12 Tags of 2013 - July

Hi everyone. Again, I must apologize for not having my CHA products post finished, but things were turned upside down right after my last post on Friday. I've debated whether or not to bring this deeply personal issue up here, and my intention is not to bring anyone down, but I do consider all of you to be my friends, so here goes. 

My best friend from about the end of 8th grade passed away last Friday night after a heavy battle with cancer. I was very fortunate enough to be able to spend many extended times with her to relieve her husband for work, and I cherish those memories, but I so wish I could have been there at the end. I whole-heartedly believed she would make it much longer than she did, and the sudden turn around for the worse was very unexpected. Needless to say, I was sure glad I had my husband to lean on, as he had made the trip to Las Vegas over the weekend. We made it home in time to go to the funeral on Monday, and it was a beautiful service. I am glad she is not suffering anymore...so glad...and I know she was needed elsewhere, but she is sorely missed, and I am finding it hard not to think about all the time.

Although not in the mood to craft a lick, I thank Tim Holtz and his monthly tag series, for reminding me that I made a commitment to myself to participate each month, and I know my friend would want me to keep on keeping on, so I made this July tag with all Tim's techniques, but with my beautiful friend's spirit on my mind, rather than the freedom theme, and just in the nick of time too as it seems.

I love the Fanciful Flight Die, and thought the Mini Heart would make a great body for it.

I loved the brayer technique that Tim used. I know I will use it again many more times.

 

Supplies:

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

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!