A Show to Remember

Since I got home last Monday, my mind has been replaying the events of the Craft and Hobby Association trade show that I attended last weekend. Fully anticipating a sunny, warm California visit, I (and everyone else in the Southern California area) was surprised to find it unseasonal cold temperatures – even for January. Don’t let the bright sunshine in this photo fool you – it was chilly indeed.

I,  along with thousands of other craft enthusiasts, waited anxiously for the doors to open on the first day of the show. At times I felt like one of the herd, slowly making my way to the feed trough, hungry for new inspiration, and there was plenty to be had.

Some of the things I noticed at many of the papercraft booths were lots of central themes that revolved around Project Life. 3 X 4 and 4 X 6 sized cards with plenty of trendy colors and patterns were at nearly every booth.

Travel themes and maps were in plentiful supply at the winter show, probably anticipating the summer travel months ahead, I imagine.

Every corner I turned, there were crafting celebrities such as Becky Higgins, who graciously asked if I wanted a picture with her. Um, YEAH! Seeing all the new Project Life kits, elements and binders make me swoon with delight.

The Maggie Holmes booth had lots of fun paper designs and elements such as these polaroid frames in a variety of colors and patterns, that I’m sure will soon find their way into my supply stash.

Ms. Holmes also had these interesting vignette overlays for 2 X 2, 4 X 4 and 4 X 6 photos.

I’ve been using cork paper and embellishments for a while, but this was the first time I saw them as cute little flower and heart stick pins. I can’t help but think of how cute they would be with a tiny image stamped on them!

Wooden topped stick pins also make me happy!

I’ve been a fan of Studio Calico veneers for a while now, and I have several packages of hearts and other shapes in my stash already. I was excited to see new shapes, but these adorable dog veneers had me a “woof”. There are plenty of other shapes like farm animals –cows and horses - all of which will soon find their way onto cards and scrapbook pages.

Don’t these cupcakes look amazing? The detail on these tops are incredible and it is all done with fondant using molds! Roll it out, press it in the mold and add color. They make even the non-pastry decorator a creative genius.

Just look at some of these mold designs! They make any cupcake look almost too pretty to eat...almost! I’ve never met a cupcakes I didn’t love!

There were so many other wonderful things I saw – it’s enough to make your head spin with inspiration, which I’m sure you have seen many of on the blogs all over the blogasphere. Anyone and everyone that attended the show have many photos just like these. But some moments were mine alone. As I sat in the relatively warm sunshine moments before I left for the airport to travel home, I enjoyed the blue skies and sunshine in the shade of palm trees that are plentiful in Anaheim.

Now that the Winter CHA is over for 2013 I’m left with lots of great memories...time spent with old friends, meeting new friends and the pictures to prove it! HA.

Thanks for looking in today. Now I’m off now to put some of the inspiration to good use. I hope you will find a little time this weekend to do the same.

Lynn

Live each day with PURPOSE!