CHA Winter 09 - Wish Wednesday Stash Build...

I have the most delicious goodies already... including an artylicious flocked storage 12x12 box with samples which includes a cute PURSE BOOK from the new *fabulous* (that is what it is called ;) range from Chatterbox. Worthy of raised eyebrows and pulse racing... AS WELL as samples from Hello Kitty (Sizzix/Ellison) x 4 dies, Clear Stamps, Modge Podge T-Shirt, Spellbinders concentric scalloped circles, Mambi Sticker, this wierd bag with a monkey leg (which looks like a tail...) all very bizarre... and it is growing for ONE LUCKY follower!

Keep tuned as the doors to CHA open and we head into the wonderful world of papercrafting a la USA.

Alas...farewell Tony Hart!

Tony Hart has died at the age of 83... leaving many of us with fond memories of THE GALLERY (the ultimate showcase for wannabe artists... from the age of 3 onwards ;) That dulcet tune that would play in the background as the camera scrolled through the week's lucky entries - and you KNEW yours would not be there... as it was still sitting on your bedroom dresser. If you had used chalk smudges, and that awful charcoal substance - then you were a shu-in to be picked... So long, farewell... Mr Hart. Long live Morph!




Monday Madness - Looks like there are deals to be had if you are in the mood to be spending ;)

• Save 50% on Scrapbook Albums
• Save 50% on Autumn Leaves
• Tools & Storage with up to 50% off
• BOGOF deals on DCWV
• 7gypsies sale!
• 50% off punches
• 50% off Ellison, Provocraft and other dies!
• 60% off BasicGrey/Papermania

I head off to QVC later - and have managed to pass the TSV launch at midnight to the lovely CLUR CURD (*I am not wonder woman!!) I am on from 1-2am and then will find the nearest bed to curl myself into. We have some exclusives on the 1am show, as well as more from Core'dinations, Doodlebug, Clearsnap and BasicGrey!

CHA Summer 08 - Day Three

Spotted: Ellison/Sizzix (yep, I am a little confused too...) have launched a *new* electronic feeder die cutter - called the Big Shot "Express". It is the basic Big Shot with a motor... so slightly heavier (but not like lugging a sack of potatoes around!) What is really exciting (and one blog watcher asked for these pics!!) is the Hello Kitty licence. Although it is for the US only at the mo (and Kristen is working on the UK and EU...) it is a girl wonderland of kitten cute. Does my 5 year old love Hello Kitty - well... hello?!! I have a Kitty lip gloss sat next to my toothbrush - and my little princess is all about pink, bows and cutesy. She will be up for all of this!!

Jo & Abbie playing...

When you see what Core'dinations cardstock does up close - like that shading on the US Flag?!! it is easy to see why card makers are going nuts for it. The 'Angel' pic is die cut vintage cardstock... and I am pretty certain this cardstock is going to give you a reason to get that dusty die cutter off the shelf, and back on the desk ;)

I did get tickled by big G at Quickutz for saying their tool was a nut cracker - so hands up, I had failed to mention it was a prototype, and the real one is going to be a sleek mean love machine (try and say "my love machine" to any non-scrapper with a straight face.... ;)

Anyways... here is a new perspective from someone I really like...

"Keep in mind the 'Love Machine' is $10 less than the Ellison/Sizzix offering and it is true it may be a little larger, I believe the expression you used was a "little heavy on the hands" but I would think consumers would appreciate a tool that offered a little more versatility, and a whole lot of LOVE! Oh and come October, there will be no "nuts cracking" just a whole lot of happy consumers using the one machine that does it all."

Sounds like we need a road test challenge!!! You all agree right?

La la la la....

Arrived: have already eaten lunch at Laguna Beach (amid scantily clad beach volleyball players); visited Michaels (and succumbed to a Cuttlebug which admittedly had 30% off, so was a temptation too much... it will get sold to my husband as a 'market research' investment ;)





We ate out last night with the entire BasicGrey team... bumping into Heidi Swapp (same restaurant, same duff service!) Spotted Melody Ross in the lobby as we (Leandra from PaperArtsy and I) staggered back to our room... not from drink mind, as I am tea-total... just the jet lag!

I had visited the Press Room in a spare moment and spotted a few things:

Ellison have gone pink and black (a little Heidi Swapp influence) and by far had the best kit giving away 4 huge new dies... and a nice pink bucket (which unfortunately will not be returning with me in my suitcase...) They are definitely rebadging as pretty.

The Around the Block tool is a corner rounder (you know like the one Heidi Swapp raved about on her blog early last year, and that got sold via scrapbook.com - for over $100! I did get one - just to test it's hardcore ability to cut through zillions of Bazzill sheets... and it does live up to its reputation for performance.) So the question is, is does this pink and pretty cutter really do the job? I am going to test it out... as if it is under $40, then it will be a must have tool for anyone who likes curves (and that surely must be every respectable lady!)

The BasicGrey is so much better irl... seriously! Kellee (Goree) who ate out with us last night - and is the funniest little lady from Kentucky (she has an infectious laugh) just does wonders with it. I am looking forward to working more with her this year - she is just wet your pants funny (and talented... but funny first.) We did already start talking about new product for later this year... and Rachel (owner/designer) has just some knock-your-socks-off ideas... and me and Kellee are signed up for 10 of everything... more to follow ;)

I did discover that Inique Boutique is infact Inque (as in ink) Boutique - which actually does not sound as cool... but I can live with it. We have breakfast with them in an hour, so I better go get scrubbed up and wrestle puffy eyed Leandra for the bathroom. (what is it with our eyes?!!) I did take a pic of mine... which is healing nicely. It is a running joke that I have left my wonderful, long suffering (beach volleyball loving) husband at home for half term with our adorable 4 kids - so he poked my eye out to get even. I am sure (!??) that isn't the case - and that it was a total accident (that's what he said?!!)

More Later,
Becks x