Card Party for February, and a new teacher!

After great classes last fall, SG's Card Party class restarts in February with the same concept...three teachers, three cards, three tags, three stations, and three totally different approaches to cardmaking.

Today, we're showing you the card and tag that will be taught by Lindsey Amschler. This is one-third of the projects you'll be making in the class. Lindsey's projects will showcase everything vintage, including distressing techniques and sweet printed vintage images like the young girl on the tag above.

Many of you will already know Lindsey through her employment at a store here in Springfield that closed some time ago. She makes a wonderful addition to our teaching staff and will bring enthusiasm and a love for papercrafting to the Card Party classes.

Lindsey has wonderful papercrafting credentials! She has had a card published in the Cricut Card magazine and has been a guest designer for October Afternoon.

This Card Party class takes place Thursday, February 23 at 6 pm. The fee is $15. To sign up, call 417-886-0440. (After this month, we're going to try to keep this class on the second Thursday of the month so that everyone will know when it will be held, instead of jumping around each month to different weeks.)

As soon as possible, we'll show you Amy Roller's (also a new addition to the staff) and Katrina Hunt's cards and tags.

Lindsey and Amy are replacing Allison Davis and Stacey Atchley. Our business here at SG continues to evolve, and we continually find ourselves in a time crunch. Eliminating this extra responsibility for them will help us concentrate on areas that need attention, and we think Lindsey and Amy will win your hearts. Katrina already feels like a member of the family!

February calendar added...

Check out the right sidebar for our February class and activity calendar!

February Super-Saver layouts...

The February Super-Saver layouts are all about love! These three layouts will be the perfect backdrop for photos of special relationships in your life.

We'll be making these three layouts Saturday, February 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. (The retail value of the materials you'll be using is about $10 -- this month is a great deal!)

Give us a call at 417-886-0440 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!

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

KITS:
• All kits must be requested before the class activities take place on Saturday.
• The fee for a kit is $10, and is due at the time the request is made.
• If you need the kit shipped to you, the shipping charge is an additional $5.99.
• The best deal for our long-distance customers? Join the monthly Super Sketch Club and get this kit, the Debbie Sanders sketch layout kit, and the Allison Davis sketch layout kit (materials and sketches for five double-page layouts) for $20 plus $6.99 shipping.

Nikki Sivils receives huge honor!

Springfield-based Nikki Sivils of Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker received a special honor at the winter Craft and Hobby Association winter convention. She was honored for initiating and organizing scrapbooking vendors and also individuals to contribute products to help at least 50 Joplin scrapbookers gain their hobby back after losing everything in the tragic tornado that nearly demolished the southwest Missouri city a little over six months ago.

We served as one of the drop-off locations for individuals who wanted to donate to the cause, so we saw first-hand how enormous the task was. After we had collected the items, and our lobby could hold no more, Nikki came by herself to load the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of scrapbooking items to take to her home to be sorted and combined with the products manufacturers had sent. It was a huge undertaking, and she did it with style. She is extremely deserving of the award, and we're proud to know her. Like we've done in the past, we hope to have a special day for her company this spring.

Here's what Nikki had to say about her award...
"I have no words for what I felt today! So honored that CHA choose me for their 'Service to Humanity' award. It was much bigger than I ever thought, 500 people in this banquet room that I had to walk in front of to get my award and to speak to! I was a bit of a mess, I thought it was going to be a small little breakfast of about 20 some people! Boy was I shocked when I walked in this huge room! I think I went straight to panic mode! After my wonderful husband talked me off the roof I was able to get through the entire event. Thank goodness I had no idea that the presidents, CEO's and vice presidents of Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Archivers, and Ben Franklin were there for this event! Not sure I would've made it through had I known everyone that was there!"

Sketches for Scrapbooking!

Thanks to all of you who have pre-ordered one or both of our two latest Sketches for Scrapbooking books. The books will be available here at SG on Tuesday for local and area shoppers.

The orders we need to ship will start going out on Tuesday. Because of the huge amount of orders, the shipping will have to be spread out over several days. We think we should have all of the pre-orders sent on their way by Friday!

