CHA Download, Part 2: On Display

Continuing along my CHA recap series, today's post is all about the "wow" factor.

Yes, it's fun seeing the new products at CHA. But even more fun is seeing the clever and often jawdropping ways they've been used to create displays for the booths.

A few of my favorites:


Maya Road

Canvas messenger bags embellished with paints, mists, fabric, burlap and flowers


GCD Studios

Pure Bliss Collection by Heather Tozzi -- loved the rolled up papers


Crate Paper

Vintage window frames and mailbox door used as backdrop


Plaid (Mod Podge)

Wouldn't this be a fun kids craft?



Teresa Collins

Teresa's booth always has the prettiest mini albums.

Maya Road (again)

This is a chipboard butterfly album, but the designer created a box for it by adding bingo pieces and mini rulers to make the frame. Genius!

Bottlecaps

I could. not. stop. looking at this amazing wall art created with colored bottlecaps. I want this on my wall!
 
My Mind's Eye

Don't like your bike? Cover it in washi tape and you will love it!
 
Hemptique

Crocheted flower using hemp cord -- a little stiffer than yarn and comes in a huge variety of colors. If only I could crochet.

Check back on Friday for my last CHA post...a wrap-up of projects, classes and other fun stuff. See you then!

CHA Download, Part 1: Favorites

I flew home from CHA on Monday and woke up this morning to a mix of snow and sleet for my drive to work. Reality is so cruel.

But back to the trip...it was fabulous in EVERY way: oohing and aahing over all the great new products coming out, meeting the amazing minds behind all those products, trying new techniques, learning lots and, best of all, giggling all night long with sweet friends who are just as crazy as me.

I'll be devoting the rest of the week to posts about things I saw and did at the show, and today's post will showcase my favorite products and collections:


Maya Road Wood Embellishments

I always love Maya Road and, honestly, I could fill up a full blog post with favorites from this company (hmmm, maybe someday...), but these little wood rulers (called Measure Twice Cut Once) and the polaroid frames (You've Been Framed) stole my heart. Come to Mama!


Sweet Girl Collection by Echo Park

Well, you knew there would be something from Echo Park in here, right? I loved all of their new releases, but the swirly, circle-y paper in this one put it over the top for me. I want to cut that up right now!

Chic Tags - Birthday Cake Collection

I was so happy to see this booth. I'm kind of a tag-junkie, and I've been using this company's tags for a while, but they've always come in kits. I didn't realize all this time I could buy full sets of them on Scrapbook.com and ACherryOnTop.com, but I'm so glad I know now! (Why yes, I did already place an order. How did you guess?)


Elle's Studio You & Me

In addition to all their wonderful tags and titles, Elle's Studio is now doing paper! Yippee! My favorite was the chalkboard-look paper in this line. While I was checking out all the gorgeous releases, I got to meet Elle and she was so kind and friendly. She was handing out little bags of samples, which I can't wait to use. Thanks, Elle!

Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper
 

Maggie rocked this collection! The papers are beautiful -- just as you'd expect from anything that says Crate -- but what really stood out were the variety of embellishments. Not just the same old, same old -- adorable bobby pins, mini bows and a whole lotta other fun stuff. Love it!

Chevron Ribbon by May Arts

The chevron ribbon May Arts released last year was (and still is) a staple on my craft table. But this is like Version 2.0 -- vertical chevrons in bright colors and neutrals. I think I need them all. Oh yes.

Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm Collection

Really nice muted primary colors, lots of fun, on-trend patterns, like chevrons, stripes, florals. But the thing that really got me was the horse chipboard. My horse-obsessed girl is going to love this!

We R Memory Keepers 360 Tote

It's been a long time since a good crafting tote hit the market, and this one combines all the best features: plenty of pockets for organizing tools, zippered compartments on every side, 360-degree rolling wheels for easy maneuvering around all those crop tables and a bright, fun pattern. There's also a matching paper storage tote with accordion files to keep all your pages organized with no bent corners...bonus!

