The show was great! ATB released more amazing new tools you’ll want to see. The show took place in Chicago. So here’s a looksie at our booth and some of the new product…

Welcome to our booth!

Come on in, there’s lots to see. Check out our new Brad Maker!
For the first time ever, crafters will have the technology to make their own one-of-a-kind brads! The Brad Maker – the most innovative new tool available – will soon become your favorite crafting tool. The Brad Maker opens up a whole new world for brad lovers.

The Brad Maker allows users to create brad variations never before dreamed of. Try creating a photo brad with a colored frame on top, or a fabric covered brad or a brad with chipboard on it! The machine is so easy to use, simply design your art or place your trimmed photo (1/2” diameter) into the brad assembly, place it in the die holder, slide into the machine and with a few turns, you’re finished!

Here’s Sarah (and Steve in the background) by some of our other new product like Frame Tapes and Paper Kits. Notice we have a gazebo as part of our booth structure! It’s a great place for our retailers to come in and sit down for a sec to relieve their tired tradeshow walking feet while we write up their order. We’ve also filmed demos, had meetings and done countless make-and-takes here during shows.

And in the photo below on the boards below the lights are our new Tagger Tail Mega Packs including Ball Point Tagger Tails, Shaped Tagger Tails and a huge Tag assortment pack with Puffy Tags, Sequin Tags & Alphabets and gorgeous Chipboard Tags. You’re going to love the art in these kits - it’s FAB!

Can you see the new Electric Eraser in the above photo?
Hint: It’s just to the left of that cute pink dress.
Note: That cute pink dress was decorated with sequin flowers using the Paper Tagger!

It is ATB’s answer to erasing, blending, distressing and polishing. The tool comes with removable tips that are easy to switch out. It’s powered by 2 AAA batteries. There is a refill kit available for this product too, you’ll want additional eraser tips, blending pads and distressing disks as they will wear over time. This tool works great in unison with the Paper Chalker Tool, the eraser easily removes stray chalk lines completely, and the blending tip blends the colors together like magic! It will quickly become one of your favorite ATB products!

Here’s a close up…

A wall with some of your favorite past products…

And this is our Paper Gator demo area. In case you haven’t heard of it, (which we can hardly imagine) the Paper Gator is our fab tool that rounds the corners of multiple sheets at once. It will even round a stack of chipboard or acrylic!

Scrappy (below), ATB’s happy mascot, invited all of his canine (and one feline) friends over for a visit and a lunch at ATB.

Scrappy quotes one writer, ”Having dogs in the workplace has been shown to reduce stress and improve employee morale. Employees are more willing to work longer hours.” You can read more about this phenomenon here and here. Scrappy, a Golden Retriever, belongs to Jennifer.

Facts from the American Humane Association:
Staff morale and worker productivity increased by bringing pets to work.

Increased camaraderie among employees.

Happier employees result in enhanced job performance.

Increase in sales reported by store owners who take their dogs to work.

Dogs can serve as a crime deterrent. OK, maybe not our pack of sweet tiny dogs, but hey, Scrappy is big - oh, and the little ones can really bark loud.

“There’s something about pets that really brings people together” says Carol Moulton, Director, American Humane Society.

Hey there Mr. M, got any good snacks for me?

Even Butters (above) was invited. Scrappy doesn’t discriminate. Sherry is Butter’s human. Butters felt honored to be the only feline present.

This is Gibson, one of Guinevere’s dogs - Yorkshire Terrier. Guinevere’s other pup, Kira, is the white Maltese Terrier (below). Kira is getting up in her years, probably our oldest visiting friend. How does she maintain that youthful look? And great hair bows too!

Katie Bell - Braylee’s super cute Pomeranian. Be still my heart.

Sadie, Kristen’s spunky and sweet Yorkshire Terrier. She’s only 6 months old. That face! Awwwwwwww.

Bella, (above) is Cheri and Robert’s Lhasa apso/Poodle mix. She is the sister of Toby (below), who belongs to Trent. Super friendly and cuddly sweet dogs. These two have the softest fur ever! (You know, like that super silky fleece fabric? Yep.) Don’t you love Toby’s chocolate color? You could just eat him up, but he probably doesn’t taste much like chocolate, and he’s hairy too. Ok, bad idea.

Are you tired of cute doggie photos? We didn’t think so. Ok, here’s more.

Is Scrappy smiling in this photo? Yep, we checked, he is. He sure does love Kristen. That’s Matt, Kristen’s fiance. He’s a dog lover too. At least we’re 99% sure he is. You can tell by the expression on his face.

Thanks for the scratches Steve. You know Scrappy loves scratches. Oh man, you’re my best bud. I sure do like you Steve. When you’re done with my back, can I get a belly rub too?