Crafty Trends... continued

Other key trends spotted include...

• VINYL HOME DECOR
  
  Remember I scoped Uppercase Living last year? Well the scrapbook world is now awash with home decor vinyl applique. Originally Lisa & Becky (Advantus) tried to get us to decorate our walls with hanging things and stickers... then the Cricut (Provocraft) and the Silhouette (QuicKutz) sold vinyl sheets that you could die cut then use to decorate frames, albums, walls et al... and there was at the same time WALLIES (which is a blackboard type vinyl which encourages your kids to "feel free" *which on a sad note my 3 year old daughter DID in my absence on my brand new carpet... joy!!)
  
  Anyways, we now have virtually all the big boys selling finished die-cut phrases and icons to be used to decorate those all-so-bare walls we Brits have a plenty. They LOOK oh so good in the brochure, but not so sure if they will translate onto our teeny walls in our teeny houses...
  
• SPARKLE
  
  If you thought that rhinestones were the epitome of all things glam, then think again. The trend for glitter speciality finishes on patterned paper has flooded scrapbook manufacturers. It is pretty pricey compared to adding your own glitter at home to a sheet of 50p paper - but the effects are less *homemade* and definitely more bam bling. You won't be able to escape this trend, or the cash it will take out of your pocket to feed the habit!
  
• COST CUTTING
  
  Saving the planet was firm on the agenda, but only after saving the pounds in your pocket first. Thus the advent of 99p-esk stamps popping up all over the show (We R Memory Keepers have some cute ones to match that Tiffany line... which is a wowzer one irl!) BUT pack sizes are also reducing, so retailers can buy more breadth, and less depth. With GCD Studios also getting really cost sensitive when it comes to their deliciously designer papers and accessories. The credit crunch is hitting... big time!

I did nip into the TWO PEAS IN A BUCKET cupcake party (Kirsty, Shimelle, Marion and Bev were there also from the UK) and we had a hoot with tsome american lasses on our table. Whilst they were 2 pea buffs, Holly & I were struggling to answer the simplest of quiz questions... although weirdly on my turn I ended up winning a new fiskars trimmer due to my acute knowledge of album manufacturers (aka guess work!?!)

My ill gotten gain will be added to the WISH WEDNESDAY STASH PILE... which is mounting up nicely! There are wallies, t-shirts, a cute Doodlebug shoulder tote and more... for that one lucky follower. xxxx

Wall Art...

I have yet to create a layout mounted on an easel and walloped onto my wall. I see them periodically (for a while they were in *every* scrap mag...) BUT I am a tad anal when it comes to home decor. I would much rather see my layouts in a stylish leather {effect} album - a la WRM - than stuck on a wall with all my journalling hanging out (like washing laundry in public tsk ;)

I, however, have been introduced to an emerging {nontraditional} home decor company in the US... www.uppercaseliving.com

I first saw these wall transfers (think: *massive rub-ons...) when Lisa & Becky launched that line with Advantus. It didn't really take off in the UK (excuse being - we have small houses, and even smaller walls, usually cluttered with a zillion photos... or in my case, Biro, zig writer... and crayon ;)

BUT I like the transfers that uppercaseliving are propagating! That CREATE one... and the DRESS UP?! I can think of ideal locations for both... and have promptly got my US-RESIDING SISTER on the case ;)

It is yet another 'home party' company - so measure it's success against supremo Stampin Up (urm, do we dare mention Craft-Ed?!) and I doubt we will see it ever hit the big time in the UK... but consider it spotted, adored and on the Christmas pressie list!

Did you miss these at CHA Summer?

I *adore* the new Crate Paper... absolutely stunning. The colour palette is always muted enough to be usable without getting TOO grungy. Grunge is definitely a has been trend, and colour is king.

It is nuts how much GOOD stuff you miss at a show, because you are visually overloaded with new at every turn. Not hard to see how consumers are hard pushed to negotiate their way through it all... especially in purse tightening times!

...still, how beautiful are these Hambly prints?

A girl can NEVER have enough storage - and the boys on top of the pile in that regards are Advantus (aka Cropper Hopper.) Always been a firm fav in my book (and my shed attests to it!)

CHA - Tim Holtz... catalogue!

Spotted: If you love Tim... then you will NEED ALL of him... right HERE

Some interesting hardware, and of course more boy toys for crafting (although we gals like to sand and ink and rub ourselves in metal and grungboard... we are hardcore like that!)

Other Advantus catalogues you can view:

Heidi Swapp HERE

Cropper Hopper HERE