Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Last Day of CHA

I learned a couple of things for sure on this trip to CHA.

1. Cha, as in cha-cha-cha is how I pronounce it, and several of my local friends pronounce it the same way.
2. C-H-A is how most of my American friends pronounce it.  Who knew?
3. This was the last Summer show to be held.  There are changes coming next year, a travel show is one of the options being talked about for the new Craft & Connect show.  New name, new venue, new vision.  I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to attend this one.
4. I really needed my SLR camera.  Although I can manage to take pretty decent photos with my iphone, not everyone is able to do the same.  I should have learned after my last trip to Vegas, but I didn't so I once again I have many, many blurry photos.  It's sad.   If I ever get another opportunity to attend a C-H-A event, I'll bring a proper camera for all these inside pix that I want to be in.
5. The last thing I learned, or at least that is evidently clear is that I am way more about people than I am about product.  Although I saw a lot of great new product, I failed to take many photos of it.  Most of my photos are of the people I have come to care very much about through Instagram, and Facebook. I'm not surprised really, if you know anything about me at all, it's that I love people.  I love getting to know about all the little things that make people tick, and all the experiences that got them to where they are today.  So meeting people was bound to take center stage during the Trade Show.  By the way if you're looking for a great blog post (or 2 actually) showcasing lots, and lots of product you should pop over here to my friend Julie's blog.  She was a CHA photo taking superstar.

The People:
First and foremost, this friendly giant just needed to have his photo taken with me, haha.  I usually stand on my tip toes to make myself look less short, but in this case, it really was futile.  He was very friendly, however, although he did ask if I was from Ca-nah-dah.  Hahaha.
The lovely and always warm and friendly Catherine of Scrapbook & Cards Today.  I was so glad to have run into her.  Another bonus of a smaller show.
The Scrapbook Nook crew: Shelley, Carol, Anabelle, and myself.  The Nook may have closed a year ago, but we will always be Nook girls at heart.
So great to meet Julie in person.  Love her blog, she's the one you should see if you want more product images.
The hilariously funny Leah L'Orange.  Oh this girl is like a breath of fresh air, so fun and lively.  I kinda felt like we should have met a long time ago.
The oh so adorable Suz Mannecke - have you noticed that many feel the need to crouch when they take a photo with me.  It's embarrassing, I often forget how short I really am.
My sweet, sweet, super talented (as in she's on so many BIG name DTs) friend Shellye, with the super popular Heidi Swapp.  She's not only talented, but really lovely too.
So happy to have connected with this woman Kate Swanson of Art Impressions (I just love how IG brings people together)
After a few times missing this girlie, we finally connected just before the end of the show.  We were likely the only 2 Funks in the whole place.

These next few photos were taken with my new friend Lea Lawson's camera.  See the difference.
That's Lea in the midldle, she works with Glitz Design, lucky girl

Introducing my friend Carol - Photo Bomber Extraordinaire, lol

These were all taken at the very end of the show, as I'm sure you can probably gather.
The Product

This My Mind's Eye Cut & Paste line is even cuter in person than it is in the pic


Teresa Collins' release was super cute.  
Just love this colour combo.

Fancy Pants has totally taken me by surprise.  They have really evolved.  I really liked every single release. 

These letters are perfect!  Right in between the micro mini Lily Bee Design ones, and the great new BasicGrey ones.  Great colours too.
Aren't those tags and flair awesome?!

Wasn't their booth just adorable?  
My dear friend Amy rocks their products.  They are lucky to have one another.


I've been saying for about 2 years that someone needs to come out with a woodgrain heart stamp.  I guess Kristy and her hubby of Some Odd Girl stamps herd me from all the way up here.
Loved this little set, perfect for PL



Met Stephanie of Bella.  Seriously she was so sweet.  And the first of all the big manus to know exactly which DT member did which layout for her.  Really cute collections coming out soon. 

Okay, that's all I have.  I really don't know how anyone gets to every single booth.  And this was the small show too.  If I ever have the opportunity to go again, I'm going to have to go armed with a plan.

I have one more post to share with you as far as CHA goes.  It'll be devoted to my friend Carol and her sweet family.  I was so fortunate to be hosted by them for the duration of CHA.  I'd love for you to meet them too.

Thanks for following along with my CHA experience.  Especially if you've made it through this post.

Have a great day all,

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Saturday, July 27, 2013

Bring On The Cheese

I've got this layout up on the Scraptastic Club blog.  It's created using the July Out On The Town Kit. Hop over to the blog to see how I created the sunburst like background.





