Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that long ago or even quite that far away, but there was no denying that at CHA Winter 2012, the hexagons were back! I’m not quite ready to call this trend a staple yet – it’ll take at least one more show to tell – but scrapbooking manufacturers of all styles have certainly embraced this shape and put their own spin on it. If you want to see examples from last summer’s show be sure to check out my Trend Watch article on Hexagons, Honeycombs, and Lattices from last October, but right now I want to take a look at some photos from the CHA Winter 2012 show floor and look at just what this trend had to offer this time around.

I have to admit that the Jenni Bowlin booth was one of the last places I would have expected to see hexagons at CHA Winter 2012, but she totally surprised me by putting her own signature (and lovely!) vintage spin on the shape. The hexagon paper (from the Magpie collection) and Quilted Stickers shown below are perfect examples of how a company can be trendy and still stay true to their roots.

Ever trendy Hambly showed up at CHA Winter 2012 bearing hexagons aplenty. They took the shape and filled it with trendy patterns such as chevrons and quatrefoils in both their new printed paper line and their new honeycomb screen print.

Heidi Swapp’s triumphant return to the scrapbooking industry was one of the biggest stories in Anaheim in January. I want to take a close-up look at just one paper right now, though. See the print at the bottom right of the Color Magic display? Yes, those are indeed hexagons, ready and waiting to be misted, inked, and colored to your heart’s content!

Lily Bee’s paper lines always feature small, tight, almost quilt-like patterns, so hexagons are a natural fit for this company’s style. Their just-shipped Victoria Park collection includes a multi-colored, multi-layered honeycomb pattern.

Hexagons were all over The Crafter’s Workshop’s new releases. Some of them were in the form of these chicken wire templates, which are available in both positive and negative images in either 12×12 or 6×6 sizes. Julie Fei-Fan Balzer also released a new multi-patterned background template that includes a hexagon pattern among its designs.

Authentique put a fun spin on the honeycomb pattern with one of the prints from their Loyal collection. They left some of the shape’s sides open to create joins between the centers – quite the cool effect!

Rhonna Farrer’s Follow Your Heart line for My Mind’s Eye includes vintage ephemera and pattern inlaid hexagons on some sheets while other prints in the collection feature a more subtle honeycomb design. Even the stamps in this line have honeycombs!

In Spellbinders’ new collections, I discovered this fun hexagon patterned M-Bossabilities folder. This particular folder is called So Trendy because it features another hot design on its reverse side – chevrons!

Little Yellow Bicycle has put hexagons right inside some of the fish on this paper from their Splash collection.

Webster’s Pages new sports-themed line, Game On, includes plaid and checkered patterned hexagons on one of the patterned sheets.

The hexagon paper in Basic Grey’s Plumeria collection is unfortunately right at the very right edge of my photo, but you can definitely spot the trendy pattern!

Echo Park’s new Note To Self line includes a shape that, while not exactly a hexagon, is definitely hexagon influenced. The geometric print below features a six-sided shape with the added twist of having two of the sides elongated.

Tim Holtz also caught on to the hexagon trend and included it not only in one of his Stamper’s Anonymous background stamps, but also in one of his new Texture Fades embossing folders from Sizzix! Unfortunately the folder was a bit hard to photograph in the booth, but you can catch a closer look at it here in my pre-show picks article.

I’ll end our look at hexagons with Studio Calico. Their latest addition to the Classic Calico line, Classic Calico Vol. 2, includes hexagon prints not only on some of the papers, but on one of the washi tapes, as well!

I, for one, am happy to see the abundance of hexagons in the latest round of industry releases. As a scrapper who has trouble working with the more free-form look of circles, hexagons give structure and definition without being completely…well…square! They have a slightly funky vibe that keeps things interesting, and I’m hoping that at CHA Summer 2012 we’ll see that this trend has indeed moved into staple-hood.

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The Panel

• Heidi Swapp
• Stacy Julian
• Nancy Nally
• Noell Hyman

Sponsors:

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Picks of the Week

• Studio Calico – Mister Huey’s Color Mist – 1 Ounce Bottle – Cameo
• Simple Stories Fabulous Line
• Silhouette Electronic Cutting System
• My Mind’s Eye – Follow Your Heart Collection – Be Amazing – 6 x 6 Paper Pad

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First of all, Tim Holtz has cancelled Christmas. What I mean to say is, he has announced that he is retiring his twelve tags of Christmas series, and instead is going to be starting a series that will be sharing one tag a month:

at the beginning of each month i will post a  tag tutorial (with step by step photos, video, etc).  this tag will be themed to that month’s holiday season if applicable, or just a new idea to share.

I’m really excited about this change in his plans as this series has always been like twelve free mini-classes, and I think spreading them out is a great way to inspire throughout the year and provide different topics as well. The first tag of Twelve Tags of 2012 was posted in his announcement post.

