Creativation Inspiration!

Hi everyone!

I got back from the Creativation trade show last Tuesday, and I finally have a chance to unpack and sort through my experiences and new goodies.  As usual, the show always brings about some unexpected connections and opportunities.

I did not take very many photos, unfortunately.  So, if you are looking for an overview of the show, I highly recommend Julie McGuffee's posts.  They are on her website but are also posted on the Designer Crafts Connection site, where you can see posts of the show by other designers.

Some of the highlights of my show experience were:

I helped out in the etchall class taught by Joe Rotella and Barbee Bosler.  Joe has been on Make It Artsy demonstrating etchall®.  It was fun to see a whole class learning about etching.

I connected with a company new to me - Spellbinders - and got to see all their amazing new products up close at their Media and Blogger breakfast.  If you like scrapbooking and card making, stay tuned in the next few months for some new dies and new ways to use them.
Here's some of the new products I received:

Spellbinders

I worked for a new vendor in the craft industry:  Kit xChange.  I got to show the amazing new organizational pocketbooks and binders developed by Alicia Klein.  Everyone loved them at the show and they were easy to promote because they work so well for organizing on the go.  Try them for scrapbooking, beads, embroidery floss, or any small craft supplies.  Alicia is now off to Tuscon to show beaders and jewelry makers her wares.

Here is one of the travel organizer folders from kit xchange:

And, here it is open:

Now, I can fill baggies with my beads, attach them to the hook-and-loop surface, stick my tools in the bottom pouch, and I'm ready to go!

One of my new connections was an artist that I am sure will be a friend for many years:  Carol Foldvary-Anderson.  She was a contestant in the "Shark Tank"-style competition sponsored by Michaels.  She made it into the top ten!

I also had the chance to take another class from Seth Apter.  This one was "Radiant Rust" and we got to play with a lot of his new materials.  See his post on The Altered Page about his show experience and new products.  Here's what I produced in his class.  I had a lot of fun playing with new paint colors, stamps, sprays and ink.

In a quick tour of the show floor, I happened upon a new section by Tim Holtz.  He's got a new line of jewelry components that I love already.  They're in that vintage style that I love to add to my designs.  Here's a board with some of his new items:

Tim Holtz's new line of jewelry components

And, of course, I got to connect with all the designers from our section in AFCI (formerly CHA).  What a warm, sharing and talented group!  I am so blessed to be a part of them!

So there's a bit of what I saw at the show.  Come back for more inspiration!