More is More

Wowzas – what a week it’s been!  Eight straight days of CHA related activities are over and today has been my day to just crash and crash hard!  It all started last Wednesday when TE Baker’s Dozen girls began arriving in  town.  Thursday there were even more arrivals and the booth set up for the Craft SuperShow.  Friday and Saturday I helped in the Taylored Expressions booth at the SuperShow as well as a couple of hours in the SCS booth for the TE Make & Take. 

(Taylor and me at the SCS M&T)

Our booth was constantly buzzing with shoppers and many many friends!  I was so thrilled to hear over and over again that the TE booth was one of the best at the show!  Taylor and her mom Linda did a fabulous job designing the booth.  We had a M&T going at all times (4 different ones throughout the weekend), rotating product demos, a prize drawing sign up and a busy busy cash register manned continually by Taylor’s husband Jon (that guy has incredible stamina – he never left the register either day!)

(Here is the TE Crew except we’re missing Sankari and Jackie. Starting with me in the back…Dawn, Linda, Jodi, Taylor, Jon, Karen M, Karen G.  Front row are Donna and Taylor’s friend Julianne.)

Sunday the CHA trade show opened and I have to say that we started that show a little dazed.  We walked and shopped there for 3 solid days and I can promise that the TE Store will have some awesome new products and incredible Key Ingredients Kits coming out in the next few months!  I didn’t take a lot of product photos this time, but I do have a number of people pics to share.  Honestly my very favorite part of CHA is connecting and reconnecting with people.  A few years ago before I found and became active on SCS I never could have imagined having so many wonderful friends spread all across the country – what a blessing!

The highlight of the week for me was finally meeting my crafting idol, Carol Duvall.  She has a new book out and it was featured at the Juikins booth.  I was beyond excited to have my picture taken with the divine Ms Duvall!

I still miss her show on HGTV, but I understand she may be starting production on a web show.  She was so sweet and gracious!  I told her that I was much more excited to meet her than to see Martha Stewart the year she was at CHA with her entourage!

Here are a couple more photos of the TE Crew.  Taylor had given each of us a custom apron for Christmas and they were fun to wear for the booth.  She picked the fabrics especially for each of our personalities and design styles.  She hit mine right on the head!

(Karen G, me, Jackie, Jodi, Karen M, Taylor

You might notice that we had a pastel day and a bright day.)

(Karen G, Dawn, Donna, Karen M, Jodi and me sitting on the couch in the SCS booth before things got started.  The SCS booth had a super cool conversation pit with chairs and sofa.)

(SCS Staff Jenn, Daven, Lori and Beate

– They had a green day and an orange day.)

(Bev Gerard {Tex} and Broni Holcomb stopped by the TE booth so Sankari and I had to get a photo with them.)

Daven actually did my TE Make & Take at the SCS booth.  🙂

It was so great to run into Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR) on the floor of the trade show.  I think Lori snapped this photo before we got posed and I just love it.  Hugs and smooches to you Jules!

So happy to spend a little time with Cindy Lawrence.  She was working for Our Craft Lounge.  Disappointed that I failed to get a photo of their darling booth.  I’m very excited about their upcoming release – lots of super cute stuff around the corner!

Joy and me.  Joy was the very first SCS friend that I ever met in real life.  I just LOVE that girl!  Joy and Daisy own eclectic Paperie and Joy also owns Our Craft Lounge with Cami and Kimberly.  Busy busy busy!

And here I am with sweet friends Lori and Jenn.  I have to say that this is my favorite photo of the week.  It just seems to ooze friendship. love and happiness!  Not to mention the wonderful bright colors and Lori’s insisted upon optimal high photographer angle!  LOL!

That is just a small sampling of photos for now.  Once I recover from CHA I hope to get back on a more regular blogging schedule.  I actually had a card to share before I left, but my blog was down for a few days and I couldn’t get my post to load.  I’ll try to get that posted in the next couple of days.  Thanks for hanging in there with me!

I can’t believe I’ve gone another whole week without blogging or even really stamping.  I didn’t get everything done that I had hoped/planned the week between Christmas and New Years so I kind of feel like I’ve started the new year already behind!  Aaaaaccckkkk! 

I doubt if I’ll be catching up any time soon.  LOL!   I’m super excited for CHA – both the SuperShow and the trade show…mostly because of all the friends from around the country that I’ll get to see.  I can hardly believe it’s onlly 2 weeks away!  Do you have your tickets??  If you come to the Super Show on Friday or Saturday please be sure to come by the Taylored Expressions booth and say hi.  I’ll be there helping out.  We’ll have make & takes and demos and prize drawings and you’ll get to meet several members of the Baker’s Dozen as well as Taylor of course!

And speaking of Taylor, it’s Friday so it’s time for another Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge.  I flipped TESC97 to better fit my images from the newly released TE stamp set Love Everywhere.

I didn’t have a ton of time so I pulled out my Spa Key Ingredients so I would have cardstock, patterned paper and ribbon already coordinated and at my fingertips.  The cute puppy is my very favorite image from among a whole bunch of super cute images in this set because of course it reminds me of my sweet Tessa!  Curt got me several new Spellbinders Nesties for Christmas and I’ve been anxious to get them all out and play with them.  I knew Labels 9 would be perfect for this sketch.  I am loving that shape!  The little gems I used are by Darice and I picked them up at a local craft store.  The package had 3 or 4 sizes and shapes and they are fun because they sparkle in multi-colors.

Let’s check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has cooked up –

And now it’s time for me to head out for my pre-CHA hair appointment.  *grin*  I hope you have a great day and fantastic weekend!

Happy 2010!!!  Here’s a sample for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge – TESC96!  What better way to kick off the new year than with some stamping??  I hope you’ll join us and play along!  Get all the details on Taylor’s blog.

I had so much fun just playing with stuff to come up with this card.  I knew I wanted a New Year’s card and when I saw the sketch I immediately thought of the clock from Sense of Time (SU) and I knew I wanted to die cut the numbers from one of my Cuttlebug alpha sets.  I went looking through my designer papers and found this retired SU package (not sure what it’s called) and coordinated it with Blush Blossom cardstock for the elegant vintage look I wanted.

The clock was stamped in Bravo Burgundy ink and die cut with my new Blossom nesties (thanks Honey – great Christmas gift!).  I sponged on some more burgundy ink, distressed the edges and sponged on some white shimmer paint. The sentiment was cut out with a deckle rectangle nestie and the entire panel was embossed with Versamark and clear ep.  I love doing that when a sentiment is the main focus – it makes it stand out and look more special.  White shimmer paint was added to the numbers before they were adhered to the dp.  The ribbon started out white (satin from SU) and I dyed it with an RV93 Copic marker.  I added some pink Zva crystals (attached together in lines), some Blush KaiserCraft pearls and that oh-so-yummy Maya Road velvet blossom.

Let’s check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has cooked up today:

Now it’s time to watch the Rose Parade and eat pancakes!  Later today we plan to see Sherlock Holmes.  What are your holiday plans?  Whatever you’re up to I hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend and a Happy New Year!