This entry will only cover three companies: Imagination Project, Imaginisce, and Junkitz. But those companies offer exciting products to a wide variety of scrapbookers and so you won’t want to miss this entry!
With its many sub-brands, Imagination Project is able to sell many different styles to appeal to almost any scrapbook designer’s personal aesthetic – or varying moods. Their solid CHA introductions proved again that this formula of providing something for everyone can work well for both company and consumer.
Project Essentials was a totally new brand that debuted at CHA Winter and the name describes the line well. The patterned papers, transparencies, die-cut coasters, and cardstock stickers are based on office supply themes. And I’m sure many scrapbookers will find this line essential, since the combination of graphic and retro is very appealing. The line is a collaboration of Gin-X designer Ginger Rohlfs and Circus Rose designer Emily Adams, and it is evident that the designs mesh the best of their two styles: hip and retro.
Ginger Rohlfs also designed two new lines for the Gin-X brand. “As You Wish” is blue and brown with touches of red, with flourishes and florals. “Get Into My Car” is in bright primaries and features street signs and car logos. If you are scrapping little boys or girls (or big ones!), you will find something that you will want to have!
The Chloe’s Closet and Chartreuse Dream brands also have two new lines each. Chloe’s Closet has “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Rawhide”, the first in lavender and green and the second in blue and brown. Chartreuse Dream introduced “Spring Fever,” a bright orange dominated floral assortment, and “South Pacific”, fauna in shades of green.
Only new line was introduced from the Blue Cardigan brand, but it was a beautiful expansion of Imagination Project’s vintage line. “Yesterdays” brings an updated color palette of turquoise and orange to the brown vintage designs of Blue Cardigan. The line is a lovely addition to the collection and should appeal to both trend and vintage stylists alike.
The real stand-out addition to the Imagination Project at CHA-Winter are the two new lines for the Circus Rose brand collection. These two lines, one which is red, white and blue, with the other in pink and brown, are designed featuring silhouetted figures similar to those seen recently in the young, hip Apple iPod advertising campaign. “Playlist” and “Fashionista” are sure to pack a punch with the young and edgy crowd, and perhaps even attract new scrapbookers that otherwise might not see design elements that would interest them.
Imagination Project is continuing a program that was introduced at Memory Trends last fall to enhance the marketing of their products, called the “Ipoints Reward Program.” This consumer marketing program allows consumers to collect points found on Imagination Project products for various rewards such as products and iTunes gift cards. The intent is to build brand loyalty for the company.
This company generated a lot of buzz with their 2006 debut and was looking to capitalize on that at CHA Winter 2007. In my opinion, they scored a major victory with their new embellishments but their paper introductions were uninspired.
The bar was set fairly high by the company’s initial paper introductions and the two totally new collections and one add-on collection that debuted at CHA Winter did not live up to the previous collections. Where the previous collections were funky and trend-forward, the new collections seemed too glaringly bright and almost dated looking. The one paper collection that is perhaps worthy of the Imaginisce name is the “Black Tie Optional” collection, the company’s contribution to the black and white trend sweeping the industry. This graphic and funky paper will likely find a place in many scrapbooker’s albums, even if the rest of the CHA Winter papers from Imaginisce leave them cold.
With embellishments, however, it is a whole different tale for Imaginisce. Just as in their previous collection, the company once again produced a huge assortment of interesting, trendy, and (with few exceptions) very usable seeming products. The new Bazzill Bling Blossoms and the other Bazzill embellishments will be staples for any scrapbooker looking for a little floral touch for their pages. The coordinates that go with the new paper collections will also be beautiful to use, with or without the accompanying paper of questionable design.
Each of Junkitz’s three signature designers introduced a new collection at CHA Winter that featured patterned papers and coordinating embellishments. While two of these lines dovetailed nicely with the company’s previous collections from these designers, the line from Teresa Collins was a major departure for both her and the company.
Salsa Celebration from Stacey Panassidi is an explosion of bright color and looks like a party on paper! The graphic dots, cirlcles and stripes, along with a few hand drawn cakes and florals, in bright colors just dance off the paper and make your eyes smile. The selection of rub-ons, alphabet stickers, rhinestones, and felt embellishments provide plenty of coordinating options. A unique coordinate is the Transparency Ribbonz, which are strips of transparency with printed designs that can be used like ribbon.
Fanciful by Janna Wilson is another collection similar to her Flowerful group. The collection of 6 double-sided pattern papers in blue, brown, pink and green has coordinating chipboard and stickers as well as buttons and ribbon.
Extremely Boy is a major departure for Teresa Collins from her previous collections, and with it, she proves that she has the flexibility as a designer to follow the trends and even lead them. This red, brown and black collection is themed on stars, flames and skulls. Drawing on the trends in fashion that have been labeled as “pirate”, “biker” or many other things, she brings this style to scrapbooking. While it may be foreign to many scrapbookers, it will likely appeal to many and help widen the appeal of the activity.
About Nancy Nally
Follow Us