Ten new page kits, all $15 or less!

Several of these kits are extremely limited in quantity. 
• Bloom and Grow -- only 18 kits available
• Homemade -- only 13 kits available
• Out of This World -- only 26 kits available
• Precious -- only 13 kits available

Click here to go to SG's online store!

June 'Super-Saver' layouts...

Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions...

We'll be making these three layouts Saturday, June 1 in the Debbie Sanders 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 at 417-886-0440 to register and pre-pay. Sessions will be held at 10am and 2pm.

"SG Loyalty" program...
And don't forget the "SG Loyalty" program, the customer loyalty program that rewards people who shop in our Springfield store through a computerized point system. When you reach $50 in purchases (excluding kit clubs, classes which require pre-payment, and gift cards), a coupon for $5 off your purchase on a future day is generated as part of your receipt. The coupon can be used to purchase anything at SG except kit clubs and gift cards.

You'll earn double points for your entire purchase by attending and participating in the Super Saver Scrapbooking class shown above!  
 
Super Sketch Club members:  
Yes, materials for these three layouts will be included in your June 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.
• To order a kit, please call 417-886-0440. If for some reason you can't call, email stacey@scrapbookgeneration.com.
• 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 Sketch Day One layout kit, and the Sketch Day Two layout kit (includes materials and sketches for five double-page layouts, plus two bonus double-page sketches) for $20 plus $6.99 shipping.

New at SG!

I {Heart} Summer by Simple Stories

Happy Campber, Here & Now, and Graphic 45 (Photo Freedom) mini-collection by Echo Park

Reminder about chance to participate in a new blog hop

I wanted to remind everyone that you (and your blog!) can take part in a new blog hop featuring layouts made from SG sketches. Australian scrapbooking friend Ruth Bonser is organizing this new quarterly project, and just to make it fun, there are prizes involved, both for people who participate with blogs and for those who visit the blogs!

Here's how Ruth explains the blog hop...

Ruth Bonser:

Come and join the party!

Who wants to see a whole lot more layouts using the amazing sketches by those talented girls from Scrapbook Generation?

Hi SG Fans, it's Ruth here and I am planning a party with you all to encourage everyone to get out their sketches and scrapbook. There were so many amazing layouts submitted in the NSD challenges and I can't wait to see some of them showing up here on the blog. After all, one of the best things about SG sketches is that they are great for beginners or for someone who has been scrapbooking since the sticker sneeze was cool, they are universally useful.

So we're having a Super-fun Sketchy Soiree every three months on the blog for all you sketch lovers out there. On the first Monday in June, September, December and March, we will have the SG Sketch Lovers blog hop starting here on the Scrapbook Generation blog and blog hopping to everyone who would like to share a layout using one of the Scrapbook Generation sketches. You may use your SG monthly kits, your printed books and e-books, Sketch Support sketches, or the downloadable products form the SG online store.

If you want to join in you have two options:

1) If you own a blog then you need to email me (ruth.bonser@gmail.com) by the 1st of June with your blog address to let me know that you will have a blog post up and ready on the following Monday. I will reply to you by email  confirming your involvement. I will supply you with some text to include in your blog post closer to the time and will also let you know the time to have it posted at, so that they are all there at the same time.

2) If you do NOT own a blog but want to share a layout, please email me (ruth.bonser@gmail.com) a link to your layout in an online gallery (e.g. 2peas or  flickr), along with a couple of words about you, which sketch you used and anything you want to add about your layout. I will then include those in a blog post specially created for those without a blog, so that everyone is able to be involved.

PRIZES!

It's always more fun with prizes involved, so there will be two prizes at each blog hop party, one will be randomly given to one of the participants and one will be randomly chosen from all the comments left by the readers. Those who are part of the blog hop can also leave comments, so they get twice as many chances to win. Comments will be able to be left at every hop, so there are lots of chances to comment to win while getting inspiration to use your sketches and see what your fellow SG fans are doing with their kits and sketch books.

