Saturday, January 25, 2014

CHA Winter 2014: Recap, Favorites and Can't Live Without

Happy Saturday Friends!




Of course the can't live without is tongue in cheek but illustrates my most loved items from CHA Winter 2014.  I will review my favorite items and give you some insight into my can't live without items.  These are my opinions and I am by no means representing any company or getting any kind of compensation for these reviews.  This is for the pure love of crafting, the industry, and the companies.



What a great show.  First I must give a big thank you to Jodie over at Chico Scrapbooks!  That she invited me to attend my first CHA in July was amazing and a dream come true.  Being asked to return to the Mega Show this month with her was both exciting and humbling.  Exciting because, well, its CHA!  Humbling because this show represents an important part of purchasing products for Chico Scrapbooks and she trusts me and likes me enough to bring me along on this business trip.  Yes, it is a business trip.  While it is so fun to be there and see all the products, samples, designers, and companies it is a lot of work.  We are up early every morning and go all day and sometimes into the night reviewing products, placing orders, and generally learning as much as we can.  So grateful Jodie for our friendship.  Big hugs to you darlin'!  Thanks to both you and Terri for all the good times and laugh til you cry moments!

So what follows has no photos and is a long list.  I had a friend ask for my recommendations on what to purchase from what I saw at the show.  As I created the list I began to realize that others may find this list informative and helpful as well.  If you unfamiliar with items in the list I would recommend going to the manufacturers web sites and/or blogs.  You can also find many videos on YouTube.  Scraptime Videos and Paperclipping.com both do an excellent job with their videos.

Here is my favorites from CHA Winter 2014 starting with those all important can't live without items, lol.


CHA Winter 2014 Review

Winter 2014 CHA for me was all about the birds and bees and sea creatures.  I saw a thread of natural elements that really speak to me.  I saw this in the Tim Holtz lines, Graphic 45 as well as others.  I’m excited and already have projects in mind.  I am loving that I will have coordinated or matching dies, embossing folders, papers, and embellishments in these themes.

There are several sections here.  Things I’m not going to live without is a list of the things that I have already gotten or that I will be getting.  The favorites give more of a description and items numbers, prices, and ship dates as I had them.  It also includes other items that I may pick up at some point.

Things I’m not going to live without
·      Dies I already own (Released before CHA):
o   Spring Greenery sizzlits
o   Garden Greens Bigz
o   Jumbo Tattered Florals
·      Products I got at CHA:
o   Frameworks Die-Honeycomb
o   Mini ink blending tool
o   Mini distress inks
o   #hashtag stamp set
o   Distress Marker Spritzer
o   Hearts Stencil
o   Bubbles Stencil - Dylusions
·      Sand & Sea Bigz and Mini dies
·      Layered Bugs dies – butterfly, bee, and dragonfly (so crazy excited about these I can’t stand it)
·      Armor Shield Bigz Die
·      Waves & Bubbles Texture Fades
·      Bird Feather stamp set
·      Random Quotes stamp set
·      Cracks and Specks stamp set
·      Nautical Blueprints stamp set
·      Distress Damask stamp set
·      Idea-ology:
o   Heart charms
o   Letterpress
o   Ephemera packs
o   Found Relatives
o   Industrious Stickers – Borders and Trims
o   Remnant Rubs, Botanical and Life Quotes
o   Paper Stash, Wallflower (my absolute favorite paper!)
o   Collection Folios
·      More alcohol inks and blending pen
·      Tim Holtz Tonic Shears
·      Graphic 45 Good Ol’ Sport and By the Sea
·      Prima Stationers Desk
·      A Gilded Life by Spellbinders jewelry/mixed media pieces
·      Vintaj 6 x 6 embossing folders and foil sheets