More new products...

Fun Day by My Mind's Eye

Fun Day by My Mind's Eye

Enchanted by BoBunny

Chaps by American Crafts

Space Age by Best Creation

Puppy Love by Best Creation

Paper Boy by Ruby Rock-It

Panorama by Making Memories

Times and Seasons by Echo Park

Touchdown by Best Creation

A Boy's Life by Echo Park

Let's Eat by TPC Studio 

Nesting chipboard and coordinating Nestabling by Want2Scrap

Mister Huey's mists by Studio Calico

Lots and lots of new Glimmer Mist colors by Tattered Angels

New store hours...

Beginning Wednesday, February 1, we are changing our store hours after almost eight years. Monday through Friday, we'll now be closing at 6 pm instead of 7 pm. This change shouldn't affect many people. Sales during this last hour are typically an extremely small percentage of our day's totals.

This earlier closing time will allow all four of us to be able to attend activities our children and grandchildren are involved in without someone always having to miss out and stay here at SG. Thanks for understanding!

New products...

Yesterday, we brought 300 new papers trays out of our storage room and were able to get 23 of the new paper collections from Scrap-a-Palooza out on the shelves here at SG, including all winter and all Valentine groups. We're hoping to make that much progress again today...I'll post photos as soon as we get more groups ready for you.

Smoochable by BoBunny; With Love by Pebbles; Sweet Cakes by Doodlebug

Love Story by Fancy Pants; Head Over Heels by LilyBee; Love Struck by We R Memory Keepers; Yours Truly by Echo Park; Hearty Barley by Jillibean Soup; Love Me by My Mind's Eye

Winter Whites by TPC Studio; Winter Twig by Little Yellow Bicycle; Snowfall by BoBunny; Winter Park by Echo Park; Winter Wonder by Bella Blvd; Winterland by Fancy Pants

Madam Boutique by KaiserCraft

Year-O-Graphy by Simple Stories

Season's Greetings by Echo Park

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo by KaiserCraft

Hummingbird, Lil' Primrose, and On the Move, all by KaiserCraft

Elementary by Simple Stories

Super Sketch Club shipping...

About half of the Super Sketch Club boxes left here this morning, and the other half will go out on Thursday. Scrap-a-Palooza slowed us down a little, and we appreciate your understanding. Enjoy your kits!

Sneak peek at our two new books!

We can't wait to see the real thing, and wanted to share the covers of Scrapbook Generation Publishing's two newest books with you. Both books contain 30 brand new sketches!

The travel sketches book marks the first time we've done a themed book, and if it's as well received as we anticipate, expect more to come.

We're expecting our first shipment of books to arrive from the printer near the end of the month, and just as soon as they arrive, we'll be sending them on the way to those of you who have pre-ordered. If you haven't done that yet, there's still time. Just click here (or call 417-886-0440) to place your order.

Allison Davis sketch layout for Saturday...

We'll be making the layout above in the Allison Davis free sketch sessions this Saturday. Your cost to make this layout? About $4. An awesome deal!

Just call us at 417-886-0440 to register for a session at 10 am or 2:30 pm on Saturday, January 28. 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, My Mind's Eye collection kits, We R Memory Keepers 12x12 albums, and more!

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

KITS:
• All kits must be requested before the class activities take place on Saturday.
• The fee for a kit is $5, and is due at the time the request is made.
• If you need the kit shipped to you, the shipping charge is an additional $5.99.
• The best deal for our long-distance customers? Join the monthly Super Sketch Club and get the Super-Saver three layout kit, the Debbie Sanders sketch layout kit, and the Allison Davis sketch layout kit (materials and sketches for five double-page layouts) for $20 plus $6.99 shipping.

Scrap-a-Palooza #10!

Here's a look at Scrap-a-Palooza #10. Thanks so much to the 275 people who attended and shopped with us, including those who traveled from New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, and all the states surrounding Missouri. We had a great time at both the Friday evening reception and the Saturday crop, and hope you did, too!

