Conventions & Expos

I attended the Scrapbook Expo in Kansas City this weekend. I was really disappointed. The classes were around $25-40 each. Usually at conferences, I end up with quite a bit of product from the class kits, but not this time. A couple, yes, but not most. I took 7 classes since I don't live near any scrapbook stores (M is 90 minutes) and I don't get this opportunity very often. However, they just weren't great.

I did like the Creating Keepsakes Convention in the past, but they no longer come to KC. I LOVED Scrapfest at the Mall of America but since Archiver's was their sponsor & closed, it's no longer there either.

What I loved about Scrapfest was the choices - lots of classes with Bo Bunny, Doodlebug, Tim Holtz, etc. You learned about all the new things and the fun products.

Those companies just don't go to the Expo. (They did have a couple of Graphic 45 classes !)

Do any of you know of scrapbook conventions that are open to the public with those kind of vendors/lines offered?!

Sadly, no. I was disappointed with Expo too, and I didn't take any classes. CKC has been very dis appointing the past 4 or 5 years. I am going to Heirloom next month (9/16) and will hope for the best, even though I now have to go 100 miles instead of 40 miles. I may have to stay overnight, which will add $100+ to my spending.

I went to CKC Mesa and it will sad.. Price were higher there than I most retail stores for the few newer items, The rest of the stuff was old supplies..

GOING to CKC in Lancaster this Thursday-have always loved it--taking 5 classes--tons offered!-we'll see about the convention floor-I usually only buy something "different" since I have too much stuff already! LOL!

I'm going to CKC in Lancaster this Saturday. I haven't been in a few years so I hope it doesn't disappoint.

I used to go to GASC in Chantilly every year, but every year the vendors were fewer and fewer until I just stopped going. I think it was taken over by Scrapbook Expo and it doesn't sound like I'm missing anything.

I just booked my room for Heirloom in Centralia, WA. Got a cheap room because The Queen doesn't want to go, so I saved $60 by going to Travel Lodge instead of Best Western.

I heard from a vendor that Mega Meet in Novi, Michigan (outside of Detroit) was the biggest scrapbook convention in the country. I looked at the list of vendors this year and it was almost twice the number of vendors at CKC St. Louis (the same vendor told me that CKC St. Louis was one of the larger CKC's). It looked like several companies had their own booths. I'd like to go, but it is 500 miles one way for me.

Don I would love to know how you enjoy that show in Centralia. I am from that area originally. I have never been to that one. I used to go to one at the Puyallup fair grounds and sadly like others it was a huge disappointment.

• don1 Said:

Don, is that a Quick Quotes event? And I didn't know you live in the PNW, but I now think I saw you at Puyallup a few weeks ago at ScrapExpo. Did you have a hanging ID thing on?

• autumngold Said:

Yes ,they have changed over the years but I always love it- we are taking 5 classes- say hi if you see me Deb!

Diana, the Centralia event will be at the SW Washington Fairgrounds. It is Heirloom Productions. here is their site; http://www.heirloompro.com/
The very spendy Quick Quotes event will be at Great Wolf Lodge.
Yes that was me @ Scrapbook Expo in Puyallup. I live in Bothell.

• MarciLB Said:

Please let us know how CKC in Lancaster was. I'm thinking about going to one in the fall. Thanks.

What's the point of collecting all those buttons they keep talking about in the Scrapbook Expo emails I've been getting?

They are like "Merit Badges". I got one for something I did, but I'd rather got a cookie.

I think I'd rather have a cookie too.

I went to the CKC event in Manchester NH in April this year. It was very disappointing. Not a lot of vendors, classes expensive, vendors had high prices too! Not really any bargains. Used to have tons of make and takes and there were not that many. It was kind of boring and I was done looking at everything within an hour and a half.

I wonder how much the shows are impacted by time of year?
I just caught a youtube of someone disappointed with their show.

We get a couple expos within a drivable range at different times a year. The February one is great, right after CHA, new classes and pretty good vendor attendance. The August one can be hit or miss and I feel vendors raise their prices. This year August is earlier and it looks like from the on-line floor map the date change has yielded more vendors. I noticed some of the classes have changed their projects.

There were a couple of us, that found ourselves in a conversation with a show employee after the February one. We were making suggestions on what we would like to see. I noticed that some of our suggestions have been incorporated already. The company seems eager to hear what they can do to make things better.

I am sorry your event was such a disappointment.

Our CKC is good if you go the Sat nite crop. Ours is the last show, so vendors do deep discounts in the hallway outside the crop room. They are trying to lighten their load so 40 & 50% off show prices are available.

I really loved the Make n Take crop and card swaps at the Anaheim Stamp andScrapbook Expo this year and last. Also enjoyed a few of the free make n takes on the floor. The classes seem like a hit or miss. Some years I get tons of stuff, others not so much. This year I won a few prizes. Got a lot of free chocolate with my buttons and cookies at the card swap. I recommend the Stamp and mixed media class. Received a acrylic block with the Scrapbook Expo logo and a little linen logo bag with goodies at the card swap. I'm hoping there will be Halloween themed projects at the upcoming Ontario Expo. I wish more well known teachers in the industry would attend the expos to boost the industry. You would think they would.

• eflevin Said:

I loved it!

• don1 Said:

I don't get the badges either because you can buy most of them so what's the point. You should be able to get a prize or something.

Confused too!!!!