I went to C9 Summer Camp 2023 hosted by @Concordand9th last weekend. In this article, I'll review the event for you & share the cards I made.
C9 Summer Camp
from: Concord & 9th
Every year, Greg Cottrell and his team over at @Concordand9th put on a event they call summer camp. This year is the third time they have put on a event like this. I have attended two of them. They describe it as a virtual craft retreat, which is so very appropriate. I say that because it is so much more than just a craft making event.
After you register for summer camp, and about a month before the event, you receive an email inviting you to the facebook group for camp. And, they send you get a box full of goodies, including exclusive products that you will use during class and it has a card in it, like the one below, that tells you what cabin you are assigned to.
Everything about the event is run and branded as a summer camp. There are six crafty camp counselors, otherwise known as instructors, who are all rock stars in the card making community. Each conselor leads their own cabin, which are all named after a Concord and 9th cardstock and ink color.
And, this year we had three options for registering for camp:
- Camp Retreat and Kit without any ink
- Camp Retreat and Kit with Ink Cubes
- Camp Retreat and Kit with Ink Pads
Summer Camp Classes and Counselors
C9 Summer Camp
from: Concord & 9th
C9 Summer Camp
from: Concord & 9th
Campfire Hangout
The fun begins with a Campfire Hangout where you play games, laugh (a lot), and have a great time around a virtual campfire with the camp counselors. There is another one on the second night.
To be honest, the Campfire Hangouts are my favorite parts of the event. They are nothing but fun. If you went to camp when you were a kid, then you'll know that you develop special bonds and relationships during camp. And, people that are there make a significant impact on you and your life. It is no different with C9 Summer Camp.
During camp, especially during the Campfire Hangouts, you forget about everything else that is going on in your life and just enjoy the moment. They are really special!
Summer Camp Classes
Each camp counselor teaches a class. The classes begin with a recorded lesson where the counselor introduces the products they are using and completes the cards they are teaching. Then, they join Greg live and go over things that attendees mention in the comments that they need help on.
Before we get into each of the classes, I want to share a hack that works really well for me. I have attended many cardmaking events over the years. And, find that making the cards prior to the event improves the event experience in a number of ways:
- Allows you to participate in the chat
- Gives you knowledge on what to pay special attention to during the class
- Create my own version of the cards during the class
This year, I also did the homework three times (so that I had 3 sets for each card) which was great in making my own versions.
And now, let's take a look at the classes from this year.
Summer Camp 23 – Dragonfruit Cabin: Inked Blossoms
Ink Blending + Paper Piecing with Kristina Werner
The first two cards were taught by Kristina Werner, aka @StarofMay. The kit for this card includes a beautiful silhouette die with three pretty flowers with leaves filling in the background. Kristina's card is a beautiful clean and simple card that shows off the silhouette, yet adds just a touch of color to accent the flowers on a Juniper card base.
My card is a reverse of what Kristina did. I blended the die cut with new Concord & 9th ink colors, Tidepool, Juniper, and Pink Lemonade. And then, to step it up I blended six circles with Pink Lemonade onto White cardstock. And then added just a little touch of Dragonfruit to the centers with one of the mini blending brushes included in the kit. Then, I glued the pieces together with liquid glue and used Dragon Fruit Enamel dots in the centers.
The second card in this class is one of my all time favorites. Kristina had us blend a background and pop up the flowers with the same die-cut petals that I use in my first card. And then I used the turnabout stamp from Jeff's class to step it up a little.
This die set is so versitle, it's great to have in my stash as I will use it a lot!
Summer Camp – Pink Lemonade Cabin: Squeeze the Day
Notecards with Seeka
The second class was held by Seeka, aka @SkyPaperScissors. And, she taught us how to make an amazing four notecards with matching envelopes. There wasn't much that I wanted to change because they are so cute. I just arranged the big lemon card a little differently and added a little more color to the sentiments on both of the lemon cards.
I love the size of this card. The kit included envelopes and a die to create the patterned paper inserts. I hope that Concord & 9th creates more die sets for this size card and starts to carry the envelopes too. And, the combination of Tidepool, Juniper, Pink Lemonade, and Buttercup make a beautiful custom patterned paper don't you think?
Summer Camp – Clementine Cabin: Happy Trails
Interactive cards with Laura Bassen, aka @LauraFadora
Wow! What can I say about this darling interactive card? Laura's version is so cute, it's hard to imagine why you would need anything else! And, Concord & 9th's creative genius is in full display with this set. The large circle at the top spins from daylight to night sky. Absolutely amazing!
Of course, I had to put my spin on it. I tried a sunset and used the love you sentiment from Jennifer's class to add to the nighttime clouds. Love it!
Oh, yea! And then there's this little cutie patootie! How darling is this? Laura, knocked it out of the park with these two cards!
