CHA Winter 09 - Sneak Peaks a plenty...

LOVING the new storage from AMM... HERE

It looks similar to the upgrades from Papermania... which are spookily the same chic black and lime as is their messenger bag... so PMA is spot on trend ;) The little drawers are my fav... I can think of lots of ways I would use them (make up being one!) Word on the street is that REALLY USEFUL has downsized, and will be showing off some mini boxes which apparently will make me *swoon*... can't wait!

Other sneak peaks...

7Gypsies (Gypsy Market)

American Crafts STAMPS!!!

Anna Griffin (4 new lines... some a little off piste for her style, but I like them!)

Bazzill Basics (...swiss dot additions, cardstock strips, splat mat etc)

CherryArte

Clear Scraps (...new additions!)

Collage Press (not a big brand in the UK - but still worth a peak!)

Core'dinations... launch an exclusive line for Europe (details to follow!!)

Crate Paper (Little Sprout, Lilian & Orbit)

DCWV

Daisy Bucket (Little Black Dress....mmmmm!!)

Dream Street (Fresh, MJ, Forever Family, Heartsong, Secret Garden & Lullaby)

EK SUCCESS

Fancy Pants

Heidi Swapp (...missing her loot - it is lovely!!)

Jenni Bowlin (Farmers wife is a hot pick!)

K&Co

Luxe Design

Martha Stewart

October Afternoon (Cherry Hill)

Paper Trunk (Maybe Baby, Socialite)

Pioneer

Queen & Co

Sassafras (Vintage Yummy, Anthem, Bungle Jungle... I want it all!)

SEI

Sizzix/Ellison

Theresa Collins (Family Matters, Documented)

Paris Hilton (*cough*)

Hope you are sitting comfortably with a warm drink and a slab of your fav chocolate!

xxx

Spotted - Arctic Chill from Fancy Pants

Spotted: The subtly lush Arctic Chill line from Fancy Pants. For card makers the window of sale opportunity has past - but for those of us still to take our Christmas pics... then this might be the perfect paper.
Argyle seems to be making a big imprint on this range - and is ideal if you have those socks which your gran still insists on buying. I think I like Fancy Pants because they package so beautifully. Some of the papers aren't Oscar winning... but altogether it looks like a three course scrapbook meal.

Trend News

I somehow managed to miss Fancy Pants at CHA (although off topic, if you plug Fancy Pants into your web browser you end up with some pretty fancy tennis knickers... ;) Somehow the whole of CHA was Halloween mad - which didn't bode well for us mundane Brits who shrug this *holiday* off with our "chin up" approach to anything slightly schmaltzy and gimmicky...

I was browsing and spotted their new CHA products - and loved the hot pink take on a Christmas red. Long gone are those splotches of paint; hallelujah! Not sure if their style is something I can spot a mile off, or whether it merges into general design (much like Yellow Bicycle...) My test for new product is IF I can put the brand name to it, with just looking at the designs... that is when you know you have your own style.

So what trends can we continue to see in 2008? Well it seems like we cannot get enough of online tutorials. Anyone spotted Moo Vision yet? It's so bad, it's sooooo gooooood..... It is the UK take on those TV Weekly mega workshops - but with way less budget, but all the finesse you would expect from crafty lasses!!

I have never caught the HOTP webisodes, but I am always up for some online entertainment, especially whilst my delightful brood have control over the remote (...survival of the fittest ;)

CHA - Miss Fancy

Spotted: Lots going on with Miss Fancy Pants... Felt, Stamps, Chipboard (of the big variety) as well as Glitter Cuts (bling, bling, bling...) and Calendar Sets (urm, because in March we will all be making Calendars...?!) I still LOVE their humongous stamp sets... yeah, so they cost the world... but BIG is extravegant and we are totally worth it. Love their chipboard too - although I also love the Rusty versions... (and they are 'affordable' - not allowed to say the word 'cheap'... that just won't DO.)

Love how Jodi has developed this company (brought in designers) and moved on from those original paint slodged papers first release... anyone got any?! Anyone?! If you do, and you can email me a photo of you with a sheet of first born Fancy Pants paper, I will send you a set of Two Scoops stamps... can't say fairer than that!

CHA - Well isn't that Fancy...

Spotted: 2 more of the 6 lines from Fancy Pants! Sweet Spring & Papa.... I am not going to comment (ok - try and stop me) but I think I am over the worn look... I think that is why that orange tango Dream Street line is calling out to me. I want COLOUR. Crisp, chic, classy colour. I don't want mud (the other Dream Street surely has won an award for making the worst first impression...) and I think I want edges on paper that I can use (when I cut the darn thing up.)

Ok, it could be PMT - and a lack of my Creme Egg quota for the day (which is 4 BTW.)

Later,

Becks x

CHA - Drum roll... Fancy Pants

Spotted: New releases HERE... and promises of 6 *new* lines... so still more to come!