Angie Pedersen's Scrapbooking Industry News

CHA Winter 2006: Boxer Scrapbooks Tins

Use a Tin “Canvas” to Create Your Next Keepsake!

Michelangelo painted on ceilings.  Leonardo da Vinci often scribbled on scraps of paper.  Thomas Hart Benton painted 12-foot high murals. Perhaps these artists were shortsighted, however.  None of them foresaw the potential of tin as a canvas for creating art.  But Boxer Scrapbooks did.  What does plain tin have to do with art?  Let Boxer show you!

Boxer Scrapbooks first noticed plain tin containers about a year ago, and immediately saw the crafting potential in them.  They started offering CD tins for crafters to use as a small customizable “album” for quick keepsake projects.  Co-owner Angie Warhurst even created a line of Templates and pre-cut paper packs to make creating mini albums that much faster and easier.  Now, for CHA Winter, Boxer is expanding their tin offerings to include DVD Tins, Large Rectangle Tins, Quart Tins, and a Half Gallon Pail.

“There’s just so much you can do with these tins,” explains Angie.  “You start with a blank surface and you really can do anything to it.  You can paint it; you can decoupage on it; you can add silk flowers to it; you can wrap twill and ribbon around it.  These tins provide a great canvas for crafters to work with, and make creating mini albums really easy.”

Some possible projects for the new tin sizes:

• The DVD tin can be altered into a desktop photo frame
• The Large Rectangle tin is the perfect size for holding memorabilia from trips or events.  Embellish the outside with small memorabilia and photos.
• The Quart tin can house a one-of-a-kind party invitation – fold the party details into an accordion that can be pulled out of the can, and embellish the outside with party images.
• The Half Gallon Pail can be decorated as a gift, and filled with Movie Night goodies.

The Boxer Scrapbooks tin line also includes: Small Slide Top Tins, XL Slide Top Tins, Large & Palm-size Mint Tins, Rectangle CD Tins, Silver Round CD Tins, and Business Card CD Tins.

CHA Winter 2006: Boxer Scrapbooks Idea Book

For generations women have used canning to preserve their favorite foods, keeping them as fresh as the day they were created.  Boxer Scrapbooks’ new idea book, Canned Memories, allows you to do the same thing with your memories.  If you’re looking for innovative, do-able, outside-the-book project ideas, it’s in the can!

This 32-page idea book offers over 40 full-color projects.  Scrapbookers and altered artists alike will benefit from the step-by-step instructions.  The designers have added notes to make advanced technique less complicated.  Projects in this book include mini albums, gift card holders, calendars, and invitations.  Techniques include acrylic painting, heat embossing, inking, alcohol inks, paper tearing, crackling, and decoupage.

“Album sizes have changed for me,” writes Angie Warhurst, co-owner of Boxer Scrapbook Productions, “starting with 12x12, trying 8½x11, but then finding I loved 8x8 probably the most.  However I can’t say I’ve finished one in the past three years.”  She wanted to be able to create keepsakes in a few hours, rather than months.  So she started experimenting with using tins as ‘albums’ – not only as a home for her photos and keepsakes, but as display pieces in their own right.  “From there, it evolved into an entire product line,” she explains, “which you’ll see that our design team has had a blast creating with!”

Canned Memories offers examples of how crafters can easily create keepsakes using the Boxer Scrapbooks tin line, which includes tins in a variety of sizes and shapes, such as CD tins in rectangle and round, mint tins, and slide-top tins.

The Boxer design team came up with the following hints for working with metal tins:

• If your tin comes from another product, before you start working with it, make sure it’s clean.  Wipe it out with basic alcohol.
• Also make sure the tin is free of moisture.  If your tin has hinges, try using a hair dryer on a cool setting or a can of compressed air to dry the surface completely.
• If you plan to cover or paint your tin, you may want to lightly sand the surface first.  Use fine grit sandpaper.

Canned Memories is now shipping, and retails for $20.  Interested consumers can visit www.boxerscrapbooks.com to locate a retailer that carries Boxer products in their area.

