Friday, July 26, 2013

Create'n and Connect'n at Summer CHA!

Hello everyone! Sorry to be absent for a bit, but it's been a busy time in my bubble lately. Please forgive me for not visiting your blogs. I promise to be around shortly.
I'm currently in Las Vegas (Waiting for hubby to get here!!!) where I attended the summer Craft and Hobby Association's (CHA) event called "Create and Connect". Although it was much smaller than the winter event in Anaheim, it was still a whole lotta fun to be at, and there was still a whole lotta wonderful products, projects, and people to see! This post will be filled with photos of the people I saw and projects I made, and then I'm going to do another post of the "Top 10" products that I loved from the show.

I started the show by attending Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Class. LOVE her!!! We made tons of GIANT sized #12 tags filled with her techniques, and I learned to use the wonderful new Ink Pad she has just launched. Then we joined all the tags together to make a swanky little mini book! It's so FUN!!!

I of course could not go to the show empty handed, so I finally finished my ATC's in the hotel room to give out along with a little Texas Trash! They are kind of cheesy, but they are fun!
These are the backs, that when folded make an easel to prop up the card.


Then it was time to hit the showroom floor, where I saw all my friends, and met new ones!
Here is Wendy demoing her new Tree Stencil (LOVE!) and her new Signature Line with Ranger for the Archival Ink family (LOVE!).
Here's Tim showing how to use his new Stencils (LOVE!) with Distress Paints!
This is the uber cute project I made at the Idea-ology Make n Take! ADORABLE!!!
I finally got to meet Amy Bowerman in the flesh! She was demoing for the super talented Eileen Hull in the Sizzix booth every day.  Eileen's dies are fabulous! Below is one of the new ones coming out that is a mini book cover. So clever!
 



Here is my pal Debby!
Here is Rhonda Palazzari, whom I went to Ranger U with. I am so proud of her and her new line of Stencils! They are so FABULOUS,  but more on that later!
Here is one of my projects on display for Ranger using their new Stickles colors...Cranberry, Pine Needles and Mercury Glass I think are the new names. I was beyond thrilled and so honored to have been asked! Thank you Ranger!!!

Then my arm was twisted by the amazing Daisy Plucker herself, Amy Bowerman, for some late night craftiness! Actually, I think I twisted her arm!
We had supplies spread out all over my room!
Amy made a fabulous Journal Page in Vegas style, and I made Mario's birthday card, that had sort of planned out before I left home. Happy Birthday Mario....again!!!
 
Also submitting this to Inspiration Emporium's Monthly Blog Challenge of "Happy Birthday America & Other Birthdays"
I'm very sad to say I didn't get photos of Shelly, Jim, Cesar, Carolyn, Gena, and Colleen...all of whom I also hung out with. What is wrong with me? I know....I just talked to darn much to snap photos!!! 
Be back later with more details from the show!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

27 comments:

  1. Oh you lucky duck!!!! Those photos gave me warm fuzzies. I love when I go on virtual vacations with you! Can't wait to see more of your creative mojo when you get back. :)
    hugs!

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  2. Looks like a fab time Anita! Love your ATC, lol! The make n takes look spectacular, and congrats on getting your project in at the Ranger booth!

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  3. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this vicarious look around the show. So pleased to see your work on show (and so it should be) and mega envious that you got to play alongside the wonderful Amy Bowerman. It never fails to surprise me how we all NEED the latest products, but in this case that is really true (Wendy's Archival Inks/Tim's Stencils/the new Distress Markers... !) Looking forward to the next instalment. Hugs, Jenny x

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  4. Did Cesar not take of you and Jim? Looks like loads of fun...one day I will fly over!

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  5. Sure looks like you had a fabulous time. Mondo congrats on your cute Christmas tag being used! Look forward to hearing what your top 10 are.

