Fall retreat reminder...
Doesn't seem as if it should be time yet, but we start taking retreat deposits tomorrow -- Wednesday, June 1! The weekend choices are October 21-23 and October 28-30 in Branson. Complete prices are based on the number of people in a sleeping room. For answers to most questions you may have, and to see photos of past retreats, click here. To register, pay a $50 non-refundable deposit in person or by phone. If you have any additional questions, we'll be happy to answer them.

Another June class...

BasicGrey "Cappella" Cards "Playdate" class
• Thursday, June 2; Monday, June 6; Friday, June 10
Use a kit to make eight cards using chipboard, rub-ons, and more (envelopes are included); pick your own start time, work at your own pace; models of the cards will be on display; the class has no teacher, but assistance is readily available; start at 10 am or later, class time is over at regular store closing time; $15 (to-go kits available!)

Saturday's 'Super-Saver' sessions
We're having a great response to our patriotic "Super-Saver" scrapbooking sessions this Saturday. Please don't wait too long to sign up -- it looks like the 10 am session will soon be full! There are also sessions at 12:30 and 2:30. To join in the fun and make the three layouts in the May 26 post below for only $9, call us at 417-886-0440 to register and pre-pay.

Open today!

Scrapbook Generation will be open until 7 pm today if you're out and about. If not, have a wonderful Memorial Day with your family.

Pre-Palooza 'Pea-ception' 

Just letting you know that we already have 22 Peas (members of the Two Peas in a Bucket message board) officially registered for the Friday evening, June 24, 'Pea-ception.' States represented so far include Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kentucky...and the latest addition -- Georgia!

Remember that if you are a 'Pea' and planning to attend, we need you to officially register with us so we'll know how many Friday evening goodie bags to prepare. We're also happy to tell you that local scrapbooking company Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker will be donating to that cause as well!

Register by sending an email to debbie@scrapbookgeneration.com or calling 417-886-0440. Please provide your name and location.

'Super-Saver' session layouts for June

Let's get patriotic! Here's a look at the three layouts we'll be making Saturday, June 4 in the Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions at Scrapbook Generation. As always, your cost to make these three layouts at SG is an amazing $9. Give us a call to register and pre-pay. Sessions are held at 10, 12:30 and 2:30. And don't forget that you'll get one punch on your Studio G Reward Card. Don't have a card yet? No problem...we'll make sure you get one!

If you can't attend and would like us to make you a kit, the fee is $10 and is due at the time you request the kit.

Note to Super-Sketch Club members: Yes, materials for these three layouts will be included in your June kit!

Check out one of SG's June classes...

BasicGrey "Cappella" Layouts "Playdate" class
• Tuesday, June 7; Friday, June 17; Monday, June 20
Use a kit to make one 2-page layout and two 1-page layouts; pick your own start time, work at your own pace; models of the layouts will be on display; the class has no teacher, but assistance is readily available; start at 10 am or later, class time is over at regular store closing time; $20 (to-go kits available!)

'Stuff a Truck'...

All over Springfield yesterday, people were doing what they could to donate items to help the hundreds and hundreds in Joplin who have lost everything. At many locations, trucks were filled to the brim with water, toiletry items, and food. Our Scrap-a-Palooza partners, Chris Louzader and Midwest Family Broadcasting, right across the street, filled the first Prime Inc. semi easily, then went on to fill another semi and also a smaller truck. They are heading to Joplin today to deliver the items. Thanks to everyone who helped with this effort!

Saturday crop...
This Saturday, we hope you can join us from 10 am - 5 pm for the Studio G “no frills” crop and seven hours of cropping for only $5. Bring your own snacks and drinks to the crop, and you can go out for lunch, or order in sandwiches or pizza. If you attend the crop, you get 10% off your purchases. We have about five spots left, so please call 417-886-0440 to register and prepay.

Registration for fall retreats...

Wednesday, June 1, registration opens for our two fall retreats in Branson. You can choose from the weekends of October 21-23 and October 28-30. A $50 non-refundable deposit is due when you register. For photos of past retreats, and answers to many questions, click here.

Patriotic 'Super-Saver'...

