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CHA 2015 – Beadalon 3D Bracelet Jig

March 12, 2015

Hey crafters!  This year at CHA Beadalon took home the award the Top Product of the show for their brand new 3D wire bracelet jig.  You can make all kinds of fun bracelets with this clever tool!  I can imagine this being a must-have tool for any and all jewelry makers and beaders, from beginner’s to seasoned veterans.  Take a look at our video demo below from the show and let us know if you have any questions!     […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 6 Comments

CHA 2015 Debut – Ken Oliver Crafts

March 6, 2015

This year at CHA seasoned designer and crafter, Ken Oliver, debuted his very own line of paper products and stamps at the show.  Ken has four new paper lines as well as color bursts, stamp pegz and click-it stamp pads.  We were fortunate enough to have Ken show us some of these new fabulous products in a few video demos.  Take a look at the videos and some of the booth candy let us know what you think!   We […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Craft News | 7 Comments

CHA Show 2015: Behind the Scenes with Vicki

January 30, 2015

CHA Show 2015: Behind the Scenes with Vicki

Last year I shared with you my BTS CHA 2014: Behind the Scenes with Vicki post from CHA and I thought I would do the same this year. It’s fun to go to CHA as a designer member and as a member of the media for Craft Test Dummies. I get to attend lots of great functions and chat with some amazingly creative people.     The first event I attended was on Friday evening and it was the “Designer Sneak […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 2 Comments

Five Top Craft Trends at CHA 2015

January 24, 2015

Going the the Craft and Hobby Mega Show is a must, not just to drool at the new product releases for 2015, but also to spot trends and colors that will be must-haves for crafting and home decor. Wanna peek? I made you a video: But just to recap….. FOILS: The trend of shimmer and shine extends from home decor to paper crafting to fashion. There is even a new foiling machine from Heidi Swapp called the Minc! Foiling is […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 7 Comments

CHA 2015; Precision Base Plate for Sizzix for Tim Holtz

January 21, 2015

Ever have difficulty cutting through certain materials while using your thin-rule dies like Framelits or Thinlits? Well, Sizzix has come up with a new metal base plate that allows you to cut more precisely and cleanly! Take a look: And don’t those new deco sheets look fun as well?? The Precision Base Plate will be available in March, and we are hoping to have one at CTD to give a full review then.

Posted in CHA Coverage, Paper Crafts | 10 Comments

CHA 2015 Day 2

January 20, 2015

Today was my 2nd day on the show floor. I concentrated on scoping out fashion brands and products for new things and people to work with. It was a crazy day of talking and walking. I saw more things than one post can contain, but I’ll share some highlights. I might go into depth in later posts. The day started with touring the Plaid booth with various designers and people. They have a chalky finish line complete with wax, antiquing […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Craft News | 2 Comments

CHA Show 2015 – New Jewelry Products to Watch For

January 19, 2015

CHA Show 2015 - New Jewelry Products to Watch For

The second best thing about going to the Craft and Hobby Association Trade show every January is seeing all of the new products being released. Of course the best part is leaving the snow and cold and going to Anaheim for a few days. There are several new products being released soon that we here at team CTD thought you would want to know about. Check out this list of videos I shot during the show.   CHA Show 2015 […]

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CHA Show 2015: What’s New From Spellbinders

January 16, 2015

Spellbinders is again expanding their line of papercrafting into mixed media and home decor with new dies, embossing folders, and now…… rhinestones and trims! I was invited to the media breakfast and snapped these pics and video for you. I’m hoping we’ll get some of these goodies to review for you, too!     I was invited to the media breakfast and snapped these pics and video for you. I’m hoping we’ll get some of these goodies to review for […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Paper Crafts | 6 Comments

CHA Show 2015: Yarnia

January 15, 2015

CHA Show 2015: Yarnia

You just never know what you will find at the CHA show. Giant elephants, life size hot air balloons or a full scale knitted or crochet version of The Chronicles of Narnia. Or in this case YARNIA.     The folks at Spinrite (the makers of Patons, Bernat, Caron and Lily Sugar n’ Cream) went all out with this booth.   While I read all seven books to my sons when they were younger I can’t remember the name of this […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 2 Comments

CHA 2015: Day 1

January 11, 2015

Technically this is my 2nd day at CHA, but the 1st on the show floor. Yesterday, I traveled from Richmond, CA to Atlanta, GA, to Los Angeles, CA, to Anaheim, CA. It was a long day of traveling, but I was happy to arrive in sunny California to see new products, companies and long time friends. After I got checked in, Jenny and Vicki took me to get our show badges. Sara arrived, and we went to the Hot 20 […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Craft News | 1 Comment

#CHAshow 2015, Here We Come!

January 8, 2015

Tomorrow I head out with my crafty BFF Vicki to the CHA Mega Show in Anaheim, CA. If you have no idea what that is…well, check this out!   Follow along with us! TWITTER: Jenny: @CraftTestDummy Vicki: @CreativeGoddess Sara: @SaraJaneCrafts #TeamCTD/#CHAshow INSTAGRAM: Jenny: @CraftTestDummy and don’t forget YOUTUBE! New videos will be added daily!    

