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

Off to Athens...

You would think with CHA just around the corner that I would have better things to do - but who would pass up the chance to kick off the launch of COUSIN jewellery in Athens?! Not the most logic location - but I am in jewellery heaven (and it is raining!!)

Lots going on in the scrapbook world - with SIMPLE SCRAPBOOKS (by CK Media) being closed down "There simply isn't enough advertising to keep two magazines afloat. The economic situation has been difficult to say the leastand we've all been feeling it, no matter what area of the country we live in, or what industry we work in. I'm sure you can relate. Tough times. Tough measures."... and Fiskars announcing the cease of production of papers, stickers etc for Heidi Grace, Lil Davis etc. The plot thickens as we will see a real interesting CHA show. Ups and downs all around. On a positive Tinkering Ink became part of CreativityInc. (the same company who brings us Autumn Leaves, Blue Moon Beads, Westrim etc.) So some you win, some you lose. Big losses here with Craft Central going into administration... but again on the flip side we will see the locations find new ownership; so all is not as gloomy as it seems!

Off to eat my balaklava (as one of our sales team put it ;)
Becks xxx