You have to love gals who are so dedicated to scrapbooking that they would stand in line in 20-degree weather.

Chris Louzader and Midwest Family Broadcasting make sure we have plenty of food all day long.

There's nothing quite like shopping at Palooza -- and there were 22 other non-scrapbooking vendors there in addition to Scrapbook Generation. Purses, cupcakes, jewelry, candles, and more!

Katrina Hunt demos a popular product, the button and shape tool by Epiphany Crafts. Katrina also taught two mini-classes and another demo!

Allison Davis teaches one of her four paid classes in an adjoining classroom area. They were especially popular this time!

 Stacey Atchley was lucky to escape from the cash register long enough to eat lunch!

Karen Taylor represents Want2Scrap and showcases their products, including Nestabling.

Karen Taylor shares her papercrafting expertise with the Palooza crowd.

What can I say? These four gals taught their hearts out at Palooza, sharing their knowledge and love for scrapbooking and paper crafts with others. Lexi Bridges and Katrina Hunt represented Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker in two mini-classes, plus Katrina did two awesome demos on products that people were very interested in. Allison Arnall Davis was teaching all day -- four paid classes, and two demos. Karen Taylor represented Want2Scrap, gave out some wonderful prizes, taught a mini-class, and did a demo, then hung out and gave personal instruction all day -- all after having car trouble and getting stranded on the way to Palooza. What a trooper! Thanks to all for helping make the event a top-of-the-line experience. Lexi, Katrina, and Karen are all headed to CHA this week, so it was especially awesome of them to spend time with us. I know they're in the middle of getting ready for a big trip!

I have to say that my sister, Karin Rush, and my two daughters, Allison Davis and Stacey Atchley are the most hard-working people I know. They do an incredible job of putting together an outstanding event that still draws sell-out crowds after an amazing ten times! I think we make a great team, and there's no one I'd rather be working with. Ever.

Super Sketch Club locals...

Some of you usually stop by and pick up your Super Sketch Club packet on or around the 20th. Since Allison's sketch class is not held until the fourth Saturday this month (because of Scrap-a-Palooza) we will not have the SSC local packet ready for pickup until at least Tuesday. I'll post here when they are ready to be picked up.

Allison's Scrap-a-Palooza classes...

Here are Allison's four classes at Scrap-a-Palooza. You may register now by calling 417-886-0440. These classes have limited seating. We'll only be able to take 24 people per class.

UPDATE: We've had a huge amount of interest, quickly, in these classes as kits. To handle the demand, we're going to make a limited run of kits, 25 of each. To order a kit, call 417-886-0440. If any kits are still available, they can be ordered at scrapbookgeneration.com next week after Scrap-a-Palooza is over.

“Love Me” ($18 fee; one double-page layout, a gift bag, and a card, make heart banner; includes sketches for layout and card)

“Hello Cupcake” ($15 fee; one double-page layout and card; make cupcake from patterned paper; includes sketch for layout and card)

“Winter Park” ($20 fee; two double-page layouts and a card; use Flower Soft products to make snowflakes; includes sketches for layouts and card)

“Fun Day” ($25 fee; make three double-page layouts, includes 12x12 chipboard set; includes three sketches)

Updates

Travelers' Reception on Friday...
• There is still time for those of you who are traveling into Springfield from out-of-town to attend Scrap-a-Palooza to register for our "Travelers' Reception" Friday evening from 5-7 pm. We have about 50 people registered already, and we'll prepare goodie bags and light snacks for those of you who have let us know you'll be attending. There will even be prizes for those who have traveled the longest distance to get to Scrap-a-Palooza!

Scrap-a-Palooza on Saturday...
• The event is nearing the sell-out point.
• Please remember that any questions you have about the fee and/or signing up should be directed to Chris Louzader at Midwest Family Broadcasting. We don't receive any of the fee or collect the fees, so we can't answer your questions on those topics.
• Doors open at 8:30 am. Just wanted to emphasize that, because on the Palooza Facebook page, it lists the start time as 8, which is incorrect. The actual start time is 9 am. They can't figure out a way to change the time on that page, and I don't want anyone to arrive then because of misinformation.

