Cath Edvalson
I know, right? Moxie fab. It’s a strange combination of words. Why, just last July when Susan and I were at CHA, a manufacturer saw my Moxie Fab World button on my shirt and asked me, “Now, what, exactly does that mean?”
And so I ‘splained. Back in the day, when I became the creative editor of Paper Crafts magazine, I found that I needed more adjectives for the times when I saw something really, really cool.
“Awesome!” was so trite.
“Wow!” got really old.
“Oh my heck!”—while geographically poignant, just didn’t have enough “umph.”
And “Fabulous”? Well, fabulous had the zing I was looking for, but it needed a “Cath edge.”
That’s where “moxie” came along. At the time, there was a Target ad for their brand of chocolates—Choxie. You know, “chocolate with moxie.”
I loved what “moxie” did to the word “chocolate” in that case. Pretty soon I was saying things like, “That project has moxie,“ right before or after saying “That project is fabulous,” and before you knew it, as I am wont to do, I was mixing the words together and playing around with them a bit and the term “moxie fab” was born.
For a while it was just an adjective that I threw around. But then it started getting a reaction. And then it started becoming a way of thinking. And then it became a column. And now it’s also a blog called the Moxie Fab World where we have a ton of inspiring fun.
Have you been by to visit? If so, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, well, here’s a run-down of what we do over there:
Moxie Monday: Every Monday I show you a product line that I am ga-ga over. I gush over it for a while, show you up close and personal photos, and then I always, always, always offer it to two lucky winners. This week I’m featuring the Street Lace collection from Die Cuts With a View.
Tuesday Trigger: Tuesdays are Trigger days. I show an image that I find to be particularly inspiring and invite you to create a paper crafted project based on that inspiration. You post your project to your blog or our special Flickr group, then you link it up to Mr. Linky, and we all get to see in what moxie fab ways you’ve been inspired. I announce five Trigger Targets every week who get to put the Trigger Target badge on their blogs and I choose one random winner to receive a fun prize as my thanks for playing along.
Here are a few of our recent inspiration photos:
Ask Around: One of our most popular features, the Ask Around is where I ask popular designers to talk about how trends influence their creative process. Last week I interviewed Tim Holtz, but I’ve also talked with Margie Romney-Aislett, Jennifer McGuire, Jenni Bowlin, and Nichole Heady.
Moxie Talk: This is a fun feature in which each of our talented Paper Crafts Go-to Gals focuses on a trend she’s watching. She shows images that verify the trend and then she creates a paper crafted project (or two!) that illustrates the trend. A couple of weeks ago, Betsy Veldman talked about the hot botanical collage trend and showed this moxie fab project to hit the trend home:
Moxie Fab World Challenges: Every three weeks or so, I host a challenge based on a trend I’m currently watching. Whether it’s peace signs, bicycles, chairs, doilies and lace, or a trendy technique like paper piecing, five winners receive an “I’m Moxie Fab” Challenge Winner badge for their blogs and a generous prize.
Here are some of the winning projects:
Five for Friday: In this weekly feature, I find five (or multiples thereof—10, 15, 20, 60.8!) sources of inspiration. Whether it’s a supah fun trend I’m loving, a sneak peek of an issue that’s just been released, or a trend I’m watching that I set to a favorite poem or lyric, Five for Friday will give you a stylish start to your weekend, that’s fo sho! Here are a few of my personal favies:
- A National Scrapbooking Day Blog Bop Featuring the Creating Keepsakes Dream Team
- I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
- Stripe Hype
- Thanks for Coming With!
- The Road Less Traveled
Bottom line is the Moxie Fab World is just that: a place where we gather to make friends, talk trends, and get inspired. It’s a place where everyone is welcome, no matter your skill level, your style, and it matters not one whit whether you consider yourself to be trendy. It’s just that, trends inspire, and truth be told, that kind of inspiration is absolutely everywhere.
So whether you’re a bona fide Moxie Fabber who stops by every day and leaves a comment or you’re clicking on over for the very first time, I’d love to hear from you today. What intrigues you the most about the Moxie Fab World? What do you enjoy the most when you spend time there? Are you intimidated by trends? Why or why not? Answer any or all of these questions by midnight (MDT) on Wednesday, Sept. 8 and I’ll select two random winners to receive Little Yellow Bicycle’s Pack Your Bags Collection.
Two winners will each receive this fun prize package from Little Yellow Bicycle!
