Hello Simon Says Stamp and Show!

There is a lot of blabbing away in this post, so grab some sustenance first if you choose.
A new year has brought a new creative journey. I am beyond honored to say that I am now a part of the Simon Says Stamp & Show Design Team! WOW Crafters WOW! Talk about a humbling feeling to have been asked, and the biggest honor to work with this talented crew...I am still in shock! I will do my very best to live up to their expectations. 

However, after reading what my first challenge was to be, I was very taken aback. Today's challenge of "What Am I Known For" is the hardest one I've ever had. While I'm pretty sure I know what I'm known for personally...just being fabulous ;0)...I have no idea what I am known for creatively speaking. I love dabbling in several different genres of Art. I want to try it all, and take what I love to use in my projects. I don't like to be stuck in a creative rut, and mixing it up solves that for me. I'm sort of all over the place, so I do my best to share the process and steps of how I create, so that I can show others who are just like me, but I don't think being all over the place is something I want to be known for.
I can certainly pick out work that belongs to some of my blogging friends before I know for sure who created it. Some people just have a certain style that is easier to distinguish, but do I? I've searched my artistic soul to try and figure this out. I've looked back at all of my projects from 2012 to see if I could identify a certain characteristic that points to me, but I just couldn't find one, aside from the obvious use of metal and/or wood embellishment on almost every single one, often too many at that. I've often said I am the gaudy paper crafter...more is better, right? :-)
Strangely enough, as all of this inner reflection and investigation was going on, I was working on my husband's Christmas present. I made him a 16x20 inch mixed media painting on canvas for his office, which was based on four photos I took and collaged together to create a scene of the two things he does almost everyday here in West Texas...work and play golf.  This course is where he won the City Championship a number of times. Oh yeah that's my man!!! This would be hole 18, but I certainly doctored it up...a bunch as you will read.  We could only dream of a city public course this lush and green, but I can spin it how I want...right? He also works in one of those buildings downtown, and oil and gas is his field of work.
When I finished the piece, it became apparent to me that I often create scenes in my projects. I went back to look at all those 2012 projects again, and it was like a smack in the face. More than half of my projects contained a scene. They were all scenes that I planned out to look realistic and representational (Some drawn out in my Art Journal first.), but ended up using so many elements to spin it, that they turned out a tiny bit abstract. Further thinking on this, lead me to note that these are also the pieces that are easiest and fastest for me to do. I can fly through one without eating, talking, or taking photos, because I get so drawn into them. The non scene items are harder for me, and require me to think through them, and I often procrastinate making them.

As you read above, I got so carried away with the canvas that I neglected to take any pictures except for these two. Here is the canvas painted with Claudine's Acrylic Paints and Ranger's Paint Dabbers, before I started adding the buildings, lots of Tim and Wendy stamped foliage, Distress Stains, Idea-ology goodies, Wendy Embossing Paste, Flower Soft, Mudd Puddles, and a Wood Stamped and Embossed fence.

To make the buildings, I stamped the Hero Arts image onto silver tissue paper using Espresso and Pitch Black Dabbers. I cut them out and did my best to make them look like the buildings in my down town area. I used Glue N Seal to adhere them to the canvas.

Embossing Paste makes the best clouds. This stuff looks yummy too. If I was about 3 years old, I'd eat it! I also used it mixed with paint and Flower Soft, and along with some Mudd Puddles I made the rough areas and greenery.

Crackle Accents was added on top of the blue paint, and then I used Chipped Sapphire Distress Stain and worked it into the cracks to make it look like a pond. This pond is actually on the hole before this one, but in my little world it needed to be, so now it is.

The sand is Mudd Puddles. The flag is red ribbon and white wired raffia.

All of the trees were made with Tim and Wendy foliage stamps and paint. I did a little free hand painting for detail on them as well.

The fence is Kraft Paper stamped with the Wood Grain Stamp and then Embossed with the Wood Grain Fade. Walnut Stain Distress highlights the raised areas, and then it was coated with Glue N Seal to strengthen it. I cut this into strips, cut slits into them and inserted strips into strips to form a fence. This fence is also really on the hole across the way from this one, but I'm telling you it looks better here!

