Scrapfest Videos and Review

I have been wanting to take a class from Tim Holtz since I started following him - maybe 2 years ago....but he had not come close enough to Des Moines, except for Scrapfest and last year I was recovering from surgery. So when it was announced he would again be teaching at the MOA, I was on it. I set my alarm for a half hour before registration, set my laptop next to my bed and tried to sleep - dreaming repeatedly of NOT being able to get into one of his classes. Luckily that was not the case and I was set for class at 10:00 AM on Friday Sept. 17.  WOOOOHOOOOOO.
     I headed up to Minnesota around 12:30 and checked into my hotel (See Post Why I Love the Microtel) around 4, then headed over to Scrapfest around 5:30. The registration line was fairly long but you could look at all the make and takes offered and the 7 Gypsies Tray Contest Entries while waiting - plus most of the other crafters were pretty chatty. After I got my Scrapfest badge I strolled through the bargain area, they had allot of 1.99 items -much of the same stuff they have in their stores - stamps, glitter, brad packages, small ink queues, stickers etc and lots and lots of Halloween  items. They also had quite a really nice few paper pads ranging from 4.99 to 24.99, some were some great My Minds Eye and Fancy Pants value packs.  I did not buy too much here, I find when I buy random dollar spot items I end up not using them. I am not a huge scrapbooker(though I should be!) and I tend to buy with a specific project or idea in mind so I do not buy much just because its a good deal and I did not come home with any of the pretty paper packs. Next I headed up to Archivers to shop, I will be honest - very disappointed that there were not any NEW stamps from Tim Holtz in stock. Absolutely nothing from summer CHA, I think considering that Tim is a headliner - they should be sure they have his stuff in stock! They also did not have any of the new Tattered Angels Glitz or Glam in stock. I even heard someone from TA expressing their disappointment in this. They did have ALOT of the new paper lines available which was awesome! While I had no trouble spending a good deal of muula - I would have spent significantly more had the new stamps or new TA been in stock. When checking out the Archivers clerk said it was a good thing to shop on Thursday because they were already getting low on alot of hot items and by Sunday the pickings may be slim. After Archivers I did a little shopping for my daughter picking her up a couple pairs of earrings, a necklace and a feather headband from For Love 21 - all for under $15! Then I was wiped so I went back to the hotel, drank a couple of beers and crashed.
    I arrived at the mall around 9 am Friday morning, went to get in line for a make -n-take for Tombow - then realized I left my badge in the van. When I cam back the shortest line was for Cosmo Cricket so I made a cute tag, Lindsey and Julie were working the line so that was fun - plus I had been featured in their facebook a couple of days earlier so we chatted about that for a minute. Then it was time for THE CLASS. AMAZING, WONDERFUL, TOO SHORT, LEFT ME WANTING MORE. We made an adorable little book, which I show in my video. From class we took home a couple of distress ink pads, an ink applicator, a mini glossy accents and a gold paint dabber - then when we left - WOW WOW we received  a package of elements grungeboard and a brand new not yet available package of Texture Fades - the snowman and the snowflakes no less....the one I was going to buy FIRST!  I had my picture taken and had him sign a couple of things and then off I went to the land of make and takes. First I got in the Tattered Angels line - super long but a great make and take and Heidi Swapp was working the line - cool beans. Then I did the make n takes for Unity Stamps, We r Memory Keepers and I thought someone else but I can't remember. Then I ate some lunch, walked around a bit but the lines were super long and I was tired so I went back to Archivers and shopped a bit more then headed home.
     I would say Scrapfest was exactly what I expected, no big surprises. I was pretty disappointed that they would not ensure they had the newest and most popular items in stock, and I heard this time and time again while waiting in line. Maybe next year they will do a better job or maybe postpone a week or two to make sure they get the product.I have an Archivers 5 minutes away and since there were not fantastic deals on the kinds of products I use, next year  my money would be better spent  taking some classes. I wiill also plan to spend two nights next year, the lines for the make-n-takes were long and there were a couple others I would have liked to do, plus I would have liked to have had some more time shopping at the mall and around Bloomington.
Please watch my videos showing all my goodies I bought, the project from Tim's class and  the make and takes.
Thanks!!!!

Scrapfest Haul Part 1



Scrapfest Haul Part 2