It really is a moxie fab world,
Cath
I learn a lot, see many nice things that keep me inspired and gives me ideas, I like to learn about new products & brands.
You put sun in my days ! thanks a lot !
you and the whole crew are tremendously inspiring. i click on all of the links. i can’t get enough. sometimes it is overwhelming, and there always is a place to rest along the way. i may not always find my creativity, but it sure is nice to see a wonderful bunch of people that do!
I am a regular visitor to Moxie Fab World. I like learning of new trends and how it applies to the papercrafting industry and I enjoy the interviews.
i love the challenges!
Oh, I LOVE me the Moxie Fab World! Daily visitor here!
Oh Cath, you’re so MOXIE!!! Even though I haven’t participated in a while, I visit you daily. You’re so full of information and inspiration, thanks for all you do at the Fab!
I love visiting the Moxie Fab World to follow the current trends. Each week I learn something new and incorporate the ideas I see there in my paper crafting.
Thanks for such a Moxie Fab Website!
Carol B
I stop by your site everyday to get inspiration & to browse what you are finding that inspires you & of course, to preview new products out there.
I love the creativity from all those you feature on your blog daily. I love to learn new techniques & see the beautiful creations posted on your site. I do get intimidated by trends because new trends also mean new supplies which I would want to buy buy buy!
I like the different ideas I get when I come to the blog or look at this section in the magazines.
What intrigues me most is seeing what you consider to be “Moxie Fab” and seeing if I agree with you…love the projects you feature, too. I get great inspiration from them.
I enjoy seeing the new creative ideas on the blog. New trends are interesting to see, but I usually stick with my favorite simple style of scrapbooking.
Really enjoy Cath gathering together photos, cards, designs, fashions, poetry as trendy inspiration! MOXIE FAB job Cath!!
Daily visitor! Love the trend watching and general inspiration….and I cannot lie….you have AWESOME giveaways!
My favorite thing about Moxie Fab is that every single morning there is something new to inspire me. I love the challenges and the trend watching and of course the prizes are great too.
My favorite thing is that Moxie Fab has ideas that seem fresher to me.
Sometimes I am intimidated by trends and other times I’m inspired by them, really depends on the trend. For example, prior to it being almost everywhere we look, I had never thought of putting pink and brown together. I’m not a bib pink person but I love just a hint of it in my brown projects! Thanks for all the inspiration!
I stop by Moxie Fab everyday. Cath does an amazing job of putting together inspirational photos together with descriptions or poetry…and of course I love seeing what new products or lines are out there. It’s definitely one of my favorite stops in the blog world!
I love to come by for inspiration, to see what is “now” and to see if I am anywhere near what is trendy or closer to what is “yesterday”.
I love seeing the products lines introduced on your blog and also the inspiration posts are so amazing! Keep up the moxie fab good work!
Lots of inspiration at Moxie Fab! I’ve had it bookmarked for a long time and check it very regularly! Always great ideas and interesting posts!
DeniseB
I’m a total Moxie Fab JUNKIE! I love it all… the tuesday triggers, the inspiration, the giveaway, the fab chats (hello Tim Holtz, drool).
I love all the inspiratiion from Moxie Fab World! It’s one of my favorite “go-to” websites first thing every day! Everything is always fresh and new! Thanks for helping us think outside the box!
I love seeing new trends and products! You seem to pick out the best! Thanks for all you do.
I love Moxie Monday because I love to see the new collections and ooh and ahh over them and add to my ever growing “wish” list.
I’m inspired by the photos and I need to know the trends out there. A girl has be trendy right?
I’m a follower so every update is delivered right to my email so I never have to worry about missing a thing!
I have been a Moxie Fab Follower for some time now I usually stop by at least once a day to see what Cath is up to. I love Cath’s Moxie Fab Challenges and I also ways love seeing the challenge winners fabulous creations! Thanks for the fun challenges and amazing giveaways!
I love to check into Moxie Fab World for inspiration and to learn about all the new products. I also love the awesome giveaways!!
~Rachel in Sacramento
I am new here, but have enjoyed it so far. I am planning to enter the challenges in the near future! Thanks!
I like to see cool things that I wouldn’t normally see, and displayed as a group (cameras, certain colors, etc.).
I love the challenges the most. I hope I win, since tomorrow (sept.
is my birthday! That would be the best!
