Junkie fest 2018 Event Information

It's here!  The Junkie fest details are here!

Good morning everyone!  I'm so excited to share all the details of this event!

Many, many companies and individuals have donated products and are donating their time and talents to make this event a success. Let's just take a peek at some of them, shall we?  (there's more, but I'm keeping a few under wraps for now.)

I spent several months searching for a possible, yet convenient Minneapolis location for a larger Junkie fest event and everything I was finding was either unavailable or unaffordable.  Thanks to a tip from a very good friend, and a construction schedule that made this particular event location perhaps too stressful of a risk for summer 2018 brides (thus making it available AND at a reduced-from-normal rate), I secured the venue in February.

I am very excited to share that Junkie fest 2018 will be held Thursday-Saturday, July 26-28, at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport hotel located in Bloomington, Minnesota.  This hotel is conveniently located between the MSP airport and the Mall of America, and provides free shuttle to and from both.  The hotel also provides a full complimentary breakfast buffet as well as early evening refreshments in the lounge.  A limited number of rooms have been held in a group room block with special pricing for this event.  You may find the event room block and reserve your lodging for the weekend by clicking 
  HERE. 

The event itself begins the evening of Thursday, July 26th, with check-in from 5:00-7:00pm.  During this time, you and up to 119 other Junkies will check in, pick up your swag bag which will be filled with lots of goodies donated by the MANY generous sponsors, as well as your folder containing pertinent local information and maps, the weekend's event schedule, and your individual class tickets.   This will be a great time to meet up with current friends and make new ones.  The main ballroom will be open for you to find your spot at a table and start your weekend social crafting.

At 7:00pm the party starts in the main ballroom with the welcome and introductions of the fabulous teachers, still-secret celebrity guests and generous volunteers. You are free to bring your projects and craft items to work on during this time (the room is available until midnight, at which time it will be locked up securely until morning).  The first of the weekend's many free company-sponsored Make and Takes will start at approximately 8:00pm.. Occasional door prize drawings will be held from 7:00-1100pm as well.   

Here is a peek at some of the company-sponsored Make & Takes.

Many of these will be hosted by the company owners themselves.

Unity Stamp Company

Thermoweb

Gina K. Designs

Brutus Monroe

Craftin Desert Divas

Viva Las Vegas Stamps

Hero Arts

Concord & 9th

Inkon3

Taylored Expressions

Spellbinders

Lawn Fawn

Kitchen Sink Stamps

Newton's Nook

Imagine Crafts

(and more)

And before I explain all the nitty gritty details...

Let's meet the absolutely fabulous Junkie fest guest teachers!

Christopher

Christopher Alan is the owner and creative director of Brutus Monroe.  Christopher joins us from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to teach a mixed media class with many of his unique and innovative Brutus Monroe products.  Find Christopher at his website, https://www.brutusmonroe.com/ or his youTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/christopheradesigns 

Laura

Laura Gallimore is a very talented crafter and YouTuber who is "crossing the pond" to join us from England. She has a very eclectic style and is adept at many different techniques and projects. Her favorite cards to create are ones that make the recipient have a 'How did you make that' moment, and she will be sharing her favorite tips, tricks and products with you. You can find more about Laura on her blog: www.craftynotshifty.wordpress.com or her YouTube channel:  HERE

Laura's class will be an Interactive card class featuring products from Chibitronics, Heffy Doodle, Lawn Fawn, Love From Lizi and Stix 2 Anything. 

Taylor

Taylor VanBruggen is the owner and creative director of Taylored Expressions.  Taylor will be joining us from Ankeny, Iowa, and will be teaching a class using new stamps, papers and brand new secret products from her summer Taylored Expressions release.  You can find out more about Taylor by visiting her website, https://www.tayloredexpressions.com/ and her blog, https://tayloredexpressions.com/blog/

Karen

Karen Hightower is a fantastic stamper and colorist who wows everyone with every project she creates.  Karen is a member of the Gina K. Designs team, and will be bringing her southern charm from Texas to offer a very special class featuring brand new Gina K. Designs products.  You can find Karen at her blog,  https://karenscreativemess.blogspot.com/ or her YouTube channel HERE.

