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CHA Recap

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The summer Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show is always held in Chicago. More specifically, Rosemont, Illinois. I had originally intended to head down their myself, but after meeting and interviewing the Craft Editor for Reader’s Digest Publications, Shalana Frisby, we decided to go together. I just love hanging out with Shalana, we have become fast friends! (pictured left to right: Shalana Frisby, Country Woman Magazine; Heather Mann, Dollar Store Crafts; Amy Anderson, Mod Podge Rocks!; and me)

There were quite a few vendors on display, though I didn’t get a chance to chat with them all. There were plenty of make and takes available. Unfortunately for me my battery pooped out before I got all the pictures that I wanted, but suffice it to say that there was no shortage of scrapbook and paper product vendors at the show!

Shalana was able to snap quite a few pictures and shared them on Country Woman Magazine’s Pinterest board here.

There were a few things that caught my eye. One was this ribbon display. So many gorgeous patterns and colors as far as the eye could see! So if you’re looking for a trendy ribbon supplier, be sure to give May Arts a look.

FloraCraft had a fun Halloween display as well. Lots of purple, and the royal blue mixed with black was quite striking! They had a fun display using, of course, Styrofoam.

They also had these hydrating water beads. When hydrated they are perfect in vases and bowls, then just lay them out on a plate or cookie sheet to dehydrate to shrink to their original packaged sized. Reusable. Very cool.

And of course, how could I attend CHA and not meet up with plenty of industry friends. Here’s Amy Anderson of Mod Podge Rocks! at the Plaid booth.

This shot is of Jen Goode of JGoode Designs, Heather Mann of Dollar Store Crafts, and me. These ladies are a big part of my everyday online life and I loved finally meeting them in person!

Lastly, here’s a shot of Alexa Westerfield of I Love to Create along with Heather and I. I hosted a make and take at their booth for part of the afternoon. I also had the opportunity to met fellow Craft Gossip editor (of our Candle Making channel) Heidi Gustad. Unfortunately we didn’t snap a picture.

It was fun seeing all that craft product in one place. What would you ask the vendors if you could go?

 

Comments

  3. I loved meeting you – so fun! You are as great in person as you are online. There’s only one thing I’m upset about which is my HAIR is these pictures. It looks like crap. It was acting up!!

  4. I wish I would get my act together and open a shop on etsy so that I could afford to go to such a show as this one and buy some neat supplies. Wouldn’t it be fun if you could win a chance to do a Supermarket Sweep kinda thing but with craft supplies instead of groceries?

  6. I so enjoyed spending the day with you Amanda at CHA! It was a blast. And meeting everyone you knew was amazing – such a talented lot of crafters and designers 🙂

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DIY Giant Eyeball Lanterns – Creepy Halloween Decoration

When it comes to Halloween, bigger is always better—and these giant eyeball lanterns prove it! With nothing more than plain white paper lanterns, a little paint, and some imagination, you can create huge, spooky eyes that look like they’ve popped right out of a monster movie.

They’re perfect for hanging from ceilings, displaying on porches, or grouping together in a corner for an eerie effect. Best of all, paper lanterns are super inexpensive (you can grab them on eBay, Amazon, or even your local dollar store), which makes this a great budget-friendly craft for big impact Halloween décor.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Large round white paper lanterns (various sizes look best) 
  • Acrylic paints or craft paints in black, brown, green, red, orange, or blue (for irises) 
  • Wide paintbrush for background color 
  • Small paintbrush for details 
  • Black construction paper or cardstock (optional for spiky “lashes” or accents) 
  • Hot glue gun or strong craft glue 
  • String or fishing line (if you want to hang them) 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Lanterns

  1. Assemble your white paper lanterns according to the package directions. 
  2. Make sure they’re fully open and the wire insert is in place so the surface is taut for painting. 

Step 2: Paint the Iris

  1. Using a wide brush, paint a large circle in the center of the lantern to create the iris. 
  2. Choose spooky colors—green, red, orange, or blue work wonderfully. 
  3. Don’t worry about making it perfectly smooth; streaks and uneven textures add to the eerie, organic look. 

Step 3: Add the Pupil

  1. Once the iris paint is dry, use black paint to fill in the pupil at the very center. 
  2. Make it large enough to stand out against the iris. 

Step 4: Detail the Eye

  • Use a smaller brush to add darker or lighter streaks in the iris for a more realistic effect. 
  • You can even add thin vein lines in red around the iris to give it that bloodshot look. 

Step 5: Optional Spiky Lashes

  1. Cut long triangles from black construction paper or cardstock. 
  2. Glue them around one side of the lantern so they stick out like sharp monster eyelashes. 
  3. This makes the eyeballs look even more monstrous and stylized. 

Step 6: Display Your Giant Eyeballs

  • Hanging: Use string or fishing line to suspend them from ceilings, trees, or porch rafters so they look like floating eyeballs. 
  • Stacked: Place them in corners, along stairs, or even grouped on your lawn for a spooky display. 
  • Tabletop: Use them as oversized Halloween party props. 

Tips & Variations

  • Glowing Eyes: Insert battery-powered LED lights into the lanterns so they glow from the inside. 
  • Rainbow Eyes: Mix up the colors and make a whole rainbow of creepy eyes. 
  • Monster Cluster: Group multiple eyeballs together in different sizes for a scarier effect. 

This DIY Giant Eyeball Lantern craft is quick, cheap, and gives you maximum Halloween spook factor with minimal effort. Whether you make one or a whole creepy collection, your haunted house setup will definitely be eye-catching!