photo-less work album. I've had all kinds of interesting jobs that most people, even my closest friends, don't know I've had (unless I've known them a really long time...you know who you are...).


7. Make a layout about a job you would have if you didn't have the one you have now. I know I would love alternate lives as a food writer, in advertising (although I wouldn't want to work for Don Draper), or as a museum exhibit designer.


8. Use the clock motifs to document a day in your life. Or how you are always early or late. (Or late because you can't find your keys on your messy desk...but I digress...)


9. Make a layout about the family business. For several generations my family owned and operated Boxer's Furniture Stores in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. No one knows this. I should write it down. 


10. Make a layout about your budget. Forget the facts and figures: What are you saving for? how have you stayed debt-free? What are your monthly bills? (my kids can't imagine a time before cell phone bills and cable TV bills and the monthly Netflix fee and the monthly Pandora fee and...)


Convinced of 9 to 5's potential yet? I think this line is going to be a great driving force for me to document some memories and thoughts and wishes that I don't necessarily have photos for. Love when that happens - it makes my scrapbooks reflect a more complete picture (even without pictures!) of my and my family's life.

Stay tuned for more October Afternoon sneaks prior to CHA! :)

 

Bella Blvd Sneak Peek: Week 1, Day 3

 
Today is Day 3 of a full two weeks of Bella Blvd sneak peeks. Up today is the Baby Girl collection:

You didn't think Bella Blvd would have revealed the Baby Boy collection shown on Monday without having its feminine counterpart, did you? :) Check out the mix of themed papers, basic prints, bright colors, and fun and whimsical designs! In addition to baby girl layouts, cards, and projects, I can see this collection being used for birthday, Valentine's Day, spring, Easter, zoo, friendship, etc. I know I mentioned this on Monday, but, again, check out Bella Blvd's newest addition to their embellishments: the flags.

I encourage you to click on over to the Bella Blvd blog to see Baby Girl close up and to enter to win the Baby Girl collection!

 

Make Your Own Journaling Cards

There are so many cute journaling cards out there now. Journaling cards are a quick and easy way to add journaling to a layout, a fun way spruce up a card, or a staple if you're doing Project Life.

There are companies, like October Afternoon, that make die cut journaling cards, like these:

October Afternoon Sidewalks Journaling Cards

 Other companies, like Echo Park, make journaling cards that you can cut out:

Echo Park Yours Truly Journaling Cards

While I am a huge fan of these pre-made journaling cards, I am also a fan of making my own. Making your own journaling cards is a great way to personalize your projects and it's also a great way to use up your stash! I'm going to show you my process for making my own journaling cards here.

I'm starting with a really old piece of paper from Collage Press:

Collage Press Margot Malta Spring Paper

While the A side of this paper is gorgeous, it's the B side I was after here. If you look at the folded down corner on the right, you'll see that the B side is plain old cream-colored lined notebook paper. Any notebook-lined paper, grid/graph paper, ledger paper, etc. will work well as a base for making your own journaling cards. 

I started out by cutting the paper into twelve 3" X 4" rectangles. I decided to make half of the journaling cards now, and chose to make them for specific holidays/seasons to use up some of the holiday-themed product from my stash. Here are the cards I created:

Making your own journaling cards is not rocket science, but I'll list some design tips here anyway:

• Hang an element or two off an edge (a label sticker, a punched shape, washi tape, etc.), then turn the card over and use scissors to trim off the excess. I did this on all but the school card.
• Don't be afraid to add dimension with stick pins, buttons, ribbon, layered elements, etc. I did this on all but the Halloween card.
• Use three like or clustered elements in your design. There are three like elements or a cluster of three elements on each card.
• Frame the journaling space, either left to right or top to bottom, to draw the viewer's eye into whatever you will write on the card.
• Don't be afraid of odd-shaped space, as on the Halloween card. Even though this isn't square or rectangular journaling space, there's still room for a couple of sentences to fit in between the embellishments.

Here's a supply list for the cards. Most of the products I used were older, but I threw a few newer items in the mix as well.

Valentine's Card
Sticker + Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye), Button + "sweet" label (October Afternoon), Baker's Twine (Divine Twine), Heart Punch: The Paper Studio

Spring Card
Stick Pins (Jillibean Soup), Label Sticker + Lace (October Afternoon), Word Sticker (Bella Blvd)

School Card
Patterned Paper + Rub-ons (October Afternoon), Notebook Punch: EK Success

Halloween Card
Tree Sticker + Bat Sticker (Echo Park), October 31 Sticker (Making Memories)

Thanksgiving Card
Rub-ons (Lily Bee), Patterned Paper (October Afternoon), Leaf Punch (EK Success)

Christmas Card
Tape + Stickers (Dear Lizzy/American Crafts)

Happy journaling card making!

 


 

Bella Blvd Sneak Peek: Week 1, Day 2

If you missed it, yesterday kicked off two full weeks of sneak peeks at Bella Blvd. Every day, one set of the collection being revealed will be given away to one lucky commenter over at the Bella Blvd blog. 

Today's reveal is the new Button Market embellishments:
 

 

The Button Market offers a great mix of shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. My favorites are the Masculine Mix and Feminine Mix button sets. Love the variety they offer!

Remember to head on over to the Bella Blvd blog and leave a comment to be entered to win today's Button Market giveaway!

Be sure to check back here later today for this week's Tuesday tip/technique!