CHA Report — Sizzlin’ Sizzix

It’s been about a week since I returned from the Craft & Hobby Associations MEGA Craft Show in Anaheim and I’m still sorting through my notes and catalogs! So much crafty goodness in store.

Over the next few weeks, I will share some snippets from the show, including new products, new tools, and all the cool stuff coming our way. There were lots of people there, sharing videos and Periscopes through out the show, so I hope my posts can add to the coverage and share a little of the magic that is CHA!

Today, I’ll start with a rather long post featuring Sizzix, makers of the Big Shot™ and other die cutting machines and accessories. One of the fun things at the Sizzix booth was this coloring wall, above. How clever is that for a crafty show? And it ties in with the company’s upcoming coloring books:

One thing I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on is Paper Leather, which actually does look and feel like the real thing — but better. It is easily die cut with both steel rule and chemically etched dies, as well as electronic cutters. It can be stamped, cut, embossed, inked, foiled, painted … just about anything you can do to paper, you can do to Paper Leather. It even goes through a printer. (Note: I have not had a chance to play with it at home, so it will need to be tested!) And it comes in several colors, including pastels.

Sizzix also highlighted its talented licensed designers with their own spots. It was such fun to meet them! If you love cute mini boxes and bags, you’ll have a plethora of choices, with each designer bringing a unique perspective.

Take a look:

The ever charming Stephanie Barnard® always has the cutest card making dies. Here she is showing off another cute one, a mini half card. (A larger version makes an A2 size.) I love how her cards are so interactive.

Lori Whitlock designs the great dimensional dies, like the adorable birdhouse and lantern shapes:

These are so stinkin’ cute I want to have a party just to use them on my table. (These will be out in April.)

There’s so much more from Sizzix that I need to split it into two posts! So come back tomorrow for Sizzix, part deux! And do check out the Sizzix Web site for more detailed info.

 

 

More Mega Madness — CHA report

Another report from CHA…

One of the joys of attending the Craft & Hobby Association trade show is discovering new (to me!) stamp companies.

Take a look at the delightful designs of Dare 2B Artzy:

I love coloring and doodling (can you say Zentangle addict?) so these flower/butterfly images speak to me. I was just playing around and stamped these images in VersaFine black on a piece of scrap cardstock. (See the full flower? I stamped once then reinked and turned the card so I stamped a mirror image to create the fuller flower.) I found it so relaxing to color in the patterns (not my best coloring work, but I had fun.)

I really like this bookmark image. This would have been a fun project for my Girl Scout troop!

Thanks Dare 2B Artzy, for letting me play with these stamps!

Check out the website: www.dare2bartzy.com

I’ll be back with more CHA reports.

Hot Hobby Trends

Wondering what’s hot and trendy? Want to get a look at the nifty craft items already making their way to stores, or still to come? My exhaustive report from the Craft and Hobby Association’s summer trade show can be found on the Crafts ‘n things magazine blog. Simply go to the site, hit the blog tab and then scroll down until you find the CHA Hot List report. It is posted in two parts, as a Great Finds Friday feature: Aug. 16 and Aug. 30.

Here are some snaps that didn’t make it into the story: (please note, there are sneaky advertising links inserted here NOT by my doing. I am trying to figure out how to remove them. In the meantime, be aware of links that have double lines underneath — I have NOT inserted those!!!)

I have already admitted that I am loving all the dies available today. So it’s no surprise that I’m wild about this Christmas tree die set from Elizabeth Crafts. Is this fun or what? What other ways could you use the dies? I may have to put this one on my personal wish list.

And Dreamweaver, one of the first companies to offer great stencils, now has stencils and dies…oh my! Check these out:

These sticky notes from Little B are just the start of the cute items they have, from labels to decorative tapes.

Stay tuned for more!

Fabulous Finds Friday — Craft Hot List

Yay! It’s finally out! My exhaustive report from the Craft and Hobby Association about what is new and hot and fabulous from the latest show.

You can see the entire report (in two parts!) on the Crafts ‘n things website. The CHA Hot List is listed under the Craft of the Week button. (You may have to register on the site, but it’s free. You simply register to join the Crafts ‘n things community).

It sounds complicated, but it’s not: go to http://www.craftsnthings.com, click on the Craft of the Day. You can try searching for “CHA 2013 Hot List” or …
click on the March archives, then scroll down to the

CHA 2013 Hot List

— it’s easy to find: it’s a big blue icon that says “March is National Craft Month.”

If you make it there, leave us some love in the comments section!

In the meantime, here’s a trendy bag made at the craft show:

Here’s a close-up:

The darling camera iron-on and spray paints are from S.E.I.
(Yes, that overspray is because of my sloppy masking! I get SO impatient…. sigh.)

Thanks for stopping by!