I'm Back - Cha, Cha, Cha!

Hi everyone! I'm back from CHA and I've seen some ah-mazing stuff this past week. We started out our trip setting up My Pink Stamper, Robyn Cardon's, booth for the Supershow. Then on Friday, Karlee, Miranda and I helped with make-n-takes all day and sold A TON of Robyn's product (stamps and a second DVD) that you can find at customcrops.com. Robyn's make-n-take was a really cute cupcake card.

Here is a quick pic of Robyn and I during the show:

And, MJ and I during the show:

It was sooo much fun! We met many of Robyn's fans and, if you can believe it, a few of our own! (shout out to Jake - a fan of Custom Crops that stopped by to say hi and to give us a great card he made for each one of us! He was so sweet!) There were many of you who stopped by to say hi and that you enjoy our youtube videos! People were so nice!

One of my most favorite things from the show was a brand-spankin'-new friendship. We met Donna Mundinger, who is a Custom Crops designer and a very, very talented lady. You can check out her blog here.

She was an absolute hoot and we had such a great time with her. The trip wouldn't have been the same without her. Here's a pic of Miranda, Donna and I at McCormick and Schmick's:

So, after a full two days of compliments and having fun, it was down to business. On Sunday, it was time to shop! We saw a lot of really cool new products, including the eclipse machine by Sizzix. Of course, we spent some time at the Provocraft booth getting a demo of the Cricut Cake machine and we even were invited to an event on Sunday night that was the "official" debut of the product. Everyone at the event received a Cricut Cake! And to that I say, Provocraft Rocks!

I have OVER 300 pictures to share, but I'll put them up over the next week so that you don't suffer from image overload! Here's just a quick peek at some of the stuff we saw:

Scrapbook layout at Studio Calico - one of the new paper companies that had great product. They are going to be a hit. Their booth was always full of people. Check out their site here.

Really cool display at Graphic 45

Unbelievable art at Vintaj Brass Company

Creative canvas art at gcd Studios by Melody Ross

Decor items at Basic Grey

Bingo cards at Jenni Bowlin Studios. Get inspired at her blog here.

Awesome wreath with paper flowers at Pink Paislee. Find their website and blog here. We could have purchased everything in the booth!

A super fun new product at Webster's Pages called "bloomers." Check out their website here. The owner Brandin was so friendly.

Just a small sampling of things at the Tim Holtz booth.

Which leads me into my next segment! Here Miranda, Donna and I are with the King of Crafts!

You are definitely going to want to check out all his new product. It's unbelievable - wait a minute. We are talking about Tim Holtz. It is believable!

We also got a demo of the Tattered Angels new Glimmer Mist, Glimmer Glaze and Glimmer Glam products - and, look who we bumped into:

It's Heidi Swapp! What an honor to meet her. She is so down to earth and sweet as can be. Plus, she's super talented! You can see many of her digital products here at House of 3. You can read Heidi's personal blog here.

I also took about 50 videos while we were there with my Flip camera. So, I will be posting those later as well.

Happy Friday everyone. I'm so glad to be back and I can't wait to get into my studio and create!

California here I come!

Leaving very early this morning to go to California for CHA! I will post lots of pictures from the show. I am so looking forward to my trip, but I will miss my husband, doggies and family. It's only 7 days - that's what I keep telling myself.

Enjoy the rest of you week and I'll post when I get back!

Natalie

Countdown to CHA! (and some other stuff!)

T minus 2 days until lift off! I can't wait to go to CHA. On Thursday, we are going to help My Pink Stamper, Robyn, set up her booth. Friday and Saturday, we are going to be helping Robyn do her make-n-take (which I LOVE doing because you learn so many things from crafting with other people - especially consumers who buy our products) and we will be meeting and greeting people. So, if you live in the Anaheim area, come and check it out! We'd love to see you! Robyn even will be demoing on the Provo Craft stage and I hear they (PC) are going to making a big announcement about a new product.

