Noteworthy | 12.9.2011

CHA might not be for seven more weeks, but manufacturers are not waiting for the show to release exciting new products and debut new lines. In fact, the current trend is to release product year-round instead now! I’m not complaining – I am enjoying a more steady stream of new products. This week, Noteworthy features three new product line announcements, as well as some creative ideas that took me by surprise.

With the beautiful bold patterns and designs, many crafters struggle to figure out where to cut it or how to use Webster’s Pages patterned paper. They are beautiful and over the last few years have definitely been among my favorites, but their surprising new announcement has me excited, and I believe other scrapbookers will feel the same. Webster’s announced this week that they are creating something new – Clean & Simple papers will be “dedicated to a cleaner, simpler version of Webster’s Pages.”

And no, this isn’t a one-time deal. ALL of our new collections will have a corresponding Clean & Simple paper line, the perfect complement to Classic Webster’s. So instead of having 6 papers per collection…we’re now having 12 papers per collection {6 papers Classic Webster + 6 papers Clean & Simple}

I do not think it is only clean & simple style scrapbookers who will enjoy and appreciate this addition to their lines. This takes out a lot of the intimidation factor of Webster’s Pages’ papers, stretches the usefulness of their lines, and gives crafters more options. I look forward to seeing their new release (Sunday Picnic) which should arrive in stores in January, as well as how this new development adds to their future lines. [Read more...]

Noteworthy | 12.2.2011

Whether you’re recovering from a recent shopping spree or gearing up for the holidays (or both), there is no question that the internet is filled with inspiration these days. I’m already having fun with Tim’s 12 tags and Ali’s December Daily, and really getting into the holiday creative spirit. Last week, I focused on many of the great online holiday events in my Noteworthy column (link), if you’re looking for a class or series to check out.

This week I’m back to rounding up the best announcements, tutorials, and information in general, so let’s get December started:

Pink Paislee has begun their annual 12 days of Christmas series on thier blog, this year re-named “Winter Wonderland” to fit in with their winter themed Snow Day product line that is in stores now. It  promises to be as fun filled as ever:

 Each day we will post a new project from our creative team that includes step by step tips and tricks so you can create along with us; and we will also provide FREE printables and host daily blog giveaways so we can give out secret scrappy gift boxes filled to the brim!

The event takes place through December 12 on the Pink Paislee blog. With the free printables, prizes, not to mention tutorials for projects I am really looking forward to this.

Thousands check out the Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas posts, of course, but also worth watching is the Ranger blog, which promises a daily prize drawing for a box filled with holiday inspired Ranger products during Tim’s 12 tags event. Some of the Ranger staff will also be creating tags inspired by Tim’s daily tag and posting those as well. [Read more...]

Noteworthy | 11.11.11

It’s 11-11-11 and what a week it’s been! With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, and the holiday season getting into full swing, it’s been wonderfully busy and crafty here in my home. Online there’s still plenty of crafting excitement, sales, and more to be had in 2011 – check out this week’s Noteworthy stories:

‘Tis the season for sales, and www.designerdigitals.com is having their amazing quarterly sale - all of their digital scrapbooking products are 30% off now through November 16th at 3am EST. Many digital and hybrid scrapbookers (myself included!) look forward to this quarterly sale and use it to stock up. With a wide variety of styles and products from beautiful brushes by Katie Pertiet to word art from Ali Edwards and page templates by Cathy Zielske, there’s something for everyone. Even if you’re not into digital scrapbooking, there are many products that can be printed out and utilized beautifully on paper projects as well.

Stacy Julian’s Photo Freedom episode on My Craft Channel was especially inspiring this week. Focused on telling your stories, and not scrapbooking to “catch up”, Stacy inspires with numerous stories and layouts of her own. All previous epsiodes of her show on My Craft Channel can be viewed here. [Read more...]

