Celebrity Sightings - CHA Winter 2012

 

One of the reasons designers like going to CHA so much is that it's a great time to get together and catch up.  Here are a few candid shots I took while walking the show floor.  You'll recognize many of them as being members of the Designer Crafts Blog Connection.  

Here they are, in no particular order:  Jenny Barnett Rohrs - CraftTestDummies (check the link in my sidebar), Patty Wack - I Love to Create, Wendy Russell - She's Crafty on ION Life TV channel and Terri "O", CHA Spokesperson.  

Michelle Cummins - Faerie Dust Dreams

Theresa Cifali - Mixed Media Artist demoing at the Impress Metal Stamps booth.

Ann Butler, Kerry Goulder - Kid Giddy and Jill McKay

And here they are again with Marisa Pawelko - this year's Horizon Award winner.

Here I am with fellow Brits, Julie and Sue.  Don't you just love those T-Shirts!!

And here's Mark Lee with more Brits at the Flower Soft booth.

"Here we are again, happy as can be, all good friends in very good company"

 Jen Goode - J Goode Designs in her booth in the License and Design section.

And Carla Schauer next door......

Ann Butler demoing at the Makins Clay booth

and here's Victor Domine helping the Purple Cow keep things "mooving"....

Candice Windham caught in the act, oops, I mean aisle...

with Beth Watson close behind.

Here I am at the EK Success booth with an old friend, Carol Snyder.

And here's "Jewels", Julianna Hudgins both coming

and going..... check out that "bling"

Tiffany Windsor - Cool2Craft online TV Show seen here at the Innovations Media event, demoing her new product Cool2Cast.  I have to say, everything Tiffany does is always "cool".

Debra Quartermain at her booth in the License & Design section

I caught up with Terre Fry at the Spellbinders booth

and last, but not least Babyville Boutique creator, Jean Kievlan with Laura and Gwen
from Prym Dritz at the Innovations Media event.

I saw lots more friends, but didn't always remember to whip out the camera - sorry!  I did get lots of photos of the booth displays though and I'll be posting those Monday!  Plus I'll be giving away some of the new products you've been hearing about.......  y'all come back!

Yours truly,
Julie :)

CHA Innovations Winner!

Shoe Attitude, tattoos for shoes, won the top award for innovative new product at the CHA show this week.  Runners up were Cool2Cast and the Knook, the knitting needle crochet hook from Leisure Arts. 

I have some great photos from the trade show floor to post, but just got back so look for them on Feb 6th, First Monday.  I also brought some of the new products for a Giveaway, so y'all come back now..........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Innovations Sneak Peak

About 100 new products were entered for the Innovations award this year.  20 of these were selected as the "Hot New Products" and the manufacturers set up their displays and demos for judging.  Each representative had 60 seconds to promote their product, then judges and attendees had an opportunity to see, touch and watch demos.  Here they are in alphabetical order:

Babyville Boutique.  A sewing program for environmentally conscious moms who need specialty fabric for making diaper covers.  The program includes coordinating snaps and snap tool, fold over elastic, appliqués and more.
 

Flower Me with Candy: An easy way to make realistic looking edible flowers with candy.

  
Sullivans Clear Rulers:  That sharpens the rotary blades as you cut......
 

Send it Clear from Clear Scraps:  One of a kind clear card kit with USPS approved envelope.

Embosser from Craftwell:  Electric die cutter and embosser.

Cool2Cast from Yaley Enterprises:  Developed by Tiffany Windsor this is a new, air dry fiber plaster.

  
Copper Color Me from Hot off the Press:  Custom color your own embossed papers with mists, chalk and more.

Dazzu Light Craft Studio: Especially for kids, this kit contains programmable, interactive lights plus all the materials needed to create a one-of-akind, unique projects.  Such a fun way to bling.....

Diamond Head Tacks (for Home Dec):  Upholstery tacks with interchangeable heads. 

 Crafty Bands from Epiphany Crafts:  Create unique custom charm jewelry for kids!

Eco Crayons:  Saving the world one color at a time!  In recyclable packaging.....

Fringe in a Flash Multi-Blade Rotary Cutter from June Tailor:  The perfect tool for cutting fringes.  

The Knook by Leisure Arts and knit with a crochet hook!

  
USB Power Glue:  When the power fails, use your laptop battery power to use this glue gun.

Shoe Attitude:  Print images on Kodak shoe art film then use a special adhesive to apply to shoes.

