My first trip to CHA: Part 1 -- What is CHA?

So what is CHA?

I have had lots of non-crafting people ask me this over the past few weeks, ever since I began my barrage on Twitter and Facebook about it. So I thought I would break it down for y'all and tell you all about it.

CHA stands for the "Craft and Hobby Association" which is the name of the organization for craft industry professionals. To be a member of CHA, you have to work in the industry as a store owner, a manufacturer, a designer, etc.

CHA hosts two shows a year, one in winter and one in the summer. These shows are not consumer or retail shows; that means the shows are not like Scrapbook Expo or Crating Keepsakes Conventions. The CHA shows are not open to the public and the only buying/selling that goes there are wholesale orders from store owners. Craft companies use CHA shows as a place to debut their latest products.

Going to CHA has been a dream of mine for several years now. I would always read on Twitter and Facebook about all of the companies getting ready for CHA and would be so jealous! It always seemed like so much fun to be able to see all the cool new stuff before "the public" gets to see it. Well, this year, I had my chance. I was contacted by a wonderful company called Glue Arts to come work for them at CHA. I was ecstatic!

I knew it was going to be hard work. After all the show is 3 1/2 days of non-stop standing, walking, and talking to customers, but I was ready for the challenge... or so I thought. Wow. After about 3 hours on the FIRST DAY of the show, my feet were killing me. Cute shoes = rookie mistake.

But the awesome experience of being at the show more than made up for any physical discomfort. I met so many wonderful people, all of whom were fellow crafters. Just being in this huge place with so many people who share your passion was amazing. And seeing so many great products from my favorite companies was enough to send me into shock! I think I walked around with my mouth just hanging open for at least the first 2 days, gaping at all the cool craft goodies!

The CHA show was all I had hoped it would be and more. I must send a huge thank-you to Glue Arts for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I am forever in your debt!

Over the next few days, I will be posting pictures and my impressions of CHA so please come back to share my trip with me!

Vintage Christmas

I am in love love love with Danielle Thompson's "55 Days of Vintage Christmas" over on her blog. She has such a great retro style!

The images of vintage Christmas ads, ornaments, Advent calendars, and more will get you in the mood for Christmas and they'll make you nostalgic for Christmases past. For example, this picture from her site is awesome because we had those plastic candles at our house when I was growing up!

Head on over to her blog and enjoy the retro goodness!

New blog and new projects

Before we get to my newest projects, I just wanted to let everyone know that I have started a new blog. It is more of a "personal" blog about little ol' me, without all the crafts. So if you want to hear about me -- and frankly, who doesn't? -- head on over to A Staggering Work of Absurdity. To get your craft fix, I will continue to post my crafty stuff here on this blog!

Now on with the show!

Today, my latest layout is featured over at the Basically Bare blog. This layout is all about my awesome friend Twhyla. She is the sports gal in my life. She is all about Braves baseball and Colts football, and she's not afraid to get out there and play a sport herself. Here she is playing on a kickball league!

Patterned paper: The Paper Studio, Teresa Collins
Cardstock: Archivers, WinWorld
Chipboard embellishments: Basically Bare
Stickers: Making Memories
Tickets: SEI
Ink: ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink in Charcoal and Alabaster, Krylon silver leafing pen

Doctor Who geek craft

For my second design team project over at Basically Bare, I decided to show off my geekiness. In case you were unaware, I am a big old nerd. One of the nerdiest things that I like is British sci-fi TV shows, the mack daddy of them all being Doctor Who (click here for more info about the show).

I first watched Doctor Who back in the late 1980's on PBS with Tom Baker as the Doctor. As a kid the show was confusing but I loved the concept and the terrible special effects! Now as an adult, I'm totally entranced by the storylines and the characters (and the same terrible special effects!). The show is now on its 11th Doctor, but Tom Baker still holds a special place in my heart as "my first Doctor." I included a ribbon to pay homage to Baker's multi-colored scarf!

I was so excited to make this little wall hanging featuring a TARDIS (the Doctor's special time-travel machine that is an old British police box) that I made by hand. I had so much fun making it and am so pleased at how it turned out.

Materials used:

• Paper -- DCWV, Reminisce
• Chipboard -- BoBunny
• Embellishments -- Basically Bare chipboard gears, The Paper Studio clock face, Tim Holtz metal washers, Recollections clear "dew drop", KI Memories ribbon
• Stickers -- Making Memories, My Little Shoebox
• Ink -- ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink in "Charcoal"
• Adhesive -- Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Glue Dots, GlueArts

Basically Bare design project

Today my first Basically Bare design team project is up on the blog!

It's a thank you card featuring the chipboard spool from the "Sew Vintage" embellishment set. I really like the vintage feel to the card!

My next Basically Bare DT project will be posted on the 16th so stay tuned!

You're gonna shine!

This is my latest DT project for Better Living Through Scrapbooking. Since a new school year has begun, our challenge is to create a layout using a school picture.

This layout is almost like a letter to my eight-year-old self. I want to tell her that she'll get past the hurts, the disappointments, and the sadness that comes with growing up. She'll grown into those teeth (eventually!). She's going to find love, happiness, and passion for life. Don't worry, kid, you're gonna shine!

Another exciting announcement!

I know it has been a while since I blogged. There's so much to tell! Since I last blogged 2 months ago, I have lost 13 pounds and had knee surgery... but those stories will have to wait. What I really want to tell you about is my new gig as a design team member for Basically Bare!

I am so delighted to join the DT for this wonderful company! As you may have seen in a previous post, Basically Bare makes really cool alterable items for paper crafting. It is a fairly new company, but their products made a HUGE splash at Summer CHA. Basically Bare products are now being sold all over the U.S. and in several other countries! I am thrilled to share my projects using Basically Bare products beginning on the blog in September. In the meantime, please stop by the blog and look at all of the fantastic projects that the other designers have made.

Warning: Lifestyle Change Ahead

If you have looked at any of my layouts, then you know that I am a chubby girl. Unfortunately, I have been a chubby girl for the majority of my life. In middle school, I was called all sorts of things by some terribly mean boys. Maybe this fat roll had something to do with it:

Me circa 1985. Nice stomach.

Nothing changed much in high school. Still much bigger than all my friends. Thankfully I don't have any pictures on hand to show. However, I must say that I am less embarrassed about my weight than my really really really big hair.  College was more of the same... way bigger than anyone else I knew.

As an adult, I have lost weight several times. My best efforts were back in 1998-1999 and then again a couple of years ago when I lost 40 lbs. But it always came back. I could never wrap my mind around the idea of "healthy living" vs. "diet". I could only see "diet" as a temporary thing. Then came turning 35. I began putting on weight in weird places that I had never worried about before. I've always had a lower stomach "pooch", but this upper stomach muffin top thing? That's new. Horrible fat pouch above my elbow? I had only previously seen those on old ladies. My knees hurt, my hips hurt, and I was miserable.

Me with my friend Twhyla and Atlanta Braves relief pitcher
(and 2011 All-Star!) Jonny Venters in 2010

See the terrible upper stomach fat roll? GROSS!

So about a month ago, I came to the realization that I needed help. I knew I couldn't lose weight on my own so I joined Weight Watchers. It's a great plan with lots of great success stories. The best part is that they promote a healthy lifestyle vs. "a diet". Then this week I did something even more incredible: I joined Curves. Me, the most anti-exercise person EVER, working out at least 3 times a week? Who would have thought?

I promise to keep y'all updated on my weight loss/lifestyle change as I go along. With about 80 pounds to lose, it's going to take a while. And who knows? This may be some great scrapbook material!