4 Fresh Crafting Trends (and a groovy giveaway!)

What's hot in crafting at the moment? So many amazing delights! I was tickled gold when Studio 5 asked me to share a few of the freshest CHA trends to make a splash at CHA (the Craft & Hobby Association trade show) earlier this month. Here's a look at the trends we're discussing on today's show:

1. Go for the Gold
It's a gold letter year, my friends. Metallics have been on the uprise for quite some time now, but it's clear gold is the leader of this pretty pack. 


Here are just a few of the brand new gold goodies I spotted at the show:

Gold washi tape, as part of the amazing DIY Shop release from American Crafts. This line includes many fun elements in a neutral palette, including a lovely assortment of metallic tapes.


Get your gold on in a glittered fashion using the Wow! Glitter from American Crafts. It's big on sparkle and comes in a pack of four metallic shades.


BasicGrey
Candy Dots... Mmmmm... They look good enough to eat. And they're self-adhesive, which makes adding a splash of gold easy as pie candy!
Image Credit: BasicGrey


Cosmo Cricket
I can't get over how cute these kraft treat bags are from Cosmo. Will you be my Valentine? Because I'd sure love to send you a little bit o' sweet in one of these beauties.



Crate Paper/Maggie Holmes
When it comes to gold, Maggie Holmes has been a trend leader in the crafting market. Since before my own Maggie was born, she's been singing its praises and incorporating it into her home decor and crafting projects. So it's so fun to see how she's also added this striking color to her product lines with Crate Paper, including Styleboard, her newest release.

Label-maker tape never looked so good! Thanks, Maggie and Crate Paper! Can't wait to play with these stickers.



Everything about these rub-ons wins a gold medal in my book. The horse-horse, the hearts, the camera, the sentiments...all of it is award-worthy!




I ADORE this bitty, heart-filled Brag Book! With Valentine's Day on the way, I seeing it getting much love in my life. 


Our friends in the fancy pantalones also offer a vibrant gold 12x12 cardstock that is sure to make a sparkling statement.



My Mind's Eye
Got your eye on gold? Mind this tidbit: MME makes a mean gold metallic print. They've put together these cards in 3" x 4" and 6" x 4"—perfect for pocket scrapbooking. Love!


Adding a lovely feeling to your surroundings has never been easier than it is with these sweet cards. I so want to frame this one and put it in my sweet girl's room.


Or you can make your own paper projects using the Charmed Record It! paper pad, which includes a lovely variety of 6" x 6" papers.


 Gold washi in a sturdy plastic tube? Doesn't get much better than this.




SC is known for their awesome assortment of font stickers, so it's an extra special treat to see that font flair combined with a vibrant gold glitz. Thickers have never shined so bright.

Image Credit: Studio Calico


2. Glampers
Pack your bags, friends! We're going on a retro ride in the cutes campers in town.


Glampers are an emerging trend on the crafting scene, and I'm delighted to share a few of those with you here today. 

Fancy Pants Designs
The little die cut glampers in this line make my heart happy. I have a million things I want to do with them. Decorate the front of a frame, make a card, create gift tags, add them to a page about my own glamper... and the list goes on!
Image Credit: Paper Crafter's Corner



My dear friends at Lawn Fawn were kind enough to surprise me with this special treat at CHA. They know I have a crush on glampers, and the Happy Trails stamp set and dies absolutely made my day. Thank you, Kelly Marie and Mike!

Image Credit: Lawn Fawn blog


My Mind's Eye
Glampers AND chalkboard? Get outta town! I can't get enough of these two trends, and seeing them together is the ultimate!

Image Credit: Paper Crafter's Corner

Webster's Pages
Party Time, indeed! Can it be anything but a party when this bright line from Webster's Pages is involved? It also includes 12" x 12" glamper paper AND vellum. Hooray!

Image Credit: Webster's Page



3. Sequins
Tune into the sequincy frequency! This bit of glitz & glam makes my glitter-loving heart happy. 


Inspired by the confetti trend, sequins are quickly rising to the top in the brilliant Bling category. And the colors are A-MAY-ZING! Here are just a few of my favs:

Chic Tags
How's this for a treat—wood sequins! Isn't that a grand idea? Just imagine the creative possibilities attached to these cuties, from topping them with glitter to spritzing them with spray ink. *swoon*



Doodlebug
Doodlebug? More like Drool-dlebug. I mean, bitty bottles of sequins in a rainbow of colors? How can we do anything but drool?

Image Credit: Doodlebug Design


Hazel & Ruby
I stopped in my tracks the moment I laid eye on these beautiful bottles of sequins. Yes, they are sold in these tiny tubes! Isn't that divine. Hazel & Ruby is where it's at, my friends!