Confetti is always lovely, and I was really inspired by this mini album that Waleska created for the Jenni Bowlin blog. Using vellum and stitching around the heart, she created a semi-transluscent pocket that is so lovely, and I could see it being fun for party invites, birthday cards, and more.

Wanda Guess is a fantastic crafter known for her cards, and this week she’s got a great one on her site including step-out photos for a Valentine card featuring banners. Her banner idea could easily translate onto a scrapbook layout or mini book, and I really think she did a great job layering the elements and creating a very inspired card.

Shimelle has teamed up with Two Peas in creating a weekly video series called “The Adventures of Glitter Girl” that is posted both on her blog, and at Two Peas.

Join us every Wednesday for the Adventures of Glitter Girl, helping the world one crafting dilemma at a time. Each week Glitter Girl joins Two Peas via video to solve a problem posted on the message boards.

This week’s video is up, and Glitter Girl is taking on chipboard.

The Pebbles blog posted a sketch by Becky Fleck, as well as several of their Design Team’s interpretations. I really like this sketch – it has a lot of possibility and could be a lot of fun to take on and play with.

Over at Studio Calico, design team member Tina shares a really cool idea featuring their new stamps and Instagram photos. Her process is shown in step-by-step photos, and the idea has me thinking about using punches and stamps more with index prints (or photos printed small together on one sheet) with them.

Finally this week, registration for Heidi Swapp’s new class at Big Picture opened.  As Heidi describes the class on her blog:

big picture classes is all about sharing IDEAS, all about inspiration… which i love. this class is designed for you to use the class concepts and instruction, and your own STASH…  it’s not required to use my new products to participate… you can use any file folders, and i’ll teach the rest. it’s going to be fuN! i am loving watching my File Box fill..my kids are LOVING looking through them. it’s so cute. i can’t wait to share these creations!

The twelve week class is titled “The Art of Observation” and begins April 5th. Cost is $99. Get more information and sign up now at Big Picture Classes!

Noteworthy is a weekly column here at Scrapbook Update. Have something new & noteworthy to share? If you have something you would like considered for next week’s column, email may@scrapbookupdate.com with a link or press release.

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So, in no particular order…here’s the Scrapbook Update CHA Winter 2012 Top Ten Hot Picks!

Amy Tangerine Sketchbook from American Crafts

This may have been the most buzzed-about line at the entire show. Every conversation about what was hot at the show inevitably seemed to include this line eventually. To generate this level of excitement with a sequel to Amy Tan’s red-hot debut at CHA Summer 2011, is a real accomplishment.

Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Album (photo by Melissa Stinson)

This album was one of the most talked-about items in the line. Many, many people seemed eager to use it for Project Life albums, an indicator of how people are now integrating their favorite product lines into their Project Life creativity.

Amy Tangerine Day Books (photo by Melissa Stinson)

These day books were almost as popular among CHA attendees as the camera album. They will offer some serious competition in the market as an alternative to K & Company’s Smash book line.

Amy Tangerine Sketchbook (photo by Melissa Stinson)

The colors in this line will make it a perfect spring line, and that fits with its ship date, which isn’t until March. I predict this line with fly off of store shelves.

Tim Holtz Distress Markers for Ranger

Another item that there was almost universal excitement about was Tim Holtz’s new Distress Markers for Ranger. For fans of the blockbuster Distress ink pads, these markers – available in all 36 Distress colors, plus Picket Fence (white) – are a natural extension of the Distress ink line.

The Distress Markers have the essential tips for stampers and scrapbookers: brush and fine points. With the new abilities that they bring to Distress such as convenient coloring of images through applying color directly to stamps, and easy blending of colors, these are sure to be must-haves for any Distress ink fan!

Jolee’s Boutique French General Collection from EK Success

Jolle's Boutique French General Collection (photo by May Flaum)

EK Success is known more for solid, middle of the road products than for huge buzz generating releases, but the French General collection from Jolee’s Boutique is certainly breaking that mould. The show floor was buzzing about this signature Jolee’s collection from the Los Angeles craft store that specializes in amazing quality vintage styled goods. The French General line will include some things rarely seen from Jolee’s, such as ribbon and tags, in addition to the more usual adhesive embellishments.

French General is certainly a breath of fresh air into the Jolee’s line, and will bring it plenty of new consumers. I predict this line will be not only a huge hit, but also scarce and difficult to find on store shelves as demand, especially for specific items, will outpace supply.

Clever Handmade by Heidi Grace Kress

Known to many as the creator of the Heidi Grace signature line (currently owned by Colorbok), Heidi Grace Kress was back at CHA after some time away from the industry. This time she’s out on her own creating products for her new company, Clever Handmade. Her unique signature style and some attention-getting new product ideas made sure that her line grabbed the attention of CHA Winter 2012 attendees.

