Craft Events

Written and Created by PaperCraftCentral Susan

Craft Events are exciting and can be so inspiring. Every year a couple of fairs or expos come to my town. I make sure I am free that weekend. It's such a lot of fun to go and see what's new, and to mingle with so many like-minded people. I always come away from these events with inspiration buzzing in my head and my fingers itching to try something new out.

If you have never been to a crafty convention, you may wonder what happens there? Why would it be such a good thing to go?

Charity Events

Every time I attend such a festival I am struck by the vast variety and ingenuity on display. I do live in a city of over a million people and I know we are spoilt. Many crafters from all over the country come to our city for these shows and that adds to the excitement for me.

The types of things that can be available at a paper crafts convention can be such things as:

• Free demonstrations of techniques
• Classes you can book into for a fee
• Free hands on 'make and take' opportunities
• Competitions and raffles
• Specially priced items (to generate interest/sales in new inventions)
• Giveaways
• Information
• Opportunities to book people to demonstrate techniques/products in your own home

Not all craft events are run as conventions or expos, though. There are other ways of holding worthwhile appeals and special days where people can learn new techniques, sometimes while giving a helping hand to others. See more about these below.

In June every year, a PaperCraft Expo comes to my city, and I try to be sure I always have that weekend free. It's a wonderful way to be inspired in a concentrated dose. There's another one in October now too and I often get to go to that one as well.

Stampin' Up! Events

As a Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! I get to attend the craft events held by the company to help us get together, share ideas and learn about new supplies and tools coming onto the market. It is always such fun!

I have made so many friends who are Demonstrators as well as meeting new people who love to craft and have become my wonderful customers.

Sometimes I am able to invite my customers to come to the events run by Stampin' Up! and sometimes not.

I always make lots of card fronts or another item that I can swap with other Demonstrators on the day, to get good ideas and to inspire me to try different approaches to making cards or scrapping.

OnStage in Sydney, Australia

The month before we went to Sydney OnStage, I made 40 or so swap cards:

I used the lovely Christmastime Is Here stamp set to make this card in a variety of colours.

It's always such an energy filled day! I love being recharged by my Stampin' Up! family :)

I am always looking forward to going to go to the next OnStage Live event.

Here are a few more Sydney highlights:

OnStage Live! Auckland, New Zealand

Here are some highlights form my trip to Auckland, New Zealand with my good friend and downline, Sharon Dalton in April 2019:

These photos were only a fraction of the ones I took, of new products, projects, people and fun that we all had in Auckland. You should have been there with us!!

Now you might be wondering how you could have been there too?

If you live in Australia are thinking of becoming a Demonstrator and would like to join me at these events, you can check out how to join by going to SusanSalutations - Join the Fun!

I would love to share the travel, news, spoiling and fun we have at each Stampin' Up! event! These are definitely craft events worth going to!

Holding your own Craft Stall

You may decide to take part in a market day or Craft event yourself and sell some of your crafts!

If you have never done this before, I have listed some things for you to think about as you prepare yourself for your very own craft market stall event.

Cards for Aussie Troops

An extended craft event, the  Cards For the Troops Drive is no longer current for Aussie troops deployed overseas. Thank you to all who helped with the Drive from 2011 to 2020.

Mother's Day

Do you know the history of Mothers Day in Australia and the USA? Talk about charitable events! Our own Cards for Troops drive fits in with the true meaning of Mothers Day and Christmas.

We started our drives in 2012.

Other Craft Events

Some other crafters and I run such days ourselves at times.

For example, we ran a cardmaking day in order to raise funds for the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). First we hired a hall, then invited everyone we knew to a Stamp-A-Stack (meaning they would stamp a stack of cards on the day). Attendees paid a fee for the privilege of buying some card kits, then stayed to make their cards up. All profits went to the RSPCA and everyone had an enjoyable time. The RSPCA received a healthy donation to help them rebuild a ruined shelter.

Online events are held by some. For example, sometimes crafters run online auctions of handmade goods. They make lots of handmade items to sell at a Trash and Treasure Day Auction. Sometimes other items are offered at the Auction site.

You can sometimes find special events like Craft Expos being run in towns.

Many crafters hold special causes dear to their hearts. Holding a special crop (where people work on their scrapbooks all day) or card making day to raise funds for a charity event can be a wonderful way to assist those fighting diseases or righting social conditions. PaperCrafts are so enjoyable and I think it adds a special sweetness to be doing something you love while helping to raise funds for charity.

For example, I know there was a special week long crop held to raise funds for Alzheimer's research. I think the results were marvelous. You can read more about it and see some of the paper craft projects that were available by clicking on the links in this paragraph.

I take my hat off to everyone who organises charity fundraiser craft events and all who support them.

If you would like to have a papercraft quiz to use at an event you are involved in, feel free to consider the one I made up just for that purpose!