Join us Saturday, June 4 as we celebrate the USA with special "Super-Saver" scrapbooking sessions featuring the "American Made" collection (and the cute 12x12 die-cut sheet) by My Mind's Eye. We'll be making three double-page layouts for only $9. The pages will be perfect for your Fourth of July festivities. If you can't attend and want a kit, the fee is $10 and is due at the time the kit is requested. (I'll post photos of the three layouts on Thursday.)

Helping Joplin...

As most of you know by now, the death toll from the Joplin tornado has risen to 116, with hundreds more injured and much of the city destroyed or disabled.

Our Scrap-a-Palooza partners, Chris Louzader and Midwest Family Broadcasting, are leading an effort to get much-needed supplies to the area. From 7 -7 today in their parking lot, which is across the street from us in the Food 4 Less shopping center at 319 E Battlefield, they will be "stuffing a truck."

Prime Inc. has volunteered a semi for the effort, and when it is full, it will be driven to the Forrest Park Baptist Church in Joplin, a large shelter and distribution spot.

The items they are accepting are the following:
• diapers
• wipes
• new clothes
• hygiene and toiletry items
• non perishable food
• bottled water
• socks and shoes

Please help if you can.

Joplin devastation
It's going to be hard to concentrate on much of anything today except the suffering going on in Joplin, just an hour away from us. When I went to bed last night, the death toll was 24. This morning, it's 89 and sure to climb higher. I just read an article that said if it reaches 115, it will be one of the 10 worst recorded tornado death tolls in the country. Not a record anyone aspires to achieve.

Our thoughts and prayers will be with our customers, friends, and everyone in that area, a place that was forever changed in a few moments yesterday evening.

One of my best friends lives in Joplin. We taught next door to each other, and she later became my principal, then superintendent. Just as soon as I heard about the storm last night, I called to check on her. Since she lives in a subdivision west of the city, her worst problem was hail damage. We even made plans for me to drive up on Tuesday for lunch and some shopping. Obviously, that was before the extent of the damage was known. Right now, I'm sure the best thing for those of us who aren't involved in rescue or clean-up efforts is to stay away.

Once again, we are reminded how precious life is, and how quickly our world can be forever altered.

Super Sketch Club announcement...

All of the Super Sketch Club kits for May shipped today. We had them ready on Friday, but there was such a downpour going on that we decided it would be best to not chance getting anything wet.

 The past few months, this club has been undergoing phenomenal changes...with membership increasing over 25% in the last 30 days alone. We're trying to anticipate the additional number of new members each month when we order the materials, but it's getting a little crazy!

If you are a Super Sketch Club member, you should be getting a brown box from us sometime soon. We hope you enjoy it, and we're already started on the June projects!

New collections for Scrap-a-Palooza are pouring in!

I thought you might enjoy seeing a preliminary list of the new paper collections that we'll be debuting at Scrap-a-Palooza on June 25. We always promise at least 40-50 new groups, and we'll probably go much higher than that. Here are the ones that are definite right now...all 46 of them!

 

New collections that will debut at Palooza

My Little Shoebox

Oasis; Farmers Market; Home Tweet Home; Garden Party
Best Creations 

Let’s Party; Baseball; Gone Camping; I Love America; Robot; Splash Fun
Moxxie 

Busy Boy
Three Bugs in a Rug
 Lazy Summer; Chloe
K & Company
 Abrianna; Watercolor Bouquet; Botanical Garden
Girls Paperie
 Jubilee; Vintage Whimsy
Bella Blvd
 Mr. Boy; Tail Waggers and Cat Naps
7Gypsies
 Camden
Little Yellow Bicycle
 Babysaursus; Tiny Princess; Twig; Cupcake Love
Pebbles 

Ever After; Happy Go Lucky
American Crafts
 Margarita; Confetti
Imaginisce
 Little Cutie; Happy Camper
Doodlebug
 Cake and Ice Cream;  Nifty Notions; Birthday Celebrations; Ladybug Garden
KaiserCraft
 Chapter One; Party Animals
SEI 

Sunny Day
Melissa Frances
 Kitschy Kitchen

Karen Foster

Family Fun

Crate Paper

Neighborhood

Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker

It's Summer

Fancy Pants

Baby Mine

Cosmo Cricket

Odds and Ends

BasicGrey

Sweet Threads; Out of Print

Collections that are so popular that we re-ordered and will have the complete groups again at Palooza

 BoBunny

Zoology; Barefoot and Bliss; Liberty

K & Company

Americana
My Mind’s Eye 

• Stella and Rose; Lime Twist; Hip-Hooray; American Made

Don't miss Scrap-a-Palooza on June 25!

