This segment of the alphabet includes some of my latest addiction, a must-have product for any papercrafter, and the new introductions from one of scrapbooking’s behemoths.
So let’s take a look at what is hiding in the M’s and O’s!
Don’t forget you can click on the pictures for a larger look at them!
The 900-pound gorilla of the scrapbook industry had several notable introductions at CHA-Winter, as well as a large selection of seasonal items for spring.
The only tool being introduced was the Tag Curler. This tool uses custom-designed metal tags and crimps the tail of them around ribbon or other trim to attach them to gifts or favors for what the company calls an “upscale boutique look”. The tags are available in a variety of themes, in packages of 18 for an MSRP of $3.99. The tool, shipping in April 2007, has an MSRP of $24.99. It seems a steep price for a one-dimensional tool, and I predict it won’t be flying off of store shelves.
The company’s other large – literally – introduction is the Embellishment Center storage unit. This white 27″ by 18″ shadowbox shelf unit is subdivided to organize a variety of scrapbook supplies. Two shelves are perfectly sized to display Making Memories acrylic paints. The bottom shelf has a dowel running through it to hold ribbon spools. For the other cubby shelves, Making Memories will be releasing coordinating wide-mouth plastic jars and storage tins to hold and display a multitude of embellishments. The Embellishment Center will be available in April 2007 for an MSRP of $74.99. The coordinating storage accessories will have an MSRP of $9.99 each. Looks to me like Making Memories is trying to compete with Pottery Barn…
For it’s staple lines of papers and embellishments, Making Memories is introducing several new looks. “Funky Vintage,” due for release in May, will include oversize florals, flocked stickers, and decoupage metals. “Fresh Anthology”, in stores now, is muted and worn, pretty much a nod to the ongoing shabby chic influences in the industry. In addition to those two collections, the company is releasing a flood of spring-colored embellishments such as trims, stickers, chipboard and paints.
Some of the new “signature” embellishments that we will be seeing in the future from Making Memories include jumbo brads, epoxy charms (called “Sweets”), glitter chipboard (called “Shimmer Jigsaw”), 4″ x 6″ photo overlays (called “Clear Creations”) and rub-ons in book form.
If you forgot an occasion or don’t have time to make a card, now you can use Making Memories to send a greeting anyway – through their new digital greeting service. Making Memories Greetings allows users to customize greetings for free with their own photo slide shows! For a small fee, add music or animation.
8 new “Designer Series” punches in nature themes (flowers, leaves, a bird) were the big addition to this company’s paper crafting line at CHA-Winter. The highly detailed punches all fit inside of a 1.5″ circle and can also be used with McGill’s stacking squares or circles.
Me & My Big Ideas
Although not technically a papercrafting product, one of the big new expansions from this company at CHA was in their t-shirt iron-ons. The new designs are edgier and more grown-up than the previous cute and tween targeted ones.
Me & My Big Ideas has never been a company to hold back in their design and they are going all out with the bling in their new embellishments! They are giving scrapbookers rhinestone words for every occasion, in themed packages with multiple coordinating elements. And this isn’t all “kiddie” bling, either. Some of the available themes include wedding with a rhinestone outline of a toasting glass, and a celebration theme with a martini glass and the word “toast”. Finally, some flash for us big kids!
Memories In Uniform
This specialty company with a very special market released some lovely new products for their customers at CHA-Winter. Their line now includes 4 colors of 12″ x 12″ albums that come complete with self-adhesive Velcro for attaching patches and other memorabilia to the cover, tattoo-inspired rub-ons, and updated versions of their camouflage papers.
In addition the company has also released another idea book, titled Letters from Home and the Heart. The book contains the albums of 5 military families to serve as inspiration to other similar families in telling their stories through scrapbooking.
As they enter their 10th anniversary year, something noticeable is missing from the MSE catalog for 2007: wood block stamps. The company is retiring all of those products in favor of turning completely to wholesaling the clear stamps that I am such a addict of! I hope that they will be seen in more stores soon because they really have a very distinctive style that I like and which I believe has broad appeal.
My favorite stamp of theirs at CHA was the absolutely huge punctuation set!
In addition to closing out their wood stamps and expanding their clear stamps, MSE also introduced Sentimental Rubz at CHA, rub-ons intended for use on greeting cards. Available in 15 themed sets for every occasion, they are just as beautiful as the stamps and are a great introduction to the company’s designs for someone who isn’t sure about the idea of clear stamps.
While not actually a scrapbooking segment company (they display in the general crafts section), I believe an Ott-Lite is a must for any serious scrapbooker! Their TrueColor lighting makes it much easier to accurately match colors and reduces eyestrain during marathon creative sessions.
Realizing that scrapbookers (and crafters of all kinds) like to actually decorate their workspaces, Ott-Lite has now introduced two decor colors of its classic task lamps: pink and blue. Instead of functional black or white, scrappers can now choose to go with “pretty” colors for their task lighting if they would like.
In addition, Ott-Lite has now introduced a rechargeable battery version of its task lamp. When fully charged, this lamp provides up to 3 hours of light with no cord, for use anywhere without worrying about outlet locations or stringing cord.
About Nancy Nally
Thank you so much for continuing on these articles, I really enjoy reading them!