CHA-New Ideas

I was at CHA in Chicago 10-ish days ago and saw a lot of the same old thing….different package but I also saw some new, fun things.  If you are looking for the new releases from the major companies…I decided it wasn't worth my effort to post ALL of the papers and embellishments that are being released over the next 6 months because they are easy to see on each companies website.  Instead I will be showing some of the products I thought were really fun or interesting.  

Fancy Pants has some innovative products including these cool frames.

 They come in the patterns as shown but it would be so easy to change the color or pattern with patterned paper and Mod Podge.

Their version of the popular Smash Book is the Brag Book.  I loved the layout of the book with it's pockets and pages. 

They make fun calendar pages what fit right in was well as other fun journaling papers. 

   They also make pattern papers in the correct size to fit the Brag Book.  These 4x6 papers are in addition to the traditional 12x12 and 6x6 inch papers.   

You can see more about their products at their website.  Honestly, I had never been to the website before today but I have to say it is very well done.  Their extensive gallery  is a terrific resource for scrapbooking ideas as well as home decor and party items.  I'm impressed that there is a section with free downloadable PNG files.  The Product section is well laid out- by collection-and very easy to navigate to see all the products in each collection.

I think I like this company…maybe it is because they have some fun products or maybe it is because I tripped over the carpet walking through their booth and then had to deal with the awkward moment when  I realized that 1) someone saw me and 2) she worked for Fancy Pants so 3) I was going to have to stop and talk.  We actually laughed about it and I ended up letting her show me all the fun things I posted about here…. even though I never intended to even stop at the booth.  The morale of the story is….good things come to those who trip.

Laters Baby….

My First Memory File Project May Have Turned Me Into a Scrapbooker

Source: Heidi Swapp.com

Source: Heidi Swapp.com

 If you have been around long enough, you realize that I do not scrapbook.  I love making mini albums but the pictures never seem to get into the books.  Recently I decided to buckle down and get a project done using the beautiful Heidi Swapp's new Memory File concept.  I was lucky enough to meet Heidi at CHA and spend a few minutes speaking to her.  She is so enthusiastic and her aesthetic is gorgeous.  The colors are something that really excite me about her work as well as the whimsy and the texture….and she is genuinely a very nice person.   September 1st she is releasing her new glitter sprays called Color Shine.  The color palate is stunning and full of glitter.  I snagged a bottle of gold and used it on the project that I made using pictures of my daughter.

I think I might be a scrapbooker.

This post was linked to the following Linky Parties:

Twigg Studios

SomeDay Craft

The Trendy Treehouse

Primp Junktion

Free Pretty Things For You

Gingersnap Crafts

Creations By Kara

Rae Gun Ramblings

The Gilded Hare

Faded Charm

Tatertots And Jello

Tea Rose Home

Just Us Four Blog

Etcetorize

Lay Love Linky at Purple Mailbox

Laters Baby!

CHA and Meeting New Friends

Being a lifelong lover of all things craft I have always wanted to go to the Craft and Hobby Association trade show AKA CHA.  But alas one cannot use show up at CHA…one needs credentials….as a retailer, designer or press.  Thankfully my prayers have been answered….my dreams have been fulfilled.  I was able to go to the Chicago show as "press" as a contributor to Things Crafty and OH what fun I had!

I will begin by saying that the concept of "craft and hobby" is a little broad considering it is pretty much "scrapbooking and stamping" show but I am not complaining as I ADORE all things paper.  I no longer have any local scrapbook (or stamping) stores and we all know Michael's, Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's carry limited products so this was my first opportunity in years to actually see and touch the bulk of the new products being released over the next 6 months.

I am sure it will surprise no one to know that I was mainly interested in Tim Holtz, Ranger, Heidi Swapp, and Jenny Bowlin.  I drove to Chicago with a friend, Mandy Koeppen.  Mandy designs for Cocoa Daisy and is an avid scrapbooker.  I enjoyed walking the floor with her and seeing the booths she was interested in- most I would have barely glanced at-and finding all sorts of fun new designs and embellishments.  She introduced me to Crate Paper, Elle's Studio, Simple Stories, and Lawn Fawn.  She reintroduced me to Maya Road, a company I used to love but let fall off my radar.

I assumed the entire floor would be mobbed..it wasn't'...I was shocked at how easy it was to watch demos, do "make and takes" and speak to the representatives…attendance was low.  It is sad.  Partly, it is another fall out of the economy…. but I think the other problem can be summed as "lack of innovation".  Most of the companies continue to rely on 12x12 papers and a handful of embellishments- this years embellishments are wooden buttons, washi tape, ribbons, small stamps, letter stickers and 3D stickers…that's it…at booth after booth.  The exception to the been-there/done design concept is Tim Holtz and Heidi Swapp.  Yes, I LOVE everything Tim does, but my devotion to the designer doesn't make my next statement any less valid…Tim Holtz continues to stand alone and push the envelope; he shows up with NEW product CONCEPTS, products that haven't E.V.E.R. been seen before.  

