Simon Says CREATE 2024 |

Simon Says CREATE 2024

Welcome to the Simon Says CREATE event page!

We are thrilled to announce Simon Says Stamp will be hosting our Simon Says CREATE Event May 9-11, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. TWICE THE SPACE AS LAST YEAR!

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

(Editor’s note: Student tickets AND General Admission tickets are SOLD OUT!! Thank you!! We can’t WAIT to see you all at CREATE!)

1.) Purchase as Student Ticket here! 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 Gina Krupsky, Jennifer McGuire, Simon Says Stamp Teammates: Shari Carroll, Nina-Marie Trapani, Caly Person, and Simon’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, May 9th 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 product for you to keep!

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

⭐ A limited edition CREATE 2024 crafting apron.

⭐ Soup and Salad Lunch at the Nationwide Ohio 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 over 30 brands bringing different projects for Friday and Saturday from 8am-6pm ET.

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 over 30 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) and store hours are from 8 AM to 6 PM ET Friday and Saturday.

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

On-site Simon Says Stamp Store and CITI

May 10-11 from 8am – 6pm

~~General Admission Tickets available here~~ (editor’s note: sold out!)

TWICE THE SPACE TO SPREAD OUT AS LAST YEAR! 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:

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 Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center, just down the street from our Simon Says Stamp home base. We recommend staying where all the action is happening!

Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center
100 Green Meadows Drive South
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

614-880-4300

When booking a hotel room in the Simon block, use code 353845 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.

Book online 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:

Gina Krupsky

Gina, of Gina K. Designs, has been in love with all things paper since 1995 when she went to her first home stamping party. In 2005, she started Gina K. Designs and soon after that she launched her YouTube channel. She has created innovative products for the paper crafting community like her Wreath Builder System, Amalgam Ink, Foil-mates foiling system and more. Gina resides in Wisconsin with her husband Tom.

Jennifer McGuire:

Jennifer is a stamping enthusiast and crafting instructor who has been sharing her love of crafting and handmade acts of kindness since 2002. Over the years, her blog, YouTube videos, publications, and classes have helped her reach thousands of paper crafters worldwide. As a natural extension of her popular blog and technique videos, Jennifer co-founded Online Card Classes with her dear friend Kristina Werner, where she has been working hard to inspire card makers for the past several years. Jennifer resides in Cincinnati with her husband Ken, son Colin, and daughter Lila. Her stepdaughters Kay and Audrey are grown and live on the west coast.

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 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 138,000 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.

Shari Carroll:

Shari is celebrating 35 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 been working as an artist for almost 15 years—including the past 9 years with Simon Says Stamp as an illustrator, graphic designer, and educator. She enjoys providing creative ideas for card making, paper crafting, and mixed media through blog and YouTube tutorials on not only the Simon Says Stamp channels, but her own personal platforms as well. Nina-Marie believes that crafting is a relaxing, therapeutic journey; using an approachable teaching style she encourages others to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things. Having lived most of her life by the ocean, she currently resides on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Caly Person:

Caly Person’s creative journey began early, sparked by childhood memories of her neighbor’s stamp collection. Rediscovering cardmaking at a stamping party in 2014, her wonderful hobby developed into crafting as a guest designer for various stamping companies, all while maintaining her career as a pharmacist. Transitioning away from pharmacy in 2019, Caly has since channeled her artistic talent into designing for Simon Says Stamp since 2020. She loves to bring florals and cute critters to life using various mediums, from alcohol markers to watercolor. Whether ink-blending, paper-piecing, or creating interactive cards, Caly’s passion is evident in her desire to both create and inspire. Caly resides in Kansas City with her husband Stephen, her sons Noah, Evan, and Liam, and daughter Lyla.

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 and CITIs will be open on Friday and Saturday from 8am – 6pm to Students and 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!