CHA Ultimate Giveaway WINNER!

...Hel-looooo ALL! It's 2:36 in the morning and I am STILL awake! CHA is still with me as we speak...I just can't get to sleep - all the different things are still running through my head, especially...

My CHA ULTIMATE Giveaway and the WINNER!

I apologize I was a little behind in choosing my winner, but it was SO AWESOME to go through all your comments and thoughts and suggestions and questions! I am still trying to answer them all or get back to you if you had comments, so please be patient with me!

So...my WINNER of the CHA ULTIMATE Giveaway, who posted on every single 'Confessions of a CHA Convention-er' posts was...

RENEE!!!

*SQUEALS* CONGRATULATIONS! Renee, thanks SO much for 'coming with me' on my first ever trip to CHA (or first ever trip all alone, for that matter) and for taking part in all the CHA festivities! I hope that you had just as much fun as I did discovering all the new things CHA had to offer and had a great time meeting a bunch of new people with me! I'm sorry that we weren't able to meet in person, but who knows, maybe next year!

I am so happy for you for being the Tim Holtz Advantis line winner of my CHA Ultimate Giveaway courtesy of Pez-a-Doodle Designs!

Just as a reminder, the Advantis line will not be released and available for shipping from Ranger until mid-to-end March and will ship to you AS SOON as Marti from Pez-a-Doodle Designs receives it! I'm sorry that I couldn't choose EVERYONE to win something, but there is SURE to be more fun and fancy giveaways for me to host in the future (especially with Marti's/Hampton Arts' Studio G contests to come!) so please stay tuned! And don't forget to check Marti's blog and my DT sister Christine's blog for more fun giveaways going on RIGHT NOW! If you would still like to try out and have fun with the new Ranger releases or any of the new products that Marti is now carrying or has for pre-order at her store, please pop on over and have a look >> Pez-a-Doodle Designs <<!

Renee, please E-Mail me ASAP so that we can get your information on file! The next time we know anything about your prize, you will be the next to know!

Again, thank you EVERYONE for tagging along with me on my trip. I hope that I was able to really make you feel like you were there and part of the action, and I hope that I will see more of you next year at CHA 2010! All your comments and thoughts and funny contributions brought me so much smiles and laughs and most definitely kept me from feeling home-sick or lonely! I hope that you'll stay with me on my upcoming adventures and forays into the crafting world and I look forward to getting to know more of you!

Up next for me is more FLOWER SOFT fun...I can't WAIT to dive completely head-first into this fluffy fun and we'll see what comes of it, huh? Let's GO!

DISCLAIMER: Just some more information on how the winner was chosen based in accordance with the contest rules (set by myself) and the random integer generator. Twenty-nine posters posted on each 'Confessions of a CHA Convention-er' post. These posters were listed in numerical order according to posting and a random integer between the numbers one and twenty-nine was generated. The winning number generated being TWENTY-TWO (22). Please be advised that the rules and contest guidelines were created by myself and the winner was chosen in the most random and un-biased way so as to provide each entrant an equal opportunity to win.

CURRENT MOOD: EXCITED CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: THE MISTER SNORING HIS HEAD OFF

Go to GIVEAWAY!

...well, if you're not sick of giveaways yet (*gasp* how could sick and giveaways ever be in the same sentence? you ask!) and didn't get a chance to win Marti's fabulous Polka-Dot-Pie stamp line, my DT sister Christine is giving away another TWO sets on her blog! *squeals* Apparently I can't win this one either (*LOL*) but who am I to begrudge another fabulous lady from her chance to win!?

All you need to do is leave a comment >> HERE << by midnight tonight (EST) and you're in the draw! Good luck everyone and happy Friday. I'm taking today off (as much as I can keep myself away) as The Mister has informed me that he has planned to take me hostage the whole day today since we haven't seen each other or spent more than five minutes alone together since even before I left! He's taking me to the movies - to see Confessions of a Shopaholic, no less! And I asked if we could stop by our LSS and he said YES! Such a good man...

