More GREAT News we are now a Shutterfly Inc. affiliate

More GREAT news today I have been approved to be a Shutterfly Inc. affiliate. 

The Shutterfly program is comprised of four great, well-known brands: 

(Click on any of the blue links to take you to their site.)

• Tiny Prints
• Wedding Paper Divas
• Shutterfly Inc.
• BorrowLenses

If you haven't tried Shutterfly I encourage you to, CLICK here to join and get 50 FREE prints

 

I'm always sharing the great deals on my Facebook and now here on this blog.  It's great to be partnered will all these businesses to help you get your photos printed and in book.

On my side bar at right, you will find the Shutterfly Inc. logo link all the time to shop and see all the great products they offer. Thank you for all your support!

  

Link to Shutterfly Inc.

Cricut affiliate

I am excited to announce that I have become a Cricut affiliate. 

What's this mean to you? 

I will share all the great deals Cricut has offers on my blog for you to enjoy savings. Here you'll be able to find all your Cricut Design Space™  needs and for Cricut iPad app.  As well in my side bar you will find the Cricut link all the time to shop and see all the great products they offer.

  
You too can make money promoting Cricut products? Cricut is looking for people to become affiliates. If you blog or have a craft website as an affiliate you'll earn money every time someone clicks on your unique affiliate link & makes a purchase at Cricut.com.  Please use my referral link  and sign up to be an affiliate I'll earn a bonus when you're approved!


Some links in the posts on this blog are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I thank you for choosing me!  I would only recommend products or services because I believe you would enjoy to use in your scrapbooks. 

How to host a day crop, retreat or hotel retreat

How to host a day crop, retreat or hotel retreat

First you need to figure out which event fits your schedule and you would feel comfortable doing.

If you can share your event on calendars, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. I'd highly recommend adding as much details to that event like times/dates, where, what to bring, carpools, etc.  Make sure the area you choose is well lite and space for scrapbookers because we have LOTS of stuff.

Day Crops
For my day crops I find Saturday's work best. You need to pick a time?
I normally host these in my home and hold them from 10AM to 10PM, others do 10AM to 5PM. I don't charge a fee but that's because I've been holding free crops for FREE for several years and ladies are use to that.

I'd highly recommend if you are starting out new that you charge $5 to cover basic things like power bill, toilet paper, water bills or I've done "Crop is free if you purchase $10 or more in product" normally this generates more than $10 in sales as it's hard to find product equaling that amount.

My home crop space

I sometimes do a 2 day crop having ladies come on Friday to crop starting at 6PM to 10PM and tell them they can leave their stuff and return again Saturday at 10AM- 10PM

If you can't host in your home look for places locally that you can host a monthly crop.  Places like church, American Legion, VA or Elk lodge, YMCA, local parks and rec.  Any building that can hold your group of ladies.  Some of these locations charge fees and others you'll need to bring tables. Include that fee into what you charge for your crop.  I like making my events fun and everyone NEEDS chocolate so I make  sure to have some M&M's.  On special events I purchase product to have to give to attendees or giveaways, make sure you include that in cost too.

Food for these events
I'm not a cook so I try and stay away from that area but if you are this might be a fun area for you. I can't emphasize how important it is to make sure you create a budget for meals and figure that cost into your guest crop fee. Even figure in the cost of plates, napkins, utensils and cups. I've found that if your crowd doesn't like to "buy" food maybe do a potluck? Though potlucks can be a lot of your part in coordinating.  Lately, I have been telling my ladies that for lunch we are ordering Jimmy Johns and dinner we are ordering pizza and bring $10 cash for each meal.  This has been working the best for my group and we all pitch in bringing a snack.  I tell girls to bring their own drink as I don't drink soda but I have filtered water.

3-4 Day Retreats

I look for rentals in the surrounding area, a hour or two from my home location. Check into camps, personal home rentals or some areas provide areas that cater to these events. Find out a date that fits you and your customers schedule.  Be sure to check calendar and local school schedules for breaks (Holidays, Fall, Winter and Spring break) You don't want to schedule events during these times because many go out of town unless your attendees this wouldn't matter.   I've found place that cater to all of your needs for your event including food.  These type of venues I figure the cost the place is charging me and divide that with number of attendees that facility can hold and then add $10 to $15 for gifts and prizes. 

If I rental a facility that doesn't include food but has a kitchen or area to prepare food I've found it best to assign each attendee a meal and they are responsible for all that they are serving.  For example my last retreat we had 13 attendees and we served 6 meals.  I had two ladies assigned to each meal and Saturday dinner I had 3 ladies and stated the extra person was to help provide a dessert to go with meal. The two ladies decide on what they want to serve and need to bring items needed to prepare meals included reminders like butter, foil, ziplock bags, saran wrap, paper plates (Not needed unless you don’t want to wash dishes).  Once again I say bring your own drink as we have people who drink a lot of a product and you might bring less. If you want to do drinks you could include in meal schedule that you need like XYZ amount of soda for several to bring and assign a couple to bring bottled water.

I've been to crops where you the host would plan, prepare and clean up meals for attendees and added this to cost of retreat.  Doing this way most host charge around $50 per person but this amount would be determined by your menu and cost per person to make.

