Short Takes
Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 10/1/2000
Wedding Belles
Exclusive designs for the year 2000 are featured in the new Birchcraft Studios collection. If you already carry or are interested in carrying the Birchcraft line, the album of wedding invitations and social announcements is free. Birchcraft Studios, Rockland, MA. (800) 333-0405. #462
"Expressions of Love," a new wedding invitation line from Encore Studios, features sheer ribbon, tracing vellum, petal paper, and individualized calligraphy, below. Encore Studios, Clifton, NJ. (800) 526-0497. #463
Don't cry. Decorative hankies and carrying cases are here. Thirteen hankie designs range from floral prints to solid colors and metallics. Hankies come in packs of six. $1.25 per pack, or $8.50 with sleek decorative wallet with Velcro closure. Caspari, New York. (800) CASPARI. #464
From the floral and marsh series of journals, hand-decorated covers open to reveal 50 pages of handmade petal paper. Wonderful for scrapbooking or as guest books. No two are exactly alike! 5½"x5½". About $18.50 each. New Traditions Studio, Simsbury, CT. (860) 658-9954. #465
Put any photo of any size on a music box bag for a special occasion. There are 14 tunes from which to choose (everything from "Evergreen" to "Wind Beneath my Wings"), as well as several styles. Photos can be showcased as a vignette or wrap-around design, and are topped off with three-ribbon bow and miniature ribbon rose. $19.95 each, with quantity pricing available upon request. L.A. Tunes, Canoga Park, CA. (818) 347-7738. #466
Toccata presents Wedding Ensembles. Imprintable cards are topped with satin rosebuds and paired with vellum square-flap envelopes. Coordinating notecards complete the ensemble. Each is $20 for package of ten. Thomas Nelson (C.R. Gibson), Nashville, TN. (800) 251-4000. #467
Adding to your bridal shower line? Games designed for bridal showers include Famous Couples Match-Up, the anagram game Scrambled Love, and Animal Instincts. $2.99 each. Love is in the Air, West Valley, UT. (888) 282-6592. #468
Coordinating components at weddings and pre-nuptial events is a cinch, thanks to the Porcelain Rose collection. Choose from the guest book, hostess basket with pads and pen, paperweight and pen, rose resin frame, and rose-lidded candle. $6 to $13. Lady Jayne, Cypress, CA. (800) 274-7685. #469
Catchy Crafts
What's frustrating for many scrapbookers these days? Mixing and matching papers. There's variety out there, but since customers often have little time, perhaps they'd like something simpler? Enter Paper Pizazz Coordinating Colors paper packs with everything needed to get started. A pack contains 12 sheets of color-coordinated patterned and plain Paper Pizazz, plus six solid color frame Punch-Outs and eight journaling shape Punch-Outs. Many colors available. 8½"x11", $5.49. 12"x12", $6.49 each. Hot Off The Press, Canby, OR. (503) 266-9102. #470
Something Blue has something new for new brothers and sisters. The "I'm a Big Sister/Brother Activity Kit" is for children about to receive a first sibling. The bucket contains a coloring book, a "Welcome Home" banner, crayons, an "I Love You!" card, a bubblegum cigar, an ID tag to match mommy's and baby's, a magnetic picture frame to display photos of the new baby, and an "I'm a Big Brother/Sister" pin. The can, in blue or pink, may be recycled as a time capsule. $25. Something Blue, Portland, OR. (800) 205-6606. #471
Artware by You presents an innovative concept: Mouse pads, tote bags, and T-shirts you design yourself. This kit comes with everything needed to create a design by burgeoning Picassos and Monets. When the drawing's done, it's dropped in the mail in the provided postage-paid envelope, only to be returned with the image transferred to on the item of choice. $20 each. Artware by You, Montclair, NJ. (800) 609-8337. #472
Embellish your art with decorative accents from All Night Media. Colorful, textured art toppings are available in five different shapes (circles, leaves, fleur-de-lis, heart, and stars) and in a multitude of colors. Each package contains ten to 20 pieces, $2.20-$3.50, depending on shape and color. All Night Media, San Rafael, CA. (800) STAMPED. #473
Just for Kids
Once the kids have outgrown over-sized plastic letter-magnets, it's time to get them started on Magnetic Poetry. And it's not just limited to the fridge: With the advent of Backpack Poetry kits, magnetic composition became portable, and more profitable than ever. Six exciting new kits clip to any bag or backpack for hours of poetic license, anywhere you go. New additions include Friends Forever, Hugs & Kisses, Smile, and Superstar. The words come with a 4"x4" magnetic journal with 100 mini-magnetic words. $6.95 each. Magnetic Poetry, Minneapolis. (800) 720-7269. #474
All prices retail
