The Scrapbook Expo

A couple weeks ago, the Scrapbook Expo came to the Chicagoland area.  It was fate that I was supposed to go...our computer system at work failed, and we were able to leave at noon.  I decided I'd take a drive to st. Charles and just check it out...WOW! 

I was blown away!!!  I couldn't believe so many vendors in the same place.  I bought so much stuff...it has really helped me get out of the mini creative rut that I was in.  I have made so much product since going to the expo. 

It was the first time that I went, and it defiantly won't be the last. 

Stuck in a Creative Rut

I need to find my creative juices...where have they all gone.  I need to start making Holiday cards, but it has been so hard for me.  It's still summer; Christmas and snow are not on my mind.  I'm thinking of ways to get Christmas Craft....

Turn air on so high that I need to wear a sweater
Drink Christmas in a Cup aka...peppermint mocha latte
Make hot chocolate
Listen to Christmas music
Watch Christmas movies

All great ideas, but nothing that really seems to motivate me into being Christmas Crafty though...

Wish me luck!!!

Dinosaur Birthday Greeting Cards

Need a birthday card for the dinosaur lover in your life? This card is the perfect hand made card for you!  I made this card along, with a few other dinosaur cards because I didn't think that I had a good selection of birthday cards for boys. 


Making this card was surprisingly very fin for me!  I think that I'm way better at creating girly cards, so this was a welcomed challenge; color coordinating and all!

I'm very excited/pleased with the outcome of this card. 

White card measures 5 x 6.5 inches.

Bright blue card stock is used as the backdrop for this card. A green die cut dinosaur was glued in the center (upper portion of the card). Make a wish was heat embossed on matching green card stock in black.

Inside Greeting:
Wishing you a Wonderful Birthday in black ink.

Card can be purchased HERE for $4.00. 

Sugar Grove Corn Boil

This weekend I was a vendor at the Sugar Grove Corn Boil.  This is my first time participating in this event, and it will be my last.  The heat was close to unbearable and it showed...hardly anyone showed up.  It was in the 90's with high humidity causing the heat index to be in the 100s.  I know, it's the middle of summer and mother nature can't be controlled.

Besides for the lack of traffic, I found plenty of other issues with this show:

1. I was never formally notified that I was accepted.  My check was cashed, but I never received an email with any information- such as booth set up time, booth #, or a list of the other vendors.  I even sent an email to the coordinator, asking her for info- 3 days before the show.  Her reply was "comig soon" yes she misspelled coming.  It only bothered me because you would think that she would have been more organized, and then actually provide me with the info.  No, I went there, not really knowing if I was going to display or not. 

2. It was advertised as a craft show, yet there were only about 10 booths that had handmade items...the rest of the booths- banks, loan places, gym memberships, bath fitter, costco,..etc.  I had a customer who came to my booth so excited to see something handmade...

3. The town had a monopoly on bottled water, no one else could sell it, and they charged $2.00 a bottle.  Seems sort of stiff to me!

4. I sprained my ankle.  Now, I know that this is my fault and not the fault of the corn boil, but I will associate it together in my head.  How did this happen you ask?  Walking out of the building, after using the bathroom- didn't notice the small step down, right foot twisted and boom there I went.  Yes, I must admit that I am a klutz and tend to fall often.

5. I lost money on this show.  I know that weather was a factor, but the people who were at the show didn't seem to want to look at any of the booths...by Sunday, vendors were packing up by 2 pm.  The show ended at 6!  I did stay to the end and was able to make an extra sale, but it was still a loss.

I've only been doing craft shows since April, so this is all a learning experience for me.   I just know that the Sugar Grove Corn Boil is not the place for me!

Here are photos of my booth set up!