 

Prima Press:  Use individual letters to create your own sayings, etc.  It's like having your own mini print press.

Craft Geek Pin It by Purple Cows:  Pin it anywhere with this new tool.

 

Tulip Screen It, All-in-1 Screen Printing System.

The show opens tomorrow, so lots more photos to come so y'all come back now.......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Making Faces

I've seen tons of artwork lately featuring faces, so thought I'd pass on a little insight to those of you who might want to give it a try.  Drawing and painting faces is easy as long as you're not trying to create an exact portrait.  Use the camera for that.......  Here are some basic guidelines to get you started then it's just a matter of practicing.

I created these steps on the computer, so the face looks "cartoony", but when you use a pencil it'll have a more whimsical look.  If you want this type of look however, use a stencil with graduated ovals and circles as your guide and simply trace the shapes you need.  Look closely at the eyes, nose and mouth, they're all combinations of parts of circles and ovals.   Okay, here goes:

Step 1.  Start with an oval for the head.  Don't be afraid to freehand.  The outline of the head doesn't have to be exact - you'll be adding hair to cover up any imperfections.

Step 2.  Divide the oval into 4 equal sections by lightly drawing a line down the center from top to bottom and across the center from side to side. 

  
Step 3.  Eyes are usually half way between the top of the head and the chin; the nose is half way between the eyes and the chin and the mouth is halfway between the nose and the chin.  Mark the placement for these with a short horizontal line, or just visualize where the features will be.

Step 4.  Sketch in the eyes, nose and mouth.  They don't have to be exact.  After all, no two faces are exactly the same.

Step 5.  Add color using watercolors, water color pencils, chalks, paint, etc.  The eyes are white with black pupils.  Add a light coat of blue around each pupil and a white highlight on top.  Color the lips and shade the cheeks.  You can even use powder blush for the cheek color.  Apply with a sponge applicator from your make-up drawer, a cotton swab, or even a soft make-up brush.  Don't forget to keep it simple.  The secret to adding cheek color, is to start at the center then swirl the applicator in a circular direction, moving outwards.  You can even use your own powdered eye make-up to add accents and highlights to the eyes.  And don't forget some black "swooshes" for eye lashes.

 

Step 6.  Add hair.  It can be straight or curly, with bangs or without, whatever you like.  Look through the ads in magazines for inspiration.

All you have to do now is pick up a pencil and start sketching and please don't be afraid to use an eraser, or, as we say in the UK a "rubber"...........LOL!  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

First Monday Projects! Journaling

Over the past, dare I say, 20 years or so, I've been designing inspirational and technique based projects for manufacturers, books and magazines based on the products I've been given to work with.  I sincerely love what I do, but a few months ago someone asked me what I liked to do for me.  Surprisingly enough, I had to actually stop and think...........  and it was kind of an eye opener.  I like to paint and I like to draw, but realized I've done very little of either one for quite some time.  I'm always doodling, the down and dirty kind of doodling as I talk on the phone, or get bored in a meeting - oops - don't tell, and I'm always playing with markers.

I've always loved to draw.  As a little girl I remember saving up pocket money to buy colored pencils at the University bookstore and used to fill book after book with drawings of fairies and little girls in Victorian style dresses.  Wide eyed damsels of the fairy tale kind flowed from my pencils like Niagara falls together with a whole army of popular cartoon characters.  I even wrote poems to go along with them.  Then one day it happened, I became a teenager and graduated to covering school jotters with things like "John", "Paul", "George" and "Ringo".  That was in the early '60s.

I'm sure you've seen and read a lot about "Art Journals" over the past few years or so, but anything that requires a commitment is not for me.  I rebel against doing anything I HAVE to do.  I have to WANT to do something, plus there has to be a good reason to do it.  Other than marriage, the only thing I'm committed to at this time in my life, is getting out of bed in the mornings and going to bed at night......LOL  As I said goodbye to 2011 however, and hello to 2012,  I started to think it might be fun to do some, what I will call "Freestyle Journaling".  My daughter bought me a journal (because it had London on the cover) for Christmas and I decided that instead of scribbling on odd bits of paper and the backs of envelopes here, there and everywhere, I would at least try to keep thoughts, ideas and doodles together in one place.  So here's today's musings.  Probably the only thing I will share, because this is only for me........

