Creative Escape kicked off for me –really- last Monday (10 days ago) when i packed up and drove out headed for Arizona! That morning of course was the first day of school for the big kids at our house! Everyone was super excited…
Emily Waters was joining Capri, Connor and I for the 12 hour ride… which went quite smoothly, and I was thankful that I could take whatever I could shove into the back of my car and not worry a smidge about overweight bags! I did stick around until school got out so I could hear how everyone did on the first day! it’s hard to believe I have a child in Middle School- he loved every minute of it! (wonder how long that will last)
SO,
Finally on Tuesday afternoon we arrived in Phx just barely in time for my haircut… (yes, I am still emotionally attached to my Arizona hair stylist, and YES I went SHORTER!!) Wed was a set up day, and miss Janet arrived . I had Capri and Connor at the hotel and they got to meet a few of the ladies that were taking advantage of the Bazzill Bus tour. Seriously, those ladies were hauling around with a LOT of bazzill cardstock that they purchased by the pizza box when they went to the warehouse. (which reminds me… I really needed a bazzil warehouse stop myself when I was driving my car!! I KNEW I forgot something)
Thursday morning was the real kick off! The place (wild horse pass) was a buzz with scrapbookers! So many familiar faces… it was so great to see everyone! the hotel is absolutely amazing—it’s just perfect for an ESCAPE! It just feels like you are entering a new world when you walk through the doors… the staff is remarkable! Every year! Janet and I were working on setting up the House of 3 Crop Room with 36” balloons that were holding up turquoise banners topped with doilies. So cute… Rhonna arrived about noon to wrap it up right as registration got underway…
The Creative Escape VIBE was a little different this year! SO sophisticated… and I LOVEd the turquoise… (almost teal really)… everything from the new bags, lanyards, name badges and every other little detail was just gorgeous!! so much goes into pulling it off… and this kudos goes to the Bazzill Team! They are relentless, and you have never met a group that works so well together. To Carol, Mona, Lisa and Frani… i would give you each a standing ovation! These women are so capable, talented and fabulous! Thank you each so much!
We always have a crazy busy Technique Boutique, but this year was over an above! I think that between making “yo-yo’s”, rolled flowers, Making Memories Necklaces and this amazingly fancy heart for Pam’s class OH, not to mention a full on class from Tattered Angels and Cookbookin’… it was a FULL afternoon that attendees needed to also make some time to come in and visit with the teachers in the Trunk show… to top off Thursday evening… the “BOYS” of Creative Escaped performed for everyone and definitely lit the crowd!! I have the video posted on my facebook wall- so funny! Totally unexpected! During the welcome ceremonies… the teachers were presented with these amazingly sparkly aprons… I don’t think that any photo will do the fabric justice! I seriously felt like I was playing dress up all weekend while I was wearing my apron! Gorgeous! thanks to Scrapbooks ETC (and Michael Miller fabric).
After the welcome, if you had a little more brain power left, Jessica Sprague and Rhonna Farrer offered up a FREE digital brush class (free.99 as Jessica would say) and it was absolutely mind blowing as usual! 2 just fabulously amazing women!
I must say, that I was so proud of myself… because I went to bed before midnight! This was a HUGE achievement for me!
Both Friday and Sat are class days- 4 classes each day for each student… so everyone is pushed! Each teacher this year was SO unique and different in what she brought to the table! These are beautiful and talented women… I have been impressed with them for so many reasons, and I am so thankful to each one of them for all they did BEFORE the event… as well as at the EVENT! Each one of them has taught me and influenced me in a different and significant way!
Claudine was invited to come and teach a strictly TECHNIQUE based class. and I LOVED learning how to use her products in such unique ways.
Jessica was invited to inspire us, and introduce us to the POSSIBILITES! She created a pre-class that each person could take online and learn how to get 12 photos on one page, and create perfectly cropped circles… she they whipped up a clever HYBRID project that is perfect for the holidays!
