Drew is in the hospital right now, and the experience has included a trip in an ambulance. He has pneumonia and/or the flu, so I think it would be best if we postponed Allison's class Thursday night. The Tim Holtz Techniques class will be rescheduled as soon as possible, probably sometime next week. Sorry for any inconveniences!

I wanted to show you the papers we'll be using for the free Basic Sketch Sessions this Saturday. The patterned papers are from an autumn-themed collection by Dream Street Papers. If you've never attended one of our sketch sessions, we'd love to have you join us. The cost of your materials is usually less than $4 for the double-page layout, and you get a free computer sketch of the layout I design using these papers. Always available, if you don't like my paper choice, you can choose other Scrapbook Generation papers to use in making your page. 

These sketch sessions are very similar to the Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions, minus the frenzy of making three layouts!  

To register, just call or stop by. There are four times to choose from: 10, 11:30, 1, and 2:30.

Thanks to Nikki Sivils of "Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker" we gave out great door prizes all day long at Scrapbook Generation's fifth birthday celebration this past Saturday. Nikki donated lots of chipboard mini-albums and the matching 6x6 paper paddies. The remaining door prize winners were drawn this morning, and the winners are Stefanie Hayes, Debbie Chaffin, Priscilla Wadlow, and Jenny Curtis. 

I'm working on the December-January newsletter right now, and you'll find several pieces of exciting SG news in it, including a special activity involving "Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker!" I can't wait for you to find out! And it involves chocolate!

Also, don't forget that our November blog contest ends tonight at midnight. Go to the November 1 post and leave a comment for the random chance to win a prize package valued at $50.  

Thanks so much to all of you who celebrated Scrapbook Generation's fifth birthday with us Saturday...it was a special day for us! We had 98 people participating in our Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions, and many, many more who stopped by to shop and say "happy birthday." The second five years start Monday morning!

The top photo shows the bracelets that I gave to Karin, Stacey, Allison, and myself as a keepsake of Scrapbook Generation's first five years. Jennifer Mattix, one of our first customers when we opened and also one of our first group of Design Team members, has a new business, and she made the two-strand personalized bracelets for us. She used letter beads, the store colors, and also a number charm to make the bracelets, which are beautiful! The next time you're on Facebook, check out "It's Beaded Bliss." The bracelets are even prettier than I had imagined they would be!

Here's a sneak peek at the four autumn-themed page kits we'll be giving away Saturday at our fifth birthday celebration. If you spend $25 or more, you'll get your choice of the four kits, each valued at $12.99!

I've said this before, but the time really has gone by quickly. It seems just yesterday that we were peeling the brown paper off the front windows and opening the doors for Scrapbook Generation's first day of business.

As the business has grown and evolved over the past five years, I've watched Karin and Stacey and Allison and I change as well. By necessity, we've all learned new skills and have discovered that we can accomplish things we never dreamed of before. Five years ago, it was just the store, classes, and a few crops on-site. Now, we make our own page kits and sketch books, sell our products at national conventions and on our website, host Scrap-a-Paloozas for over 200 people, host weekend retreats in Branson, and Allison's name is nationally-known through her employment with Creating Keepsakes magazine. And as if that isn't enough, in a couple of weeks, I'll be making an announcement about our most ambitious project yet!

We're anxiously awaiting Saturday, when we'll be hosting 98 of you in the four Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions. My only regret is that we don't have more room in our classroom area, because we had to turn away almost 80 more people who wanted to attend! I'm working on the three layouts at home today, and I always enjoy the "jigsaw puzzle" aspect of trying to come up with the best combination using limited materials. And this time, with the addition of the free $10 worth of chipboard letters by Crate Paper, the layouts will be awesome. I promise!

And remember, all the following great deals will be available for our customers on Saturday...
-- Everyone who spends at least $25 gets a special edition Scrapbook Generation page kit, a $12.99 value. You'll get to chose from four different page kits made from the beautiful Autumn Splendor collection by Paper Loft!
-- We will have a variety of "buy one, get one for 50% off" values for you, including the following:
.......all Scrapbook Generation page kits;
.......all 12x12 chipboard sets by Prima, Fancy Pants, and Rusty Pickle;
.......Pebbles ribbon sets;
.......My Minds Eye die-cuts and embellishments (excluding the newest arrivals);
.......Bazzill and Timeless Touches stitching templates.
-- Everyone will have the chance to register for some great door prizes, including some awesome ones donated by Nikki Sivils, of local scrapbooking company Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker!

We'd love to have you join us on Saturday, but if you can't, let me tell you again how much we appreciate your business, your good wishes, and your friendship. The last five years have been some of the best years of my life. Long live Scrapbook Generation!

I wanted to show you the project we'll be making in the Vintage Treasures class next Monday evening, November 9, and also Thursday afternoon, November 19. I used a travel theme this time, and the layout features a pocket that runs across both pages so you can tuck in photos and other memorabilia in addition to the journaling cards.

We'll be using two colors of Tim Holtz distress inks, blending them to give a vintage look to the papers and cardstock. We'll also be using distress ink to stamp with! The page also features metal embellishments by Tim Holtz, some chipboard buttons by Maya Road, and some tulle by Bazzill. And the most important part...gorgeous vintage papers by Graphic 45.

If you want to join us, see the sidebar at right for class times and fees.

And don't forget our November blog contest. Go to the November 1 post and leave a comment for this month's question for the random chance to win a $50 prize package.

Two new groups arrived at Scrapbook Generation today. The top photo is a cooking-themed group by Moxxie, and the bottom photo is the new "Nutmeg" collection by Cosmo Cricket.

Three new BoBunny collections have arrived at Scrapbook Generation. As usual, there are interesting die-cut papers, lots of matching embellishments, and the winter group even has glitter paper, a first for this company!

Fifth Birthday News...
Let the birthday festivities begin! Scrapbook Generation's actual fifth birthday was a few weeks ago on October 11, but October was just too crazy-busy for a party. Let's have one this week instead!

On Saturday, November 7, we'll be having a huge celebration in honor of this special milestone for us. If you're one of the lucky 98 who are attending one of the four Super-Saver Scrapbooking sessions and making three layouts for only $5, you'll also be getting a matching $10 set of chipboard letters as a gift from the gang at SG. But even if you missed out on this special value, we have lots and lots of great deals for you...

-- Everyone who spends at least $25 gets a special edition Scrapbook Generation page kit, a $12.99 value, free!
-- There will be lots of buy one, get one for 50% off specials, including the following: Scrapbook Generation page kits; Bazzill and Timeless Touches stitching templates; My Mind's Eye die-cuts and embellishments (excluding the new arrivals); Fancy Pants, Rusty Pickle, and Prima 12x12 chipboard sets; Pebbles ribbon sets, and more!
-- Everyone will have the chance to register for some great door prizes, including some awesome ones donated especially for this occasion by Nikki Sivils, of local scrapbooking company Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker! (Nikki also donated $14 acrylic stamp sets for each scrapbooker who attended our two fall retreats. The ladies loved the generous gifts!) 

November Blog Contest...
Welcome to Scrapbook Generation's November blog contest. Just leave a comment answering the following question for the random chance to win a prize package valued at over $50! Be sure to check back to see if you are the winner!

-- What role does scrapbooking play in your life?