Wednesday 27 January 2010

CHA New Stuff

Sorry this is a rather long one, I've had to combine several days' worth as internet connection here is really hit and miss. Unless I want to pay $95 a day for an internet connection, at Starbucks in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel! Of course I had to have a white chocolate mocha and a slice of marshmallow dream bar while I thought long and hard over that decision!

Hey look, it's a red Cricut.



Ah, but this is no ordinary Cricut. This is the Cricut Cake. It's a Cricut with all parts being food safe and aimed at the cake decorating/sugar crafters among you. The idea is that you can cut icing based on any Cricut cartridge design, and stick it straight on your cake.
Now I can't see that I'm going to have much use for it but there must be a market out there for it somewhere. At least the cartridges they've designed for this machine are however compatible with the other Cricut machines. Here's a quick sneak peek of some new cartridges coming out (or have already been launched):






Here's some pics of the new embossing folders that Provocraft have/are launching for the Cuttlebug:






Bazzill are bringing out more embossed cardstock and more glazed designs:


but they are discontinuing their Destinations range and some Bling colours, So be warned, if you have projects using the Destinations range and you think you need more supplies, buy now before it's no longer available.

Bazzill are also releasing some new big blingy like buttons (looks more like something you would wear on your finger to me!!)



Magnolia's new collection (that you can already pre-order from our website) is just amazing:









Sizzix are definitely progressing and getting better all the time.
They've teamed up with Tim Holtz and bringing out a line with his designs both in die and in embossing folders:





and then there's this new puppy. The E-clips.



It is just the coolest new electronic die cutting toy. But not going to be available til later in the summer - how mean can they be teasing us so?

For the Making Memories Slice machine, there's more cartridges on the way:


and they've now made it in such a way that you don't have to hold the machine in place while it cuts as it's got magnets in it and holds in place to a magnetic mat.
All these guys are not hanging on the wall but just held in place due to the magnets:


Zutter have brought out a cutter for cutting really thick chipboard

and
a gadget for distressing the edges of card\paper


very noisy (the prototype anyhow) and seems expensive for what it is.


Stampavie have released some lovely new Sarah Kay designs (already ordered, instore soon):









Watch out for new stuff coming instore soon:













Right then, back to it, more reports to follow
meanwhile, happy stamping
- janicex

Sunday 24 January 2010

Where are we?

Can't believe where time has gone! Has it really been 6/7 weeks since I last blogged? Blimey Charlie. Well, we have been extremely busy and not had much time to ourselves. Reason for being so busy? We've moved premises - not far away from our previous location - just next door but one. We've still got alot of hard work to get it finished off as we want it but it's definitely going in the right direction. Please bear with us while we change over the displays and may take some time finding stock if you come in and ask for something not currently out on the shop floor.

Cricut Chris was a complete star helping out loads. Here she is washing down our shelves before we brought the stock over (with help from her son Mitchell who was just too full of energy - wore me out just watching him!):


And here's Andy having fun varnishing the doors:


I was getting to grips with a brand new vacuum cleaner:


and here's just a small fraction of stuff to still sort through:

As things haven't gone as planned, we didn't advertise with a grand opening day, so our 'soft opening' happened last Saturday when we had the lovely Copic Louise demo'ing for us. It's so much more spacious in the new unit that you guys were able to mill around without bumping into one another so that was lovely to see. Thanks for the great comments. And also thanks to my little spontaneous helpers on the day, Brenda and Jules who seemed to enjoy themselves immensely getting stuck into hero arts stamps and unpacking them for me - thanks girls. And where would I be without Chris, again, a complete angel for looking after you all - finding stock and answering questions. What a lovely, lovely first day.

Haven't actually got any pics with me of the new look shop nearly full of stock. "Why don't you go and take a photo now?" I hear you say. Little tricky, Andy and I are sitting in a Starbucks, having a Grande Latte thingy, over in Anaheim, California. Yep, it's that time of year again for CHA, the biggest and best trade show for us crafters. Nearly didn't come as there's just so much to do still back at the unit but good ole Brenda and Eddy convinced us we needed to come - thanks you two. So glad we are here now but feeling hugely guilty for leaving my folks, Louise and Nick having to sort everything out back at base. Be gentle to them while we are away, they are working their little socks off and already come across more than one hurdle. But coping extremely well with everything that's getting thrown at them. Right then, I think it's time to go and fetch another mega milky mini mocha chocca lenti thingy (is it!) and maybe a blueberry muffin to go with it :)

I'll report more tomorrow (I promise) on what we're up to..


in the meantime, happy stamping and check out the latest Tilda collections (Through my Heart/Raise the Ceiling) that you can pre-order today and we are just waiting for them to arrive, currently no confirmed delivery date.


- janicex