Let me tell you, this is my second CHA, and I can say, it is SO much fun!
New product, make and takes, FUN people... the energy and being immersed in scrapbooking supplies-heaven!
Of course, I was there with Memories Complete, who gave myself (and in turn Candi) a wonderful opppurtunity when they hired rookie designers-that had fire and enthusiasm!! We were thrilled to get to touch and feel real product that we designed! (We saw it for the first time last Friday night!) Of course I nit-pick it but overall, it is more than I had expected! I wasn't even sure we would make deadline and have it at CHA, so that in itself is rewarding!
Thank you Mike and Mary!
We hope the orders will flood in, and that future contacts will reap big rewards (and new lines!!) :)
I hope Tanner has a safe and wonderful delivery! Keep us updated!
AND at the core-Scrapaganza!
I was blessed to be at CHA presenting my first design lines, but I wasn't a "designer" until I worked for Scrapaganza! I have taken my gumption to a new level, and I am enjoying the ride!
Thank you Kelly and Beth for the ammunition, inspiration and INCREDIBLE support!!
OK-enough mush. :)
WAIT, thank you to all the CUSTOMERS at Scrapaganza that have showed their support and cheered me on!! It is SO appreciated! I always say it is like "Cheers" at the store, but it means so much to me that you take an interest!
Thank you all my scrappy friends!!
Your comments on my blog and emails are so appreciated!
OK-BACK TO CHA! :)
I think it would be fun and prudent to list my favorites.
I have HUGE Slide shows, so that I don't have a mile long blog entry!
My show favorites:
Paper: This is easy, kinda. I have two...
October Afternoon
"Detour"
(click for a closer look!)
and
Dream Street
"Birdie Bits"
I cannot WAIT to get my hand on these! Which, if I can announce, have both been ordered by Scrapaganza! YAY!
October Afternoon will ship in April, Dream Street is due this next month.
EMBELLISHMENT:
Of COURSE all we designed for Memories Complete!!
And I REALLY like our alphabets sheets! They are 12x12 and have TONS of letters! They come in 3 fonts, two colors each AND they have fun whimsy shipping labels top and bottom! Guess what? I get to send these (by request) to Ali Edwards! AHHHHHH!!!!!
OK, so maybe she wouldn't have known about them if I hadn't emailed her. :)
But she wants them, and that is what counts! Ali, she is the NICEST person, and very genuine! WOW! Can't say enough! I am thinking about driving them there! LOL! Just kidding!
If I had to pick another favorite (since that one was a little obvious!) I would have to pick...
DARN it! This is VERY hard!! I really loved so many things!
Let's break it down more!! (Cheater!!)
Rub-ons: The winner is... GLITZ DESIGNS! OK, you see the images on their website and blog, and you think "cute". Then you see them in person! WOW! They are HUGE!
Check out this picture I took of Candi with one!
Can you say BIG AS YOUR HEAD! LOL!
FUN!
Chipboard: This is hard to too... chipboard is EVERWHERE! But does anyone do chipboard like Maya Road?
They continue to be cutting edge for shapes and embellishments!
There new shapes are not on their site, but they ARE in my slide below!
Die Cut Papers: OK, Pop Culture ROCKS die cut papers, but let me tell you, Maya Road is giving them a run for their money!! (see slide below!)
BUT because of the colors, and variety of designs, KI Memories wins! Click here to check out the new die designs!!
3-D Stickers: Autumn Leaves. They have some really cute stuff!! See the slide below!
Transparencies: Transparencies are croppin' up as fast as stamps with scrapbooking companies! Almost everyone has them! Heidi Swapp, (of course Hambly) Prima... but the winner is... Fancy Pants! They have glitter transparencies!! And Scrapaganza will have them first! JD (MR. Fancy Pants) promised! :)
Speaking of "transparent"... these are awesome, and deserve a look too!
