Hi all! It's been a whirlwind few days here in Minnesota! We spent two days at ScrapFest and let me tell you--I'm exhausted!

This is how ScrapFest works:

There are about 35 different vendors who have make and take booths set up in the corridors of the Mall of America. Literally in the middle of the hallways! So you can imagine how crowded it can get on a Friday and Saturday afternoon with a bunch of crazy scrappin' ladies, each with a large tote wheeling behind them. Not to mention the regular shoppers! ;)

I had a chance to stop by the Stampendous booth and meet Taylor very briefly. I'm pretty sure she thought I was crazy. I was all, "Hi, Taylor! Heather invited me to dinner with you guys tonight!" The look on her face was something to the affect of, "Umm... Do I know you?" Seriously, though, she was really nice, and the project they had planned for us at the booth was super cute!

Unfortunately I didn't make it to dinner that night with the SCS ladies. My sister and I got held up at the mall a bit later than we anticipated and by the time we got to Southdale Mall (where we were supposed to meet them), it was pretty late. I figured they'd be gone by then so we went to dinner elsewhere, but I just got an email from Heather and apparently they were at the restaurant until 10:00! Oh, well--I'll have to meet them some other time I guess. :)

As for the classes at ScrapFest, the "classrooms" are set up in larger areas of the mall (i.e. the open areas outside department stores), and also a couple classrooms on the top floor of the mall where they have meeting rooms

Various scrapbook manufacturers provide course material and instructors for each class.

We went to an awesome class sponsored by Hero Arts and taught by Jennifer McGuire (watch for some cards inspired by the class--I can't wait to get home and make some).

We also went to a class sponsored by Heidi Swapp that was all about different techniques. I got to try using a mask with Acrylic Paint--so cool! I will have to try it at home when I have lots of time to let the paint dry. Let just say I was glad the Archiver's people had baby wipes on hand. :)

Each class cost about $20, and not only do you get all the materials for the items you makes in class, but you get to take home lots of extra product, too! American Crafts was the most generous of the all the classes we took.

While I was at the AC class, Kelly Purkey ran over to my table and said hello. Hi Kelly!

Anyway, I had a lot of fun at ScrapFest (except for all the waiting in lines to make the make and takes). The lines were excessively long today, but weren't as bad yesterday. We won't be there tomorrow (I fly back to Salt Lake tomorrow), but I bet they'll be equally as busy.

So, tomorrow I'll update ya'll with some of the photos I took while I was in Minnesota. I have quite a few of my nieces and nephews that are just too cute not to share. :)