Posted in CHA Coverage | 1 Comment

CHA 2014 – Sara’s Crafty Picks

March 28, 2014

Hello crafters!  I know many of you have heard about the new hot products like the Brother ScanNCut and Tim’s Distress Marker Spritzer, (I will be  needing both of those in my studio ASAP,) but I thought I’d show you some of my personal favorites spotted at CHA 2014.  These will be my tried-and-true booths that I always look forward to going to visit as well as a couple new things that made me catch my breath when I saw […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Craft News | Leave a Comment

CHA 2014 – Ranger Ink Booth Sights and Sounds

March 10, 2014

It shouldn’t be a big surprise that Ranger Ink is my favorite booth to visit at CHA!  I love seeing all of the happy, familiar faces of people that work with the company and running into my friends from Ranger U.  I also love watching and taking video demo’s from the designer’s and getting to see how their crafty brains work!  (Make sure to check out Craft Test Dummies YouTube Channel to see all of the awesome demo’s we got […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 1 Comment

CHA Show 2014: Booth Love for Imagine Crafts

March 5, 2014

Sometimes I get sucked into a booth at CHA not because the displays are so spectacular, but because the PRODUCT LOOKS SO YUMMY. This happened at winter CHA show 2014 at the Imagine Crafts booth. Er. Meh Ger. So much luscious color and inky goodness! Take a look: I just love this display of color, showing how all of the products work together! I’ve also gotten VERY excited about the new colors of Staz-On- LOOK AT THE YUMMY COLORS!!! And […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Craft News | 7 Comments

CHA 2014: Behind the Scenes with Vicki

February 19, 2014

CHA 2014: Behind the Scenes with Vicki

  I’m sure you’ve been enjoying all of the great new craft products Team CTD found for you at CHA this year but have you ever wondered what goes on BESIDES walking the show floor? A LOT! I thought I would share a little behind the scenes look a la Vicki O’Dell The Creative Goddess (that’s me!) First of all, can I tell you how hard it was to leave the frozen tundra of NE Ohio and visit Anaheim, CA? […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 3 Comments

CHA New Product: True Angle Rulers

February 18, 2014

dark and light with grip ridges

If you’re a quilter or papercrafter looking to take your designs to the next level, you’ve probably considered adding unique angles to your work. But angles are hard. It is hard to get them accurate. They are not easy to measure. But not anymore. Thanks to the folks at Quint Measuring systems. But before I go on, let me share this with you: Yes. She is BENDING THE RULER. I have your attention now, right? Carol and her husband, the […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 1 Comment

CHA 2014 – Tim Holtz Idea-ology Booth Tour

February 17, 2014

Hello Crafters!  It was a great season for Tim Holtz‘ idea-ology line with so many new products to ogle over!  Personally, I love the new adornments, letterpress blocks, Found Relatives cards and ephemera packs!  But don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty more to see and get excited over!  I filmed a little video tour of the booth, but as it’s movin’ and groovin’ on the show floor, I dance around other crafty patrons and the camera gets a little shaky.  […]

Posted in CHA Coverage, Craft News | 11 Comments

CHA 2014: New Product: SandIts

February 13, 2014

SandIts - New Product at CHA 2014

I’ve gone to CHA for a couple years now, and hands-down my favorite part of the show is the new products section. This year, one of my favorites was SandIts. Paul and his son (who is manning the camera for the video below) were charming, and their product is just plain neat. Paul told me that he came up with the idea for SandIts when he had some battery corrosion that he was scraping away, using an expensive kitchen knife. […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 3 Comments

CHA 2014: Spotlight on New Products

February 12, 2014

As expected, CHA did not disappoint in showing off the newest products that all of the paper crafting companies were on hand to launch. After wandering up and down aisle after aisle of awesomeness, I’ve narrowed down all of the cool things that I saw to my top 5 favorites. Are you ready to see what I’m most excited to see in stores? 1. I know that I’ve discussed washi tape in a previous post and all of the new […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 2 Comments

CHA 2014: Trend Spotting – Needle Arts

February 11, 2014

CHA 2014: Trend Spotting - Needle Arts

Part of the fun of going to CHA is trying to spot new emerging trends. One trend I spotted coming out of the CHA Mega Show this year has to do with needle arts. I’ve done some looking around since I’ve been home as well and I’m pretty sure all sorts of needle arts will be a big upcoming trend. Or a re-newed trend for those of us who’ve been in love with needlework for a long time. By needle […]

Posted in CHA Coverage | 7 Comments

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Hi! I’m Jenny, the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS and the Head Dummy behind CraftTestDummies.com where you’ll find craft product reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news.

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Jenny Barnett Rohrs is Head Dummy and Pied Piper behind CTD, which focuses on reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news. Jenny has appeared on HSN, Scrapbook Soup PBS series, and is currently the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.

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Copyrighted Content Permission All images and tutorials on this blog are copyrighted material. Please contact me if you would like to borrow any media (photos, video or audio files), tutorials, or ideas from this blog. 99% of the time I would be happy to allow you to use one photo with appropriate credit and link back to CraftTestDummies.com (preferably to the same post it was borrowed from.)
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