Don't you fret though, I will be back and rarin' to go. Before you know it you'll be so sick of me! (*gasp* How could sick and me ever be in the same sentence?!?!) Marti's keeping me on my toes with so many fun new things going on!

If you haven't seen yet, for those of you who have been wanting to try Flower Soft, Marti's giving away a starter box on her blog, so you might want to have a little peek-a-boo over there to see what's what!

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CHA Wrap-Up...

...I'm home, I'm home! Oh how I loooove Canada - snow and all!

It's so hard to believe that just yesterday I was close to the ocean and the sun was shining and the weather was warm (well, warmer than here anyway!) and now I'm surrounded by snow! But I made it back safe and sound, and I'm hoping that all my CHA buddies made it home okay, too!

To wrap up my CHA adventures, I just wanted to include my thoughts about all the shenanigans and to answer any questions that anyone had about the things that we saw and the things that we'll be carrying!

First off, as a first-timer, the whole event was so overwhelming! Even after all the tips and suggestions, nothing could have prepared me for the scope and seriousness of everything! Someone suggested bringing a rolling tote, but someone should have also said a rolling cooler as well - to fill with energy drinks, water, gatorade, non-perishables...LOL! You know what? Instead of a rolling tote, you should just bring one of those strollers that you can ride on...you know, with a basket in the front? Then you can hook up a hitch at the back and then hook up the rolling tote and the rolling cooler. That is the ONLY tip that I can pass along to any other CHA hopefuls!

Despite the serious lack of sleep, I had an AMAZING time! I was SO excited to meet all my Cricut friends and other new crafty friends as well! Every day was different and even full of surprises - Paris Hilton even, who woulda thunk it!? I highly recommending anyone who is considering going to future CHA events to just decide to go for it already! CHA July 2009 is in Orlando, Florida - how fun would THAT be? Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to that one, but I've already got my planning designs on CHA 2010, will I see you there???

So to answer one of the most recent questions I had, the size of the Impressabilities is pretty much exactly the same size as the Cuttlebug folders - so I would say A2 in size, is that right? The only thing is that it's not as thick without the folder! There are a bunch of patterns already and you can check out the Spellbinders website to see them!

All of the new products that Marti will be carrying - a lot of the ship dates (shipping to Marti that is) is scheduled for the spring, ie. March - April. That includes all the Tim Holtz/Ranger products, Zva blingies and flower sploofies.

The Flower Soft boxed sets will be coming in the next few weeks and she's got them available for pre-order as well as ONE LUCKY WINNER can win a box- check out her blog for the details!

To give you a little idea of how I've incorporated a few of the fabulous new products that Marti will be carrying, here's a little card I *had* to do as soon as I got up this morning!

*SQUEALS* (is it bad to squeal at your own project???) Well, I don't care, you can squeal with me if you like *SQUEALS*

So to break it down for you, I used a lot of white on white and to jazz that up a bit, I used my brand-spankin'-new-straight-from-the-inventor's-hands Scor-Pal (sorry, Scor-it, you just couldn't cut it...). I criss-crossed my scores for just that added bit of dimensionality (is that a word?). On top of that I stamped my Penny Black stamp and coloured with Prismas and Mineral Oil and then...FLOWER SOFT! LOOK AT IT! w00t! It's soooo pretty! Tutorials and techniques to come, I can assure you! To add just that final bit of pizzazz (??? how the heck is that spelled ???) I sprinkled on some Martha Stewart glitter!

I hand-stitched the border and added a little bit of blingies as well as the ribbon slider and ribbon, with MORE added blingies to finish it off!

So stay in tune to Pez-a-Doodle Designs as these products will be popping up shortly! Especially the FLOWER SOFT!

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It's a Small World After All...

...here in Anaheim and on the Cricut Board!

Here are a couple pictures from our Cricut dinner get-together and from Disneylaaaand!

L-R: sockmonkeykitty, Glenda, Marti-Pezadoodles, SillySkittles, scrappinkitty, terrikrafts

BWAHAHAHAHA...oh, her highness and her lady in waiting or very tired! Notice the fancy Tim Holtz/Ranger hoopla that Marti is loyally wearing!