Favorites

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Dies
·      Birds in Flight – a flock of birds connected together but could also be cut apart
o   Item #:  659425; $19.99; Ships April 2014
·      Bow-Tied– three sizes of 2 piece bows that are easy to put together and would dress up any card, page, or project.  Got to use this during Tim’s card class.
o   Item #659426; $19.99; Ships February 2014
·      Butterfly Frenzy – a bunch of various sized butterflies.  These are not connected but the way they are layed out on the die you can use the negative for a decorative element.
o   Item #659575; $19.99; Ships February 2014
·      Confetti – Cool round dots of various sizes that could be used for confetti but also would make great water drops and the negative can be used as well.
o   Item # 659574; $19.99; Ships June 2014
·      Spring Greenery  – a must have versatile die.  Will stand alone as decorative elements or with florals.  I already own this die.
o   Item #659573; $19.99; Ships Jan 2014
Sizzix Frameworks Dies
·      Frameworks dies – a series of geometric patterns with the functionality to use all components of the cut.  Great for backgrounds.  Same size as the On the Edge Dies.  Five dies Ship February 2014.  $15.99 each
o   Honeycomb Item #659430 (my favorite)
o   Chevron Item # 659428
o   Courtyard Item # 659429
o   Lattice Item # 659432
o   Trellis Item #659431
Sizzix Bigz Dies
·      Garden Greens – A must have leaf die.  I own this die.
o   Item # 659436; $19.99; Ships January 2014
·      Petal Drop – large petal shapes can be used to form a flower or heart or other decorative elements.
o   Item #659437; $19.99; Ships February 2014
·      Prize Ribbons – Look like ribbons you would get when winning something at the fair.  The circular piece is separate from the ribbon part so you can customize.  Two sizes.
o   Item #659438; $19.99; Ships April 2014
·      Sand & Sea – a seahorse and sand dollar.  Absolutely adore this die!
o   Item # 659576; $19.99; Ships June 2014
·      Jumbo Tattered Florals – if you like and use the original tattered florals this is a must have.  I own this die.
o   Item #659441; $49.99; Ships January 2014
·      Layered Bee – A Bigz Die and matching embossing folder
o   Item # 659577; $24.99; Ships June 2014
·      Layered Butterfly – A Bigz Die and matching embossing folder
o   Item #659578; $24.99; Ships June 2014
·      Layered Dragonfly – A Bigz Die and matching embossing folder
o   Item #659579; $24.99; Ships June 2014
·      Armor Shield – A movers and shapers die.  Would be great for sentiments and background for other shapes
o   Item # 659445; $19.99; Ships April 2014
Sizzix Movers and Shapers Mini Dies
·      Mini Eiffel Tower & Shield – Like this more for the mini shield which can be combined with the Bigz Armor Shield to make a frame
o   Item # 659443; $15.99; Ships April 2014
·      Mini Sand & Sea – matches the Bigz die
o   Item # 659582; $15.99; Ships June 2014
Sizzix Texture Fades
·      Waves & Bubbles Set – goes with the Sand & Sea dies
o   Item # 659581; $10.99; Ships June 2014
·      Shadowpress – new concept in embossing.  This creates a visually debossed sentiment that mimics the look of letterpress.  These will be great for cards.
o   Authentic Set Item # 659855; $10.99; Ships April 2014
o   Documented Set Item # 659856; $10.99; Ships April 2014
o   Expedition Set Item # 659857; $10.99; Ships June 2014
o   Family & Friends Set Item #659858; Ships June 2014
o   Sentiments Set Item # 659859; $10.99; Ships June 2014

Tim Holtz Collection Stampers Anonymous
·      Bird Feather – Birds, nest, eggs, and feather
o   CMS 180; $21.95
·      Nature Walk – minis of bird feather and daydream
o   CMS 181; $29.95
·      Random Quotes – including Remember the Now
o   CMS 182; $21.95
·      #Hashtags – Mario’s idea.  Just because its fun.
o   CMS 183; $29.95
·      Cracks & Specks – goes with the birds
o   CMS 186; $21.95
·      Purveyor – Steampunk with mustache man, numbers and old typewriter
o   CMS 187; $21.95
·      Distress Damask – great for backgrounds and stand alone images
o   CMS 190; $21.95
·      Nautical Blueprint – goes with the sizzix sand & sea dies
o   CMS 194; $21.95
·      Mini Blueprints 6 – nautical, treats and high society
o   CMS 196; $29.95
·      Stencils
o   Hearts THS017; $5.99
o   Doily THS018; $5.99
o   Speckles THS021; $5.99

Tim Holtz Idea-ology
·      Monocles; TH93129; $7.99
·      Mini Corners; TH93131; $2.99
·      Custom Knobs; TH93124; $9.99
·      Heart Charms; TH93132; $8.99
·      Adornments, Nature; TH93128; $6.99
·      Letterpress; TH93130; $19.99
·      Linen Ribbon; TH93102; $5.99
·      Clipboard Clips; TH93138; $4.99
·      Ephemera Pack, Thrift Shop; TH93114; $4.99
·      Ephemera Pack, Expedition; TH93115; $4.99
·      Mini Cabinet Cards; TH 93118; $3.99
·      Found Relatives; TH93121; $4.99
·      Alpha Chips; TH93116; $6.99
·      Industrious Stickers, Frames & Trims; TH93136; $2.99
·      Remnant Rubs, Botanical; TH93119
·      Remnant Rubs, Life Quotes; TH93120
·      Paper Stash, Wallflower; TH93110; $14.99
·      Resist Paper Stash, Motif; TH93112; $14.99
·      Collection Folio, Large; TH93126; $4.99
·      Collection Folio, Small; TH93125; $3.99
·      Large Worn Cover, Chronicle; TH93134; $7.99
·      Large page pockets; TH93140; $2.99
·      Mini Configuration Book; TH93133; $7.99

