Back to School—Tips for CKU

Think tailgate parties, late nights with roommates and classes, classes, classes. Sound like college? Creating Keepsakes University (CKU) is just that—a three-day event for scrapbooking addicts to crop, shop and take classes from seasoned instructors from major scrapbook supply companies.

Want to attend an upcoming event? We’ve got tips and ideas from the pros for getting the most out of your CKU experience.



Alumni Tip #1: “Make time for the demos,” grads advise. The day before classes officially begin, students can register, meet scrapbooking celebrities and participate in make-and-take projects. Alumni suggest you get to the demonstrations early and bring a camera.

Alumni Tip #2: Challenge yourself. Scrappers agree: CKU is the place to take classes outside your ”scrapping box”. Challenge yourself to learn new techniques—maybe one or two you never thought you’d try!

Alumni Tip #3: Cut costs (and have more money for scrapping supplies!). Minimize cost and make some new friends by sharing a hotel room. While many roommates know each other before the event, others meet online through regional and national scrapbooking groups. To hook up with a roomie, check out the CKU message board on Creating Keepsakes’ site. Yahoo also has a CKU message board—simply go to Yahoo.com, click on Groups and type in Creating Keepsakes. Both options are great for meeting people before going. But be aware—the hotel limit is 4 people to a room. Note, too, that the hotel is going to be very full, so you might be stuck if your dream roommate turns out to be a nightmare.

Alumni Tip #4: Pack light. Just like school, you’ll need to pack your pencils and notebooks for jotting down tips, sketching layouts and gathering new friends’ email addresses. But you won’t need much else: bring scissors, a paper cutter and your favorite glue. A plastic paper keeper is a good idea for keeping projects, paper scraps and paper purchases clean and unwrinkled. And don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase for class samples, prizes and make-and-take projects. Bring an empty bag if you plan to do some shopping at local stores. You can also ship things home from the hotel’s business office—airlines do charge for overweight luggage.

Alumni Tip #5: Don’t forget your school spirit. This is your chance to meet new friends, take great classes and learn new techniques. Come prepared to learn and have fun. Take advantage of make-and-takes, demos at local stores, and any other opportunities available. Do you have to be with a group to have fun? Absolutely not! You’ll meet people at the event—or you might just relish the idea of a few days to yourself.

Alumni Tip #6: CKU sells out fast! Sometimes, in a number of hours. Check the Creating Keepsakes web site to see when registration opens—then set aside the time to register. (One kindergarten teacher creatively organized an impromptu naptime for her students so she could register!) Registration is available only online, so have your mouse ready to go when registration opens to ensure your spot!

Alumni Tip #7: Pick your destination and CKU type. A handful of regular CKUs are hosted each year in different regions of the country. Tuition for these three-day events for scrapbookers is $345 per student. If you’re a retailer, there’s a CKU-R, which focuses on scrapbook retailing, as well as CKU-T for teachers. CKU-Master’s is a longer event open to all scrapbookers but recommended for advanced scrapbookers. Tuition, event length and activities vary based on CKU format.

Alumni Tip #8: Pack sensibly. Classes are held in hotel conference rooms, where the temperature often ranges between frosty and boiling. Dress in layers to stay comfortable. Comfortable shoes are a must, especially for getting to classes quickly. And don’t forget your scrapping gear: This is the place where you can wear your “Scrapbook Fanatic and Proud of It” shirt and not feel out of place.

Alumni Tip #9: Bring snacks. Hotel meals are spendy, and lines get long. Pack a few granola bars and other portable food so you can eat when you’re hungry. Bottled water is also expensive—either bring some along, or be prepared to pay. Many students will check out area grocery stores or convenience stores and stock their room with munchies.

Alumni Tip #10: Have fun! You’ll be sleep-deprived and over-excited. So will everyone else! Alums advise: This is the time to be extra conscious of your attitude. “When there’s so much going on, lots of people are on sort of high emotion,” notes one student. “It’s easy to let your emotions get the better of you! My advice is to focus on all the fun you’re having—not on the prize you didn’t win or the person who wasn’t nice.”

Interested in attending CKU? Look for Hot Off The Press and other scrapbook industry leaders to teach at these events for 2005:

CKU-A: March 3-5, 2005 (This event is where scrapbookers complete an album in a weekend)
The Westin Park Central, Dallas, TX

CKU-Minneapolis: March 31-April 2, 2005
Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN

CKU-Master’s: May 19-21, 2005
Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, CA

CKU-Master’s: June 9-11, 2005
Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, TN

CKU-Orlando: July 21-23, 2005
Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, FL

CKU-Teachers: August 4-6, 2005
Provo Marriott, Provo, UT

CKU-Kansas City: September 8-10, 2005
Kansas City Marriott Downtown

CKU-A: October 27-29, 2005 (This event is where scrapbookers complete an album in a weekend)
The Westin Stamford, Stamford, CT