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The stamp shows I have attended have been well worth the price of admission and my time. Sometimes you can check the show promoter's website and see what companies have said they'll be there, which helps you from sensory overload once you arrive. I started out with primarily SU products and have branched out thanks to stamping shows. There is a big, wide, wonderful stamping world out there, and shows are a great way to learn more about it.
I've only attended the Heirloom and Stamp, Scrap Art shows that come near my area. I've enjoyed the ones I've been to and spent lots of money at each. I've never seen any Stampin' Up vendors at any of them though. But branch out and see what the other vendors have to offer. You'll be surprised what's available. I think they are well worth the time and money investment.
Check out the websites for the shows to see vendors attending.
I am SU mostly (cuz I am a demo!) but I still really enjoy going to shows. I like to see what other companies offer, I get tons of ideas, and I really like the energy of being around people who enjoy my hobby. As for spending money, yeah, I manage to do that too. :rolleyes: They are fun to go to, whether on your own or with a group of friends. I say go, have a good time, then tell us what you bought!!
I love stamp shows! They are a little overwhelming so I always go in with a plan by first checking out the website (Adventures in Stamping always come our way) so I know what vendors will be there. Sometimes I walk out without any stamps at all because there are so many other things there such as tools, coloring mediums, etc. I also would love to know if there is a comprehensive list....
__________________ Sharon S. "A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit." - Rabelais My Gallery
A little O.T but I have to tell my stamp show story.
I got a postcard in the mail addressed to the previous owner of our house. It said "Stamp Show!!", had the date and time, free admission, refreshments, all that.
I was excited and thought I would go, even though it was being held at a large church clear across town.
I got there and the parking lot was packed. My excitement was building as I finally found a place to park. There were signs and arrows, saying "Stamp Show, this way!"
When I got to the entrance, there were quite a few really old geezer guys standing outside smoking and talking. They certainly didn't look like stampers, but I thought, well, maybe they are someone's husbands.
What a shock when I got inside - tables and tables of Postage Stamps!!!
Be careful about stamp shows.:mrgreen:
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I LOVE going to stamp shows. I love watching the demos-some of those folks can do magic! I love watching Tim Holtz the most of course! It is fun to go and just look and watch and do the make-n-takes! Some of them have neat and different techniques. I love when Stampscapes is there and I can do one of theirs. I bet you will have tons of fun!
I have only worked once at a convention. I worked for the promoter, handing out vendor lists & helping with wristbands. I made about $30 (in cash) for 4 hours work. I chose to work on a Sunday, didn't want to miss out on anything on Saturday & Sundays are always slower.
Some vendors pay in product, so the way you spend your earnings is limited to their booth. Others may give you a choice of product or cash but you may get more value for your time worked if you take product instead of money.
I attended one stamp show several years ago and none have been back in my area since. I would love to go to another but have to travel too far to attended any. :( Sure wish my area would be put on someone's schedule!
I recently attended the Rubber Stamp Expo in St. Paul in May. They have them twice a year and then next one I believe is in Sept. While this was not a large show there were plenty of big names and oportunity for make and takes and lots of discounts on your p�rchase. i.e. Unity, Our Daily Bread, Heartfelt Creations. Incidentally Unity had grab bags of 26 rubber stamps for $10 in clear see through baggies, so you could see what you were getting. Everytime you made a purchase at their booth you got to pick a free rubber stamp....I went back three times. lol
Scrapfest is coming up in September at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, which has a really nice line up and a much bigger show. I have never been to this one but it looks tempting. Its a fun thing to do especially if you want to go on a road trip with a friend, and stop along the way at various stamp stores that all have something different to offer.I will certainly go to another one perhaps to one of the two they will have in Mesa while I am down..
If there is a stamp show close to where I live, I always like to go, even if I am not sure the vendors have products that are really my style. The last show I went to, most of the stamps were really artsy and I'm not so artsy. ;)
That said I learned some cool stuff and got to try some products that I've never tried before.
__________________ Teri
Retired Paper Craft & Scrapbooking magazine Go-to Gal & Contributing Editor
Retired Moxie Fab World Hostess All-around lucky girl
Annette..your story is a hoot...they have two different rubber stamp shows here in Vegas every year. One in spring and one in the fall. I always love to go and always spend a lot of money...lol
blessings.