What can we say that you don’t already know about what has become the most-talked-about and most-anticipated mega-crop in the country! This event keeps getting bigger and bigger, but we’re cutting off registration at 300 people, so don’t wait too long to register. (Remember that SG does not take the registration fees. Please register at star929.fm) 

 
We’re happy to answer any of your Palooza questions! To see photos of past Paloozas, check out the link on the right of this page.

 
Here's what makes this event unique...
• $49 fee includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks
• goodie bag valued at $25
• roomy table space including access to electricity
• free big-screen demos with nationally-known Allison Davis, co-author of Sketches for Scrapbooking, BasicGrey sketch artist, and past Creating Keepsakes Dream Team and Hall of Fame
• free mini-classes
• free 12x12 layout class for everyone, taught by Allison Davis
• treasure chest prize drawings
• page layout contests and prizes
• paid classes with Allison Davis and Stacey Atchley, author of Sketches for Cardmaking
• Scrapbook Generation brings an entire store to the event, with at least 40-50 new paper collections (at a recent Palooza, we actually brought 82 new collections!)
• last but definitely not least...a gigantic chocolate fountain!

Members of 'Two Peas,' get ready for the 'Palooza Pea-ception'
Are you a member of the Two Peas in a Bucket message board? If not, you should join in the fun, because we’ll be hosting a special event for local, area, and traveling “Peas” Friday, June 24 from 5-7 pm. Why? Because several “Peas” are flying in and driving in to attend June’s Scrap-a-Palooza, and we want to meet them in person, instead of just via the computer!

Join us for light snacks as we meet and greet these fun scrapbookers who are coming from all parts of the country to attend Scrapbook Generation’s mega-crop. We’ll also have goodie bags for all Two Peas members who attend, so please let us know if you will be attending so we'll know how many to prepare.

And did I mention that the five "Peas" who have traveled the longest distance to come to Scrap-a-Palooza and also attend our Friday evening reception will get $50 gift baskets, compliments of SG?! It's true!

Register for the "Pea-ception" in one of the following ways...please provide your name and where you live.
• by calling 417-886-0440
• by emailing us at debbie@scrapbookgeneration.com

Lodging for Scrap-a-Palooza travelers...
Stacey has worked out a special arrangement at the Sleep Inn, which also is relatively close to where Scrap-a-Palooza is held (around one mile away). They are setting aside a block of rooms for the price of $67.49 per night for June 24 and June 25. All you have to do is call (417) 886-2464 and tell them you want the "Scrap-a-Palooza" rate, and they can get it taken care of for you. They said you can sleep up to four in a room (two sharing a bed). The only catch is that you must make your reservations by June 11 to get this pricing.

They are already taking reservations. Stacey said that they were really nice to deal with, and you can walk to a Texas Roadhouse restaurant from the parking lot. (You see the kind of perks we like in a hotel.)

Join us for the Allison Davis sketch session this Saturday...

We'll be making the layout above in the Allison Davis free sketch sessions this Saturday. Your cost to make this layout? Only about $5! Just call us at 417-886-0440 to register for a session at 10 am or 2:30 pm on Saturday, May 21. Bring basic tools, and we'll provide you with a free computer sketch that you can use over and over!

And don't forget, we'll punch your Studio G Reward Card. Don't have one yet? No problem, we'll be happy to get you started on the way to earning some great rewards like free page kits, $20 gift cards, and other goodies!

If you want a kit, the fee is $5, and is due at the time the request is made.

Super Sketch Club members:
Yes, this layout and sketch will be included in your May kit!