New sketches books...
• Allison's second volume of Sketches for Scrapbooking: One-Page Sketches is completed and at the printer. It's awesome! Thirty completely new sketches.
• Sketches for Scrapbooking: Travel Sketches is also complete, and ready to start the printing and binding process. I'm still very excited about everyone seeing this book. Our eight "regular" books have always contained a few sketches that we've used previously in our in-store activities. This new travel sketch book has 30 double-page sketches that no one except the four of us here at SG have seen. (We had originally planned to use a few of the pages for photography and journaling tips, but we were able to incorporate those into the sketch page design, so you'll be getting 30 full-size sketches, plus our best tips for travel photos and journaling!)
• Pre-orders can be placed by clicking here. This assures you of getting the books from our first printing run. Your card will be charged when you place the order, and the books will ship at the end of January.

Scrap-a-Palooza update...

Just talked to Chris at the radio station, and there are only 12 spots left for Scrap-a-Palooza! Click here to register.

Scrap-a-Palooza schedule for Saturday!

It's time to share the complete schedule for Saturday's Scrap-a-Palooza, our tenth! If you haven't already registered, I think there's still time. Chris Louzader from the radio station gets back from Hollywood on Tuesday, and we'll know the latest numbers then. I'll be sure to keep you posted as soon as I know anything. To register, click here. (Also, you can go ahead and start signing up for Allison's classes now by calling us at 417-886-0440. I'll post photos as soon as possible -- still waiting on some of the papers to arrive so she can finish the layouts.)

8:30 am
• Doors open

9 am
• Scrap-a-Palooza begins

10:30 am
• Free Demo: Epiphany Crafts Shape and Button Tool with Katrina Hunt
• Paid class: “Love Me” with Allison Davis ($18 fee; one double-page layout, a gift bag, and a card with My Mind’s Eye papers and embellishments, make heart banner; includes sketches for layout and card)

11 am
• Free Mini-Class: “Beatrice” card with the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker team of Katrina Hunt and Lexi Bridges (please bring your own scissors and adhesives)

11:30 am
• Scrapbook Generation treasure chest drawing #1

Noon -- Lunch

1 pm
• Free Demo: Heat Embossing with Debbie Sanders
• Paid class: “Fun Day” with Allison Davis ($25 fee; make three double-page layouts with My Mind’s Eye papers and 12x12 chipboard set; includes three sketches)

1:30 pm
• Free Mini-Class: “Fringed Flower” project with Karen Taylor

2 pm
• Scrapbook Generation treasure chest drawing #2

2:30 pm
• Free Demo: Mini-album featuring Nestabling with Karen Taylor

3 pm
• Paid class: “Winter Park” with Allison Davis ($20 fee; two double-page layouts and a card with Echo Park papers and stickers; use Flower Soft products to make snowflakes; includes sketches for layouts and card)

3:30 pm
• Free Demo: Flower Soft with Debbie Sanders

4 pm
• Free Mini-Class: “Snowflake” hot chocolate mini-gift holder with Debbie Sanders (please bring your own scissors and adhesives)

4:30 pm
• Scrapbook Generation treasure chest drawing #3

5 pm
• Free Demo: Sew Ribbon Tool with Allison Davis

5:30 pm
• Free Demo: Getting the Most out of Sketches with Allison Davis

6 pm -- Dinner

7 pm
• Free Mini-Class: “My Little Monster” bookmark by the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker team of Katrina Hunt and Lexi Bridges (please bring your own scissors and adhesives)
• Paid class: “Hello Cupcake” with Allison Davis ($15 fee; one double-page layout and card with BoBunny papers and stickers; make cupcake from patterned paper; includes sketch for layout and card)

7:30 pm
• Scrapbook Generation treasure chest drawing #4

8 pm
• Free Demo: Baker’s Twine with Katrina Hunt

8:30 pm
• Deadline to turn in entries for Scrapbook Generation sketch layout contest and Designers Challenge contests

9 pm
• Layout contest winners announced, prizes awarded

10 pm
• Event concludes

Welcome to Camp SG!