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  6. Ohh, thank you for sharing these fab photos and makes!! Such great fun for us stay at homes to see! I think my favourite are those Dyane tags turned into a mini oh and Mario's birthday card, it looks amazing, bet he loved it!!

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  7. So there is no truth to "What Happens In Vegas?" Love these photos and glad you are having such the grand time all the way around! Enjoy!

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  8. All looks like so much fun - fabulous photos of all the people, and I love your makes. Fabulous card for Mario at the end - absolutely brilliant!
    Alison x

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  9. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to seeing which show projects were yours and your top ten list.

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  10. Fabulous days! You're lucky Anita! but .... in November finally will know Dyane!! I will make a course in Rome and see the beautiful tags you've done, it makes me impatient to try the techniques! Fantastic work as always! Gorgeous tag for Mario! BArbarayaya

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  11. Hi Anita........you sure had a fab time......lovin your fab makes and looking forward to playing with some new releases

    Crafty hugs and have a lovely time with your hubby x

    Annie x

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  12. Hi Anita, Looks as though you had a fabulous time... Fantastic pics full of wonderful creations... Love Mario's Birthday Tag.... Hugs May x x x

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  13. Looks like a great time! Lots of fun, learning and good friends! Great samples (I love the pins at the door handles, that just jumped out at me!). Love your card for Mario too! Fun! I sent him one too as he makes BTS so much fun and does so much all year round. Enjoy your stay with your hubby! Looking forward to seeing more etc. Off to check out some of the links, as I am not familiar with a couple of them.

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  14. I am pea green with envy! Loved all your photos!
    Sandy

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  15. Fabulous makes Anita, and a wonderful tour round seeing what's been going on. I would really love to attend a CHA one day.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  16. LOVE your CHA makes & projects & the card you made for Mario is GORGEOUS!!! Glad you had such a great time.

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  17. Oh it looks like you had an amazing time !! I don't think there is anything remotely like this in the UK, so many amazing workshops to attend you lucky thing! Love all your makes and great to have one featured by Ranger , and as for the late night hotel room crafting ...... Well what can I say.... Speechless.... Nothing can stop the creative force that is the Artful Maven ! X

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  18. Looks like you had a fabulous time Anita ! Love all your makes ! Sue C x

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  19. Oh good, I'm glad you were busy coz I've been a bit MIA myself, lol. Loved this great catch up post about what you've been up to. How awesomely cool to be asked by Ranger to do some designing for their display. Bestest news for this season release - new Archival Ink colours!!! Closley followed by Tims new stencils - yay! Looking forward to seeing what you make with the new stuff when it gets in your hands.

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  20. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful photos. Looks like you've had a great time.

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  21. Fantastic! Glad you had such fun. Were your ears burning yesterday? We were driving home from RI to NY and we passed East Haven and then New Haven and I said "Where's the Artful Maven Haven"? Which led to eye rolls from the fam. Miss ya!!

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  22. I'm so glad that you spent wonderful time. You look wonderful. I love all your photos and makes! Thank you for sharing.
    Greetings Asia

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  23. Welcome back to blogland! Looks like you had a great time in Vegas. I had to laugh when I saw that you did late night crafting in your hotel room. That would soooo be me. (btw -- love the tag for Mario's birthday!) CHA looks like crafting heaven. I wanna go!!! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. -- Mary Elizabeth

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  24. Been thinkin' bout ya! Glad you got to go to CHA!

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  25. Thank you SO much for a quick look around the CHA, what a fantastic place to meet up with friends old and new too. How wonderful to spend time crafting with the wonderful Amy too! Love, love, love your brilliant birthday card for Mario - bet he loved it too. Thank you again for sharing. Big hugs, Anne xx

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  26. Hi Anita, you lucky,lucky girl! Looks like you've had a fantastic time. LOVE that card and I can't wait to see some of those new CHA products drift on over The Pond to us in the UK. Hugs MMx

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  27. Amazing, Anita--thank you for sharing your pics, VERY fun!!!

    :)

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