TaDa Creative Studios: Swim Meet Altered Frame & ScraPerfect Giveaway!

Today is my turn to post on TaDa Creative Studios' blog and it's all about the SWIM as in my nephew's swim meet :0) I am so proud of him as a high school freshman he was invited to compete on the varsity team! For step outs and more detail information, please visit TaDa Creative Studios' Swim Meet Altered Frame...

Swim Meet Altered Frame by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Patterned Paper, Vinyl Stickers: TaDa Creative Studios (Poolside Collection); Twine: The Twinery; Ink Mist: LuminArte Shimmering Mist (Sky Blue); Adhesives: SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L (mini foam squares) and ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever) and Wooden Frame (Hobby Lobby)

Do you have a swimmer in your family? The Poolside Collection is perfect for not only swim meets but vacation or that pool party that you have pictures for too! It is one of two releases (the other is Yee Haw!) that TaDa has available - check it out!

GIVEAWAY @ ScraPerfect!!
Speaking of check it out....there is a giveaway at ScraPerfect's Blog!! All you have to do is comment on ScraPerfect: It's Giveaway Time! post to enter by next Saturday, March 3rd. You DO NOT want to miss this - there many companies involved!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Spellbinders: Faux Porcelain Ring

At the 2012 Winter CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) trade show back a few weeks ago, I made a bunch of (like around 20) faux porcelain flower rings for my friends...last minute, of course.

Faux Porcelain Ring by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Patterned Paper: Authentique Papers; Die: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-086 Bitty Blossoms); Enamel: Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (Ranger Ink); Tool: Melting Pot and Melt Art Kool Toolz (Ranger Ink); Adhesives: E6000 and ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Ring Base

Why do I come up with crazy projects the day or night before I leave?! This technique is based on my take of what Spellbinders Blog Team Member Sherry Cheever came up (THANK YOU, Sherry!!!!). Next show I will have one ready for YOU!!! This was her Faux Porcelain video on the subject back in December of 2009 and I had this on my mind since then! LOL!!



As you can see from her video, she did each layer to create her beauty. Me...not so patient. I dunk the entire assembled flower (S5-086 Bitty Blossoms) into the pot! LOL!! Just make sure to cover the entire flower, get rid of excess (before it cools) and place it on top of the non-stick sheet to cool.

The Dunk!

After the flower cooled, I sanded the bottom of the flower and the ring base (purchased at the findings/beads section of Hobby Lobby). Then adhered with E6000 Glue. I would hold for a few moments so that the adhesive can grip and let it dry a few hours...just in case.

Easy right? A couple of tips - have something heat resistant underneath the melting pot (your table will thank you) and I used a melting pot liner so that I can use the leftovers for another project (avoiding clean up as much as possible ;0P).

I hope you try it too!! Many many thanks to my ROCK STAR friend, Sherry Cheever!!
MargieH

P.S. Supplies List and Steps BELOW (for those who can't see any of the video):

Supplies:
Melting Pot (bonus if you have a melting pot liner = less clean up!)
UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)
Tweeters (non-stick kind or long ones)
Non-stick craft sheet Any of the rolled flower die templates (I used the Blossoms Three and the Bitty Blossoms)
Favorite Patterned Paper Adhesive (to assemble the rolled flower)
E6000 (to adhere the faux porcelain flower and ring base)
Fine-grade sandpaper
Ring base (purchased at Hobby Lobby)

Steps:
Heat UTEE in melting pot (cover with lid).
In the meantime, cut/emboss die templates and roll flower.
Dip the rolled flower into the melted UTEE, making sure the entire flower is covered and place on a non-stick sheet to cool (Try and keep the bottom flat).
Lightly sand the ring base.
When the flower has cooled, lightly sand its bottom.
Add strong adhesive like E6000 onto the ring base and place the flower on top.
Hold for a few seconds to grip.
Place flower side face down to dry (I would give it a few hours or overnight).

