Susan - Tell me about the expo!

Yes we really want to know!!!

Here's my version of the Expo report. It's bound to be really long!!

Patty...I have no idea what ZAZ is so if I saw it, I don't realize it.

First I need to tell you that my friend Shelley did her job well as "The enabler and encourager". We arrived at the hotel Wed afternoon about 3:30pm, got checked into our room and picked up our tickets. Being in the first 1000 people to be there we got a "good bag valued at $10". It was a nice incentive but not a big deal for those of you that missed out. The goodie bag had a binder for stickopotomous stickers, a pack of jolees and a Scrapbook Magazine. They did throw in another publication.... it seems everyone got something different. Mine was about Capturing your Legacy and I haven't read it yet. Once we picked up our class tickets, we went out for a run to "Memories" one of the LSS's (chain store really) that is nearby. I know that they carry Bazzill and Making Memories

Second Class (Thur) was"K & Co Classics). K & Co classes usually sell out really fast so Shelley and I made it a priority to register for this one. As it turns out the classes didn't sell out. It was a good class and we used slide mounts in the layout which was something new for me. Before this I wondered what people would do with slide mounts and now I know! Class was taught by Kim Hodges and Robin Rohrbaugh.

Third Class (Thur) was "Quick Cardmaking". This was sponsored by Colorbok and I was disappointed. I believe the instructors name was Lora and she was great at being upbeat about the presentation however they should have said that this class was a sales pitch for their new product line. The description did say that you would make cards using their newest product line but it didn't say it was a sales pitch. The only up side to this class is they gave us 2 sets of cardmaking kits to work with and then I won another as a doorprize. If Shelley doesn't want them, my DD can play with them if she would like.

Our fourth class (Fri) was supposed to be "Embellish, Embellish, Embellish" sponsored by Kreinik Mfg. We ditched this one in exchange for the class we were supposed to take on Sat that we'd have had to miss because of my DD Homecoming (Wow...that was a mouthful! Did it make sense?) This instructor didn't realize he was to teach a class that day and was really disorganized. Again it was a sales pitch for their product and the materials recd from the class (we got our kit) did not begin to be at a value of what the class cost.

The fifth class (Fri) was supposed to be our Saturday class. It was called "A Diamond in the Rough". The class was just OK but the instructor (Tammy Trombley) was so full of energy that she made it really fun. The layout we did in class was just "so so" but the album she had with her had some really cool layouts so I spent quite a bit on their product. None of the booths had the product on the floor so she sold it to us in the class. Again, it was a pitch for their product but...after seeing some of the layouts...I was sold (obviously!). Anyone that is familiar with the Laser die cut titles that are shimmery by Griffs Shortcuts knows this product line because Griffs uses the Diamond Paper.

Out last class which would have been #7 had we attended all of them, was by far the very best class! It was called "Summer Fun to Christmas Joy!" It was put on my a couple of the LSS (one in Lakeland and one in Bradenton) in combination with Applegate Productions. The Instructors were Diana Newberry (President of Applegate Productions and a former owner of one of the LSS we used to have here in town...she closed her store about 2 yrs ago) and Sande McDonald (Owner of Violettes Scrapbook Shoppe). We received 2 of Diana's kits and she instructed us how to proceed. These kits are to die for! Although to purchase the kits, they seem a bit expensive, they are loaded with product. She even includes the double faced tape if you need to use it! I was really impressed with these kits. Then, at the end of class instead of doing a raffle, she gave everyone a gift certificate to select a page kit of our choice from their booth. This was a $15 value. Soooo, you may as well say that we got $45 or more of product from this class. Wow! Would you blieve this class sold out in 1 1/2 minutes when the registration opened? In fact I got in but my friend Shelley didn't but when we went to the class, Diana recognized me and I asked if Shelley could stay and we'd use only 1 set of kits...Diana graciously allowed Shelley into the class and let her pay the class fee and receive her own kits to work on.

OK.........thats enough on the classes....now to tell you how BAD I was!!!

Well.....we shopped Expo between classes and at night ran to Michael's and a couple LSS's. I had no intention of stocking up on more paper but I saw some really cool groupings of Bazzill and HAD TO have them. I got the Funky Brush Sizzlets I was wanting and the booth was running a special. If you bought a Sizzlets alphabet you got the sizzlets case free. ($50 value). Then they had a show special on the Sizzix rolling tote...(Save $30) so I got that too. Shelley and I are splitting the cost of this investment since we share the Sizzix. I got lots of Making Memories embellishments that I hadn't seen before, a brass template, some Eiffel Tower die cuts to use of DD homecoming page since thier theme this year was about Paris, 6 X-box refills, some slide mounts that I hope to use on the Homecoming pages. Beads to match DD Homecoming dress to cover the slidemounts, and who knows what else!

All in all it was a wonderful trip and I encourage everyone to go!

Patty.......are you sorry you asked me to tell you about Expo?? lol S

Glad you had SSSOOO much fun you ole FLOOZY you!!!

OKC Dave

Wow! That's wierd....I knew I posted about the Expo but it hasn't shown up on the group where I can see it. Now I see a response from Dave.........this is tooo wierd!

Ou,ou,ou... you sound like you had such a good time! I wish I could have gone!!! Oh well maybe next year! Thanks for sharing. By the way, is there somewhere we can see what you got from class #7?

M -C

stickopotomous

disorganized.

sounds like a blast!! It would not have been good for my checkbook, that's for sure! Glad you had a good time.

I told DH that I plan to go to CKU in Orlando next year since I missed the Expo. If anyone else is reading this - what do you know about CKU? Have you ever been? Also, has anyone seen the ZAZ for wafer thin dies? Do you understand how it works? I don't think I'll get it until I actually see it.

I just came back from CKU in San Jose...and highly recommend it...what's better than taking classes from Becky Higgens, Lisa Bearnson, Faye morrow Bell, Donna Downey, Ali Edwards, Cathy Zielske? not to mention the product you get at the crops, classes, and all the give aways (wasnt lucky enough for that)..am hoping to go to Masters next year...or keeping my fingers crossed for another San Jose in 2006.

Regards, Betsey

Oh, Susan, I am drooling! It sounds like a successful Expo. I think you were very good at being "bad" LOL

Hugs, Sabrina in Kentucky

a good friend is a life long treasure

Susan, I got the post about the expo dates, if that's what you're talking about.

Oh wow!! Sounds like you had a great time!!

Susan that sounds like a lot of fun! It doesn't sound like you were really TOO bad.. lol.. Glad you had such a good time!

Nope, it was my post about the classes I took this year and all the money I spent.

Sounds like you had a great time and got lots of new goodies.

Teresa in MD