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CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
In addition to their designer brands Amy Tangerine and Dear Lizzy, American Crafts had quite a few new products in their classic branding, so let’s start today with a look at all that, shall we?

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Fresh Squeezed is a summery home-themed line, with plenty of kitchen and fruit motifs mixed with a Scandinavian vibe.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Lots of red, brown, yellow and turquoise.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Sorry about this slightly rubbish photo, but I wanted to show you that last b-side paper – patterned quadrants! One of my favourite ways to mix patterned papers except now it’s already done. Perfect for quick scrapping.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Thickers in a lush spring green, plus layered and flat stickers. The phrases on the flat stickers would be particularly useful for cards, as the reverse includes quite a few things that would work well as greetings.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Recipe cards. Quite pretty and could make a lovely gift.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
And hurrah: paper pinwheels are still here. Even if even lighting is not. Win some, lose some.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
AC’s new DIY line is something for anyone who ever wanted Thickers in a particular colour or style that wasn’t in the line up… now you can make them yourself.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Start with your choice of font – these are all styles we know from previous Thickers collections.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Then customise with your choice of sparkle, including extra-fine and chunky glitters, tinsel (like glitter in little strips) and microbeads. There were also samples that were heat embossed with embossing powders and coloured with markers, though I’m not completely sure how the colouring with markers works if there is an adhesive layer on the top. Will investigate that further sometime soon.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Chromatics is a new marker line out this spring, and basically American Crafts’ answer to Copics and Promarkers. Chromatics are alcohol-based inks that blend gorgeously with ease. I gave these a try and they do shading and faded colour so very well on the very first try, so these are promising if you’re in the market for markers. Plus there is something they have done that is oh so smart:

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
They come packed in threes of perfectly picked shades for fading from one colour to the next. No more looking at a zillion markers and wondering which ones will work best or where to start. Choose a colour of the rainbow and then the shades are already ready for you. Smart.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Glitter Tape was a new focus where American Crafts would usually have an entire new section of ribbon. Perfect for adding sparkle that won’t fall apart on the page and has no mess. It comes in half-inch and quarter-inch widths and the colours, like those in the bottles of glitter, match the American Crafts cardstock colours.

Which of course led me to ask ‘is there kraft glitter?’ to which I was looked at with bemusement. Um… apparently if you make kraft metallic, it’s essentially gold.

I may not have thought of that when I asked.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
There are, at least, shades of gold and silver so there really is one that is perfect for kraft and not overly yellow. Disaster averted.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Then we have Gardenia, a garden-themed spring that doesn’t go anywhere near the pastel shades. The Thickers for this collection have a new hand-drawn look.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
I especially love that green swirl! I must admit gardening lines make me a little wistful from my little flat with no grass to call our own, but on closer inspection these aren’t overly themed and can be used for any number of topics. Just treat them as any other floral or polka dot or butterfly.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Plenty of layers in the embellishments, and again one particular pack that seems well-suited to cards.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
These two are must-haves: a really versatile thank you stamp and plain wooden buttons that can be left as-is and look great tied with brightly coloured threads or you can paint them to match your project. You can even sparkle them with some glimmer mist.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
Cute printed clothes pegs, but a bit big for most scrapbook pages. Handy for mini books and all other sorts of things that don’t require packing into a page protector. Or break them in half to use them on a layout for the illusion of a whole peg.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
The printed die-cut shapes from the original Amy Tangerine collection were so popular the idea is now cropping up in several AC collections. Plus there’s an additional flat alphabet sticker set in the right colours for these papers.

CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts
And a few projects from the AC in-house designers to illustrate that Gardenia is useful for far more than gardening photos!

Ship dates: The glitters (called Wow, Pop and Spark) and DIY Thickers ship right now. Glitter tapes and Fresh Squeezed ship later in February. Chromatics markers and Gardenia ship in March.

Click here to shop for American Crafts products.

06 February 2012



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61 Comments for CHA Winter 2012 :: American Crafts

  1. Ellie Says:

    Let’s just say I’m going to love Feburary!!!

  2. Angela Hathikhanavala Says:

    So excited for the diy thickers, and happy to hear that the glitter tapes are of the mess-free variety :)
    The lines are classic AC — useful if not exciting — but we all need useful supplies, right?

  3. Jill Says:

    Beautiful display! Thanks for the great photos showcasing all these wonderful goodies!! So much to love!

  4. tanja Says:

    Lovely! I think I read somewhere that you can leave the protective layer of the DIY Thickers on and then you can colour them with anything you’d like, or take it off to expose the adhesive surface for glittering and stuff.

  5. Sharon Says:

    Love the DIY Thickers! I’m sure those will be a huge success as well as the markers! Can’t wait to get my hands on some of that luscious paper!

  6. SusanB Says:

    I like that quadrant paper too and I’m sure I’ll be picking up some of those plain buttons as well.

  7. Natalie G Says:

    Yummy new thickers! And look at all those markers… All I need to do now is win the lottery to pay for it all!

  8. Lisa-Jane Johnson Says:

    I’m intrigued by the Freshly Squeezed line as it looks spookily similar to a much older set I have. And a new marker on the block? Colouring is definitely on trend!

  9. LisaE Says:

    Bright and sparkly are really in! Love the DIY Thickers.

  10. Kathy R Says:

    Really like the lined thickers, glitter tapes and the rosettes. The new pens look interesting
    too.

  11. Julia M. Says:

    Love the teapots in the fresh squeezed line. Love the DYI Thickers. American Crafts has done a great job!
    Thanks for the picks.

  12. linda Says:

    The glitter tape looks so lovely!

