Scrapbook USA Expo

I just got back from attending the spring Scrapbook USA Expo, and I feel lucky to have made it back considering the weather!  Rain, snow, hail, strong winds - you name it.  But I guess if I can survive a bunch of crazy women shopping for crafting supplies I can deal with a little weather.  ;-)

I try to attend this event each spring and fall, but I'm probably not the typical attendee.  The truth is, I'm not a big scrapbooker, although I do have some examples of pages I have made here and here.  A lot of people go to Expo to actually do scrapbooking.  I mostly like to go to see what new products are available, and to look for specific things from vendors that I like to shop with.  What did I buy?  I bought some Copic markers to add to my collection, and some tank tops for my girls.  How's that for boring?  I'm excited though, and my girls will be too.

I did, however, get to see the new Cricut Cake demonstrated at the Provo Craft demonstration table.  All I can say is, "Wow!"  It's red!  Need I say more?  I can't see it being in the budget any time soon, but I could have a serious amount of fun with this machine.  The cakes that they had there (or cardboard covered with gum paste) were just beautiful.  And to think of the hundreds (thousands) of dollars that people spend on wedding cakes!  With a machine like this, you really could get professional results in your very own kitchen.  Look out Charm City Cakes!

How's this for crazy?  Provo Craft had all their wonderful, innovative machines/toys on display and available for demonstration, but nothing to buy!  They were just teasing me!  I was really hoping to find some of the new Cricut cartridges that have recently become available (especially Preserves -love that one), and maybe some of the new Cuttlebug folders.  Nope.  Nada.  Zilch.  Well, some of the other vendors at Expo had Cricut cartridges, but not at prices that I would pay.  Provo Craft makes it's home about 30 minutes away from where I live, and it has a retail "presence" called Roberts Crafts.  Whenever new Cricut and Cuttlebug products come out I am always excited for when they become available at my local Roberts.  Do you know when they become available?  After eevveeerrryyyybody else in the world has them.  No, seriously!  They are always the last to have the new stuff.  It just seems crazy that I have to look online for all these cool, innovative products when they are created right here in Utah!  I lived in Provo for 8 years and used to shop at their flagship store, Provo Craft!  Is that worth nothing?