The Many Days of CHA (Summer07)-PART 1

The Summer CHA Convention was held at the Rosemont Convention Center in Chicago IL July 19-23. MANY days of picture taking and MANY new products that wow'ed ME. This show was a much better show for me in terms of the new products I saw and I SAW MANY, so I'm going to make a "series" of blog entries over the next few days to show you all the pictures and talk about the products I was most excited about so you don't have just one LONG boring post. This is the entrance to the Rosemont; aren't the flowers gorgeous?



OK 1st TOP PICK: The Robin's Nest: PAPERS!! OOH LA LA. EVERY paper in the new collections had BLING!! Glitter and felt and embossing; woohoo! The black letters on the "boo" paper are shiny like someone embossed it with clear powder or added glossy accents. They are very LUSH and pretty. The fire paper in the boy collection is outlined in the most brilliant RED glitter! So pretty. My favorites were Snow, Boys, & Halloween,



2nd TOP PICK: Everylasting Keepsakes Chipboard Shapes! Just when I thought I was getting tired of everyone doing chipboard, these darling grown-up ornamental shapes appear! LOVE them.



3rd TOP PICK: Makin's Clay Cutters! I thought Makin's Clay was for children, but this product is truly sophisticated enough to create great art projects and it takes many mediums well. You can add acrylic paints or pigment powders for coloring, or after it's dry you can finish with various mediums. This lay dries flexible and can be reconstituted after drying, for this reason if you think your project will come in contact with water, you should seal it to finish. And there's Cindi B!! Doing a demo at the Makins' Clay booth! woohoo! They are a fabulous company to work with, We enjoyed ourselves.



Here is a photo of our Oktoberfest "Medieval Beer-fest Buffet". We created custom beer labels, hand made tile coasters, invitation, fireworks for the castle, floral bouquet, faux hammered metal beer mugs, decorative grass bowls, and party favors: votive candles, book marks and candy bars w/ custom wrappers.



More TOP PICKS tomorrow and sneak peeks of other fun items too.

THIS I SAW WAY TOO MUCH OF: Chipboard and Jelly Stickers

Cheers!
BeckyC

WINNERS: Cards for Soldiers Contest!

THANK YOU TO THE CONTEST SPONSORS:

MEMORIES IN UNIFORM
BO BUNNY PRESS
ZSIAGE
PURPLE ONION DESIGNS
SASSAFRAS LASS
AROUND THE BLOCK
MAKING MEMORIES

Category: Winner; CLICK LINK TO SEE THE CARD

Just Because: Lois Sokolan

HM: Cynthia Elliot Park

Thank You: Cindy Roland

HM: Sandi Arnold

Happy Birthday (Man): Bev Elliott

Happy Birthday (Female): Michelle Foster

HM: Lois Sokolan

Happy Birthday (Boy): Cynthia Elliot-Park

Happy Birthday (Girl): Ellen Bentley

HM: Bev Elliot

Get Well: Sandi Arnold

Missing You: Lois Sokolan

HM: Ellen Bently

Sympathy: Cindy Roland

Friendship: Julie Overby

Congratulations: Sandi Arnold

GRAND PRIZE WINNER FOR BEST OF SHOW: Cindy Roland

For some of the children's categories, I enlisted the assistance of my 13 year old daughter! As you can imagine the scans don't do any justice for the artwork, there's lots of embossing, sewing and bling not visible as well as sentiments stamped inside or decorated envelopes! Amazing entries, THANKS for making this contest a huge success.

Prizes have been shipped and received by many already. Thanks again to the sponsors, the prize packages were generous.

**A shout out and BIG THANKS (and RAKS) to: Ramie Ahlstrom, Cynthia Elliot-Park and Ellen Bentley and for sending cards by the masses for the troops. THANKS to everyone for supporting this contest and the troops.

May God Bless America.

Use SB dies in SideKick and TagAlong!

"Jane in SanDiego" moderates the Spellbinders Yahoo group and she has been experimenting with the Spellbinders dies and other die cut machines and has just figured out how you can use Spellbinders Style dies to CUT AND EMBOSS in The TagAlong and The SideKick Machines!!

Her details below: THANKS JANE!

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I have some excellent news for you folks owning a smaller machine and
have an interest in Spellbinder dies. It has been a couple of years
since I tested these, but something made me think about it again today
and here is how you can CUT AND EMBOSS using those small machines :)

It used to be that the humps on the black adapters would cause
problems. That's why only fonts or the smaller mystery dies were
recommended. BUT If you make sure that the side with the white
writing on the Sizzix black adapters are up when you create the stack,
the surface will be nice and smooth and even. For embossing, you will
need the Spellbinders tan polymer.