  13. Carolyn E Says:

    I love that green!!!

  14. kate Says:

    American crafts just does it every time for me. Love love love it!

  15. Miriam Prantner Says:

    I’m very intrigued by the chromatics…coloring is something I want to try, but I’m very intimidated by copics.

  16. margie visnick Says:

    I always love AC!!Especially the Thickers!!

  17. So.Ceative Says:

    Everything in this post is so magic!!!

  18. Robin W. Says:

    I really like the plain wooden buttons! Also I’m curious about what you find out about coloring on the DIY thickers.

  19. Kelly Says:

    Love the Fresh Squeezed colors and the glitter tapes especially. AC B sides are also always fun to use.

  20. chel Says:

    I want all of what I have seen so badly it almost hurts ack

  21. Andrea R. Says:

    I think I’ve got to try out those thickers!

  22. Jacky S Says:

    Love the idea of home decorated Thickers.

  23. Cristina Says:

    Lots of pretty things! Thanks for sharing! Those wooden buttons are really cute!

  24. pegg Says:

    That glitter tape looks soooo cool! And the thickers – I have a lot of microbeads that would be fun to use on it!

  25. Breeze Says:

    So excited for the glitter tape and they diy thickers!!!

  26. rosie Says:

    Liking the DIY thickers & clothes pins. They would be nice for hanging layouts in my scrap/craft room.

  27. soapHOUSEmama Says:

    Interested in that glitter tape! Kraft glitter = makes me smile :)

  28. Cyndee K Says:

    Love the Thickers – as always!

  29. Torry Says:

    ‘Kraft glitter’ made me smile – I have those moments more often than I’d like! Love the glitter tape – their glitter cardstock is fab and can’t wait to try out this new product.

  30. Bunnyfreak Says:

    Wow. Wood buttons, Chromatics, and glitter tape. Yum.

  31. blurooferika Says:

    Shimelle, you have got the CHA reporter’s eye! Love your reviews of all of the different lines. Appreciate your take on how the vendors have changed from year to year, season to season, what they seem to be good at and where they’re lacking. It isn’t all <gush> isn’t it wonderful? Thanks for the honest reportage. Look forward to your future reviews.

  32. Mary M. Says:

    I cannot possibly get enough of Thickers. I love the new DIY idea. I’ll be getting a few of those. Also love that new font with the Gardenia line. =)

  33. Penny Says:

    I find the American crafts papers a little too bold for me but love the accessories and the diy thicker look fab.

  34. NancyLee Says:

    Believe it or not, I hardly used AC until Amy Tan’s. Now I have each product of her lines. Based on your report, I might try these other lines but I am more excited about the white thickers. I can’t wait to play with them and also the new chromatics. Thanks again for your detailed report, Shim.

  35. Melanie Says:

    I love the glitter tape and all the Thickers! There are also some fun patterns in the paper.

  36. Jennifer Grace Says:

    Love the DIY thickers and the glitter tape. Sparkly things definitely grab my attention! x

  37. Yeva Says:

    so many great new products! i love AC! thanks for sharing

  38. April W Says:

    SO super excited about the do-it-yourself Thickers!!

  39. Iliana Says:

    Do you know what the price will be on the markers

  40. louise Says:

    Shimelle, I just want to say your coverage of all things CHA is amazing!!! Thank you so much for all your photos, so much detail and information! You rock!

  41. Lisa M. Zepponi Says:

    Oh the colors!! Looks very cheery!

  42. Karen P Says:

    Just loving the DIY thickers – I frequently change the colour of them and it will be great to have an easy way to glitter them.

  43. Marie Says:

    Such great new products from AC! Do you know if the gliitter on the glitter tapes comes off when being handled, or not?

  44. Caroline Says:

    Wow, wow, wow! DIY Thickers and glitter tape. I’m going to be in absolute heaven when I get my hands on these. I can already see the glitter ribbon working perfectly on my Wedding Invites

  45. Natalie Says:

    I am especially intrigued by the DIY Thickers and the markers. I hope that I’ll be able to get my hands on these sometime soon!

  46. LindaHAZ Says:

    I’m a Thicker Addict. And love all that glitter tape oh-ing and ah-ing over here.

  47. Lindsey Says:

    Shimelle—I love these recaps you’re doing. I especially love that you are honest and don’t automatically say, “Everything is wonderful!”

    I saw a video (I think it was from Paperclipping) that demoed the DIY Thickers. You can leave the protective covering on to color, mist, or paint. OR you can take it off to reveal the adhesive for glitter, etc.

  48. Martha Says:

    The DIY Thickers are pure genius, I can barely wait to get them! And the die cut shapes and other embellishments look fab too. Great stuff.

  49. Brenda Says:

    I love the DIY THickers. I have a bunch of these but do many times say “oh not the right color” – well now I have no excuses! Love it all!

  50. Scrapdolly Says:

    I love the customisable letters – perfect

  51. Candy Says:

    DIY Thickers!!!! I hope they have lots and lots to sell. ;-)

  52. Marian Says:

    Super excited about the DIY thickers!

  53. Kristin A. Says:

    I have an idea up my sleeve for those fantastic clothes pins! And the glitter tape?! Be still my heart.

  54. ruth tacoma Says:

    Love the wooden buttons & thickers, as always!!

  55. AllisonLP Says:

    Just look at those YUMMY Tickers in the PRETTY colours!! :)

  56. marianne Says:

    I’m a Thickers junkie!

  57. HeatherC Says:

    Thickers are my favorite — can never have too many!

  58. Maja Says:

    I just want every single thing from AC!

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