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Picks from the Hobby Industry Association Trade Show From Your Guide to Scrapbooking Rebecca Ludens |
The Hobby Industry Trade Show is one of the largest shows in the craft industry. A full one-third of the show has been taken over by scrapbook product manufacturers in the last two years. With over 300 booths of scrapbook supplies, you can be sure that there were plenty of fun new things that will be arriving in your local retail store in the next couple of months. For a sneak peek of those hot new arrivals, I have put together a list of a few of my favorites. This is by no means everything new and great, but rather an overview of my personal top picks in alphabetical order by manufacturer. For more information about any of these products, please contact the manufacturer or check at your local scrapbook store.
Accu-Cut
Accu-Cut has formed an exciting partnership with EZ2Cut to bring us an extensive line of new EZ2Cut ShapeMaker templates. The templates available from EZ2Cut previously (such as the Mosaic and the Kaleidoscope) are still available and many have seen updates and improvements, while many new designs are being released.
Artistic Wire
Artistic Wire introduced a brand new Wire Writing System. The most innovative part is a new four section, snap together, jig that allows you to peg designs and words that are long enough to be the title or border on a 12"x12" scrapbook page.
Crop In Style
Ever wish that you could take a scrapbook table with you everywhere you go? Crop In Style has a brand new Tote Table. It attaches to any tote with a pull up handle and offers you 2.5 square feet of portable scrapbook space.
Design Originals
Design Originals has almost an entire library of new scrapbook instructional books being released. I especially enjoyed Sparkle and Shimmer, book #5177. As many of you know, I teach classes for JewelCraft and Artistic Wire at Creating Keepsakes University. This book is filled with creative ideas for using both product lines on your pages.
I also fell in love with Design Originals' new line of 12x12 papers called "Legacy." This heritage themed paper line is elegant and beautiful.
EK Success
As usual, EK Success had almost too many new, exciting products to mention. A couple stand-outs were the new line of "Jolee's by You" craft and scrapbook embellishments. All of your favorite Jolee's Boutique items are now available individually, along with literally hundreds of other 3-D items, including a wooden, old fashioned, school house.
I also can not wait for the brand new Brush Lettering Software to be released later this Spring. Imagine having gorgeous brush lettered titles available right from your computer. I think this will be a huge hit.
Ellison/Sizzix
To solve the problem of not being able to punch in the center of a piece of paper, Sizzix introduced the "PaddlePunch" Positionable Hand Punch. Eventually, a large selection of these decorative shaped paddle punches will be available. You simple place the design where you want it to be punched on the piece of paper, and wack the paddle a few times with the specially designed craft hammer. This one was really fun; I tried it.
JewelCraft
JewelCraft added two unique lines to its distinctive product family for this Spring. First, Shaped Shaker Box Kits come with everything you need to make intricately shaped shakers. I designed this line with JewelCraft so I clearly have no journalistic impartiality where it is concerned; however I had to add it to my "favorites list" because I love it! There are seven shapes currently in the line including: a Music Note, Butterfly, Heart, Baby Rattle, Soccer Ball, Gift Package, and Champagne Flutes.
Also, new to JewelCraft are a gorgeous set of border photos called Photo Tintz. The unique thing about these photos is that they are all in black and white and come with a mat finish. They are perfect for tinting, chalking, or embellishing for your most elegant scrapbook pages.
K & Company
The K & Company product line continues to impress with the beautiful new designs in its Grand Adhesions line of 3-D Stickers. Once you see these gorgeous stickers, you will immediately start planning layouts so that you can use them.
Making Memories
The very popular "Details" line from Making Memories has once again expanded with many more exciting new products. Some of my favorites included Eyelet Quotes and Charmed Plaques.
Paper Loft
I have been a fan of Paper Loft's color blocked paper for some time now. This year they are adding coordinated "Alphabet and Essential Tags" to the line. Each sheet perfectly matches the color blocked papers. They also have a very cool new line of 12x12 cardstock and tags called "Textures." These tags and papers capture the look of metal, rivets, and other coarse textures on paper.
Simple Scrapbooks
One of my favorite classes at Creating Keepsakes University is Design Dynamics taught by Stacy Julian. Many of the themes that Stacy touches on in this class have now been expanded into a brand new idea book that you will return to again and again called A Simple Guide to Designing Scrapbooks. Each chapter is filled with design essentials that will simply make you a better scrapbookers. Learn about color, balance, shape and focal points from one of the industry's very best! I read through this entire book on the airplane on the way back from HIA. It is a "must have."
Find out what Stacy and the Simple Scrapbooks team discovered at HIA by clicking here.
Wordsworth
Wordsworth is a stamp company from Colorado Springs. They have a wonderful line of letter stamps, stencils, and stickers, that had scrapbookers flocking to their booth at the show. I can't wait to try them out on my own pages.
Xyron
And last, but certainly not least, Xyron introduced several new items in its product line at the show. I especially like their new Xyron Solutions Cartridge Systems. These are two new versions of scrapbook adhesive that you will want to look into. I also like that they have a new size of their popular adhesive machine. This new version called "No Limits" comes in four cool new colors and has a 2 1/2 inch opening. If the "X" machine was too small, and the 5" machine was too large to take with you to crops, then this new "No Limits" will be just right. The size was specifically designed to fit all of your Sizzix die cuts.
And Many More...
To talk about these and other new scrapbook products, come join us on the About Scrapbooking Forum!