Jinger Adams Craft Armoire

Storage-challenged scrappers, this is for you! It hangs over a door and opens to reveal tons and tons of organization for paper, tools, embellishments, ribbon...everything you can think of, Jinger has it covered. The door even has corkboard in the panel so you can pin notes and ideas.

Of course, there are lots of other fantastic new things that I'm excited about, but I'll save those for another day and another post.

Check back tomorrow for a look at the most clever and beautiful displays I saw. Until then...

Express Yourself

The universe sent me a message this weekend. It happened as I was sitting in the pedicure chair on Sunday, reading an old O magazine. The focus of the issue was self-expression, and I was completely swept away with the different articles -- I think I read almost every word of each one. I loved the story of a chalkboard artist who went from a corporate desk job to creating chalk murals all over town. But the article that really spoke to me was the one that talked about what happens when we create.

The author explained that when you make something, your brain releases dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel happy and energetic. So if you're feeling stressed or worn out, you can boost your mood by simply doing something creative -- doodling on paper, writing a haiku, trying a new recipe. Or playing with paper and glue.

I've known this for years -- whenever I need to relieve stress, I head straight for my craft room -- but it was validating to read the science behind it.

Sometimes I feel a little guilty for isolating myself in a room while my kids are playing Barbies or doing cartwheels in the living room. But I think it's all about balance. I spend a healthy amount of time with my kids, taking them on "adventures," teaching them to ask questions, encouraging them to do the things they love. When I head to my "room," that's my time to revive my energy and restore my sense of peace. And I'm a better mom for it.

A few things I've been creating lately...

 

These are my last official projects for Epiphany Crafts. I'm so honored that I got to work on their design team for the past year, and I know I'll be using these products for a very long time.

I created the lacy effect by punching designs into white cardstock and allowing the negative space to show through the clear bubble cap. I love how the texture of the denim paper comes through.

And this is a very old photo, but one I've somehow never scrapped.

I loved the whimsical feel of the paper and wanted to incorporate a few of the graphic elements as charms.

Hope your week is off to a great start and that you're finding plenty of ways to express your creativity.

In the background

I think I'm evolving. Not in the Darwin kind of way, but in the scrapbooker kind of way. I notice little things I do differently on my pages. For example, I've started to gravitate toward patterned backgrounds instead of plain cardstock. And even when I start with plain cardstock as a base, I have this innate need to do something to it -- mist it, stamp it, rough it up a bit -- before the layers start going down.

Case in point:

I started with french vanilla cardstock as a base, but I wanted a subtle background. So I used Versamark ink to stamp the medallion image as border for the rest of the elements.

It's subtle...maybe a little too subtle because it's hard to see in the photos. This is one that looks a lot prettier in real life.

In other news, I found out this morning that my layout "She" is featured on the Ormolu blog today! Check it out here.

Peppermint-obsessed

Peppermint is my favorite flavor of the holiday season. Especially when you mix it with chocolate. And if you throw some espresso in there? Well, that's just a little shot of heaven in a cup!

Yes, Starbucks discovered this several years ago -- the Peppermint Mocha -- and I love them for it. I truly do. But this year they got smart and made a "skinny" version. Even better. I can drink this heavenly concoction and not feel an ounce of guilt.

So thank you, Starbucks. You've found yet another way to suck money out of my wallet and put a smile on my face while doing so.

Now, about the layout: The paper, stickers and trims on this layout are from Crate Paper. Ironically, the line is called Peppermint. I couldn't resist.

I added some Epiphany Crafts Round 14s, Vintage Settings (Clubhouse and Cabana) and a Heart 25 shape (in place of the letter "o"). Letter stickers are from October Afternoon and American Crafts.

I also tried out a new tape runner from Scrapbook Adhesives, called MyStik. Not only can you customize it with a photo (so no getting it mixed up with someone else's at your next crop); it also has three different positions that click into place, so you can choose the one that feels best in your hand. Very cool!

Finally, if you haven't already, be sure to check out the new Epiphany Crafts blog (and change your bookmark): www.epiphanycrafts.com/blog

Lots of inspiration and, best of all, GIVEAWAYS!