One of the cool things that Concord & 9th does for their Summer Camps is they source special things that match or go with what's in the Camp Kit. For example the patterned paper in several of these cards, twine, special enamel dot sets, etc..,
Summer Camp – Lemongrass Cabin – Summer Sprigs
Summer Sprigs: Turnabouts with Jeff Lindberg
Die-cut Summer Sprigs Card
I love rainbows, so this card had me at the colors! But the clean and simple design that Jeff Lindberg, aka @JeffLindbergCreates uses to create the first card is absolutely breathtaking.
The sprig dies in this set are so versitle, you can use them on almost anything. I had three sets of all of the homework and card bases ready before the event. So when I got ready to make this card during class I pulled everything out and the sprigs were in a pile on top of the teal card base that is for the turnabout card. They looked so pretty together I decided to do a bouquet on the Tidepool card base and used the twine we had for the “Howdy” card.
Next I die cut the thank you from the “Squeeze” set three times from White cardstock and layered them together with liquid glue. And then, I used the clear drops from the kit just like Jeff did.
Love, love, love these cards! I will make both of the many more times!
Turnabout Summer Sprigs Card
This next card is created using a turnabout stamp from the Camp Kit with an All-In-One Turnabout Jig (we received the jig in our kit but you can buy them too). Turnabouts are a really cool system made up of a set of “tools” that help you line up and turn your stamp to create beautiful, intricate, multicolored images (mostly backgrounds).
The system has you turn your stamp four times. And, the stamps come with a guide that suggests four colors to use, one for each turn. However, you can use whatever colors you want. That is what I did with my card. And then, I used a die from Jennnifer's class to create a matching stitched sentiment.
Okay, the perfection you get from layering colors with the turnabout system is one thing. But Jeff steps it up a notch by using the coordinating dies to add more sprigs over the top of those that are stamped. I think it really makes the card pop and use the same technique on my card. Brilliant!
If you haven't tried making a turnabout card yet, you need to! I'm just saying!!!
Summer Camp – Juniper Cabin – Tiny Terrarium
Tiny Terrarium: Paper Piecing with Dilay Nacar
OK, I have to admit that I didn't think I was going to like this one. In fact, I wasn't even going to make it! But then I decided to, because after all it is in the kit and I should at least try it.
Well, I'm glad that I did because Dilay Nacar, aka @DilayNacar, really did a nice job making these cards come to life. The card you see here in the photos are baasically the same as what Dilay taught…I just got a little wild with teh sprigs in the second one.
But, I want to talk about the first one for a minute. It's hard to describe what happens as you begin to put this card together. It's almost just like creating a terrarium in real life, each little cactus, mushroom, or rock you add makes it more and more beautiful.
And then, using acrylic to enclose it all makes the card! I wish you could see it in person because it is amazing!
Summer Camp – Tidepool Cabin – Hugs and Stitches
Hugs and Stitches – Stitching with Jennifer McGuire
And finally, there was Jennifer's class, aka @JenniferMcGuireInk. What can I say? She is amazing in every way! The first card we made had the big stamped floral images on it. Then, Concord and 9th created this coordinating awesome die that adds holes to it so that you can add details by stitching.
Jennifer's stitching instructions were outstanding!
For my card, I created a patterned paper using the little stamps from the stamp kit that match the larger images. And then I stamped the larger ones just like Jennifer did, however, I did so on colored cardstock. And then I added some little drops at the base of each flower and heat embossed the sentiment and fussy cut it out.
For Jennifer's second card, she had us create a beautiful mono-tone background by stamping the larger stamp. The stitching is the focal point of this card. and she adds a couple of cute little flowers to accent the stitched sentiment. I created the card just as Jennifer does, however, I wanted a little more color on my card so I applied my dragonfruit ink pad directly to the card panel and pulled it across the panel. And then, I did the same going in the opposite direction with Clementine.
A Couple More Things
Wow, we made some beautiful cards, didn't we?
The stamps and dies that are in the Camp Kit are awesome! But guess what? there's more! We received a special bonus die from our Camp Counselor too. Each cabin had a different set and they are all really neat!
I haven't had time to create a card with mine yet, but here's a picture of the set that Tidepool Cabin received:
I can't wait to try it out, especially after seeing the cards that Jennifer created with it!
We also got some cool camp swag, exclusive discounts, and shopping opportunities at the C9 Trading Post.
Should You Attend?
My answer is a enthusiastic yes! It is so much fun!
The C9 crew is the best, the counselors are such good sports and awesome instructors.
I love everything about it! So, I recommend that you sign up next year…hopefully, we'll end up in the same cabin together.
Supplies
The following list may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something by following a link on this page, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.
- Cardstock: Concord & 9th White, Juniper, Powder, Midnight, Buttercup, Pebble, Cobblestone, Nutmeg, Avocado, Artichoke, Evergreen, Tidepool, Spiced Cider, Nectar, Black, Wheat, Dragonfruit, Pink Lemonade, Sorbet, Lemongrass, Matt Gold
- Ink: Pink Lemonade, Dragonfruit, Tidepool, Juniper, Buttercup, Clementine,
- Enamel Dots: Concord & 9th Dragonfruit
- Jig: All-In-One Turnabout Jig
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