Image Credit: Hazel & Ruby blog


Image Credit: Hazel & Ruby blog


Studio Calico
Monochromatic color packs are oh, so perfect for creating an ombre look or just adding a splash of color to your creations!



If you know Teresa Collins, you know she knows her colors and always adds a sophistication to her creations. We're so lucky to enjoy that in sequin form with the release of several different sequin packs. And each includes sequins in four unique sizes, adding all the more variety to life.





4. Vellum
Yes, you read that right. Vellum is back, baby! But it's not limited to the basic vellum of yesteryear. You'll also find it in fun patterns, colors and textures. 

Here are a few if the voluptuous vellum pieces making their way on the crafting scene:






Crate Paper: The Maggie Holmes Styleboard Collection




Win It Before You Can Buy It
Want to win a sampling of BRAND NEW delights before you'll even see them on store shelves? Good news: I'm giving away a sampling from each of today's trendy categories. The prize pack includes items from the following generous companies: American Crafts, Chic Tags, Crate Paper, Doodlebug, Fancy Pants, Hazel & Ruby, My Mind's Eye, Studio Calico, and Teresa Collins Design. Wowee! That's a bundle! 

Entering is easy. Simply leave a comment here, letting me know what your favorite trend is crafting is at the moment (from this line-up or otherwise). You have until Friday, Jan. 31 to enter, at which time I'll randomly select a lucky name to take these awesome elements home. Please include your email address with the comment so I can reach you if you win.

TV Time
It's always more fun to see these sweet treats on the big screen...well, the screen that is. So I invite you to watch my Studio 5 television segment covering these trends here. Thanks for your incredible support!

Bonus
The trend fun isn't over yet. Head on over to the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog for a look at five more CHA trends I can't get enough of. I think you'll be happy you did. 

Cheers!


A Sadness Lifted


I didn't plan on going to the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) trade show, but My Craft Channel called me at the last minute to see if I'd fill in for someone who fell ill. To be honest, I wanted to say no. I wanted to keep my distance. If you've ever lost a job, you know it messes with your confidence, no matter what the reasons are for that job going away. And my heart still hurts from the sting of losing my job with Creating Keepsakes, so I just couldn't see myself facing the CHA environment just yet, as lovely as I know it to be.

But something told me to go. To take Kristine Mckay up on her kind offer, hop an airplane, and make my way to sunny So. Cal. Oh, how glad I am that I did.

This trip helped me come to a very powerful realization. 

My sadness is not crafting.

It's not the scrapbooking industry. It's an isolated sadness. A heavy sadness that comes from missing my dream job. Missing the friends I was lucky enough to call coworkers. Missing the position of creative editor that I climbed the ranks for years to achieve. Missing Creating Keepsakes magazine and it's INCREDIBLE readers. 

My sadness is NOT creativity. 

As simple as this sounds, I did not realize it before this trip to CHA. I was confusing the two. I was feeling done with the entire scrapbooking industry. Tormented about the desire I felt to hang up my crafty cap and look at other career moves. I had plans to stay in the industry, but my heart didn't feel in any of it. It felt more as if I was going through the motions because that's what was expected of me. 

You know what brought me clarity? The people! My friends. Amazing business owners, crafters, bloggers, and other immensely talented professionals who I've come to call friends over the years. That's what happens after a decade working in this industry. 

Suddenly a convention center FULL of people becomes a building full of faces you know and love. Faces you respect and admire. Faces you long to see. 

My journey of self discovery (if you want to go so far as to call it that) started at the hotel lobby upon check-in. There she was: Ms. Charlet Mallett—a former coworker and friend of mine from the Stampin' Up! days. Seeing her sweet face made my nervous heart calm a bit. Feel a bit safer and more comfortable in these unsteady waters.

Then I hit the show floor. And there, at the first booth we hit, was Sharon Laakkonen—one of the beautiful Prima faces and someone I've also known for many, many years. Her advice to me set the stage for this show. She told me to walk with my head held high. She told me that I deserved to be there just as much as the next person and that I had nothing to fear. I didn't exactly believe her, but I took her advice, put my uneasy head up, and made my way through the show.

Sharon, or "Shannon," as I'm known to say when the camera jitters set it. Thanks for the lovely advice, friend. I'm so glad our paths crossed first. You're as wise as you are talented! 

And you know what? Holding my head up helped. 

I started seeing more faces I knew and loved. More smiles. More friends to embrace. I also started seeing the glorious products surrounding me. The crafting treats that make my creative heart pitter patter. And that's just what happened. My heart jolted. I felt drawn to product lines in a way I haven't felt in a long time. Either this was a REALLY good show or I was just out from behind my slump. Or perhaps it was a little of both. Either way, I'll take it. 

