It's a Banner Blogiversary, Moxie Fab World!

OK you guys. I swear I was tearing up all day yesterday. A great big fat moxie fab thank you for the heart-warming comments that you left me! My heart is full and warm and for the first time in a long time, I'm speechless. ;)

But we can't let that stop us from moving on to our topic du jour. Last week I asked you what you would like to know about the Moxie Fab World—you know, the behind-the-scenes 411 that has been burning a hole in your proverbial pocket. The overwhelming favorite was to find out more about the banners that we change out here in the Moxie Fab World on a pert near monthly basis.

Well, let me tell you--this is one of my favorite parts about the Moxie Fab World. We are so lucky here at Paper Crafts to have a moxie fab art director who has created all but two of the banners in the past year. Matt Anderson is not only amazingly talented, but he is a great designer who is also a ton of fun to collaborate with.

Partners in Crime: Matt & Cath

Here’s the drill. Sometime around mid-month, Matt and I will sit in his office and talk about concepts for the next month’s banner. I will usually have 2-3 ideas, one that I particularly favor, and then we’ll kind of negotiate back and forth. For example, Matt’s job is very demanding and we always need to take into consideration how much time he has to work something up. The less time he has, the less elaborate the design can be—-however, I must say that while we plan for this, he never fails to add much more detail to the banners than I ever expect.

Once we settle on an idea or theme, which usually means what the focal point on the right-hand side is going to be, Matt and I agree on the style of the image and the color scheme that we will use. He’ll draw some sketches, look up some images online to make sure we’re on the same page, we’ll narrow it down to the right “feel” we’re going for, and then he’ll start spinning his own particular brand of magic.

Take the current banner. In thinking about November and what this month means, I wanted to do something associated with Thanksgiving dinner. My main idea was to show a patchwork Tom turkey with all his feathers being a different pattern. I expressed this to Matt, but when we started discussing it, the turkey idea morphed into a pie which morphed into a stove with a pie on it. Considering the trendy nature of retro kitchens/stoves, I knew that I wanted the stove to be either pink or some shade of avocado green. Then, before we knew it we were looking up kitschy old wallpaper patterns which inspired us to make the stove this funky pistachio green.

Matt took it from there and ran! He took hours and hours to build the stove and to get it at the right angle. He knew that it would be most effective if we were looking down at it rather than straight on. So he worked really hard to get that part just right. Then he added the counter. There used to be a lot more to the counter, but we had move it over so that the logo, Moxie Fab World with its signature target and earth in the two respective “o”s, could fit. He also had to move the oven down quite a bit for the same reason, so much of what he had created was lost. We adjusted some colors in the logo, and then the next thing I knew, Matt had added the electrical outlet and the wood wainscoting with the chair rail, and the banner was complete. When I saw it, I gave one of my trademark delightful gasps and I couldn’t WAIT to add it on November 2.

And the piece of pie that’s missing? That’s all Matt. ;)

There is a similar story for each of the banners you’ve enjoyed here in the Moxie Fab World. The only two that Matt didn’t create were the inaugural and April banners. Those were done by our former art director, Stace Hasegawa.

The hardest part about the banners? Having to take down the last to make room for the next--which is why it is such a treat to see them all together today in celebration of our blogiversary! Check it:

Inaugural Banner, November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

February 2009

March 2009

April 2009

May 2009

June 2009

July/August 2009

September 2009

October 2009

Moxie fab, right? We’d love to hear what you think about these banners! I've got a brand new poll for you in the upper right-hand sidebar and you get three votes for your favorites! In addition, if you leave a comment letting us know why you like the banners you chose so much by midnight MST on Sunday, November 15, I’ll draw a random winner to receive something utterly yummy!

Talk about a banner blogiversary!

~Cath

PS Get 2 subscriptions for the price of 1! This holiday, we invite you to share the inspiration of paper crafting with a friend or relative--at a GREAT DEAL! Subscribe or renew your subscription to Paper Crafts at our special low rate and give a one year gift subscription to a friend absolutely FREE! That's 2 subscriptions for the price of 1! Woot! Now friends, this special holiday offer won't last long...so click on over today! Offer valid in the U.S. only.

ETA: I didn't include the current banner on the vote-for list because it begins the next year in the Moxie Fab World. You'll have a chance to vote on that one in 2010!