Posted by juliehrr in : Uncategorized :
Before I get goin’ again today, I just wanted to let you know that we’ve tried to include links to everybody we’ve talked about here on the blog, right over there on the side bar menu to the right, under “New Friends”. Be sure to visit their links for more information!
Some of the manufacturers have indeed updated their websites to include products that debuted at CHA 2007; but, in some cases, there are those that prefer to wait to showcase them on their website, because the products won’t be available for shipping out to retailers until May! That’s understandable as we’re only in the month of February right now . . . (wink!)
There are also smaller manufacturers who have very limited personnel, and all their energy was channeled into preparing for this show, and they may still be recovering (to say exhibiting at CHA is a TON of work is an understatement).
OK, on with the dish:
Our very own SCSer EllenH was demonstrating and doing a make & take at the Create-A-Cut Booth! This guillotine style cutter uses a variety of decorative blades and, unlike using decorative scissors, can cut in a perfectly straight line in one fell swoop.
Ellen created numerous samples for their booth, and those shown above examplify some of the great effects that can be achieved.
Alcohol based Copic Markers are revered as the Cadillac of coloring instruments by professional illustrators and artists. These amazing markers come in a phenomenal array of colors, the tips are designed to last for years and years of use, and they can be refilled!
While I’ve never used them personally, Linda Carnell, owner of A Muse Art Stamps, absolutely swears by them for their ability to color without leaving any lines whatsoever, noting that she’s also never had any bleeding issues, when using them with her favorite ink pads, such as Versafine.
I had to stop and gawk over them for a few minutes, astounded at the huge selection of colors.
This fashionable crafter’s tote by Creative Options had me positively riveted–it comes in several gorgeous colors of micro suede fabric including my favorite: CELERY!!! I believe they mentioned they should be ready for shipping out to retail stores in May.
Creative Options had a great array of craft/scrapbook totes and storage systems, as you can see. When Daven mentioned it was my birthday, these kind folks floored me by gifting me with this remarkable celery and teal craft cart!!! It’s made of a durable, lightweight yet flexible plastic. The upper compartment has a nice area for putting all kinds of tools, like your heat gun and punches, and the mid-section has these nifty shallow drawers just perfect for stamps and ink pads. The bottom compartment can hold 12 x 12″ paper, and is roomy enough for a personal die cutting machine, like the Cuttlebug or possibly the Big Shot. There’s even a cup-holder, if you close the lid on the very top of the cart, and, yes, it has wheels.
While I didn’t even make it to Prima, these silk flowers by Petaloo caught my eye and I had to stop and check ‘em out. I loved the large daisies, and the polka dot ones are really fun! I also noticed they had a lot of fun blank items for customizing and decorating–boxes, accordian albums, and such.
Their booth was situated on a carpet of silk petals–like walking on a blanket of roses!
One of the things I particularly enjoyed seeing at CHA this year, was art stamping and paper crafting being incorporated even more so in home decor. In addition to shadow box frames for showcasing scrapbook pages, were stamped fabric pillows, and wall art:
The above piece was on display in a special gallery that showcased crafts used in home decor. Gorgeous papers, even hand-stamped papers, appeared to have been mounted onto thick press-board tiles, strategically positioned inside a circular tray at varying heights in a collage fashion, and then coated with Envirotex Lite. This clear epoxy coating closely resembles a high gloss tile finish, and the effect is unbelievable! I had a hard time taking my eyes off this piece. WOW!
These (clear) stamps by Michelle Ward for Stampington are full of wonderful detail, and I had to stand and ogle them for a few minutes. Stampington produces some of the most stunning publications in the industry including Somerset Studio (Mixed Media Art), Legacy (Scrapbooking), Belle Armoire (Wearable Art), Art Doll Quarterly, and more. Many stampers are familiar with Take Ten (Cards designed to take 10 minutes max to make) and the Stamper’s Sampler, which both focus predominantly on stamped cards. In addition to their publications, they also have their own line of stamps, and a spectacular online shop.
I actually did a double take at their booth because the one and only time my work has ever made it on the cover of a magazine, they had that particular issue on display in a ginormous poster format:
“Look, Mom!!! My card made the cover of Take Ten!” (Mine’s the one on the lower left of Take Ten, featuring the boxer shorts clipped to a clothesline)
I was a little excited about this, and, with a slap-happy grin on my face, grabbed my suitcase by the handle and moved on. Eventually, as I was snappin’ pics, I turned to pull my cell phone out of my purse to check the time . . . it was getting late, and I was sure the show would be closing down for the night very shortly.
To my horror (yes, HORROR!!!) and disbelief, I discovered the suitcase I had been hauling around was not my own.
I had unwittingly snagged SOMEONE ELSE’S suitcase at some point and mine was nowhere to be found.
. . . You know that sick feeling you get when something like this happens? The one where you seriously believe you are gonna toss your cookies???!!!
Yeah. (insert total state of panic)
I began to run frantically down the aisles, shrieking out to Daven and Sara about what I had done, and trying to re-trace my steps. Daven and Sara split up, doing the same–’cept they weren’t shrieking. I think Daven might even have been laughing at me!
He finally recalled that he thought he had seen it last at Stampington’s booth, so I rushed back there, to find they had set my suitcase and purse behind their counter area for safe-keeping, and they had the cell # of the lady whose suitcase I had walked away with.
Positively mortified, I stood there turning several shades of crimson, stuttering my apologies . . .
Yeah.
A pitcher full of appletinis sounded like a rather good idea at that point . . .
