Each year my PIC (stamping Partner In Crime) and I plan what stamp/scrapbooking shows we would want to attend during that year. In the past each year would start with our first show being in Columbia, SC and that is the Stamp and Scrap Art Tour show (SSAT). Two years ago we shopped that show and there were no sales, vendor coupons, or booth deals so this year we skipped that show. With traveling 3+ hours one way to a show having coupons or deals helps off set time and gas getting there.... In the past we have attended the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo show in both Chantilly, VA and Duluth, GA which were great shows but for us we would have to reserve hotel rooms for the night since the drive to these cities is a 6+ hour ride..... but last year we did go to the Duluth show and it was really good -- lots of vendors, lots of coupons/deals/sales and a fun show all around.... usually at these shows when you are waiting in the line to enter vendors walk the line and have "hand outs" which are coupons or a small flyer with their booth sales and deals.... PIC and I were all set to attend the Duluth show again this July until....
Stamp and Scrapbook Expo sent out an email that this year they would not be holding their show in Chantilly, VA but rather in Fredericksburg, VA in June. I spoke to my PIC and we were fine to cancel our hotel reservations for the Duluth show in July and instead drive the 3 1/2 hours to Fredericksburg to attend this show..... DH said he would drive us there and back so we were set.... I went to the website for the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo and signed up for show coupons/specials so before we went to the show we would know what deals were offered. First to start with on our way....
and a photo of the Convention Center:
DH dropped us at the door at 8:30AM with the show starting at 9:00AM. We got in line to wait for the show to open and there already were shoppers ahead of us in line.
Admission to this show was $12.00 EACH... I think the highest we have paid to attend one of these shows in the past was maybe $8.00 for our admission. In the past when we attend SSAT shows we usually receive a post card a couple of weeks before the show with a dollar off coupon for our admission. Also at the Duluth show we were all given a large black Stamplistic/Spellbinders tote bag to use for shopping with our admission ticket. At this show $12.00 got us in and that was it.... no tote bag.... Last week I did receive an email from the Scrapbook Expo with a link to print out coupons/deals at the show in Fredericksburg. I printed them out and had them ready with my shopping list. Here is the show guide you get with your paid admission and it has a list of vendors inside as well as a floor map of the vendors so you know where everyone is set up:
Tall Mouse, Eyelet Outlet, and Scrappy Boy Stamps all walked the line and gave us hand outs and told us about specials at their booth, etc.. Before I left for the show I had made a list of 5 products I wanted to shop for at this show. First being the American Flag die set from Scrappy Boy Stamps that was sold out in their online store when I looked for it and I was hoping they would have it at the show. When Sean (ScrappyBoy) walked the waiting line I asked if he had the flag die with him at this show and he said he did so happy me to go to his booth first and pick that die set up. I also picked up his plastic storage envelopes in a size I wanted and his Box Making die set as well. He had a coupon for 15% off all his stamp and dies so that was nice to have a savings offered:
Also on my list was a stop at the Bee Creative booth for their special on Stickles all their Sizzix products were 30% off. I bought the Diamond Stickles and a 3D embossing folder:
This next booth/products were at a vendor I have never heard of or shopped before. She is the "Crafty Stamp Co" and her website is: "www.craftystampco.com" and her booth was really nice. I bought two packs of her 6x6 card stocks - there are 48 sheets in each pack AND she has a plastic envelope/sleeve in the package to store your card stock in. Here is a photo of the card stocks and stencils I picked up from her:
Nautical card stock, sunflower card stock, one stencil is here "Yikes and Frights" Halloween background stencil and her "Forest Tree Line" stencil. She also gave us a code for a discount on an order from her website. Here is a photo of the card stocks in the plastic envelope/sleeve she includes in the package:
Off to the Elizabeth Craft Design booth. They had show specials where you buy a certain amount of dies and get one free. She also had flower dies for $5.00 and a sentiment stamp set for $2.00. They gave you a free "handmade" stamp with your purchase:
Now to Tall Mouse. Their die sets were $10.00 each and if you bought a certain amount you again got one for free:
I picked up a cover plate die and two die sets for piecing card fronts together. If you spent $30.00 at their booth they gave you a free tote bag and a free button. I also bought mini magnets from them:
Off to the Stamplistic booth where they were selling Spellbinder dies and hot foil plates:
At the show last year in Duluth Stamplistic had specials on Spellbinders dies and products but not this year. I picked up two die sets and one Simon Hurley hot foil set for $10.00. At KeepItSimplePaper.com I picked up their show special of Sprinkles and a large pumpkin die set:
Now for the items I bought at Brass & Bliss. Last year at the Duluth show I shopped their booth and they had lots of show specials but this year NONE. No coupons, no buy this many to get one free, zip...
These three items I had on my list so I bought them anyways knowing at least I would not have to pay for shipping if I bought them at the show and not from their online store... But I was disappointed that they offered no show specials or coupons or anything for us shoppers......
Will say these stamp shows need to realize all us crafters do not live across the street and many of us will travel an hour or a few to attend these shows so any coupons/show specials help us justify driving to support them. This was the first year we had to print out our own coupons/show special ads and hand outs for the waiting line were few. At then entrance of the show there was a display rack with all these buttons for sale and I bought one:
I usually buy a different button each year for the shows and this button cost $4.00..... When we left the show we stopped at a booth in the lobby where if you showed your combined receipts that totaled $150.00 or more you received a really nice lanyard with a Scrap Book Expo show button and another "shopped the Expo" button for free:
DH picked us up and we went over to Wegmans which we could walk to it is so close to the Convention Center:
We all ordered a sub for our late lunch and ate it there and did some shopping and headed home for the day. DH said when he dropped us off to the show he left and went to IHOP for breakfast. When he came back the parking lot at the Convention Center was full so he pulled in the Wegmans parking lot to park and wait for us. He said he saw a lot of people pull into the parking lot at the Convention Center and then drive over to Wegmans to park and they walked over to the Convention Center to shop. At every booth we shopped there were a lot of shoppers -- lines to check out at all the booths so happy to see so many paper crafters and scrapbookers at this show. A lady that works for Scrapbook Expo said they plan to return to Fredericksburg next year and that show will be held in April so happy about that as we will attend again.
Long day but happy we did not have to reserve a hotel and spread the trip out over two days. Always happy to see products in person at the shows and all the displays and samples at the vendor booths. Just wish that Scrapbook Expo offered a coupon for admission as I think $12.00 for admission is high.....
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