Ranger
·      Distress Marker Spritzer
o   Cool tool to give an air brushed effect.  Can use almost any marker.  We got one of these in the Tim Holtz class.  Will be great with stencils as well.
·      Mini blending tool
o   Great for use with stencils.  It’s round, and tiny, and just cute and fun.
·      Mini distress ink sets
o   1” cubes that stack.  Will come in sets of 4.  Set being released in stages in February, April, June and August
·      Distress Paints will now come in all of the 52 distress colors
·      Alcohol Inks
o   While these are not new, they are new to me.  I have 3 colors but haven’t used them much.
o   Saw several demos using them and I am looking forward to trying them some more and getting additional colors.  Tim puts a few drops in his empty palette case and then uses the blending pen to color items that have slick, smooth surfaces.

Other Tim Holtz
·      Tonic Shears
·      Stella Lighting:  The industrial collection by Tim Holtz
o   Great task light that Tim was using at the show; Coming Spring 2014; $225.00

Graphic 45
·      Good Ol’ Sport – sports themed images and nice neutral or masculine prints
o   12 x 12 pad 4500866
·      Botanical Tea – nature inspired with pastel, light colors
o   12 x 12 pad 4500889
·      By The Sea – nautical, summer, patriotic colors
o   12 x 12 pad 4500908
·      Staples
o   Metals have expanded to include a silver tone in the keys, key holes, door pulls, and brads
o   Tag albums now include Ivory and an Artistic Trading Tags
o   ATC Book Box

Prima
·      Stationer’s Desk – bold florals and prints with a deep rich palette
·      Cartographer – masculine, steampunky, maps.  This is Jim’s favorite Prima line.
·      Something Blue – wedding themed but not overtly so, neutrals, peaches, black, florals
·      Ingvild Bolme Junkyard Findings
o   Metal Corners
o   Ceiling light bulbs
o   Industrial lamps
o   Switches & Outlets
·      Ingvild Bolme Shabby Chic Treasures
o   Sea Shell
o   Sea
·      Lace Stickers – Doiley # 1, 3 4
·      Thin Metal Dies – 4” doilies

A Gilded Life by Spellbinders
·      “This unique and glamorous line of mixed media products brings romance, European flair and affordable luxury to all your handmade creations.  Perfect to create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, inspired home décor art, delicate embellishments to adorn fabric pieces, personalized gifts, mixed media art and paper creations.”  I would call it jewelry and embellishment making made easy but with the ability to personalize and alter to your taste.  In both antique gold and silver finishes.  We did a make and take and it was easy and fun to get a great result.  While this might be rudimentary for experienced jewelry makers you could certainly take it up a notch with beads, chains and other elements.
o   Includes pendants,  bezels with matching die templates, dies, texture plates, relics (crosses/spiritual) and foils.

Mixed Media
·      Dina Wakley is Rangers newest Signature Designer
o   Has a new line of paints, tools, stencils, stamps and mediums
·      Dyan Reaveley’s Dylusions
o   New ink colors – pomegranate seed, tangerine dream, chopped pesto, polished jade, ground coffee, and slate gray
o   New Stencils – loving the bubbles
o   New Stamps – Fancy Florals, and Doodled Delight are my favorites
·      Wendy Vecchi
o   Has 6 more Archival ink colors
o   Has a new crackle texture paste
·      Vintaj
o   Mostly known for their jewelry makings, dies, and patina colors
o   They have come out with some new 6 x 6 embossing folders.  I saw some great projects using these folders and the copper and silver foil tape.  Check out what Tammy Tutterow has created.            
§  Iron Scrollwork 658817 $8.99
§  Moroccan Fresco 658819 $8.99
§  Leaf Rosette 658818 $8.99

Authentique
·      Nice heavy weight papers
·      Suave – masculine, blues, greens, staches
·      Anchored – nautical, red, white and blue
·      Classique – turquoise, blacks


 Ok, if you made it this far I applaud you!  It's a lot of information I know.  I hope you were able to find at least some of it helpful.  Please let me know if you have any questions or need clarification on any of these items.

Look for projects with many of these products in the coming weeks and months.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I would love to get your comments.

Happy Creating.  Take care.

Hugs,  Sharon