In other news, Idol returns tonight with more auditions, and so does another of my guilty little pleasures, Millionaire Matchmaker, which airs on BRAVO. Love, love, love this show. I don't know what it is about us that we find other people's lives so entertaining (i.e. reality tv).

I forced CB to watch the Golden Globes with me the other night. I was pulling for "True Blood" - that Jason Stackhouse is a looker! And, he's got an Australian accent (melting...)

Two women were absolutely stunning:

Uh, can you say confidence?

And, Jennifer Garner was just so pretty:

But, I have to admit, I'm suffering from "Glee" withdrawal. Anyone else? And, with them winning The Globe for comedy/musical series, it was just a tease more than I could handle. With all that dancing and singing, Matthew Morrison is oh so dreamy:

If you haven't watched, and you're a musical (or heck, just plain music) fan, it's a must see. A little quirky at first, but once you get invested in the characters, it's great. The actress that plays Sue, the gym teacher/cheerleader advisor is a stitch-and-a-half. You have to watch to understand.

Here's a little peek incase you're wondering what all the fuss is about. (Keep singing and spinning Mr. Shue - what a hunk!)

Hope you are all having a great week!

Natalie

Blah blogging

I feel uninspired...right now atleast. Maybe I am saving up for the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) show in CA. We leave next Thursday and I am excited to see/meet my crafting heros (Heidi Swapp, Donna Downey, Tim Holtz, Claudine Hellmuth...too many more to name. We will be looking for cool product and I hear that Tattered Angels has some super cool stuff.

And, I just have to say:

1) I am so tired of seeing ads for "The Lovely Bones." I read it. I didn't like it. It was a depressing story about a little girl's murder. It is morbid and way over-advertised.

2) Loving "Idol", but how come so many people are missing their shoes after their audition? They are literally running the streets in bare feet. To me, that's just gross. Tonight, Mary J. cracked me up. I could never tell if she like the audition or not. Funny.

Back from Fluville

Ugh - I unfortunately did not dodge this year's flu bug. Started on Tuesday and I'm finally beginning to feel human again today.

I have been working on a little something. It's a gratitude journal and I'll be posting a step-by-step tutorial video shortly if you are interested on how to make this great little gift for the New Year. You could even make it for yourself. Happy New Year to YOU!

I used a couple of Zutter products and some great paper by Cosmo Cricket. Absolutely L-O-V-E this paper line!

Outside cover: (click to enlarge picture for detail)

Inside cover: (click to enlarge picture for detail)

Wishing you all a blessed 2010! May it be prosperous and filled with joy!

Tablescape Thursday

Happy Holidays Everyone!
I'm participating in Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. You can view all the beautiful tablescapes here.

View a complete how to video here. The full table is shown at about the :33 mark. Enjoy!

Tablescape complete with:

Stenciled Snowflake Burlap Placemats

Shrink Film Customized Wine charms

Embossed Napkin Rings

Embossed Metal Centerpiece planter

Placecards/Ornament Favor

Stenciled Burlap Chair Covers

Embellished with fresh greens and glittered ornaments

Help me visit Martha!

I entered a craft contest at Michaels.com. You can go here to rate my project. Thank you so much in advance. The projects must be rated by December 20th. If my project is chosen, I could go to the Martha Stewart show! What fun!

Oh Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Here are some shots of this year's tree. Much improved from last year...atleast it has some ornaments!

Happy Tuesday!

Thanksgiving Pictures

Here's a little tease from something I've been working on:

And some pictures of Thanksgiving:






And, a video:

On the 7th day of December...

hi everyone! I'm still here. I have just been working 10-12 hour days at work and even working on the weekends! The Griswold tree is still ornament-less. I just haven't had the time/energy!

I have done a small amount of Christmas shopping. We are expecting a major snow storm today and tomorrow. Ah - Midwest winter is here.

But, if you are a scrapbooker/crafter, check out our website, www.customcrops.com for some great deals.

Have a great Monday!