Odds and ends about Scrapbook Generation...

-- Friday, we're expecting a couple of groups of Bo-Bunny papers and matching cardstock stickers, a "vintage carnival" group and a birthday group in both pastels and brights!

-- Early next week, we'll be receiving pretty much the entire Doodlebug debut products from CHA, including 12 colors of "sugar-coated" chipboard letters, 12 colors of glitter and a 12-color glitter set, 8 new colors of alphabet sets in a new font style, 12 colors of "sugar-coated" brads, a Christmas group with stickers and glitter rub-ons and jewels, and a Halloween group with stickers and glitter rub-ons and jewels!

-- Arriving in the next week or so, K & Company's new glitter Halloween group!

-- Arriving within two weeks, My Mind's Eye entire Bohemia II collection, every single paper, die-cut, transparency, crochet flowers, and jewel!

On another subject, Allison had her telephone interview yesterday that is part of the Scrapbooker of the Year contest. There were several people talking to her on a speaker phone, including Ali Edwards! I wish I could have heard everything that was said! Now it's just a matter of waiting for the trip to Vegas and the announcement of the winner. I'm starting to get nervous! Thanks so much to all of you who have offered words of encouragment to her and who are sharing in our excitement.

On ANOTHER subject, we just found out yesterday that the same caterer who did our first Branson retreat is going to be the caterer for our upcoming Branson retreat! For all of you who almost overdosed on mashed potatoes and gravy, we know we're going to have great food again! What a relief!

Scrapbook Generation just received the entire Family Ties collection from Flair! It includes 18 papers (pretty much every family relationship you can think of) and matching cardstock stickers. We also have their new months of the year papers, including blank calendar grids and months of the year cardstock stickers! I'll post a photo as soon as I can.

My Minds Eye's entire Confetti collection just arrived, and it's already out on the shelves! There are 40 gorgeous papers and literally hundreds of die-cut embellishments including cardstock titles, transparency titles, accessory sheets, shape die-cuts, and journaling cards!

If you're looking for a particular theme, you would be hard pressed not to find it in this huge collection. They include swimming/beach, boy, brothers, dad and me, family, buddies, America, memories, brothers and sisters, together, birthday girl, beautiful, sweetheart, princess, sisters, cousins, girl friends, baby girl, me and mom, and summer.

Fancy Pants is here, and we have the following items...

-- 6x6 chipboard sets (phrases, frames and tags; scrolls; paisleys; mats, corners and frames; brackets, labels and tags; florals);

-- 12x12 chipboard sets (tabs, tags and doodles; funky freestyle; flourishes; soho swirls; photo fun; every element; lotsa letters; dreamer; wild flowers);

-- 6x6 acrylic stamps (journals a la mode; chic alpha; simply stated);

-- 12x12 acrylic stamps (bella brush);

-- paper collections (double sided papers, matching rub-ons, and ribbons) including Aged Florals, Kewl, Floral Chic, Botanical, and True.

This was one of our favorite vendors at CHA -- you can't go wrong with anything they create! It's all so beautiful, I want one of each thing!

Fancy Pants is here! We'll get it out as quickly as we can.

Scenic Route is here with over 50 new papers from four different lines! They are all double sided, and come in great color combinations. One of the nicest features is that some of the papers are "scrap strips" which combine several of the paper patterns, plus three lines of themed words that can be used for titles or journaling!

There are also six sets of oversized raw chipboard shapes which have lots of potential to be combined with chalk ink, paper, or acrylic paint.

My propensity for procrastination has become pretty well known among all those of you who are regulars at Scrapbook Generation's free Saturday activities, so I'm happy to announce that I'm ahead of the game this week! I just finished making the glazed glitter letter sample for Saturday's "Show-Me" How classes, which are free, as always.

Perhaps you've been living in a cave and hadn't noticed that tons of products are all glittered up anymore. The rest of us know that glitter is where it's at right now!

Anyway, these glazed glitter letters are absolutely the coolest thing! It will take the use of only three simple products to turn a raw piece of chipboard into a dazzling delight. The great thing about them, to me at least, is that you can see the glitter, but it's enclosed under a layer of epoxy-like glaze, so there is a beautiful sparkly look with no mess and shedding. I'll have to say that this is my definite favorite of all the techniques we've learned so far!

If you want to join us, the 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. sessions are full. There are two spots in the 1 p.m. session, and several spots in the 2 p.m. session. Just call us at 417-886-0440 to register.

