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... winter new releases

Spotted: American Crafts gets hip... well for the teens at least. If you have spotty somethings - or have a panache for bam pop'esk pinks and retro prints, then this range will hit all the right notes.

Spotted: Cosmo Cricket launch their Valentines *Chemistry* line... if you like HEARTS then this is nirvana. If you think love is overrated - then pass the bucket and avert your eyes ;)

Spotted: Jenni Bowlin have line extended their fab blacks and reds... so new papers and die cuts to tempt and toy with. I love her style - very vintage chic... classy, and timeless. She is the perennial journal junkie - and I adore pretty much everything she does!!

CHA Summer 08 - Day Two (cont...)

I adore Jenni Bowlin... she has to be the tinest superstar at the show... just petite as heck, and beauty in abundance. That gal knows how to create flippin cool stuff - and the mud pie she introduced to me wasn't half bad (which translated means it wasn't half good either... americans can be great at most things - they just don't *rock* the chocolate boat ;)

Dream Street Papers have oodles to tempt... and my fav (even up close and personal) is that Simply Stated line by Amt Teets. It is lush... with a capital L.

Spotted: Like I *need* a reason to like Core'dinations... but chocolate?! Seriously has me hooked on the new line. I also spotted some amazing techniques (but more on that in day three...)

Spotted: CHA Summer Jenni Bowlin *eek* and more...

Spotted: The new narratives... which are the perfect side dish for journal junkies. See HERE for more details... from the genius Karen Russell!

Want to see the releases from FONTWERKS?! Click HERE for all the pics and goss...

Spotted: Sneaks from the delectable Jenni Bowlin... New MINI Bingo Cards. Half the size of their standard Bingo Cards and available in 4 colours and New Apothecary Label Cardstock Stickers (available in 4 classic colours). . .

Spotted: Cosmo Cricket have 4 new collections... and all of them are now up on their website:

Haunted HERE

Jack's World HERE

Mr Campy HERE

*NEW* Blackboard HERE

Themes seem to be raising their ugly {maybe that is the wrong word??} head... and the camping Cosmo is one I did not expect. I guess it isn't just Karen Foster Design that are getting more directive in their design!! Watch this space for more themes in unexpected places...

The mid-release bandwagon...

Theresa Collins... *Travelogue Stamps*

It seems the *industry* cannot get enough of new product - so much so, most manufacturers are following suit and releasing new product mid-season... {much to the chargrin of shoppers who have barely scratched the surface of CHA Winter... and shops who are already discounting lines that are just a few months old!!} It seems that if times are tough... the answer is to throw *more* at it...

Jenni Bowlin... *Trendy*

Daisy D's... *Chloe Marie*

KI & SEI...

Need a refreshing list of mid-season releases? ...wish granted!

BasicGrey: Euphoria

Daisy Ds: Chloe Marie

American Crafts: Glitter Thickers

KI Memories: Bloom

Bo Bunny: (American Themed... phew - no need to buy!)

Scenic Route: (American Themed... phew - but I still want it lol!!)

SEI: Poppy

Jenni Bowlin: Trendy

Theresa Collins: Travelogue

Cosmo Cricket: Hello Sunshine

My Minds Eye: Garden Party

Some lines I already have earmarked as *must haves* - and this is BEFORE the July show... with the latest petrol pinch and price of fuel sky-rocketing... it will be an interesting challenge ahead for crafters and for suppliers to get the balance right. Just TOOOOOOO many lovely designers releasing perfect products...

Becks xxx

Day Three (2)

I promise I was not just celeb spotting yesterday... I was actually walking and working. Just seemed like it was the same thing all the celebs were doing... so I got to bump into a few friends and make some new ones.

I have known Jenni via email for a few years now - but finally got to meet her this show.

She is like superstar gorgeous... seriously. She is also quite a bit smaller than me (curse those long legs of mine ;)

Anyways we chatted about me finally succumbing and signing up to her monthly kit cub (which all my scrapping friends rate highly and adore in ample measure.) We also chatted about her new product which I had spotted and have pics of. Love that clever, talented and highly gorgeous lady... she has it all!

Day Two (3)

SEI... Flocking/Velvet is a big show stopper... which I had spotted before the show. Sei have a long standing reputation in this arena - and did not disappoint. They have some strong design lines out. I did LOVE the new Doodlebug line (more so - but I am admittedly bias ;) More on them later...

Yellow Bicycle had a great stand. They definitely made the effort... unlike some booths which looked a little unloved. Good boy and girl lines (but after a long day it all kind of blurs... which is why it is good to rethink and list what stands out...)

What stood out? PRIMA - voila is a great new range. Just stunning. They also do overlays. Spotted Jenni Bowlin adoring this line too - so Monthly Kit club members be in for a treat (I also am joining up Jenni... it's about time, eh!)