Check These Out Today

I have three other blog posts for you to check out today. We'll just do these in alphabetical order. 

Number 1: Bella Blvd
Today is the third day of Inspiration Unlimited Week on the Bella Blvd blog.

Up today is the new Baby Girl Collection:

Be sure to check the Bella Blvd blog for projects showcasing this new line.

Number 2: October Afternoon
Go to the October Afternoon blog to see a video of the October Afternoon booth at CHA. 


Number 3: Write.Click.Scrapbook.
I'm still hosting CHA Armchair Attendee Week at Write.Click.Scrapbook. Today's post focuses on two big product trends.

Today is the last day of the CHA show, so once I have a little more time (and a little less going on over at Write.Click.Scrapbook.) I'll do my usual CHA favorites post here. Hopefully I'll get that up sometime this Friday, and if not, Saturday.

 

Office Eclectic

My CHA Armchair Attendee Week continues today over at Write.Click.Scrapbook. with Trends, Part II, focusing on product themes. I coined a new term in that blog post, "office eclectic," and am waiting to see if it goes viral. I used it to describe Echo Park's This and That Charming collection, which I absolutely love:

I think it applies to other lines as well, including the following:
 
Studio Calico's Take Note collection:

 Simple Stories' Documented collection:

Crate Paper's Storyteller collection:

What other lines out there are you seeing that fit into this category? Comment here if you see others, please!

Also, please don't forget that Inspiration Unlimited Week continues at Bella Blvd today with the Sunshine and Happiness collection (my favorite of the new lines!).

Blog Post in Four Parts

This is a blog post in four parts. Just warning you. One part family, one part Bella Blvd, one part October Afternoon, and one part Write.Click.Scrapbook. Here we go...

Part I: Happy Birthday, Eli!

Ten years ago today I had this:

Today I have this:

It's hard not to sit here and wonder how this is possible! While I grow a little wistful thinking of the baby years, I am so proud of the young man Eli is becoming. I see so many qualities in him that I admire. As I reflect on the last ten years, I am looking forward to the next ten years (as is Sadie, who is excited to have - in her words - "a double-digit brother" :)).

Part II: Bella Blvd

Now that the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) trade show is underway, and sneak peeks are done, it's the start of Inspiration Unlimited Week over on the Bella Blvd blog. 

Each day this week, a different new collection will be highlighted, including projects created with the collection. Up today is the Baby Boy collection. I'd like to think Stephanie and Laura chose that line for today since they knew it was Eli's birthday, but, really, it's just coincidence. :)

So, head on over to the Bella Blvd blog to check it out! 

Part III: October Afternoon

I have a blog post up on the October Afternoon blog today. In honor of Eli's birthday I decided that today's challenge should be a birthday challenge! Click on over to the October Afternoon blog to check it out.

If you missed my blog post here yesterday, all seven of my projects for the October Afternoon booth are there.

Also, if you haven't yet seen images, October Afternoon has included washi tape with this release! Check out this image of the washi tape for the 9 to 5 line:

Part IV: Write.Click.Scrapbook
 
As if there wasn't already enough going on around here, I am hosting CHA Armchair Attendee Week over at Write.Click.Scrapbook this week. 

Part V: The End
  
Okay, I lied, this is a five part blog post. But this part is just to say thank you for reading all the way to the end. :)

Wanna Get a Closer Look at the New October Afternoon?

I thought so! I'm going to share today all of the projects I created with the three new lines for the booth at CHA. (If you're reading this from CHA, please be sure to stop by the October Afternoon booth!)

Let's go in the order the lines were revealed on the October Afternoon blog. 

First up was 9 to 5. Here's a refresher for you of the official sneak image:

You may remember that I blogged about this line when it was first revealed, giving some ideas about what could be done with this line. Here's what I ended up doing with it:

Yes, this is my entire work history documented on one layout. The three photos at the top are each placed on a different embellishment from the line - a "from the desk of:" journaling card, an inter-office envelope from the Miscellany pack, and a file folder from the Miscellany pack. The three photo/embellishment elements stick off the edge of the layout a bit, and the inter-office envelope is angled up a bit with a pop dot. I used my Cameo to cut the title out of the woodgrain paper and used a strip of the paper at the bottom again. The woodgrain isn't just a woodgrain pattern - it actually looks like wood! It's called "Boardroom." Don't you love that fun row of working women? It's called "Shorthand" and has three horizontal rows of women set against a small-scale grid background.

Next up is Cakewalk, which I worked with a bit more. Again, reveal image first:

I started off working with this line by making a card using lots of different bits and pieces:

The top left circle combines a circle punched from star-patterned paper with a number sticker layered on top of it with a pop dot. The top center circle is from the Flower Sack. The top right circle combines two Flower Sack elements with a brad (yes, that's a chevron brad!). The bottom left circle combines a Flower Sack element and a tin pin. The center bottom circle is a word sticker layered on top of a label sticker. The bottom right circle combines a label sticker with two Flower Sack elements. The pink word strip is from the Miscellany pack. The pink polka dot paper at the bottom is one of the many fun basic patterns in this line. 