Hotel Retreat 3 or 4 days
Research local hotels where you can host an event.  Hotels details can get a bit tricky.  Some hotels let you use ballrooms or conference centers with a certain amount of rooms booked. While others charge you for ballrooms or conference centers.  Some hotels book ballrooms or conference centers based on numbers of meals and cost. Which ever way you have it arranged I again take that amount divide it among the number needed attendees and add on cost for goodies, giveaways and raffle items.  When inquiring I ask hotels for a discount break for rooms. Depending on time of year, if it's a slow time you can get a great rate for whole event as hotel wants to fill rooms. If hotel package does not include food I let customers know to bring their own (hotel have refrigerators) or suggest things in the area that they can go to like hotel restaurants, take out, etc.

Things to watch for:
Some hotels charge fees for non-booked rooms
Charges for WIFI (Digital & Cricut customers will need this, if charge add it to registration form)
Charges for bellhops
Linen rentals (If no linens I suggest getting plastic table clothes)
Table rentals (many places include but check)
Parking Fees
Maid service/house keeping fees

Ask as many questions to reservation about an extra fees not discussed.

Always encourage pre-ordering of your customers, especially if you don't carry a large inventory.  This increase your sales and reassures customers have what they need.  I always carry basic supplies like pages, protectors, tape runners and refills.

Themes or Not to have themes?

Up All Night Theme

Cropstock - Hippie Theme

I think themes make your events more fun.  I always do themes with my 3/4 day retreats. I try and think of themes based on the time of year you have your event.  I've done themes like Beach/pool, "Up all Night" Sleep over themed, Cropstock - hippy themed and did in Fall, Jungle/Safari and recently Tacky Tourist.  You can make it whatever you want and you can do little decorations or a lot.  I've found many of my ideas on  Pinterest click here to see some of my pins

Tacky Tourist Theme

Other events I've been to have done themes like Rock n Roll - 50's, Pirates, Paris, Casino, the possibility are endless.  In past experiences I've found that the ladies love practical goodies and you don't want to spend money on items they are just going to throw away? I include some teaser of current product to get them to want more and little things like Post it notes, pencil/pen, tissues, hand sanitizer, gum, alcohol wipes, and a band aide.

I always send emails with where they are going, what time/dates the event is, what attendees need to bring. I wrote up a  article "What to bring to a Crop or Retreat" Click HERE to read.
 
Remember to have FUN and if things don't turn out like you envisioned, no one there will know!

What do I bring to a crop or retreat?

Going to a day crop or a retreat?  What do I bring?  Don't worry we got you covered!

Of course the utmost important thing to remember to bring your photos! 

I'd highly recommend trying to Power layout before hand. This allows you to bring minimal supplies and not searching for that perfect paper to make the most of your time. 

  

Power layout is where you pre-plan your pages by take your photos, papers, embellishments and lay them on guides or between pages the way you would want to scrapbook them. I'd recommend that you don't crop photos or make them shapes prior as they might not work when you are inspired by other scrapbookers, tools or product that would be available at the event. This process will allow you at anytime pick up your power layout and go to any event whether it's a day crop or 3 day weekend retreat.  This will help you be more organized.

Of course you don't have to do this before going to any event, if you want to pack the SUV, mini van or car with everything you can, then go for it!

  

 
SUPPLIES: Adhesives, scissors, paper trimmers, embellishments, pens for journaling, templates, paper & card stock. I like bringing POST IT NOTES to jot notes down to remind yourself afterwards. Tools you bring should be labeled. 

- Seat cushion for your chair

- Laptop or tablet

- Power strip and extension cord

- Desktop light if lighting is poor

- Don’t forget your camera too! Got to scrapbook this event to?

-Bring your own toiletries (towel, wash cloth, hair brush, toothbrush, tooth paste, 
 deodorant, medication,  hair tie, make up??) 

-Your pillow, sheet & blanket or sleeping bag if not at a hotel

-Warm and cool clothing (Temperatures in AM and night can be chilly and warm up during the day.) and PJ’s

-Sweater/Sweatshirt for crop area as it gets cold sometimes

-fuzzy socks/slippers

You should check with your Advisor to see if they will have particular tools so you don't have to take as much. If you need specific products, check with your Advisor ahead of time to make sure they will have all you desire.  

Most of all remember these events many times are time for us to socialize too and share laughs.  So enjoy this time even if you don't get much scrapped.

Free Garden Punch from Creative Memories with Fast 2 Fab bundle purchase

How would you like to receive this punch FREE?
Flower Garden Punch can be yours beginning Tuesday, September 15th at 9 a.m. CT and there is only ONE way to get them for FREE!  Purchase any of the Fast2Fab bundles, below.
One bundle = one punch.

Each of the four Fast2Fab bundles (Vintage, Primary, Bright and Neutral) includes a Fast2Fab album, Paper Pack and Slide-In Pack, plus free Flower Garden Punch!

There is no limit to the number of free punches per order: you will receive one with each Fast2Fab bundle purchased. The FREE Flower Garden Punch will ONLY be included with a purchase of one of these four bundles; buying Fast2Fab components separately does not qualify.

The promotion will end when the Garden Punch runs out or September 28, whichever comes first.

Beginning tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 9 a.m. CT), you will find the promotion featured on the home page and the bundles in the Going Gone category at www.creativememories.com/user/CandaceBouldin