CHA...all my favorites!

This was the first CHA that I attended solo...friend Tena was heading to Paris later in the week so didn't attend the show.  I was a bit trepidatious about it at first but I have to say that I had a BLAST!  It was so much fun doing my demos, walking the show, hanging out in some of the booths.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I am all about people and relationships and it was great meeting so many new people and spending time with old friends.  The consequence of that, though, is that I ran out of time to see the entire show :)).  I think that I did find some awesome things to share as far as new product or new packaging.  I do need to forewarn you, though, this is going to be a loooong post!

Sunday night, I had dinner together with the Scrap Gala teachers who had taught together in November-Kah-Mei, Debbie, and Christy-we had a great time (as usual).  It's just so cool how well we get along and it felt like we picked up right where we had left off in November.  We did miss Tena, though, and had forgotten to bring FLAT TENA along with us.

One of the super great things that happened was when I first came into the F+W (my publisher) booth at the show.  The trade show coordinator told me that they had some mock up copies of Lifelines, my new book (co-authored with Tena), due to be released late March, early April.  OH MY WORD, I was SO thrilled.  This book just makes me want to SING...I love it.  There's a lot of color and movement...graphically, it was extremely well put together and the photography of the projects is just awesome.  That was a super-duper WOW and a great benefit to me while I was doing my demos.  I did give away copies of Artful Memories...they disappeared off the counter just minutes after I started each little make and take session.  The demos went really well...the Castaway product is a cool demo product in that the results are almost instantaneous, plus I had several very cute Heidi Swapp irons that everyone just loved.  My phrase was that it turned "iron" from a 4 letter word to a fun word!  Oh so true.  Thanks, Heidi and Emily, for providing the fun little tools!

OK, now down to the product. (Finally, you say :))  Here's what I was looking for when I went...I wanted paper with birds, black and white paper and accessories, felt flowers and ribbon and papers that looked like textiles.  I found all that...PLUS a ton more.

The best bird paper came from Scenic Route...this is just part of the entire line and...this is just one side of the paper.  I can't wait to incorporate this line into some class projects.  The birds are really fun, too...not some of the weird and scary ones that look like they should haunt a cemetery.  There are also cool accessories like chipboard alphabets that coordinate with this line.  Yum!

This next line of papers just totally made my show.  Just about a week ago, I had posted about using fabrics out of my cherished Amy Butler collection.  Believe it or not, K&Co. developed a line of papers and accessories that she designed.  I am in heaven!!!

This is one of the "frothed" papers, which is kind of a combination of embossed and flocked...absolutely gorgeous!  K&Co. also has paper packs with die cut flowers, boxes and ornaments that you punch out and assemble...totally 3-D.  They are so pretty and I can't wait to use them.

I found an awesome line of black and white papers in the rouge de garance booth.  They are beautiful (very French looking) and quite versatile in that some of the patterning is quite muted.  It was wonderful to see friend Celine again and have her show me all of the new product.  They also produced large wall rub-ons that were fantastic.  I loved the one that looked like a Parisian street lamp.  They also introduced a new concept of patterned paper-two separate papers, when placed together, create a new pattern for a two page spread.  Totally ingenious!

There were quite a few companies that also produced black and white or black and ivory papers...be prepared to see lots of that combo in the stores.  YAY!

To coordinate with the b/w papers, I loved some of the new Heidi Swapp products-extra large photo corners, wonderful new masks in polka dots, birds (another yay), and flowers, plus these really large stickers with clear backgrounds...these are truly amazing...just love them.  Heidi also introduced a set of HS large playing cards...great to make books or to alter...very fun...very Heidi!

Of course, I can't go without mentioning 7 gypsies, who continue to make some of my favorite products.   These are some of their new papers and as always, they really know how to create an awesome display.  It was great to see my friends Debbie Crouse (she is a display genius) and  Donna Smylie...they are such a fabulous creative team.

The gypsies also came out with some great colored gaffers tape to coordinate with their papers, as well as some new designs for their black and brown tapes.  Another very fun product.

I enjoyed spending time with Carolyn Peeler, one of the creative minds behind Melissa Frances.  Carolyn showed me their new papers, which are vintagey and beautiful, coordinating ribbons and the most awesome spiral bound shaped books.  Ahhhh, I see lots of possibilities.  I also loved the hinge boxes that were released.  They are shabby white and very cottagey looking...not only good for storing scrappin' stuff but also great for jewelry!  Am looking forward to getting a couple of them.

I was walking by the Basic Grey booth and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this new line of papers.  It's called "Stella Ruby" and it is definitely one of those lines that made with sigh...with pleasure, of course!  They have several new lines that are coming out that have the same feel...a little more muted than their previous lines...a little more vintagey, which, by the way, seemed to characterize a lot of the new papers.  Think wallpaper from the 60's and 70's, think beautiful florals, think crisp black and white flourishes and patterns...those were definitely in abundance.

