Valley Forge Review

Let me just get this off my chest, and I promise I won't mention it again, but next time I consider driving up I-95 in the summer - on a weekend - please stop me. I spent more than eight hours getting to and from Valley Forge. Fortunately, though, while there were storms, none were strong enough to knock out the power. :-)

So, you're wondering, how was it?...

Overall, I'd rate it a B. I could never rate (1) an opportunity for "me" time or (2) the opportunity to scrap or shop for scrapbook supplies in peace badly. But, while I made some really great layouts and bought A LOT of really cool scrapbook supplies, I was disappointed that I didn't learn more technique-wise, though it does harden my determination to go to CKU next year for sure!

Here's a review of all the clases:

A Thing or Two about Boys - This was sponsored by QuikQuotes. This was simply a process of building layouts based on their kits. The one thing that I did get reinforced is a neat way to make slide mounts match your layout.

LuCKy Girl - This was sponsored by CK and taught by Creating Keepsakes, Managing Editor, Brittany Beattie. We made a little scrapbook of the things were are most grateful for that fit in a little tin. Definitely very cool scrapbook...I see Christmas presents

All About Heritage - This was also sponsored by QuikQuotes. Again, it was simply a process of creating layouts. Neat way to do photo corners out of vellum.

Boys Go Zoom! - This was a class on board books, which I wasn't quite expecting. The board book was made with glossy chipboard - I had been thinking of natural chipboard. But...I did learn a cool way to make photo corners with ribbon (if enough people are interested - write me to let me know - I'll write something up about this, the vellum photo corners and slide mounts).

You've Been Framed! - This was a class on creating unique frames with your scrapbook supplies and was sponsored by Simple Scrapbooks. Nothing fancy or complicated, but a super-cool idea!

10 Things Every Scrapbooker Should Know - This too was taught by Brittany Beattie and was full of great little tips that "every scrapbooker should know," such as...it's OK to scraplift, it's OK to create a layout without pictures, it's OK to take LOTs of pictures and more! Definitely recommend it if they offer again next year.

Now, by the time I was coming to my last class...I was exhausted and knew that I had a long drive in front of me, so what probably would have been a lot of fun ended up being disappointing in a way.

Keep it Simple, Make it Quick, Get it Done with Metropolis - It's a really long title and was set as a two-hour class, but as the title states, it was simple. In fact, too simple for my liking at the time. I wanted to be challenged, but instead I was given a pack of Scenic Route scrapbook supplies with instructions to make four two-page layouts. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about great supplies, but I wanted to learn something different and quickly realized that wasn't going to happen in this class. So, about an hour in, I decided to pack up and hit the road - even if I was giving up the chance to win a door prize.

Another year is done and I look forward to what next year will bring in my scrapbook education!