Rina K. and Gina K.

If you joined us for Junkie fest 2017, you've met Gina Krupsky.  Gina is the petite powerhouse behind Gina K. Designs and StampTV, as well as her retail store in Greendale, WI, Village Paper & Ink, where last year's event was held.  Gina will be teaching a fun card making class and you can only imagine what will happen with Rina as her assistant!

Gina is everywhere. You can visit Gina at her retail store:
Village Paper & Ink, 5602 Broad Street, Greendale,WI,
 her website: https://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/, 

her StampTV site:  http://stamptv.ning.com/, 

her YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/StampTV, 

or at her blog: http://ginakdesigns.blogspot.com/.

Rina K. can be found at her very own Rina K. Designs YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

Lydia

Lydia Fiedler is a talented artist very well-versed in a myriad of products and techniques and is always helpful in answering all kind of questions on Stamp Junkies.  Lydia is the artist/author behind the very active and humorous blog, Understand Blue.  She also is the community manager of the Splitcoaststampers site and a very active Stampin' Up rep, and also teaches classes and workshops in Austin, and in locations around the U.S..   Lydia joins us from Texas to teach a no-line watercolor class featuring products from Inkon3 and My Sweet Petunia.  
You can find Lydia on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/understandblue
or her blog: https://understandblue.blogspot.com/.

Angie

Angie Backman is one of the co-owners of Concord & 9th.  Concord & 9th's fabulous products are well known to Stamp Junkies  .  Angie is joining us from Midvale, Utah, and along with Robyn Pollard,  Creative Director at Concord & 9th, will be teaching a "Learn to Turn" class using the original MISTI and their very innovative "turnabout" stamps  and other fabulous Concord & 9th products.  You can find Angie and Concord & 9th products at their website:  https://concordand9th.com/ 

or  YouTube channel HERE.

Angela and Whitney 

Angela Magnuson and her daughter-in-law Whitney are the dynamic and creative women behind Unity Stamp Company.  Unity is a wonderfully large, yet small-town, family-owned "cooked to order" rubber stamp company from right here in central Minnesota.  Unity's available stamp "inventory"  numbers in the tens of thousands!  Angela and Whitney  are joining us from New London, Minnesota and will be teaching a mixed media class using many of their beautiful summer release Unity stamps.  You can find Unity Stamps at their website:  https://www.unitystampco.com/, and at their blog HERE.

So here is how this works:

On Friday July 27th and Saturday July 28th, classes will begin at 8:30am and run concurrently in two classrooms throughout the day, ending at 5:30.  The Junkie fest event price includes a package of four specific 2-hour classes (two classes on Friday, two classes on Saturday), with each of the four classes providing detailed technique and product instruction as well as at least $40 in retail product for each student.   Even though all eight of the Junkie fest teachers and classes are amazing, unfortunately there is neither time nor classroom space for everyone to take all eight classes, so you must choose which package you would like to take.  There are 60 spots in each package, so register quickly to be assured your first choice!    Your class entry tickets will be in your welcome packet at check in, and the appropriate class ticket (day and time) must be presented at the door to enter the class.  

The Junkie fest 2018 package choices are as follows:

Package A

includes these four classes:

Angie Backman - Concord & 9th

Karen Hightower - Gina K. Designs

Angela, Whitney & Nic - Unity Stamp Company

Lydia Fiedler - Inkon3/My Sweet Petunia

or...

Package B

includes these four classes:

Taylor VanBruggen - Taylored Expressions

Christopher Alan - Brutus Monroe

Laura Gallimore -  various products

Gina & Rina Krupsky - Gina K. Designs

In order to keep class size manageable, each group of 60 will be divided into two sections.  The tentative class schedule is as follows.  

Each color represents one "section" of 30 registered guests.  
Blue and Orange are the two sections of Package A - same classes, different times.
Yellow and Green are the two sections of Package B - same classes, different times.

As you can see from the schedule, each attendee will be placed in one of the color groups, and will attend one morning class each day, and one afternoon class each day, leaving plenty of social crafting time, lunch and Make & Take time, explore the Mall of America time, or sneak back to your room and take a nap time!