Deb, Paula and me!

Regardless of how fun it was seeing the new products, it was amazing to meet so many talented people who have as much passion as I have for creativity.  I have never in the presence of so many creative individuals and it was a little over whelming and whole lot of wonderful.  Some of the people at CHA are the rock stars of my crafty world and it was fun to chat with them about their ideas and their products.  But the #1 most amazing part of the experience was turning two blog friends into real friends when I finally meet Paula and Deb.  They are the amazing designers on One Lucky Day- and the newest members of Team Tim Holtz.  Paula and I have been emailing and become "blog friends" over the last year but after meeting we are true friends.  Deb was there was well and the 3 of us really hit it off.  For the first time in a long time I have 2 friends who love creating as much as I do and that feels terrific.

Laters Baby….

Compendium Challenge Week 13: Spritz and Flick

Compendium Week 13 is here and it is an easy one….Spritz and Flick Distress…this little technique has become one of my favorite background techniques- it is easy and it always looks terrific.

The Compendium of Curiosity Vol 2. Challenge is being held by Linda of Studio L3.  All techniques come from the Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2 by Tim Holtz.  This week's challenge is being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp.  They are offering a $25 gift certificate to a randomly drawn participant.

As usual, I won't be giving directions for this technique on my blog however, this is one of Tim's favorite and I am sure it is on his blog somewhere…but you should still buy this terrific book.  You won't regret it!

This is what the technique looks like as a background.  

Both of these tags are pretty basic -aka unadorned- for me but I love the way they let the background shine. 

Laters Baby….

Wicked: A Configuration

It is time again for my latest Compendium project.  This project is a a little involved so it extended into 2 weeks.

If you haven't been following along here is the deal:  The project is from Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosity Vol. 2.  This book is widely available but if you want an autographed copy you can get it here.   The Compendium Vol 2 Challenge is hosted by Linda of Studio L3.  In respect to Tim's intellectual property we are not giving instructions for the projects on our blogs; some can be found on Tim's blog.  Linda has rounded up sponsors for most of the weekly challenges….this week it is Tim and Mario who supplied a nice prize package for one randomly chosen participant.

The challenge for weeks 11 and 12 was to make a Configuration box as per Tim's instructions on page 33 and 34.  We only had to add paper and Tissue Tape in order to comply with this weeks rules but we could do as much or as little beyond that.

I have wanted to make a Wicked box for a while now.  This is NOT complete…but everything I added was something I already owned.  Rather than randomly add odd items I may or may not have liked, I decided to stop here and wait for the perfect objects to show up.

The Wings are actually real wings.  My son found them last year and I have kept them for just his type of project.  I had two large and two small wings but one of the large wing broke so I used one of each size.  The wooden cube is a vintage game piece with "What" written on it.  The bottle holds green glass glitter.  The purple crystal is a Swarovski Chatons and I can't stop staring at it.  A little sparkle is better than any drug!

The upper right box is incomplete but right now holds a vintage "pearl" earring and a lace butterfly I colored with Glimmer Glam.

This is the lower left box.  The fractured doll was colored with the same Glimmer Glam and the dice are vintage. 

The green square crystals are vintage- part of my stash from Tinsel Trading.

Another gorgeous Swarovski Crystal Chaton, a vintage broach "Oz", more Green Glass Glitter and a Idea-ology lightbulb fill this lower middle box.  

The final box is very empty with only a vintage crystal pin. 

 

The Pulley Wheels are all Tim…Idea-ology.

The back….

The top….

When I find other fun things to add….I will be sure to post it. 

I've made two previous Configuration boxes:

 This was a "Birthday" configuration for a swapp.

And this one was a birthday gift for my mother-in-law.  It is an homage to the beach were we all spent a lot of time, Ocean Isle Beach NC. 

This project has been linked to the following Linky Parties:

Just Us Four

Studio L3

Laters Baby….

Tim Holtz July Tag of the Month

Although it is a few days too late, I just completed my tag for Tim's 12 Tags of 2012.

 I added some glitter….never enough glitter I always say.

 You can go to Tim's blog to see a video showing how to do this technique….I will then tell you that I am at my cottage and although I packed A LOT of my supplies- including the canned air- I didn't have the straw for it…hmmmmm what to do?  I grabbed a drinking straw, cut it off and Voilá….Fireworks.

That said, the metallic alcohol ink wouldn't spread into the correct "firework" shape with the drinking straw.  Thankfully I had packed the Magenta stamp that looks sort of firework-ish and my silver metallic pigment ink.

Laters Baby….