I want everyone to know that this is a very welcoming party. Please don't feel shy if you are a beginner or have a new blog, everyone is welcome and we would love to see what you are working on! It encourages others to get out their kits and create with you. In a scrappy world where many of us live far away from those we love to chat with about scrapbooking, this is the next best thing to having a scrapbook get-together!

I hope you will join in the party and get creating, please leave any questions in the comments below and I will answer them. I am really excited to see what you create!

Memorial Day sales

Scrapbook Generation has two great offers for our local and online shoppers this weekend!

Local customers:
• Sale runs Friday and Saturday
• Take 30% off any one item (excludes Sketch Fusion and One on One)
• SG will be closed on Monday

Online customers:
• Sale runs Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
• Take 10% off all clearance items -- use coupon code SG10
• We've added a ton of products to our clearance section at scrapbookgeneration.com, including paper collections by We R Memory Keepers, Little Yellow Bicycle, My Mind's Eye, Echo Park, American Crafts, and Carta Bella
• We've also added lots of additional SG kits to the clearance section -- now over 40 page and card kits on sale!
• Local customers can also shop online -- just choose the no-charge "pick up" option for shipping and we'll hold your order for you here at SG.

Click here to shop online.

Closed Monday for Memorial Day

Scrapbook Generation will be closed Monday for Memorial Day.

Tomorrow, we'll be announcing the details of an online sale that will run from Friday until Monday, and also an in-store sale for both Friday and Saturday.

Go grab your free download sketch for May!

It's another fantastic download day, with products ranging from single sketches to another great themed bundle of goodies by Allison Davis.

One Sketch Three Looks: Quick & Easy -- 89¢
• Double-page sketch features five 4x6 photos, two 3x4 photos, and one 6x4 photo. Photos are definitely the star of this layout. It could become a go-to sketch whenever you want a quick and easy layout with lots of photos. One strip of patterned paper, a couple of strips of stripes, a cluster of embellishments, and you're done. Title area is large enough to leave room for creative use of sizes and styles.
• Color layout examples are climbing trees, basketball, and pumpkin patch.

One Sketch Three Looks: Patchwork -- 89¢
• Double-page layout features two 4x6 photos, two 6x4 photos, one 4x5 photo, and one 4x3 photo. The focal point is an area featuring squares of patterned paper layered with more papers and embellishments. Project Life-style 3x4 cards would work perfectly in this focal area, along with other small decorative mats or frames.
• Color layout examples are wedding, Christmas baking, and Thanksgiving.

One Sketch Three Looks: Focal Grid -- 89¢
• Double-page sketch features one 6x4, one 3-1/2 x 2-1/2, and six 3x3 photos. Focal point is on the grid formed by the 3x3 photos and patterned paper squares. A series of strips and a decorative scalloped border forms a backdrop for the grid. Title area includes circles and lots of room to create a title using a variety of letter sizes.
• Color layout examples are goofing off, Easter eggs, and boys playing.

Four Pack - $1.79
• Four new two-page sketches designed by Allison Davis that all feature 7 photos. 
• The first sketch has two 4x6 photos, one 6x4 photo, one 4x4 photo, and three 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 photos with a large background, a few banner strips, and accented with stars.
• The second sketch has two 6x4 photos, four 4x4 photos, and two 2x2 photos with a large journaling space and accented with hearts.
• The third sketch has two 3-1/2 x 5 photos and five 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 photos with a big banner, flowers, and clouds.
• The fourth sketch has two 4x6 photos, four 3x3 photos, and one 3x4 photos with a large background and accented with hearts.

Individual Sketch #1 - 49¢
• A one-page sketch designed by Allison Davis. The sketch has one 3x5 photo and three 3x4 photos with a large background and accented with stars.

Individual Sketch #2 - 49¢
A two-page sketch designed by Allison Davis, perfect for use with 6x6 paper pads. The sketch has two 3x4 photos, three 2x2 photos, two 6x4 photos, and six 3 x 2-1/2 photos. There are two 6x6 squares and the sketch is accented with hearts.