2012 Winter CHA - Friends!!

Thanks for the comments on my ScraPerfect CHA post and Spellbinders™ Paper Arts CHA post! Today I thought I'd share pictures of friends who came to the booth (I didn't have much time to walk the floor) or IN the booth. I am THANKFUL for those who I call my friends and are just as crazy as I am about the industry - LOL!!!

My friend of 15+ years and for the first time (and maybe the last time - HA!) my roomie - Beth Pingry! She is one of a handful of gurus on all things Spellbinders (she has worn many hats and currently, is working behind the scenes in our all important Spellbinders web site!)!!!!!!!!

For many years, I have been part of a Yahoo Group called Spellbinders-Wizard that is headed up by Jane in San Diego. We are like ships passing in the night...she attends the winter shows and I attend the summer shows...until this year! She knows the INs and OUTs of Spellbinders and its products - I have learned ALOT from her (still do!). Jane, YOU ROCK~! xo

Past and present, I have been fortunate enough to be on several design teams. But the one that I always wanted to be on was Scrap-Mart.com! Not only do they have great products to choose from and at great prices but the owners/DT lead/DT are absolutely WONDERFUL & FUNNY~! Who could not LOVE a face like Howard's (he's claiming CHA overload - I think he's messing with me! LOL!!)?!

One early morning, I was passing by Bazzill's booth and spied Margie Romney-Aslett! I wrote an article on her a couple of years ago for "Love My Memories" magazine. Hadn't had a chance to chat with her since. So we finally got a picture together - Margie-squared! Very excited about her launch (The Vintage Marketplace) with Bazzill - much success, M! xo

I met this sweet gal (Samantha Walker) a few years ago when I was at the summer show as a National Scrapbook Assoc. rep. We talked about Japan - I think she and her husband lived there for a couple of years. Now Samantha is part of the Licensed Designer Collection with Spellbinders - so happy for her!

Are you still with me?! LOL!! I met a new friend and from the first moment, we were laughing up a storm! She is Carrie Woolsey from Cut@Home - another wonderful retailer and now a GREAT new friend! Thanks Carrie for sending this picture of us - I LOVE IT!!! Can't wait to meet up again in the summer! (ETA: Looks like she wrote about us too - LOL!! Visit I Am Such A Spellbinders Cut, Fold & Tuck Fan! Too funny!! I am a Fan of Cut@Home!!! xo)

And of course, my friends from "Love My Memories" magazine - the FABULOUS brother-sister team of Ken & Emi Kume who grew the scrapbooking industry in Japan! I am so honored to work with them. If you know of any scrappers in the Tokyo area, make sure to tell them about their store in IKEBUKURO called Memory Place, the Store! Outside of the Tokyo area, they have an online store called Memory Place :)

More pictures to share...the two Make'N Takes from the Spellbinders Booth:

Goddess Cuff Bracelet (photo by Holly Simoni)

Cut, Fold & Tuck Die & Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Card (photo by Holly Simoni)

Our Handsome Spellbinders Men!! (photo by Holly Simoni)

OK...I think that's a wrap! Thanks for visiting and re-living 2012 Winter CHA with me! Will back with new products from Spellbinders soon~!
MargieH

Spellbinders: 2012 Winter CHA

I had the privilege to work at the Spellbinders™ Paper Arts booth (#1883) at the show. We arrived Friday night to be ready for booth set up the next morning :)

Mary Farneth & Kim Hupke, Dir of Education, discussing a game plan.

My contribution to the set up - the wall of die templates and the (short side) walls of marketing!

The Die Divas - Kim Hupke, Cindy Alexander, Kimberly Crawford and Terre Fry! Love you all!!

Even with all the preparation, you are never ready for what hits you - achy feet and no voice!! LOL!! Our friends (who coincidentally are our customers too - lol!!) gathered all four days to see what we had to show off..and it was A LOT!! Everyone LOVED Spellbinders Cut, Fold & Tuck die templates as well as the new Spellbinders M-Bossabilities™ folders.