Another May class...
"Timeless Treasures" layout class w/Debbie Sanders

• Thursday, May 19 at 2 pm 

The chipboard embellishments are the stars (no pun intended) of this layout! We'll take raw chipboard, and add glimmer mist, jewels, metal embellishments, and rock candy Distress Crackle Paint. Tie them up with the fun (and twistable) Memory Thread and we're ready for some patriotic photos! Class fee is $15.

New Prima goodies just arrived...

If you need flowers and jewels and sparkly embellishments, we have them. Prima has come up with some gorgeous new blooms for your pages and cards.

Just had to share!

There is a thread about Scrapbook Generation and our Super Sketch Club on the Two Peas in a Bucket message board that started in March and is still going strong -- over 10,000 views and over 300 replies. There are so many wonderful comments about our club and also about our sketch books from people all over the country! Most threads only get a few hundred views, so this is truly extraordinary!

Click here to see the thread.

Tammy Roberts' May class...

"You" mini-album class w/Tammy Roberts
• Fee: $20

• Tuesday, May 24 at 6 pm

Make a keepsake album about the least scrapbooked person around -- yourself!  (To see more of the inside pages, click on the link at right to Tammy's blog.)

Join us for the Debbie Sanders sketch sessions this Saturday!

We'll be making the layout above in the Debbie Sanders free sketch sessions this Saturday. Your cost to make this layout? Only about $5! Just call us at 417-886-0440 to register for a session at 10 am or 2:30 pm on Saturday, May 14. Bring basic tools, and we'll provide you with a free computer sketch that you can use over and over!

And don't forget, we'll punch your Studio G Reward Card. Don't have one yet? No problem, we'll be happy to get you started on the way to earning some great rewards like free page kits, $20 gift cards, and other goodies!

If you want a kit, the fee is $5, and is due at the time the request is made.

Super Sketch Club members:
Yes, this layout and sketch will be included in your May kit!

June 25 Scrap-a-Palooza

Now that National Scrapbooking Day is over, it's time to turn our attention to our next big event, the June 25 Scrap-a-Palooza. This super-popular 13-hour mega-crop for 300 is the hottest summer ticket around, and we plan to make this one the best ever in give-aways, activities, and fun.

I checked in with Chris Louzader from Midwest Family Broadcasting, our Palooza partner, and we are already over one-third full, which is awesome, since neither one of us has been promoting the event yet. That changes starting this week. MFB will start advertising Palooza on several of its stations, including Star 92.9. And SG is officially promoting as of today.

We know what we have several scrapbookers driving in and flying in from other states to attend Scrap-a-Palooza, based on what we're hearing on the Two Peas in a Bucket message board. We're in the process of planning a Friday evening reception for them, along with any area "Peas" who want to drop in and join the fun.

Anyway, I wanted to give our local Palooza faithfuls a heads-up, because once both SG and MFB start promoting the event, registration numbers tend to jump up quickly, and we are usually sold-out a few weeks before Palooza takes place. Don't wait too late to register, because we want you there to join in the most incredible scrapbooking event in the country!

Please remember that SG does not collect your registration fee. That money goes to Midwest Family Broadcast Group. Click here for a registration link, and there's also a link on the right sidebar that shows previous photos and may answer some of your questions.

Spring sale...
We are overflowing with new products, so much that we have placed many top-name collections on sale. Stop by and check out these bargains!
• All BasicGrey products (excluding kits) are 30% off.
• Pink Paislee Sweetness collection is 40% off.
• Reminisce and We R Memory Keepers Easter collections are 30% off.
• My Mind's Eye Lush 2 collection is 50% off.
• Many other collections have also been discounted and are in our regular clearance area.
Lots of great bargains just waiting for you this week!

Fall weekend retreats...

I thought I should also remind you that registration for Scrapbook Generation's two fall weekend retreats in Branson opens June 1. The weekend choices are October 21-23 or October 28-30. We'll start accepting the $50 non-refundable deposits on June 1. Only 40 spots are available each weekend, so please make your plans early. Our fall weekends usually sell out quickly.

New goodies at SG...

Bright new totes by a variety of companies.

