Wall Art...

I have yet to create a layout mounted on an easel and walloped onto my wall. I see them periodically (for a while they were in *every* scrap mag...) BUT I am a tad anal when it comes to home decor. I would much rather see my layouts in a stylish leather {effect} album - a la WRM - than stuck on a wall with all my journalling hanging out (like washing laundry in public tsk ;)

I, however, have been introduced to an emerging {nontraditional} home decor company in the US... www.uppercaseliving.com

I first saw these wall transfers (think: *massive rub-ons...) when Lisa & Becky launched that line with Advantus. It didn't really take off in the UK (excuse being - we have small houses, and even smaller walls, usually cluttered with a zillion photos... or in my case, Biro, zig writer... and crayon ;)

BUT I like the transfers that uppercaseliving are propagating! That CREATE one... and the DRESS UP?! I can think of ideal locations for both... and have promptly got my US-RESIDING SISTER on the case ;)

It is yet another 'home party' company - so measure it's success against supremo Stampin Up (urm, do we dare mention Craft-Ed?!) and I doubt we will see it ever hit the big time in the UK... but consider it spotted, adored and on the Christmas pressie list!

MiniTrend Alert.... Silhouettes

Who would have thought that black would morph and make a quick comeback... in the form of shadowy underworld "silhouette" stylism. For followers of fashion, the silhouette is a mini trend that is easily replicated on scrapbook pages and cards. You will have seen it with Chatterbox artsy.licious lassy... but more famously introduced with the iconic ipod silhouette ad...amongst other places! Masks, backdrops and black die cut accents are simply {yet effective} applications of this style guru 'MUST TRY'.

Want to master the trend in digi? Click HERE This is a great tutorial website which is worth bookmarking (if you are a freak for all things fanciful with a keyboard...)

Keep track of all the must have trends for the year... and for 2009 predictions - click HERE

Becks xxx

*NEW* from Papermania...

I love to see all the new products coming out from a fresh faced Papermania... and these cute (and affordable!!) clear albums are just the ticket for a trend driven crafter.

They hit shelves on September 1st - and cost around £9.99. I *know* they are green - but that is only so you don't scratch the surface before you are ready to that is ;) They are that lush heavy weight as flimsy just doesn't cut the mustard.

Also from Papermania are these cure 6x6 scalloped chipboard albums. They have chipboard covers and then their "guts" are a creamy cardstock - so the perfect base for all those little gift albums...

TREND ALERT!!!
Scallops as a trend for 08 is definitely continuing into 09. No sensible gal with any craft wherewithall is seen without her scallops. Whether neatly tucked into layouts, or adorning cards, this juicy shape is still turning heads...

High Street Trend & Watermark hits town...

Spotted: You want to know what the *new* pink is for Autumn 08? ...Well look no further! TEAL is steaming sizzling hot. You will already start to see lime green pushed aside to make room for the new trend colour tones of this seasons hottie.

Debenhams, M&S, Topshop, Warehouse, Chloe - are all adding this trend into their high street mix. From luggage to shoes; clothes to accessories... TEAL is ticking all the boxes with fashionettas focused on the latest fad.

ALSO hitting town this week (as in "touching down" today and shipping out by the end of the week) is the new WATERMARK PAD from Clearsnap. This innovation {from the company that brought you those cute and 'oh so collectible' cats eye queues} now will give the market dominating Versamark a run for its money. The Versamark may have had a solo stab at the limelight, but its contemporary boasts kick butt performance, and is worth every penny of the £4.50 (for the large pad.) I fancy a road test... against your existing embossing pad and versamark pad... (it does it all... with panache ;) Anyone up for some hardcore watermarking? I need some intense stampers who *know* their stuff, and can give the road test some welly....

But for now... TEAL is top dog ;)

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 ;)

Spotted... OWL TREND hitting CHA Summer

Spotted: Trends for Autumn 08 is definitely OWLS. Championed by Sassafras (and would you believe the Secret Garden range from UK brand Papermania earlier this year) Pink Paislee, Reminisce and more are creating cute hooters ;)

MORE sneaks from Pink Paislee hitting there blog HERE although watch out if you are reaching 30, as some of the style muses will jar a little ;)

Spotted: (more) CHA Summer sneaks

Spotted: Glitz Design have a full range out there on the web - showing you just how organised they are to be ready to show off their wares in public ;) See... that purple?!!! Everyone who is anyone will be sporting it...

Also - they have these *Glitzers* - and basically "Glitzers are transparent stickers with bold colors and BLING! That's right...BLING!...the bling is inside the sticker...so there is NO WAY you'll lose it! " Ooooo - bling and stickers. First thickers, and now glitzers... if I recall Lil Davis launched a whole range of bling before it's time (and before the sell out to Fiskars) which would have rivalled all the *new* fan dangled inventions. Have to hand it to Trish, she had an eye for spotting a trend and paying homage before it hit the big time...

Spotted: Tinkering Ink's follow up to their original YULETIDE range... surprisingly named Yuletide 2 (and is designed to coordinate beautifully!!) I like that idea... that product you have in your stash drawer is refreshed with new product... seems a lot like common sense to me!

Spotted: Piggy Tales show off their new Drawbridge Book... aiming to be in stores at the end of July. Another take on a flap type book... if you are a mini-book addict, this is one for you.