CHA Winter 2006: Tumblebeasts

Wish You Could Draw Like a Professional Artist?  Add Hand-Drawn Art to Your Craft Projects with Tumblebeasts’ New Embellishments, Pattern Papers, and Stickers

Tumblebeasts Stickers LLC, a sticker and paper manufacturer known for their classic hand-drawn designs, will unveil coordinated paper, poetry and embellishment lines along with new cardstock and clearstock stickers at the Craft & Hobby Association trade show, January 30-February 2, 2006, in Las Vegas. NV.

Moving beyond the usual clearstock sticker designs, owner Karen Stockham has expanded Tumblebeasts’ product lines to include paper along with ribbon, poetry and resin embellishments.  All the items within each line feature coordinating patterns and colors that make them easy to use for stylish scrapbook layouts and paper crafting projects.

Brand new for the CHA show are coordinated products emphasizing these special themes: Wild West, Animal Antics, Growing Up, A Boy's World, Springtime-Easter, School Days and Farm Fun.  These themes all  offer newly coordinated papers, cardstock and clearstock stickers, Resin Accents, Ribbon Accents, and “Stuck on Poetry” cardstock stickers.

Tumblebeasts recently introduced papers and coordinated cardstock stickers  for the ballooning market to commemorate the International Balloon Fiesta.  “Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta,” Karen explains.  “It’s the biggest, but only one of many fiestas around the world.”

Tumblebeasts’ best-selling “Wild West” line and its trademark “Animal Antics” line feature papers, cardstock, poetry stickers, resin shapes, and ribbon selections that will be unveiled at the CHA Winter show.  New clearstock stickers also have been added to the Tumblebeasts catalog: Hippo and Friends, Zebra and Friends, Home on the Range and Old West Campsite.  In Karen‘s words, “Wild West has always been popular and we’ve been known for our beasts from the beginning. Now we have coordinated products for each of them and an animal illustration for every letter of the alphabet.”

CHA Winter 2006: Leave Memories FUNdamentals Stamps

Start with strong foundation and build from there.  That’s just what Leave Memories’ new FUNdamentals rubber stamps allow you to do.  Leave Memories, a popular unmounted rubber stamp manufacturer, will unveil the FUNdamental line of stamps at the Craft & Hobby Association trade show, January 30-February 2, 2006, in Las Vegas. NV.

The new series of unmounted stamps primarily features alphabets, with eight different variations such as floral, brush strokes, polka dots, and Celtic designs.  The FUNdamentals line also includes four sheets of hand drawn doodles and graphic embellishments.  The designs are deeply etched on 8”x11” sheets of unmounted rubber.

“The fun thing about these alphas,” explains Leave Memories’ owner Holli Boyd, “is that they are all the same base font and size so they can be mixed or stamped over each other to make some neat designs.”

Boyd partnered with four designers to create the artwork for this line: Ashley Calder, Carrie Zohn, Debra Cooper and Sherry Cartwright.

“I am really happy to be offering four sets of stamps designed and inspired these ladies,” enthuses Boyd.  “It’s exciting to give exposure to these fantastic artists -- each is different and fantastic in their own way!

Design Team Member Jill Lazuka offers the following tips for mixing the FUNdamentals stamps to create unique, customized alphabets for crafting projects.

1. Stamp in one color using the Outlines set, then use a lighter, complimentary color to stamp over it, using one of the pattern alphabets.
2. Using stamps from the Bethany set, stamp a word or phrase in black.  Choose another FUNdamentals alphabet, then stamp using Versamark embossing ink.  Heat emboss the item using any color of choice.
3. Embellish stamped words with images from the Ribbons, Debra, Ashley or Sherry sets.

The FUNdamentals line of stamps will be released throughout Spring 2006, with a MSRP of $30 each.

CHA Winter 2006: Leave Memories Idea Book

Live. Laugh. Love. Stamp.  That’s the motto for Leave Memories’ first idea book, which will be unveiled (and given away!) at the Craft & Hobby Association trade show, January 30-February 2, 2006, in Las Vegas. NV.

