Care With Cards -THANKS SO MUCH!

Our brand new program, Care With Cards made it's debut at Scrapbook USA Expo Spring Show. Thanks so much for helping to make it an absolute success!! We were able to donate over 3200 cards to Operation Write Home!! It has been incredible to work with Leslie (from Operation Write Home). Here is part of a letter I received from her over the weekend:

Dear Kristin,
Thank you again for inviting Operation Write Home to participate in the Expo. Everyone on your team was wonderful and we were treated with such kindness.

I know you all are exhausted but wanted you to know that everyone I spoke to had nothing but positive things to say about their experiences. Your attendees were so very supportive of Operation Write Home.I had several military wives, sisters, cousins etc., comment on how grateful they were that you would be supportive of their loved ones serving overseas and at home.

Our grand total of cards came to 3,277. We figure that the average cost of a card is around $2.00 per card so that equals out to an over $6,000.00 donation from your attendees...which is an awesome amount by any standards, but especially considering it was achieved in a 24 hour period.

You were stellar partners...
Thanks again,
Leslie



What a great opportunity it has been AND will continue to be. Care With Cards will be moving forward! We plan to keep working together with each of you to spread more love, happiness and smiles through our crafting. Keep an eye out as we have more plans for our September show coming up September 28-29!

THANKS!!!

Scrapbook USA Expo 101

There are so many things to see and do at Scrapbook USA Expo!! If this is your first time or even if you have been coming for years, there is more to know and more to do!! Check out some details below and you will see that there is something for everyone!

Receipt Redemption Table:
This is a popular area just behind the stage. A couple of things are happening here.

1. Every time you spend $25.00 you can redeem your receipts for "drawing tickets" which can be used to enter any of the current drawings going on or you can enter your tickets into the "general" prize drawing bucket and see how lucky you are. Prizes are changing all day long so keep coming back with your receipts.

2. Shopper Diva Bags-These are **HOT** so don't wait too long to get one of these bags. When you spend a minimum of $100 at the show you can turn in your receipts for one of our 3 levels of bags. The 3 levels are based on what you spend ($100, $250, $500). The more you spend, the more you will find in your bag. Companies that have donated to the bags include Envy Foto, Boondocks, Over The Top Cookies, Snowbird, Chick-Fil-A, Classic Skating plus lot's of scrapbook goodies.

These bags go fast so hurry up and get yours!!

Pick Your Prize:
Prizes are good, right? Even better is choosing your prize! You can do that this year! Select which drawing you want to enter as your browse around the stage area. The prizes will be changing through out the day so keep coming back and see what is new! These aren't little prizes either. We have Cricuit Create, Gypsy bundles, loaded baskets of supplies, treats, gift certificates and more! Everyone gets 2 drawing tickets upon arrival and you can earn more by redeeming your receipts at the above mentioned receipt redemption table and donating cards to our Cards That Care Program. Put all your tickets into one drawing OR spread them out. You can also enter our general prize bucket and let us pick your prize!

Care With Cards:
"Creatively Care" with Scrapbook USA Expo! Bring a card to the show and donate it! All cards donated at this show will be given to "Operation Write Home". Visit them at the show and find out more about this great group! Plus, every time you donate a card you will receive a drawing ticket. We will hold drawings all day long and for prizes + the artists behind some of our favorite cards will win prizes. Don't miss out, bring a card and increase your odds of going home with great prizes.

Please help us out!! Our Care With Cards goal is 1000 cards donated this weekend!

Make-N-Takes:
Lot's of companies will have fun things to do in their booths. A few of them that I know of include DCWV has a make-n-take planned, Katie form The Key To Taking Photos will have a demonstration every 2 hours and Fancy Pants has a fun make-n-take planned on Friday from 2-4. I know there are more make-n-takes and demo's going on in different booths so I am looking forward to checking things out this weekend!

Deal of The Hour:
Every few hours we will have a vendor offering a special deal in their booth. Listen to our DJ who will let you know the details.

Bingo:
Bingo was SO popular last fall. You will receive a bingo card when you purchase your tickets. Bingo will be going on all day and lot's of prizes are to be had!

Dance, Dance, Dance:
Is there anyone who is not familiar with our dance contests? I hope not, but if so, make sure to stick around Friday night and Saturday afternoon and get ready for some fun! We will warm up with some Zumba before really shaking things up with our Mardi Gras theme! One of my favorites!

Classes:
If you are not taking classes you are missing out! We have the absolute best teachers in the industry! Check them out here. Lot's of technique and project classes or try Foto Fly's 3 hour workshop and learn some new photo taking techniques.

Early Bird:
Regular admission is at 10 or you can come say "hi" a little sooner as an early bird. $20 for you ticket and you get an extra hour with us and a goodie bag from our sponsors. PLUS, The first 200 attendees on Saturday will receive a $5 gift certificate from Country Loft in Lehi. They have an awesome scrapbook store in Lehi only a few blocks from Lehi Roller Mill.

I haven't even mentioned Reserved Seating, Young Scrapper's Club, VIP, tug-a-war, or scavenger hunts! Pretty much you don't want to miss this weekend! Only a few more things to do. Thanks so much for supporting Scrapbook USA Expo!! See you this weekend!

Lance is Teaching at our show and on TV!

Check out Lance Anderson this week as he shares his tips, tricks and ideas on Good Things Utah (Thursday 10:00 am, Channel 4)! Lance is one popular guy at Scrapbook USA Expo. Attendees always give him rave reviews. Check out his Devotions layout class. It is available Friday from 4:30-6:00 and Saturday 10:00-11:30.

There is always something fun and creative going on with Lance!

