I use the term scrapbooking and cropping throughout this blog for simplity. These are generic terms and include cardmaking, paper crafting, swap projects, rubber stamp art, and other hand crafting projects.
The lodge's website has a great FAQ section which will answer most of your questions. Please be sure to check out the site and this blog on a regular basis for updates.
What is a SWARM?
A SWARM is defined by ProvoCraft (the makers of the Cricut) as one or more people coming together to craft using one of the Cricut machines. You do not have to own or even have used a Cricut to join us. The lodge has a Cricut machine and I plan to bring my Expression too. It would be great if those who own a Cricut can bring their cartridges so we can try out any we don't already have and enable those who don't already have a Cricut to buy one. You do not need to bring your machine unless you want to.
Where is Traditions Mountain Lodge?
Traditions Lodge is 5.4 miles from the intersection of Highway 285 and County Road 43 just 7 miles from the town of Bailey Colorado. From Denver, the trip is approximately 40 incredibly beautiful miles through hills and valleys of the Highway 285 Corridor. The mountain views are breathtaking! Click Here for the lodge's website.
How much does the swarm cost and what's included?
The cost is $175 per person. $165 of that is charged by the lodge and includes your room (4-5 ppl per room - separate twin beds - no bunk beds) for 2 nights, dinner Friday, all meals on Saturday, brunch on Sunday and snacks and soft drinks throughout the weekend. The extra $10 will be for extra snacks and door prizes and is payable at the door. If we get donations for door prizes and we don't need the extra snacks, then the $10 will be donated to a local charity.
Bedrooms are all furnished with linens, comforters, and extra blankets. Bathrooms are fully equipped with towels, blow driers, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, and soap. Your fee also covers unlimited use of the craft room, your own personal craft table with daylight light, use of the social area and big screen TV, all craft tools, the use of five bathrooms; use of the dining room for group meals, free wireless internet access, and on-site owners to assist with any special needs.
Check in time is 1:00 pm on Friday, June 12 and check out is 3 pm on Sunday.
How do I sign up?
We only have a total of 13 spaces available. You must first email me, Tammy, at tammy@iplanitmeetings.com to let me know you want to attend. I am maintaining the list of registrants and signups will be first-come, first-served unless special circumstances dictate otherwise. I will then email you to let you know that you have a spot or on a waitlist. Because life happens, I expect that not everyone who says they are planning on attending will make their required deposit by February 8th. If that happens then those persons will be removed from the list and those on the waitlist will be moved up into the vacant spots. I will email everyone reminders about making your deposit and the final payment but it is your responsibility to actually do so.
When is payment due?
A non-refundable deposit of $50 is due no later than February 8th. If you sign up after February 8th, your deposit will be due within a couple of days. The final payment of $115 is due no later than May 26th. You will make your payment directly to the lodge via their secured website payment form (click here). If you are not comfortable providing a credit card online, you may call the lodge directly at 303-816-7431. Please do not send me your credit card number. You must email me when you make your deposit (and make sure I have your first and last name) so that the lodge can apply your payment to our group reservation.
What happens if I have to cancel or don't make my payments?
The lodge requires a $50 non-refundable deposit. If you cancel you will receive back any payments made less the $50. If you can find someone to take your place (or we have someone on the waitlist) you may be able to work out with them that they pay you the $50 and the remainder to the lodge. If you do have to cancel at any point, please let me know so I can open up your spot to the waitlist or another interested party. I don't want to see late cancellations because it means (among other things) that your late cancellation may have prevented someone from being able to attend. But we all know that life happens...
If you do not make the required deposit by February 8th, your spot will be cancelled and given to another person on the waitlist. If you do not make the final payment by May 27th, your spot will be cancelled and your $50 deposit will be held by the lodge as a cancellation fee.
What should I bring?
You need to bring any supplies you wish to work with, your most comfortable clothes, slippers or cozy socks and jammies, and, if you wish to take a walk, then some comfortable walking or hiking shoes for the outdoors. It’s also a good idea to throw in a jacket or sweater even in the summer since, at an elevation of 8800 ft, we are always a bit cooler than the metro areas. The owner, Marge, is a Creative Memories consultant and has some supplies available for purchase. Don't expect a scrapbooking store nearby though.
What should I expect to accomplish or be doing?
You should expect to get to know some great people. I expect there will be a lot of talking (because I expect this to be all women) and laughter throughout the weekend. I hope that we will all learn new things from each other.
You can work on any type of scrap/craft project you desire. If you have a scrapbooking album you want to start or finish, get a head start on halloween and Christmas cards, complete those swaps you've signed up for, bring the materials with you. This is designed to be a scrapbooking/crop weekend so appropriate activities would be welcomed.
Are there other activities being planned during the swarm?
I am looking for suggestions of things we might (or might not) do during the swarm. Some ideas that have surfaced so far are:
- goodie bags (need donation of items for bags - qty of 13)
- garage sale (bring your unwanted, new or gently used scrapbooking related items to sell)
- swap (similar to the garage sale except that you swap for other items rather than sell)
- do a card or layout exchange (everyone would make cards or layouts to share with everyone else - can either do a one-to-one exchange or bring one for each person)
- white elephant exchange (scrapbooking related items only)
- name tag contest (create your own name tag to go on your work table)
- an instructor-led project (learn how to make a layout, card, etc.)
Can my husband/significant other or child come?
Chilren under 18 are not allowed at the lodge. Since this is a scrapbooking/cropping weekend it would not be approriate for husbands/significant others to be there unless they are also scrapbooking/cropping. Since we are also sleeping 4-5 people to a room it could be a little uncomfortable to have a man staying in the same room as the women. HOWEVER, I am not excluding men from attending and being a part of our weekend if they are there to scrap/crop. So far everyone who has indicated their interest have been women so that is what I expect the attendees to be. There are 2 rooms that sleep 2-3 people and as host I have reserved the right to assign those rooms based on special circumstances. We only get to use these rooms if we have more than 9 people sign up.
I need a ride
We don't have an official carpool set up but if you need a ride, let me know and I'll try to find someone near you to give you a ride.
I have more questions
First please check out the lodge's website to see if your question is answered there. If not, please email me, Tammy, at tammy@iplanitmeetings.com.
I hope you are able to join us for what will be a very fun weekend!!!! Please bookmark this blog and check back for updates. I will even try to post photos after our swarm.
