The Summer CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Summer Show took place last weekend in Chicago.  While Kay and I did not attend, I have been following up on some emails, blogs, and websites that have been keeping us updated on the newest products and trends for this year.  I though I would pass them along to you.

Birds, fluorishes, circles all seem to dominate this year.  In other words, that stuff is all still HOT in the paper crafting circle.  Vintage is really coming on the scene strong with great companies like Crafty Secrets and Jenni Bowlin.  Flowers are still all the rage also.  Prima is still number one in my bag with their products.

If you would like to do some investigating of your own and check out some of the sneek peeks of what’s to come, I will leave you with some links to get to some of these great sites.  Number 1 for me is Vicki Chrisman’s blog, she has great photos of some of the booths with links to check out more of their products.  You can check out her awesome blog here at www.vickichrisman.blogspot.com .  Scrapscene has been doing a trend watch update ever couple of days…awesome photos again with great links.  You might have to scroll down a ways to find all three trend watches but it definately worth it.  www.scrapscene.com   Scrapscene is just a great way to keep up on all of the lastest and greastest ideas, blogs, designers, projects and products.  It’s always worth the read.

We have been ordering all the latest and greatest at the store and it will be arriving in the next few weeks,so make time to stop by and check out all the goodies.  We are so excited for this fall, we are going to have so much fun at the Playground with all the new products, classes, workshops and customers who keep us going strong.

Oh, by the way, if your in a creativity rut with your layouts, I encourage you to stop by Pencil Lines to check out the weekly sketches and challenges provided by some of the industry’s best.  www.pencillines.com.  If I need a new idea or some inspiration, I always stop by their site and take a peek.  There is a sketch of the week, with the designer’s take on it…along with all the other designers on their team’s take, plus all the reader’s takes.  Great site, you’ll love it!

Take time every day to create and play!!!!!

Just wanted to share a simple little project, coin envelope tag album.  Perfect for little summer mementos of your adventure’s this summer.  Easy and super fast, you can complete these little guys in less than an hour, depending on how carried away you get.

First, you need 5 little coin envelopes, 5 tags to fit inside, double sided patterned paper of your choice and some embellishments.  (Ribbons, brad, clips, you name it).

Tuck the flaps of the envelopes inside.  Then put a strip of adhesive right down the seam of the envelope, top to bottom.  Next, adhere another envelope right on top, repeat with the remaining envelopes, til you have a little accordion.  Simple.  Next, wrap a piece of patterned paper around, adhere with a tape runner.  I used a piece that was 2 1/4″ by 9″.  You will have about an inch and half extra that makes the little flap.  I rounded the corners on the flap and that part’s done.

All you have left to do is decorated your tags.  The sky’s the limit on what you want to do here.  You could even crop your photos to fit inside.  I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  I love this stuff, it’s a beautiful shimmery spray that you can add to almost anything.  It comes in tons of colors and the more you use it the more you will love it.  I love using two or three colors combined together.  Check out their website here www.mytatteredangels.com.  I played and played, used my Tim Holtz distress inks, fun stamps and few other goodies.   I also used papers from Fancy Pants.  Love their stuff, too.  I love how fast and easy this little project was and you will too.  Check out all the photos below.  If you have any questions just leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

Have fun and take time to create and play!!!!!

Thought I would just check in here and wish everyone a Happy 4th of July!  I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend.  In the last post, I asked what kind of scrapper you were and what type of products and companies  you crave the most.  Not much response with all that, but I will fill you in on my thoughts. 

It doesn’t matter if you are a traditional scrapper or more artsy.  It doesn’t matter what mediums you use or if you just keep it simple.  What does matter is that it’s your creative outlet and your memories that you are creating for your loved ones!!!

Some of us may scrap the yummy, juicy watermelon from today’s picnic and some of us will scrap the kids playing at the picinic.  Some more artsy, some more traditionally.  It’s all up to you and that’s the great part about this hobby…there are no rules.  Just create, just enjoy.  We all love the same things about this hobby, it honors life…past, present and future, and encourages and captivates our creativity.

So all of this leads me to the next topic…blogging.  I want my blog to be all about the people, a gathering place for like-minded souls.  I want to encourage you, get to know you and for this blog be a comfortable corner where you can put your feet up, relax, no pressure. 

I live under the same roof with 3 people and 3 animals that I dearly love, but they don’t ”get” me.  But I’m guessing that my blog readers “get me”.  Because in so many ways, you are just like me.  You love to create, love paper, even obsess over it like I do.  Do you carry your camera in your purse at all time? Do you look at everything as a possible embellishment and do you dream of the perfect scrap space, like I do??  Then readers you “get” me. 

Join me with continuing an artful journey!  Tell me about your creations, your favorite photos.  Share with me and other readers about your favorite techniques, products, what products that you would love to be able to get here in Rapid City.  Come along and CReAtE!!!!