Noteworthy | 10.21.2011

The days are getting shorter here, which means they seem to fly by that much faster. I can hardly believe another week has passed, and it’s time to share the noteworthy stories I’ve found:

Let’s start with a company and their customers who have made a $60,000 donation possible! I’m talking about Stampin’ Up! and their recent donation to the BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Foundation) in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A special Strength & Hope stamp set and Strength & Hope digital kit were designed specifically for the campaign, and contained inspirational messages and images. Both were promoted through Stampin’ Up! direct-sales representatives, also known as demonstrators.

BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

It’s always so wonderful to see a company doing something to give back and working towards making a difference for a cause.

Big Picture Classes announced their 2012 line-up of 4-Expert Classes this week. Most notable for 2012 is that Big Picture will be featuring Scrapbooking’s first true celebrity designer Becky Higgins in her first ever online class. [Read more...]

CHA Summer 2011 | Jenni Bowlin, Teresa Collins, and Cosmo Cricket

Scrappers who are fans of all things vintage and sophisticated are going to love this next set of booth photos featuring Jenni Bowlin, Teresa Collins, and Cosmo Cricket!

Jenni Bowlin’s signature vintage style was reflected in her booth decor – it was absolutely stuffed to the gills with her signature antiques!

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The Red and Black collection has become a tradition for this company as they release an extension each year that incorporates new designs while at the same time staying true to (and coordinating with) the line’s original look and feel.

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Isn’t the chunky font on these days of the week stamps wonderful?

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These reproduction divided cigar boxes are a new item that Jenni Bowlin debuted at this show. There are so many possibilities here ranging from home decor to gift wrap…even storage (imagine that)!

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Jenni’s Christmas line is full of traditional reds and greens with vintage holiday icons scattered throughout.

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And the Jenni Bowlin Halloween line is also fabulous, with its vintage imagery and playful patterns.

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Jenni Bowlin is also updating her signature product line with Ranger by adding three new colors to the ink pad and paint dabber line – Lavender Sachet, Weather Vane, and Speckled Egg – while retiring three others (Chicken Feed, Chili Powder, and Soap Powder).

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These doily flowers really caught my eye as an example of some of the timeless and innovative embellishments that this company continually produces.

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The ever-sophisticated Teresa Collins had three new collections at CHA Summer 2011. “World Traveler” is my favorite of the bunch – anything with a map print is sure to catch my eye, and it was a major trend at the show as well.

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Teresa has some lovely brads and bling to match each of her lines at this show, as well.

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And of course, Teresa Collins is known for her signature damask papers.

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“Christmas Home” takes all the elements you’d expect from Teresa Collins – home decor icons such as chandeliers, rich damasks, and bits of bling – and combines them into a lush and lovely line.

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I love the bling centers on these snowflakes!

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Is that baker’s twine that I spy at the top of this trim card?

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“Haunted Hallows” puts a spooky twist on Teresa Collins’ signature style.

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Damasks are a huge trend for Halloween this year, and of course they are Teresa’s signature.

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Notations” was Teresa Collins’ mid-year release, bringing patters from her popular Notations mini album kit into a 12×12 format.

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While no new Blingage was debuted at this show, it continues to be one of Teresa’s hottest items.

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We’ll wind this tour down with a peek into the Cosmo Cricket booth. The veteran company brought two new lines to CHA Summer 2011, including their new Christmas release.

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“Clementine” features a spring-y color palette not often seen at Summer CHA shows, but Cosmo seems to be on the same page as Pink Paislee (with their Nantucket debut) and Echo Park (with Victoria Garden) in introducing this type of line at a show normally dominated by Halloween and Christmas.

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Cosmo Cricket has changed up the way they package their popular Doilies and Butterflies embellishments, electing to deliver them as a sheet of stickers instead of the package of die cuts shown at the Winter CHA show.

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Cosmo Cricket went completely vintage with their “Dear Mr. Claus” holiday line, sticking to an almost exclusively red and green color mix accented with whites and blacks.

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The third line in the Cosmo Cricket display was the mid-season “Odds and Ends” release that is already on store shelves. This line is also heavy on vintage icons and has been a popular line since its release.

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Where will Scrapbook Update go next with our CHA Summer 2011 coverage? Even we’re not sure at this point, so stay tuned to find out!

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