We have a retreat theme! We'll be "roughing it" at Camp SG this spring at our two weekend retreats in Branson. We'll be going rustic with our decor, and you'll find plentiful amounts of trail mix, s'mores, and other goodies to munch on. You may even find yourself "fishing" for some great prizes.

This theme promises to be tons of fun, and we're abuzz with ideas about campfires, Mason jars, tin cans, lanterns, gingham, and twine. This may be the cutest retreat yet! Forget about bugs and ants and bears...we'll be inside where it's warm and cozy.

The first weekend (March 16-18) is sold-out, but we're taking a waiting list of 4-5 people. There are a few spots remaining in the second weekend, March 23-25. For more details about SG retreats, check out the right sidebar under "Keeping You Informed."

Thanks so much...

Thank you all so much for all the pre-orders for SG Publishing's two latest Sketches for Scrapbooking books. It looks like our initial printing run will need to be larger than we first thought...we're very excited about that!

• Sketches for Scrapbooking: One Page Sketches, volume two by Allison Davis
• Sketches for Scrapbooking: Travel Sketches, volume one by Debbie Sanders & Allison Davis

Pre-orders can still be placed by clicking here. Your card will be charged now, and the book(s) will ship at the end of January. Local customers can order at SG, or by calling 417-886-0440.

We can't wait for you to see the actual books. The second volume of Allison's one-page sketches is just awesome. The sketches are so different, so cute, and several have banners and flags, and I'll have to admit that I am addicted to those accents right now.

I also realized that although I've resisted one-page sketches except for opening and closing pages of albums, I've been thinking that I may need to change my ways. Since seeing some of these sketches, I realized that I have lots and lots of instances where I have just one or two photos of Stacey and Allison when they were little. We just didn't take as many photos back then, so I think I may need to try out some of these sketches myself. (And the second volume has such a great variety; sketches range from ones with only a single photo, to one that has 18 -- yes, 18 -- photos!)

The travel sketches book should also be a wonderful tool for many scrapbookers. For the first time, I made the layout for one of our covers! I used an 8x10 photo of my husband and I from a cruise we went on several years ago. Several of the sketches use enlargements like 5x7s and 8x10s. If you have an awesome photo, why not give it some special attention. And with the versatility of our sketches, if you don't want to use an enlargement, all you have to do is use that spot for smaller photos. For example, in place of an 8x10, you can use four 4x5 photos. Easy! The other great thing about this new book theme is that each and every sketch can be used for any topic...not just travel.

In less than two weeks, we should have the new books and be ready to ship them. Please place your pre-orders as soon as possible to help us know how large our first order should be.

Scrap-a-Palooza details...

Once again, we're revealing changes and improvements to the Scrap-a-Palooza schedule and activities. We think you'll love them!

Today, how about finding out about all the free activities you can participate in?!  
More demos... 

• Instead of three demos, we'll be having EIGHT! The demos are coming off the big-screen and becoming "up close and personal." We think you'll love the change, which will allow you to ask questions and see things more closely. We have a great selection of demos of products and techniques by Allison Davis, Katrina Hunt, Karen Taylor, and Debbie Sanders, who all have solid scrapbooking and papercrafting credentials. 

More free classes

• We're adding another free mini-class to the schedule, so you'll have the chance to make four projects during the day instead of three!

Timeless Treasures class with Shirley Hall...

Shirley Hall has created a snowy masterpiece for her Timeless Treasures class this month. Her layout features a dusting of sparkly, intricate snowflakes, and a heartwarming poem.

With Shirley, you can expect to learn several creative techniques in each class. She had a great group last month for her first class, and they all made sure to tell me on their way out what a great job she did as a teacher.

To enroll in the class, which is offered Thursday, January 19 at 2 pm, just call 417-886-0440. Class fee is $15.