Three Muskateers...or Three Stooges...hmmm...

I loooooves the silliness! We actually told Terri to look like that...LOL...not to worry, no alcohol was involved here...although it looked like it...

AWESOME group of ladies!

Woohoo! Dinner was so FUN! I am so sorry that I was so tired and started to feel sick later on into the dinner... :(

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Confessions of a CHA Convention-er (Part 10 - Nestabilities)

I apologize that there was a lack of posting for my last day, but everything shifted into warp speed (kind fo like my sickening experience on Space Mountain...*LoL..cough* Suzanne...) but more on that later, on to some crafty goodness!

First off, if you missed the announcement, both Marti and I are hosting ULTIMATE CHA giveaways to commemorate our first time attending CHA. Courtesy of the lovely Pez-a-Doodle herself, I am giving away a great portion of Tim Holtz's Advantis line of grunge-y goodness - you can get the complete 411 on that by clicking >> here <<. The official contest deadline has been extended from the 28th to the 30th to give me some time to catch up with all your comments, suggestions and questions! To double our giveaway fun, Marti is giving away the entire, I repeat the entire, not yet released LIGHTS and BRIGHTS line of alcohol inks.

HOLY MOLY! If I could win them, I would definitely try!

Okay, I am also excited about a couple more things that I've got listed for me to chit-chat about (after six days, can I just say how EXHAUSTING all this excitement is???)

Now if you've been a visitor for some time now, you'll kno wjust how much I've been COVETING all things nest-like...as in NESTABILITIES! *swoons* so can I just point out that it's nice that Marti knnows people? And that it's nicet hat I know Marti???? HAHAHAHA...Iknow that I'm probably the last to know this, but our own Terri (terrikrafts) from The Board is a carrier of the beloved Nestabilities?! Where have I been? I know! so this weekend, missy me has placed an order for her own precious sets of nesties...all.For.MEEEE!!! I am already cursing the post for their slowness because I want them NOW! So if you've been dying for a set or two, drop me a line and I will hook.you.UP! Terri is the BEST! You can never go wrong with her, she took good care of us Cricut board girls this weekend, lemme tell ya!

If you've already got Nesties, let me also point out that Terri is already accepting pre-orders for the NEW releases that we were able to see with our own eyes! Even better than that (yes, I know my announcements keep getting better and better - so keep reading!) she will also have IMPRESSABILITIES! If you have not seen these babies in action, let me tell you, they are a must have, not just a must want!

So as you can see, they are nice and pretty AND folder-less! That's right, anywhere placement without the folder! Plus, as the lovely Wendy from Spellbinders has pointed out, the soft metal and the low retail costs makes it easier to buy TWO - one to keep whole and one to cut up into multiple, smaller portions to use however/whichever you like!

Stay tuned for my CHA wrap-up...I'll finally be HOME!

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Confessions of a CHA Convention-er (Part 9 - "Wake me up...)

...before you go-go, don't leave me hangin' on like a yo-yo..." *awkward silence....*

HAHAHAHA...sorry, I heard that song playing somewhere and woke up with it in my head. It's even funnier because you know how at the beginning of the song it starts off with someone singing "Jitterbug?" I was singin' d-d-d-Doodlebug! You know you craft too much when...

Okay, to business we go! My Studio G news, etc...first things first...they are the new series releases coming:

SERIES 32

SERIES 30

DOLLAR CHALK!!!!

EVERY DAY SERIES $1 INK PADS

Okay, so there's that and the other exciting news...

Marti has worked it out with her reps and they have been so impressed with working with her that they have offered to sponsor MONTHLY challenges for her! *SQUEALS* Winning something from Studio G MONTHLY??? Sign me up, I would say...except that I was quickly told that being a Design Team member means I am totally disqualified. HAHAHAHA...but that means MORE chances for you to win! So they're going to be finalizing the details on that, and you will definitely need to stay tuned so you can enter - what better way to put those cutie patooties to some good inky use! *high five*

Another new product that Marti will be carrying over at Pez-a-Doodle Designs....(I'm REALLY excited about this one - oh how I LOOOOVE being a DT member...*giggles*):

Oooooh...sparkly flourishes and swirls - these are just SOME examples...!

