Winter CHA 2013 Recap!!

Last month I had the AMAZING privilege of attending my 2nd Craft and Hobby Association show...my first in Anaheim! 

If you've never had the opportunity, the experience is just beyond words, but I'll give it a try. :)

I was honored to be asked to work in the Canvas Corp Family booth, plus make a few projects for the booth.

Prep for CHA was a little (or a lot!) crazy! CHA moved the conference up about 2 weeks, so there was so little time between the holidays and the show to make projects and get them ready for the booth to ship. BUT...we go it done!

Here are a couple of my projects for the booth:

We had a "loose" dress code for each day of the show, so I had to plan my packing carefully. I tend to a be a HUGE over packer and this trip was no different! LOL

This is how I travel:

Houndstooth Skinnies, Black tall boots, black tunic and leather jacket.

I don't fly often so I'm still a little "kid in a candy store" when it comes to traveling by plane.

Fancy!! TV in flight!!!!

I have no idea where we were when I took this!

We landed in Anaheim! I was like "Get our of my way people!!"

This was the beautiful drive to the convention center...don't let the sunshine fool you. It was COLD the whole time. NOT the California experience I was expecting.

We went straight to the convention center and was greeted by this:

This was the first time all three companies shared a booth (Canvas Corp, 7 Gypsies and Tattered Angels.) I LOVE this sign that says it all:

The booth was a very unique...it blended all three companies, plus had "studio" space to give store owners a look at new and unique ways to use all three products.

I had the chance to wander around and see some of the other vendors. There are some FANTASTIC new things coming out...here are a few of my favs!

So cute!!! Technique Tuesday (as always!) had an amazing assortment of new stamps!

Who doesn't LOVE Authentique? This is one of their new "mini" lines.

Pink Paislee has gone Luxe! Think metallic golds and silvers and amazingly fun patterns.

This was my my FAVORITE mask from Clear Scraps. I want to Glimmer Mist with it sssoo bad!

Great abstract and background stamps from Hampton Arts.

As much fun as CHA is for seeing all the new products, it's the people you meet that really make it so fun and memorable.

My birthday twin, inspiration and fabulous friend, Cheryl Boglioli. She is an amazing talent and I am excited for future projects we have in the works!

Stopped by the Project Life Booth and met this fabulous lady! Becky Higgins was so sweet and gracious...plus I made my 2 sisters-in-law super jealous! LOL
(What is up with my hair tho!?)

I met some of my instafriends!!! (L) Lindsay Bateman and (R) Maggie Massey (AKA Midwestern Girl) are both amazingly talented girls who are part of Heidi Swapp's Media Team. They really are just two of the sweetest people you will ever meet. And did I mention GORGEOUS!!!???

My Canook friends, Trisha Ladouceur and Leica Forrest.

This is my favorite picture from the trip. It just shows that creativity does bring people together!
From Left to Right: Nic Klopper (South Africa) -ME (Arkansas, US)-Trisha Ladouceur (Canada)-Leica Forrest (Canada)-Justin Quinn (Utah, US)

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 So...that is my trip down Winter CHA 2013 Memory Lane.

It is really is as amazing as you would dream it to be and then some.

Until next time my friends....

Feeling Springy!

Here is Arkansas, our weather can not seem to make up its mind!

In the last week our temperatures have varied from 14 degrees to 67 degrees. I think our state forgot that it's winter!

These warm temps have me dreaming of springtime fun, so I decided  I was going to jump the gun and make a little spring home-dec project.

For this Project I used: Canvas Corp's 10X10 Chunky Stretched Canvas, Burlap Pocket Shape, Easter Sampler (not released just yet!)Mixed Media Glue and some misc Canvas Corp patterned papers. From Tattered Angels I used Glimmer Mist in a Blue that I can't remember the name of (WOOPS! LOL) and Leap Frog, Baseboard in Ivory and the NEW High Impact Paint in White. (Other supplies are a little bit of Krinkle, floral wire and foam, random buttons and May Arts ribbon.)

Here's a couple of close ups of the background:

I used the Blue Glimmer Mist over the entire surface of the canvas and honestly, after I did it, I thought "That is way too bright!" So I took my Baseboard in Ivory did light spray over all of it and then a few heavier sprays. I did this while the blue was still wet so that it would give it more of a watercolor feel and less harsh lines.

For the clouds, I used 1/2 flat brush and the Tattered Angels High Impact paint. (I'll give you more info on those later in the post!) Once again, I did this part while the background was wet to avoid harsh edges. It really is just a "play with it" kind of thing. For the larger clouds, I made my base cloud and then added more paint where I wanted highlights in my clouds. 

(Note: White Acrylic paint mixed with a little water will give you a similar effect.)

For my grass, I poured a little of my Leapfrog Glimmer Mist on my Pink Tattered Angels mat and starting from the bottom of the canvas, drug my paintbrush up. (The one thing I remember from elementary school art "Grass grows up, so you should paint it that way.") To make the variations in the green, I added a little High Impact paint next to my pool of Leapfrog and then just picked up a little of both in difference amounts. 

The rest is all in your creativity! You don't have to use the sampler I used (the flowers were made using an Accu-Cut die cut machine.) You could use flowers cut from your Cricut or Spellbinder or whatever your die cutter of choice is!!

Wants some more info on the High Impact Paint? 

Debuted at the Winter CHA Show in Anaheim, these paints are ready to revolutionize any Tattered Angels fan! They come in 6 metallic and 6 basics and although they can be used along (like in this project) their main purpose to allow the artist to begin to CUSTOMIZE their current and future Tattered Angels paints.

Love the color Rosey Simply Sheer in the Plain Jane Collection, but you need it to sparkle? In a separate sprayer (or a small mixing container if you are using a brush), just add your Simply Sheer and a little of your choice of the 6 metallic colors. Voila! You have your own unique color!

 High Impact paint is compatible with the entire line of Tattered Angels paints. Can you tell that I am super excited about this!!?? The possibilities are endless! (Now if it was just the end of March so they would be ready.) 

Kylee on Fri-Dee

For those of you who stopped by on Monday, you saw the Valentine banner I made.

Well, my 5 year old (Kylee) has a love for crafting just like her mama so she decided she needed to make a love banner, too.

Thanks for stopping by and remember...each day...get caught being creative!!