Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I was wondering if anyone has ever been to Heirloom's Rubber Stamp and Paper Arts Festival - http://www.heirloompro.com/
There is a show coming up March 13 & 14 in St. Charles, IL and I was thinking of attending. I am curious if anyone has gone to one of these before and what they thought of it. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! ;)
Heirloom Rubber Stamp and Paper Arts Festival is definitely worth attending. I will be going this year for the 10th year to the Puyallup Washington event which is May 15 and 16. Over the years I have encouraged many friends to attend this event and no one has ever been disappointed. We travel farther than most people to this event as we are mainly from the Vancouver BC Canada area, takes about 5 hours to get to Puyallup Washington. I am sure you won't be disappointed!
I've been to some in the past and they've been fun. Since we no longer have any stamp stores in our area, it's an opportunity to buy things we can only get on-line. I especially like to see paper IRL so this provides a good opportunity. (And I like to save on shipping).
We're going to the one in Indianapolis this weekend, so I'll let you know how it was.
My friend and I go every year to Indianapolis to this show. Last weekend we went to the CKC show in Louisville. I personally like the Heirloom show better. I think it offers a better variety of vendors.
I've gone for several years to the HeirloomPro stamp show in Indy and in Fort Wayne. Going to Indy show this weekend! While the Indy show has become smaller than the first one I attended it is well worth going to! Our Daily Bread will be a vendor at this year's show; DeNami was at last year's and will be at this year's also. I love Bugawumps stamps! Lots of demonstrations; I've not attended any of the classes offered. I go to browse, take pictures of displays, and buy, buy, buy!! I think you'll enjoy it! Some shows have more vendors than others depending on the area/state.
Friends and I go to the one in West Springfield, MA = we make a weekend of it! It is great to see all the goodies new and old - we don't have to pay s/h and we meet wonderful people - both vendors and other stampers - we already have our reservations for the hotel for this year - counting the months till show time!! If you get the chance to attend one go for it you will be amazed - oh yeah and make sure you bring lots of $$$$$$ with you!
My friend and I went to the show in West Springfield MA last year and we plan to go again this year. It was a lot of fun, and we got a LOT of neat stamps -- and no shipping
__________________ ~*Kat*~=^..^=My Gallery My blogStamping is an addiction and a therapy all rolled into one!
It comes to Michigan and I have gone for the past several years. We do not have many stamp strores around here ( they keep closing) and it is a great place to see new ideas and techniques up close and personal. Take your camera most vendors let you take pictures of their samples. It is worth the trip if it is going to be near you.
It's a great show but it can be overwhelming at first. I always check out the websites of the listed vendors. This helps me narrow down the things I really want and keeps down the impulse buys. Notice I said narrows, not eliminates. Bring lots of cash and comfy shoes.
I love Heirloom. I can speak from both a customer view (before I had a company) and also as a vendor that has a booth with them at their PA shows. I find that the folks that run it are more organized that some other companies. They seem to care a lot about the experience their vendors and the customers that come have. You would not BELIEVE the horror stories I could tell you about some other expo companies just trying to host shows as cheaply as possible--to the great expense of their customers and vendors both.
Heirloom has never given that impression. They are a great expo company to shop at, and they have LOTS of vendors, so you get a lot of selection in one afternoon of shopping. That's the main reason I think I like them--they host really big shows where you can find SOMETHING you "need" no matter what your style!
Make sure to hit the make-n-takes at the booths too if you can! You get to play with all sorts of fun new items before you buy them!
Went to the show in St. Charles , IL this past weekend. Picked up all the new Tim Holtz inks, yay! (and no shipping) A lot of vendors with a lot of glitter, which isn't really my taste, but I found enough vintage, grungy stuff to make it well worth the trip!
__________________ �And art made tongue-tied by authority�
... Sonnet 66, William Shakespeare
They come every year to the Atlanta area. The show has gotten smaller over the years, but it's fun to go to. There are usually a variety of rubber stamp companies (both UMs and mounteds), companies that specialize in glitter and EP, a company that handles brass stencils, and one or two of the major paper suppliers.
Most of the vendors have "show deals" (usually something like buy 4, get one free) and you do save on shipping charges if you typically buy online. It's also an opportunity to see new products demoed -- and ifi you want to see something in action, the vendors are usually happy to show you.
(Also, Heirloom does a door prize every hour or so; I have won $10 gift certificates to certain booths the last 2 years in a row.)
If you go on at a slow time, it's fun to just talk to the vendors -- after all, these are people who make a living in the hobby we all love.
HI, I;m planning on going to the one in Allentown, PA...Should we be prepared with cash or do most vendors take debit cards?
TIA
My experience - all but one of the vendors I bought from took plastic.
The exception was Stampland from Chicago. They took cash or check, but do take plastic for on-line purchases. You want to make this booth a "must see".
The stamps are exceptional, and the owner was so entertaining, had some amazing techniques, and would happily demonstrate anything you wanted. I spent a lot of time (and money)there! :rolleyes:
__________________ �And art made tongue-tied by authority�
... Sonnet 66, William Shakespeare
Regarding the credit cards. Most vendors do take them, but it adds to the time on line to use a credit card. Of course, if I use cash only, I don't go above my spending limit.
Be careful of your money and count your change. Everyone is in a hurry. I try to give them as close to the exact amount as possible. Whatever you choose, you will have fun. I love looking at all the beautiful samples and new products. Bring a list of what you think you may want, such as colors of inkpads.
__________________ The best things in life aren't things.
Can anyone point me to a link to the stamp show for Springfield, MA listed above? Or any other shows in New England? With the Canadian dollar almost at par with the US dollar, I'd love an excuse for a road trip!!!
I didn't realise the MA event was part of the Heirloom event so please disregard part of my earlier post. I'm still interested in any other type of stamping/card making shows in New England :-)
Thanks for all the feedback! Your great comments convinced me to go a few weekends ago, and it was AWESOME!!!!! So glad I went! I will definitely visit again if they return to my area in the future.
Heirloom's Rubber Stamp and Paper Arts Festival
