Why are we the only one's laughing?: Memory Trends Round 2

All right let's see if I can fit this into one more post. Our next class was with Ali Edwards. So excited for this class. It wasn't going to be a project class (hopefully next time). Ali talked to us about the business side. Bringing people in to your store (or whatever your nitch in the scrapbook world is) and inspiring them and making them want to stay with you. She had lots of ideas and defin. made my wheels start turning in my head. She is enjoyable to listen to and even though I was so tired she made me laugh and enjoy the hour and a half in her talk. She gave us a notebook filled with her lecture in note form, a book about networking and the digital kit of the month from CK. It was very cute because Ali brought her husband with her and he sat and listened to her talk. I think I really enjoyed Ali's class because she seems like the kind of person you can sit down and have a beer with her and she is real. No pictures from this class since we didn't make a project and i didn't want to join the mob in asking Ali for a picture (poor girl).

Next up in the day... 3 hours with Tim Holtz. Never had experienced him before but now... LOVE HIM. Along with every other woman in the industry. He is a very energetic, funny, creative person. not knowing what to expect since this was supposed to be a spotlight session where he shared how he got into the industry and how he brain works when designing product. Since he has his fingers in many companies (designing, writing, etc) he was very persuasive and had them donate LOTS of product. I had never played with any of his product and now I am hooked. Let me show pictures first and then I will explain all we were given.

So this was the little ring tag thing we did. It was a little sample of his products. He taught us how to use everything and I learned a few new techniques. Wish I would have had time to pick his brain but like Ali he was mobbed after class to pictures.

so here was the stash we received. His distressables 2 book which is so cool. Lots of inspiration, makes my head spin with ideas. Here are the close ups of the goods...

We got to play with his new grungeboard which debuted at CHA summer and hasn't shipped yet. It's like chipboard but you can do pretty much whatever you want to it and it won't break, rip, shrink, etc. Very cool. Also got his favorite set of stamps from his line. They are unmounted rubber stamps that stick to the clear block. LOVE THEM! I have already used them on a layout. Can't wait to get my hands on more! Most excited about he tool set we got. Came with a picture distressor, cutting tool, paper piercer, paper distressor and all are retractable. The scissors that came with are also awesome. Love them more than my cutter bees and they cut through more than paper. How did I live without them for crafting? I highly recommend them.

Also got to play with his distress ink (love it) and the pad that is used for blending it. The new crackle paint is fun and how nice was the paint dabber (eliminates the mess of the paint and brush cleanup). Can't wait to take another class from Tim.

Last class of the day was with Becky Higgins. Now I do not like 12x12 layouts. In fact, I detest them which is why I wanted to take her class. I was hoping she would change my mind about 12x12 layouts. SHE DID! I really enjoyed working off the sketches and for once I actually liked the finished product on my 12x12. Here is one half of it while the other half is hiding behind because it wasn't done...

So Becky was super nice and the next day I was walking by the CK media booth and she was there doing a meet and greet. I had nothing for her to sign like the other people did and I'm not into taking pictures like that but I wanted to talk to her. So it was my turn and I walked up and told her my story about how i detest 12x12 layouts etc. She was so nice to talk to and we were talking about her new book. She shocked me when she said " can I give you one?" Are you serious? Ummmm..... YEAH. She wrote a little note on the cover and off I went. Read through her new sketches book and I already plan on making some 12x12 layouts. Looking forward to CHA and hope I get to see her there.

We also made a couple of cards in her class and pictured above is one of them.

So, on to the make and takes we did on the show floor. I already showed the one from Hampton Art. This one is from Studio 8 Designs. They are a new company based out of Utah of all places, imagine that!

This is the luggage tag we made at the CK Media booth. Wendy Smedley and Aby Garvey were there promoting their new book. Both very nice. Thought it was interesting that Wendy told us she was nervous about the book because some of the women in the industry were nasty. She has no reason to be nervous because the book turned out very nice and even if you chose not to read the book, the pictures alone were worth it.

Stampendous was another booth we stopped at. Made little clear pails for Valentine's Day. Had lots of cute cards in their booth. I took a couple of pictures (notice how descriptions are getting shorter and this post is turning into the longest post EVER)...

Okay, last booth I will talk about. This was the cricut booth. Those ladies were crazy loud. they were doing drawings and everybody was screaming. Megan and I were laughing. So we did two projects at their booth. The first was an altered journal that I did for Ms. K (she has already written in it) for obvious reasons...