I think that the most unique packaging prize needs to go to Prima for these little numbers.  Talk about an oh-la-la moment!  Can you just see these as a wedding shower gift for someone who scraps?  I got the biggest kick out of them and decided to share here in the event that some retailers opted against bringing them into their stores.  Definitely a unique way to sell their flowers!

There were lots of clear acrylic stamp sets released at this show...my favorites were by Fontwerks and Technique Tuesday.  I have to share a little about each of their booths.  Kah-Mei, owner of Fontwerks, deserves the Resilience of the Year award.  Her entire booth was held up in customs and didn't make it to the show in time.  Instead of falling apart, Kah-Mei went over to IKEA, bought furniture, loaded it onto the carts and into her vehicle alone and then put the booth together in time for the show.  YOU ROCK, GIRLFRIEND!!!!!  Technique Tuesday's booth was probably the most inspirational when it came to scrapbook layouts.  There were some amazing pieces of art...plus, there were so many on display.  Awesome.

Strano Designs came out with a new product called "ribbon stiff".  It's brushed onto the back of a piece of ribbon and then heated to dry it.  The ribbon can then be used with hand held punches or a home die cut system.  That was a fun demo to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Stranos...such a nice couple!

New from Bazzill was paper cut into the shape of a large tag.  I can see all sorts of possibilities for that shape...

Imagination Project had some new great calendar papers and ledger papers, as well as cool patterned papers.

Mustard Moon  had a fabulous crossword puzzle paper to coordinate with their vintage line as well as some new large alpha stickers.  Wonderful!

DCWV had a line of home decor products-metal framed mirrors, metal frames for photos, and metal framed magnet boards...all large and beautiful.  I loved the look-definitely cottagey in black, cream, and barn red.  I'm trying to figure out how to create more wall space for some of these babies!

And last, but definitely not least, Making Memories introduced a new line of papers, little albums and accessories called Funky Vintage.  They reminded me of some of the clothing I owned while I was in Junior High and High School...hmmmm, wonder if that now makes me vintage?

I'm going to stop here...oh, no I'm not.  I forgot to mention the new book that's coming out from seesters Linda Woods and Karen DiNino (authors of Visual Chronicles) called Journal Revolution.  It's sure to be a huge seller.  It was fun to spend time with Linda and to sell her on the benefits of a room service breakfast!  There's no living with her now, for sure!  Watch out, Karen, Linda is now QUEEN.

Which reminds me...Queen & Co. came out with fabulous felt ribbon...wonderful because you can cut it apart.

So there you have it...I got the birds, felt, textile patterned papers and tons of black and white...plus a mock up of my new book.  It was a fabulous show!   

Comments

[kelly]

So sad that I didn't get to see more of you... : )
Must make another trip to AZ soon so we can lunch and catch up! : )
-kelly

[Karen]

CHA sounds awesome. I'm glad you had so much fun and delighted that you reunited with the other scrapgala teachers. Looking forward to Scrap Galla 2007. I'll be watching for your new book!

[Noella]

OOOHHHH!!!Goodness..I don't think I could have even contained myself!!! You would have had to pretend you did not know me! he he!! I would have screeched with glee..

[Nancy]

Thanks for sharing so much good information on new products!!!
Exciting to know what to look for.

[Jolene George]

So many fun things to see. I can't wait for these products to be released. I'm so glad you had fun...even without Tena. :o) http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/

[sharyn (torm)]

oh man....colored gaffer tape! Thanks for sharing that...I had no clue! I need it! LOL
Love your whole report!!!!

[Scrap Shack Mama (Debbie)]

Hey Carol - Looks like the 4 of you had a good time. Great picture. Wish all of us Git Er Dun's could have been there. Can't wait for you all to come back to SCRAPGALA in November. And by the looks of the great products out there - there should be some more awesome classes from all of you!We will have to make you FLAT GIT ER DUN's to take with you... but we did think of each of you this week - knowing how much fun you would have. See you in November.

[Traci]

After your posting about Amy Butler fabrics, I sent the link to my daughter who is co-oping in Int. Design here in Ohio. She found several stores that carried Amy's fabrics and is in the process of buying some to redo a room. She will just love these papers that came out...make additional projects for the room!!!

[Laurie]

Hi Carol!

Just want to say that I have your book "Artful Memories" and love it - just found your blog and am enjoying your CHA update! Thanks for sharing!

[Jeanette]

It all looks good to me. I can't wait to see it all in person. Especially the new Melissa Francis storage boxes!

[Vee]

love your recap!!
sr and bg papers look so awesome
can't wait to get my hands on them :)