MY CKU-Masters Experience part 2

Okay, talk about running out of room to write, LOL! So here goes the rest of it (I hope).

My Saturday Class Not Just Stamping sponsored by Cactus Pink to sum it up in a nut shell...total waste of time! This is a beginner stamping class. Nothing new was taught to us and the projects were Lame. The layouts were so basic I cringed looking at them. I felt that this was insulting to our intelligence and a huge disappointment. I expected more from something that was supposed to be a masters level class. The "give out" was an unmounted sheet of juvenile images, not what I or anyone else around me would ever use. This class was a total waste of my time. There were some that actually walked out of the class. I just packed my stuff back up and sat there quietly, I didn't want to be obvious in my dislike of the class by walking out since I was sitting in the front row. The substitute teacher for the class talked more about her bakery shop then she did about the projects.
My next class It's our House taught by Jennifer Childs...another waste of time. I like Jennifer she's bubbly and funny, but it's obvious that she wanted to lets us all know that she did not design this class project (I heard her say it at least 10 times throughout the class). I felt that the class project bordered on insulting, with the use of adhering of paper to the front and back of every mini page, in my opinion that's just cheap! The kits were missing pieces and it was not well organized. Jennifer made it me feel as if we were all in some sort of a race against one another to get this project cranked out in record time. It made me feel as if she was in a hurry to be some place else. I ended up putting it in my crop bag to finish later. I refuse to feel rushed and frustrated with such a simple project, there's just no reason for it. Again this is not what I would have considered to be a MASTERS Level class. My frustration stemmed from my kit being incomplete, with missing items it makes it very hard to keep up with a class...even one that was as simple as this.
I think that the folks who organize these events need to reevaluate what kinds of classes are being taught at the various levels of CKU events. I've had enough of the "mini books" and would like to get back to doing 12x12 pages... as would many others that I had spoke with during this event. Something else that has bothered me is the list of items to bring to the classes. Can someone please tell me what use is it to bring the items listed if you don't use them? That's a huge pet peeve of mine. I actually went out and bought things just so I could have them for the various classes only to get to class and never even pull them out of my crop bag. To me that's just a waste of money. I would never expect my students to purchase items for a class knowing that they are spending their hard earned money on tools, stamp pads or other items that we will not be using to complete the class project. Like I said earlier...I would not be getting people to take my classes any more if I did this sort of thing.
The hand outs and give aways from CKU Masters...for the most part these were actually pretty good. Now the magazines being the current issues I thought that this was rather lame since most of us subscribe to all of them. But hey, I do plan on giving them away as door prizes at the crop I am hosting in a few weeks...many of the members of my Scrapbooking group will be eager to get a free magazine to be sure! Here's something funny...there was this one package of papers...oh my gosh they had to be the ugliest scrapbooking papers I have ever seen in my life, and they were dated from 3 years ago...I felt as if we were handed cast offs that wouldn't sell. I am going to use them...once I cut them up for note paper, LOL!
The CKU Store-I bought quite a few items there, I liked how they had scrapbooking materials available for purchase that are not yet on the market, that part was cool. But the other part I saw that was not so cool was that they jacked up the prices. Stamp pads were more there than at the scrapbooking stores, adhesives...wow were they ever expensive! Good thing that I brought plenty with me. I have never seen a Hermafix retail for $17...that was outrageous!

But over all I did have an enjoyable time. I have to let the bad feeling that I had over some of the classes go away, it does no good to dwell on it, it's over and done with. Will I go to another CKU event? I'm not sure. maybe things will change with the new management of CK magazine. I enjoyed meeting so many wonderful ladies! There was Arnette who I shared a taxi with, Terri and Sarah (sorry I can't remember your last names) I met them on the Shuttle to the Scrapbook Cupboard along with Peggy Thatcher and Lisa Graves...I was around them all of the time. These are terrific ladies that I hope to stay in touch with.

For me this was one expensive trip. I need to write up my expense report but right as it stands...now I have to say that it's over $2000...hotel, airfare, the CKU registration fee and my dining costs. I have to add up my receipts for the "other" items that I had bought and then post a total...I'm sure that it's going to be up there!