What is CKU?

Opps, sorry Debby.

CKU is scrapbooker-speak for Creating Keepsakes University.

Creating Keepsakes is one of the largest scrapbooking magazines. CKU is a weekend gathering of scrapbookers attending classes taught by the personalities of the magazine (some refer to them as sb celebs). Many are book authors, product designers, and company “faces”, beyond just the work they do for the magazine.

In the past, it’s been a three day event (Thursday-Saturday) and involved ten classes of your choice, nightly crops and one night of mini-classes and make-and-takes conducted by the corporate sponsors (usually different supply manufacturers). There are usually around 600 attendees and these events sell out within minutes of the opening of registration.

Last year, CKU came to Nashville for the first time and was held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort. In March of this year, CKU-Masters for advanced scrappers was held at Opryland. Masters is the same plan, only it involves supped-up classes for really intense experience. Registration for the event ranges from $300 to $400, depending on the event. Your registration includes all your classes, crops and activities. It does not include hotel, airfare/transportation costs or food.

Unlike a convention, shopping is not a featured activity. It’s a more educational event. However, in many cities, the local scrapbook stores run shuttles from the CKU hotel to their stores for scrapbookers to make use of during the weekend. So there is some shopping to be had…it’s just not on-site. There is a small event shopping area for purchasing CKU merchandise, books, limited supplies, t-shirts, etc.

You can read more about CKU on the web.

Here are some othe information sources:

Nancy's Inside Guide to Surviving and Thriving at CKU

Nancy's CKU Class Review

Nancy's CKU Class Review Part 2

A TwoPeas thread with random comments about the CKU experience