The pump jack actually moves, but I told my husband "No playing with it!" I don't want him tearing it up. There is actually not a pump jack on this part of the course, but there is one across the street, but I wanted one there, so now there is. "I know that possibility begins with imagination!"

So maybe I'll be known for creating scene...someday. Regardless, SSS&S has given me a free therapy session, and I didn't have to lay on the couch to figure it all out...kudos to them for that. And, as far as personally, I've asked a few people close to me and it seems I am different things to different people, but they are all good....phew!
So, what are you known for? Do you always have a cup of coffee in your hands? Are you forever adding brown ink to the edges of everything? Is no project complete without a button? Whether you feel like being inspired by something you’re known for in your crafting, or if you’d prefer to scrapbook or journal something that you are known for in general we can’t wait to learn a bit more about you and your crafting. After you create your work of Art, enter it into our challenge, and you might be the lucky winner of a $50 voucher to Simon Says Stamp. You can also be named as one of the "Top Three Picks" for this challenge. Good luck!

Supplies:

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

CHA - It's Also About The Goods!

Oh my creative word! I am still overwhelmed at the mahoosiveness of the CHA show everyone! It was every crafter's dream! I cannot even imagine this, but everyone who has attended in past years said it used to be twice as big. WOW! 

For you numbers people, I counted 26 aisles, with booths on each side. The booths ranged from #300 to #2997. 394 exhibitors occupied the booths.

Map of the show room floor.

Some were tiny and some were massive...some were blah and some were ornate. My favorite decorated booth was Idea-ology. All it needed was a bed, and I could have lived in it! It was an antique haven! I spent lots of time there, as well as the Ranger, Stamper's Anonymous, and Sizzix (Where the best Magician ever could be found...WOW!) booths. The samples at these four places were to say the least - dreamy...a feast for creative eyes and impressive beyond words! Those designers left me nothing to imagine with...they took all the mojo and made the best pieces of Art! Most I/we already know...Jim, Shelly, Candy, Kaz, Joy, Chelle, Richele, Tammy, Wendy, Tim, Dyan, Claudine, and Paula and Deb (Hope I didn't miss anyone I know...sorry if I did. Drop me a note.). Please check their blogs for sample pieces now through the next week or so, as I didn't want to step on their creative toes and post their projects on my blog. AMAZING people, really AMAZING!
Before I start rolling, I'm having a GIVEAWAY!!!! On Wedneday, I'll have the number generator choose 3 crafty peeps (Hopefully followers.) who comment on this post, and tell me what products you saw or heard about (Here or else where.) at CHA that you want to have. I have up for grabs, 3 new Tim/Mario III Blue Print Stamp Sets from Stamper's Anonymous, along with a magazine...2 from DoCrafts and one from CHA with an autographed article from Tim himself. Each winner will get a magazine and a stamp set. Good luck!

Okay, now for the goods/products of the show that I liked best....in no particular order:

From Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Paints- These are amazing! They are very thinned out, and while painted with them (Fingers or paint brush is best in my opinion.) you can alter them while wet with water or another color of paint, but when dry they are permanent...genius! Dylusions Ink Sprays- Six New colors...woohoo...The White Linen is a must! AND, she has several new stamps sets...wonderful Sea Creatures and Monsters and large silhouettes of retro people with stencils for them...LOVE them! Vintaj Patinas- New Colors...more woohoo. AND, they brought out a line of new tools that are fabulous...the metal loop maker is a must have! Claudine Hellmuth Stencils- She has six to choose from...all wonderful! There are many videos out on these products already.