Three sheets a package, these clear yummies will be FUN to work with! AND the set with mini-book pages... FUN!!
Can you say "ORDERED"!!
Anything innovative? Piggy Tales has made little "springs"! Can you imagine?? What fun they would be on layouts and projects!!
TOOLS:
My pick? We R Memory Keepers Big Bite. Now granted. I didn't get to see Making Memories Slice... but I think it may be the "hole punch in the middle of the page" phenomenon. :)
Stamps:
This again is very hard. Everyone is doing stamps. Little companies and big companies. Who has anything new? I loved Prima's stamps. I always love Inque Boutique's stamps, and they would probably win, but since I knew we were ordering soon, I didn't stop at the booth (remember-I was suppose to be working! LOL!)
I was looking for something new at each booth... especially the smaller companies.
Also, at Scrapaganza, we want to buy what you can't get at your local "mega store". We want to save you money, and for you to see it, touch it, and use it right after you visit our store!
ANYWAY, who's stamps would I say I liked the best?? It's hard.
Honestly, I like stamp companies that were not at CHA too... like Purple Onion.
But I am giving my CHA vote to October Afternoon!
The bummer? I didn't take a picture of the stamps board, and they don't have their new stamp images on their site! :( We are expecting a couple stamps when the new line comes in, so buy them up, and I am sure we'll buy more! They are fun and whimsical! Useful and fresh!
But can I say, check out the slide, cuz Paper Trunks stamps have great packaging AND fun borders! I can't wait to see what they come up with next at Paper Trunk!
Bling:
Since I am pretty sure that Candi is going to pick Heidi for this.... if she is crazy and gets this detailed... I will give this to Prima. I loved Glitz Designs bling too, but Prima wins from shear volume! See several designs below in the slide! YUM!
Everything else... Totes have so many more prints and sizes... Felt is very present still. But Prima and Fancy Pants rule the day with their felt designs, but Queen & Co. had some fresh fun finds. This layout has baseball felt that was stitched that the lace holes. They said you could just back with red for a red lace too... Fun!
Recylced papers and ribbons are cropping up! I appreciate that! As long as the colors can still be vibrant, go for it! Make it "green"!
Check out the slideshow for images of my favorite products!!
Famous Faces and Fabulous People:
Before I knew it, and everywhere I looked, there were the famous faces from the scrapbooking industry!
Stacy Julian (didn't get her picture-darn!) Ali Edwards, Tim Holtz...
Here are the fabulous scrappers I met in the slide below!
(Note: Yes. There are several pictures of myself and Heidi Swapp... Once Candi started "New Outfit, new picture" {with Heidi}, how could I not participate?? :) )
If it says SISTv... that is Scrap In Style TV. My favorite Message Board and gallery!
The Fashionista's are members of their Design Team. Several of which have been published, and all offer much inspiration within their community.
One other favorite of mine that I missed was Kristina Contes-but hey, I got my picture with her at CHA last summer... :)
Some are "famous", some are company owners with personality to spare, or product I love!
Pass the mouse over the picture to identify the personality! I think a couple must be on Candi's camera (like a day of Heidi... wouldn't want to miss that! LOL!) but you get the idea! Famous Faces Everywhere!!
Ask me about "Chandler" and about Jenni... if ya want to hear a couple funny stories!
I had a wonderful time! I hope to be fortunate to be going back in July for Summer-either for Scrapaganza, Memories Complete, or another venture on the horizon!! {I'm not tellin'!! Yet. :) }
Thanks for checkin' it out!!
Hope to see ya soon at Scrapaganza!!
Look for my favorite layouts posted soon at my blogspot:
www.artfullyembellished.blogspot.com
Candi got to meet her scrapbooking hero-twice now(Heidi Swapp). I am SURE we will have a lunch date tomoorow! Ok-maybe not, but she is VERY sweet, and her new product is VERY yummy!! Candi vows, new outfit, new picture with Heidi.
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