July 25, 2008

GIVEAWAY and CHA Part 2!

**warning:  picture heavy post!!!**

Most of the companies at CHA have cute little giveaways for you if you visit their booths or place an order.  Just cute little bags, pins, product promo, etc, far more than any one person could ever put to use, so I am going to share!!  This is my "wish you were there" giveaway!  There's enough here split into two, so that's what I'll do.  As a scrapbooker it really is a fun experience and I feel very lucky to have been there!  So, just leave a comment at the end of this post telling me what your favourite CHA new realeases are so far! I will draw a couple of names on Monday!

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OK, on with picture-palooza!

I promised some people pictures and here they are!

Here's Sandy up early checking in with the Scrap Shotz gals:

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After checking in online and a quick breakfast, we hopped on the shuttle to the convention centre:

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On the first day, people arrived very very early and started lining up inside the Rosemont Center, for the doors to the floor to open at 9am sharp!

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OK, onto some more product pics!

My personal favourite release at the show was Paper Crate's "Prudence" Collection.  The colours are so beautiful and it had just enough giltter to be fun and feminine:

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The other Pink Paislee line, Pop Fashion:

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The Making Memories booth was absolutely beautiful and their Paperie line is simply stunning!

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Making Memories also had custom M&M's everywhere!!!  Don't I look hard at work here putting together great kits???  Actually, I think I am adding up the calories in all the M&Ms I had consumed up to that point LOL!

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Chatterbox had a beautiful new release, "Together".  That peacock blue and red combo is just stunning!

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Prima really blew it out of the water at this show, everything in their booth was just amazing, innovative, and so well done!  LOVED these canvas lollipop flowers:

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Hard at work in the Prima booth was my fellow Crop and Cruise instructor and new friend, Trisha Ladouceur!! Her build-a-book was getting a lot of attention, with good reason, it's great!

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OK, some Basic Grey!  They had a HUGE new release, and some amazing new chipboard in white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate!  I really loved Urban Prairie and Offbeat:

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Jenni Bowlin's booth was so charming!  Vintage done so very well:

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Doodleug never disappoints with their vibrant colours and cool finishes:

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And Heidi Grace had some fun new stuff, especially Reagan's Closet:

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Sassafrass Lass had an adorable booth and some really cute new stuff!

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Heidi Swapp herself was there working hard promoting three very strong new releases.  Love this one, pink and green for winter, beautiful!

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One of my favourite new Maya Road releases, this little scalloped album!  Their booth was eye candy at it's best!

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I will end this very lengthy post with two more people pics, the Canadian Scrapbooker Team whom I had the pleasure of getting to know better over some wine and pizza (a huge thank you to them for all the opportunities they have thrown my way!) and my partner in crime and good friend, Sandy! We email everyday, see each other only once a year, but it feels like we've been friends forever!

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Thanks for stopping by, hope the product pics gave you a good feel for what's out there and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win some of that fun stuff up there!!

Oh!  And stop by Scrap Shotz this weekend for our "Music Mania" online crop, it's going to be another great one!

July 24, 2008

CHA Part 1!

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Back from Chicago and what a show!!  Some really fun product releases! It really is a surreal experience, and I feel very lucky to get to be a part of it (thanks Boss LOL!).  Thought I'd share a few pics, some favourites I saw, and then tomorrow I'll post a few more, along with some 'people' pictures and a 'wish you were there' giveaway or two!

Let's start with American Crafts!  OK, seriously, it's not a secret that I love every single thing this company does.  I know a lot of people say they struggle with their patterned papers, but not me, I love it all and want it all!!!

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Fancy Pants had three really strong lines, I loved their fall line:

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October Afternoon had four amazing releases!  My favourite was "Hometown" - I am loving all the blue and yellow!

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Pink Paislee was also a favourite, both Vintage Moon (shown) and their pink and green Pop Runway line, and the buzz of the show, their Pixee Stix - how cute are these???

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I was disappointed to learn that Zutter's new super duper corner rounder (goes through acrylic and chipboard!!) has been delayed, but it's still high on my list:

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I'll be back tomorrow with some other favourites, and like I said, a giveaway or two, too!!

Thanks for stopping by!

July 16, 2008

More Scrapbooking!

I really enjoyed myself over the weekend, scrapbooking whatever I wanted to scrapbook, using some favourite products and photos!  Since I am leaving bright and early for CHA and all that scrapbooking goodness first thing tomorrow morning, I thought I would share them!  Have a great week! I'll share some pics and a full report when I get back!

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July 15, 2008

A Winner, a Great Opportunity and a Layout share!

48 hours and I will be sitting in the Newark airport waiting for my connection to Chicago and the CHA show!!  Can't wait!

1. OK, first of all, the winner of the Memory Makers Magazine: Melanie!

Melanie wrote:

Simple and beautiful as always.

July 14, 2008

New Upsy Daisy Work!

Thought I'd share a bit of work I've done recently with the beautiful papers from Upsy Daisy Designs.  Amanda is so creative and UDD is such a relaxed, low key company to work with, I love it!  Plus, they are a big sponsor for the cruise!

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Grown up June 08

Poised - July 08

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Don't forget to leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of the August issue of Memory Makers - I'll draw tomorrow!

July 13, 2008

Memory Makers August '08! *GIVEAWAY!*

It was fun to get a box in the mail from Memory Makers Magazine with their August issue (which is fantastic, by the way!) and my layout back!  Here's my page they published, pics from PEI last summer:

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Since MM was generous enough to send me TWO copies, I'd love to share!  Just post a comment here telling me how your summer is going so far and I'll draw a name and mail it out to you!

Thanks for stopping by!

July 12, 2008

Chatterbox Design Team Finalist!

OK, I guess I should address this:

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Crazy, isnt it??  That list is a who's who of CK HOF winners and HMs and every other major contest, and then there's little old me!  I've gotten quite a few emails about it, so thank you to anyone who sent one for that!  Truthfully I find it really tough to go through the finalist thing with your name out there for all the world to see, but that's how a lot of DT calls are run, and I knew going into this one that that's how things would be, so I guess I have to develop a thicker skin if I'm going to try out for these things!!

In any case, I still can't believe my name is on that list!!!  Chatterbox's new stuff is simply amazing and to be a part of their design team would be a dream come true!

July 10, 2008

Twins at 2!

2 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting these two, and taking their photos at 8 weeks old.  I was so pleased when their Mom contacted me a few weeks ago for new pics, at 2!  We had a great night, and I was just able to click away and capture real life, which I so love to do - there was no posing these two!!  Here are just a few of my favourites from the session:

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July 04, 2008

Right place, right time

I know, another 2-post day!  I just had to share this.  This gorgeous creature landed and flittered around our garden for quite some time, enjoying the sunshine.  I think he even posed for me, because the closer I got, the more he seemed to stretch out his glistening wings!

**edited to add:  Josee asked what my settings were.  Here you go Josee, and thanks for asking!

Canon 30D 50mm f/1.8 lens  ISO 100, f/2.2, ss 1250

Hope that helps!

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CHA Summer = New Products!

The big CHA Summer show is around the corner (July 18-20) and I can't wait!  I will be there ooohing and ahhhing over every new piece of patterned paper, embellishment and any other brilliant new product the industry has to offer!!  Here are a few of the sneak peeks that have really caught my eye.  I'd love to know what you think or what you're looking forward to!

Pink Paislee (love the name of this, Vintage Moon):

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Scenic Route Surprise (really excited about this one since this is what I won in the SR contest!)

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Tinkering Ink:

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American Crafts:

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