 
This kind of journaling may not appeal to you, and that's okay......  It's like any creative endeavor,  it's very personal - no rules - just fun!  Enjoy whatever you do - that's the whole point.  Look for more ideas by clicking "hop forward" on the Designer Crafts Connection logo in my sidebar on the left.  If you keep hopping you'll end up back here with a whole bunch of new ideas and inspiration. Y'all come back now...........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Twelfth Night!

January 6th is "Twelfth Night", the day we traditionally take down Christmas decorations in England.  It's also Epiphany and, like December 6th in some European countries, January 6th is the day children in Mexico and South American countries receive gifts acknowledging the day the 3 Kings arrived in Bethlehem with their gifts for the baby Jesus.  My mum always said it was bad luck to leave our decorations up after the 6th, so I guess I'm in for a rough year - I didn't get it done yesterday.  They're down today though.  Hopefully that will count for something.  Garlands and wreaths are now piled up on the table ready to be stored and all the ornaments are lovingly and carefully packed away in their appropriate boxes. The house looks so bare without the brightly lit tree by the fireplace, but Baby Jesus is still in his manger on the end table.  As my granddaughter reminded me, we don't put away Jesus just because Christmas is over.  Not her words exactly, but you'll understand if you read the story in the earlier post below.......

So what now...  it's a New Year and another 12 months of new possibilities.  Psychologically we seem to look at the New Year as time to start over, hence the making of New Year resolutions, basically setting new goals.  Many of them get broken, as quickly as they're made, but thinking about changes and setting new goals is always - dare I say, fun......  No?  Well let's make it fun.  The first step is to find a some kind of a notebook, journal or whatever inspires you.  The title is "New Year Resolutions" and on the first page you'll write 2012 and the list of what you would like to do this year, your goals and dreams.  Cut pictures from magazines, sayings from books, etc anything you like.  Add things as you think of them, but don't stress about it.  As the days, weeks and months fly by, you'll probably find you'll set your Resolutions Journal aside and totally forget about it, but that's okay.  The important thing will be to keep it in a place where you can find it next year and start a new page with 2013.  You'll probably look back over the things you wrote for 2012 and you'll be able to do this each year you keep it up.  Just think how interesting it will be ten, or more years from now.  I've never been disciplined enough to write in a diary, or keep up with an Art Journal every day, so having the freedom to write odd notes whenever I feel like doing it is fun.  Sometimes I'll write, or doodle on odd scraps of paper and "Post It" notes and all I have to do is glue them on a page in my book.  I even include photos, postcards, my grandchildren's drawings and so much more - whatever I want.  It's an original scrapbook - little bits of everything a totally unrefined, unartistic mish mash of just plain stuff with no rules and no restrictions.  I love it......  you might want to try it too.

The theme for the Designer Crafts Connection first Monday project this month is "Journaling".  You'll find even more ideas then, so......y'all come back now!

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Scrapbook Soup TV Show Now Online!

You can now watch the new series of Scrapbook Soup online starting this Saturday, January 7th, noon-5pm EST.  Check it out at www.scrapbooksouptv.com.  See ya there!

Yours truly,
Julie :)

First Monday Projects!

Designer Crafts Connection usually posts projects on the First Monday of each month.  Since today is January 2nd, we'll be posting next week instead.  Our theme is journaling.  Y'all come back now!

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that it's almost 2012.  2011 passed by so quickly, I'm still looking for the brake pedal.  The years are picking up way too much speed as they continue to fly by on a far too regular basis.  I've said for years, that we don't start to age until we have children then when grandchildren enter the picture, it's a definite wake up call.  I tend to take things day by day, but have discovered that if I don't start to plan now what I want to do "when I grow up", it's not going to get done because eventually I will run out of time.  Not really, but I still want to be young enough to enjoy what I want to do with the rest of my life.  I'm not trying to say that I think I'm old, but once the OAP stage is reached, it's a slippery slope indeed.

So what's in my plans for 2012 - I don't make New Year's resolutions any more, because I don't like the guilt trip when I break them, but I do pull out the calendar on the 31st.  CHA comes first at the end of January..... oh no!  It's only 3 weeks away, how did that happen!  I have SO much prep work - I'm teaching a seminar and also have to pull my showcase together.  Gotta get going, I s'pose.........  but maybe I can wait till next year.  Enjoy the final hour(s) of 2011 and y'all come back now - next year!  Have a good one!