Girls/Mother's Day Bundle by Allison Davis - $10 (samples shown above)
Includes:
• 6 two-page girl-themed sketches
• 6 one-page girl-themed sketches
• 4 girl-themed cards
• 5 girl embellishment ideas/sketches
• girl and mother quotes
• girl and mother titles

Free Sketch:
• A double-page sketch by Allison Davis. Sketch is shown below.

Click here to download the free sketch and shop for other sketch products by SG.

Star Challenge inspiration

A few weeks ago, we promised to show you some of the entries in our NSD challenges. Today, we've picked out a few of the layouts submitted for the star challenge to illustrate the wide range of ways people approached this challenge. 

Here's the challenge they undertook:
Stars are such versatile embellishments. We use them on layouts about holidays (Christmas, Fourth of July), people (rock star, award winner, child), and events (contests, concerts, camping trips). For this challenge, use your creative talents to make one or more special star embellishments for a one- or two-page layout. Materials you might try: felt, fabric, chipboard, corrugated cardstock, floss, twine, ribbon, bling, and more...be a creative star!

We have patriotic stars, love-struck stars, little boy stars, sports stars, and even star banners! Love the variety, and the chance to share them with you. (And if I don't have your full name listed, please feel free to comment here and I'll update the post.)

Allie Stewart

Corrina

Denise

Laureen

Sharlene

Sheree

Tasha Key

Chat tonight, anyone?!

 We invite you to join a group of scrapbookers who will be using our live chat feature tonight at 7 pm (CST). The chat is being organized by ladies who are part of a new forum called ScrapNYap. This is an extremely encouraging, kind, cheerful, and happy message board, and to say it is SG-friendly is an understatement!

Right now, a group of about 40 of us are taking Allison's online Sketch Support class together. We have just completed week one, and we're posting our layout assignments and inspecting and praising each others' work. As soon as we finish the Sketch Support class, we're going to start on another one of Allison's classes and do it as a group, too! We'd love to have you join us. (Click here to read more details about the class.)

I know they would love to have you join them tonight to talk about all things scrapbooking. And if you would like to check out this new forum, the address is: http://scrapnyap.freeforums.org. To participate, you must be approved by the moderator, who works hard to ensure that this forum stays supportive, informative, and above all, pleasant and welcoming.

It's Sketch Week with Allison Davis!

We love Sketch Week, and it's time to have some fun as Allison Davis gives detailed descriptions of how to get the most mileage and inspiration from Scrapbook Generation's free download sketch this month.

We're giving you a sneak peek at the sketch, which will be available for download tomorrow. For now, why not hop over to Allison's blog for a closer look at her layout, and for information about how to win a great prize! Click here to check out Sketch Week.

New at SG!

Queen & Co.: candy stripers (striped accents that would make cute flower centers), ice accents (polka dotted shaped buttons), pave jewels, and twinkle jewels

Adorn It: Forever Family

Little Yellow Bicycle: Poppy

Echo Park: Bundle of Joy

Echo Park: Bundle of Joy

Doodlebug: Cap & Gown

New quarterly blog hop for SG sketch fans!

Today, we're turning the blog over to Ruth Bonser from Australia. Ruth is a long-time SG fan/customer/friend, and she's also an extremely accomplished and talented scrapbooker and blogger. Recently, she had three beautiful layouts published in the first issue of a new Australian online magazine: "Life. Paper. Scrapbook."

Ruth has come up with an exciting way to motivate all of us to scrapbook more, and share more. We'll let her explain what she has planned...

Ruth Bonser:

Come and join the party!

Who wants to see a whole lot more layouts using the amazing sketches by those talented girls from Scrapbook Generation?

Hi SG Fans, it's Ruth here and I am planning a party with you all to encourage everyone to get out their sketches and scrapbook. There were so many amazing layouts submitted in the NSD challenges and I can't wait to see some of them showing up here on the blog. After all, one of the best things about SG sketches is that they are great for beginners or for someone who has been scrapbooking since the sticker sneeze was cool, they are universally useful.

