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!

Time Isa Fly'n!

Hi Crafters! I'm really excited to get through this post, and you will see why towards the end. 

At the All Things Tim Yahoo Group, the ATC swap challenge this month is "Wings". So here mine is.

I stuck some Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape to cardstock, and then colored it with Red Pepper Alcohol Ink.

I used Tim's Mini Clock Die to cut the shapes out.

I added Alcohol Ink Blending Solution to an Alcohol Ink Pen, and removed the Ink from the feet, knob, and hands of the clock. I recolored the hands with Pitch Black Alcohol Ink in another Pen.

I inked the clocks with Walnut Stain and then poured UTEE on them and heat embossed. The red faded a little bit, but it made a wonderful vintage color.

More Foil Tape was adhered to cardstock and then gessoed very lightly. I used Tim's Sizzix Heart Wings Die to cut wings.

I coated the wings with Crackle Accents, let them dry, and then inked them with Walnut Stain.

Using the Mini Compass image, I stamped it in Jet Black Archival onto some scrap pieces of round shapes of cardstock. I cut them out and adhered the clock faces to them using Crackle Accents, which made a crackley look underneath. I adhered these to the Mini Clocks, and the wings to that last. A Long Fastener and a metal gear finished these off.

I created a masterboard using a sheet of Sandable Embossed Graphic 45 Cardstock from Core-dinations. I sanded the clock faces, and then stamped 2013 using Brushed Pewter Distress Stain. After I cut the ATCs, I inked the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink, and misted the cards with Biscotti Perfect Pearls. After I adhered the flying clocks, I computer generated the sentiment.

 

I had some of the masterboard cardstock left over, so I thought I would do a little variation, and make some more ATCs as gifts.  I added some letters in Antique Bronze Distress Stain. Yes that's right...CHA! I'm heading out today and I couldn't be more excited! This is a dream come true for me. I didn't think it would ever happen. I'll take lots of photos and blog about what I see so you all can share in the fun through my eyes.

I am also submitting this to Hels Sunday Stamper challenge for "Things That Fly". And, I will finally get to meet Hels at CHA in the flesh!

Supplies:
From My Stash- silver cardstock, computer generated words


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!