Lush

Specialty finishes are still HOT news in 2008.
Whether lacquered, glitter, embossed, foiled or crushed velvet... the buying power of the touch (and not the tush) is reinventing the paper expectation process. We demand thicker quality, textured... and we don't just demand it for our cardstock...
The lush Chatterbox range is perfection and ticks all the boxes. Not sure how widely available it is in the UK, but if you can get your sweaty mitts on some, then you can sit back and be suitably proud of yourself.



I have polished off a new and exclusive coreless cardstock (from Core'dinations) in just those must have monochromatic colours; black and white. Hitting shelves from the end of July, and priced per sheet at just 35p... that premium textured touchy-feely cardstock just got better. I dread to think that folks are already planning their Christmas cards *shudder* but this kind of single sheet price is just for you... (also have a bumper pack of 20 sheets for £4.99)

xxxx

Euphoric Purple Trend...

So a lot of folks have noticed that the new line from BasicGrey has *purple* in it (shock horror!) ...but as always, BasicGrey has already spotted a hot trend for spring/summer 2008! PURPLE is sizzling this season - and I dare you to not spot it all over the high street ;)

***imgs taken from Design Sponge

Dare to be on trend... and dare to get a sheet for just 60p (urm... NOT £1 as spouted by scary people who are sheep to believe the tripe.) Ooooo - is that controversial? I usually bite my tongue and let the truth actually prove the scary secret agenda folks wrong. Check here for details...

It is off to Huddersfield on Sunday... and a busy retailer-packed day! I slept in the basement in Coventry... and am looking forward to an upgrade to at least the first floor ;) I should say *hello* to Matthew from Mountain Ash Crafts who says he likes to read my blog... first bloke out there who will admit to it ;)

Glitter Trend is still shining...

Spotted: Can you ever have enough of a good thing? I have been spotting some new product out in May from Imaginisce... and it looks good enough to eat! See HERE for details... Soft and subtle sorbet colours... very hip! I also hear some great new BasicGrey product is on its way (Retailers attending our Retailer Days will get a sneak preview!!)

Textiles and Tones

I love inspiration - and usually wander IKEA wishing I had my camera! This morning I had to dip into Homebase for something and happened to have my weeny canon on me - and was a happy snapper... the colours were so muted but FLORAL is everywhere... I did like the 'shaggy' texture (very appealing for a little stroke) and also hints of ORANGE.

I resisted buying anything for my home - especially since I maxed out at TK when I spotted a stunning lamp which had my name on it. I obviously *sold* it to my husband as a necessary investment... because that is girl term for 'look what I bought, but don't look at the price tag'.

Avon Calling... *I wish*

Nothing whatsoever to do with scrapping... but everything to do with reinventing company image. I used to be an AVON REP (long time ago - well, the time they brought out that HOMO scent that had me in stitches... and this is a Fagg talking!) So imagine my chagrin when I discovered that the new face of the AVON MAN is no other than McDreamy... (For all you Grey's fans!)

Who also knew that AVON now is kicking butt on its new eye cream... sales are 2:1 on the competition... and you have to remember this is AVON *ding dong* we are talking about. Heaven forbid they are getting in touch with the rising generation of celeb hungry fashion savvy make-up loving ladies...

So who says companies can't change?!

Also spotted H&M teaming up with a load of designer hotties to create a hip (Rihanna, Timbaland, Jade Jagger and Katharine Hamnett kind of hip) range of clothing. I am thinking gangster chic will be the next trend in scrapbooking... a la H&M. You heard it here first!

Topshop are also going up market with the launch of their new PREMIUM shopping service. Premium does seem one of those words of the moment ;) Not sure if I can handle my own style advisor... although after my Brit moment; I may need one!

Sunday Night Surfing

We have a bunch of 'youf' around our house tonight - all from our Church. So other than my assignment to bake edible sugary snacks... I am not needed, so have snuck upstairs for some Sunday Night Surfing...

Spotted: The new Love Elsie ranges (Cody & Claire) but I have to say that the original Love Elsie lines are still my fav. These girly lines are a little wishy washy (and the boys are all a little too "Stars & Stripes"...which is totally ok for my nephews who abode in the fair land of the free - just not ideal for Arsenal loving lads residing in Essex.)

BUT those Lacy Cardstocks ...Mmmmmmmm! Transcends continents. Very bubblegum pop colours (which are hot hot hot...) and think of all the possibilities. Pass on your Grandma's doily - as these are the next generation. Hopefully they will not be lining any teacake trays anytime soon ;)

Also waded through my craft shed (should I take pics... would you like to see how scary it looks?!!) I spotted some retro (from middle earth) old school scrapbooking stuff. Does anyone use their stash pre 2002? I still *love* some of it - but others I am just plain scared of.

There needs to be a comp somewhere to post layouts using your OLD STASH... and I think I may be the lady to start the ball rolling. I tell you what. How about I put together a box of cool *new-ish* stash for the winner that is chosen by you lot? Email me your pics and name, I will load them up here - and the fav gets the pile of goodies. Will take a pic of the pile of goodies tomorrow and load it... to tempt and motivate (as if using your old stuff needs any more motivation...) END DATE: March 31st 2008.

Let's get scrapping with those scraps!

Becks x