I started going to conventions about a 2 years after I started stamping. I didn't even know they had been coming to our town for years! I have been stamping for nearly 7 years. I love SU stuff but I never wanted to limit myself.
Conventions provide the newest/latest/greatest tools on the market. Many of the booths have demos going on with new techniques. Tools like Coluzzle, eyelets, layer ease were all on the market several years before SU picked them up for their catty. I had quite a collection of eylets before SU added them to the line. It is also a great way to stock up on things not easily found in your area. The convention that comes to my area has one vendor that carries every Colorbox refill. I just take my list of colors and buy all my re-inkers there. I picked up acrylic blocks there--way cheap along with some sheets of UM rubber stamps. I could see what that whole thing was about without spending a fortune. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty there that is pricey and expensive. But, I look forward to going for all the "new" stuff or for things that I own but can be used differently. I generally pick up stamps that I like that I don't necessarily want a set of. For instance, I wanted a tea bag stamp for get well cards but not teapots etc.
I generally take a set amount of cash and spend the day in bliss with 100's of other women doing the same thing!
Annette
http://stamponthis.com
Conventions for Newbies
