CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc) Mega Trade Show - Winter 2016 (Part 1)

What can I say about this annual event? It's exciting, fun and exhausting! LOL! I have been fortunate to attend for several years and it never gets old.

On Friday, January 8th, flying out to Orange County (CA) Airport took forever as my plane didn't show up until 40 mins later! Weather in Chicago was perfect - figures! HA! But lucky me, hubby gave me a pass to the United Lounge = SCORE!

When I finally got to the Anaheim Convention Center, I rushed up to Girlie Grunge Mixed Media Canvas Class by Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®. It was so nice to see everyone creating a wonderful project. Donna is an amazing artist - LOVE HER!!

Afterwards, there was the CHA Mega Block Party outside which was a bit chilly for LA but still a lot of fun and caught up with industry friends! Finally was able to hang out with my roomie :)

The next day (1/9) was the first day of CHA! But first we got our vitamin C fizzy drinks ON to start the day - CHEERS :)

We made it! Excited to see everyONE and everyTHING! Can't believe how big this sign is - LOL!!

This is my wonderful roommate, Betsy Burnett, who has put up with me for three years - LOVE HER!! She gets me! LOL!! She also has a HUGE HEART coming here to bring awareness to her cause and passion - Operation Christmas Child (#CrazyShoeBoxLady). I admire and respect her for all she is doing and for the Craft Industry that has embraced her with support! LOVE this industry!! GO BETSY!

I walked the floor to see every thing but was so overwhelmed with product and talking to friends. Didn't take much pictures. BUT here are some fun pictures - you may recognize my crazy friends (Top: Susan Opel, Middle: Susan Opel & Julie Comstock, Bottom: HeeSun Kim & Eun Young both from S. Korea)! HA!

This booth - Lion Brand Yarn had the most striking booth. I literally stopped in my tracks to take a look at the detailed knit work. They won the Critics' Choice Booth Award - just amazing! It is awarded to one exhibitor that best represents the creative spirit of the industry. What do you think?

I was invited by Offray to try their newest tool called the Bow Genius™, a bow making tool. It was nominated CHA 2016 Hot Product Award for the General Craft and Floral Craft Categories. So I went to the scheduled make 'n take to create a Pomander project and had SO MUCH FUN!! I hope to do a review about this tool in the very near future :)

After meeting up with Betsy, she and I went back to the hotel to put our feet up to talk about the day (we went our separate ways most of the time) and got ready for Prime/FaveCraft Bloggers Network Event at the Hilton. Great to see friends and meet new ones!

Wonderful conversations with manufacturers who want to work with bloggers on how to get brand awareness out to the market place. LOVE talking about marketing - I am in my element. Thanks to the hard working crew at Prime Publishing/FaveCraft!!

So that concludes Education Day and Day One of CHA! Stay tuned for more - coming SOON!

Thanks for visiting :)
MargieH

Scrabookbook Expo Chicago 2014

Scrapbook Expo - Chicago came into town last weekend. I was especially thrilled because Spellbinders and Fun Stampers Journey group had a booth. I know most of them but haven't had the pleasure of meeting the others. What a treat!

Photo by Richard Garay

During this time, Richard Garay, Vice President of Creative Services for Spellbinders Paper Arts, and Kim Hupke, Director of Education, held two types of classes during the two-day event.

Expression Journal consisted of mixed media and such a FUN CLASS! Here is one of the students, Kim, showing off her creation...

Richard in action! I got his sample and it's displayed in my craft studio :) Thank you, Richard!

The other class was a fabulous card making class that got great reviews afterwards from the students! I love that! Here's Richard and the students in a mad creative frenzy :)

This sweet girlie is Lea from our marketing group. We talk in a weekly marketing conference call so it's nice to meet face-to-face instead of just a voice! LOL!!

And of course, I met up with the uber talented Tiffany Johnson of Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft, Sizzix and Lawn Fawn designer!

BONUS: I got to meet another talented designer, Latrice Murphy, who happened to be a volunteer in Spellbinders card making class! LOL! I took a picture of her working hard....she got to play with our Tool 'n One which keeps getting sold out!

So we all had dinner together :) SO MUCH FUN~!!

After one day of class set up, two days of two-hour classes x 4, one-hour make'n take, loading & unloading 30+ Grand Calibur Machines and talking/seeing/hugging/laughing with friends at Scrapbook Expo, this girl was POOPED!! But wouldn't trade it for the world....HA!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

San Jose CA Road Trip & Card Making Class

Earlier in the month, I went to visit my friend Emi Kume in San Jose CA. She is the founding editor of "Love My Memories" magazine, a Japanese papercrafting magazine, and is credited for bringing scrapbooking to the forefront in Japan. I am fortunate to be a contributing writer for the magazine.