Beeeaautiful flowers with a teeny, tiny bit of fluff to make them nice and sploofy! Say it again out loud, it makes me giggly, SPLOOFY!

Fabric (corduroy) covered brads for your prettiful SPLOOFIES!

Ooooh so exciting! Start pinchin' your pennies people! Although these will be on the inexpensive side, it still adds up when you WANT THEM ALL!!! *insert hysterical fanatical laughter here*

And for a little bit of non-business-y goodness...a couple more randoms from CHA!

Work it Marti, that's it! Make love to the camera!

I swear this was done with the permission of the booth owner!

Queen Suazanne and her lady in waiting...LOL...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I KNEW it!!! Martha's glitter grows on trees and she picks them and sells them! I totally knew it!

Royalty still do normal things sometimes...HAHAHAHA...

I almost think that Anaheim will breathe a collective sigh of relief when we three get on our planes....*LOL*...I'm going to cut here folks, I've got some packin' to do! What oh what can I leave behind to make room for all my goodies!

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Confessions of a CHA Convention-er (Part 8 - Flower Soft and Studio G)

DISCLOSURE: (a) Any and all things written in this posting shall not be taken at all seriously should it offend or embarrass or confuse or otherwise impart feelings that are not of the warm and fuzzy variety to any of the readers (b) (poster is also not liable for any feelings of jealousy that the reader may feel at any time during this post). (c) Updates are subject to mistakes and error injected with heavy sarcasm and not-so-funny wit and awkward silences due to extreme exhaustion and a brain full of mucho information. (d) Poster is not liable for any miscommunication or error on the part of the reader for violating any of the above-stated sections/clauses.

x_____________________________
Signature

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Okay! Now that we've gotten the legal stuff taken care of...(this sentence here would be covered under section (C) of the discloure. *awkward silence.....*

Before I went on with any of the updates and mind-boggling-ness of the AWESOME announcements that I have and that Marti from Pez-a-Doodle Designs has in store for you, I just wanted to stop and say

~* thank you *~

to everyone who has been taking precious time out of their day to come visit me and to read me blathering on and on. I mean, the number one reason that makes any of this fun is to be able to share it with you! Without you wanting to read it, then I'd pretty much just be bragging to no one, wouldn't I? Honestly, thanks again for visiting and for leaving all the fun, well-wishing, motivating comments. I want you to know that I read EVERY single one (I'm sorry I haven't been able to reply to all of them!) but Marti and I do discuss the suggestions and comments that you leave that is regarding products and Pez-a-Doodle and I just wanted you to know that though you are not here, you are not going unheard!

And for those comments that aren't product-related, let me just tell you, that you have all helped me get through my very first trip all by myself! I feel like one of those diaper commercials, you know? I can do it aaaall by myself - I'm a big girl now! *awkward silence....*

Side note: In two hours and twenty minutes, I will have been up for 24 hours. Weird...*awkward silence.....*

Okay, I keep meandering and digressing because I'm positive I may have fallen asleep every couple of minutes...my eyes are blinking and they are forgetting to open.

A few official Pez-a-Doodle announcements. I'm not entirely sure that I can actually release this information at the moment, so don't tell anyone I told you! It'll be our little secret, just us, okay? Besides, I have gained some extra valuable information this weekend that I'm sure I can use as collateral should I fall into the unfavorable graces of Marti for telling...*LOL*...all you need to know is that it's good blackmail material *TEEHEE*

Okay, again, I wandered off! Right, I was going to make an announcement!