Hi Cath, I’m an everyday-er. I love stopping by to see the inspiration and current products out there. Your blog is pretty much my crafty bible. I love that it’s always happy there.
What intrigues me most about the Moxie Fab World? I just today discovered your Tuesday Trigger–and LOVE the idea of it!! “Trigger” is a good description of the process of how I’m inspired by something to make a project. Way cool idea:)
I love the Moxie Fab World! I get so much of my inspiration from there! I keep trying to play along with the Tuesday Trigger but don’t have much spare time. And, yes, I am always intimidated with trends because they are often not the clean and simple style I’m used to. But I love to try new things so a focus on trends always gets me out of my shell.
I love visiting daily for inspiration and information. I like seeing the new trends and products. I pick and choose what I like, trendy or not!
Learning how and aspiring to allow myself to be Moxie Fab. Thanks for the inspiration, opportunities and challenges.
Of course I LOVE Moxie Fab World blog! I stop by daily.
My fave thing is all the chances to win awesome prizes. Hey, I am just being honest here!!! LOL I do also love all the spotlights on trends and new products out there. It is always fun to visit to see what new is out there. Or to get my creative juices flowing with a trigger. Thanks for a moxie fab blog!!!
I pop into this Moxie Fab World daily for a dose of inspiration and knowledge. I love to see the new products, and what kind of trends are coming, and to learn the latest techniques. Thanks for being a great part of my day!
I will be visiting Moxie Fab for the first time thanks to the inspiration images in the Tuesday Trigger section you showed above. I follow your column in the magazine with interest, just have not made it over to the blog yet.
I don’t have a lot of time to devote to my hobby, so I have not ventured into my own blog or uploading any of my creations. I just try to find inspiration from others when I am trying to create something specific.
Thanks for continuing to stretch us as artists!
I have bookmarked Moxie Fab. Thanks for sharing this site. I’m excited to visit it daily to see new products, trends, and new techniques.
I stop by whenever I get a chance (which isn’t as much as I’d like, lol) I like to see the trends your following and the new ones you start. I’ve loved the saying Moxie since I first heard it, it’s just sooooo fun! TFS
inspiration central – you always have the neatest things to share!
Sandra
Oh, I’m here every day!! It’s part of routine: wash my face, grab some coffee, hit the keys to Moxie Fab World and Paper Crafts Connection!! From there, my mind races through all the inspiration offered, all the great peeps at new paper collections, new techniques, great poems from Cath with visual aid, and so much more! I shudder to think my day would be without Moxie Fabness…!!
I follow Moxie Fab world daily, and I enjoy all of the new trends you show us weekly from advertisers. I love trends and one of my favorite shopping place is Target. They are usually right on all of the time.
I wish I had time to check everyday–when I retire!! Anyway, I love seeing new things–some I like and some I don’t. I’m not intimidated, but I do think it’s OK not to like something that happens to be “in”. You have to be yourself and wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same?! Hopefully my style will be “in” enough to win a challenge one of these days! Thanks for all the inspiration with the Blogs and Paper Crafts publications. I took 2 of them with me on vacation since I didn’t have a computer.
I am so intrigued by the creations you share—and the challenges! LOVE those;) Love everything MOXIE FAB! I RSS feed and subscribe–I’m def. a stalker:) Thanks for everything!!
Love seeing what’s new to drool over. LOVE the challenges- they push me to create & strive for the elusive ‘moxie fab’ badge! And the trends are terrific- if it weren’t for Cath I’d be out of the loop!!
Sometimes I AM intimidated by trends but then I get to see them in action here at Moxie Fab and Im so inspired that I have to at least try, Thanks!!!
I pop into Moxie Fab daily for none other than to have a great time and enjoy myself! Plus a lot of inspiration doesn’t hurt either!
I love Moxie Fab World! I go there EVERY DAY for inspiration!
I love Moxie Fab World especially for all the inspiration I receive here! I don’t tend to follow trends unless they go well with my vintage/shabby style but still can find a lot of inspiration in the things you feature!
I don’t visit often enough, but I do get updates sent to me. Two of my favorite “Moxies” are Moxie Mondays for product updates and also Moxie Talk. Not only do I love seeing the trends the Go-to-Gals are following I love seeing their creations. Such a talented group of women.
I love learning about all the latest trends and getting new ideas-
Moxie Fab World + Paper Crafts Blog = Best places for Creative Inspiration