Kreations By Kris

Well so much for my Halloween Commitment to create one Halloweeen piece per day.  I got so far behind, I will leave it until next Halloween and then catch up.  I may start making things for Halloween a few months in advance. 

This post is about Trends.  I hope that you enjoy it.

WHAT TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THIS YEAR:

• Well, this isn't new - last year, travel themed products were everywhere.  If you invested, in maps, compasses, luggage, etc. you were wise because that trend remains HOT.
• Do you get a thrill from shopping at Office Depot or Office Zilla?  Well, our reporters saw lots of office/stationery stuff too - note cards, lines for notepaper, stuff like that.  You might be looking at the stuff in your office in a whole new way.  
• Arrows and feathers were hot last year and remain so.  I don't get the "feather thing" but whatever, if you do, you're HOT.  
• You'll see more companies carrying dies to coordinate with their stamps.  Hero Arts has been doing this for awhile, but you'll see more and more of it.  I love this but it's expensive -- you have to be careful to pick dies that you think will be used often and have a versatile appeal.  
• Project Life is HUGE.   It's all over.  Companies trying their own lines and if they're not, making elements that fit with existing 3x4 and 4x6 pockets from other companies.   I am a big Project Life fan.  Great concept for scrapbooking and many of the small journaling cards are still cute popped up on a card front.   
• Were you a fan of the chevron?  You trendsetter you!  Yep -- it's still around. Ditto for Hexagons.  In my mind, it's quilt patterns.
• Vintage -- cameras, typewriters, luggage, phones.  Here's a Tim Holtz stamp set that I expect to be very popular.  
• Felt, embroidery and twine.  Think texture.  Think sewing.  Think "homespun."
• Mixed reviews from my reporters on chalkboard as a theme.  I think this is a yes -- it's all over Pinterest and in the digital community, but not yet in stamps.  
• WASHI TAPE
• Want to know the hot colors?  The picture above is of the Pantone Colors for 2013.  Personally, I'm a fan of the "color of the year" EMERALD, as I think it's a neutral like Stampin' Up! Old Olive and will go with everything.  Heard lots of groans and signs about it.... but I'm happy.  Love the basics and think this will be a color that will stand the test of time.