What fun I’ve had getting to meet some new friends here at CHA. I have pictures of most of them, and then some pictures that I really wanted have been pretty bad so I just can’t bring myself to upload them. I was thrilled to hang out with Kelley Holland and we had our picture taken with Tex, but alas it was a BAD one — you’re not going to see it at all. I also had the great pleasure of meeting one of my fellow DDA who I have admired for a long time, Cindy Lyles. Unfortunately the picture made with Cindy and a few others you won’t be seeing either. Truly hate that, but it just isn’t going to happen.

I feel like I know Jennifer Buck. She often comments here and we might have emailed a few times. Yesterday we hadn’t made it through the first when when who comes running up — none other than Jennifer Buck.

We also got together with the girls from Hanna. Here’s Kristi, me, Candice, Vicki and Jeanne.

Can you believe this, I finally got to meet Gina K and Melanie!

I feel like I’ve known Susan Roberts, a/k/a Rainy, for years. We’ve chatted forever on SCS and I finally got to meet her.

On Friday night, SCS hosted a Cupcake Reception for all moderators, team members, advertisers, Dirty Dozen past and present, and member companies. Here are just a few of the Dirty Girls that were caught all together at one time. There were many more in attendance.

Going left to right, Sharon Harnist, Sharon Johnson, Jerri Kay, Lindsey, me, Michele and Trudee. Of course, that’s Jeanne on the floor at my feet (BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA)!

Well, it’s getting pretty late and I’m getting tired. We’ve got another long day tomorrow and I so need my beauty sleep!

Hello from Chicago! What a day we had today. We got through more booths today and saw more that we did yesterday. We still have a few more booths we want to cover tomorrow, in particular Kaisercraft. We are hearing great things about this company and need to see what the buzz is.

I promised you photos yesterday, and I think I’ll start with product that I know I can’t live without and what I was most impressed with. We might as well start with Ranger, since that is where I spent most the day on Friday.

Tim Holtz has come out with many new products that are a must have. Let’s start with the new Distress Crackle in white and metallics. There are also new Distress Stickles which are thicker than the others.

You also have to love the new masks and Grunge Board.

Here’s a close up of the new nature element grunge.

AND check out these new oval and tag shaped fragments!

I’ve really taken with this new Studio line by Claudine Hellmuth. There are artist grade acrylic paints and the most exciting thing for me is a sticky back canvas. I ran a sample of the canvas down to the Spellbinders booth to see if the Wizard would cut it. WOO HOO, with a little shimming and run twice through the Wizard — IT WORKED!

I’ve admited Wendy Vecchi’s designs since I met her at CHA in February. Well guess what, she has a new line of stamps with Stampers Anonymous that work with the Grunge and the flowers she has made so popular.

Since this post is getting rather long with photos, I’m going to move on to a new one – the people.

Hey all! What a day today! So much fun and just down right exciting. I have so many pictures to share and things to tell you about, but oh my BADness, I am plain worn out. It 12:37 my time (11:38 Chicago time) and we haven’t been in the room but maybe 30 minutes. I’m going to catch you up with photos and more deets tomorrow when we get back a little earlier.

Let’s talk about the show a little first. Jeanne and I only made it to 4 booths today – Spellbinders, Hanna, Ranger and Stampers Anonymous. Most of our time was spent in the Ranger booth, watching demos, talking with the artists and looking at all the new product. I do have photos of some of my faves and will be going more into that tomorrow. There is so much to tell! While visiting with Suze Weinberg today and watching her melting pot demo, we got to talking about Rubbernecker. She was talking about Rubbernecker when Dave’s sister owned it, and what do you know, but Dave’s sister showed up! How exciting to finally meet her and get to chat with her for awhile.

Tonight was the Splitcoaststampers Cupcake Reception and it was so much fun to have some of the Dirty Dozen and Dirty Dozen Alumni together in one room. There were also many of the member companies and advertisers on the site. I can say that a great time was had by all and I have so many pictures to share – but alas, that will have to be tomorrow.

Jeanne and I were joined by Vicki Garrett, Kelley Holland (OOOOOPPPS, I was so tired), the girls from Copic Marianne and Colorin Kate, and Anna Wight for dinner. After dinner we did get a ride back to the hotel by none other than a shuttle supplied by our hotel. Imagine that! They came and picked us up . . . WOO HOO! Traveling today was not nearly as weary as yesterday.

As I am a little tired and my eyes are crossing, I must call it a night. I promise I will have photos and more deets tomorrow and so much more to tell! Good night for now.