What to Take to a Crop or Scrapbooking and Crafty Classes

You all helped me choose the bags I used!

Last week I drove up to Charlotte, NC to attend the Creating Keepsakes Convention.  I went last year, but I worked in a booth then.  This year I went just to take classes and shop.  I had so much fun!  I took eight different classes that ranged from mixed media to cardmaking and scrapbooking.  I came home exhausted, but inspired by many things I learned and saw.

(Here’s a link to part 1 and part 2 from my drive home last year, don’t miss the peach butt.)

Top of the craft carrier to ya!

Many of you who chat with me on Facebook (both the Joy Joyslife and Joy’s Life.com FB pages) were instrumental in helping me choose bags to carry to all my crafty classes.  THANK YOU!!  I bought a GIANT bag (see below) called the Crop In Style XXL Rolling Tote.  It was AWESOME.  It carried everything I needed (including the little bag above) and was a good match for the occasion since I had to travel with it as well as take piles of stuff back to my hotel in it.

Guess who hasn’t unpacked yet?

I have to say that this giant bag was a bit more than I needed AT TIMES.  A really large rolling tote can keep you from being able to take some escalators (it happened to me).  They also can’t go on the show floor (where you shop).  If you are attending a show like I did there is probably a place to park your bag for a small fee.  I paid $10 for 2 days of come and go tote parking.  Although I’m glad I had this rolling tote for this particular occasion, I strongly suggest you consider buying a bag you can carry.  That way you won’t crush people, have to look for elevators, pay to park (so to speak) AND you can more easily fit it into your class space.  I will say that the top of my bag was sturdy enough to act as a second table space for me and that was super helpful in some of my classes.  The best thing about this bag?  It kept my 12×12 cardstock in perfect condition.  I also bought 12×12 Plastic Paper Holders (like those, but I bought them at Michael’s in a pack of 10 or 12) to hold my projects, instructions and goodies from each class.  It was great being able to keep each class together in that way and my rolling tote held it all.  In this big  tote I also carried my ATG Gun,Fabri Tac adhesive, my trimmer, some of my stamps, ink pads, stamp blocks, my small Crop-A-Dile,Zutter Corner Rounder,some basic punches and extra adhesive.  Throughout my time in NC, I used almost everything I took.

I bought this pink carrier at Michael’s for about $12.

In my tabletop tote I carried a lot of things!  Pop dots are a must.  I love those Zots Clear Adhesive Dots too.  They provide a nice hold for many things including ribbon and embellishments.  They make a 3D Zot that you might love like I do.  That tiny thing on the left is a paper piercing template.  I needed a paper piercing mat, so I took that.  Those tools in the top left are files that can be used for a variety of piercing, sanding and poking things.  Have you ever tried the Tiny Attacher?  It’s a great little stapler.  Here’s a post I wrote about it.  I also carried Zip Dry Paper Glue and a sanding block.

But wait!  There’s more!

Several of my classes asked that I bring a white gel pen, black pen and a brown pen.  I added some extra pens for writing or sharing.  You always need to take scissors.  My favorites are Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Scissors and Ek Success Cutter Bee Scissors.  I’m also carrying a squeegee, bone folder, Exacto knife + extra blades and EK Success Tweezer Bee tweezers.

Adhesives can get you into sticky situations.  Ba da dum!!

You might want to carry these things in your bag too.  I used everything except the Sakura Quickie Glue Roller Penduring my classes.  I used that glue pen in a make and take that I tried on the show floor.  I liked it so much I bought one.  Later I realized I already had one at home.  Good grief.  It happens, right?

Well, that’s about it for now.  I hope this helped you if you’re on your way to a crop, class or crafty time away.  If you’re going to a Cricut Circle crop don’t forget to make calling cards!  Here’s how I made mine.

I WISH YOU A HAPPY DAY!!