Hello my crafty friends, happy Tuesday! Today’s post is very near and dear to my heart as I will be sharing some personal pictures taken on the Stamp & Scrapbook Expo show floor. It is an honor hosting the Creativity Center. What a dream job! I get to hang out with the most talented paper crafters in the United States! This is one booth that you won’t want to miss! Several different projects are taught in the Creativity Center throughout the day. If you’d like to take a peek at some of the projects, click here. There is something for every skill level and all the projects are free. (Yes, I said free!) Come join the fun and nurture your own creativity!
I am excited to report that a few of our very creative team members have been making an appearance in the booth. Since many of you are scrapbookers and I happen to have a few personal pictures on my phone, I thought you might enjoy sharing some special memories with the Stamp & Scrapbook Expo family.
Pauline
Many of you know Pauline from our popular Latest & Greatest workshops. She’s an amazing teacher both in the workshops and in the Creativity Center. I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing this fun pic of us enjoying some creative time with the girlfriends at the AI booth.
Tammy
You may have been lucky enough to have met Tammy in the booth. Like Pauline, you will often find her in the Latest and Greatest workshops and Card Swaps. Tammy is a seriously talented card maker and scrapbooker. Give that girl a few pieces of paper and she’ll create two dozen gorgeous cards; she never ceases to amaze me! I have to laugh, as I look at this picture, I can tell that Tammy is in the house, look at how neat and tidy the tables look. 🙂
Sean
You will most likely find Sean entertaining the troops over at the crops during the show but on occasion, he has been known to make an appearance at the Creativity Center and between us, he loves it! Hopefully, you’ll be seeing him teaching a class or two at future shows. Sean is an amazing paper crafter and truly enjoys sharing the love of the craft with others.
Larry, Me, Scott, and Tammy
Anyone recognize these handsome guys? That’s Larry and Scott checking on things at the Creativity Center. They are our truck drivers, so if you bought it AT the show, they brought it TO the show. If you see them on the show floor be sure to ask them about their buttons, they are so proud of theirs and would love to trade buttons with you.
The Creativity Center Rocks
At our Chantilly, VA show last month Karen stamped these adorable rocks using the Creativity Center Stamp set and hid them throughout the venue. You can imagine my delight when I walked up to the door at 7 am and found one. Hugs to Karen for sharing her creativity with us and for being an amazing sidekick all weekend in the Creativity Center. On the back of the rock, it’s stamped “You Need This In Your Life.” If you have ever been to the Creativity Center, you will often hear me say, this is a “Need It In Your Life” product. There are things we want on the show floor and there are things we need on the show floor, sound familiar? 😉
I bet you’re ready to go find a rock and start stamping, right?
Wow, thanks to all of you we have gone from running the booth with a few tables to hosting over 400 make & takes per show! We even have our own Limited Edition Creativity Center Stamp Set. If you are at the show you can go to the Keep It Simple booth or you can also pick one up online by clicking here. I am happy to report the stamp set is selling like hotcakes.
Here’s a blast from the past. Does anyone remember the first year of the Creativity Center? I believe it was 2012. The Creativity Center was the first Scrapbook Expo Booth on our own show floor and I’m happy to report that it has become very popular thanks to all of you. After all, where else can you play with the toys before you purchase them, right?
Here’s a pic of the very first Creativity Center. The teenager is my daughter Lindsay getting ready for one of the 1st make & takes taught in the booth. We started out with a few tables, some basic supplies, and several fun projects to share with my fellow paper crafters. Needless to say, I was in heaven and 7 years later I am still happy to call the Creativity Center home.
Things have changed quite a bit to accommodate the 425 make & takes that we teach each show. Now, each project taught in the Creativity Center is sponsored by the generous exhibitors on the show floor, so you get a real feel for all the new & exciting products that you will find in the booths throughout the show. What a win-win situation, you get to experience the product before you buy it while enjoying a free make & take and the exhibitors get to show off their new toys.
Sorry, this pic is not the best but it makes me smile when I see all your happy faces. We were doing an Elizabeth Craft card and the Creativity Center was on fire.
Even Else herself was in the house, sharing her Planner with us. Glitter was flying and everyone was amazed by the gorgeous card they just created. Good times!
Thanks for taking a walk down memory lane with me. I hope you’ve been inspired to grab a seat, enjoy a little inspiration, gather with your fellow paper crafters and even receive your souvenir “I Created Button.” Did I mention that there is no cost and that there is chocolate involved? LOL! Now that I have your attention, I’d like to give a shout out to the 1000’s of creative souls who have made the Creativity Center such an amazing place to be. Only good things can come from hanging out with your creative peeps – both old and new. I have seen many a friendship begin at the Creativity Center. Think about it, you all have so much in common – you all bring your own creativity to the party.
If anyone has a happy memory of your experience at the Creativity Center that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the show; I’ll meet you at the Creativity Center. 🙂
Hugs to all, Lorraine
I have been attending the expo for many years and enjoy the creativity center. It is difficult to get a seat though, and last year was not able to do even one project. Guess my timing was bad, seemed every time I would try, no seats were available and other people were already waiting. I feel some just take seat and don’t move and do multiple projects.
