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.
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:
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| Map of the show room floor. |
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:
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| 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. |
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| 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! ) |
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| 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! |
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| 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.) |
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| 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. |
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| 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! |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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! |
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| 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! |
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| More Stencils |
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| Even More Stencils |
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| 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. |
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| 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! |
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| 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. |
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| 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! |
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| 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.
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.
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.
***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!