The idea book features a variety of artwork by the Leave Memories Design Team, providing detailed supply lists and step-by-step instruction on how to recreate each of the 12 projects in the 16-page book.  The book’s format takes out all the guesswork for creating works of art with rubber stamps, but leaves in all the inspiration.

One unique feature of the book is its size and format – the book is 5½”x8½”, and the pages flip up, rather than opening to the side.  The smaller format is handy for tossing in a purse or craft supply bag, ready to pull out when the Muse calls.

“I think its kind of cool looking,” shares Leave Memories’ owner Holli Boyd.  “Plus, I love all the information packed in there -- it has several altered projects, scrapbook layouts, cards, and even has some tips on stamping on different surfaces.  And what I think is the best thing about the book is that it retails for $5.00!  So you won’t drop a ton of cash on it!”

Papercrafters of all kinds will appreciate the inspirational quotations sprinkled throughout the text – these quotes are applicable to a wide variety of creative projects.

The book offers the following tips on stamping on a variety of crafting surfaces:

1. Acrylic paint on glass: Apply the paint to the stamp with a paintbrush.  Place the painted stamp firmly against the glass in one spot.  Press evenly, to ensure all paint has transferred to the glass surface.
2. When “layering” stamped images, “mask” the first image with a Post-It Note to keep the first image clear.
3. Press rubber stamps into rolled-out paper clay to create a unique embellishment.  Allow paper clay to dry for 24-48 hours, and then trim closely with sharp-tipped scissors.

The “Live, Love, Laugh, Stamp” idea book is currently available for preorder to wholesale accounts.

CHA Winter 2006: Art Warehouse

ART WAREHOUSE by Danelle Johnson LAUNCHES 2006 PRODUCTS

Huntington Beach, CA (1/23/06) -- Creative Imaginations introduces the Beloved Collection, the first 2006 scrapbooking collection from Art Warehouse by Danelle Johnson. Art Warehouse also brings us Swatch Book Impress-Ons, new EZ Albums, and new Sportz products for Swimming and Cheer.  All of these new products will be available for order at the CHA show in Las Vegas at the end of this month.   

BELOVED COLLECTION: Danelle has developed this newest line to celebrate love and life.   The classic, timeless design of this collection meets simplicity of use to suit all scrapbook ability levels.  The Beloved Collection is ideal for capturing special events and cherished moments.  Beloved themes include Wedding, Anniversary, Love & Romance, Girls, and Motherhood & Womanhood.  Whether family or friends or a favorite activity, this collection showcases the pleasures that warm our hearts.

The Beloved Collection features :

• Captivating specialty papers.  The collection includes appealing Pink, Taupe, and Black Pearl papers and double-sided papers in Pink, Taupe and Black Argyle or Houndstooth.
• Adorable Beloved script and Modern alphabet stickers and tags
• Versatile double-sided twill  ribbons in pink and black houndstooth and taupe argyle
• Memory-capturing phrases on Impress-Ons and cardstock stickers
• Pink and Black Rhinestone-studded epoxy stickers
• Gem brads to add a delicate finishing touch

EZ ALBUMS:  Danelle created these albums to be design savvy and easy to use all in one.  They're quick, they're easy, they're fabulous!  Just add photos OR embellish beyond as well.  What's great is they work either way.  EZ Albums are designed to appeal to the new scrapbooker who doesn't have the skills developed as well as to appeal to the seasoned scrapbooker who can embellish to many levels.

EZ Albums feature:

• pre-printed pages and elastic closure
• affordable pricing makes them perfect for classes as well as kids and highschoolers who want to make their own albums
• wide range of themes:  basketball, football, play ball for softball or baseball, soccer, baby boy or baby girl

SWATCH BOOK IMPRESS-ONS (formerly Stax): Danelle has developed these products to make creating fantastic scrapbook pages even easier!  Swatch Books feature four styles of monograms and four styles of ribbon designs that coordinate together.  That’s not all…the ribbon designs match back to themes of the monogram designs so they can be used together!