Just a quick message to let you know that Scrapbook Generation's 50-person fall retreat in Branson is sold out! We're starting to put the themed decorations and favors together, and the casino theme lends itself to lots of cute stuff.

If you are still looking for a fall retreat, our Eureka Springs retreat Nov. 2-4 still has some openings, and it's only a two-hour drive from Springfield. If you've never been there before, it's quite an interesting town, and very beautiful in the fall.

We're having a great time at our "Basic" Sketch Sessions today -- about 50 scrapbookers are signed up in four different time slots. If you want to find out how using a sketch can free up your scrapbooking time and lower your stress level, plus give you gorgeous pages, you might join us some Saturday! As I've said before, working from a sketch is my favorite mode of operation.

We got a great compliment from one of the ladies today. She said she has friends in St. Louis who, after she shows them her projects from our Saturday classes, are jealous of her because she has access to all of our free classes and sessions. They tell her that there isn't a store where they are that offers sketch classes or technique classes like we do. She made my day!

Lots of miscellaneous information about Scrapbook Generation...

-- Today, we received 24 new sheer organdy swirl ribbons from Creative Impressions. My previous favorites were the sheer dotted ribbons by May Arts, but I fell in love with this scrolly swirly ribbon at CHA in Chicago. Colors include burgundy, orange, aqua, soft blue, celery, pumpkin, black, denim, magenta, yellow, olive, white, lime, navy, lavendar, seafoam, rust, red, dark blue, dark green, pink, brown, cream, and white with black swirls.

-- Jordan from Fancy Pants said our shipment of papers, rub-ons, ribbons, acrylic stamps, and chipboard shapes may possibly arrive on Tuesday! If it gets here Wednesday I'll be happy! Anything that comes from Utah seems to take forever. (Felt shapes and two more paper collections will follow in about a week.)

-- Scenic Route will be arriving Tuesday afternoon for sure...0ver 50 papers, including all four of their new collections, plus six sets of chipboard shapes.

-- The Confetti collection from My Minds Eye (tons of papers, die cuts, journaling blocks, titles, and more) is set to arrive next week also. It was one of my must-haves at CHA, and I think you'll love the bright colors and all the great matching "accessories" for your pages.

This should be our biggest week for new arrivals from CHA since Allison and I returned from the show in Chicago. And it's just the beginning! On the horizon, the entire Bohemia 2 collection from My Minds Eye! Then it will be time to make room for tons of new goodies for Halloween, fall, and Christmas. We're absolutely dedicated to providing Springfield area shoppers with the best the scrapbooking world has to offer!

Scrapbook Generation's fall retreat in Branson (October 5-7) now has only two spots left in the 50-person event! If you want to fill those last spots, call us at 417-886-0440. All that is due right now is a $50 non-refundable deposit!

Status of Fancy Pants...any day now!

Also, just heard from Scenic Route today, and we'll be getting a shipment next week of all four of the collections they debuted at CHA in Chicago. Watch for Laurel, Metropolis, Ashville, and Sumner, over 50 new papers, and some new chipboard shapes, to arrive at Scrapbook Generation soon. All four collections are absolutely beautiful, and Allison is using the Sumner group for her September Hall of Fame Page Kit Club!

Cosmo Cricket's Dutch Girl collection, complete with matching die-cuts, arrived at Scrapbook Generation today!

Scrapbook Genereration's fall retreat in Branson, October 5-7, now has only three spots left. Call us at 417-886-0440 to register.

Just found out that a box with Scrapbook Generation's name on it left the Fancy Pants warehouse today! Expect several paper collections, rub-ons, acrylic stamps, and chipboard sets to arrive soon. And to spread out the fun, a second shipment will be following in just a few days with the felt shapes and more paper collections.

Allison just brought in the page for her August Hall of Fame layout class, and it is just gorgeous. Lots of intricate cutting, but the effect is stunning. The class is offered twice: Monday, August 20 at 6 p.m., and Wednesday, August 29 at 2 p.m. Give us a call to sign up.

Saturday will be the next installment of our free Basic Sketch Sessions, and I always have so much fun picking out the papers and trying to keep everyone guessing what we'll try next. This time, glitter is involved! Sketch sessions are offered at 10, 11;30, 1, and 2:30, and we have so much fun creating pages that are stress-free, but still have that designer look. The class and sketch are free; you just are responsible for purchasing the papers and cardstock, usually less than $4. Hope to see you there!

