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CHA Mega Show 2016 Trend Forecast

By on December 11, 2015 in CHA, News, Trends

The countdown to the CHA Mega Show 2016 is getting shorter and shorter! Excitement is building to see the new product releases in January, along with the new trends for the 2016. But what can we expect to see in 2016? CHA Show Entrance Sign Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. It goes without saying that adult coloring will continue to be a hot category. This won’t be limited to just publishers, from whom we can expect to see plenty of coloring books of course. Expect to see scrapbook companies creating designs that can be colored (such as Adornit and Bella Blvd have done previously in various product lines), and stamp companies creating coloring friendly designs. And of course it is a huge marketing opportunity for the companies that make pens and paints – expect to see them taking advantage of this window in the market.

The trend for chalk paint has sparked a whole range of interest in home decor and furniture. Chalk paint certainly isn’t going away anytime soon, as more companies are expanding offerings of it and consumers are becoming more competent and less intimidated with it. With that segment of crafts growing, we can expect to see more products appearing that are intended as add-ons for chalk paint furniture makeovers: furniture sized stencils, transfers, and hardware like decorative drawer pulls. Continue Reading →

Trends | Burlap

By on November 2, 2011 in News, Trends

Burlap is what used to be called sackcloth; it was used for storage for everything as it was easy to make, breathable and moisture resistant. Even since it was used by the Haute Couture fashion houses a few years ago, burlap has been gaining strength. This seems to be the year where burlap comes into its own as a fully-functioning decorative fabric, being used in everything from wedding decorations to wall paper to the red carpet.

4. Bottega Veneta 2011 dress and Emma Watson wearing the dress to the Harry Potter Premier this summer.

It has a big place in the Eco-friendly world as it is bio-degradable, reusable, and durable. It can be dressed up or broken down, and yet still retains that rustic uniqueness all of its own. It can be used instead of canvas and paper to beautiful effect.

Burlap comes in ribbon rolls, in yards and in sheets and can be sewn, rolled, frayed, gathered, bunched, and looped, as well as used straight off the roll, or made into flowers.

You can sew it, color it with dye and paint, stamp and print on it, make it into furniture and clothes, toys and rugs. but most of all it is a fun and inexpensive way of being contemporary.

Burlap looks so pretty mixed with other fabrics such as silk, linen, and lace – a touch of elegance – the rough with the smooth.

And it’s perfect for those seasonal Christmas decorations.

6. Star

And the perfect gift maybe?

Burlap is so versatile, making it a perfect foil for both adults and kids alike, especially when it is used with this year’s perfect frame – the embroidery hoop!

And for those crafters and scrapbookers, there is a wide range of products that fit the burlap theme.

1. Tim Holtz Embossing folder

2. Nikki Sivils Buttons

3. My Minds Eye Trim

4. Weeds & Wildflowers Digital Elements

5. Ranger Tim Holtz distress inkpad

6. Canvas Corp Banner

7. Jillibean soup alpha stickers

8. Prima Marketing flowers

Also Hot off the Press do a burlap textured paper 🙂

I totally expect Burlap to stay as strong as it has for the last year, with more and more uses coming as it is a really interesting product.

I hope you enjoyed and are inspired by this little post on the wonders of burlap.

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Trendspotting Report October 2011

By on October 25, 2011 in News, Trends

Reported by Jessica Ripley

Each month we spy and spot the latest trends in fashion, design, and pop culture which often determine the hottest trends in craft. This is your monthly Trend Spotting report of the hottest trends spotted online.

Zig Zags

When a certain retailer’s website recently crashed due to a serious craze over designer fashions carrying a zig zag pattern, those desperate shoppers seemed to be just now figuring out what crafters have known for some time. Zig Zags are hot and fun! A quick search of the web shows just how versatile this bold statement can be in crafting, and we love it. Here are some favorites.

 

1. Snappy Bag 2. Knit Blanket 3. Friendship Bracelet 4. Knit Hat 5. Needle Book 6. Embroidered Heart 7. Painted Rug 8. Quilt 9. Birthday Card

DIY Wreaths

Even though it’s the Fall season and wreaths seem to be only natural this time of year, scouring some of our favorite blogs has shown us that this quick and easy craft is not just for October through December any more. We love the many ways both creative and bargain savvy crafters have expanded on the versatility of a simple idea, and made it marvelous. Check out some of their amazing ideas.


