FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER .
Summer and I are back from the Craft and Hobby trade show with the WOW factor on board. First a word to the wise on anyone who takes classes anywhere. Please do not wear perfume. I have allergies and the lady who sat next to me (a very nice lady) was doused in perfume which I was allergic to. I almost ended stopping the class by coughing, my eyes running, and a near anaphylactic reaction. I didn’t want to make the lady feel bad, but I ended up not enjoying the class and had to leave early. So please don’t wear perfume no matter how nice.We took many fun and mind expanding classes. Summer’s favorite class was the mica polymer clay jewelry class. Summer said, “I learned new techniques and was able to make beads and pendants that looked like stone not clay. In the past I felt like clay beads looked more like things I made in Grade School than the elegant, classy beads I now can make. I’ve changed my mind on the entire idea of making beads. Some of the other great classes I took were the Viva Decor Bangle Class (New products that really gave the novice crafter the ability to turn out wood based bangles to a beautiful art piece), Beadalon’s Five minute earring class (6+ pairs of earrings in rapid succession taught by Katie Hacker– she developed her own pendent forms that are incredible and coming soon), Hero arts – what can I say but I love Hero Arts. (Their class was fun, fast paced and exciting. We made 5 cards using the new clings and clear stamps. I found I liked the clings because they are heavy duty and you can turn them stamp side up on the table and apply the paper to the stamp to get different effects).”Summer and I both took the Simply Swank Soldering class and realized we can do this. Not as hard as it looked, we were able to create great collage under glass with a silver solder border. What was the most important thing we learned in class? Flux is our friend, and when in doubt you just need to add more.We also took the EK success Jolee’s Jewel class. It was fun to play with their new iron on crystals, and sew on crystals.I enjoyed the glimmer mist class by tattered Angels. I learned new techniques, and perfected some of the basics. I now know how to splatter or not splatter.What is new and coming soon?GCD has a set of embossing tools that are made for chipboard (fun easy and creative). This product will have a small learning curve to know just how much pressure to hit the tools with. Summer and I learned we were stronger than we thought.Just for Fun each night we would make a non-scientific poll about what we saw and learned. We had a hard time choosing from so many great product but these were our favorites. Cutest kids paper by a new company:Eye m2cute with kids drills and cartoon tools for both girls and boys. Bright colorful and full of fun we can’t wait to make a page of them. The Embellishments are adorable. Favorite Boys line Karen Fosters 4x4 papers rough and tumble - the embellishments will make cards and pages wonderful.Best Wedding PaperBest creations Best Vibrant Paper color Bo Bunny Best new Binder Punch Cinch by We-R-Memory Makers Best new jewelry tool New flush cutting tool by bead Best new craft material Wood from Creative Imaginations Best new paint product New texture paints from Viva Deforest unique embellishments Prima flower centers. Most used product by all booths and classes DIY wood bangles. – We loved these and can’t wait to make more when they arrive Our favorite wood stamps at show Penny Black Our Favorite Cling Hero Art sOur favorite Clear Stamps. So many from so many sources we could’t choose New stamp pad Stays-on Metallic Stay tuned for new projects and ideas when all these things arrive. Happy Valentine’s Day De