Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Creating Keepsakes Convention Review - July 2011

THURSDAY
I arrived at the Radisson in about an hour and was surprised at the lack of traffic. Luck was on my side that morning I guess. Check in at the desk was a breeze and I was able to register for a few more classes (15 Things album and Melissa Frances Tag book), but some were already sold out as well.

I was toward the front of one of the lines to get into the vendor fair and went directly to EmbellishIt! to get my Graphic45 Christmas papers, matching cardstock, Fancy Pants Road Show packet and a Graphic 45 page kit. Then I darted right across to Technique Tuesday for some stamp sets and their new watercolor crayons. I then cruised the entire place and was sucked into the Studio Calico booth. I had been following their blog and really wanted to try their Mister Huey mists, but hadn't been able to get into one of their classes. I bought mists, veneer buttons, stamps, and cardstock stickers. I'm kicking myself for not buying a paper pack and will have to go to TwoPeas and pick some up in the future. Loved how helpful they were at their booth. More about them later.

15 Things that Define Me Album  -  Creating Keepsakes  -  This was a really nice album, even though I really hate doing scrapbooks based on me. There were nine pages in the kit to go with a nice 12x12 American Crafts album. Great papers from Cosmo Cricket were used. The packet didn't skimp as you also got Thickers, rubons, and enough left off stuff to make another layout or some cards if you were creative. I was able to finish seven of the nine pages in the class. Instructions were clear and if you needed help, all you had to do was ask. I'm really horrible with names and forgot to write down on my sheet who the instructor was. I loved this class and if you get the chance, sign up for it.

Thursday Night Technique Workshop - Creating Keepsakes  -  This class was a hodge podge of vendors and their one page layouts. Some of the pages weren't exactly my style, some I loved, but they all had small techniques that you could use over and over on your pages if you wanted. All the pages sold a companion page at their booths, and EmbellishIt! had their second page for free if you purchased over $25.00 at their booth, which is an easy thing to do. Pages were presented by Creating Keepsakes (layering and fussy cutting from patterned paper), Scraptique (crumpled layers to make flowers), Boxer (prairie points), Strickly Scrapbooking (layering), EmbellishIt! (pinwheels and using patterned paper to your advantage), Strictly Scrapbooking (using busy patterned papers together), Lickety Split (paper beading), SEI (fussy cutting patterned paper), a Mosaic Moments page with a hidden journaling card, a Storytellers cute and colorful page kit, and the Paper Loft (cutting out pieces of patterned papers to create money saving layouts). Some people will complain that the pages are too simple, but the class is perfect for refreshing on some techniques and picking up a few new ones. I enjoyed the class and will be able to use all of these layouts by adding my own touch to them.  I won a Fall page kit from the Storytellers club. If you want a relaxing way to open your CKC trip, this class is it. No stress, lots of pages to work with that you can make your own with added embellies and papers, then this class is for you. Plus it gives you a taste of a vendor that you might not have ever tried before.

FRIDAY

Layouts in Style - Embellish It!  -  Instructor: Shelby Dredge. A typical EmbellishIt! class, but without any instructions from Shelby or new techniques. She handed out the class kit and stated this wasn't a typical class by her. It was basically here's the kit and have at it. The class kit that I picked was Beach Babe by Fancy Pants. You got to choose a boy or a girl kit when you entered the class. I have no idea what the boy kit was, but they offered to sell you the other page kit while in the class. The pages are cute, but I really wish I could have had a new technique thrown in. You get four pages and there's enough left over to do more if you're creative, so that's a nice bonus. I can say one thing for Shelby's classes, she never skimps on product. I left the class early so I could squeeze in some more shopping.

Out of the Box  -  Technique Tuesday  -  Instructor: Darcy Debord. Love this class as it's a project that I can use over and over again for quick holiday teacher's gift's, new babies, and anniversaries. She gave detailed instructions, and as we constructed the box, she gave tips and ideas for ways to add uniqueness to the project. You also get a cute stamp set to use over and over again.

Bling It On!  -  Creating Keepsakes  -  Instructor: Didn't write her name down. If you love bling and sparkle, this is the class for you. The papers were beautiful and all it took was some fussy cutting. I highly recommend this class if you have a little princess in your home. It's has four pages in the kit with Niki Riki sparkle Thickers. Very lovely indeed.

Life Is a Journey Mini Album  -  Technique Tuesday  -  Instructor: Darcy Debord. Some people complained about the instructions, but I had no problem with them. We only completed a few pages due to the complainers and some people missing a few things. Darcy gave everyone in class a stamp because of these issues (she didn't have to do it, so it was a nice gesture on her part), and I won a door prize stamp. It's a nice journal and when finished will look wonderful on a table top.

Show Your Love Tag Book  -  Instructor: Melissa Frances. This was a spur of the moment sign up for me. I originally didn't plan on taking it until I looked at the floor display. Very beautiful and being that I've never made a tag book, it was something new for me to create. Melissa was fun to listen to and told all sorts of stories and things about her life. She's a breast cancer survivor and it's even on her blog, so take a peek at it to learn more about her. She's very down to earth. I liked her a lot. The book looked complicated, but with detailed instructions, we finished the it in class. I went back to her booth and purchased more of the paper, some scraps, a pad of Christmas papers, and some other bits and pieces. I will be going back to her booth and taking more classes with her as I love the style of her papers and her way of teaching. This project will be perfect if you are doing a baby gift or a heritage piece. It's easy to replicate and will make great gifts. I won a journaling ticket booklet.

