Typical great deals at CKCs? Enabler help wanted!!!

[PinballFamily]

Hope you "CKC veterans" can help!

I'm trying to budget money for the Manchester vendor show floor (ha - what $$$ is left after a day-long bus trip binge this past weekend to five big scrapbook stores within 100 miles!!! ) and wondering what types of typical bargains there are to be found. I know vendors usually attend the whole circuit of shows and usually have the same "show special" at each...

So, what did you see and/or scoop up from the booths at recent shows? Carts, paper, stacks, embellishments, page kits, tools, stamps, Copics, accessories, etc...? I want to hear about all your great deals!

Thanks!

 

[New England Eeyore]

Actually, in my opinion at least, CKC is not really known for "deals." There's a lot of STUFF - stuff you probably haven't seen before or stuff you might only be able to find online, but deals are kind of few and far between. There is always at least one "Dollar booth" where everything is a dollar. In Manchester there is usually a booth with all sorts of brads, eyelets, buttons, and things like that where you can cram as much as you can fit into a cup and pay a flat fee for the cup - that's usually a good deal. They weren't at Hartford last year, though, so I'm not sure if they just skipped that one or if they're not around any more.

The lack of deals doesn't keep me from spending (way too much) money, though. For example - the website "Embellish It" always has a booth with all the Basic Grey and Bazzill. I bought a ton of Bazzil packs - it was actually the same price that they sell on their website, but I got to see it in person, which is always a plus for me, and no shipping (and no sales tax in NH!)

In terms of what they have for sale - everything. Any scrapping thing you could think of, you can probably find there. TONS of patterned paper (my weakness), cardstock, stickers, inks, stickles, albums, chipboard - you name it, someone has it. The trend the last couple of years has really shifted toward the pages kits and maybe even more so the premade pages (just add pictures) - TONS of those. I wasn't interested in those so I'm not sure what the pricing was like for those. Also a lot of laser die cut titles and other kind of stuff, which again I wasn't as interested in once I had the Cricut and SCAL. Cricut stuff was kind of few and far between in Manchester last year, but Hartford (later in the year) did have a booth featuring it - I think the deals were decent - maybe someone else will remember better.

Oh, and there are always a few booths that are just a waste of time for seasoned scrap shoppers - like the ones full of Jolee's, for the same or more as you would pay at the box stores. Why would I ever pay full price for them when you can wait for a sale? So you really have to be careful - don't assume anything is a deal.

I can't give anyone advice on how much to budget - whatever I tell myself I go WAY over every year. I decided a few weeks ago not to spend a dime on scrapbooking between now and then so I don't have to feel quite so guilty when I get there and go overboard again. And as calanniebu can attest - I should not be allowed to shop with anyone. I am a terrible enabler.

BTW - how was the bus tour? Did you guys have fun in addition to spending all your money?

 

[calanniebu]

And as calanniebu can attest - I should not be allowed to shop with anyone. I am a terrible enabler.

so funny ... but so true ...

 

[PinballFamily]

A
I can't give anyone advice on how much to budget - whatever I tell myself I go WAY over every year. I decided a few weeks ago not to spend a dime on scrapbooking between now and then so I don't have to feel quite so guilty when I get there and go overboard again. And as calanniebu can attest - I should not be allowed to shop with anyone. I am a terrible enabler.

BTW - how was the bus tour? Did you guys have fun in addition to spending all your money?

Well - I went WAY over what I thought I'd spend on the five store bus tour! The cool Copic markers got the best of me!!! (Bought 11 - gulp!) I also spent on Scrapbook Girl apparel, some interesting patterned and Coredinations papers, lots of Primas, some fun new tools and stamping supplies, Stickles, and the JustRite monogram Curlz stamper... TinkerBean scored lots of great stuff too...can't remember all she got, but there were LOTS of clear/rubber stamps in her baskets! We're all big time enablers for each other!