From Stamper's Anonymous: Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Pastes - Now in Metallic Gold and Silver...LOVE these...I want to eat them! AND, her new Stencils, Stamps, and Art Parts (My Legos!) are to craft for! I must have them all! Oh oh oh..and don't forget her new Blossom Buckets (Not through SA.) Tim Holtz Stamps- All the Blue Prints are a must, and so are the new drawn vintage/steampunk ones called Time Travelers (The Gentleman is my favorite!).  (Side Note: Speaking of Tim, the new Sizzix Dies of his are fabulous...love the old time Picture Wheel! I'm digging the new Core-dinations Shattered Kraft Core Paper too. Of course ALL the new Idea-ology is oh my word so fabulous! )

From Craft Attitude: They had a grand elephant to help showcase theirs design. There are Eight Lines of this amazing Printing Film. It's all the same stuff, but you use it in different ways for Wood, Flowers, Jewelry, Shoes, Quilts, Decor, Magnets, and Scrapbooking. You scan a picture in or find one on the internet, print it off on an "Ink Jet Printer" and use adhesive to apply it to one of the above mentioned bases. It is clear and takes the shape and background of the object....AMAZING!

From Alumilite Corporation: Amazing Crafting Products- There is the Putty to cast your own molds which dries in about 3 minutes. There is the Resin (In Clear and White, or with colors to dye it.) which dries in about 3 minutes as well. (The clear takes longer.)

From Eclectic Products:  E6000 Spray- Now one of the strongest glues comes in a spray! It's amazing! I can't wait to get my hands on some. Clean up is a breeze on a craft sheet.

From Spellbinders and Susan Lenart Kazmer: Dubbed Media Mixage, they've teamed up and now have metal dies and embossing plates that match her bezels and flat metal pieces. You can cut the metal, emboss it, and cut paper to fit into it. All that's left is to fill with her Ice Resin if you want.  There is even a paper line and colored metal foil. It's all cool stuff!

From Faber Castell: The New Mixed Media Sets come Gelatos, Watercolor Pencils, Markers, Pens, and Pastels. I used them all on this Make N Take piece, especially the bird (Made by Maya Road.) They all work to blend together with some sort of wet material, like water or a baby wipe. Some sets come with stamps.

From Maya Road:  This was from a Make N Take. The String of Pearl Bead Chain was wonderful with the Scallop Trim Ribbon made into a flower. You can't see it well, but there is a Crystal Bead Trinket on top of the Burlap Trim. They carry a plethora of gorgeous alterable items...from Chipboard to Kraft to Beads and Pins.

From Prima: Definitely one of the stars of the show for me, was this new line by Anna Dabrowska called Mechanicals.  They are great little embellishments and very alterable to be vintage pieces. Her sample pieces were amazing!

From The Crafter's Workshop: Stencils were everywhere, but the new ones from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Dina Wakley, and Rhonda Palazzari (My Ranger U friend.) made by The Crafter's Workshop were fabulous!!! So many UBER COOL DESIGNS! So many people! There is a stencil for everything!

More Stencils

Even More Stencils

From Die Cuts With A View.: Another elephant, but beaded to the max...WOW! The folks from DCWV Inc.they don't just make die cuts anymore. There was a mecca of papers and stash to match, everywhere in this large booth. Gorgeous designs from vintage and nouveau to old world and retro.

From DoCrafts: This United Kingdom based company had one of the best freebie items of the show...a tote bag with the Union Jack on it...I scored one, as well as a couple of last months magazines (One of which I had courtesy of my English friend Anna Christensen, along with a few stamps and dies...thanks girl!). They had amazing lines of stamps, papers, stickers, and embellies. I especially loved the line from Papermania called Urban Stamps, and can't wait to get them. I could have sat in the booth for hours talking to the reps...oh the accents!

From We R Memories Keepers: Another amazing invention (Remember the Crop o Dile?) ...an Envelope Punch Board. In about 4 steps you can have any sized envelope...well within reason people! This tool scores the paper, punches the corners, measures it out, and even has a bone folder. This one is selling fast, so if you find one, snag it.

From Purple Cows: I so wanted to try this myself, but had no time. What is it? It's painting with Encaustic Wax! Gorgeous colors of wax are used with a Melt Craft Iron Tool, along with different tips, and gorgeous and vibrant Encaustic Wax Paints to create pictures or writing. You can even stamp with it! The possibilities are endless! I will definitely be looking for a class on this, or teach myself, and then others!

