Simon Says CREATE 2026 |

Simon Says CREATE 2026

Welcome to the Simon Says CREATE event page!

We are thrilled to announce Simon Says Stamp will be hosting our Simon Says CREATE Event April 30-May 2, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

Sign up as a student and be inspired alongside your peers in fun-filled and action-packed classes, taught by some of the top designers in our industry. Or shop and make Create It Take Its with some of your favorite brands! This year, we have nearly doubled our event space giving you more room to shop and CREATE!

There are 2 ways to participate in CREATE

1.) Purchase as Student Ticket here! (editor’s note: SOLD OUT!) A Student Ticket gives you access to the full CREATE experience! Spend intimate classroom time over the course of two days learning new techniques and making art with Paula Cheney, Simon Says Stamp Teammates: Shari Carroll, Nina-Marie Trapani, Heather Hoffman and Simon Says Stamp’s momma, founder, and creator herself… Heidi Crowl! In addition to a seat in the classroom, the student ticket includes:

⭐ An invite to the Thursday, April 30th VIP party from 6-8 pm, where you will have exclusive access to the store and Create It Take Its (CITIs).

⭐ Class kits loaded with products for you to keep!

⭐ A swag bag packed full of amazing products from Simon Says Stamp and our sponsoring brands.

⭐ A limited edition CREATE 2026 crafting apron.

⭐ Soup and Salad Lunch at the Ohioan Dining Room on Friday and Saturday.

⭐ A chance to win exciting prizes exclusively for students.

⭐ When you are not in class, you will have access to the biggest store CREATE has ever had and more CITIs than you can make, with MANY brands bringing different projects for Friday and Saturday from 8am-6pm ET. (Create It Take It (CITI) hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM ET on both days) (including exclusive student only access to CITIs from 8-9 am on Friday and Saturday!)

2.) Purchase a General Admission ticket here! The General Admission ticket gives you access to the biggest crafting store CREATE has ever hosted where you will be able to shop and “create and take” projects featuring many of your favorite brands. With MANY brands and different projects each day, there will be more projects than you can make in one day! Meet and CREATE with some of your favorite brands and designers in the industry! Create It Take It (CITI) hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM ET Friday and Saturday and store hours are from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Ticket fees are nonrefundable. Attendees are responsible for their own lodging, transportation, and additional meals.

On-site Simon Says Stamp Store Hours

May 1-2 from 8am – 6pm

CITI Hours

May 1-2 from 8am – 9am (open to students only)
May 1-2 from 9am – 5pm (open to the public)

General Admission Tickets available here

We know crafters love to shop, and we’re making it even easier to purchase and experience products with an on-site store that is now being spread out over TWO Ballrooms! Some of your favorite brands with their teams and designers will be providing a unique Create It Take It on each day. Create’s amazing list of brands includes: (and more to come!)

We will have thousands of items on hand to purchase! If we don’t have it on hand, our team will assist you with placing an order and have it delivered to you, in person, by the end of the day.

Location & Accommodations

Once again, Simon Says Create will be held at the Ohioan Hotel & Conference Center, just down the street from our Simon Says Stamp home base. We recommend staying where all the action is happening!

Ohioan Hotel and Conference Center (NEW name, same location!)
100 Green Meadows Drive South
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

614-880-4300

When booking a hotel room in the Simon block, use code 2604SIMON and ask for the Simon Says Stamp Group Rate (limited availability) which INCLUDES a breakfast buffet in the morning for two or four guests depending on room type. Or you can book digitally HERE.

If Nationwide Hotel is sold out, there are many alternative hotel options in the Polaris Parkway and Columbus CrossRoads areas:

Hilton Garden Inn 8535 Lyra Dr. 614-846-8884

Candlewood Suites 8515 Lyra Dr. 614-505-1010

Cambria Hotels 9100 Lyra Dr. 614-841-9100

Hyatt Place 7490 Vantage Dr. 614-846-4355

Courtyard By Marriott 7411 Vantage Dr. 614-436-7070

Closest airport: CMH (Columbus)

Classroom Instructors:

Our classes will be taught by the following fabulous instructors:

Heidi Crowl:

One of Heidi Crowl’s earliest memories of artistic expression occurred at a young age when she recalls decorating her bedroom walls without her parent’s permission. When junior high arrived and she was offered bonus points in science class to make 1 million dots on looseleaf paper without the assistance of a computer or photocopier, her creativity shined as she dipped a hairbrush in paint and got to work. Not surprisingly, she was the only student to earn those bonus points.