***

In a few short months (release date, I believe is MARCH), Pez-a-Doodle Designs will be carrying the NEW RELEASES of the boxed sets from...FLOWER SOFT! Oh YEAH, I'm so excited! Almost a year ago when Marti and I began posting about Flower Soft, I was only able to acquire it from a trade show I had been to and they were in the really large tubs available in one colour or mixed colour - and the UK were the predominant carriers of them so it was definitely hard to come by. But after doing a make-and-take with them and meeting one of their reps, Marti has worked something out so that she will be carrying the boxed sets on Pez-a-Doodle Designs! *squeals* Here are the lines:

We can all say it together now, oooooooh aaaaaaah! Or for those who wish to join me, w00t! Just remember that most of these are orders that are new releases (these are new releases to Canada/US) will not be shipping out for another couple of months, so just make sure and stay tuned to Marti's blog (http://pezadoodle.blogspot.com/) to find out when they are going to be available for pre-order and when they are going to be shipped to her, as these can be two very different things. But HOLY MOLY, these are SO much fun! I had forgotten after I'd had them for a while, but there's nothing like a make-and-take to get you all riled up again! Also as another small announcement for that, the rep from Flower Soft has told us that they are working on a certification class for Flower Soft maybe in the JULY CHA!

On another side-note, guess who's registration has been accepted for the COPIC CERTIFICATION CLASS in Toronto on March 24?!?! ME! I am SO excited!

Let's see, let's see, what else did I promise for you today....oh RIGHT!

STUDIO G NEWS! This one, I'm also not sure that I can release just yet as this is pretty much Marti's baby from the beginning, so I'm going to hold off on all the details until I get the go-ahead but BELIEVE ME when I say there is going to be some AWESOME things coming up with Pez-a-Doodle Designs and Studio G! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself, proving that, as today I was introduced to the Studio G rep and head customer service agent as a Studio G fanatic! I'm almost biting my tongue (figuratively speaking of course) so that I don't go blurting it all out before it's nice and time. But I promise there's so much fun to come, it'll definitely be worth a little bit of tense, excitable anticipation!

I'm going to post another thing here instead of making a new section for it - although I am REALLY loving and appreciating all the comments you are taking the time to leave for me, I don't want you to have to post a million more times as I can get overly chitty-chatty. I just wanted to show our make-and-take from Tim Holtz's Idea-o-logy (or whatever it's called, I can't look right now....my forehead is almost the one typing out this post) booth:

That's our make-and-take luggage tag (or bag tag as some people like to correct me with) and I wanted to show it because it incorporates a bit of the things that I am currently in the process of giving away. The tag was die-cut from grungeboard and there you will see the mini masks as well as the floral flourishes and new stamp line (not included in giveaway). So that's one teeny, tiny little idea of what you can do with all the goodies you'll get should you be chosen as our ultimate Tim Holtz Advantus winner!

If you are looking for more goodies, don't forget to stop by Marti's blog to win the ENTIRE new releases of...BWHAHAHA...that's how I know my mind has gone to sleep without waiting for me, I totally forgot for a minute what the giveaway was and I couldn't for the life of me pull it out of my mind...so again, like I was saying, you could win the ENTIRE SET of lights and brights alcohol inks for participating in her blog giveaway!

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Confessions of a CHA Convention-er (Part 7 - Hotel Hopping)

...goooood MORNING! The sun is FINALLY shining here and it looks like it's going to shape up to be very nice out! Perfect for a nice walk over to the convention!

I think we're going to attempt to do a Disney Land twilight outing this evening so I'll be taking in the sights and stalking Mini and Mickey and friends later on!

I feel like I'm a little bit behind in my CHA updates as yesterday evening we had to deal with a little hotel hopping fiasco. The plan was that we were to be spending two nights at the Residence Inn (one and a quarter mile away from the convention) and then the rest of our time here would be at the sexy Anaheim Marriott right on the doorstep of the convention center. Well we go to check in and they proceed to change the room charge on Marti due to some booking error on their part! They said that Marti failed to inform them that we would be a triple-occupancy booking and that she did not register our names - which of course she HAD. So all of a sudden, the price in the room (which is already ridiculous enough) went up even more! Already I was like, no way josE - we want the price you quoted at the time of booking! Anyway, there was more charges for parking and then we get up to our room...and it is TEENY TINY! I mean, it was large enough to fit two beds and a microwave on the floor and NOTHING ELSE! I'm like...where's our luggage going to go and then once we figure that out, where will WE go? I'm looking around for a pull-out which of course there isn't and I'm like, how dare they even charge us for triple-occupancy and then not have triple-occupancy accomodation. Marti and I would be sharin' a bed! *LOL*...now, now...