The Creativity is very popular but no one should ever stay in a seat when others are waiting, that is just rude. I am always busy and might not notice so If you ever see that happen please let me know. Thanks for sharing. Hugs Lorraine
I have never been able to do a project because the seats are always taken. The projects look cute and fun though.
I have never been able to do a project because the seats are always taken. The projects look cute and fun though.
Peg, next show we HAVE to make it happen.
NJ is anxiously seeing Lorraine again, she has us in stitches with her wit and crafting wisdom. Laughed a little too hard last year with the FLOCK card making class.
LOL, we did go a little south on the Flocking project. Good times, looking forward to hanging out with my east coast friends at the NJ show. Hugs Lorraine
Looks like so much fun! Can’t wait for the Expo in Mesa, AZ!!!!
Looking forward to seeing you in AZ. I have lots of beautiful projects to share.
Find it hard to get a seat when I attend and the lines are always long.
The Creativity Center with Lorraine is THE highlight of each Expo!! I always try to do a project, but even if a seat isn’t available, standing to observe the project and enjoy Lorraine’s charm and joy is worth the price of admission. She MAKES the Expos something to look forward to! God bless all the hard work she and the team put into this part of the show.
Amen to that!!
You and your fellow paper crafters are the reason that the Expo team puts our heart & soul into each an every show. It makes my heart sing knowing how much you enjoy your time at the Creativity Center. Hugs Lorraine
The Creativity Center is one of my favorite parts of the Expo.
Thanks for sharing, Hugs Lorraine
Very cool! Thanks for all these great projects! Looking forward to making one or more of them.
Your welcome, glad you enjoyed the projects.
Thanks for your make ‘n take at the Chantilly, VA Expo Lorraine. I enjoyed your commentary as well as the cool card I made. See you next year!
So happy you had fun.
I am drawn to the Creativity Center at the Expo like a moth to a flame, evesdropping many times per visit. Never an open chair, though. Maybe this year!
You’re so sweet, now it’s a Quest we will create something beautiful at the next show. Hugs Lorraine
Aww Lorraine, i love visiting you.
Love crafting with you too. Hugs, Lorraine
Great article Lorraine. Nice to see the notes on those that help to make the Creativity Center the place to go to learn something and opens new area of crafting to each of us. Love how to find new ways to use something out there like the planner die at Pomona making a cute card.
Thanks, Carol. Glad you find inspiration and enjoy the projects. Look forward to seeing you at our next Pomona show and maybe I’ll be lucky enough to see you Ontario this year. Hugs Lorraine
We love having you in KC every year. You make crafting fun.
I love the KC show, you guys were on fire at the Creativity Center, still recuperating, lol.
I didn’t make it to Milwaukee this year. First one I’ve missed in 5 years. Hopefully will get to attend next year. I want to tell you how much I enjoy your Creativity Center and thank you for all you do to make it fun and enjoyable. You’re always so upbeat and delightful. I look forward to your wit and the cards we create are truly exceptional.
Ida, you are so kind, It makes me smile knowing that you enjoyed yourself at the Creativity Center. You were missed this year, hoping to see you next show. Hugs Lorraine
Lorraine and the creativity center is always a highlight for my daughter and I at the Marlborough MA show.
Thanks Jane, I love it when I see mother and daughter sharing some fun crafting time. Hugs to you both!
I enjoy seeing Lorraine every year in Orlando. She is so much fun, lots of tricks & tips & she makes everyone laugh & enjoy themselves even more! It is really getting harder & harder to get a seat, but I hope that means the Expo is in good standings financially. Every year we see more & more stores & shows close up. I LOVE paper crafting & count down the months, days & minutes ’till the expo is back. Lorraine & the creativity center have always been a show favorite!!
You are sooo sweet! Not to worry, the Expo’s fine, we’re not going anywhere. Orlando is one of our larger shows. As far as the stores, we don’t have any control when they close. We do our best to support the local stores in any way we can as they carry the team all year long. The best we can all do is support them whenever we can, stop by often, take a class or two, etc.. It makes my heart sing knowing you are inspired by the Creativity Center. Hugs Lorraine
I love visiting the creativity center and you as you teach the project. You always make it fun and keep everyone entertained at the same time. You are truly amazing! Can’t wait to see and create with you at Duluth!
Thanks for sharing such kind thoughts, Cant wait to see you at the Creativity Center, I’m packing as we speak, Hugs Lorraine
Lorraine, you need a bigger booth. You see all the comments about not getting a seat. Believe me in takes a lot of patience to get one. I have been going to the expos for years and the last couple of years I make sure I get a seat. Love the the fun and crafting at the Creativity Center. Keep it up Lorraine and her helpers. I made it to 3 shows this year, can’t wait for the next one.
I appreciate any time we’re able to craft together, thanks for your continued support, Hugs Lorraine
Last yr at the Duluth show, I was waiting for a seat at the creativity booth and my golden ticket number was called out! I screamed out I was so excited. See you next week Lorraine. I can’t wait to see what you have planned for us!
Looking forward to seeing you next week!
Love the Creativity Center. Only been able to get a seat twice in the past five years, but when I did, it was lots of fun and a great education. Hopefully I can get a seat for one of your Make & Takes at Schaumburg. Missed out on the Latest and Greatest Workshops there too. They always fill up so fast and I was out of town when the sale started. Boo Hoo!!! Next year! Keep up the good work!!!!