1. Paper Cup Wreath 2. Egg Wreath 3. Felt Feathers Wreath 4. Kidney Bean Wreath 5. Book Page Wreath 6. Frame Wreath 7. Yarn Ball Wreath 8. Felt Flower Wreath 9. Starburst Wreath

Wood Grain Patterns

Simple and classic, wood grain patterns are popping up everywhere. Hambly has some wonderful examples in fun colors, and Authentique’s Splendid collection is a great way to bring some wood-grained goodness to your crafting as well. From paper to even baked goods as seen below, we are loving this nod to the natural and hope it sticks around for quite awhile!

1. Fall Card 2. Restyled Sewing Machine 3. Wedding Cake 4. Pinwheel 5. Embroidered Pillow 6. Screen print Belt 7. Dish Towel 8. CD Holder 9. Round Pendant

So, what do you think about the trends we’re showcasing this month? Agree or disagree? Are you tired of any of these yet or are glad they are sticking around? Have you made any projects that fall into these categories? We would love to see them! What cool trends are you spying on StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and other corners of the internet? Please share it in the Comments section below this post on our website. We love to hear YOUR opinions!

And if you are one of the great crafters who have a project featured in this article, feel free to share this with your friends on your blogs and websites with this handy dandy logo. Keep up that amazing work, we love sharing it!

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Trendspotting Report – September 2011

By on September 21, 2011 in News, Trends

Reported by Jessica Ripley

Each month we spy and spot the latest trends in fashion, design, and pop culture which often determine the hottest trends in craft. This is your monthly Trend Spotting report of the hottest trends spotted online.

Patchwork

Such a classic way to add a homey touch to a project, and such a wonderful way to use up fabric scraps, patchwork patterns are a crafter favorite. We saw this firsthand at CHA Summer 2011 at the Sizzix booth. And if you use the Westminster Fabric Dies, which work with the Sizzix Big Shot so well, adding cute patchwork touches to your creations has become easier than ever. Here are some adorable projects which show that patchwork is not just for quilts anymore.

1. Cushion 2. Quilt Cake 3. Doll 4. Flowing Skirt 5. Patchwork Card 6. Bear Sleeping Bag 7. Patchwork Pouch 8. Baby Shoes 9. Pin Cushion Caddy

Nesting Dolls

We’ve spotted these cuties (also known as Matryoshka dolls) in everything from kitchen items to clothing lately, and can definitely see why they have become so popular. Their simple shape make them a perfect accent to a project, yet they are adorable enough to stand out on their own too. Below are some projects we’ve found online, and we are certain they will be popping up in all sorts of crafty media in the near future.

1. Necklace 2. Flat Dolls 3. Pillow 4. Fabric Covered Journal 5. Pirate Pin 6. Felting Tool 7. Card 8. Baby Booties 9. Cross Stitched Button

Vibrant Colors + Brown

The authority in all trends color, Pantone predicted the hot combo for Fall 2011 would be vibrant shades mixed with browns. I love a deep chocolately brown, and love even more the way it pops next to these rich colors. We saw examples of manufacturer’s interpretations of the combo at CHA Summer in the booths from Prima, Jillibean Soup, and American Crafts to name a few. Here are a few great projects showing examples of how well brown and these vibrant shades compliment each other.

1. Golden Posh Pin 2. Altered Clipboard 3. Felt Owl Cushion 4. Drawstring Bag 5. Knit Scarf 6. Crocheted Purse 7. Gardening Apron 8. Bird Brooch 9. Felt Flower Corsage

So, what do you think about the trends we’re showcasing this month? Agree or disagree? Have you made any projects that fall into these categories? We would love to see them! What cool trends are you spying on StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and the internet? Please share it in the Comments section below this post on our website. We love to hear YOUR opinions!

And if you are one of the great crafters who have a project featured in this article, feel free to share this with your friends on your blogs and websites with this handy dandy logo. Keep up that amazing work, we love sharing it!

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Trendspotting Report – August 2011

By on August 19, 2011 in News, Trends

Reported by Jessica Ripley

Each month we spy and spot the latest trends in fashion, design, and pop culture which often determine the hottest trends in craft. This is your monthly Trend Spotting report of the hottest trends spotted online.

This month is dedicated to trends that aren’t necessarily new, but that have proven they will be sticking around for the long haul. Spotted in lines at Summer CHA as well as countless projects across the web, these trends are here to stay (and we love it!).

Flag Banners

Not only are flag banners and bunting easy to put together with almost any scraps of paper or fabric you have on hand, they lend themselves to all kinds of crafty applications. Hambly has an adorable new line featuring banners, and October Afternoon’s new Sidewalks line has some adorable banners as well. From holiday specific to adding just the right touch to a project, the celebratory touch they add just can’t be beat.

