Paint Me Plaid

There’s so much going on at the Craft & Hobby Association’s Winter 2011 trade show that it’s hard to capture everything – but let’s start with a tour of our home base! We pulled out all of the stops this year and went crazy featuring projects with your favorite Plaid product.  There are large display units with vignettes ranging from Denim Destruction (our new fashion product) to Learn to Paint (painting has never been easier!).  We’re also very excited about our Social Media-Craft TV-PlaidOnline side of the booth – our digital media covers one whole aisle!  The display is pretty amazing and makes a big impact.  Cathie and Steve are demoing a frame and promoting their new series on Plaid Craft TV (click to see a preview!)  Without further adieu, here are some photos from the show floor.

Cathie and Steve getting ready for a long day of making frames – they are always happy!

Day three is the winding down day on the CHA floor!  I had just a little time before I had to catch my plane, so I was only able to see a few booths before I left. Here’s what caught my eye.

This Halloween dress form at the Girls’ Paperie was absolutely GORGEOUS! A lot of tulle, ribbons, paper flowers and a really cool hat.

The dress form was created by Margie to celebrate the new Toil & Trouble line. With Halloween not as far as you think, you should check it out right here.

I was about to leave the Girls’ Paperie booth when I caught these Mod Podged frames displaying paper! This one was done with maps . . .

and this one with book pages! Are these cool, or what?

On my way out the door I couldn’t help but stop by the Provo Craft booth. There was so much activity!  I was so drawn to the make n’ take, the owl frame you see above. Isn’t it cute? The little owl guy is from their cartridge called Hoot ‘n’ Holler, and it’s a Cricut Lite cartridge. I may have to get a Cricut just for the owl above.

Before I left I was also drawn in by a Cricut Cake demonstration.  I’m not a baker, but I have complete appreciation for cake decorating now that I’ve seen what you can do with this machine. These butterflies above were cut with the Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Art cartridge and some frosting sheets.  The results were gorgeous.

More cakes done with the Cricuit? Can you believe these?? I LOVE the blue and brown one. I’m starving.

So that’s it for CHA!  What a week. So many people, so little time. The show was amazing, and we can’t wait for Winter 2011 in Los Angeles. Don’t forget to comment on this post to win a collection of new FolkArt colors to celebrate our time in Rosemont at the show. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming on Monday.

Here we are at the Craft and Hobby Association’s Summer trade show!  Wow . . . we arrived at O’Hare, drove immediately to the hotel and then went to the Stephens Convention Center to find a ton of boxes like this:

Yes, it was very similar to the warehouse in Raiders of the Lost Arc. Big boxes everywhere!  But never fear, our trusty trade show team was already putting things together:

Here are Shauna and Kasey, setting up a mannequin that displays Plaid iron ons.

Chris comes out of the back room from setting up to give me a smile!

Our painted glass display is amazing! I’ll have to show you some detail shots tomorrow.

We make paint, but we also make jewelry! Here are Chain, Chain, Chain and Flavor, both available at JoAnns

Cathie and Steve will be demo-ing Hot Glue Gun Helpers, the coolest new tool for working with hot glue! Avoid burns . . . glue (and even paint) peel right off the mat and tools. More tomorrow with live pictures of the demonstration.

Plaid staff walks through the booth, making sure everything is in order. I can tell you that it looks fabulous so far, and it’s going to be exciting to walk in tomorrow morning and see it in action!  Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the first day of the show. I’m going to have SO many pictures!  And a giveaway. . .