Every September, Creative Scrapbooking Magazine holds a two-day scrapbook event in Calgary, Alberta. In the past, they've shared space with the Creative Stitches show which is for those who sew. I can't sew. Sewing machines and I have an agreement: I don't come near them and, well, that's the whole agreement. I don't go near them.
The scrapbook portion started out as a few booths and over the past 14 (?) years has expanded to about 1/3 of the event. There are classes. There are tables for people to crop. There are make-n-takes. And there is shopping. Oh boy, there is shopping! And for those who chose to purchase a ticket that included a crop space, there was a goodie bag. This goodie bag would be so packed with goodies that it required its own trip to the car when you packed up to go.
This year, CSM was going to host the event on their own. I'm not sure of the reason. Maybe because the papercrafting portion simply became big enough to be its own entity. I just know that I was happy not to have to walk past dozens of sewing machines that I knew wanted to shoot needles at me. I'm sure that, as I walked by, threads were knotting up or breaking all weekend.
As September neared, the venue had been announced and we're all counting the days to the sign-up. In the past, you could call in or sign up online. ooooh, which to risk: busy phone lines or filling in all of your info and the computer (in cahoots with sewing machines) locking up as soon as you hit Pay. Did it go through? Should I do it again? It has sold out in minutes in the past. I may be exaggerating. It may have been an hour. Every year, I'd grab my phone or my laptop - depending on which method I was going to try this year - and hide out in the bathroom at work or lock my office door. If my boss is reading this, it was ~finger quotes~ lunch time, honest.
With Covid this year, there was no signup. So we wondered if one of the events we look forward to all year was going to be cancelled. Then, it was announced that this year, the event would be held virtually. Um, sure, why not? I've sat through months of meetings online. One of my monthly card making groups has been meeting virtually all along.
The schedule was released and classes were announced. Class kits could be ordered about 4 weeks prior. I ordered kits for 8 classes and obsessed over marking the schedule with what classes I was taking, when I was going to squeeze in a minute to make a sandwich or another cup of coffee, even when I was going to relieve myself of said coffee.
We were all back to work and being encouraged to take some of our vacation days off so I decided to take the week off before the Carnival. This gave me several extra days of being able to pour over the schedule and double check my plan. Kits started arriving and I set them aside to wait until the Carnival. I'm totally lying. I opened up every one of them before I even took my shoes off after bringing them in from the mailbox. After admiring all of the items in the boxes or envelopes, I set them aside to admire again later. After I'd completely memorized every item in the box and daydreamed about how we were going to put them to use, I ... ok, I picked up the box under it and did the same thing.
Eventually it was September 18 and I was on vacation! Now it's time to gather the additional items required for the kits: scissors, adhesive, inks, etc. But, before I did that, I of course had to rip apart my craft room to change the layout and add another shelving unit. Because, why not now? So, that happened and I was happy with the additional space to spread out my kits. Now, one (or twelve) more looks at the schedule. I marked the ones I absolutely HAD to attend, those I would like to attend if I didn't need to relieve my bladder at the time and those that I knew I could miss if I had to. I don't really scrapbook right now so those went on the 'C' list.
My crafting bestie, Kyera, and I decided to put together goodie bags for each other. We ended up putting together similar bags but with all different stuff. We both stuffed the bags with inexpensive but awesome items and then a couple of really good things. This is my favourite. I have been wanting one of these but keep talking myself out of it because I don't know if I want to give up the desk real estate. Turns out, I do!
It's finally Friday, September 25, and I...am....ready. My only concern is a class going over on time and missing the beginning of the next one. The classes were live so you don't want to jump in late. It turns out, I didn't need to worry about this at all. The next class didn't start until the previous one finished. Some of the classes were really fast paced. The first time this happened, I was pretty frustrated. But then I realized that the next couple of classes were on my 'B' list - meaning I hadn't bought a kit and just intended to watch. So I relaxed and quit stressing about finishing the project, knowing that I could finish them while watching the next one.
Hubby was once again my hero. I gave him a printed schedule so that he'd know when to not come knocking on my craft room door. But he took the day off so that he could let in a repairman and he used the schedule to coordinate bringing me food. He cooked, he cleaned, he did laundry, he came in for a smooch when he knew I'd be able to turn my face away from the computer (also when my hands wouldn't be covered in ink or paint).
Below are the classes I took:
Mixed Media Music Gives Soul - Scrap & Bean
The center is dark because I started with a black canvas. That was a mistake. Oh well, the whole point of a class is to learn, isn't it? I also doh'ed on the layout of the words. Together, they do make sense but the direction of the long strip probably sends your eyes to the final piece, not the third. The eggs are made with a clay that I'm going to have to look into.