As the day progressed, I continued to encounter friends who seemed sincerely happy to see me. Friends who offered encouraging words, warm hugs, and happy hearts. Friends who shared in my sadness for CK, but who also felt like great things were waiting ahead. 

How cool is this? Christa here remembers me from a class I taught her back in 2009. She has been a strong supporter of mine ever since. This was her first CHA, and I'm so happy I could be a part of it with her. Great seeing you again, Christa! Thank  you for stopping me with your friendly hello!

I felt like my creative soul was truly awakening for the first time since losing my job last fall. I felt alive and happy. Inspired and energized. I felt good.

So, I write this post to thank the many beautiful friends who made this journey the positive experience it was. It's because of you that I sit here today, a happier and more content person than I was a week ago. 


Words can't begin to express the way I feel about this girl. The fun we have when we get together can't be beat, and she's always been one of my best cheerleaders. So, so happy to know Miss Kelly Purkey! 

I also want to thank my friends at My Craft Channel for making this journey possible—Kristine, Dan, and Lori. You rock. Thanks for believing in me. It means more than words can express. 

Most of all, I must thank Brian, my camera guy and all-around partner in crime at the show. We met for the first time at the airport and became fast friends. He put up with my insanity. If you've ever walked a trade show with me, you know it's not the easiest of tasks, but he never made even the slightest indicator that he wanted off the ride. Instead, he cheered me on and helped me believe in my ability to do a good job. What a lucky gal I was to share his company on this journey.

Brian Makanoa—one cool cat and crazy-talented photog!

I suppose this all seems a bit over the top, but it's coming from my grateful heart and I couldn't go to bed without sharing these words. I feel blessed, and I thank all of you in this magnificent industry for making me feel this way. CHA was a wonderful adventure, and I can't wait to share more about it with you soon. But this post is strictly to say thank you. Thank you to the friendly faces of the crafting industry who make my life more complete. I adore knowing you!

From my heart,
Megan

Oh dear. Certainly not my finest hour, but we had fun. Thanks for putting up with my shenanigans, Summer Fullerton (and friends). 

Sweet Cynthea and I are almost family. Literally. See, my sis-in-law's husband is Cynthea's bro-in-law. Close enough for me to consider her a member of the fam. ;) 

Cute Ashley jumped booths and, as she put it, "ditched Kelly Purkey" to see me. Only temporarily, of course, as it's nearly impossible to leave cute KP's side. But I sure appreciated the gesture and her incredible enthusiasm. We both have young girls at home, so there's always much to talk about when we get together. 


This lovely lady knows her stuff when it comes to trends, and it's always such fun to chat with her. While we've only known each other for a year, I feel as if we're long lost friends thanks to Instagram, where we regularly connect. 
A stop at Teresa Collins' booth always means an uplifting word and a smile. She's so kind. As is her equally adorable booth cohort, Cheri. Not only did they offer me delicious black licorice from another country (yum!), but Cheri was kind enough to be on tooth patrol afterwards to make sure I didn't have a black grill before filming. Thanks, girls!
Though there was a time when Tanya Fox and I worked for competing magazines, she with Cardmaker Mag and I with Paper Crafts mag, we've never been anything but friends. We first started working together when I was in PR for Stampin' Up! and our relationship has maintained over the years. Now I'm super excited to be working with her on a few special projects. How fun! 

If you know Suzy Plantamura, you know there is nobody in the world quite like her. She's sassy, she tells it like it is, she's heeeelarious, and she's fiercely loyal.
Thanks for the warm cookies, Deb Duty. #cookiemonster 
I love that there's a heart above our heads in this shot with Allison Kreft Abad, as I admit I have a bit of a girl crush on her. She's oozes trendiness, but it's her incredibly kind way of being that makes me adore her so. When I first lost my job, she talked on the phone with me for more than hour when she had two tiny tots at home to care for. She offered advice and insight that I will not forget. 
Charee Filimoehala is another one who feels like a friend I see on a regular basis thanks to Instagram. She has the sweetest baby boy, and I love watching her as a mama through photos she posts. And she's always so nice about reaching out to me via my pics. So it's nothing but a joy to see her IRL. Then there's the joyful Ms. Sherry Mendoza who happened by while we were filming. Her bubbly personality will make anybody smile, and her charming Australian accent only adds to her charm. So fun seeing these gals! 

Oh my. You know you're close to someone when you can rest your head on their bosom when you're 100% sober. Teri Anderson, you make my heart happy. Thank you for always believing in me and making me smile! 
I had the pleasure of visiting with so many other dear hearts this trip (you know who you are). Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone on the ready as often as I should have. To those of you who made this CHA bright but aren't photographed here, thank you! I thank God scrapbooking and paper crafting brought you into my life.