Announcing 'Scrapbook Generation's Create!'

January hasn't typically been my favorite month of the year, but I can't wait for January 2014, when we launch the first issue of our new magazine, "Scrapbook Generation's CREATE." Best of all, the magazine will be a free download! It doesn't get much better than that.

I've been working on the design of the magazine, and it's so much fun that I'm having a hard time getting anything else done. I'd forgotten how much I loved designing publications -- which is what I did in my previous life before SG was around. I feel like I've come full circle, back to the role I'm most comfortable with. 

Here are some of the things to look forward to each month:
• We'll feature a different manufacturer's design team every month. The response has been extremely positive, and we're working right now on completing the 2014 monthly schedule before we announce the line-up. Best way to sum it up? You'll be thrilled with the companies that will be using SG sketches and showing off their best ideas, month after month after month!

• Allison Davis and her sketch expertise will be on full display. You'll get a close-up, detailed look at her creative process, and her incredible ability to make simple, yet totally theme-specific handmade embellishments. As time permits, she'll be writing additional articles, just like she did for "Creating Keepsakes" magazine.

• Each magazine will include a one-page sketch, double-page sketch, card sketch, and tag sketch. Allison Davis and Debbie Sanders will alternate doing the one- and two-page sketches, so you'll get to see both designer's style every month. If there is enough interest, we may also include a pocket-page journaling/decorative card sketch and/or a complete pocket-page sketch.

• Starting with the February issue, you'll have the chance to have your work (based on the January sketches) published in our readers' gallery. We know you love SG sketches, and now you'll have the chance to show what you can do!

• Lindsey Amschler will become a familiar name...we'll be showcasing her beautiful mini-albums each month, as well as card and home decor ideas. Lindsey's style leans toward vintage, which makes her the perfect compliment to our style. She also does beautiful stamping work, which isn't surprising since she has her own line of acrylic stamps!

• Katrina Hunt will be featured each month, in a variety of ways. Katrina has a knack for starting off with a sketch and going in a completely different direction, with a beautiful end-result. We'll take a peek into her creative process. She also has an enthusiam for scrapbooking that we're going to channel into as many uses as possible!

• Because we never want to forget where we started, we'll have a special feature each month profiling some of the amazing talent among our local papercrafters. Watch for the best work from some of our gifted scrapbookers and cardmakers and home decor designers here in Springfield, MO. The best part about this segment? We'll never run out of material!

• The magazine will also include other inspirational articles and features related to scrapbooking, cardmaking, and papercrafting. 

• And for our last reveal right now, we want YOU to be involved in "Scrapbook Generation's CREATE." Each month, we'll have a question for you to answer. We'll select as many responses as possible to feature.

And let's get started right now! The question for January is...
• What type of scrapbooker are you...solitary (home) or social (crops and retreats)? Be sure to include why you choose one method over the other! For your answer to be published, also include your first and last name, and your city and state (or province). We reserve the right to edit your answer for length.
• Send your email answers to karin@scrapbookgeneration.com, with "January CREATE question" in the subject line.
• Your deadline is September 30.

I can't write all this without mentioning Karin Rush and Stacey Atchley. Karin will be helping with the magazine in several ways, especially in the copy editing and advertising departments. Stacey's in charge of all the technical aspects of transforming the pages we make into an online magazine. Like everything we do, it's family all the way!

-- Debbie Sanders