One of the most attention-getting products of the new lines was Kress’s rub-ons that are intended to serve as patterns to be stitched over for hand stitching designs on paper crafts items. On the layout below, a rub-on pattern was used to create the cloud design:

Kress’s return to the papercrafts market seemed to be welcomed with open arms by CHA attendees and I’d expect to see her distinctive designs showing up on the shelves of many local scrapbook stores very soon.

Fabrications by Teresa Collins Designs

Collins’ signature look has always been very distinctive: black and white, with very little color in the mix. I’ve often described her work as “the White House Black Market of the scrapbook industry.” So it was nothing short of stunning to see sneak peeks released of CHA Winter 2012 designs for Teresa Collins designs that featured color – and lots of it!

Adding color to Collins’ elegant design style is sure to attract attention from a whole new segment of consumers who would have not been interested in her previous signature color palette. Fabrications, in particular, with its palette of very friendly bright colors,  should open Collins to a whole new market of consumers. It’s hard to think of an established brand as being a break-out hit, but I predict that this release will bring Collins to the attention of a much wider – and larger – market.

Heidi Swapp

Swapp didn’t just generate buzz at CHA Winter 2012 for being a big name returning with her own new signature line after a long break.  It was the way she returned that generated buzz – by capitalizing on a major trend sweeping the industry right now and giving it her own interpretation.

A certain segment of the papercrafts market consumer is tiring of the traditional 12×12 page format, and in response we are seeing the growth of formats such as mini albums and Project Life. Swapp’s new product line, which is being distributed through Pink Paislee, interpreted “off the page” scrapbooking in her own way, with a system she calls “Memory Files“.

Heidi Swapp Memory File (photo by Melissa Stinson)

The decorative file folders essentially serve as mini albums that are then stored in their own file box:

Heidi Swapp Memory File Folder (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Heidi Swapp Memory File Box (photo by Melissa Stinson)

This system  definitely is in sync with the current trend away from traditional page scrapping, and was much-discussed at the show. Consumers are hungry for something new. For many of them, this system may be part of their search for new and different ways to experience their craft.

Lindy’s Stamp Gang

I always like to throw a wild card into this list – something few people I talked to seemed to know about at the show but that I think they will hear about in the near future. At CHA Winter 2012, I think that company was Lindy’s Stamp Gang. Although I didn’t hear much buzz about this company, their booth was jammed when I visited it – always the truest sign that a company is having a successful show.

Lindy’s Stamp Gang certainly isn’t new, having been around since 1996, but products of theirs could be poised to grab consumers’ imaginations. The company offers paints, spray inks and stains that are two-toned, and some that use Mica to lend an iridescent quality to the medium. Papercrafters are fascinated with color mediums right now, but always want something new, and these products don’t generate repeat sales after a crafter builds up a basic color stash unless something new and innovative is offered up. The Lindy’s Stamp Gang products have the potential to grab the attention of consumers who are looking for something new and different from the spray inks they’ve already been using for awhile.

Their Starbursts two-tone inks are available in spray bottles, stain applicator bottles, and a “shot” jar for painting applications.

Lindy’s Stamp Gang’s Moon Shadow inks have a walnut ink undertone with a brighter color as an overtone. They are available in a 2 oz mist or a 2 oz jar.

Hambly Screen Prints

This company has always been popular among the trend-conscious scrapbooking set, but transparencies are becoming extra hot right now thanks to a few Project Lifers such as Ali Edwards using them in high-profile ways. Hambly is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend, since they are the most well-known producer of transparency products for scrapbooking, and also produce  products in designs and colors that coordinate well with Project Life’s core kits.

Hambly Hexagon Transparencies (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Hambly Transparencies (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Washi tape is also hugely trendy at the moment and Hambly was one of the first companies to bring that to the scrapbook mass market. They produce designs that coordinate with their transparencies and paper, creating a unified graphic look available in all the hottest embellishment mediums for Project Life.

Hambly Screen Prints Washi Tape (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Hambly has always been the domain of the “graphic design” style consumers. Recent industry trends, however, are going to make their products more mass market as we move forward.

Follow Your Heart by Rhonna Farrer for My Mind’s Eye

Heidi Swapp wasn’t the only former member of House of 3 that debuted a hot new line at CHA Winter 2013. Rhonna Farrer also unveiled a new collection with My Mind’s Eye that had show attendees declaring was “classic Rhonna”.

“Follow Your Heart” is a perfect match for My Mind’s Eye – elegant, frilly and heavily detailed with vintage touches, in Rhonna’s signature style.