Pam Black was one of the teachers from our very first year, and this is a woman that will amaze you every time! her desktop scrapbook was a super intense class, with all kinds of little WOWS that you can use over and over! I love that
Margie offered up her traditional comic relief! She is a crack up of course.. but everyone LOVED the personalized necklace they created in her class… the Scarlet Lime Beads were such a delight! I think that what was the most fun was that it didn’t have to be a wearable necklace, but could also be a home dec type fun necklace to put on display.
Teresa did what she does best… she created a mini book that showcased all the things she is grateful for. It’s full of TERESA! And she puts so much heart into all she does…and then blings it up!
Maggie is a photographer, but also an amazing scrapbooker… I think that it’s important to be reminded to WORK to get fabulous photos, and hearing good ideas and someone else’s perspective on photography just improves our skills! I had so many people coming to take my photo, and practicing their new skills and ideas.
Trisha LOVES to teach, and she is good at it! she created a very ambitious project because she just loves to share her ideas… and her passion. it’s just something that you can feel! She has been a glimmer mist lover from the beginning and it was so much fun to see what this girl does with a cardboard box!
My class was sponsored by my friends at House of 3 (me and janet and Rhonna)…and since our products are digital for the most part, it meant that I had the chance to create whatever I wanted that was EXCLUSIVE to Creative Escape. I wanted something sweet and beautiful…I chose to use the Spring Junque Collection, and make something that would make a wonderful gift as well as something you’d love to have hanging where you could see it. I loved teaching it! (I always think it’s going to be much faster than it really is) {you can buy a kit here}
Friday night after dinner (a fabulous sit down dinner)… we had what we call the “Friday night Extravaganza” it’s an extra class where students got to make a Magnet board… by Friday night, everyone is so tired, but at 9:30, us House of 3 girls broadcasted a LIVE WEBSHOW direct from the EVENT!! If you want to take a peek inside the event you can click here to see! It was so much fun, but I will tell you this- having 80 or 90 people in the ‘live studio audience’ made me SO nervous. I think you could tell I was nervous!
The ending is always the best part of Creative Escape.
And this year was no exception. not sure if it’s the fact that we just go ahead and eat DESSERT FIRST, or if it’s the tremendous generosity that is exhibited by the many, many sponsors that donate gifts for our raffles or the AMAZINGLY gorgeous and personal mirrors that were created to raise money for our Charity of choice: the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society… or the heartfelt and inspiring Keynote presentation that was given this year by a woman that amazes me … Jaimee Rose.
THANKYOU to the Wild Horse Pass… we love you!
THANK YOU to the sponsors… we love your products and all that you give and offer to the industry and just to US (speaking for crazy scrapbookers everywhere)
THANK YOU to each and every one of you that willingly decorated and donated your time and talents for the Mirror Project. I know a little something about the pressure! Wink… they were beautiful and inspiring to look at!
here is a peek at my mirror... i quite love it! taken w/ my phone.. (how lame am i?)
THANK YOU to Jaimee.. for making me think, and reflect and filling me with the desire to make magic!
And
THANK YOU BAZZILL…
DOUG for putting up with all of us! and bravely leading us, and for swimming in a synchronized way.
CAROL for all the things I know you did, and for the MILLION of things I don’t know you did! Thanks for keeping it real, and steady and happening!
MONA for making it look gorgeous!!
FRANI for your happy happiness… and always knowing where to get stuff, and where people are and taking care of whatever needs to happen!
LISA for everything ELSE!!! Cause you are the one responsible for everything whether it was up to you or not! You are just the person that makes SURE! And we love you for that… we all love you for that!
And…
EVERYONE THANKS MARTI and the onsite, amazing SCRAPBOOKS, ETC. it is really one of the best stores ever!! And scrapbookers just love to spend money on new stuff!
Sidenote: all I can say about the room drop gift is: OMGSH………..wow!
So it’s Wednesday now. And I am still feeling a little exhausted. It took a couple days to drive home and I find myself SO behind. Yikes. And while I am so tired, and feeling a little overwhelmed, it’s so worth it! so great to see old friends, make new ones, and be filled from the inside… be reminded WHY we spend so much time and energy scrapbooking… cause it is important and fabulous and FUN!
There are lots of rumors flying about next year…and I am not corroborating anything… YET!
