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

Scrap-Mart/The Button Farm Club: Mini Album

I'm still on my kick with my kit from The Button Farm Club! LOL!! This time I took what I had left from my Card Folder Ensemble and my 12 x 12" Lunch layout to create the intended project - a mini album.

You Are Sweet by Margie Higuchi
Supplies The Button Farm Club Kit (October Kit);  Mist Ink: Tattered Angels; Stencil: The Crafters Workshop; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (Bitty Blossoms, Spiral Blossoms Three)

I used Designer Angela's tutorial as a guide and did my own version (aka what was leftover! lol!!) of her wonderful project...

Cover Page (with Back Cover) to Page Six (Left to Right)

Page Seven to Page Fourteen (Left to Right)

Can you believe I was able to complete a mini album?! I'm telling you TONS of stuff in The Button Farm Club kits! Don't forget...

The Referral Program at The Button Farm Club!

Did you know that we have a new promotion going on NOW! If you refer a friend, and that friend puts your name in the referral box when they order, you will receive $10 off a kit of your choice!! You do not have to be current members AND there's NO limit to the number of referrals you can cash in on.  For more details, go to The Button Farm Club (www.buttonfarmclub.com) under Our Referral Program!!

Thank you for letting me share all three projects I did with this kit! SO MUCH FUN~!!!
Have a wonderful day!!
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

Scrap-Mart/The Button Farm Club: Lunch Layout

Hello! This is a continuation of my projects that I am creating from my monthly kit I received from The Button Farm Club. My first project was a Card Folder and Cards Ensemble using just a few sheets of 12 x 12" patterned papers. I took some of those scraps and created a 12 x 12" layout with some additional embellishments that Scrap-Mart has available for purchase to come up with this (click for a closer look)...

Lunch At Chef Ping's by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Patterned Papers: Crate Papers (Farmhouse Collection); Ink: Clearsnap; Marker: EK Success/KURETAKE (Zig Writer); Mist: Tattered Angels (DragonFly); Bling: Want2Scrap and KaiserCrafts; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop, S4-301 Labels Sixteen; NEW S5-083 Antique Frames and Accents, NEW S5-086 Bitty Blossoms), Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

I first decided that I wanted to use different patterned papers from this collection but didn't want to crowd it with all sorts of embellishments - keep it simple. I cut/embossed S4-301 Labels Sixteen eight times and inked the edges (later I inked the edges of the 12 x 12" patterned paper too).

After I adhered the squares to the page, I wanted to add some color to the white background so I misted DragonFly Glimmer Mist in three different areas.

Placed all the elements as shown and it's done! This page was from a summer lunch in Schaumburg (IL) when my mom was visiting from Japan. We invited my mom to spend a month with us - lucky to have the time to spend with her....good for the grandkids too!

The Referral Program at The Button Farm Club!

Did you know that we have a new promotion going on NOW! If you refer a friend, and that friend puts your name in the referral box when they order, you will receive $10 off a kit of your choice!! You do not have to be current members AND there's NO limit to the number of referrals you can cash in on.  For more details, go to The Button Farm Club (www.buttonfarmclub.com) under Our Referral Program!!

Have a great day!!
MargieH

Spellbinders M-Bossabilities: Parsian Motifs Note Pad

I wanted to post one more project before leaving for CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) Conference and Trade Show in Anaheim, CA. Using Spellbinders™ Paper Arts most recent release, S5-078 Persian Accents, S5-079 Persian Motifs, Spellbinders Edgeabilities® E8-007 Classic Edges One dies and Spellbinders M-Bossabilities™ EL-002 Regal (Side B) Folder, I created a note pad with pockets.

Persian Motif Note Pad by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: Core'dinations; Patterned Paper: Authentique Papers (Gathering Collection); Ink: Clearsnap; Bling: KaiserCraft; Dies and Foil: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-078 Persian Accents, S5-079 Persian Motifs, EL-002 Regal, E8-007 Classic Edges, LF-168 Grand Large Labels and Premium Craft Foils); Tool: Bind-It-All and ScraPerfect (The Embellie Gellie); Adhesives: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever) and SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L

There are a couple of videos I like to share about the Spellbinders M-Bossabilities line. It would be helpful to see how they work in action...


Having trouble? Click to Introducing Spellbinders M-Bossabilities video.


Need a direct link? Click to How To Use Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Folders video.