From Clear Stamp by Craffiti: Okay, this was the most fun booth for me, and oh so personal! You stand in front of Mr. Craffiti (Forgot his name.). He stares at you and starts drawing. You are able to see what he draws as he goes, and in about 3 minutes you get a print out to hang from a lanyard. That print, now your caricature, is turned into a stamp just for you. It takes a few weeks to get it. As you can see above, I am turning mine into my new watermark, so you will probably get tired of seeing it! I look a little like Jay Leno (Cash, cars, and stars...oh yeah!), but a lot like my brother...just want to smack it...but it was oh so fun! My hair was straight that day, and I was tempted to go back and have a curly hair day one made, but the line was out the door. Everyone's was fabulous and unique!

Also, the CHA people picked the HOT TOP 20 OF THE SHOW from dozens of NEW craft products entered in the Innovations New Product Showcase. Here they are, and you will see some I listed too as indicated by the ***.
***Faber-Castell – Mix & Match Gelatos Misting Kit enables the creation of colorful mists using a simple process and the tools using the 8 NEW Gelatos colors. 

Sticky Sticks LLC – Sticky Sticks are tongue depressor-sized craft sticks with the most amazing adhesive on one side of one end. They stick permanently to paper, ribbon, felt, foam, and wood.
CTF Enterprises, Inc. – FixNZip is a patented, zipper slider replacement that repairs zippers without tools or sewing.
***We R Memory Keepers – Envelope Punch Board is the first and only Envelope Punch Board on the market! Just punch and score for perfect envelopes. No scissors necessary.
***Ranger Industries – Tim Holtz Distress Paints are fluid water-based acrylic paints for multiple surfaces and are reactive with water just like Distress Inks and Distress Stains--perfect to accomplish a wide variety of artistic techniques.
Environmental Technology Inc. – EnviroTex Jewelry Clay® is a new professional grade Jewelry Clay® that will not shrink when cured. EnviroTex Jewelry Clay® will adhere to glass, metal and wood.
Fiskars Brands Inc. – The AdvantEdge™ Punch System adds decorative borders to craft projects while the slide-and-lock technology keeps the paper in one place and slide the punch cartridge from one lock-in slot to the next, keeping every punch perfectly spaced.
Fiskars Brands Inc. – Fuse Creativity System® is the only 12” system on the market that can die cut and letterpress in one easy pass through the machine.
Beadalon – The Jewel Loom™ designed by International Jewelry Artist Julianna C Hudgins fits perfectly in the palm of your hand allowing for ease of use for a comfortable grip and ultimate control while bead weaving.
Plaid Enterprises Inc. – Plaid FolkArt Handmade Charlotte Stencils designed by Rachel Faucett, include functional, family-friendly designs that come to life with FolkArt paint. 

Plaid Enterprises Inc. – Martha Stewart Crafts™ Glass Paint is specially formulated, high performance premium paints that are permanent, dishwasher safe, and UV/weather resistant. 

ImpressArt® Metal Stamps – ImpressArt® Design Stamp Packs offer jewelry and mixed media artists collections of metal stamps in themes ranging from weddings and family to sports and shabby chic.
Spellbinders Paper Arts – Spellbinders Imperial Gold is brings out the 4th dimension with die templates that cut, emboss, stencil and deboss. Never before have you had the ability to cut & create in multiple layers with a single die template. 