Yours truly,
Julie :) 

Christmas Traditions

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  It's my favorite day of the year.  There's nothing better than getting together with friends and family to share good food and cheer. 

We do the same things every year, so I suppose these would be our family Christmas traditions.  We always have turkey, brussels sprouts, dressing, mashed potatoes etc and Christmas crackers just like we did in England.  Another of our traditions involves a manger scene.  It's only a small one - Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in his manger.   The manger remains empty however, until Christmas day which is when we put the baby in the manger.  I never realized what an impression this made on my 2 year old granddaughter until last Spring when she suddenly asked "where's Jesus?"  "He's in heaven watching over us", was my reply.  "No he's not!" she said, "he was right there!" and she pointed at the small side table where we always put our manger scene.  Of course, I had to rescue baby Jesus from the cupboard and now he is with us all the time.  I love the way children think........  The story reminds of the words of song by Larnelle Harris.  As the dad is packing up and putting away all the Christmas decorations, his son asks "do we put away Jesus too?"  With all the hustle and bustle, it's easy to forget the reason for the season.


Enjoy the rest of your holiday - y'all come back in the New Year!


Yours truly,
Julie :)

It's Christmas! Fun Facts & Last Minute Crafts

Christmas is traditionally a very "crafty" month, but it's also one of the busiest and I have to admit that I have actually bought Christmas ornaments, ready made decorations and cookies......  For some reason it makes me feel really guilty, but I'd rather be stress free to enjoy the fun than overwhelmed with SO much to do, because when all said and done, it's still my favourite time of year.

Did you know that Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas in Great Britain back in the 17th century? The ban didn't last long and neither did he.  People love a reason to celebrate, whatever the occasion.  The Christmas season officially stretches from December 25th thru January 6th, which is known in England as Twelfth Night.  This is the day we take down all our Christmas decorations.  Celebrations however, can start as early as the first Sunday in Advent and are as varied as the countries that celebrate them.  Father Christmas has been the traditional Christmas figure in England since the 15th century whereas the American Santa Claus is based on the Dutch St. Nicholas from the 4th century.  In some European countries, St. Nicholas still fills the children's shoes with gifts on December 6th instead of the 25th.  Here in the US we start to decorate Christmas soon after Thanksgiving, but in Germany the Krist Kind (Christ Child) decorates the tree on Christmas Eve - that's one very organized guy.  After he's finished he rings a bell and the children rush into the room.  Traditions also vary not just from country to country, but also from area to area within a country!  In England, Father Christmas is treated to a glass of sherry and a mince pie in appreciation for bringing presents - that's probably why he's so jolly and has a red nose...LOL, whereas the American Santa only gets milk and cookies - bah humbug....

Since we've always been a "crafty" family, we still make a lot of our own ornaments for the tree.  The very first Christmas tree after our daughter was born was covered in Raggedy Ann and Andys made from bread & salt dough and painted with bright colors.  We also added garlands of popcorn, which lasted quite a few years.  My favorite ornaments (I still make them) are the ones we make from wax.

I melt leftover candles in a double boiler.  While the wax is melting, I place an assortment of plastic cookie cutters onto a baking sheet covered with wax paper.  Using a metal ladle, I gently fill each cookie cutter with wax - about 3/8" deep.  Once the wax has hardened, the cookies will easily pop away from the sides.  Don't worry if some of them crack, or break, just pop the pieces back in the double boiler and melt again!  To add a hanger, thread silver or gold thread onto a tapestry needle.  Heat the tip of the needle in a candle flame, then push gently through the top of the ornament.   Cut the thread then knot the ends together.  Candy molds are also great for making ornaments (see the angel).  Allow the wax to set (you can place in the freezer for a few minutes) then tap the mold sharply to release the shape.  Ta dah - they're finished!  Doesn't it feel great to recyle AND be crafty at the same time.....

Please note, this is an adult craft and not recommended for young children.

Here's another one for you.  

These little gift boxes were made from old cards.  The front of the card is the top of the box and the back of the card is the bottom, with the verse inside.  Score a line all the way around the card about 1" from the edge.  (Both pieces.)  Make sure the lines go from edge to edge so they cross at each corner.  Cut along one scored line from the outside edge to the point where the lines cross at each corner to create a tab.  Fold the sides inwards.  Glue the tabs in place to create the box shape.  

Embellish with ribbon, jewels, charms - anything at all!  Now you can make a set of wax ornaments then place them in a gift box for a great gift!  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,

Julie :)