The Sizzix adapters are very inexpensive and the tan polymer by
Spellbinders lasts 'forever'. The S3 size dies are the MEDIUM size
dies---there are hundreds to choose from.

Sidekick™ & Tag-a-Long™

The Sizzix® Adapter does allow the cutting of Spellbinders Style Dies™
with the Sidekick™ & Tag-a-Long™, but this is limited to most
Spellbinders Fonts, S3 size dies or Mystery Dies, due to the limiting
size of the Sizzix® Adapter.

How-To
Use the clear acrylic mats on top and bottom of this stack.
1. Place die, ridges up, onto a Sizzix® Adapter (small black plastic
spacers--make sure it is writing side up).
2. Place paper over die, roll through the Sidekick™ or Tag-a-Long™.

To Emboss
1) Remove the Sizzix® Adapter(s)
2) Place the die with the paper still inside face up on a clear
acrylic mat
3) Place TWO pieces of Spellbinders tan polymer on top
4) Cover with top piece of clear acrylic and roll through.

A special PS--You can now emboss stencils that will fit through your
Sidekick/Tag Along if you do the following. Tan polymer needed.

1) Clear acrylic mat
2) Stencil
3) misted paper or cardstock or tooling foil
4) Two pieces of tan polymer from Spellbinders
5) Clear acrylic mat

This would be great for tags or small embellishments.

Hugs,

Jane

www.spellbinders.us

Becky C
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DESIGNER & INSTRUCTOR: CHA Member

Spellbinders CHA Sneak Peek!

This gorgeous card was created by Karlene Olsen using Spellbinders new release Geometric Star die! It will be on display "in person" at the Spellbinders CHA booth #1110 next week!

If you are attending the CHA Tradeshow in Chicago IL 19-23 July, 2007, please stop by and see all of the AWESOME new Spellbinders Release Style Dies and coordinating Rubber Stamps~!
There will be lots of artwork samples available to view for ideas and a Make N Take too!

HGTV - VIDEO MEMORIES

I need to share with you a fabulous man who creates, in quite an artistic way; Video Memories. He has won numerous awards for his creative services, he uses only the highest quality equipment and materials and still charges a fair rate to the consumer. Bob Therrien lives in Wells, Maine, I met him through my husband's contacts with the Chamber of Commerce. Bob taped and edited my HGTV Segment and I recently needed 50 copies for my press kits at CHA!

If you need video services of any type, please contact Bob for rate quotes and list of services available 207-646-9236, cell 207-432-2521 bob@video-memories.biz

SPELLBINDERS DOES IT AGAIN!

First, check out this comparison!!



Spellbinders is consistently on top of crafting innovation and invention AND it's true that they are the nicest people to do business with! They want you to be happy crafters, they want you to enjoy creating and using the Wizard and their style dies, they are a family owned business; a husband and wife team. I KNOW!! mushy gushy right? but it's all TRUE. I am honored to be a part of their design team.

Please read this blog for some amazing information about the scalloped nesting dies pictured
Ellen's Blog Entry

GET READY FOR CHA SUMMER RELEASES, YOU WILL BE AMAZED.
I'll share more here when I can ((((big cheesy grins)))

HAPPY HAPPY JULY!

Welcome July! Yesterday was the postmark deadline for mailing entries to the Cards For Soldiers Contest, I am expecting two packages from Canada and when they both arrive, I will assume that all entries that were sent have arrived as I have not received any emails to the contrary.

I LOVE JULY- for many reasons. (1) It's finally getting warm enough here in Maine to not wear socks everyday, but still sometimes at night. (2) The fourth of July celebrations make my heart swell with patriotism and pride, I am a patriot through out the entire year, but during this time I don't stand out so much as being peculiar, and I have lots of people celebrating WITH me. (3) it's my birthday month! woohoo, I will be in Chicago for CHA on my birthday this year-how fun is that? (4) July is right in the middle-- no more end of school activities, and it's too early to go school shopping! it's the perfect time to relax..........................

So much for that, I'm busy with CHA!!

Other new stuff: I am now a designer for Frances Meyer! Very exciting, such an amazing company (ChartPak) with fine art supplies and trendy products too.

GET READY: for Spellbinders new releases!! You are going to be completely dazzled with what they have designed for Summer CHA, don't miss it; stop by and see what the Wizard can do, the new dies and coordinating rubber stamps.

Ranger U-Perfect Pearls Certification was amazing! we learned over 30 perfect pearls techniques that bring glitz and bling to my art. I cannot wait to incorporate some of these (with my own twist of course :o) into some of my new classes and projects. Check these out:




And I learned how to change a flat tire on the way home!
I've been so busy, I'll come back and post more later.


I am wishing you a very happy and safe holiday with your families,
Cheers!

BeckyC