Katy Sue Designs – Silicone Molds for decorating cupcakes and candies are FDA compliant perfect for fondant, candy or chocolate top instantly. With developments in food safe colourings such as pens, crafters can now transfer colour techniques to their cakes.
***Purple Cows, Inc. – Encaustic Paint is handmade in the USA from the highest quality of naturally purified beeswax, damar resin with a 1:8 ratio and the finest dry pigments.
Global Solutions, Inc.– Self Adhesive wax seals are an easy way to make your project special. Simply peel and stick the seals on to invitations, scrapbooks, cards, soap or wine bottles.
The DMC Corporation – Emma Broidery: Memory Thread How To Guide features more than 60 pages of instructive photographs and projects that educate, encourage and inspire crafters and stitchers alike. The book includes step-by-step instructions for trendy jewelry making and paper crafts as well as needlework applications.
***Craft Attitude – JEWELRY ATTITUDE™ is a way for jewelry makers to personalize their metal, leather, beads, charms and accessory jewelry items with photos and names. By printing right on the inkjet compatible film, photos and words are crisp and clear.
Krylon – Krylon® Glitter Blast™ Glitter Spray is a uniquely intense, sparkling glitter finish with exceptional depth that makes it easy to achieve an irresistible look on almost any surface.
June Tailor, Inc. – T-Shirt Transformation Ruler Center, lets you mark and cut perfect T-Shirt blocks for quilts, tote bags, pillows and more. Printed grid lines and 45° markings to perfectly align and center t-shirt graphics. 

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

CHA - It's About The People!

Hi Crafters! You might have wondered what I've been doing, since there has been no action here. Wish I could say being lazy, but after my return from CHA, my family....namely the children...have acted like they've starved, had nothing to wear, have been cooped up, and been unloved. ALL UNTRUE of course, and their noses are oh so long! So, I've been playing Mommy to the max. I need another vacation! ;0) I've only got about 200+ emails and blog post reminders from you all to sort through, so it will take a while to get it all done, but I will.

As most of you know the Craft & Hobby Association have two big blow out conventions a year...the Winter, which is the larger of the two, and the Summer. I was EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to be able to attend the Winter CHA Trade Show and Convention in Anaheim, California last week, after much apprehension from my own subconscious...yes, I had to build up courage!  It was the highlight of any craft type show I've ever gone to, creative hands down! There was so much to see, do, and play with, but for sure...for me...it was about the people I saw and /or met! It really is like a family reunion. I talked and talked and listened and listened. I've developed relationships I will treasure the rest of my life! I can't even remember now why I was so nervous to go...never again!

Here are a few...okay a lot...photos of those special peeps! Tomorrow, I'll bring you the loot on the goods of the show...hopefully.

Goosebumps were felt all around as we entered the building...a monstrous place!

My peeps: Linda Ledbetter, Jim Hankins, Laura Denison, Candy Coldwell, Cheryl Grigsby, and me.

More peeps: Candy, Hels Sheridan, and Ellen Vargo. I've missed  Susan Mostek and Yvonne Blair.

A flash mob broke out from Charity WIngs benefiting the Be Aware Foundation.

 

Hey hey hey, it's the awesomely talented and sharp eyed Tim Holtz doing a demo of his paints at the Ranger booth! How did I miss Mario? And Paula and Deb?

Be still my heart, it's WENDY VECCHI demoing at Ranger as well!!! Brilliant to the max!  (Side Note: Vecchi makes a "k" sound not a "ch" like so many people say. )

 

The over the top, amazingly amazing Dyan Reaveley with ultra cool Dina Wakley. (Side Note: It's "ee" not "i" like I kept saying it...ugh...Dina! Sorry!)

Mr. & Mrs. Stamper's Anonymous, Ted & Michelle Cutts with Dyan.

 

Dina again. I scored her new book "Art Journal Freedom"...love her!

The sweet, amazing, and gorgeous Claudine Hellmuth.

The uber talented, popular, and beautiful Anna Dabrowska.

The gorgeous and talented Shelly Hickox.

Jim, Laura, Kathy Orta, and Kathryn Krieger

Linda and me with Mark Montano...oh yeah, we scored his awesome new "Big Ass Book of Bling"! (Really, that's the title!)

We added Aileen Ablog aka "Spike". She's the cutest thing ever!

One last shot of the girls, minus Cheryl, Susan, and Yvonne. I miss you guys terribly!

Somehow I missed getting photos of May Flaum, the Simon Says Stamp gals, the Inspiration Emporium gals, Carolyn Ross,  Lisa M. Pace, Renee Zarate, and of course my dear dear buddy Debby Schuh.  I also had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl Boglioli and Joanne Sharpe in the van to the airport...so cool! I totally wish I could have met Julie Fei-Fan Balzer as well. Next time!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!