Winter CHA 2011

Hi friends,
I'm sharing some of the moments at CHA here in the City of Angels.
Well, the first person I see is this guy:

 demoing his heart out :) It's T!m Holtz, of course!

Here he's showing us how he makes his own stamps from the Sizzix dies. He uses fun foam to cut out the stamps & uses the clear packaging as the mounts.

 Here's one of the samples using some of the new goodies coming...

Here he's showing off the new ATC sized embossing folders- very cool! And if you look under those you'll see the new stamps he's created for using with negative space on embossing folders & texture fades- very, very cool!

 and here he is with some mutant who "had" to have her pic with him... that would be moi :( I know it doesn't LOOK like I want to take a pic with him but, I was really excited to. I'm just the worst, most unphotogenic person ever!!! Tear, Tear...

Here's some beautiful jewelry made with Sizzix dies made for jewelry designs...

Here's a pic of some of the displays at T!m's booth...

 ooooo, these are new mini dies (movers & shapers) & the samples were awesome!!!

 That's the end of the T!m tour :)

Now we'll head off to another part of the floor.

Here's a sample from Quick Quotes.  It was quite a long canvas board but so pretty. They had a nice Canvas board make & take (I'll share later).

This was at Susan Winget's booth. Everything is made from paper. preeety...

Next up, this was at the Sizzix booth:

Sizzix has new dies & Embossing folders coming as well as new Pop-Up dies. Which brings me to these fun, fun, fun card samples by Karen Burniston. I had a pic with her, but I think I accidently deleted it :( The cool thing is she was showing us ways to use dies like the Christmas tree or snowman die for non-Christmas Trees or snowmen projects.
Snowman die:

and my personal favorite:
card front:

Opens to reveal Professor Snape! Luuuuuuuv!

Christmas Tree die:
floating chandelier

 floating bird cage (using T!m's birdcage die)

 

 Ballerina tutu-  How cuuute!

  

Now on to Prima. Their booth was very...well... Prima-ish! Very pretty & had lots of samples. Click on pics for a closer peek.

 

Here are some dress forms they had decorated with their papers & embellies;

Here's a little somethin' from KaiserCraft. They have these large wood cut-outs to embellish & display as home decor.

One of my fav stops was at the VIVA Decor booth. They had some great make & takes & on display was a model wearing this gorgeous dress:

 This dress was completely embellished with (my fav) Viva Decor Pens as was her beautiful jewelry.
Here's  a closer peek:

 See her bracelets? Those were one of the make & takes :)
You know what I'm doing to all my clothes now!!! Hee! Hee!

At the Provo Craft booth, they unveiled their latest machines: the YUDU for card-making and the Cricut Expression 2:

 What can it do???---> everything the current E can & the Imagine (except print, it will only cut out the Imagine images).  It has a touch screen & eventually will be wi-fi to connect to the computer wirelessly. It is compatible with the Gypsy. Honestly, many of the people I saw there were not that impressed. Much like in the past, it will launch for sale on HSN in April. Not sure on the price, but they will have a bundle.

They're also launching the Cricut Classroom, the new program that will essentially replace the Design Studio. It's supposed to be free, but you still need the carts to be able to cut. It is available online only, not for download. One last thing, don't like that Cricut green? Not a problem. The color on the E2 is customizable to whatever color you want.

Last, but definately the highlight of my day, was that I got to meet my fav designer of all time:
ANNA GRIFFIN!!!
 but friends, I didn't just get to meet her... she actually picked my brain about something *exciting* she's got in the works! AHHHHHHHHH! and it was all thanks to my fav Starbucks!
       I saw there was a Starbucks in the CC, so I headed to the back of the loooooong line & who was there??? Yes, Anna Griffin! My heart jumped & I ran very excitedly to the line (so no one else would jump in front of me). I stood there quietly not knowing if I should say anything, if I was going to bother her, seem like a stalker---> you know I had a million thoughts & emotions running through my mind. But I said to myself if I don't say anything to her, I'm going to regret it. I also remembered the little plaque I have hanging in my room that reads "Sometimes the only way to do it, is to do it afraid." So I did. I said hi & asked if I could take a picture with her (as totally cool, calm, & collected as I could) and she was so nice & gracious to grant my request. She put her arm around me & I was hoping she couldn't feel my heart thumping through my shirt or that I was shaking like a 10.5 earthquake! The other thought was "Oh pleeeeeeeeeease don't let me look like a mutant in THIS pic!"
Here we are:

 Good Enough!!!! A dream come true! I will be making wallets for everyone, a poster for my room, & sending these out for my Christmas cards this year! Hee! Hee! Annnnnd, she said for all my valued input, she insisted on buying my cup of coffee! I was so over the moon & a little shy about it, but she did. I normally get a Venti, but I didn't want to seem like a pig, so I just got a Tall :) See, I was on my best behavior!

Here it is:

 Ahhhhhhh... can you hear the Halleluiah choir in the background :) Of course I kept the cup! This is the cup Anna Griffin bought me! Meeeeeeee! Meeeeeeeee! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! It will have a special place in my craft room :)

It was an exciting, awesome with awesome sauce on top- kinda day!

Oh, I see a hand in the back.
Question: Did I bring back anything for you from CHA?
Answer: Ya know I did! I do have a copy of the new Cricut Magazine for someone who'd like it.

Just leave a comment on this post about anything I've shared from CHA. Anything that tickled your fancy? I'll pick a winner through Random.org & post it on Groundhog Day---> Wed, Feb 2nd :)

FYI, you can find more info about the new Cricut E 2--->Here.