Friday Celebration Crop  -  Creating Keepsakes  -  Host: Stacy Croninger. Your typical CK crop minus the open room and a ton of vendors. Thanks to the VF Convention Center being (insert curse word here), we weren't in our normal, open air cropping area where we had tons of vendors surrounding us the entire night. Instead we were crammed in an enclosed area and the few vendors that came, were jammed into the hallway. That's right. The hallway. Thanks for nothing VFCC. The CK members made the crop a good night and handed out a bunch of give-a-ways. I won a magazine, Stamp It. The goodie bags were small, but there were some nice papers in them, some embellies, and a magazine. I didn't get the tricycle papers this year! I do have one thing to say to my fellow croppers. Not everyone wants to hear the music you're listening to. Keep your earbuds on and please don't sing the songs loudly as you listen to them. That's fine for crops where it's just for you and your friends. On a side note, I ended up buying way too much paper again. I always make the mistake of saying I won't them head out to the vendors. EmbellishIt! had the cardstock packs for $5.00 (I bought three or four), and I also purchase a packet of fifty sheets of mixed Basic Grey for $15.00. I also got to make two cards for the military. I didn't enter them in the contest, I just wanted to make the cards. They do some much for us, so me making the cards were something small in return. I really need to make a bunch of nice ones at home and send them in. Thank you CK for thinking of our military!

SATURDAY

Perspectives by Ali Edwards  -  Technique Tuesday  -  Instructor: Darcy Debord. I'm a broken record when it comes to TT classes. They always come with great instructions and with this four page kit, you have the option of using 4x6 photos, or other sizes combined in the spaces given. Of course you get a stamp set. The layouts are pretty simple, but classic in design. I'm a big fan of the old Simple Scrapbooks magazine, so this class was a winner.

15 Minute Pages  - Creating Keepsakes  -  Instructor: I didn't write down who it was. Four really simple, super cute pages using Echo Park papers. The instructions were step by step and easy to follow. If you're looking for some nice, colorful, easy to make pages, then this class is what you should sign up for. My only complaint is I didn't find Echo Park papers anywhere at the booths other than a $55.00 page kit at the CK booth. I was so disappointed. I really wanted some more EP papers.

Material Girl  -  Creating Keepsakes  -  Instructor: Again, I didn't write down who it was. I am horrible with names. Loved learning a new technique. I know some people crabbed about the flower, but I haven't done one before so this was new to me. I liked it and plan on making a bunch more myself. You also did hand stitching on the pages after using a template to poke holes on the pages. I chose to fussy cut my leaves as I really don't have the time to do any hand stitching. Lovely papers for this project. I would take it again, just to learn how to do that flower.

Scrappin' with Sketches  -  Creating Keepsakes  -  Instructor: Didn't write her name down...again. Lots of product, cute pages, and additional sketches makes this class a winner. We completed a few pages in the class, and like most of the projects done by CK, you can adjust them to fit what you want. I find I am addicted to the black and cream ribbon by May Arts. I'll have to pay their web site a visit. You don't learn any techniques, other than how to use your sketches, and for me, that's all I need from a class like this.

Misting & More  -  Studio Calico  -  Instructor: Nicole. Lorie and company at the Studio Calico booth went above and beyond what they needed to do to get myself and my friend in the last class. I was so happy to be there and learn new techniques. We obviously did misting, but you also did masking, embossing, splattering, additional use of the masks, etc. If you have any Mister Huey or any other mist or spray paint, take this class for some good tips. You were also given extras like a chipboard letter pack, rubons, glue dots, and journaling stickers. I highly recommend this class and a visit to their booth. I know they will be the first booth I hit up next year at the vendor fair, followed by Technique Tuesday, and EmbellishIt!. I loved their fresh layouts, and the multiple uses of their mists. One example using the mist and embossing, made the cardstock appear to be a canvas element. Really cool. If you're on the cusp of taking this class, I'm shoving your over the lip and down into the class. Take it and enjoy their tips and techniques.

Super Saturday Crop  - Creating Keepsakes  -  Host: Stacy Croninger. The same thing as the previous crop. I am still mad at the Valley Forge Convention Center for shoving us in such cramped spacing for this crop. The vendors should be in the same room as us, and we shouldn't be packed into such a small area. More people could have attended the crop, but nooooo. VFCC had to be dorks and do what they did. Thank you Creating Keepsakes for making what could have been a mess into a nice night of cropping.

I won a lot of little give-a-ways this past weekend and by this point I'm too tired to list them, but magazines, page kits, and stamps were the bigs ones. I noticed Cricut and Cuttlebug were missing, and of course Skinny Cow was missed by all of us ice cream lovers. All in all, I had a great time and I'll be back next year. I really don't want to travel very far, but being that there aren't any lss all that close to me, I know I'll make the drive to CKC. Where else can I get my fix for scrap supplies and classes like the ones found at CKC.  :)

1 comment:

  1. I like all your review, except I disagree with you about the crop space. I thought we had plenty of room, especially the second night. And I liked the vendors being out in the hall and the fact that there weren't mad rushes to the booths and people pushing people to get to stuff like in years past. I don't care for that. I did plenty of shopping at the vendor fair and sometimes I feel that vendors at the crop try to squeak every last penny out of you. And this year because they were outside the door, I didn't feel obligated to get up and look and spend. I knew they were there..outside the door so if I wanted something I could go look, but out is sight, out of mind..I didn't feel compelled to go spend!

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