We had a total blast (we were probably on the *best* of the five buses...we stayed pretty much on schedule - unlike others - and had delightful bus hostesses and prizes) and enjoyed seeing stores we hadn't visited ever before. Our little group of four - including DD18 - won oodles of door prizes and contests on the bus and at each of the stores (Basic Grey packs/full lines, DaisyD stacks, spools of ribbon, chipboard packs, stickers, etc.) and DD actually walked away with the day's grand prize - the 30 second shopping spree at our host store! She had a blast running around and scooped up the exact things she had been dying for - an armful of Disney stuff, of course! - and lots of Thickers. (And oodles of Dew Drops for her loving mom!) The food/drink/snacks were yummy all day and the make-n-takes at each stop were cute.

We're planning to revisit some of the stores on our own, but were wondering what we might see in Manchester in a few weeks. Thanks for all the info, NEE! Keep the opinions and info coming, everyone! Anything to add, TB?

 

[New England Eeyore]

Wow - congrats to DD!!! That is so awesome that she won the grand prize!! And that all of you made out well overall.

I'm glad you guys had so much fun!

 

[PinballFamily]

NEE, you'll meet the (same) whole gang of us in Manchester - we travel as a posse! TinkerBean is planning on matching shirts for the four of us (a la Disney!) for CKC. We're a strange - but fun-loving! - group...

DD is truly the luckiest kid in the world - she always wins everything! We *knew* before the shopping spree drawing was even held that she'd be the winner! There's a big lottery jackpot in her future, someday. (But, I suppose that means we'd actually have to buy a ticket )

Looking forward to seeing you at CKC!

 

[Michellepooh]

Pinball Family - so glad you like the bus tour so much! Which store did you like the best? That is so cool that your DD won the shopping spree. I don't know what I'd be grabbing for, that's a tough call!

Like NEE said, you really won't find too many "bargains" at CKC. I like that there is a nice variety of things as opposed to just what you see in ACMoore or Michael's. It's pretty much everything you would see in the online stores all in one place. The predone page kits are everyone! It's really gotten to be overkill on those, and they are so expensive!!!! Most run at least $20 for a 2 page layout. I am also a huge fan of the Bazzill packs, I can never have enough.

Make sure you come prepared. Wear comfy shoes because there's lots of walking. Also be sure to bring a tote bag to carry all of your purchases in. I also like to bring a 12x12 plastic envelope to keep any loose sheets of paper in so they don't get crushed.

Looking forward to meeting you, although I'm sure TinkerBean has already warned you about all of us.

 

[LindaBabe]

I spent about $400-500 at the CK Hartford last year, but we don't have a scrapbook store, so I bought what I wanted (&thought would hold me over til this year, but they aren't having it, so I dunno what i'm going to do) I bought lazer cut pages, some disney page kits. chipboard albums, paper, paper and paper. Basic Grey - whole lines of it. Scor pal. Sticky ended pick up stick. didn't go near the dollar booth and got overwhelmed in the eyelet/brad place. The only thing I'm still 'iffy' on is the score pal.

 

[PinballFamily]

Sticky ended pick up stick.

OMG! I didn't know about these, but at Right At Home (N. Attleboro, MA), TinkerBean waved one of them in my face and said "You need one of these!" Then explained why. Course I threw it in my basket...silly me hadn't heard about them, but it looks like a cool tool!

Loved that store (a lot!) along with Absolutely Everything (Topsfield, MA). Wow!

Also bought a lot at The Crop Shop (Rockland, MA) and at The Scrapbooker's Dream (Tewksbury, MA - our host store - especially loved the clearance sections at both of these two stores - really cleaned up there!).

Bought less (but terrific stuff) at the NH Scrapbook Cabin (Amherst, NH), but this was a great store too, with incredibly friendly owners and staff. It was our bus's last stop, so I think we all were a bit exhausted by then. Who knew shopping, eating, laughing non-stop, riding a bus (and winning scads of neat-o free scrapping prizes!) would be so tiring???

 

[TinkerBean]

I am making t-shirt for the ckc trip for my crew...and yes all have been warned(althought I should probably be warning *you* about us)

Really looking forward to catching up with everyone -

Oh - yes the bus trip was a blast (or as our friend put it "well that was different)

Rhonda