Allison teaches in a way that makes you feel. This particular class was about honouring your scars. To do this, you had to consider the wound that caused it. Covid has had me barely able to stay on this side of the depression fence. I wasn't going to let there be anything sad stealing a moment of the Carnival so I paused, thought of a wound and pushed it away. You see a tiny bit of black at the bottom when I was thinking about it. But then I picked up a green spray that was brighter than I expected and the rest of my piece is full of things that had healed my scars. You see hearts and flowers. You see elements given to me in my goodie bag by Kyera. And there are a few quotes that I like.
Kringle & Co - Nadine Wachter
This class went super, super fast. These cards were made using Photoplay papers. The cards are gorgeous. I'm really tempted to make some card kits out of other Photoplay papers.
Slimline Christmas shaker Card & Foiled Tag Class - Scrap Shotz
This is a shaker card and a tag made from the cut-out piece. I'm not sure that I'm sold on slimline cards. They give you a new space to work on. I can see the appeal for some things but, overall, I'm not sold yet. This was a great class. I didn't have a light blue oxide ink pad so I used a spray and it ended up a lot darker than I wanted.
Boredom Busters - Scrapendipity
The pictures don't do these cards justice. They were designed by Diane (?). Mostly the class was fun to attend but I really, really like the cards up close. My favourite part of this class was watching her make them. There were a lot of different styles of teaching this weekend and I think I appreciated seeing her face the most, along with the banter between the others in the room. Usually, it's easier to follow a class when the camera is directed at the hands but I was really missing the crowd.
Poinsettia Place - Karina and Donna - Stampin' Up!
Now we're in my comfort zone: Stampin' Up!. These kits were pre-cut. We did some stamping and distressing - well, I did, I can't remember if they told us to or not. I ordered the Poinsettia Place suite a month ago and hadn't opened it yet. Now I've got a dozen cards in my head that I need to make. Sorry in advance if this blog ends up overfull of Poinsettia Place cards.
Alcohol Ink Christmas - Scrap Addicts
This class by far had me the most excited when I finished it. The kit included 10 substrates (2 each of 5 different surfaces), alcohol ink, blending solution, gold mixative, 3D stacker focals, and a blending tool. In the 1-hour class, we poured liquids on things and moved it around using different methods. We tilted, blew through straws and crumbled up a plastic bag that I pulled out of the garbage at my feet. It wasn't gross. It was the bag that the inks had been shipped in that I had just tossed into the garbage minutes ago. After the class, I didn't have classes that I'd purchased a kit for so I was able to spend the next couple of hours continuing to work on these. I cut the surfaces to 4 x 5-1/4. I cut up cardstock for mats, found some ribbon and pulled out some stickers. I ran the scraps through various embossing folders. Mind....blowing. I'll zoom into the one done on glimmery paper. I embossed this with one of the Wrapped in Texture embossing folders by Stampin' Up!
Holly Jolly Card Kit - Creative Memories
This was the very last class of the Carnival. I noticed that it was only scheduled for 15 minutes and there was no way we were making 12 cards so it occurred to me that this was probably a demo of the product and not an actual class. So, after I finished the cards above, I went ahead and worked on these on my own time. These kits are super easy to do and are foolproof for a beginner.
It was my goal to finish up everything by the end of Saturday and I made it! At 10:00 Saturday evening, it was a wrap. I looked around and realized that I had done such a great job of putting away my materials in between classes that I had nothing left to clean up. Which made me realize the one big thing that I did NOT miss by having the Carnival done virtually this year: packing it all up, hauling it all home and putting it all away!
Katharina and Jackie (the owners/editors of CSM), and everyone involved in this event did such a spectacular job. I am so grateful to them - as are hundreds of others - for not letting Covid take this event away from us. Somehow, they made it even better. There are always a few visitors from around Alberta and BC that come to the Carnival each year. But this year, they were attending from all over the world. I wore pyjamas both days. I now know that it's ok to come back and watch videos later - pee when you need to, don't hold it in. I'm not gonna lie, not all of my bevvies were non-alcoholic.
I do miss the shopping. My credit card doesn't. My bank is probably going to call me tomorrow and ask if I'm ok because there is usually some massive spending going on at the end of September.
I'm honestly not sure which I like better. I almost think that, if I had my druthers, I druther do it online. I'm not as exhausted this morning. The videos are still there in case I missed something. Although, without Kyera sitting beside me to chat with, I didn't miss as much as I usually do. :)
If they hold another virtual event, you absolutely have to join me. Say hi. Message me pictures of what you made. And we can talk about Jackie's earrings because they were fab.
Happy Crafting!
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