Cheri, Courtney, and Cristiana are huge fans of scrapbook weekends and events like CKU. With these events becoming increasingly scarce, they want to fill a missing piece of the crafting experience in the Houston area. Together they will bring attention to detail, the individualized touch, and all the extra sparkle that people have come to expect at Kaitlyn’s Crop but on a smaller scale. Their goal is to curate weekends with scrapbook designers and a small group of crafters in an intimate learning space where we all get to know each other better and create beautiful projects.
Cheri brings 16 years of scrapbook event planning experience to Crafter’s Dream Retreats. In 2007, she created Kaitlyn’s Crop to raise funds for the Kaitlyn Vallery Foundation, set up in memory of her daughter Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn’s Crop has grown from a one-day crop with 75 croppers to a four-day event, with 400 registered crafters coming to the 2023 weekend. From the first crop in 2007, Cheri has put her heart and soul into planning the crop down to the smallest detail. She works hard alongside her team to make sure Kaitlyn’s Crop is the best crop ever and that everyone who attends goes away with a full heart.
Courtney started scrapbooking nearly 25 years ago at 15 years old when she had the opportunity to visit Germany. Out of high school, she worked at her local scrapbook store, which she then managed through her college years! She and Cheri met through the store and formed a friendship over weekly cropping at friends’ houses that has only strengthened throughout the years. Courtney has also worked with Cheri in one way or another, planning Kaitlyn’s Crop events since the start in 2007!
Cristiana joined the Kaitlyn Vallery Foundation in 2017 and has been involved with scrapbooking event planning since then. But her love for these types of events started years before. She loved going to scrapbooking events; on her return, she was happy and energized. Even though being a full-time mom of 4 was very fulfilling, she realized that women need time to fellowship with other like-minded women and spend hours being creative without lots of interruptions. Then, she felt the tug in her heart to do this and reach as many women as possible.