The time has come and gone again, my most FAVORITE time of year... seriously the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Tulsa tops Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter all of them. I love it! I know some people knock it or aren't impressed by it but for me personally its time away from my job and "real life" and time to relax, craft, and hang out with friends... oh yes and shop! :) I felt like this year was extremely slow vendor faire wise. There were a few booths that had crazy lines but for the most part there was not the hustle and bustle of past years. Classrooms weren't as crowded. Maybe one class of the 8-ish I took was sold out. I know that there were a lot of sold out classes but only one that I took. The vendor faire was smaller than in past years... probably the smallest I have ever seen it... but there were two new companies that I spotted that I am really excited about and I hope they return! I like to give class reviews... honest class reviews. That's the only way you know what to hit and what to miss. So I shall start with Thursday....
Thursday we took the afternoon class called 15 Things That Define Me. We had five hours to complete a 12x12 album. We used Cosmo Cricket Cira 19-something paper. Not a line I would normally use or buy but I enjoyed it. My very first year at CKC they offered an All Day Album class and I remember being amazed at all the product you got! Full sheets of stickers, rubons, ribbon, buttons everything... even adhesive and pop dots!! Times have changed as we only got just enough supplies to make the album, with the exception of the paper and a sheet of really old thickers. I enjoyed it and got most of my album completed. We (and by we I should mention here that I went with my two dear friends Marsha and Karen who were kind enough to take a chance on a stranger (me) five years ago and invited me to go with them to my first CKC. Their kindness overwhelms me and I'm so grateful to call them my dear friends). But I digress..... So Thursday Night we went to the Technique Crop where each company gives you a 12x12 layout and teaches you a new Technique. Some of the layouts I'm not particularly crazy about but I take it for what it is and have a great time cropping and gigging with friends. There are a few this year that I LOVED and I also LOVE getting coupons to use in the vendor faire the next day! You can buy companion pages to most layouts and the first few years I made sure to get every companion page. Now I only buy the companion pages that I love. (this year that was Technique Tuesday and Embellish It!)
Friday: Boxerpolooza 2011... by Boxer Scrapbooking. I always enjoy this lecture style class in which Angie, an owner of the company gives you tons of product and gives you new ideas to use the product.I will say that the product was scaled down a bit this year but I still enjoyed it .
Next up was 2011 Latest and Greatest with Basic Grey by Emellish It! This is a must have class every year. I love it and I always learn some kind of new technique every year. Shelby is a wonderful teacher and is so stinkin creative its ridiculous. While some of the paper is not my style for the most part I do love all the layouts. This year she taught me how easy it is to make a pinwheel and now I'm obssesed!! :)
Think Ink by Creating Keepsakes... now honestly... had I known that this was a Creating Keepsakes Class I would have not signed up for it. I'm not a fan of the classes put on by CK. But I've been scrapping for over 10 years... so I think if I was a brand new scrapbooker I would be amazed by their classes, but really I didn't learn anything. I did receive a full packet of Kioshi by Basic Grey which is one of my favorite collections EVER. So I just took the time to sit and relax and work on a simply layout with inked edges.
Misting and More by Studio Calico
I wanted to take this class because I wanted to know about Mister Huey's mists by Studio Calico. I see Nichol Maguirk use them all the time in her videos and wanted to know more. Plus I knew Kelly Purkey would be teaching it and I'm a huge fan! She's amazing. What I learned: Mister Huey is a dye based ink. Meaning he has more color than water, which means that as he dries he's not going to warp my paper like other mists. He has vibrant colors and and a lot of fun and stay true to what is on the bottle. I fell in love and took my buy one get one free coupon to the Studio Calico booth and bought two collections. Later I went back and bought a third. Definetly try it out.
That was my Friday..... on to Saturday
Technique Tuesday: Recipie for Delicious Cards
This class was all about teaching rather than finishing.... which I love! Teach me something new. I can assemble a card at home! I go to classes to learn new tricks and tips! This year... I learned that you can stamp on felt. (Some of you may have known I didn't) Also I learned that I could use my clear stamps to stamp with paint. Yes I know this seems obvious but I seriously didn't know! No judgement please! YOu get all the goodies to make five cards, plus ink and a stamp set.
So Sweet Banner Album by The Button Farm
This was one of the new companies that was in Tulsa this year and I must admit... I'm OBSESSED! They are all about making super cute mini-albums and super amazing, easy to follow color instructions!! The downside? I could have done this class by myself.... an instructor was not necessary.... but the album was so cute I didn't care! Did I mentiono I bought two of their kits in their booth? So CUTE!! Their website is http://www.thebuttonfarm.com/ go check them out!
Scrappin with Sketches by Creating Keepsakes
I honestly signed up for this last minute to fill time during the day. The sketches in the class weren't all that amazing. But I did get 15 extra sketches and an entire pack of Green at Heart by Basic Grey. So Again I took that time to sit and relax and do my own thing with the sketches.
Mixing, Matching and Scrapping by Faber Castell
SO this was the class I was MOST excited about... Faber Castell has a new product out called Gelatos and I knew that I would get to experiment and play with them in this class. I got a sampler pack of product that included A water color pencil, a big brush marker, a pastel pencil, another marker, and a gelato. Had I known who was going to be teaching this class I would have avoided it. I can't stand this teacher. She taught a few GCD Studio classes back in the day and she is a witch... but with a b if you know what I mean. She is so horrible and rude I can't stand her. I honestly feel like I wasted my money on this class and I would say run away! You basically try a different technique on each square of paper and then assemble your layout. meanwhile the teacher walks around critizing your work. No thank you! I'm probably going to write CK about this beacuse I feel so strongly about it. She's ridiculous! I did get a free tote with the class so there was an upside.
My last class: Classic Cards from the Heart by Heartfelt Creations
Another new company that I am in LOVE with!! Beautiful cards and projects Beautiful! Please do not get them confused with Heartstrings Designs (the matboard people) totally different beautiful!! I almost missed this gem but Marsha and I signed up at the end of the day and we were sure glad we did! You got a free stamp set and made four cards in the class. I would have loved to buy more at the show but money run out! I plan on ordering on line when I lift my self imposed spending freeze. They make beautiful stamps and spellbinders makes coordinating dies to cut out the stamped images. gorgeousness! http://www.heartfeltcreations.com/ go look be amazed!
Saturday Night Send Off/Celebration Crop
This is just a basic crop where my friends and I take the time to finish up class projects and reflect on our weekend. Vendors come in with final deals so there is shopping. :)
Overall I had a great time and can't wait until next year!!