Her passion for creativity and ingenuity is still on full display today. In addition to her role as Founder and President of Simon Says Stamp, she has curated and brought dozens of new products into the marketplace under the Simon Says Stamp brand. Throughout her 2 decades in the industry, she has worn many hats and has a knack for knowing what crafters need and the perseverance to bring it to life. She is hands-on, always seeking to inspire creativity as a teacher and at a broader level, to crafters and creators worldwide who use her products.

Heidi is a life-long student and this experience helps her connect with students in a meaningful way. Her charisma and upbeat personality are infectious and shine through in the countless YouTube Live videos on the Simon Says Stamp channel, which has amassed 155,000 subscribers. Heidi was sought out by the Lifetime Network for a segment on their Designing Spaces telecast, which aired in 2023. She is eternally grateful to be in position to spread joy through artistic creation and even more thankful that her parents didn’t ground her for her “wall art” before she took off.

Paula Cheney:

Paula Cheney has been a “maker” for as long as she can remember. Her professional journey in the crafting industry began in 2005 and led to more than a decade of working alongside Tim Holtz as Creative Coordinator across his various brands. Today, she continues to collaborate with Tim on the product design side of his idea-ology brand—one she truly believes in, as it allows her to fully indulge her love of all things vintage. Based on California’s Central Coast, she shares her creative journey on her blog, One Lucky Day, and on Instagram (@luckyday). She is inspired by old architecture, meaningful art, and the thrill of a last-minute adventure.

Shari Carroll:

Shari is celebrating 37 years in the stamping industry this summer. She started designing for Hero Arts in the summer of 1989 as a card artist for publications and demonstrations worldwide. Shari has always been technique-driven, and in 2013, she moved to Simon Says Stamp, where she can work with a broader variety of products. Shari is inspired to create art journals, mixed media projects, and card samples for the Simon Says Stamp blog. Illustrating stamps, dies, stencils, and new product development keeps her busy working from home in a small farm community outside Chicago. She enjoys time spent with her husband Tom, sons Brooks and Scooter, and her cherished granddaughter Melody.

Nina-Marie Trapani:

Nina-Marie Trapani has a deep passion for helping people express themselves through card making and paper crafting. She has spent the past 11 years at Simon Says Stamp, where she plays a key role in developing the products and educational content that inspire crafters worldwide. Through her blog and YouTube tutorials—both on Simon Says Stamp channels and her own platforms—she enjoys showing how to explore card making, paper crafting, and mixed media in fun, approachable ways.

Nina-Marie believes crafting is a relaxing, therapeutic journey, and she encourages students to step outside their comfort zone and try new techniques. Having spent most of her life by the ocean, she loves calling Cape Cod, Massachusetts, home.

Heather Hoffman:

Heather Hoffman grew up in a home surrounded with arts, crafts, and creativity. She scrapbooked when her kids were little, which about 16 years ago transitioned to cardmaking…and there has been no looking back! While she loved scrapbooking, it was kind of like dishes and laundry in that you were never really done with anything. And being able to sit down to complete a card all at once felt like such an accomplishment in the life of a busy mom! Over the years, she worked on several design teams, and as her kids got older and she had more time, she eventually started working full time in the craft industry. She has worked with Simon Says Stamp for many years, and exclusively since January of 2025. She loves teaching and sharing her love of cardmaking, and finds so much joy in playing with stamps, dies, papers, inks, and all the many crafty things that are available!”

Class Schedule:

Please NOTE: Schedule varies according to which Group (A or B) ticket you purchase. Students will have VIP access to the Simon Says Stamp Store and Create It Take Its (CITIs) on Thursday from 6 – 8pm. In addition, the store will be open 8-6, and CITIs will be open on Friday and Saturday from 8am – 5pm to Students and 9am – 5pm to General Admission ticket holders. Students are welcome to enjoy the store and CITIs whenever they are not scheduled in class.

Group A Schedule

Group B Schedule

Supplies for Student Classes

We will supply basic essentials and kits so you will have everything you need for the classroom projects, INCLUDING…

⭐BRAND NEW Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Surprise Products

⭐Our must-have pair of Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Pawsitively Everyday Scissors

⭐An assortment of Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Pawsitively Dazzling Gems

⭐A Selection of our Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pads

⭐A Selection of our Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Adhesives

⭐Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Blending Brushes

⭐…and MORE!

If you have a favorite adhesive, scissors, or tool, etc. you are welcome to bring them.

Have questions?

Our customer service team is here to help! Please email [email protected] with any questions you may have. We are also available at 614-596-2220 from 7 am until 3 pm ET on weekdays to take your calls.

Whether you have a ticket to class or would like to come and shop in the store, everyone is welcome!

We are so excited to get together to CREATE with you!