Monday, February 3, 2014

Mixed Media and Vintage Hearts for Valentine's Day!

Thanks for "hopping" by for the DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION February Blog Hop!  This month's theme is Crafting with Heart!

I don't have a step by step tutorial this month, but wanted to share some of my favorite projects with HEART!

This VINTAGE HEART is layered with old music sheets, doilies and a cute vintage Valentine's Day card.  I embellished it with crinkle seam binding ribbon that I hand dyed with Ranger Distressed re-inkers, scrapbook elements, lace, flowers and rhinestones.  This was fun to make and is hanging on my front door.

This MIXED MEDIA HEART is covered with crumpled scrapbook papers to achieve the texture, then stamped with patterns created from toilet paper tubes, bubble wrap and a plastic fork!  I LOVE experimenting on projects like this.  Rhinestone, pearl, metal and tissue paper flower embellishments complete this puffy paper mache heart!


This COLLAGE HEART is covered with classic Scenic Route scrapbook papers, vintage book paper ruffles, glitter, cupcake liners, a funky fiber tassel and a photo of my Brother and Sister-in-Law renewing their Wedding Vows on their 10th Anniversary!  

Please HOP AROUND and see what other Crafts with Heart the rest of the Designers are sharing with everyone today.  Just click on the HOP FORWARD and HOP BACK buttons in the DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION icon on the right hand side task bar.  HAPPY HOPPING!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth


Sunday, February 2, 2014

CHA 2014 - Recoup then Recap

Finally feeling better after bringing back the #CHAFLU from California.

Always lots to look at and take in while at the CHA tradeshow in Anaheim.  Love seeing all my crafty friends and catching up with what everyone is up to!  I also love to see the new products and how they work!

Here are some highlights:




The Banners of Hope Designer Display was spearheaded by Lorine Mason and gave CHA Designer Members and CHA Attendees an opportunity to create a banner with the theme of HOPE.  The banners were then taken to the Charity Wings Art Center to be the centerpiece of a 24 hour Hope-A-Thon and will then travel around the country - Cool!


I organized and participated in my 9th Designer Showcase Event.  This show floor event is a vehicle for the CHA Designer Members to create and display a 3D portfolio on a pedestal.  There were 28 Designers who participated this year and the different displays were absolutely spectacular!  I was truly amazed and inspired!


Work always plays just as big a role at the show as does play.  I did demos and make and takes at the Makin's Clay and Smoothfoam booths.  I love meeting new people who enjoy learning and creating with new products.  And sometimes, I learn a thing or to as well!




Prime Media holds a crafty Blogger Event where manufacturers all come together to meet and network with the bloggers to preview new products and make mutually beneficial connections to spread crafting to the masses!  This year's event had great companies like Fiskars, Design Master, Krylon, Plaid, Sizzix, Coats & Clark and Leisure Arts - just to name a few!  I met online friends like Angela Daniels from Rit Dye, previewed new products like Mac & Cheese Duck Tape and created some new working relationships with some fabulous companies!  These companies sent each craftere home with four large bags of swag, so we could play, create and blog when we got home - WOW!

A big THANK YOU to Simone Collins and everyone at Prime Media aka Fave Crafts!


I Love To Create had a Creative Refresh where all my crafty friends - Jonathan Fong, Lorine Mason, Ann Butler and Cindi Bisson - and I came together to get massages, eat gourmet popcorn and have mini make overs complete with headshots!  Alyson Dias and the folks at I Love To Create sent each crafter home with a bag of swag!  Another generous company!


I had a Snowman project on display at the Sizzix booth with Eileen Hull's new Cherished Collection.


My starburst mirror at the Sticky Sticks booth.

The Smoothfoam booth featured six of my blog projects.

My favorite booths included:


I Love To Create - yes those are beach balls decorated with Tulip 3D Fasion Paint!  Along with crafty friends Eileen Hull and Pattie Wilkinson.


Lion Brand Yarns - the 7 wonders of the world created with yarn!


Red Heart - gigantic balls of yarn and scarves!

I also had the opportunity to be a classroom assistant to Eileen Hull and Amy Bowerman at their Artist On the Block workshop!



Check out some other blog posts about CHA 2014:

It was a fabulous trip and I am already looking forward to CHA 2015!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth