Thank You For Waiting (New October Afternoon)

I know, I know, I should have posted a while ago. I came back from CHA to an incredibly busy time at work, a simultaneous visit from my parents and my in-laws, Eli's 8th birthday (hence the simultaneous visit), Eli's "Mommy-and-Daddy-took-on-more-than-they-could-handle" Hogwarts party (complete with talking Sorting Hat, Potions Class, Transfiguration Class, Divinations Class, Bertie Bott's Bean Tasting Contest, and Graduation Ceremony), Sadie and I both got pinkeye (I'm still recovering), and Seth wrecked his shoulder skiing. Yeah, don't you want to be me now? :P

So...now that I have a rare moment of breathing room, let me introduce you to the loveliness that is October Afternoon Fly a Kite and Thrift Shop:

This first one is all Fly a Kite. I used the B side of the Lemonade paper for the background and scattered it with flowers handcut from Front Porch paper. I bent up the little petals on the flowers to add a little bit of texture. The title element comes from the Fireflies paper, and the last bit is scallop-punched strips from the Strawberry Jam paper. I added an American Crafts glitter button tied with some embroidery floss.




This second one is also all Fly a Kite. I used almost all of the papers here. My favorite bit is that I was able to (carefully!) punch the sailboat from the Fireflies paper to use as one of the hearts.


This third one mixes Thrift Shop, Fly a Kite, Very Merry, and Farm Fresh. The map paper is Thrift Shop Great Find, the text strip is cut from Thrift Shop One-of-a-Kind paper, the tiny handcut heart comes from a leftover bit of Fly a Kite Ice Cream paper, and the grid paper used for journaling is Fly a Kite Garden paper. The label stickers at the top right come from the Farm Fresh and Very Merry Label Stickers sheet (again, Kim has worked her October Afternoon genius of keeping colors consistent across lines so that everything coordinates). I added a bit of Martha Stewart baker's twine, which echoes the red and white smokestack visible at the right in the photo of the Chrysler building.

I still haven't sorted through and edited my (mostly crappy quality) CHA photos, but I did two layouts and two cards for the October Afternoon booth with the new lines. You can see both of my layouts on Wendy Smedley's blog (the top two layouts in her post). Apparently I am part of a new trend. Who knew?

I will try to get back here later this week to post CHA photos and thoughts as well as share more of the craziness that was Eli's party.

New Blog Banner

I have been wanting to do something fun with my banner forever and finally decided to just get to it and figure it out (see above). Sassafrass Lass Monstrosity patterned paper, October Afternoon Mini Market alphas, and my beloved kraft cardstock. Posting it here for posterity in the event that I make something cuter and replace this sucker sometime down the line:

New Addictions + An Old & Ongoing Addiction

Baker's twine and American Crafts glitter buttons + October Afternoon (patterned paper, rub-ons, and die cuts):


These cards were two of the seven things (five cards and two layouts) I made in a creating frenzy this weekend. We won't talk about how long it took me to clean up my desk afterwards. :P

The Closest I Get To Dog Ownership

Is this:


Arf. Ruff. Woof. Card Set: Basic Grey distressed solid paper and dog paper, American Crafts Thickers

A Very Merry and Krafty Christmas

Given that we don't celebrate Christmas at my house (well, save for Santa and lots of baking), I sure make a lot of Christmas layouts! I just can't resist those festive red and green papers and accessories! Here are three layouts I made with kraft cardstock backgrounds and October Afternoon's Very Merry line:


Sugar Rush: October Afternoon Very Merry Word Stickers, Label Stickers, Shape Stickers, and Alpha Stickers; American Crafts ribbon and Delight Thickers; Doodlebug jewels.


3rd Annual Cookiefest: October Afternoon Very Merry Word Stickers, Label Stickers, Shape Stickers, and Alpha Stickers; October Afternoon Mini Market Alpha Stickers; October Afternoon Tab Book; Making Memories Slice Fa La La Cartridge (reindeer shape); Doodlebug jewel.


Peppermint: October Afternoon Very Merry Shape Sticker, Flashcard Book, and Fill the Stockings Patterned Paper; October Afternoon Mini Market Alpha Stickers; Bon Appetit Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookie Recipe (trust me, file this one away for next Christmas...or for tomorrow...you won't be sorry!).

Second Annual Top Ten

As I did last December 31st, I am posting my ten favorite layouts from this year, in no particular order. Without further ado:












Happy New Year to all!

She Read the Title

Definitely the best part of this layout was the fact that Sadie looked at it and read the title. Proud mama here. :)


October Afternoon Report Card patterned paper, flashcard, and stickers (smiley face, star, and ledger numbers); October Afternoon Road Map letter stickers.