So we're having a Super-fun Sketchy Soiree every three months on the blog for all you sketch lovers out there. On the first Monday in June, September, December and March, we will have the SG Sketch Lovers blog hop starting here on the Scrapbook Generation blog and blog hopping to everyone who would like to share a layout using one of the Scrapbook Generation sketches. You may use your SG monthly kits, your printed books and e-books, Sketch Support sketches, or the downloadable products form the SG online store.

If you want to join in you have two options:

1) If you own a blog then you need to email me (ruth.bonser@gmail.com) by the 1st of June with your blog address to let me know that you will have a blog post up and ready on the following Monday. I will reply to you by email  confirming your involvement. I will supply you with some text to include in your blog post closer to the time and will also let you know the time to have it posted at, so that they are all there at the same time.

2) If you do NOT own a blog but want to share a layout, please email me (ruth.bonser@gmail.com) a link to your layout in an online gallery (e.g. 2peas or  flickr), along with a couple of words about you, which sketch you used and anything you want to add about your layout. I will then include those in a blog post specially created for those without a blog, so that everyone is able to be involved.

PRIZES!

It's always more fun with prizes involved, so there will be two prizes at each blog hop party, one will be randomly given to one of the participants and one will be randomly chosen from all the comments left by the readers. Those who are part of the blog hop can also leave comments, so they get twice as many chances to win. Comments will be able to be left at every hop, so there are lots of chances to comment to win while getting inspiration to use your sketches and see what your fellow SG fans are doing with their kits and sketch books.

I want everyone to know that this is a very welcoming party. Please don't feel shy if you are a beginner or have a new blog, everyone is welcome and we would love to see what you are working on! It encourages others to get out their kits and create with you. In a scrappy world where many of us live far away from those we love to chat with about scrapbooking, this is the next best thing to having a scrapbook get-together!

I hope you will join in the party and get creating, please leave any questions in the comments below and I will answer them. I am really excited to see what you create!

Color Challenge inspiration...

A couple of weeks ago, we promised to show you some of the entries in our NSD challenges. Today, we've picked out a few of the layouts submitted for the color challenge to illustrate the wide range of ways people approached this challenge. 

Here's the challenge they undertook:
Color makes life a little brighter...and it can do magical things for a scrapbook layout, too. One of the hottest color choices right now is ombre -- a French term meaning "shaded" -- with colors graduating from light to dark. For this challenge, choose one color and use it to create an ombre effect through papers, embellishments, or both, on a one- or two-page layout. It doesn’t matter if you make it bright or make it soft...just make it colorful!

Some people undertook an ombre background, while others used the effect through embellishments, or even a full-page approach! Love the different viewpoints, and the chance to share them with you. (And if I don't have your full name listed, please feel free to comment here and I'll update the post.)

Barb Krause

Els Cattenstart (Netherlands)

Maria Whitehead

Patricia Watling

Susan

Alison Spannaus

Six new layouts kits!

We've just added six new kits by Debbie Sanders and Allison Davis to our online store. Allison's four kits came from the classes offered during our National Scrapbooking Day festivities.  Click here to shop!

New Debbie Sanders kit: Winter Dreams -- five double-layout kit including sketches and color photos. $30

 

 

 

New Debbie Sanders kit: Snow Happy -- two double-layout kit including sketches and color photos. $12 Extremely limited quantities -- less than 25 available.

New Allison Davis kit: Sisterly Love -- two double-layout kit including sketches and color photo. $20

New Allison Davis kit: Brotherly Love -- two double-layout kit including sketches and color photo. $20

New Allison Davis kit: Happy Little Moments -- three double-layout kit including sketches and color photos. $25

New Allison Davis kit: Unforgettable Happiness -- three double-layout kit including sketches and color photos. $25

May card class with Lindsey

Lindsey Amschler has created five cards that you'll be proud to give for Father's Day! There are a few spots left in this class, which will be offered Saturday, May 25 at 11 am. The fee is $15.

Over the past few months, Lindsey has been having a full house for her Saturday morning card classes. It's a great group of ladies, and we'd love to have you join the fun. Just call 417-886-0440 to register.