The first thing we did once I got to San Jose was a visit to Scrapbook Island - one of my "must go" places on my list and I wasn't disappointed :) LOVEd that store!! AND I finally got to meet Laurie...we talked like we were old friends! Love that!

On the first day, we did a short tour around San Francisco...OMGosh, it's been over 20 years since I last visited! What a beautiful city! In about five hours, we covered the Painted Ladies (Alamo Square), Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square and Treasure Island...WOW! LOL!!

During my stay, I had a fabulous opportunity to do a card making class with her Japanese students, using Spellbinders® die templates and some techniques to kick it up a notch! This is what they created...

I love how you can mix and match different die templates to layer, to ink, to fold & tuck, to stencil....so many different techniques! (Pictures taken by Emi)

Here are the lovely ladies who participated in the class! THANK YOU & お疲れ様でした～！楽しい時間ありがとうございました。また、カードを一緒に作りましょう。

BIG THANK YOU to the following manufacturers who made this possible: Spellbinders Creative Arts, WorldWin Papers, David Tutera for Darice/Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock, JustRite Papercraft, Graphic45, SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVE BY 3L, IMAGINE Craft/TSUKINEKO and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft!!

It was such an amazing time and the much needed break from the intense CHA (Craft & Hobby Association trade show) prep! LOL! Thank you for an amazing time, Emi & family!! xo

Thank YOU for reading this far :)
MargieH

Spellbinders: 2013 Winter CHA

What a show...is all I can write! LOL!! Our biggest release to date and our turning point as a company to introduce a different line of products from our traditional products - Spellbinders™ Media Mixáge™ Line! WOW!

Spellbinders Media Mixáge Booth - it was ROCKing with all the retailers - pictured before the show opened (and the calm before the storm - LOL!!). KUDOs to our graphics/studio people - designed all in house!

Also we taught a class this year (it's been three years since our last one) and we decided to create a class to incorporate EVERYTHING into a journal book - our traditional line and Media Mixáge products. The students got to play with BOTH Spellbinders Grand Calibur® machine and Spellbinders Artisan X-plorer™ machine! The class was a sell out!!

Welcome to our class - taught by our Kim Hupke, Education Director extraordinaire!
WOOHOO~!

Our friends and students, Martha & Catherine, with Holly Simoni

Of course, we educated but we also entertained with giveaways!
Our lucky winners with Spellbinders President Stacey Caron!

It was a great way to start off CHA - that was Friday! It was an education day and the eve of the trade show opening. Next post I will share pictures from the show...don't have much as I was in the booth most of the time but come back!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Last Day!!

It's the last day of Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop and I am sad that it's ending. For five days that started on Dec. 5th through the 10th the FUN began each day Scrap-Mart's Blog. You saw projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers - hope you enjoyed them. We were joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only have you seen tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!!
To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway. GOOD LUCK!!

I created a huge tag of a Christmas tree made out of buttons using October Afternoon Holiday Style Collection and cut/emboss some of Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Die Templates! What do you think? Guess this recipient won't miss his/her gift - LOL!!

Gift Tag by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Patterned Paper, Buttons, Trim and Stickers: October Afternoon (Holiday Style Collection); Bling: Prima; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (LF-246 Grand Labels Eleven, LF-111 Grand Scalloped Ovals, LF-110 Grand Ovals); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

Hope you have a great Saturday - off to teach my Merry Mailbox Featuring Spellbinders Paper Arts class at Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts. IL)!!

MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 2

It's Day 2 of Scrap-Mart's 2011 Holiday Blog Hop! For five days starting Dec. 5th (yesterday) through the 10th, the fun will begin each day on Scrap-Mart's Blog. You will see projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers. We will be joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™ (Dec 7th only)

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only will you get tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!! To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway.

On Day 2 of Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop, they will feature my projects that I created from October Afternoon. Love the fun patterns and elements from them...so excited to share with you!!

Santa's Mail Box by Margie Higuchi
Featuring October Afternoon's Holiday Style Collection

Gift Bag by Margie Higuchi
Featuring October Afternoon's Holiday Style Collection

For details on how these were created, visit Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 2!! Don't forget to enter the contest! Good Luck!

REMINDER: This Saturday, December 10th from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts., IL) is my Merry Mailbox class!! Hope you can join!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH