CKC Houston (actually Conroe) June 13-14 2025
All the stamp and scrapbook shows I’ve attended over the years, starting in the ‘90s, are very similar. There is a “show floor” in a convention center or hotel ballroom that has vendor booths. The vendors have craft supplies for sale and may offer a small project “make and take”. Classes are offered in smaller meeting rooms for a fee. There is usually a crop, a space set aside for crafters to work in a group setting on projects they bring with them, and there is a per-crafter fee to participate.
These events are getting fewer in number and smaller in size. I’ve gone to this particular event in the past, the last time was around 2018, and this year’s event seemed to be 1/2 to 2/3 the size. I’m sure this is a reflection of online offerings stepping in to the role of instruction and discovery. The events offer community, though, in a way online offerings have trouble reproducing.
If you are looking for an event near you, the event list for this organizer is at https://www.ckscrapbookevents.com/tabid/901/Default.aspx The next event is in Madison, WI, July 11-12, with future events in Lancaster, PA, Lebanon, TN, Manchester, NH, Hillsboro, OR. Shows were held earlier this year in St Louis, MO, Charlotte, NC, and Denton, TX.
Other organizers with multiple shows:
Scrapbook Expo https://scrapbookexpo.com/2025-expo-show-list/
Rubberstamp Events https://rubberstampevents.com
Stamp Scrap Art Tour https://stampscraparttour.com/shows/
There are also one-off events like Croptemberfest, Scrapbook Mega Meet, Stampaway, Stamp Fest, Stamp Safari, StamperCon, Columbus Scrap & Stamp Show, Adventures in Stamping, and many others.
This event organizer charges the instructor $12.50 per student per class. The remainder of the class fee covers the materials and instructor’s time. Each class is supposed to come with written instructions, color photo(s) of the finished project(s) and the class is to last long enough to finish the project(s) (all of that is in the contract, which you can download at the event website.) I am a pretty fast crafter but could not finish three of the four class projects.
Classes sponsored by manufacturers in some way tend to work out better economically for the participant. For example, this year I took two Stamplistic classes featuring Spellbinders. The first featured balloon birthday cards. The class fee was $36 and I received a $24 die set and $10 in paper. The second was BetterPress and Glimmer cards. The class fee was $47 and I received a $43 die set and about $3 of foil. The event fee per student and instructor pay clearly came from Spellbinders in the form of product discounts and/or direct payments.
Classes not sponsored by a manufacturer in some way have to get the organizer fee and the instructor fee from the participant. I took two Bella and Grace junk journaling classes. The first was a sewn signature in a hardback book cover. The second was an embellished sewn signature. The class fee for each was $55. For both classes I received a pack of supplies that sold for $25 in their show booth. For the first class I also received a tool set worth about $7 (binder clips, giant paper clips, awl, needle, waxed thread) and for the second class an ephemera pack that sold for $7 in their show booth. The remainder of the class fee went to the event ($12.50) and the instructor ($10 ish). I guess the instructor, who was also the store owner, also got the profit on the class supplies, whatever that is, but the $10 per student seems low for creating, organizing, making up the kits, and presenting. (All four classes were small, about 10 people in each.)
Neither is better or worse, and I’m not complaining about the prices. I’m making the point so you can keep it in mind if you are selecting classes in the future.
For this event exhibitors pay $1000 per 10×10 booth per event, with discounts for additional booths and additional shows up to 20% reduction. Crop sales tables are $100 per night. The exhibitors now seem to be mostly those that specialize in shows or local to that particular show.
Exhibitors all seem to charge for make and takes now, with the common fee about $5. This show sets a maximum of $10 for any make and take fee.
The vendor and class list is a little different at every event. I don’t see the Bella & Grace junk journal classes outside Texas, for example. (They are based in the Dallas area.)
There were just over 25 vendors and just over 50 scheduled classes, plus crop events. Classes by topic were 23 scrapbook, 16 card, 5 junk journal, 6 decor; some were offered in more than one time slot.
Shopping pass only is $6 per day. Crop starts at $18 per session. Classes seem to range from $28 to $79. Class registration comes with no-additional-cost shopping passes for both days.
Vendors: Art Anthology, A to Z Scrapbooking, Craft Fancy, Chalk Couture, Creative Memories, Creative Scrapbooker Magazine, ScrapbookTShirts, Doodlebug Design, Echo Park, Fancy Pants Designs, Just Crop, Kreative Kreations, Mudd Puddles, Paper Wizard Inc, Petticoat Parlor, Quick Quotes Scrapbook Company, Scrapbook Fun Addict, Simply Stitched Scrapbooking, Stamplistic, Tall Mouse Creative A to Z, Tessler Crafts, The Paper Loft, The Ton, Treasure Box Scrapbooking Club, Two Owl Charms, US Art Quest
Classes offered by vendors listed above, plus Spellbinders and Bella & Grace Creative Arts.
Cards: All Occasion Cards, Birthday Postage Collage, Sympathy Card Workshop, Gift Card Holder & Card Workshop, Anatomy of a Stamplistic Card, Vellum Roses, Easy Card Making Template Class Retro, The Great Stamp Mash-Up, Close Your Eyes and Make a Wish, More BetterPress with a Twist, Geared Up Christmas Cards, Cards that Pop, Christmas All Year, A2 18 Card Challenge, Just Crop Card Class Houston, Shimmer & Shine 2025 Techniques
Journaling: Journaling Cards, Introduction to Junk Journaling, Creating Sensational Signatures in a Junk Journal, Junq’ue Journal, Shaker Frame Mini Album
Scrapbook layouts: 49th & Market Holiday Sparkle, 49th & Market Playtime, 49th & Market Best of Times, Farmhouse Chic Christmas, Carefree Beach, Follow Your Inner Compass, National Parks R’US, Life is Better with Pets, All New Totally Awesome Layouts 2025, Magical Memories Chipboard Book, Paradise, Made to Travel, Every Family Has A Story, Pool Party, Summertime with Painted Pages, Beautiful Moments Interactive Album, Vintage Disney PhotoFULL, You Only Live Once (Travel), Americana, Intro to Scrapbooking & Paper Piecing Basics, The Best Adventure, Life is More Fun When You’re Laughing Retro, Quick Quotes Beach
Other: Keeping it Glassy Beach Decor (wall hanging), From Boring to Beautiful Tea Towel, This is Gonna BEE My Year (calendar), Seaside Sparkle (decor), It’s Time to Sparkle (clock), Summer Frame with Interchangeable Tiles (decor)
Papercraft Crystal 