Anyone serious about scrapbooking should consider attending the Great American Scrapbook Convention at least once in their life.  This convention is often reported by many experienced scrappers as being like nothing else they've ever experienced, and many who attend once are hooked and can't wait for the next one!  But what is the Great American Scrapbook Convention, why should you consider attending, and how can you be sure it will be the best scrapbooking retreat you'll ever experience?  Let's take a closer look at these questions and then you can decide for yourself if it's not something you should consider!

First, the Great American Scrapbook Convention is a regular scrapbooking retreat sponsored by F and W Publications, the parent company that publishes such journals as Memory Makers Magazine, Family Tree Magazine, and North Light Books.  Their Great American Scrapbook Convention is scheduled typically three or four times per year in different parts of the country as a way for serious scrappers to attend and for scrapbook vendors to show their latest materials and equipment.  This isn't just a long sales pitch however; there are many interesting and fun things that go on at a Great American Scrapbook Convention and which make them worth considering by any experienced scrapper.

At a Great American Scrapbook Convention you'll find classes for beginners and advanced or experienced scrappers and everyone in between, on topics ranging from paper and accessories to page layouts and imprinting and even more.  Much of the focus of these classes and the products offered at a Great American Scrapbook Convention is on preserving a family's legacy and history, but of course there's no need to think that you should have a particular set of photographs or mementos on hand in order to benefit from these classes.  No matter what your level of interest in scrapping or what you're trying to preserve, you're sure to find something helpful and useful to you when it comes to techniques and materials alike.

If you're concerned about the cost of a Great American Scrapbook Convention, don't be.  They're typically around ten dollars for admission at the door and this allows you access to the vendors and to what is called a Learning Pavilion, where you work on quick projects throughout the day.  For an additional charge you can also participate in the more complicated and thorough crops featured at a Great American Scrapbook Convention, but this is up to your discretion.  These crops usually last an evening or you can attend an all-day crop if you prefer.  No matter what your level of participation, you're sure to find some interesting new materials and techniques at any part of a Great American Scrapbook Convention!  They're definitely worth checking out.

The organizers of a Great American Scrapbook Convention are there to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.  At their website you can find all sorts of valuable information about the convention, including what types of materials you should bring with you and what you cannot bring.  There are also many different questions answered about registering, the cost, the classes, and so on.  There's probably not a lot of other conventions and gatherings that are as user friendly as the Great American Scrapbook Convention!

If you're someone that sells scrapbook supplies, you might want to consider becoming a vendor at a Great American Scrapbook Convention.  You can do more than just stand at a booth and hawk your products; you can actually teach up to five separate workshops that demonstrate your materials and equipment.  Or, if you don't want to participate with a booth itself, you can make up a sample for the goody bag given away at a Great American Scrapbook Convention or become a sponsor, which means you get email addresses for attendees and exposure for your company's name and contact information.  Their pricing for these types of participation are very reasonable and are great opportunities for any business whether online or an actual brick and mortar store.  Many who have started a scrapbooking business have found that some of their best and most recurring customers were found at a Great American Scrapbook Convention.  Remember, those who attend such a convention are serious scrappers.  They've paid money to get in and so of course they're interested in new products and materials!  Anyone selling products related to scrapbooks would do well to consider this opportunity for their business.

But any Great American Scrapbook Convention is really made for the scrappers, not the vendors.  While they are great places to find new products and equipment, they're really meant to help experienced and novice scrappers to learn new techniques and to have a great time with those who share a love of this hobby.  The entire idea surrounding the Great American Scrapbook Convention is to enhance the experience of creating scrapbooks, not to pressure anyone to buy things!  You will find some amazing products at one of these conventions that you probably won't find anywhere else but this is not all you'll find at a convention.  Many who have attended a Great American Scrapbook Convention have stated that it was one of the best scrapbooking experiences they've ever had. 

If you're looking for a great opportunity for your scrapbook business or for a great time to share with your fellow scrappers, you definitely need to consider a Great American Scrapbook Convention.  They're informative as well as enjoyable and offer a wide variety of classes and products.  You can enjoy an entire day with your fellow scrappers learning new techniques and shopping for new products and equipment.  These conventions are also a great place to talk to experts in the field and to find out how others make those great pages you see online and at retail stores.  Really, any serious scrapper would do well to consider attending at least one Great American Scrapbook Convention, but if you do, you may find that you've had such an enjoyable time that you can't help but to go back again and again!