A light lunch will be provided both Friday and Saturday. By the time of registration, the menu choices will be available to select. Very likely, you will be choosing from either two sandwich options or a gluten-free salad option.  Other specific dietary requests may be able to be accommodated, but are not guaranteed.  

Make and Takes will also be available for you to do during the lunch break.

Evening dinner plans are on your own.  The hotel has a restaurant on-site, there are a few others within walking distance, and dozens and dozens of choices at the Mall of America less than two miles away. 

Evening activities will resume at 7:30pm with more free company Make & Takes, door prizes and lots of social crafting time.  On Saturday night, in addition to yet more Make & Takes, there will be a closing/farewell party from 8:30-10:30pm with desserts and beverages. 

Now for the financial details:

There is a very limited opportunity to add classes to your package, at a cost of $50 per additional class (each class includes $40+ in retail product).  There are only 12 extra seats available per class/classroom, so if you'd like to add additional individual classes from the opposite package, grab them quickly!  If desired, and seats are available when you register, it is possible to fill your days and take all eight classes throughout the weekend for a total price of $575. 

Registration is anticipated to begin April 3rd.  I will announce the firm registration date and time both on this blog, and on the Stamp Junkies page, a day or two prior to the registration going live.  

Payment is due in full at the time of registration, and there are 

NO REFUNDS.

Here are some pre-emptive Questions & Answers: 

When can I register?  Registration will tentatively begin April 3rd.  I will do my best to give at least 2 days notice of the exact registration date and time.

Do I have to pay the event fee all at once?  Yes, payment is due in full at time of registration.

Do I have to stay at the hotel? No.  However, the free breakfast "buffet" and evening happy hour are only available to registered hotel guests, (room key card must be presented).
Is the hotel room included in the event price?  No.  It is not included.

What if I am unable to attend?  There are no refunds, but you may sell or transfer your spot, as long as you notify me of the name of the person attending in your place.

Can I attend for only one day?  Can I just buy one or two ala carte classes, rather than pay the whole event fee?  Ala Carte classes are only available in limited quantities in ADDITION to your selected class option, not in lieu of.  If you choose, you may skip any part of the weekend events, but the $375 event price is the same, and includes 2 1/2 days of fun and four classes.  You must attend the classes to receive the class products, and if you are drawn as a winner of a door prize, you must claim within one hour or a new winner will be drawn.  

Do I have to take the classes? If you choose, you may skip any part of the weekend events, but the event price is the same, and covers all 2 1/2 days. 

Can I choose four different classes or do I have to choose from Option A or B only?  You must select from Option A or B.  If you wish to add an additional class, they are available in very limited quantity to purchase at $50 each class. 

What if I am attending with friends?  Can I request to be in the same group with them?  Yes.  If you wish to be kept with your friends, add a note to the "Add Message" portion of the Paypal invoice.  I will do my best to make sure you stay in the same sub-group of your selected Option.

Can I register more than one person at one time?  Yes.  You will be able to add more than one Package.  Please make sure that the correct names and contact information for all attendees are relayed with the registration or payment.

What if I don't want to take one of my four classes?  Can I trade, or give away my spot for that class?  You will receive a ticket for each of your individual classes.  You may trade your tickets with other willing paying attendees, but the ticket for class entry must be presented with the correct date and time. 

What if one of the teachers can't make it?  Will a refund be issued then?  All teachers have given firm commitments for this event.  In case of a personal emergency, I reserve the right to make last minute teacher substitutions.  Refunds will not be given. All venue expenses are the same for the organizer, regardless of teachers.
What if I don't want the provided lunch?  If you would prefer not to choose one of the lunch options, and would rather head over to the Mall for lunch that is fine, however the event price is the same.  The cost of the venue includes the catering.
Is dinner included in the price?  No.  Dinner is completely on your own.  There is a  2 hour break to allow time to make plans elsewhere with friends for dinner.

Are pets allowed?  No.  Pets are not allowed at this venue.  

I don't have a PayPal account.  Will I still be able to register and pay for the event fee?  Yes.  You do not have to have a PayPal account.  You can still pay through PayPal using a credit card without establishing an account.