Swatch Books have…

• perfected Impress-On material works perfectly
• 6 inch ribbon designs that repeat to reach across a 12 inch page
• great price point and ease of application
• all designs printed on the back of the packaging for a completely informed shopping experience

SWIMMING/WATER AND CHEER SPORTZ:  The newest additions to the best-selling Sportz line highlight two activities that most kids are into: swimming and water activities, and cheering!  These fresh Sportz products combine dynamic photography and modern typography in design which Danelle is known for across the industry.  To top it off, one of the best features is the ease of use for all ability levels. 

Swimming/Water Activity Sportz features:

• use for specific swim-related sports or for more general water-related activities
• creative embellishments work for all water sports
• piggy-back on the most popular selling items including papers, transparencies, epoxy, sticker sheets and self-adhesive license plates

Cheer Sportz features:

• combination of silhouette graphics and dynamic text
• neutral colors that coordinate back to all school colors
• includes new chipboard design

Creative Imaginations is a leading manufacturer of premium quality scrapbooking materials, including flat and dimensional stickers, patterned papers, scrapbook book page embellishments, scrapbook albums and more. Among its embellishments are printed ribbons, tags, license plates, buttons and charms. Creative Imaginations is home to many fabulous brands: SeaWorld, John Deere, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Debbie Mumm, Sandra Magsamen, Jone Hallmark, Renaé Lindgren, Sonnets by Sharon Soneff, Art Warehouse by Danelle Johnson, Narratives by Karen Russell, Scrapperware by Karen Burniston and many more.

Announcing the Launch of DesignerZine.com

As mentioned on Nancy Nally's Inside Scrapbooking:

DesignerZine is an online magazine and website committed to helping professional craft designers succeed in their design work and in their businesses.

DesignerZine will strive to be a “one-stop” venue to connect designers to current trends, resources and opportunities in an interactive setting.  Services include the delivery of a bi-monthly online magazine, as well as a website that features video reports, audio interviews, discussion communities, and online chats with industry professionals, manufacturers, industry celebrities and company owners. 

DesignerZine provides information of professional interest to designers in the areas of scrapbooking, paper arts, altered arts, mixed media, and other crafts.  Its insight, in-depth profiles, and hands-on projects help both new and experienced designers:

• find and generate work
• find their niche within the industry
• stay abreast of trends
• learn about current industry events
• understand the needs of the market
• promote themselves and their work
• be inspired by the successes of other designers

DesignerZine was formed in October 2005 in response to the increasing demand from designers for timely information about the dramatically expanding craft industry and the professional opportunities it offers.

DesignerZine’s staff comprises designers and experts from various areas of the industry, including industry-related small-business owners, book authors and website owners.  The editorial staff represents a diverse array of experience, including editorial and online publication, visual media and technology development, news development, public relations and marketing, and a broad spectrum of art, craft and scrapbook design.

    Founding Editor
    R. Lynn Baker

    Assistant Editor
    Michele Skinner

    Administrative Assistant
    Michelle Held

    Managing Media Editors
    Jan Hicks
    Michael Hicks

    Industry News
    Angie Pedersen, Associate Editor
    Nancy Nally, Contributing Editor
    Stephanie Vetne, Contributing Editor

    Altered Arts & Mixed Media
    Margert Ann Kruljac, Associate Editor
    Jill Jones-Lazuka, Contributing Editor

    Scrapbooking & Paper Arts
    Wendy McKeehan, Associate Editor
    Amy Alvis, Contributing Editor
    Kitty Foster, Contributing Editor

    Crafts
    Daniel R. Boone, Associate Editor
    Leslie Frederick, Contributing Editor

    Promotions/ Director of Public Relations
    Carla Sylvester, Associate Editor
    Stephanie Barnard, Contributing Editor
    Maria Gallardo-Williams, Contributing Editor

DesignerZine will be open for new user registration starting 6 February 2006. If you have any questions, email the DesignerZine Senior Staff.

