CHA Winter 09 - The Finale

Slap my hands... I forgot to mention *ZING* from American Crafts! These are really fine embossing powders that really are scrummy...

So TIM HOLTZ (The Grand Duke of Grunge) has widened his range with Advantus (remember he also has stamps with Stampers Anon, and inky-dinky-do with Ranger... busy bee!) Some interesting nick-knacks... all aged, distressed, grunge type. The mini-stapler tool is a gadget which I have seen Making Memories toy with, and is a revision on the original EKSuccess fastenator. I have heard whisperings of an improved upgraded option out later in the year (but not from any of the brands just named...)

What is some aging embellishments without a centre-piece of grunging cases (which was attracting ALL the attention... ;)

Lastly spotted the man himself showing some retailers around the booth. He finally unshackled himself from that demo spot for some vital pimping. Love his stuff...

Headed over to QuicKutz booth which in 2008 had been a little bit of a disappointment... but they have turned a corner, and suddenly feel back in the design saddle - releasing some fab consumable staples. As DO stockists will be flogging the squeeze and alphas for just £19.99 (you heard it right folks!) in March, the new 2x2 embossing folders will be a real MUST HAVE addition to maximise that bargain buy. With 4 for £4.99 (or thereabouts) I can feel a marriage with some core'dinations coming on...

Also of note were the stunning nesting (aka concentric) stencils, as well as the coordinating dimensional stencils which build a 3D effect. This is a KEY TREND for 2009! I spotted a few companies giving this dimensional effect some limelight through punches (which X-Cut has done in March too) and through this die-cutting. Have to say I was smitten with the floral version.

The new silhouette is sleeker, friendlier and more playful than the previous version. We got a demo, before I left my camera on their stand for half a day - and in a blind panic and hot sweat ran back to see if it was still there... phew, for honest folk!

Lastly... just because it is like butter on a hot potato... the lush Aussie accent from Kaiser Crafts! Worth wading through the whole post for!

Hybrid...

Is anyone REALLY swinging both ways... hybrid and paper...?
I don't think I can stomach the cost of printing out those designs and using *expensive* ink - when it will cost me more than buying a quality controlled sheet of paper from my local shop...



I do fancy that Tim Holtz distresser which she roughs the edges up with... hoping that X-Cut release that little baby ;)

ALSO (and I will get this typed small...) I happened across one of my most fav reviews of a book on amazon.com... and I think it is worth publishing, as the lady has class (and a few good points!)

(Actually 3 1/2 stars) Too firm on "how to scrapbook", July 12, 2007
By Chel Micheline "gingerblue.com" (SW Florida) - See all my reviews
I'm a graphic designer, and when I started scrapbooking, I felt myself at a total loss as far as design in the "real world" - ie, 3d images, texture, etc. So I decided to re-educate myself on the principles of design with a specific focus on paper arts and mixed media. Since then, I have been gobbling up all the "design principle" books I can get my hands on, and was very excited about getting Kari Hansen's book. It seemed exactly what I was looking for- a course in design principles, geared towards scrapbooking.

The problem is that Hansen's philosophy is not very flexible. It seems like this book is really geared for scrapbookers who wish to be published rather than those of us looking to develop our own styles and techniques. Hansen makes it clear in the first few sections that she was on the submission team for a magazine and had very specific criteria for a "good" page. Things must be neat- no glue showing, NO mistakes. Journaling must be typed or done in a very very neat handwriting, NO spelling or grammar mistakes, practice several times before committing to the layout. Titles must be witty and clear to anyone seeing the page. All cutting must be precise, everything measured. All photos properly resized before putting together layouts- there must ALWAYS be a larger focal photo (not so good for those of us who scrap 4x6, or who don't have time to resize all our photos planning for layouts...) No "hanging" embellishments, no empty space. Yikes! I appreciate her vision, but found myself frequently intimidated by her "this is what makes a bad layout" writing style. Scrapbooking is supposed to be personal, and for those of us who have no interest in getting published, sometimes we do have a little glue going beyond the edge of a photo by accident, or some messy handwriting. Sometimes we don't have time to resize a photo to make it the spotlight of the page. Sometimes we can't redo an entire page because we made a mistake that no one will probably notice but us, and maybe Kari Hansen if she were to check out the page.

To me, these aren't design principles, but sort of perfectionist details. I'm interested in color theory, and balancing my elements. I'm not interested in someone reminding me over and over that the little crinkle on the corner of my page makes it a bad page. I appreciate the overview of design and color. It's wonderful, and Hansen knows her stuff. But there is too much focus in the early chapter on what makes a scrapbook page UNACCEPTABLE or boring, which I sort of find insulting. I'm not a perfect scrapper, and I'm trying to get better. I don't want a design book telling me some of the things I've done, or mistakes I've made in my pages thus far make them useless. I much prefer the warmer writing style of Ali Edwards (with her motto "IT IS OKAY") and many others who have written about the same topic. As far as the layouts, as far as I can tell they are all by Hansen. They are used to demonstrated the ideas and lessons Hansen is writing about rather than to function as inspiration.

So this isn't a great book for those who want some visual inspiration. So I would absolutely recommend the book, but I would try and take it with a grain of salt. If you are a serious scrapper, looking to elevate your design to the next level or learn what it takes to get published, take note to EVERYTHING Hansen says. But if you are just trying to learn a more technical way of creating personal pages, learning balance, flow, color ideas, and information on typography, I would skim the Hansen's personal feelings on what makes a scrapbook "good" and pay close attention to her design lessons. Apply them to your own pages, but don't lose what makes your pages YOU. Glue smudges and all!

I would give that a standing ovation...
Becks xx

Tim Tutorial

I did chat with Tim (God of Grungeboard and Prince of Paper Pulp) at Stitches... and then noticed he has a cool video demo online HERE (He actually has a few vids to watch at your pleasure... so enjoy. Friday nights may not get any better than this - but here is hoping!)

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

CHA - Tim Holtz (Grungeboard)

Spotted: Tim's Grungeboard is brilliant (smells and feels like leather... just the wierdest stuff out there!) So it is worth noting that more is less... or at least more is way better than less. Love it!