Challenge and online gift basket winners...

Your prizes are heading off to you today and tomorrow! Sorry it's taken us a few days to get that organized -- my fault totally, because I was in charge of getting everything gathered up. My best excuse is NSD fatigue, two family birthdays, a graduation, and Mother's Day, all rolled into one crazy week!

-- Debbie

Sketch Day Two for May

Sketch Day Two choices: Debbie Sanders layout, top; Allison Davis layout, bottom.
Both Allison and Debbie started with identical materials --
the same two sheets of cardstock and the same three patterned papers.
When you attend the class at SG, you'll decide which layout
you prefer and use your materials to make that layout.

LOCAL CUSTOMERS:
We hope you can join us Saturday, May 18 for Saturday sketch sessions by Debbie Sanders and Allison Davis! The layouts above are the choices for May Sketch Day Two sessions.

How it works:
• Pre-register for sessions at 10am or 2pm by calling 417-886-0440;
• Bring basic tools and adhesives;
• Receive two free computer sketches;
• Make one double-page layout, your favorite of the two choices;
• Pay for papers used -- the total usually comes to a little over $4.

Options:
• If you want to make both the layouts from a particular Saturday, order a duplicate set of paper when you register by phone or in person. Order must be placed prior to the Saturday class.
• If you want to purchase the embellishment add-on (shown below), you can order it when you register. This embellishment is not used on the layout samples shown above, but is offered for those of you who want to add another level of interest and creativity to your pages. All embellishment add-on orders must be placed prior to the Saturday class.

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 Sketch Day One layout kit, and the Sketch Day Two layout kit (materials and sketches for five double-page layouts plus two bonus sketches) for $20 plus $6.99 shipping.

SUPER SKETCH CLUB MEMBERS:
Options:
• If you occasionally want to make both layouts, order a duplicate set of paper ONLINE ONLY at scrapbookgeneration.com. (Limited number of extra sets available. Once they sell out, they're gone. Click here to order.
 
• If you ALWAYS want make both layouts, enroll in Super Sketch Club Double Up. For an additional $10 per month, you'll receive a duplicate set of identical materials for the Sketch Day One and Sketch Day Two portions of the club. (By doing this, you will be able to make both Allison layouts and both Debbie layouts that will be shown on the blog each month.) Sign up for Double Up by clicking here.

• You can choose to order the embellishment that coordinates with the layouts this week. The embellishment this week is a $2.99 12x12 sticker sheet. This embellishment is not used on the layout samples, but is offered for those of you who want to add another level of interest and creativity to your pages. (Limited number of embellishment add-ons available ONLINE ONLY at scrapbookgeneration.com. Once they sell out, they're gone. This add-on does not increase your shipping fee! Click here to order.

Gentle reminder...

Like many of you, I spend way too much time on Pinterest! I see photos of lots of SG layouts, pinned from this blog, and that is fabulous!

I also see SG sketches on Pinterest. Again, it's fabulous when the pins are the free Sketch Support sketches or the free download sketches.

What isn't so great is finding SG sketches scanned, copied, or photographed directly from our copyrighted sketch books. What seems to be happening -- and I've followed many of the pins back to their original source, usually someone's blog -- is that people are doing a layout using one of the book sketches, then posting the sketch below their work. You can tell it's directly from the book because the binding even shows.

This has also happened recently on the forum of an online store -- one of our copyrighted sketches was scanned without permission and used for a challenge. Once again, you could see the book binding in the photo.

Here's the problem for us.
• Person #1 posts sketch #1 from Sketches for Scrapbooking, volume 1.
• Person #2 posts sketch #2 from Sketches for Scrapbooking, volume 1.
• Person #3 posts sketch #3 from Sketches for Scrapbooking, volume 1.
• Etc.

If you see how this could compound over time, before long every sketch we sell could potentially be online and available for free. We're flattered that the sketches are popular, but please understand that this is part of the way we make our living.