This is the Digital Scrapbook Teacher's Farewell Tour

Our show is rich in talented teachers and instructors in each and every single class!

For the past few years Patty, The Digital Scrapbook Teacher has been one of our most popular. Her digital classes have had rave reviews. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran when it comes to organizing your digital files or PhotoShop, Patty has a class that will expand your mind and your creativity.

Unfortunately this show will be The Digital Scrapbook Teacher's last time with us. She is "retiring" from traveling to shows and will be focusing on projects closer to home.

If you have every considered trying your hand at digital or if you are wanting to learn more, don't wait. Patty still has room in her classes at the show next week!

Mini Albums Make Great Gifts

Mini albums are a great way to let the special people in your life know that you care! Remind them of your together times with a gift made by you! Mother's Day is just around the corner and at Scrapbook USA we have some INCREDIBLE classes where you can start and finish the perfect gift. Besides taking the finished product you will also be able to take the new techniques you have learned and make more great projects on your own!!

Check out the Mini Albums that will be taught at Scrapbook USA Expo this March!


Taught by Prima Marketing
Everyone who attends a Prima Marketing will receive a FREE gift from their booth and they will draw from all class attendees for 1 grand prize.This class is taught:
Friday 4:00-6:00
Saturday 2:30-4:30



Class taught by Stayce DeWild from Canvas Corp
Try your hands at the inspiring products from Canvas Corp and Tattered Angels. Plenty of fun playing with glimmer mist, glimmer glam and glimmer glaze, along with canvas and paper flowers!
This class is taught Friday 1:00-2:30



Taught by Susan from Accent/Clear Scraps
Love Grows 8X8 Mixable Album
Fun technique based class. Work with acrylic and chipboard in one great album!
All attendees receive a free gift. Plus other prizes.
This class is taught:
Friday 10:30-12:00Saturday 12:00-1:30


Recipe For Tradition
Taught by Lance Anderson
Experiment, spray and play with Lance on Friday Night
Friday 7:00-10:00 pm

Getting professional Photos At Home

Our 2012 Spring show will be bringing some really FUN new vendors. One of them will be Katie with her new book "The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer". Since photos come before the Scrapbook Page I asked Katie to share a few tips that we can all start using today to get professional looking photos. Her Tutorial on turning a color photo into an impressive black & white shot is coming up here and next week she will be back with a 2nd tip! Thanks Katie!!

Hi there! I'm Katie Evans, professional photographer and author of The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer. I'm thrilled to be attending The Scrapbook Expo for the very first time this Spring! I'm excited to have the chance and opportunity of meeting and talking with many of you.

Let's face it, photography is such an important part of scrapbooking. Knowing how to create a beautiful picture will only enhance our layouts. Am I right? So I'm here to to give you a couple photography tutorials to do just that---help you create stunning pictures.

The first tutorial is:

How to Create Beautiful Black and White photos. 

Turning a picture into a good black and white is fairly simple but there are a few basic rules you need to follow. First and foremost is to make the blacks very black and the whites very white. I like to see a lot of contrast in black and whites. That's when they really seem to pop. 

Let's take it step by step (in Lightroom) using a picture of sweet Stella:

This is the shot I took straight out of my camera. She looks slightly greenish because she was sitting under a green umbrella. (good time to turn it black and white, right? :) )

Next, simply convert your image to black and white using the black and white converter in whatever editing software you are using. 

Almost all basic black and white conversions in will give you a very basic black and white but I like to call it grey and greyer. So that means you need to bring in some contrast. Instead of just increasing the "Contrast" slider I like to first increase the brightness. (Here I increased it to +63 but it will vary depending on your image.)

And finally, just increase your blacks. That will make your details and features pop. (Here I increased the black to 38)

And there you have it... a stunning black and white.

on a side note: if your editing program does not have the capability of adjusting brightness and blacks you can still achieve this same look by adjusting the contrast and by slightly increasing the exposure.

If you will be attending the Scrapbook Expo make sure you stop by and say hello! In the mean time feel free to stop by my blog for even more helpful photography tips, tricks and tutorials and check out my photography book written specifically for you! 

The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer Book
Katie Evans Photography

Technique Classes + Home Decor Projects = Fantastic!

Stamping, glazing, painting, distressing, chalking, folding -- Just a few of the dozens of techniques that have grown in popularity over the past few years. Ever wondered how to do it? Don't be left in the dark any longer!!Come and learn! Our teachers are the absolute best and your classroom experiences will add so much to your time at The Original Scrapbook USA Expo!

If your shelves or walls could use some "updated" decor check out the classes below. They are all being taught at our March show and they are absolutely GEORGOUS!

So Blessed acrylic tri-fold frame

Taught by Accent/Clear Scraps Owner Susan Frase
Here is some more info from Susan on this class: "Have you ever wanted to know how to work with alcohol inks? Or how to actually emboss the acrylic? How about learning how to stamping on acrylic? Now is the perfect opportunity to learn all these techniques in one great project. We have put in place a wonderful project where you will learn all of these techniques. On top of this great project we giveaway $50.00 worth of prizes and everybody gets a free gift when they take one of Clear Scraps classes plus enjoy a class coupon. We look forward to seeing you soon!" Susan's class is taught Friday at 2:30 and Saturday at 10:30. Click the day and get signed up!

Another fun teacher with LOT's of ideas and experience behind her is Becky Teichmiller. Join her Friday March 23rd in her 9:00 am class - Memories" Family Hanging Frame"

You will use a combination of My Mind's Eye Stella Rose and Helmar Adhesive's crackle to create this Frame/Wall Hanging. The wall hanging is 6.5x8 and will hold a 4x6 landscape photo.