One step closer...

We're one step closer to having a completed sketch book: Scrapbook Generation's Sketch Fusion with Simple Stories! Yesterday, Allison and I brought our 24 finished layouts to SG -- the first time everything has been in one place. We arranged them in the order they'll be in the book, and we're so pleased with the way the project has come together. You can see hints of what the layouts are like by checking out the collage above.

We didn't start with any pre-arranged limits, other than to divide up the Simple Stories collections and decide how many layouts each of us would do from each group. As it turned out, my layouts have mainly uncropped photos and handwritten journaling, and Allison's primarily have more photos and computer journaling. Couldn't have worked out any better to give you a good mix of our styles!

The papers from the three new collections -- Vintage Bliss, 24/Seven, and Urban Traveler -- were a delight to work with. We also included several "older" collections, like Take A Hike, Sn@p, Handmade Holiday, and Harvest Lane.

What is great about the layouts, and the reason we chose to partner with Simple Stories for this concept, is that you can so easily replace what we've done with ANY Simple Stories collection, because they use the same format of blocks and strips with each group. This will be one of the most versatile sketch books we've designed.

What's ahead:
• Stacey is finishing up the design of the color pages and they'll be headed to the printer in a day or two. We had originally planned to include six color pages with four layouts each, but decided to go with eight color pages with three layouts each, so that one of the layouts on each spread could be really large. It looks great that way!
• Allison and I are completing the sketches, and after some editing to make them uniform, they'll be heading to the printer in a few days also.
• We plan to coordinate the release of Sketch Fusion with Simple Stories with the release of their three new collections. Right now, that's looking like late February or early March.
• Soon, we will be taking pre-orders for the print version of the book.
• The ebook will be released at the same time as the print book.

What you can do:
• We are thankful for everyone who orders the books directly from us, but we also love to sell the books wholesale to other scrapbook stores. Asking your LSS to carry the new book (and our 13 current books) would be much appreciated.