So, what we are asking is that you please abide by copyright laws and refrain from photographing, scanning, or copying sketches from any of our books, or from the individual downloadable sketches we sell, and posting them online. The only time this would be acceptable would be if you had direct permission from SG.

From the blog posts I've seen, I don't see any intent of harm. It's simply people being excited over their layouts and wanting to share this with others. I know this has been done with no malice.

However, in the future, please help us protect our work product. It isn't easy in the Internet Age, but please accept this gentle reminder about not posting copyrighted material. 

-- Debbie

NSD 2013...poetically!

I wanted to share an ambitious project one of our online scrapbooking friends undertook to memorialize SG's festivities for National Scrapbooking Day. Patricia used our blog logo, and our special NSD badge, to compliment the clever poem she wrote and scrapbooked.

We're thrilled to know that our activities were so much fun and made such an impression on people, especially since this was our first effort. Thanks, Patricia, for such a glowing review of our chats and challenges, and thanks to everyone who joined us to make the weekend so much fun!

Patricia's poem...
'Twas the Day of National Scrapbooking, when all through the house
Not a creature disturbed Mom as she clicked on her mouse.
The housework was done the day before with care
In hopes that everyone would stay out of her hair.

The children were content, all happy and fed,
While visions of crafting goodness danced in her head,
So Mama with her photos all ready to scrap
Made her way over to the new Scrap ‘n’ Yap.

Clicking link by link, there arose such a clatter,
She sprang from her chair to see what was the matter.
The screen scrolled so fast, her heart went pitter-patter,
All the commotion was being caused by a chatter!

“Where am I?” she wondered, wanting to know,
And looked at the address bar on the screen below.
When what to her wondering eyes should appear
But a chatroom full of scrappers giving a cheer!

With a fast-typing chat host, so lively and quick,
Mom joined in and typed “Hello,” clickety-click.
More rapid than eagles the conversation came,
Then the chat host announced it was time for a game.

“Now, tell me what year SG was founded.”
The speed of the answers left Mom astounded!
To the top of the screen she saw a notation,
The name of this place was Scrapbook Generation.

The words on the screen so quickly did fly,
She could barely keep up as they went racing by
As up to the top of the screen they flew,
With much joking around and laughter too.

And then in a twinkling Mom heard pop-pop-pop,
She wondered if it came from an online crop.
As she scanned the screen, she traced the sound
Back to the chat lines that were flying around.

“What’s your least favorite word?” the chat host then asked.
A torrent of suggestions hit the screen fast!
“Panties” seemed to top the list of dreaded terms,
Oh dear, that question opened such a can of worms!

It led to talking about various unmentionables,
And a history of paint that was really quite questionable.
The chatting frenzy slowed slightly in this regard,
But only because the chatters were laughing so hard.

They called themselves “Peeps”, this crazy bunch
Who, in between games, talked about lunch
And breakfast and dinner, and all in between,
They were making Mom hungry, plus she needed caffeine.

The hosts were Janet, Penny, Katrina and Mari,
While the SG folks were Debbie, Karin, Stacey and Ali.
They were all working hard as wonderful teams
To give us an NSD beyond our wildest dreams.

Challenges, prizes, and giveaways galore
Plus specials going on all weekend at the store,
A coupon code was available to apply
To sketches, classes, and kits to buy.

Mom sprang to her layouts, her mojo was back!
She wanted to scrap, but it was time to hit the sack.
But I heard her exclaim as she switched off the light
Happy NSDay to all, and to all a good night!

Progress with expansion of SG's online store

In the midst of all the NSD hoopla, we were still making both big and little steps toward completion of our expanded online store.

Here's an update:
• We've hired a firm to construct a top-of-the-line e-commerce website, with every bell and whistle we know that you want when you shop online. We spent considerable time deciding on all the features we want, and we want them all! We didn't want to start out small and have to improve the website over time. We're going all out from the beginning!

• The timeline includes the firm finishing the website in mid-late July, which will give Stacey until mid-late August to get all the new products added to the site.

• Stacey and Allison are working on new logos so that all our branding is consistent.

