Just got home from Memories Expo in Orlando. Here is my loooooonnnnnng report!
My friend Shelley and I left on Thur around noon and took the scenic route to Orlando. Stopped in Lakeland at Violetts Scrapbook and Stamp store. Had a nice lunch at Hops, got off the beaten track in Lakeland trying to make out way to the interstate so we killed some time driving in circles (LOL), finally got to the hotel about 4-4:30, checked in and got settled. Went to Memories scrapbook store in Orlando then off the Mall at Mallenia (very upscale mall). I got a couple Christmas gift taken care of, we ate dinner at the Cheesecake factory and took our cheesecake back to the room because we were too full to eat it right then. Don't tell my kids I was sitting in the middle of the bed at 10p.m. eating cheesecake! Friday we started our day with a 7 a.m. wakeup call...8 a.m. class (Triple Play) which was OK. It was basically a discussion on looking at pages and deciding if more or less detail was better for the layout. Basically they were trying to get the point across that it's a matter of personal preference. Got out of class at 9 a.m.....just in time for the doors to the Expo floor to open...this is 3 hours earlier than in years past. Found a couple of things right off the bat. Took a delux colorblocking class which was by Delux cuts. Basically they showed us how to use their templates...the benefit of using them and how they help you create a balanced page. Went back to the room for a real quick lunch then more shopping. Took Cardstock Mania class sponsored by Serendipity Paper. This class had a $5 materials fee over and above the cost of the class itself. The teacher's pet didn't show up so I volunteered. Quite a few people didn't realize that there was an additional fee and were NOT happy or nice about it. I'm supposed to be refunded the cost of my class since I helped out but still had to pay the materials fee and really didn't get to do anything in the class except count people/tickets/and money and make sure everything balanced. It didn't! So I'd recount... finally I told the instructor that I had 3 more people in the class than I had money and/or tickets for and she says "Hummmm....OH! I know why! You're fine." Grrrrr....thanks for telling me up front! lol BTW....from what I saw of the class and the comments I've heard all weekend long....it was a waste! When we finished that class we went to dinner then shopped again! Took Wireworking with Jewels from 6:30-8 p.m. This was the best class by far! The instructor was Julianna Hudgins...author of Scrappin' with Wire and she was not only a wonderful instructor but she also has a terrific sense of humor! We walked out of the class with great information, some hands on experience and a fair amount of product...wire/beads/tags/paper/mirrors/ and 2 full boxes of Glue Dots. This is the 2nd time I've taken a late class like that and I keep saying I won't do it again...I'm just too tired at that point but....I couldn't pass up the class! Came back to the room and had a nice chat with Patty. Shelley and I both crashed by 9:30 that night...it was a fun day but we were exhausted! Thankfully we didn't have to be anywhere until almost noon. I nad the opportunity to meet Carol and Patty only briefly but we did take a couple pictures...then I was off to have lunch with Jeanne Reed...they took a polaroid photo of each of us with her and we received lots of goodies from various vendors. It was wonderful to listen to her talk...she not only presented the "Latest and Greatest" (which by Oct each year is not all that new) but she had some wonderful and inspirational things to say. Took Sparkle and Shimmer Collage Art...also taught by Julianna Hudgins...I enjoyed her but since I'm not really into the collage effect, I can't say I was thrilled with the class. My DD go there in time to take the Wireworking class with Julianna for that afternoon and she brought my Scrappin with Wire book..which Julianna autographed for me. DD enjoyed the wireworking class as well...again..more free products and Julianna gave her more stuff for helping pass out a few things during the class. Not bad! Back down to shop..got a deal on some Bazzill Monochromatic paper then off to meet DH for dinner! It's always nice to get away but it was kind of nice to have him join us for dinner too! lol Shelley and I decided that we were NOT shopped out yet! One of the scrapbook stores in Orange City was passing out discount coupons and they told us the store would be open until 10 that night. And...they were only a 30 minute drive from Expo....tempting.......so OFF WE GO in the pouring rain to find Scrapbook Extrordinaire. They have a nice store and we did some more damage....then back to the room to crash. Got up this morning...not wanting to leave but knowing we must.....took our time getting home, stopped at Scraptopia to see if they had a particular punch we had seen demonstrated by EK Success...then home to unpck.....got the clothes unpacked but.........not sure when the scrapstuff will be unpacked....I need to do some more organizing and find some time to sit down and play with my new toys!
Overall I had a wonderful weekend and I can't wait for next year! Ladies......mark your calendars...here are the 2004 dates!
March 5-6 Las Vegas NV April 2-3 Chicago, IL April 30 - May 1 Somerset, NJ and Oct 7-9 Orlando, FL
Hugs to all! Susan