From the floor at CHA Winter 2011: Chris Nicholson, owner of Scrappy Chic

Chris has been very busy at CHA Winter 2011 looking, choosing and ordering. Chris and her assistants had a plan for taking on the show floor on day one, literally running, she said. Gathering catalogs, keeping appointments with sales reps and working hard to bring the best of CHA to her customers.

Highlights for Chris and staff were Tim Holtz’ booth with his new product introductions, “Twig” by Little Yellow Bicycle and Cosmo Cricket “Glübers”. What are “Glübers” one might ask? According to Cosmo Crickets description, they are “Large adhesive glue circles for making your own flowers, and when you're finished - it's a sticker!”  Sounds interesting and fun.

Sounds like Chris and team are having a great time too. Can’t wait to get the next report!!  Of course, the products will be arriving at Scrappy Chic in Livonia as soon as the orders are completed.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: CHA Winter 2011: Report from Chris Nicholson of Scrappy Chic - Detroit scrapbooking | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/scrapbooking-in-detroit/cha-winter-2011-report-from-chris-nicholson-of-scrappy-chic#ixzz1CfU1cd1L

CHA Winter 2011 Convention News

If you are not a scrapper you are probably wondering what CHA is? Simply put it is one of the most exciting events for manufacturers of scrapbook supplies and the people who love them. It is where they introduce their new product lines to thousands of buyers from chain and independent scrapbook stores for the 2011 winter and spring seasons. A second event takes place in July for the fall and winter releases.

I hope to be in touch with Chris Nicholson, owner of Scrappy Chic, who is in CA at the show right now. If she can get decent internet connections, she will update me with what she is seeing and maybe even send pictures of the new products she especially likes. How fun will that be?

So, watch for the latest information on my Examiner.com site and join in the fun!!

Tim Holtz Giveaway - Don't miss this one!!!

There is a Tim Holtz giveaway contest being held on a fellow bloggers blog that I wanted to let you know about. If you go to the following blogspot, you can get full details on how to enter! The drawing will be held New Year's Day so go ahead and go blogging!! Here is the link: yoursartfully.blogspot.com/2010/12/tim-holtz-giveaway.html. If you don't have a blog you can still go to Tim's blog for pictures and directions of his 12 Tags of Christmas 2010 (timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/11/12-tags-of-christmasday-1.html). You will love them!!

It's almost holiday time!!

I have been a very poor blogger. I feel terrible about this. I was all set to really get blogging when I started writing for Examiner.com in October - so I thought!

What is my problem? Writers block I guess you would say. I just find that I don't do anything really interesting enough to bother taking someone's time reading. Once I write what I can come up with for the Detroit Scrapbook Examiner - I am all used up.

So, I am just writing today to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a prosperous and happy new year!!

Using Your Scraps: Holiday Table Decorations

It’s that time of year. Dig out your scraps and start getting ready for the holidays. Now is the time to create those one of a kind decorations for your holiday table.

How easy is it to use some of your winter or holiday patterned paper to make napkin rings? Simply cut a strip of paper 1 ½” wide and 6” long. Cut a slit approximately ½” deep and ½” in from top to bottom on one end and bottom to top and the other. Using a punch or cutting free hand make snowflakes or other appropriate shapes out of coordinating patterned paper or card stock. If you own a Cricut or Silhouette die cutting machine you may have shapes you can use. Glue the shapes in the middle of the strip, overlapping each to make a small grouping. Wrap around a rolled or folded napkin and join at slits.

Do you want your guests to be able to identify their wine glasses? Wine glass I.D. rings are the answer. Cut a circle the diameter of your glass base out of patterned paper, slit from bottom edge to center. Your Silhouette or Cricut would be useful for cutting the circles, or use a circle template. Cut or punch another circle the diameter of the stem of your glass in the center. Decorate each with a different color or shape so guests will know which glass is theirs.

Make tent place cards from cardstock scraps. Cut pieces of scraps 3” by 3”, fold in half. Print guests name on front and decorate with shapes punched out of patterned paper.
All of these items will add some color to your holiday table without adding any expense to your entertaining budget. You can add scrap ribbon, jewels, buttons etc. to make them even more festive!

Have a wonderful, happy, healthy and crafty holiday season!!!

Beware: Scrapbooking can lead to new friends!!

I have been painting for three weeks now, don't ask!! But, that also means I haven't been enjoying any scrapbooking time. Today was an exception! I went to a Stampin' Up party at one of my scrapping buddies homes and had a great time.

I was surrounded with paper and ink and stamps and crafts, and I was once again enjoying my hobby!! The best part though, was being surrounded by friends, most of whom I have made just since I began scrapping. What a great group of women!!! We have laughs, share news, exchange ideas and just enjoy each others company.

This is one of the benefits of becoming a scrapbooker that is seldom mentioned. It doesn't cost anything except some of your time and the willingness to let others into your life. Priceless!!!

Using Your Scraps: Greeting Cards

  

Today I wrote an article on Examiner.com about using scrap paper for card making and I wanted to include some instructions here on how to make these three cards. I hope this will inspire the making of many more cards in the future. Thanks for your inspiration, Melissa!

For this “Thinking of You” card use four 1”x 2.75” strips of patterned paper, one 4”x 2.75” solid color cardstock, one patterned paper heart punched/cut, coordinating ribbon and a phrase stamp. Leave a 1/8” border around the entire card as you work, adhere the four strips to the card 1/8” from the bottom and sides, overlapping slightly. Punch or cut a decorative border on one long edge of cardstock, stamp your greeting at approx. half way down and toward the right. Tie ribbon around this piece between greeting and border and adhere 1/8” from top and sides of card, overlapping strips. Place heart on top as shown. Viola, beautiful!!

 
Select three different pieces of scrap pattern paper and three scrap cardstock papers that coordinate to make this "Celebrate You" card. Stamp or write phrases on patterned paper scraps and punch 1 1/4” circles. Cut one of the cardstock scraps to 3 1/4”x 3 1/4” for the back and one to 3”x 3” for the front of top section. Punch out one butterfly approximately 1 1/2” in size and emboss or decorate or adhere a sticker to a cardstock scrap and trim.  First, adhere large square to top of blank card, 1/2” from top and sides. Add second square, centered on first. Glue circles and butterfly around the square, leaving equal distance between them. Stamp your main phrase approximately 1” from the bottom and to the right of the card. You are done!!

To create this “Cheers” card adhere one 5 1/4”x 4” scrap of patterned paper to a blank card leaving an equal distance on all sides. Stamp or write selected phrase on three different colored pieces of scrap cardstock, stamp a picture on a white piece of scrap cardstock and punch all four with a 1” circle punch. Punch two 1/2” colored circles and one 1 1/4” black circle. Decorate picture and mount on black circle. Adhere all circles in a random pattern on top of patterned paper. Easy!!