Rhonna Farrer Follow Your Heart paper (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Follow Your Heart is loaded with trendy icons of the moment: butterflies, hexagons, bicycles, music, birds, maps and text. The color palette is also up-to-the minute, featuring blues and yellows, and a coral tone of pink that is very hot as well.

Rhonna Farrer Follow Your Heart Buttons (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Rhonna Farrer Follow Your Heart Brads (photo by Melissa Stinson)

Even the collection’s embellishments are the current trendy essentials – buttons, brads, bling, and baker’s twine. This collection is already shipping to retailers and I predict some elements of it will sell out fast!

Hero Arts

Stamping is hot, and so is Hero Arts. That they were hot was no surprise – we even included them in May’s pre-show “new and noteworthy” series.

The buzz around Hero Arts recently has been amplified thanks to high profile partnerships with Basic Grey, Studio Calico, and Sizzix.

The distinctive styling of the Studio Calico licensed stamps are especially getting attention (pictured above: Weekdays, from the Take Note collection, and Roma, from the Abroad collection), and the latest release has the broadest appeal yet. Some of these designs have the potential to become perennial favorites for many stampers, regardless of whether they use the rest of Studio Calico’s products.

So that is it – the Scrapbook Update list of the Top Ten hottest products at CHA Winter 2012! A few companies managed to repeat, and a few companies made the list for the first time…but I guarantee that all of these companies are ones you will be hearing a lot about in the next few months!

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Studio Calico | Abroad

“Abroad” is filled with great useful patterned papers, but they go above and beyond with garlands, fabrips, letter stickers, and shaped stickers that utilize map print. They also have die cuts and wood veneers of each state (USA), stamps, and more. The blues, greens, and neutral colors will be so versatile and would mix well with other brands as well as perfectly coordinate with existing Studio Calico products.

Tim Coffey for K&Co | Travel 2012

Focusing on tropical seaside paradise, this Tim Coffey collection is heavy on creams and brown, accented with coral, blues, and green. Postage stamps, sea life, shells, and palm trees are heavily featured in this line. Whether a day at the beach or a vacation to somewhere oceanside, this line will be fantastic for all things nautical. It manages to have a vintage flair but not over do it.

Janet Hopkins for Bazzill | Wayfarer

Janet Hopkins has released a new line of twelve papers (also available in a paper pad in 12×12 and 6×6 size) and a sticker sheet called Wayfarer. The line mixes trendy design elements with classic travel motifs and fairly neutral colors.

Webster’s Pages | Palm Beach

Whether you’re heading to sunny Florida or any tropical destination, this new line from Webster’s Pages will be amazing for your travel pages. Some of the patterns could be used for non-beach projects if the subject was wearing something that coordinated with the coral, blues, and greens in this line. I especially love the coordinating cameos being offered, which are so unique and beautifully themed to this line that I can’t wait to try them out.

Glitz Design | Happy Travels

Filled with color, florals, and plenty of airplanes, Happy Travels stood out from the crowd as being a travel line that is a bit unusual. A lot of the elements stood out and would work on their own, and many of the papers could easily work for layouts that had nothing to do with traveling. I really like the purple compass paper and the stickers and embellishments as well.

Heidi Swapp | No Limits

Listed as coming soon to Scrapbook.com, no limits was one of the lines that Heidi Swapp released in her new line of products through Pink Paislee. It features map-heavy designs and really great accents like dimensional stickers in Heidi’s signature font and great paper trim (both shown above). I like the general feel of this line, as well as how easily it could be used on general pages as well.

Tim Holtz Idea-ology | Destinations

Released in both a paper pad and stickers, Destinations is the new travel themed product from Tim Holtz. Many of his embellishments, die cuts, and stamps (both new and past) also coordinate with these offerings. I have worked extensively with this product to create CHA show samples (for Tim Holtz) featuring this line, and I have a layout to share with you here to show the line at work.

This line does offer some USA-themed parts, but overall is very flexible. I especially liked the tiny white and kraft stickers that are useful in both travel or general themed layouts.

There is definitely a map-heavy trend going on, something I like because it has a general explore feel to it without being too specific. Neutrals blues and greens rule, the addition of coral in several lines doesn’t surprise me as that is an emerging trendy color that we’ve been noticing. (Note: watch for Melissa’s article on that coming soon!)

Another emerging trend is the use of cameras – from Amy Tangerine’s new album covered with cameras to Echo Park’s paper filled with vintage inspired cameras, and die cuts, stickers, and more from other companies. Whether it’s travel specific or just used randomly, the camera is a very popular image these days.

There are other travel lines already out now including the Tropical Travelogue by Graphic 45 (already in stores), and I believe we will continue to see travel, journey, and other themed product that continues to balance between being useful for vacation scrapbooking and being able to be used for other themes and subjects as well.

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