Altered Angel Design Blog

October Afternoon at CHA

I’m sure many of you have been reading various blogs about the new CHA releases.  One trend I noticed at CHA was the implementation of Smash Book like products.  There were quite a few companies that took the Smash Book concept and improved on it.  I love this new twist on scrapbooking.  Many companies and scrapbookers (like myself) are getting away from doing standard 12”x12” pages.  These books offer the perfect opportunity to “get off the page.”

Today’s post will feature the new mini book product from October Afternoon called Here & Now Mini Books.  It really is as easy as 1,2,3. 

1. Start with a “Here & Now” Mini Book.  Three styles are available.  Each book allows for the maximum in customization.  Included are die-cut heavy chipboard covers, metal rings and 9 double sided filler pages.
2. Add sections. October Afternoon offers themed Chapters with each new scrapbooking line.  Each chapter includes four divider tabs, 9 double sided pattern pages and 2 die cut pattern pages.
3. Embellish.  With OA Doo Dads and Tidbits.  The die cut paper Doo Dads (shapes) and Tidbits (labels and tabs) are quick and easy creative additions to the Here & Now books.

October Afternoon is known for its Vintage Clean style.  Their lines capture current trends while retaining a timeless, classic feel.  And over 90% of their products are made in the USA.  I just love their design and I’m looking forward to carrying two of OA’s new lines, 9 to 5 and Woodland Park.  The first line, 9 to 5, ships in March and Woodland Park ships in May.  I ordered the complete collections including the fabulous Sprinklers Spray Inks.  I can’t wait to get started on my own Here & Now book.  What about you?

 

CHA Orders

These are the brands I ordered at CHA.  They are in no particular order.  Stay tuned for pictures.

Simple Stories, Uniformed Scrapbooks, October Afternoon, WOW Embossing Powders and Stamps, Basically Bare, Bazzill, The Greeting Farm, Queen & Co, Just Rite, Hambly, May Arts, Glue Arts, Advantus, Idea-ology, Stampavie, Viva, Pink Paislee, Graphic45, Studio Calico, Amy Tangerine, Crafters Workshop, Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous, Dyan Reaveley, Art Gone Wild, Darcie's, Maya Road, Epiphany Crafts, Unity Stamp, Prima, Ranger, Vintaj, Faber Castell, Melissa Frances, Spellbinders, Versamark, Helmar, LaBlanche, Flowersoft, We R Memeory Keepers, Jenni Bowlin, Fancy Pants

Orders are shipping now through May.  So we should be getting lots of new stuff in the store, starting any time now.

Last day of CHA

I'm at LAX waiting to go home. CHA was a blast but I can't wait to get home and see my boys.

I'll blog more when I get home and post lots more pictures of my purchases for the store. Blogging from my phone gets tedious. I did succeed in finding new brands for the store -- in all categories: stamping, die cuts, paper and paints/sprays. I ordered over 35 different brands for the store!!! Some classics and some you've never heard of. Does anyone have any guesses?

Monday at CHA

It's been yet another fun day at CHA. I've run into so many friends and crafting celebrities. I am also scouring the showroom floor for new brands. Today I placed orders at Uniformed Scrapbooks, Stampers Anonymous, October Afternoon, Basically Bare, Simple Stories, Sizzix and more! Stayed tuned. . . .

CHA Saturday Classes

Today was the start of the CHA conference. Just classes today. The actual trade show starts tomorrow at 10am. I've already marked up my map of the show floor!

My first class was a FOUR hour class with Ranger. First up was Tim Holtz with a fun piece of altered art. We'll definately be adding it to our store class schedule. Then Claudine Helmuth helped us make a canvas shoulder bag. But the true grand finale was Dyan Reaveley. We made the altered book pictured in this post using her new Dylusions sprays and stamps. I'm thinking this is also going to be added to the class schedule. Amazing!!!

And now I'm off to my final class for the night. A 7-9 pm mixed media album class. Hope the shuttle bus comes soon. :)

Huge Inventory Close Out Sale! You don't want to miss this!!!

   CHA is just a few weeks away.  The Craft and Hobby Association Winter Trade
   Show is the biggest show of the year.  It's where I'll see all the new
   products  and latest trends for the year.  And place my orders for the
   store.  With inventory counting and CHA just around the corner, we must make
   room for new inventory.  I think we may have just the ticket to help clear
   the house!

   Gather up your gift cards and the money you got from Santa and use it to get
   some  of  the best deals you'll find on scrapbooking and papercrafting
   supplies.
   If you don't make it to the store often, this is the time to gather up your
   friends and tell them it's time for a road trip! Check out the details of
   the sale below and I hope we'll see you this week!

   Everything in the store will be on sale!
                                 That's right - EVERYTHING!