16 Responses to “Clever Cutting, Home Decor, Pretty Petals & More . . .”
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Ally on 03 Feb 2007 at 10:10 am #
Julie, poor you, but that story was hilarious. That’s up there with me getting my skirt caught in my panties when I was working at the Harrods Christmas sale!
And walking through the store like that until some sweet old lady let me know! Now that’s mortification! 
Debbie (grammatroll) on 03 Feb 2007 at 10:34 am #
Oh, Julie! I’ve been really enjoying all the things you’ve been sharing but this is the best!! I’m still wiping tears out of my eyes over this story. I thought things like that only happened to me. Thanks for sharing that story and I’m sure you kept Davin truly entertained.
Cyndi-Scrappingoodtime on 03 Feb 2007 at 10:58 am #
Jules you are a hoot wish I could have been there to see you when you realized you were dragging around someone else’s suitcase, and doesn’t our wonderful Ellen look FABULOUS!!
Sara on 03 Feb 2007 at 11:19 am #
HAHAHAHAHAHA
*catching breath*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Sorry Julie I am not laughing at you (much), but that is funny and something I probably would have done too.
Now the question is, how many from SCS can you fit into that tote from Creative Options so we can all get the experience of CHA next time you go?
janice on 03 Feb 2007 at 4:45 pm #
julie,
you make me feel like i am there, and your creative, fun style of writing has me sitting here grinning at the computer and then laughing out loud. i pictured(and felt) your panic and fear at having the wrong suitcase. i would have FREAKED! glad it all worked out!
thanks so much for reporting daily, i loved every moment of it. someday i would like to meet you. anyone that makes me laugh is ok in my book!
janice
SDiegoGal on 03 Feb 2007 at 6:19 pm #
Julie - I am loving your posts and pictures! Your stories are SO wonderful. CHA seems to have been such a great experience for you! There are so many pictures that you have posted in which I say to myself, “I didn’t see that! How did I miss that???” Your blog is wonderful. After having met you, I can totally read this like you were talking right to me. It is so you. Cute, wonderful, informative & fun!
Michelle (MilwaukeeMommy) on 03 Feb 2007 at 7:15 pm #
Oh, Julie —-you crack me up!!!! I’m not sure if I check your blog each day to check out your fabuloso artwork, or to read about your hilarious adventures!!!!! LOL!!! I’m not even feeling that great right now –downright crappy, in fact — so I’m glad I read this —I think it was my first & only laugh of the day!!!!!
On a side note, those Copic markers are *heaven*!!! The artist that creates most of the cards for Whipper Snapper uses them, & I was lucky enough to take one of her classes & try them for myself. They are the BEST!!!! I’m saving my pennies just to buy *ONE*!!! LOL!!!!
twinks on 03 Feb 2007 at 8:10 pm #
I should have come here first. I went to your blog instead and woneered why the suitcase fiasco was mentioned. I thought you were talking about holding CD’s for a few minutes. LOL
You just have us all feeling so good and a bit jealous that we couldn’t be there just tagging along with ya. not that anyone of us would have noticed the ‘exchange” of the suitcases. Still, everything works out in the end, huh?
Can’t wait to go to the on-line mag as well. Such treats to the eye and heart.
Love ya!
Faith on 03 Feb 2007 at 10:51 pm #
Julie, Julie Julie….LOL…LOL…LOL… it’s a good thing Sara and Daven got you!!! They would of had a dull time at CHA hahahahahaha….
and it would of been dull reading…hahahhahahahaha…
Love you all!!!
Faith
Keri (sereikastamper) on 04 Feb 2007 at 10:00 am #
Oh Julie I am DYING LAUGHING OVER HERE!!!! LOL that is just about the funniest thing I have read in a LOOOONG TIME!!! LOL So glad they didn’t arrest you! *wink* now that would have been a funny twist to the story, huh? LOL
Peggy on 04 Feb 2007 at 12:13 pm #
Oh Julie! You should write a book - just about your adventures at CHA! I know it would sell - I’d buy one for sure! So glad you got to go, it would certainly be boring for Daven & Sara if you hadn’t been there!!!! I’m still chuckling…. you have made my day!
JP on 04 Feb 2007 at 9:23 pm #
I hope you read this soon, I saw that little green suede bag on the first day I was at CHA and thought of you immediately!! I even said to my mom, “Julie would love this.” And…great minds think alike…I have been coveting those Michelle Ward stamps for a few weeks…I have decided I just need to break down and buy them:)
I hope the end of your trip was great! Thanks for having us to your birthday party!!
HUGS!
Jen
Sam on 05 Feb 2007 at 10:47 am #
Oh no! That is awful that you accidently took someone elses’ suitcase. I would have been in a state of panic as well. I am soooooo glad you found it. Thanks so much for the pictures of everything. I know I didn’t get to see everything so it is fun to see it through your eyes.
RynMattsMom on 05 Feb 2007 at 11:39 am #
Julie you make the CHA blog SO enjoyable- THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to share you experiences with us. Reading your blog entries is like being at a party with your best friend & dishing about all of the stuff that happened all the way home. YOU ROCK!!! Thanks!
Linda
twinks on 14 Feb 2008 at 3:48 am #
HI Julie,
I love your shots and storie. Boy, it just wouldn’t be a CHA experience for you and us without a suitcase episode.
I see that there’s another post by a twinks - I hope that’s another glitch with SCS - tho it does sound like something I would have written. Much mahalos to all of you for making the time to treat us all to these delights.
twinks on 14 Feb 2008 at 3:53 am #
wait a minute; that WAS me and this was last year’s CHA adventure. heesh! I thought it strange that Ellen was still working with Create -a-Cut. …heading off to be now