Here are some great examples of how versatile flag banners can be:

1. Flag Banner 2. Birthday Banner Card 3. Photo Pocket Flag Banner 4. Banner Quilt 5. 5x Banners 6. Red and Aqua Party Pouch 7. Tiny Flag Banner 8. Cake Bunting 9. Bunting Tea Towel

Monsters

Cute monsters especially have sunk their teeth into crafts and have not let go (and don’t seem to plan to any time soon). They remain popular in everything from stuffed creations to stamps to scrapbooking lines, such as Niki Sivils new My Lil’ Monster. Thanks to movies like Monsters, Inc. and Where the Wild Things Are, monsters are known to be as friendly and cuddly as ever, and as a result welcome in both our bedtime stories and our crafts.

Some ‘too cute to be scary’ examples:

1. Cell Phone Pouch 2. Flabberjabber Square Head Monster Plush 3. Monster Butt Pants 4. Where the Wild Things Are Quilt 5. Beast Bag 6. Monster Birthday Cupcakes 7. Monster Hooded Towel 8. Arbuckle the Monster Coffee Cozy 9. Monster Birthday Card

Retro Dress Forms, Cameras, Sewing Machines…

Apart from dress forms which just feel like they belong in the same category, we can’t get enough of retro gadgets such as cameras, telephones (remember when you had to dial them?), fans, sewing machines, bicycles, etc. Though I keep thinking I might be tired of it, the vintage craze is one of my personal favorites, and I was tickled pink to see this trend still around in Summer CHA releases like Amy Tangerine’s new Signature Line from American Crafts. They give a classic feel to any project that just works.

Here are some wonderful projects using these classic images:

1. Kitschy Camera 2. Typewriter Print 3. Dress Form Fabric Pillow 4. Sewing Machine Pouch 5. Vintage Phone Card 6. Sewing Machine Necklace 7. Felt Camera Case 8. Your Special Card
9. Birthday Card

So, what do you think about the trends we’re showcasing this month? Agree or disagree? Are you tired of any of these yet or are glad they are sticking around? Have you made any projects that fall into these categories? We would love to see them! What cool trends are you spying on StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and the internet? Please share it in the Comments section below this post on our website. We love to hear YOUR opinions!

And if you are one of the great crafters who have a project featured in this article, feel free to share this with your friends on your blogs and websites with this handy dandy logo. Keep up that amazing work, we love sharing it!


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Trendspotting Report – July 2011

By on August 2, 2011 in News, Trends
Reported by Simone Collins
Each month I spy and spot the latest trends in fashion, design, and pop culture which often determine the hottest trends in craft. This is your monthly Trend Spotting report of the hottest trends spotted online. 

Subway Art/Typography/Fonts
Word art is very popular, everywhere. Whether you like graffiti word art, large initials, or just cool fonts, there are plenty of products to help you craft your own work. ProvoCraft released a new cartridge that creates subway art patterns with the Cricut Machine (available in stores soon). Tim Holtz also released some Subway Art canvases, as well as market totes. Plus, let’s not forget the cool birds from Red Fred Bodoni made from different fonts.

Here’s a look at some great craft projects using cool fonts and typography:

Cowboys and Aliens
With the popularity of the new Cowboys and Aliens movie opening last weekend, it’s no surprise that the western and intergalactic themes are popping up everywhere. Bandana prints are totally in style along with the new bohemian trend, and aliens fit in perfectly with the nerd or geek trends I saw everywhere this weekend in the mall.  October Afternoon’s new Sasparilla line is perfect for the western theme and Nikki Sivils’ new Lil’ Monster collection features the alien theme. 

Some great projects that fit into this trend of opposites:

8-bit/Retro Video Games
Like I said, geek and nerd themes are hot right now, and it’s very evident in the world of craft as well. The 8-bit trend, which is a throwback to the old video games of my youth, are being seen all over the internet. The popularity of some video game characters seems as strong as back when the games were first made available and the rainbow themes and bright colors make this trend a popular one with crafters of all genres.

Here’s a look at some of the coolest crafts with an 8-bit theme:

So, what do you think about the trends I’ve spied this month? Agree or disagree? Have you made any projects that fall into these categories? We would love to see them! What cool trends are you spying on StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and the internet? Please share it in the Comments section below this post on our website. We love to hear YOUR opinions!

And if you are one of the great crafters who have a project featured in this article, feel free to share this with your friends on your blogs and websites with this handy dandy logo. Keep up that amazing work, we love sharing it!
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