A heads-up for all you procrastinators...we're down to the last four spots in Scrapbook Generation's 50-person Branson weekend retreat October 5-7. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, we'll be mailing out a letter with final information and class choices to those who are registered.

Registration is also still on-going for the Eureka Springs retreat November 2-4. We would love to have you join the fun, and the drive from Springfield is only two hours.

For more info on both retreats, check out scrapbookgeneration.com. Our website has photos from past retreats, testimonials from people who have attended in the past, and all the information you need to register.

Tired but happy would describe me right now, at 5 p.m. Karin and I just finished getting the last of today's shipment priced and on the shelves. We sweet-talked the UPS guy into dropping our stuff off at 9 this morning (he doesn't usually get here until 2), and we've been working ever since then.

What's new?
-- Clear acrylic stamps by Autumn Leaves and Inkadinkado - over 25 sets of shapes, swirls, journaling blocks, and alphabet sets;
-- Double-sided school papers and matching cardstock stickers by Scrappin' Sports - from pre-school through senior, including a separate graduation set;
-- Papers for first day of school, teacher, and classmates;
-- A cute set of school papers and embellishments by Pebbles;
-- Three new templates by Paper Pizazz - stitching, swirly-doodles, and thinga-ma-jigs (oversized punctuation, etc.);
-- New sets of Prima flowers in large cans;
-- Albums for cheerleading, basketball, karate, music, softball, volleyball, baseball, camping, and gymnastics;
-- Over 80 new Quotables!

What's back?
-- Tons of school embellishments by Me and My Big Ideas, Doodlebug, 7 Gypsies, Jolees, etc.
-- Doodlebug brads and Paper Frills;
-- Tons of sports embellishments for cheerleading, golf, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, track and field, racing, swimming, and bowling;
-- Pioneer linen albums;
-- Prima flowers in bottles;
-- Making Memories glitter glaze;
-- More tropical paradise papers by Flair;
-- Cowboy and cowgirl papers by Flair;
-- Papers for grades preschool through senior by Masterpiece Studios;
-- Lots of Disney stickers;
-- Family papers by Stemma (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, etc.).

Just a quick post to let you know that the Timeless Touches stitching templates arrived today for those of you that have been waiting. These always go quick, so if you want one, make sure to get here as quick as you can!

Also arriving today are over 40 new papers from Stemma, with several beautiful color groupings.

If you don't already know, let me be the first to tell you that we have great news here at Scrapbook Generation. We may never come down from the clouds! Just a few months ago, Allison Davis (my daughter, Stacey's sister, and Karin's niece) was chosen as one of Creating Keepsakes 25 Hall of Famers for 2007.

This week, Allison has been chosen as one of the 10 Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooker of the Year finalists! She'll have an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas in September, and the winner is announced there. Along with the title comes a cash prize of $10,000! The whole thing doesn't seem real to me yet! I'm hoping to get to tag along as her "official photographer!"

We are so lucky to have her as a designer and teacher at Scrapbook Generation. If you want to read her account of getting the call, go to her blog (link on this page is Scrapbooking Ali) or go to creatingkeepsakes.com.

Don't forget to check out consideryourselfchallenged.blogspot.com. Scrapbook Generation's talented Design Team has posted another challenge, and would love for you to participate. Laura Parks came up with this challenge, and it's very creative. You'll also find layouts created by several of the DT, and they are definitely inspirational!

The first challenge was also lots of fun, and we're hoping that the gals who created the layouts chosen for posting on the blog will bring their pages by the store and let us display them for a few weeks. I know the rest of you would like to see them up close!

Just wanted to let you know that a new supply of stitching templates from Timeless Touches should arrive Friday or Monday! If you pre-ordered during one of the classes and left your phone number, we'll give you a call and let you know as soon as they arrive.

Also, here is what will be arriving either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week:
-- More school "supplies" than you'll know what to do with! Papers, stickers, embellishments, and more, lots of it specific to a certain grade or class;
-- Sports stickers, titles, and embellishments;
-- Clear stamps: 25 different sets by Autumn Leaves and Inkadinkado;
-- Prima: large flowers in cans, small ones in bottles;
-- Disney embellishments;
-- Travel embellishments;
-- Tropical (these sold out quickly the first time around) and western paper groups by Flair;
-- Solid color albums by Colorbok;
-- Bright-colored papers by Stemma;
-- Every color of mini-brads and paper frills by Doodlebug.