To create the beautiful embossing on my cover, I used Spellbinders M-Bossabilities EL-002 Regal Side B in my Spellbinders Grand Calibur® Die Cutting Machine (Don't forget that Grand Raspberry Plate). SANDWICH (fm: bottom up): A Base Plate, M-Bossabilities Folder w/ cardstock, Grand Raspberry Plate). Sand the embossed Core'dinations cardstock to highlight even more and cut/embossed with LF-168 Grand Large Labels die. I also cut/embossed with cereal thin chipboard as backing for the covers

Cut/Emboss the S5-079 Persian Motifs with Authentique Papers' Gathering Collection and stenciled with ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan. Note that I nested the small piece into the center of the larger motif. Place the die cuts together like a puzzle and then shift the small piece slightly to get the shown look. Adhered the center with foam square for some dimension.

Next I used the Premium Crafting Foil to cut/emboss the accent pieces from S5-078 Persian Accents and sanded to use for the center. With The Embellie Gellie, I placed pearls on each peak and the center of the motif.

This is how I made the front and back covers as well as the inside front and inside back pages. For a finished look I ink the edges with chalk.

What's a note pad without pocket pages?! So I created a few using the E8-007 Classic Edgers One to make the pockets a little interesting. I love how Spellbinders packaged the Edgeabilities as Edges and Decorative Inserts separately for this release. I can buy multiple sets of edges to make continuous cuts or make a two-sided cuts. They work with all the Edgeabilities introduced this past summer :)

Add 36 blank pages and put it together with the Bind-It-All. It is ready to be given away as a great gift for someone!

Well, I'm almost packed - just a few more projects before I leave tomorrow morning. If you are attending CHA, please visit and say HELLO! at Spellbinders Paper Arts - Booth #1883.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart/The Button Farm Club: Card Folder Ensemble

Today I finally get a chance to play with Scrap-Mart's monthly kit offered through The Button Farm Club! Look at what you get! Had a hard time photographing this (forgiving some stacking)! This particular month was FULL OF CRATE PAPERS' FARMHOUSE COLLECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This kit has the makings for a mini book album - there are wonderful directions with pictures for the visual types (again COUGHmeCOUGH)! Designer Angela did a fabulous job putting this beautiful project together! This is just the front cover...

Since these kits are so versatile, I took my stash to create a card folder and cards ensemble. After searching online for a card folder template, this is what I created...

Card Folder and Cards Ensemble by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Patterned Papers, Embellishments, Buttons: Crate Papers (FarmHouse Collection); Ink: Clearsnap; Tool: ScorPal; Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Folder template (online)

The folder cover and inside look like this...

These cards came together real fast - all you have to do is find a layout and stick with it. The hard decision is what paper and embellishments to add. I used a total of four sheets of 12 x 12" patterned paper, four embellishments, one button and a chipboard piece to create the cards and its folder.

The Referral Program at The Button Farm Club!

Did you know that we have a new promotion going on NOW! If you refer a friend, and that friend puts your name in the referral box when they order, you will receive $10 off a kit of your choice!! You do not have to be current members AND there's NO limit to the number of referrals you can cash in on.  For more details, go to The Button Farm Club (www.buttonfarmclub.com) under Our Referral Program!!

Have a great day!!
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

Scrap-Mart: Good Luck Banner

I created a banner out of Spellbinders™ Presto Punch machine and punch templates. Today is a special day for a good friend of mine, Beth. She is running a half marathon in AZ...definitely not in Chicago where we both live! LOL!!

It came out of a conversation between her and her sister about vacation - spending time running on a nice sandy beach...somehow turned into running in a half marathon in the desert sand! NOTE TO SELF: never discuss vacation plans with Beth's sister!!!! LOL!!!

Good Luck Beth Banner by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Cardstock: WorldWin Papers; Patterned Papers, Cloth Pins, Cord, Canvas and Chalkstock: Canvas Corp.; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-029 Nested Lacey Pennants); Punches: Spellbinders Presto Punch Machine and Punch Templates(P3-006 Stars Punch Template; P3-003 Rectangles Punch Template, P3-009 Labels B Punch Template; P3-007 Flowers Punch Template and PT-F03 Noble Roman Punch Template); Adhesives: ScraPerfect and SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L (Black Foam Squares)

There was a huge stash of Canvas Corp. products so you'll recognize some of the items such as the canvas, patterned kraft papers and Chalkstock. I used the S5-029 Nested Lacey Pennants to mat the canvas triangles. Not only will it make it stronger but looks pretty to frame. Then I punched/embossed shapes as background to the words "good luck beth" which were also punched/embossed with the PT-F03 Noble Roman punch templates.

Next I punched/embossed stars and flowers to embellish the banner just to add a bit of accent and secured with wet adhesive and foam tape.

Pin up the embellished pennants with mini clothes pins on to the cord - it's ready to display!

So here's to you, Beth! Good luck today!!

Thanks for stopping by! And make sure you "LIKE" Scrap-Mart FaceBook page for some great deals on your favorite paper crafting product.
MargieH