I went to Moab with my husband last week, well for 3 days at least. My husband was meeting a friend and I was going exploring and do some work. Don and George decided that I should spend the time with them, which was nice but not what I was prepared for. For me to leave for a few days I have to work really hard to make sure everything is done for when I am gone and also when I come home. I came home on Thursday night and had class on Friday and today, Sunday. So I had to make sure everything was done for those classes. My husband thinks I don't do anything and can just take off. Well not really. I tried to explain to him what it took to do a class, thought I would share it with you.
1. I have to know what class. I have some standard classes I do every month. I do Boxes, Bags and Containers class every other month I share it with Stamp a Stack class, Ladies Night Out, Tea & Cards and every other month I have a Christmas Card Class. I try also once a month to have a kit class. Then I ask my customers what they would like for classes or I look at some interesting classes others are doing. I try to have at least 5 - 6 classes a month.
2. Once I know what class is coming I plan the times and dates. This I do 2 -3 months ahead of time so I can get my schedule out and my customers know when the classes are and they can plan their schedule. Sometimes I have to change a scheduled classes because of something going on but I try to keep them once set.
3. Then I have to think of something to do in the class. I know that sounds easy but it is not that easy. Yes a Christmas Card Class is Christmas Cards I do 2 designs. Just pick some cards, well it is not that easy. I do look at Pinterest, some Facebook sites and I subscribe to some blogs. I like to CASE which means Copy And Share Everything, but I also like to change things for my stamps and my style. I do some samples and change things if I am lucky I get it right on the first attempt, I will tell you I seldom do just one and say that is it, I average 4 - 5 tries. I have to make sure that each card does not share the same stamps, ink, punches, framelits or embossing folders - it is hard to share those things. Then if I have more than one project in a class I have to make sure that they are not all hard or all easy and that they will be able to be done in the time frame ( I am pretty bad at this one). My customers range from new stampers to experienced stampers. I have folks that get done quickly and then ones that take their time, so that is hard guess work. I would love to be able to do all this at least 2 weeks before class so I can send out pictures of what we are doing so people can decide if they want to come. When I go out of town this is hard. I feel lucky if I get it done a week before.
4. Then I have to prepare for class. Cut everything, write instructions and supply lists ( my folks are spoiled they love instructions). Make sure I have enough supplies with the folks that have reserved a spot. Sometimes when I don't get the cards designed until just before class I realize I don't have enough of the card stock or designer series paper and then I have to either redesign or have other color combos for people to pick. If I have a large class 5 - 6 is large for me, it may take me 4 - 5 hours just to get everything together and another 4 hours to write up instructions. Then when I think I am ready I put together my class, which to me means that I have a box for each project and make sure everything they need is in the box, except adhesives, that is when I realize I don't have enough of something or forgot something from the supply list. But I am ready for class.
5. Day before class I make sure that the work tables are ready, I have enough adhesives, grid paper is down, the Stamp & Scrubs are clean and we are ready to go. I also send a reminder out to everyone that signed up for the class, so they don't miss it and so I am able to use everything I cut.
Day of class is fun times I really enjoy helping and visiting and love it when a plan comes together. So it is not easy to do a class and I wish my husband would realize it.
So what did we do today in my class?
What are we doing in my Thursday Class?
Hope you enjoyed the explanation of how to put a class together.
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