   The  entire  store  is  on  sale  for  at least 20% off.  That's right
   everything!  The Vagabond Machine, The Unibind Picture Book Creator, the We
   R  Cinch,  Distress Stains, Ink Pads -  You name it.  Additionally all
   Halloween and Christmas are 35% off.  We have also added a huge amount of
   stuff to our CLEARANCE area.   Everything in the clearance area will be 50%.

   We also have brand new Valentine items. While I would normally exclude
   these items from a sale like this, this time I'm even marking them down with
   a 20% discount.

   Can you imagine Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Archiver's, or even Wal-Mart having
    a  sale like this? Can you imagine them marking their entire stock of
   scrapbook inventory down? Forgot that 40% off coupon on one item- come save
   some major moohlah  on all the things you've been wanting but just haven't
   purchased yet- and help support your local business and economy while you're at it!

   Due to the nature of this sale, no other coupons or discounts will apply.
   Prices not retroactive.

   Sale runs from Thursday, January 12 to Saturday, January 21.

   Our Regular Store Hours

Tuesday & Thursday, 10-5
Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10-6
Closed Sunday and Monday
Store Phone Number 678-368-4483

   Our Special Store Hours while I am at CHA

Tuesday, January 24, 10-3
Friday, January 27, 12-6
Tuesday, January 31, 10-3

  

New CHA Merchandise

We have started getting daily shipments of CHA merchandise.  So far we have gotten in all of the new Tim Holtz Distress Stains except for Picket Fence.  It's on the way.  All the new Adirondack ink pads from Ranger.  A gorgeous assortment of color.  All the Ranger Alcohol Inks in Lights and Brights.  The new mega jar of Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  More Claudine Helmuth Matte Medium and artist brush sets.  We also have the new sampler packs of Claudine's paints.  These are some of the best paints around and now come in coordinated packs.  Love 'em!  Also have all three sizes of Ranger's new KRAFT and BLACK tags.  They both come in #8, #5 and ATC card size.

I love the new Sizzix Framelits.  They are Sizzix brand metal dies that are vary similar to Spellbinders.  Each shape contains a multi pack.  Each shape pack is just $19.99, compared to $24.99 for Spellbinders. And right now we have a fanstastic special on the Framelits.  Buy any two and get one free!

Stay tuned.  Fancy Pants has shipped and so have the new Luminarte Paint Dabbers from Creative Imaginations. 

 

CHA - Glimpses by SignifyPink

I ordered two different paper lines from a new company at CHA - Glimpses by SignifyPink.  Glimpses is a paper and crafting line that gives women a way to showcase their memories and the turning points in their lives. The big moments. The little everyday events. It's all about remembering to celebrate life. One glimpse at a time. Their products include papers, stickers, brads and other embellishments.  All paper products are designed and produced in Ames, Iowa.  Love it!  Another brand that is made in the USA.  I ordered both the Sports Spectacular line and the Pages of Honor line.  The sports line is brightly colored and suitable for any sport, mostly elementary school age and younger.  After many requests, I'm proud to announce that Pages of Honor is our first military line.  It is a multi-purpose military line.  It is the first one I've seen that looked really good.  My dad was career military so I'm always on the look out for military products that don't look dated and cheesy.

 

CHA - Basically Bare

Basically Bare, founded by Angela Pruitt and Carol Jackson, is a family owned and operated manufacturer of fine embellishments and albums for the scrapbooking and paper crafting industry based right here in Atlanta. Basically Bare products are alterable, which means they can be customized by the crafter to meet the artistic needs of their current project.

100% of Basically Bare's products are made and packaged in the Southeastern USA. The materials used are "Green" and Earth friendly, and are recycled, recyclable and/or obtained from sustainable sources.  Who doesn't love that?  Especially the part about made in the USA!

I am so happy to be one of the launch stores for Basically Bare.  I first met Angela and Carol at CHA last January.  They are such a fun mother/daughter duo.  And their products are wonderful.  The products range from Basically Embellies to Bare Booklets and come in a wide variety of materials - heavy-weight chipboard, flexible and embossable acrylic, natural 100% cotton unbleached canvas, double-sided corrugated cardboard and preminum stiffened felt.  Did you notice that I mentioned flexible and embossable acrylic?  Angela is going to teach a class or two at the store and be on hand for our big product launch.  Stay tuned for details....

 

CHA - Our Craft Lounge

The next new brand to the store is Our Craft Lounge.  Our Craft Lounge offers crafty cling rubber stamps and crafty clear stamps. I ordered both kinds for the store.  They are also the creators of sparkle fluff.  This fun product is fluff/flocking with SPARKLE! Simply add to any sticky surface, no heat required. Use a Glue Pen or Art Glitter Glue. Sprinkle it on, tap off excess, let dry!  It adds sparkle and touch-ability to any project!  I ordered all the colors of sparkle fluff.  Of course ... :)

Up next tomorrow - a new company with Atlanta connections.