I always try to attend the shows when I can. I've learned several cool techniques at the make-and-takes, and discovered some great stamp companies.
I made the mistake of attending the biggest one in my region the same day as my first bicycle race ever. I had to get up really early for the race, then went directly from the race to the expo. Well, the combination of sleep deprivation and adrenaline high was not a good thing for my budget. I normally bring cash, and once that's gone I go home. But that day I whipped out my credit card and continued to spend. Oops.
__________________ aka Sue. Or Sue-odd.
No blog for me. My gallery chronicles my card-making successes and mishaps.
Go and you will have a wonderful time! Make sure you take a camera with you as many of the vendors do not mind having photographs of the displays taken. I usually take a shopping tote to keep all of my purchases in. The free make and takes are well worth any wait that you might have.
I noticed, though, that there weren't any really up in the northeast. The closest would be New York and even that is quite a drive.
Anybody know of any stamp shows in the northeast?
Heirloom Productions has shows throughout the country, and they are always in West Springfield, MA the first weekend in June. Here's a link to the information for the 2011 show, so that you can see the list of the vendors who attended and the classes that were offered: Heirloom Productions- West Springfield - June 4 & 5, 2011
The show has become much smaller than it used to be, and I haven't attended for a few years, but I've always enjoyed the chance to see products and interact with other people who have papercrafting in common.
Linda, the RS&S show in Rochester is relocated there after many years in Syracuse. The last few years (except I can't speak for last year's because I didn't go), there were fewer and fewer vendors. One year, I think there were more bead vendors than stamping/scrapping. Well, it seemed that way to me. There were also several vendors totally unrelated to anything remotely related to s/s...tub fitters, basement refinishers, etc. I'm thinking that's why the show was moved.
I have worked at the show. The organizer is a bit scattered in his approach to staffing but it's a good way to get in free if you have several hours to spare -- and if he gets back to you.
I know there's another show coming up in Hamburg. If you follow the link in my signature, you'll find others with signature links to that event plus several upstate and CNY Splitcoast gatherings. Don't be surprised if one of the CNYers stops by and you'll be able to capture the links right here. Nancy (njbaker) has also worked at the RS&SS and could give you some feedback.
If you like, I will add you to the notification list for the East Syracuse event on November 5. Just send me a PM.
"The organizer is a bit scattered in his approach to staffing but it's a good way to get in free if you have several hours to spare -- and if he gets back to you."
Now, why doesn't THAT surprise me? Two years ago, the show here was at the Altamont Fairgrounds in cold, rainy April - in an unheated, uninsulated building served by a dirt parking lot. Really?
The new Hudson Valley Community College location is at least climate controlled with paved parking. In this area, any vendors will be useful since both Stampassion and Memory Lane have gone out of business.
I hope to attend this one in Rochester, simply because it's in Rochester! It seems to me, Rochester is always overlooked for these events! I have been to this expo before when it was in Syracuse & I enjoyed it. I have been going to CKC convention in Buffalo for several years too & it seems that the vendors dwindle there every year too. Either way, it seems that I travel to Buffalo or Syracuse for events so I am happy to have one in Roch & hope my fellow ROC stampers will attend too!
Hi Ladies! Here are a couple more I did not see listed in the linked websites:
RUBBER STAMP EVENTS
There are 2 shows for this promoter and we have done the Collinsville, Illinois show for the past 3 years and it is fun!
CK Community | Scrap & Paper Corner
Although this is a scrapbooking show there are more and more rubber stamp vendors and lots of classes geared towards the rubber stamper. I even heard some people complaining that there were to many stamp booths...LOL!!
Welcome to Scrapbooks Mega Meet, LLC
This promoter has a huge show in May near DEtroit and they are having a smaller show brand new this year in Toledo, Ohio.
Since many of the shows were already mentioned, I jst thought I would add these too, even though most are considered scrapbooking shows. You can still find all kinds of paper and accessories there!
We do 25 shows a year and we really like the Heirloom and Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo shows, but since we sell othe items besdies stamps we are starting to also enjoy the scrapbook shows.
Somebody mentioned that RSSE shows had strange booths...Scott, the promoter, teams some of his shows up with Women's Expos, but there are usually not too many of those booths, and they are usually in a separate area.
"Stamp shows"?