I rush to the desk so I can get blogging and I can't get on...I call down to the front desk and ask for a little bit of help getting online and she was like, you need help with the phone? Already, catty (and hungry, so please excuse little me) was thinking...I am on the phone talking to you already, why would I ask for help with that? So I ask how to get on and she proceeds to tell me it's $12.95 to connect and that's for a 24 hour noon-to-noon connection. So I'm looking at my watch and I'm like..but it's 5 pm right now...and she goes, so we would connect you now and it will expire noon tomorrow. So, can you already imagine my forehead vein by now? So we go back and forth some more and I ask more questions and she's like, well you can try this or try that to which I reply why are you suggesting I try it? Do you not know how I can go about this? And she says, well no, not really! So I told her to transfer me to someone who knew and she transferred me to the concierge's VOICEMAIL! *screech* Later on I found out that the $12.95 connection was PER computer...so over two days, Marti and I would have had to pay about $24 to get online each! I was NOT havin' that!

In the end, we ended up being so unhappy with everything (breakfast was $12) that we called the Residence Inn and asked if we could come back. Ten minutes later we were marching our cute little selves and our luggage back down to the front desk and Marti told them what's what! So here we are at the Residence Inn with our free internet (albeit slow, but I will never complain about it again!), free breakfast and nice pull-out bed for me!

I'm realizing this post is getting pretty long and I haven't said anything CHA related - but don't you worry my pretties! There is SO many things to talk about and for me to reveal and drop hints on and tease about, I'm just trying to draw the excitement out just that much longer!

Since this isn't a really craft-y related kind of post, here are some not really craft-y related kind of pictures!

So if you ask me what Star Wars was doing there, I have no idea what to tell you. They just were...Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader were hanging around somewhere there - as well as more storm troopers...and the other picture I think is a kind of take on the comfy couch girl because she was sitting on some comfy tush thing...I didn't get it, but I did get some cute pink pigtails!

Have a good day everyone, more to come in a bit!

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Confessions of a CHA Convention-er (Part 6 - Paris Hilton and more...)

...okay, don't judge...I went and tried to get pictures of Paris Hilton when she came in to represent her new line of scrapbooking stuff. *LOL* Oh my, I think next season, I'm going to try out to be her new BFF. HAHAHAHA...okay, now you can judge me - except I'm only kidding.

Poor Paris must have been very tired...her highness (excuse me while I borrow your royal title, Suzanne) looked very rough around the edges, but sashayed her way down to her booth all the same, no little puppy or tiny animal in hand but her cell phone.

So there she is in all her royal hotel heiress bobble-headed glory. Sorry the pictures are so far away and blurry, I couldn't bring myself to care enough to go closer. BWAHAHAHAA...

Meanwhile, in another corner o the convention, far away from the Paris hoopla, a loyal subject bows down to the only royalty she chooses to recognize...

Anywho! What, oh what shall I share with my pretties today??? Oh, let's go with DCWV!

The buzz around here is that DCWV has got twelve - read them, 12 new paper lines coming out! Oh how they so know all ways to creatively extort money from me, but the lines are just so fabulous - I was tempted to commit a little bit of thievery! *gasp* Yes, I said it! Have a peek:

WHIMSY (my FAAAAVOURITE! The inspiration motivating my thieving thoughts!)

LA CREME - so oooh la la!

GARDEN PARTY

TAJ MAHAL (reminds me of another stack they already did...)

TAHITI

All together now...ooooooh...aaaaaaah!

Hate to cut it off so abruptly, but I need to get in the shower before they all leave me behind! Talk to you again soon, with more updates and always more pictures!

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