That's it for today & for a long post.
Thanks for peeking & I hope you enjoyed a little peek at Winter CHA!
Gotta Go!

Cardabilities DT Reveal SKetch 24

Hi ya friends,
It's the 30th, which means it's time for a brand spankin' new sketch from Cardabilities. For your sketchy pleasure, may I present Sketch #24 by Karan Gerber:

Here's my card:

I reeeealy liked this sketch & pretty much stuck with it as is. :)

The deets:
I used Labels 1 Nesties for the card base (Gold CS). I ran the red layer through a CB Embossing Folder (Roses from Once Upon a Princess Bundle). The DP is Pink Paislee Cupid Collection. I added gold pearls with my Viva Decor Pearl Pen on the edage of the card & on the felt hearts. The leaves are punched out in gold CS from the bird/leaf punch (SU!).

I hope you can join us for this sketch- you've got till the 14th of Feb- yes, V-Day to linky it up to the Cardabilities blog. Please check out the cards the rest of the DT created with this sketch- they will knock your socks off!!!

We have loved celebrating our birthday month with you & appreciate your participation in the additional sketches this month :)

Thanks so much for peeking today! Get ready for tomorrow's post... ;)  It will be a little lengthy since I'm bringing ya the deets from Winter CHA!
Gotta Go!

Saturday News

Hi ya friends,
My Blog Hop winner didn't contact me so I redrew at random again...

Patti West

come on down & claim your prize! Click on the "Email me" button & send me your 411. I've got my back up in case Patti doesn't claim it.

Next bit of news...
Some of the YMH Design Team members are stepping down from the DT... including myself :( for now. Kristina is an AMAZING, wonderful person to design for so if there's a DT call to replace me, I hope you consider going for it.Thank you Kristina for a terrific opportunity & being a love to work for :) It has been a real joy & pleasure to know you & call you my friend :)

Thirdly...
I have been invited to join the Design Team at the ABC Challenge Blog, so I hope you can come play along there.

And my last bit of news...
I'm off to CHA!!! Woo Hoo!!!! My friend, Diana, invited me to tag along and since there's no consumer show this year, she didn't need to ask me twice! She's having a SALE  this weekend at her store, Custom Impressions, in the city of Bellflower so stop by if you're in the area.

Thanks for peeking today!
Gotta go!

Cardabilities Birthday Month Sketch #23

Hi ya friends,
We are continuing the birthday celebration at Cardabilities with a brand spankin' new sketch by the sketch master herself, Karan Gerber.
Here it is:

 Here's my card:

 I really liked working with this sketch :) I took the opportunity to create a birthday card for my pal, Jean.

The Deets:
I embossed the CS with the Victoria CB embossing folder. The Labels 9 Nesties coordinates with the stamped image from the Nina Brackett stamp set called Lovely Labels (Losing my mind over this set, it's serious fabulosity!) The sentiment is Inside & Out: Birthday PTI. I also used the Fleur de Lis Borderabilities, although only 1 of then is peeking out :(   To complete, I added a couple of blingies & a rolled rose.

Here's a peek of the innies:

There's more faux stitching along the edges. I stamped the large rose from the set YOF: Rose by PTI in white very subtly in the corner. The sentiment is also from Inside & Out: Birthday (PTI). The CS is Soft Sky, Whisper White, & black- SU!.

We would love to see your Cardabilities, so please linky up your card using this sketch at the Cardabilities blog. Oopsie! I almost forgot- you're not just playing for fun this week- there are 3 gift certificates up for grabs to Dreamweaver Stencils!!! You've got til Feb 2nd to get your card in!

Thank you so much for peeking today!

*enabler alert*

You can find this Nina Brackett Stamp set at Gina K---> Here.
Gotta Go!

Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop

Hello friends,
Today I'm participating in Papertrey Ink's monthly Blog Hop! I'm so excited to join since it's been a while since I got to play along. :( This month, the challenge issued is to use a stamp that has yet to be inked. Sadly, I have several sets that qualified :( ... but I chose one I've had for almost a year as it was released February of 2010---> Year of Flowers: Violets.
Here's my card:

(sorry for the lighting, muy bad :( & I need to fire the photog soon... I'll try to post a better pic later if I can)

I intended for this to be a CAS (Clean & Simple Card) but you know it's my Kryptonite & I couldn't stop at just stamping the background & sentiment... sigh...

I stamped the larger violet in a mixture of clear embossing powder & glitter so it is sparkly IRL depending on how you hold the card. I stamped the smaller violet on Plum Pudding CS 4 times & colored it in a bit with Copics (V12,V15, V17, V000, Y18). Then I cut out the middle section, layered it with foam tape, & added a purple blingie to the centers.

Here's a closer peek:

 I also cut around the images for added detail so you have a peek of the innies & the faux stitching around the inside panel edges made with my Sakura stardust gelly pen.

 Here are the innies:

 Stamped one little violet in the corner.
But... because you know I can't stop at this...I thought hmmm... what would it look like with a little more...
so here's a little more...

I colored in the middles & added some bling to the large violets.
ok, I'm done... really... ok maybe I'll add just a little bit of........

Thanks so much for peeking today! I'm off to check out what sets you have all neglected too ;)
Gotta Go!





The 411
Stamps: YOF- Violets- PTI
Paper: Elegant Eggplant- SU!, Plum Pudding- PTI
Other: Versamark Ink, Clear/Glitter Embossing Powder, bling, Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll Pen, Copics