There two are such characters it was pretty easy putting a layout together the suited the hammy feel of the photos. Pin It

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Chic Tags Booth

I'm sure some of you have been wondering what our booth at CHA looks like, at least I know I would. Let me show you around.  Albert & Veronica did a great job putting together some fabulous school themed decor.
The lockers were definitely a favourite

Adorable little set up right?
The little library card holder stores all her business cards.  This is also the table where guests would create our cute little make and takes.  
The super talented Albert MADE that chalkboard.
Fabulous Winter Line that would work great for Christmas photos as well.

There you have it, our sweet little booth at #1211 Summer - CHA 2013
It really is like a fairy tale being here at CHA in Vegas.  I am so grateful to Veronica and Albert for believing in me and my work.    They were the first manufacture to say "yes" to me.  I adore this homegrown company.  Veronica and Albert are genuinely like family and so is our design team.  It has been a real honour representing them at the show and having my work hanging in their booth, showcasing the fabulous new collections.  I am so grateful!

Oh and here are the layouts that I created for the show.


If you haven't yet done so, you should pop over to the Chic Tags blog to enter for your chance to win this entire collection, paper, tags, stamps and all. Pin It

Summer CHA 2013 - through photos


We're heeeeeeeeere!

Meet Lisa.  We were lucky enough to somehow get invited to a private tour of the Bazzill Basics booth with coffee and bagels before the doors officially opened.  She was a great hostess, and boy oh boy is there some fun stuff coming for all us Bazzill Basic Fans.

This Nordic Pines Collection was my absolute favourite

The Prima booth was the prettiest booth I made it to today.  And this Leeza Gibbons line is so adorable.  I just love the colour combinations, and the fun new designs.

Loved, loved, loved this layout.
Crate Paper Close knit collection
How the day all began!  I'll have much better photo of the Chic Tags booth later on for you.
Does she really need an intro?  I think not, but man she's so uber cute prego.

Finally met up with Kristy Lee of We R Memory Keepers, another friend made through Instagram.  I love the internet.  I've met so many great people because of it.
These gorgeous girls came all the way from Bolivia to attend CHA.  Also met some ladies from the UK  (who bought everything Chic Tags released - yay, and a group from Costa Rica)

Super cool to have Rochelle and Kristi of Paper Secrets stop by the Chic Tags booth.
The adorable Kelly Purkey taking a quick break from running the IG page for Simon Says Stamp.

Our super talented friend Anabelle O'Malley came by the Chic Tags booth to say hello.  She's even more gorgeous in real life.
Echo Park/Carta Bella Both.
Can't wait to work with Kaitlin's new collection.  Isn't it gorgeous?!
So fun to see my friends' layout up at the show, Patricia's is just one of many I saw.  I'll post more later.
Had a nice long chat with Jody of Echo Park Paper too.  Very cool!
Reunited once again with my fellow Canuck Marjolaine Walker (we met through Scrapping Everyday Miracles), and met her friend Ronda Palazzari for the first time.  She had a fun group of gals with her too, so glad they all stopped by our Chic Tags booth.
I have a little secret about this super spunky designer, but you'll have to wait to hear about it (such a tease I know)

Met the fabulously talented Alison Kreft.  What a sweetheart.  She was so genuine and easy going.  I learned that her first collection was completed mere days before the birth of her baby, crazy.  This new collection is just awesome, 
check out these super awesome overlays, they're Instagram photo size.
I just know I'm going to have to work with this collection
Adorable signage right?
Lea Lawson of Glitz Designs is seriously as friendly in person as she is online.  It was so nice to sit and chat with her for a while about everything under the sun.  The new Glitz collection are pretty great.



Ended the day with the great folks of Ocotber Afternoon.  They stopped by our Chic Tags booth.  I returned back to the booth in time to have them compliment me on my layouts - what?!  Seriously, such a compliment.  They were a really fun bunch.
Alright, that's it for me, it's 1 AM, and my batter is at 13%.  Time to go to bed.  Carol and I have decided to take the day off tomorrow and hed to Red Rock (I think that's what she called it) to do a little hiking and see some great views of the North Las Vegas.  We'll have to go before the 40% heat knocks us on our feet.  I hope you liked seeing all the photos.  I know some are blurry and they're kind of small but I hope you'll forgive me.  Don't forget you can follow along on Instagram or through my FB page for more up to date photos.

Until next time,
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