Well… Less than 18 hours before we board a plane bound for Las Vegas baby!

Everything is pretty much packed and ready to go, although there may be some minor adjustments of the baggage so that we don’t end up over weight, but it’s basically done.

The website has been uploaded with Claudine’s Poppets(TM) Collection, complete with scrapbook and card samples (some you may have seen on Two Peas or Scrapjazz already). You can now see all the papers, character shapes and clear stamps we’ll be releasing next week at the big CHA Show… We are starting the line with a introductory collection of pieces and will be adding to the line in the late Spring with additional papers, stamps and characters once the line is off the ground and running =)

I just love this collection and I’m so glad that we’re working with Claudine. We just love her to death and the Poppets(TM) line is so much like her, that I feel like she’s working with me as I create these whimsical, funny cards and layouts. They are charming, goofy, funny and adorable… basically Claudine on paper! We’re so looking forward to visiting with her and hubby Paul this week. We’ll have to work on getting her up here for a ‘production’ visit in the summer when it’s warmer up here in the Great White North LOL!

Also, fantastic news arrive in my US PO box today (boy am I glad I made this last trip to Pt. Bob!)… The PO Box had two packages in it, neither of which were expected. One from Memory Makers magazine and the other from Paper Creations.

The MM magazine was the one that really took me by surprise as it’s magical appearance in my mail box was complete unexpected. Apparently, the magazine took a look at the top 50 Trends in the scrapbooking world and guess what - we’re part of that trend!! The Trend was related to color and a layout featuring one of our sunny, tropical Big Kahuna papers was highlighted as a color trend to watch - ORANGE and hot tropical shades. So whoopee <huge grin>!! We got a FREE mention in the magazine and in the most important section - TRENDS!

The Paper Creations magazine featured 3 cards I mailed in months ago (and had actually forgotten about!). The cards are Spring flowers created with vintage buttons, silk flowers, our die-cut tags and papers. It was so cool to see it as a two page spread - one page of art and one page of instruction. Perfect timing too… as I can now showcase these in our booth (in some manner!) and can point to the REAL cards saying "yes, these are the cards from the magazine… please come in and take a closer look."

All in all a good, tiring and prep. filled day.  Well, off to bed am I. Need to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep before the craziness of airports, luggage and everything else begins tomorrow. Enjoy the new Poppet(TM) Collection, email or post your comments please - we’d love to hear what you think of them. See you all by blog in 9 days… And if you’re going to CHA, do stop by for a chat and visit, and to see our 3 life-size Poppets(tm) at booth 868.

Hello all…
Well as the time to depart for CHA Las Vegas draws near, so does the need to update our website with new product information and other items we’ll be implementing in 2006.

Some new things to look for pre-CHA and post are:

1. New home page with a portal to the new Poppets^TM by Claudine Hellmuth Collection
2. New class offerings for 2006
3. Collection Kits for retail buyers - yes, this means you the general public who don’t have access to our products at your local scrapbook / paper arts store
4. Possible introduction of an online retail store, for the general public who don’t have access to our products at local scrapbook / paper arts stores
5. Semi-Annual WAREHOUSE sales for local buyers
6. and whatever else we can think of

We will be introducing a new SPRING collection in mid-April after we get the Poppet^TM Collection off the ground and running =) Watch for news about the in the coming months.

Final uploading for the Poppets^TM Collection will be completed on January 28, 2006 and will be available to our WHOLESALE Only buyers through our ONLINE WHOLESALE STOREFRONT post-CHA on February 12, 2006.

Whew… it’s gonna be a busy 2 weeks leading up to CHA!
Christina

Hello!
Do you love fun, illustrative artwork? Are you attending CHA Las Vegas in 2006?
If so, please be sure to stop by our booth to meet the artist behind our NEW collection of paper products, Poppets^TM by Claudine Hellmuth!

Claudine will be attending CHA Las Vegas later this month to both teach her Poppet^TM style of collage at CHA and support us in our launch of her signature collection. To meet my friend and our featured artist Claudine, please visit us at Booth 868.

Dates and times to Meet the Artist:

• Tuesday January 31: 3:00 - 4:00pm
• Wednesday February 1: 10:00am - 12:00pm

This is a great opportunity for you to meet Claudine Hellmuth, an internationally recognized collage artist, the imagination behind "Poppets by Claudine Hellmuth" and to check out the first collection of these amazing designs. To view the Sneak Peek for the Collection visit Lazar StudioWERX Inc.

See you there!

Yes, I confess… I’m a true blue child of the 80s…

Been watching General Hospital during my week off (my secret soap opera treat) and noticed Rick Springfield is back as Dr. Noah. He’s looking older for sure, but not bad at all - this coming from a girl who worshipped him from Grade 6-7 LOL !  Anyways, got me thinking about all those great 80s tunes and lo and behold, I get 80s Test from a friend by email today.

I took the test and got a 93… sounds like a pretty good score and firmly establishes that yes, I am an 80s kid with many songs runnin’ round in my head! LOL…

So… are YOU an 80s baby, test YOUR 80’s music knowledge… check out this link: 80s Music Test Have fun with this one!