...and just to give you a heads up, it's going to be a long post.
As this door from Making Memories suggests, there were a lot of products that I found to be "{note}worthy"! Since I already mentioned their name, MM brought in some great new travel papers and of course, the 5th Ave. line, much of which I already snagged when it came into Scrapbooks, Etc.
I loved this door! It is so charming and fun...can't you just see something like this in your studio, with your little pieces of art hanging across the window trim. Fabulous.
OK, what else was great?
LOVED the 4 new lines from Teresa Collins! My hat's off to Teresa, who launched her new product line in time for this show. Her papers are gorgeous and I love how she created tag and journaling block pages that can be cut down and bound into a mini book. In fact, I only did two make and takes the whole time I was there and both were in her booth...one was a funky clear acrylic ring with some of her paper adhered to the underside and the other was a mini book bound together with a Zutter...fabulous! Speaking of Zutter, they have a new hand held corner rounder that cuts through thick acrylic, book board and even wood composite. WOW!
Another wow came from Glitz Designs. The Roller Doodles Collection that they introduced is a GREAT product for the doodle-challenged...that would be me. They are rubber stamps on a roller that you just ink and roll...I've played with them since I got home...thanks to the generosity of Erin and Laura...LOVE those girls. They are so passionate about what they do...and that translates to excitement and inspiration!
Recycled scrapbook paper from Piggy Tales definitely captured my attention. Look for them in a future creatologie kit! Another cool new concept that they have introduced is the Pig Tail...little springy pop-up thingies...they are great and I can't wait to use them.
Tim Holtz introduced some great new doo-dads through Advantus. I particularly liked the new little ticket books...fun presentation...plus his new little trinket pins, swivel clasps and hitch fasteners...all great three dimensional and dangly elements that are so fun to attach to mini books and projects.
Also through Advantus, Heidi Swapp introduced some amazing products...three fabulous paper lines (notice the black and white!), mirrors in standard silver and pale pink in SHAPES...can you believe it?????...chandelier crystals in multi colors (I have been asking for these!), felt flowers and butterflies and of course, more ghost shapes, masks and other HS things we've all grown to love. Here are her three lines of paper captured in banners she created (OK, partial banners since I couldn't get them all in one photo). Aren't they fun????
Bazzill introduced some awesome new chip shapes (look for the keys in my project in SB, Etc.'s Le Jour d'Artiste on February 23rd, as well as February's creatologie kit). As an instructor, I love the idea of the precut "just the edge" cardstock...fancy cut edges to enhance your pages. They also introduced some great new paper flower colors, and awesome paper covered brads...LOVE them!
New from Tattered Angels are glimmer screens to be used in conjunction with their fabulous Glimmer Mist...they look like gorgeous stencils and are in to die for packaging. They also introduced amazing printed glimmer chips with vintage images printed on them, as well as beautiful new mist colors.
For those of you who took and are taking my 7 gypsies spinner class, there are now printed transparency packs that fit on the spinners...love them. Plus, the spinners now also come in a larger size to accommodate 4x6 cards. Yay!
Fontwerks introduced some new stamps called "Fram-a-ma-bobs" that I loved, plus their new Karen Russell collection is absolutely fabulous!!!! OK, I won't lie to you. I loved everything that Karen Russell did for this show. Her whole Narratives collection that Creative Imaginations showcased just made me drool...not good around paper...but...it's the truth.
When I go to a show like CHA, not only am I looking for product that inspires, but I'm drawn to how the product is presented. This booth, put together by graphic 45, totally captivated me. Her creative use of her papers, such as this vintage baby carriage, was amazing. The booth was little but there were many cool vignettes that totally inspired me!
If you've taken my classes or ordered my January kit, you know that I love Maya Road book structures. I was happy to see some new and exciting additions to their already fabulous line...look for them in future classes and online kits! They also added some gorgeous velvet and textured cord flowers that are just what I was looking for to use in spring classes. Yummy!
Tinkering Ink introduced a new peek-a-boo album that has great classroom potential...be on the lookout...
So, this is a summary of some of the highlights...I do have to say that this show inspired me more than the past number of shows...not because there were a ton of products that really wowed me but because there were so many usable products that I can incorporate into classes and online kits. I just wish that I could have bottled up that inspiration...you know how it is when you return home after being gone for a few days...life and catch up hits you and the inspiration gets buried under all of those to do lists. I'm hoping to tap into some of that inspiration this weekend and happily create.
Since this post is already so long, I'll post again to touch on the people I got to spend time with and on the demos Tena and I did for F+W.
I'd love to hear your feedback...did any of these products get you inspired, too?
Sunday night, we celebrated my mother-in-law's 83rd birthday at Macaroni Grill...Mom definitely enjoyed getting out as well as opening her gifts. She and Dad leave for home (Pennsylvania) on Saturday after being out here since Christmas...too bad they're leaving when the weather is getting so nice. 
