SNAP! Conference Takeaways and Party Book Giveaway!

There is still so much to share with you about SNAP Conference from April! (I know, it’s been a while). This time I’m doing it with an awesome GIVEAWAY!! (See the end of the post for details!)

  

There is much to be gained, just from being in the presence of other creative like-minded women, but besides the power of those interactions, I learned so much from every class and workshop I attended! I tried to tweet lots of good take-aways, but my phone kept dying. Here are a few of my conference tweets:

From the SEO class by Dennis Goedegebuure:

(I still have so much to learn about SEO, but these are some ideas that were relevant to me at my level).

  • Check out WordPress SEO smart links plug-in. & Juice.
  • Rather than asking for likes…”@RhonnaFarrer: Put your energy into making things that are likeable. #SEO #snapconf @TheNextCorner”
  • If your content isn’t date specific, consider leaving date out of permalink.#snapconf

*****

From the Keynote address by best-selling author, Cheryl Najafi–who has given me a signed copy of her new book to giveaway to on of my readers on THIS post (see below!)

  • “make sure your conversations have heart and soul” @CherylStyle on entertaining  #snapconf
  • Great idea, right? “@PenningtonPoint: Now I want to have a “meet & potato” party @CherylStyle #snapconf”
  • Instead of worrying about being the perfect host, spend that energy making your guests feel special.  – @CherylStyle #SNAPConf
  • “Embrace your best. Resource the rest.” #cherylstyle #snapconf
  • “@snapconf: I love that @CherylStyle just called bloggers a “movement”… It’s so true. #SNAPconf” Absolutely! 🙂
  • As a host, it’s not about me, it’s about the guests! @cherylnajafi #snapconf

I loved her philosophy on entertaining!! More about Cheryl in a minute!

*****

From the video class by Roger Sherman

  • Great video tips from @GreatHomeVideo 1-Hold Steady (watch orientation of camera–needs to be wide screen) #snapconf
  • More tips from @GreatHomeVideo: Don’t pan back and forth! Cut, reposition and start again. Makes sense! No edit later! #snapconf
  • Don’t zoom!–Zooming is death! @GreatHomeVideo, I thought I was the only one that was bad at that! #snapconf
  • Keep shots short and vary your angles. Shooting video @GreatHomeVideo #snapconf
  • Get close close close up on what ever your subject is. @GreatHomeVideo #snapconf
  • Use natural light for photos and video! Experiment with times of day for best light @GreatHomeVideo #snapconf

Roger filmed and posted the Unofficial Video from SNAP Conference. This was shot and compiled without editing! Smart, right? You can get more details in his book, Ready, Steady, Shoot.

*****

Loved the class “From Blog to Book” featuring Courtney Dial of Pizzazzerie, Marie of Make and Takes, and Betty of Random House (senior editor of Potter Craft)! It got the wheels turning!

  • View social media as part of your business. Even better, it’s free! via @pizzazzerie #snapconf
  • Proposals need to be very specific. Show publishers exactly what your book will be. @makeandtakes #snapconf
  • Make sure and keep track of your press! Promote yourself thoroughly to publishers. (Not the time to be humble.) #snapconf
  • 1st step: book proposal.Reflection of you and what your book will be. Audience? @CrafterNews #blogtobook #snapconf
  • Book Proposal–make sure it reflects your creativity and professionalism. Proposal can be only 8-9 pages. #blogtobook #snapconf
  • RT @emihill: The size of your blog doesn’t matter. Being online puts you a step ahead of a lot of publishers. via @makeandtakes #snapconf
If you are a fan of Courtney’s you’ll want to see the GIVEAWAY below!

******

From the Defining your Style class by Ana White that I didn’t get to attend (but retweeted):

  • LOVE THIS! “Be yourself because everyone else is taken.” via @_anawhite #snapconf

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From flower arranging class brilliantly taught by Megan of Persimmon Floral Design (I already do flowers, but hadn’t used this method before):

  • Make a grid out of skinny tape on top of your vase to keep your flowers in place. #snapconf @persimmonfloral instagr.am/p/JsbvWvjhJ5/

*****

I must have been too engrossed to tweet, but I learned to much from Melanie at Royal Design Studios. If only I had attended her class before attempting this project.