ScrapSubmit.Com's new ScrapTicker

Via the ScrapSubmit.com e-newsletter:

Imagine having all of the latest scrapbooking calls on your site or blog, and having them automatically updated the instant they change!  Imagine no more! Simply customize the new ScrapSubmit.Com call ticker to match the look you want then paste the generated HTML into your site!

Why have a Scrapticker? 90% of hits at Scrapsubmit.com come from scrapbookers looking to see what the latest calls are. Here's your chance to increase targeted traffic to your own web site or blog by implementing our Scrapticker. The Scrapticker will display the latest calls and allow your visitors to find out more details about each call without leaving your site.

To create your own ScrapTicker visit: http://www.scrapsubmit.com/feed/edit_scroller.php

iCorrect EditLab Pro 5.0

Via DigiCam News:

PictoColor has released the newest version of its color correction and color editing Photoshop plug-in. The new version features automatic black and white conversion and automatic sepia tone. It also includes sharpening and noise removal technology, and the ability to bring back certain colors after converting a photo to black and white.

The software is available on both Windows and Mac platforms for $69.95 as a software download from PictoColor.

CHA Winter 2006: American Traditional Designs

American Traditional Designs is proud to announce the addition of several new items to its growing line of scrapbook products.

Puffy Stickers
Add impact to any project with dimensional Puffy Stickers.  Choose from an assortment of alphabets or collection inspired designs.

The Puffy Sticker alphabets have a shiny surface that gives them instant appeal.  Their unique patterns will add personality and flair to any project.

ATD's themed Puffy Stickers are similar in design; with the addition of detailed embossing that makes them really stand out!  They are available in a variety of sizes and shapes including colorful icons, tags, messages, frames and more.  Choose from 14 different SKU’s.  3 ½” x 6 ½” sheet size.  MSRP: $3.00

12 x 12 Scrapbook Kit
Themed layouts are a snap with our 12” x 12” Scrapbook Kit.  Everything you need to create 6 coordinated pages is included in one package.  Each kit contains Designer papers, Dimensional embellishments, Icon, alphabet and message stickers, & Assorted die-cut shapes.  Available in 8 popular themes. MSRP: $7.00

Complete Scrapbook Kit
Our Complete Scrapbook Kit is a one-stop shopping solution for any scrapbooking enthusiast.  Each kit includes an 8 x 8 post-bound album with 8 top loading page protectors, 16 designer papers, Pads of pre-cut tags, borders and mats, Alphabet, icon and message stickers, Chipboard accents, Ribbons, buttons and brads, and a Zip-lock storage pouch.  Available in 6 popular themes. MSRP: $20.00

Rub-on Packs
Expressing yourself is easy with the selection of Rub-on Packs. Choose from an assortment of alphabet styles and themed messages.  Apply any of these easy to use transfers to your layouts, cards, invitations and more.  Layer them with other accents for even greater impact.

Create quick monograms and bold titles with any of their alphabet sets, with 4 different styles to choose from.  Packs include 18 sheets of rub-ons with multiple letters in various sizes on each.

ATD's message Rub-on Packs make journaling a snap.  Choose from 4 different themes, each with more than 40 sentiments.  There are 9 acid-free sheets per message pack.  Sheet size 2 ¾” x 4”.  MSRP: $5.00 - $10.00

Mixed Media
Mixed Media adds a touch of fun and dimension to any project.  Each package includes a variety of popular sticker styles to choose from including domed epoxy, layered paper, ribbon-accented stickers and more.  Choose from 17 different SKU’s.  Acid free.  3 ¾” x 6” sheet size.  MSRP: $3.00

New Collection Themes
Each collection boasts designer papers, coordinating albums and a variety of embellishments, including their new Mixed Media™, File Packs, Tag Packs and Embossed Stickers. The five new themes are Welcome Baby, Celebrate, Bohemian Chic, Recipe Time, and High School.