Cath Edvalson
As you can imagine, we editors here at Paper Crafts magazine use the information we gather at CHA for at least six months until the next show.
We pore over our notes and photos, we organize and plan, and in my case, I see what rises to the top in terms of trends. We do this so we can bring you the freshest magazines possible filled with products we think you’ll love.
And while you don’t have to be trendy to be a good card maker, trends are fun, they inspire, and if you’re aware of them, you can pick and choose which trends speak to you most and then decide if/how/when to incorporate them into your work.
Here is my semi-annual Trends by the Dozen report. These are the motifs, styles, and patterns that kept popping up from booth to booth. And while butterflies, lace, doilies, and banners are still going strong, here are some new players in the paper crafting field. Check it:
The run-away trend of the show, cameos were absolutely everywhere. I’m not gonna lie, since cameos were the focus of our January/February Moxie Fabs column, I’m seriously loving the timing of this trend:
Images from Hambly Screen Prints, Maya Road, Webster’s Pages, Jenni Bowlin Studios, The Girls’ Paperie, Anna Griffin, Teresa Collins Designs, and Melissa Frances
Though closely related, these next two trends were hot, hot, hot! We saw a lot of circus product:
Images from GCD Studios, Graphic 45, and Glitz Design
…as well as a state fair theme:
Images from Studio Calico and Echo Park Paper
…and related to these two trends as well are fun and funky moustaches:
Images from My Cute Stamps, GCD Studios, and Hambly Screen Prints
And dare we say that playing cards are tag-alongs in this genre as well?
Images from Glitz Design, Kaisercraft, Bella Blvd., and Fancy Pants Designs
The single most predominant style of the show is Retro Vintage:
Images from Vintage Street Market, Webster’s Pages, The Girls’ Paperie, Unity Stamp Company, October Afternoon, Technique Tuesday, and Cosmo Cricket
…and I think cameras:
Images from Lawn Fawn, Hambly’s Screen Prints, and Maya Road
…and old-fashioned transportation are tag-alongs to that style as well:
Images from Maya Road, Technique Tuesday, Lily Bee Design, Webster’s Pages, and Crate Paper
Award badges are creeping in to the trendy tableau:
Images from Jenni Bowlin Studios and Glitz Design
…and lanterns are lighting up the scene brighter than ever before:
Images from American Crafts, InStyle Stamps, and Lawn Fawn
Botanicals were absolutely everywhere as well:
Images from La Blanche, Pink Paislee, Jenni Bowlin, and Tim Holtz
…while mixy matchy patterns have become almost commonplace:
Images from Glitz Design, Making Memories, The Girls’ Paperie, and BasicGrey
And there you have it, my trendy friends, the cream that rose to the top of the winter show. I’d love to know which of these trends you see yourself incorporating into your projects the most and why. Leave me a comment by midnight (MST) on Wednesday, Feb. 23 and I’ll send one lucky person something moxie fab from the show.
Your trend-watching friend,
Cath
P.S. Happy birthday wishes go out to our Lone Design Man, Matt Anderson! May the force be with you today!
P.P.S. It’s time to announce the three winners from Renae’s Back to Stamping Basics post!
1. Frankie (Feb. 17, 9:48 a.m.)
2. Shanon Gibson (Feb. 17, 8:09 a.m.)
3. Laura M. (Feb. 17, 9:29 p.m.)
Congrats, winners! You’ve won a copy of Stamp It! Techniques, Stampin’ Up!’s
Classic Stampin’ Spots and their A to Z Background Stamp. I’ll be contacting you shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!