"Beach Babe" by Fancy Pants

"Beach Bum" by Fancy Pants

"The Mr. and Mrs." by Pebbles

"Peachy Keen" by American Crafts

"Campy Trails" by American Crafts

"Hello Sunshine" by American Crafts

From left, "Patriotic" by Karen Foster, "Americana" by K & Company, "American Made" by My Mind's Eye, and "Yankee Doodles" by We R Memory Keepers.

"For the Record" by Paper Loft

"We Are Family" by Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker

"Kitsch" by Girls Paperie

From left, "Lille" by 7Gypsies and "Family Dynamix" by Bella Blvd

"Couture" by SEI

"I'm an Athlete" by SEI

"Summer Days" by Echo Park

"Around the World" by K & Company

"White Elegance" by SEI

"Hometown Summer" by Pink Paislee

New trinkets by Maya Road

New 12x12 and 8x8 three-ring binder albums by Doodlebug in seven colors -- extremely well-made!

National Scrapbooking Day 2011...
Thanks to all of you who stopped by Saturday to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day with us. There were fun activities, great sales, and good times with old and new friends! Based on individual shopping totals, we gave away many, many gift cards that can be spent with us in May, June, and July. We know you'll enjoy that!

Can't shop and play all day without a few snacks!

Katrina Hunt was Superwoman on Saturday, teaching two mini-classes in the lobby to hundreds of scrapbookers. Her area seemed to be one of the most popular parts of the day.

Another popular area was one of the sale tables!

Over 120 ladies participated in the Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions during the four time periods.

Winners of the NSD door prizes

Congratulations to Becky Cole, Marcia Scantlin, Donna Cartner, Sheri Tate, Kelly Capps, Amy Bucher, Karon Rapp, Sandra Anderson, Jana Kistner, and Tiffany Grant. They are the door prize winners! We have 10 collection packs valued at up to $35 each by leading companies My Mind's Eye, BasicGrey, SEI, and Crate Paper, and the winners can pick which one they want, based on first come, first serve. Again, congrats to the winners!

Join us for a free demo Tuesday evening...

Candy Colwell will be teaching another free class for us Tuesday night. She will be demonstrating basic heat embossing skills, and I highly encourage you to stop by if you have ever wanted to learn how to use this technique. To me, heat embossing is one of those skills that looks really difficult until you try it for yourself and discover that it is a simple and fun way to achieve gorgeous results.

Stop by at 6 pm to watch Candy's demonstration, then enjoy "play time" with a heat gun and embossing powders. You won't be making a  project, just learning and playing. (No need to call ahead because pre-registration isn't necessary.)

Lest you think that all we do is work...

The SG gals had some lively moments at Jackson's birthday party yesterday. We celebrated Jackson's third birthday, Stacey's birthday, and Mother's Day with some WackyWorld craziness.

Karin, Stacey and Allison

Come celebrate with us!

We'll go out on a limb and say that National Scrapbooking Day 2011 will be one of the best price-slashing sales we've ever offered!

· All BasicGrey items (excluding kits) will be 30% off

· The entire We R Memory Keepers and Reminisce Easter collections will be 30% off

· The entire Pink Paislee Sweetness collection will be 40% off

· The entire My Mind's Eye Lush 2 collection will be 50% off

· Several other collections and items will also be 30%, 40%, and 50% off  

· Lots and lots of papers will be added to our 30-cent and 50-cent bins 

And did we mention...

• earning up to $20 in gift cards with your purchases
• almost 20 brand new (and gorgeous) paper collections

• special Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions

• we'll be giving away 10 paper collection packs from BasicGrey, SEI, Crate Paper, and My Mind's Eye. The packs range in value from $20 to $35. (You don't have to be present to win.)

• plenty of chocolate!

Sneak peek at one of Saturday's free mini-classes!

Even if you aren't taking one of the Super-Saver classes on Saturday, be sure to drop by and have some chocolate and try out our two free mini-classes. For one of the classes, you'll make your choice of one of the two projects shown below -- a keychain mini-album ready to decorate with some photos and special memories of your favorite cuties. Attach your keys, and you're ready to go!