• When everything is completed, this blog and the e-commerce website will be joined so that you no longer have to go to two places. Everything will be at one web address.

• The lease on our warehouse started May 1, and we've already outfitted it with tables to be used for filling the orders. Racks and shelves will come next.

• We're working on a new online loyalty plan that will reward you each time you shop with us.

• At least of two of the SG team will be attending CHA (with the new name of Create-N-Connect) in Las Vegas in July. We'll be placing the first orders for the new online store then!

Thanks for a fantastic weekend!

It's time for a few much-deserved thank you's.

• Janet, Penny, Mari, and Katrina: They were awesome chat hostesses! I had only done one live chat before, and hosting one yourself is very different. They were willing to give a huge chunk of their time during the weekend to help us, and I can't tell you how great they were. I know it had to be exhausting to keep up with the fast pace, and we appreciate their skills and their helpful nature. Friends for life!

• All the ladies who traveled from out-of-state to attend the weekend crop, including Janet (from Australia): I'll probably leave someone out, but I know we had guests from Minnesota, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, and Kansas. (And no, Janet didn't come to the states just for the crop -- she was in Seattle visiting her son and was able to jet over to Missouri at just the right time! I think we all loved listening to her Aussie voice!)

• All the local gals who attended the weekend crop! We had a great group, and I bet most of them felt quite familiar to be in our old store building.

• Nikki Sivils for generously donating gifts for the people attending the crop. She never fails to be right there with products for everyone!

• Katrina and Lindsey for doing such an awesome job with the free mini-classes and demos on Saturday. Cute projects, and people truly enjoyed learning more about misting and washi tape!

• All the people who participated in the live chats and kept them moving so quickly. It was SO much fun, and by the way, did you realize that Stacey has a hard copy of everything that was said! (May be some blackmail involved later!?)

• All the people who participated in the challenges. We had way more entries than I dreamed we would have for our first attempt at this. I'm looking forward to going through them all more closely this time around and picking several to showcase on the SG blog this month.

• All the people who shopped with us, both here in Springfield and online. To say that we are overwhelmed is an understatement. Beyond our wildest dreams. And seeing that the downloads are starting to really catch on is just where we want to be right now!

• Karin, Stacey, and Allison: They put in lots and lots of extra hours for this weekend to run smoothly. Karin and Stacey had a trying week setting up for the crop, including flooding bathrooms, wet carpet, and a delivery truck that forgot to come with a lift gate, which meant they had to carry in all 42 eight-foot tables by themselves! They were worn out! Allison was cranking out classes and kits and all the other stuff she does before one of our big events. She never fails to create something gorgeous!

So, thanks from SG for chatting, cropping, and shopping! This NSD weekend was by far our most successful, profitable, fun-filled celebration ever!

-- Debbie

And the winners are...

Congratulations to the random winners of SG's first ever online challenges for NSD! Some of you didn't provide your full name, so I'm just going to put exactly what was with your entry. If you want to leave a comment on this post with your real name, I'll be happy to add it to this post.

To get the prize wagon rolling, everyone except the winners of challenges #3 and 5 (who won e-books) should send your shipping information to stacey@scrapbookgeneration.com. Winners of #3 and 5 should send an email to the same address, letting us know which two e-books you want. Karin and Stacey will make sure that you each get your set of prizes!

Challenge #1 -- Star Challenge: 44 entries
• Tam

Challenge #2 -- Project Life Challenge: 26 entries
• Stephanie Feltus

Challenge #3 -- One-Page Sketch Challenge: 53 entries
• Nicole Michelle Gray

Challenge #4 -- Journaling Challenge: 28 entries
• Ruth Bonser

Challenge #5 -- Two-Page Sketch Challenge: 42 entries
• GloAnn

Challenge #6 -- Product Challenge: 36 entries
• Kimberly Moore

Challenge #7 -- Color Challenge: 15 entries
• Tink

Challenge #8 -- Manufacturer Challenge: 37 entries
• Allie Stewart

Thanks to everyone who participated! I'm going to pour over all the entries and chose several from each category to showcase here on the blog during the month of May, so keep watching for inspiration. I've seen SO many beautiful layouts, and can't wait to share them here.