Ready to Rock'n Roll! Make'N Take Hostesses Holly Simoni, Cindy Alexander and Sales Guru Beth Pingry :)

Uber talented Heidi Blankenship already creating with the Spellbinders M-Bossabilities!

On our first day of the show, our Social Media and Community Developer Kelly Loubet was doing her thing with a LIVE feed of our booth! Did you miss it too? So did I but I found the recorded version of Spellbinders LIVE WebCam 2012 Winter Release (I'm in there too @ 56:59 - LOL!! Hi, Susie!!)!

Go Kelly!!

We also had our book signing session and the lines were LONG~! Stacey was at hand to sign each and every book until we had none (and yes, they were gone FAST~!).Spellbinders Quick & Easy Crafts for Entertaining is a third collaboration between Spellbinders Paper Arts and DRG Publishing/Annie's Attic. It is FULL of wonderful IDEAS for a celebration of any kind!

Stacey Caron signing away!

There was also the Media Breakfast where we invited our publication friends to see what was new with Spellbinders. All the hard work that Doris Emich had put into this event paid off as we had a HUGE turnout - so proud of her!

Welcome Media! The line went around the corner and down the aisle - WOW!

Start of the presentation: Stacey Caron, Doris Emich and Kirstie Rylon, Dir of Marketing.



NEVER a DULL MOMENT and all in a few days of work at Spellbinders! LOL!! More to come when I get the other pictures edited...

Thanks for reading through all this!
MargieH

ScraPerfect: 2012 Winter CHA

Sorry for the delay in getting some CHA stuff up! I got home to an order to create a page in a frame as a farewell present to be finished in two days...YIKES! It's done and here's my first post on CHA...

Before the floor opened to the retailers on the first day, I had a chance to stop by ScraPerfect's booth (#968) to say hello to Amy Roszak, owner, and wish her all the best at the show. Lucky to catch some pictures of us before the madiness started! LOL!!

Amy and Design Team Member ME!

When Creativity Knocks Ass't Producer/Instructor, Cindi Bisson, Amy and MargieH

During my lunch hour, I took some pictures of the booth. Boy, they were busy! This was first of many days it was like this. In the midst of it all, I found fellow Design Team Member Robyn Coburn and Design Team Coordinator, Deborah Mahnken...

Robyn Coburn, Deborah Mahnken, and ME!

And of course, the newest product The Best Cleaner Ever was also introduced to the retailers! My bottle is still packed in the suitcase but will be using that bottle soon!! In the meantime, watch this video or more detailed information.







I must mention that ScraPerfect won runner-up for the Winter 2012 CHA Golden Press Kit Award in the Press Kit Award Competition!! So stinkin' happy for Amy - she works SO HARD in all she does for her company - so proud that I am part of it in a small way :)

Congratulations, Amy!! WTG :)

More to come!
MargieH

TaDa Creative Studios: 2012 Winter CHA Releases!!!

I'm just a little excited to show you all what TaDa Creative Studios has been doing - creating two more collections for this season's trade show!! Click on image for a closer look :)

Right at this moment, I am wanting to be by the Poolside NOW (as I am staring at the snow covered streets out my window...sigh...)!! Image creating a page of a pool party you went to this past summer! I am a mom of a freshmen boy swimmer :) Did you see the flipside of SPF50 or Cannonball?! OMGosh...I already have a layout in mind...now to take those pictures. LOL!!

TaDa had sold out of their popular E-I-E-I-O Collection and many have been asking for it. They have listened to customers (and designers...heehee!!) and brought back a fresh but same charm design called the Yee Haw Collection! I would love to be standing on those rolling hills right now, enjoying the warm sun! LOL!!!!

So what do you think...which one is your favorite collection or pattern?
MargieH