CHA - The End

I promise this is the last of the CHA posts - I really do need to get on with my life (LOL)! I wanted to tell you more about some of the new products and trends that interested me.

There were several new corner-rounder and hole-punch/binding tools. I didn't get pictures, but you could probably find these on the company websites. Cropadile has a 2-in-1 corner rounder that cuts both 1/8 and 1/4" corners for approximately $25. Zutter has 2 rounders - a 1/4" and 1/8" - I can't remember the price. They easily cut through hard acrylic book covers. 7 Gypsies has a new Binderie which punches holes in paper, cardstock, chipboard and book board. This was pricey at $39 but would be great for book-makers and it's a cute little red "machine."

Chatterbox had a DIY brad maker with decorative dark brass brads in 3 sizes (these are vintagey and really pretty) complete with clear domes, adhesive circles and 3 punches. Great for coordinating your embellishments with your papers! They even had some samples using actual photos. I think the start-up kit was around $19 and the refills (without punches) about $6-7. Imaginisce had an "i-top" which is essentially like a seamstress tool for covering buttons with fabric, but this was for paper. This might have been about $20 and there were packages of precut papers and even punches to prepare the paper circles for the tool. Vintaj had lots of brass findings and embellishments for, you guessed it, vintage projects! Of course, Tim Holtz's new Ideology products are great too. I used his new jump rings for the make 'n take and thought "oh, just an aged regular jump ring with his name on it", but wow! These you can open and close very easily with your fingers - no tools needed! There are also some teeny paper clips and safety pins which were too cute.

In papers, of course, there were tons of new lines by all the companies. Tim's Grungepaper is super - it's 12x12 and I heard also printable in your computer. Several companies featured recycled paper and patterned kraft paper. Heidi Swapp's new Invisibles are ingenious - embossed patterns on white 12x12 cardstock which resist most mediums such as inks and paints and are beautiful designs as well.

Lots of fabric and canvas being used in layouts and, of course, mixed media projects. Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Back Canvas sheets, though not brand-new, are useful for so many projects and she demoed great techniques. Donna Downey (Prima) has a new canvas album complete with canvas pages and canvas and fabric embellishments. I was thrilled to see Basic Grey introducing fabrics in their same great colors and patterns.

Masks are still popular and in all sizes - Tim introduced "mini" masks and Heidi now has "mega" ones.

Some previous trends continue - we saw many birds, owls, trees - but they are joined by other little woodland animals and cute monsters and aliens. Lots of cute boy-themed papers too. Still lots of flowers (they are getting even bigger) and many fabric/felt embellishments. And lots of cupcakes/sweets and travel themes.

I was happy to see a trend toward more mixed media - painting and sewing on both fabric and paper. Lots more home decor pieces. This year's theme was "going green" and this was reflected in lots of recycled paper lines, a new Stampington magazine called "Green Crafts" and layouts using recycled products - isn't this adorable?

I just have to share my most favorite make-n-take - an adorable LOVE banner from the Melissa Frances booth. I love it! (The pics aren't the greatest - it was hard to get it all in. The photos on each end are my husband and myself when we were kids and they are both black and white, even though mine on the left doesn't look like it!)

Our last day there was Jaclyn's birthday and we ate breakfast with some of the Disney characters at the Storybook Cafe. Look at this darling waffle!

And here we are about to return home, standing under a HUGE, beautiful tree near the convention center! Only part of the trunk shows here - can you imagine how old it must be?

And that's THE END!