Her big secret: Off-loading. She uses a bristled brush (not a roller or a foam pouncer), but off-loads a ton of paint before applying it!

*******

And I don’t remember what all the folks at Scentsy taught us about the science of creating scents, but I do remember how much fun I had sampling everything and then getting to design my own personal scent. It’s harder than it looks!

And from the hilarious and inspiring Keynote by Matt Townsend:

  • Who’s going to change the world if you don’t? @matttownsend #snapconf
  • Your confidence should come from knowing how to fly, not from where you are perched. Matt Townsend #snapconf
To watch the whole thing go to this post! He had us rolling! It will be worth your while.
******
I will still share my Powerpoint presentation about Party Planning on a budget! So I will give you those tips in that post. In the meantime, I hope I’ve been able to share a few helpful gems for those of you who weren’t able to attend or who went to different classes than I did.
And now, I have an amazing prize for YOU!
I got to meet and talk with Cheryl of CherylStyle and some of her team at SNAP! (In the picture above I had just met both Cheryl and Rhonna Farrer.)  How lucky can I get?!) Cheryl is amazing! I love that even though, she creates beautiful parties and events, her focus is giving them soul. Making them something that guests will remember because they are planned with them in mind. This is really what I am going for when I plan a party. There are always things I want to do to make my party more beautiful or more perfect, but at the end of the day, I most want my guests to feel special and to have had a wonderful time.
Whether you are a seasoned party planner or a novice entertainer, you will LOVE her brand new book You’re So Invited! It has very detailed instructions for a dozen or so very varied parties, as well as tons of general party planning advice, like the stuff you should always have in your pantry for those last-minute get-togethers. It has full-color pages with tons of beautiful pictures. Cheryl is currently on tour with Pottery Barn promoting the book and it has already make the New York Times Best-seller list!!! Big congrats, Cheryl! I know you want to get your hands on this book! Cheryl has given me one signed copy to give to one of you.

And as if that weren’t exciting enough…I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an extra copy of the adorable Push-up Pops book by Courtney Dial Whitmore (She just got married this weekend! Big Congrats, Courtney!)! I will be sending both amazing party reference books to a randomly selected winner below! You have until Monday July 2 to enter! Follow the directions through Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Comments

  1. The stenciling advice is great. I have had some bad luck with stencils so I loved the tip about using a bristle brush and offloading paint.

  2. Kendra You and Cindy were the best Road Trip Buddies EVER!! Luv you!!

  3. I attended SNAP and that Cheryl book is one I definitely covet!
    I loved your session Kendra, specially one of the best pieces of advice I have ever gotten: Be a hoarder! LOL

    Thanks for an amazing giveaway, Kendra!!!

  4. I didn’t attend SNAP, but oh I wish I had. This looks like a super fun, inspiring event. I most enjoyed your discussion of From Blog to book.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

  5. Kaytee Stice says

    I have been dying to get my hands on that book! Thanks for the awesome giveaway and for always having creative ideas!

  6. I attended snap (loved your party planning on a budget session btw) and I think one of my biggest takeaways was actually from the blog to book session. I learned how much work it takes to get a book published and promoted!

  7. Kris Reynolds says

    I loved the idea about the tape on the top of your flower vase. I love that and can totally use it.

  8. Thanks for all of the great tips! I’m excited to try out the stencil off-loading tip!

  9. That looks like such an amazing and inspiring conference! I wish I could have attended; perhaps one at a later date. I loved what @RhonnaFarrer said about doing things that are likeable. I find it frustrating when people want all the rewards without putting in any of the work; I’m still climbing up the ladder myself, but I have very clear ideas as to where I want to get to – and I’m not afraid of working hard in order to achieve those goals.

    It’s so important to network, be supportive, be pleasant and communicative, have real conversations, and inspire and be inspired. And yes – that is hard work, but it is well worth it in the end.

  10. I didn’t attend SNAP but would’ve loved too! I loved the information you posted about the flower arranging class brilliantly taught by Megan of Persimmon Floral Design.

    Thanks!

Trackbacks

  1. […] but this is the easiest way ever to do fondue! I told you that Scentsy was one of the sponsors at SNAP! There, they debuted there new Velata chocolate fondue line and let us all sample it. I was one of […]

  2. […] figured after the Scentsy class I took at SNAP conference in April, I would be a pro at the mixing […]

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