And if you didn't get the chance to work on the challenges this past weekend, there's no reason you can't do them now -- just for you. I am! I'm intrigued by the color challenge -- using ombre some way -- so I'm definitely going to try that one!

Challenge winners...

I know that many of you are probably checking here frequently to see the challenge winners. I'm sorry to say that I don't have them done yet. It's been a full day, and then I stopped long enough to go to Drew's first baseball game of the season (he got two hits!). I just got back to SG, I'm grabbing my computer, heading home, and as soon as I get there -- about 11:30, I'll work on the challenge winners (I have to organize the emails and match them up to the comments here before I do the random picks, because some people sent their entries that way.)

If you're still up after midnight, you can be the first to know! Again, my apologies for not getting them on sooner! -- Debbie

May Sketch Day One

Sketch Day One choices: Debbie Sanders layout, top; Allison Davis layout, bottom.
Both Allison and Debbie started with identical materials --
the same two sheets of cardstock and the same three patterned papers.
When you attend the class at SG, you'll decide which layout
you prefer and use your materials to make that layout.

LOCAL CUSTOMERS:
We hope you can join us Saturday, May 11 for Saturday sketch sessions by Debbie Sanders and Allison Davis! The layouts above are the choices for May Sketch Day One sessions.

How it works:
• Pre-register for sessions at 10am or 2pm by calling 417-886-0440;
• Bring basic tools and adhesives;
• Receive two free computer sketches;
• Make one double-page layout, your favorite of the two choices;
• Pay for papers used -- the total usually comes to a little over $4.

Options:
• If you want to make both the layouts from a particular Saturday, order a duplicate set of paper when you register by phone or in person. Order must be placed prior to the Saturday class.
• If you want to purchase the embellishment add-on (shown below), you can order it when you register. This embellishment is not used on the layout samples shown above, but is offered for those of you who want to add another level of interest and creativity to your pages. All embellishment add-on orders must be placed prior to the Saturday class.

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 Sketch Day One layout kit, and the Sketch Day Two layout kit (materials and sketches for five double-page layouts plus two bonus sketches) for $20 plus $6.99 shipping.

SUPER SKETCH CLUB MEMBERS:
Options:
• If you occasionally want to make both layouts, order a duplicate set of paper ONLINE ONLY at scrapbookgeneration.com. (Limited number of extra sets available. Once they sell out, they're gone. Click here to order.
 
• If you ALWAYS want make both layouts, enroll in Super Sketch Club Double Up. For an additional $10 per month, you'll receive a duplicate set of identical materials for the Sketch Day One and Sketch Day Two portions of the club. (By doing this, you will be able to make both Allison layouts and both Debbie layouts that will be shown on the blog each month.) Sign up for Double Up by clicking here.

• You can choose to order the embellishment that coordinates with the layouts this week. The embellishment this week is a $3.99 chipboard set. This embellishment is not used on the layout samples, but is offered for those of you who want to add another level of interest and creativity to your pages. (Limited number of embellishment add-ons available ONLINE ONLY at scrapbookgeneration.com. Once they sell out, they're gone. This add-on does not increase your shipping fee! Click here to order.

NSD gift basket winners!

Local winners:
• Peggy King
• Denise Sartin
• Lisa Schulte
• Betty Ann Shuert
• Wendy Tipton

We'll let the local winners pick which basket each of you wants, based on who stops by first. Try not to break any traffic rules!

Online winners:
• Wanda Duchien, Florida (Echo Park basket)
• Laura Jones, Virginia (American Crafts basket)
• Charmel Kapoor, Missouri (Simple Stories basket)
• Marilyn Oltmans (My Minds's Eye basket)
• Christel Williams (Fancy Pants basket)

Congratulations to everyone! And a big thanks to our generous sponsors...American Crafts, Echo Park, Fancy Pants, My Mind's Eye, and Simple Stories!