After my card, I made a layout:

I went for the fun factor here and journaled about Sadie by the numbers. This layout was really easy to do, as the number squares are 1" X 1". I cut 1" X 2" or 1" X 3" strips from white cardstock and glued them randomly over the patterned paper number squares. I added a circle-shaped number sticker to each with a pop dot and journaled something related to that number. I added the "5+1" flashcard from the Miscellany pack, as Sadie is six. I cut my title with my Cameo and added flag/pennant/banner shapes from the Streamers paper, which is covered with fun strips of these shapes in all different colors and patterns. I put some of the shapes on toothpicks as flags and others on a piece of string as a garland. Last, I punched large stars from white cardstock and small stars from patterned papers and large Flower Sack elements. I adhered the smaller stars to the large stars with pop dots and scattered them around the layout.

My last project with this line was a tag:

I cut the tag shape from star patterned paper and layered the bingo card from the Miscellany pack on top of it. I added a red cardstock "grommet" over the hole in the tag. A tin pin went on top of the center square and then I added smaller circles punched from a large-scale polka dot paper for the other bingo markers. A phrase sticker from the Word Sticker sheet added the finishing touch.

Last is the line I was most nervous about using. Woodland Park is a bit of a departure for October Afternoon. I can't quite explain why, but it just has a different feel. When I was trying to figure out how to work with it I blogged about it instead. After I had sat on it for a day or so I finally "got it" and was able to work with it.

First, the reveal image:

I was instantly inspired by the Huckleberry Hill paper in this line, which is filled with rows and rows of butterflies just waiting to be cut out. So I did just that and made this card:

 
I combined the butterflies with one of the floral patterns in the line, adding stitching, a ribbon bow, and a stick pin with a computer-generated greeting.

Next I deviated significantly from the theme of the line, choosing patterned papers in Christmas-y colors to create this layout:

I cut a bunch of Christmas tree shapes with my Cameo and then layered them in a pyramid shape to form a larger tree. I added a ribbon bow and a star punched from cardstock to finish the tree. Two rows of garlands at the top combine Cameo-cut title words with punched circles and stars, all machine-stitched. I journaled on a label sticker and added the date with Mini Market stickers.

Last, but not least, I made a tag with Woodland Park:

This tag combines the elegance of Woodland Park (the blue patterned paper in the background) with the cuteness of Woodland Park (the little animals, which are handcut from patterned paper). The "nature" flashcard is from the Miscellany Pack.

Still haven't seen enough? Head on over to the October Afternoon blog, or check out some of the October Afternoon design team members' blogs (look at the left here for a list of those folks!) to see more ideas for using these three lines. Also, be sure to check back on the October Afternoon blog and my blog tomorrow (Monday) to see more Cakewalk projects!

 

Bella Blvd Sneak Peek: The End!

Yup, today is the last day of sneaks! Today Bella Blvd is revealing Collections Kits. Yes, Collections Kits. You no longer need to buy everything piecemeal if you want it all - you can get the whole collection together in one place! Here's a look at the Collections Kits and what they include:

 

 

Be sure to click on over to the Bella Blvd blog to get a closer look at the Collections Kits and leave a comment while you're over there to be entered to win some of this new product!

Bella Blvd Sneak Peek: Week 2, Day 4

Up today are two embellishments new to Bella Blvd. First up are crochet flowers. These flowers come in fun, bright colors and are a fun way to add dimension to any project.

 

Next up are my favorites, the flags:

As many of you know, I am a huge flag fan. Huge. These are amazing! Look at the mix of designs, colors, patterns, and themes! There's no way I could decide which one is my favorite!

 

You know you want to get a closer look at all of this, so click on over to the Bella Blvd blog here to see the crochet flowers and here to see the flags. While you're there, be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win these new embellishments!

 

October Afternoon Sneak Peek: Woodland Park

Drumroll, please! Here is October Afternoon's third new line: Woodland Park!

Gorgeous florals, elegant peacocks, beautiful butterflies, and adorable animals all come together in this line. You'll see more of the "old" here (label stickers, Little Flyers, Miscellany, etc.) as well as the "new" (brads). This line is so versatile! Here are some ideas for using it (trust me, I've got the whole line spread out on my desk as I type this ;)):


1. Gorgeous and elegant cards for all occasions


2. Baby cards and layouts. You could go elegant here, with florals, or cute, with woodland animals. (Or you could go crazy and combine the two!)


3. Zoo layouts (especially if you see and photograph peacocks)


4. I know it doesn't look like it from the image above, but if you think outside the box there are some gorgeous colors and patterns in this line that would work really well for Christmas cards and layouts (including the pale pink pattern shown in the background above).


5. Nature layouts


6. Outdoor play layouts


7. Father's Day cards and layouts (there are some really cool masculine patterns in this line)


8. Mother's Day cards and layouts (lots of great florals and butterflies)


9. Valentine's Day cards and layouts 


10. Fourth of July cards and layouts 


Let me know if you see any other possibilities in this line!


And...all you October Afternoon fans out there...be sure to check back on my blog this Sunday, the 29th, for layouts and projects using Woodland Park, as well as Cakewalk and 9 to 5!