Angie Pedersen's Scrapbooking Industry News

Creating Keepsakes Announces 2006 Scrapbooker of the Year

C.D. Muckosky wins 2006 Scrapbooker of the Year
C.D. Muckosky from Winnipeg, Canada wins largest prize ever awarded to a scrapbooker

BLUFFDALE, UTAH (October 11, 2006) -- Creating Keepsakes magazine announced C.D. Muckosky of Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada as the 2006 "Scrapbooker of the Year" at the Memory Trends tradeshow in Las Vegas, October 10. Muckosky was awarded $10,000 in cash, as well as approximately $10,000 in sponsorship prizes from HP, KI Memories, Ellison Design and Legacy Crafters -- the largest prize amounts ever awarded to a scrapbooker.

Additionally, Muckosky is invited to appear at the sponsors' booths during the tradeshow and teach a "Make and Take" scrapbook session at a local scrapbook store in Las Vegas. Muckosky will also sign a two-year agreement to represent Creating Keepsakes at upcoming events.

As the inaugural "Scrapbooker of the Year" contest, Creating Keepsakes received more than 500 scrapbook entries. Ten finalists were chosen and received an all-expenses paid trip to the awards reception at the Memory Trends tradeshow, October 10-12.

"Choosing our finalists was difficult because literally every entry was wonderfully crafted and presented unique stories from the heart," says Lisa Bearnson, founding editor of Creating Keepsakes magazine and a leading spokesperson for the scrapbooking industry. "Our ten finalists, however, were chosen for an exceptional job in showcasing their scrapbooks and writing personal essays. The awards reception celebrated their creative talent and great work."

To enter the "Scrapbooker of the Year" contest, scrapbookers submitted a portfolio of their 20 best scrapbook layouts along with a 500-word essay about the effects scrapbooking has had on their lives and where they see the hobby taking them, and the industry, in the future.

Founder Lisa Bearnson, editor-in-chief Tracy White and contributing editor Ali Edwards selected the top ten finalists by judging the contestants on their scrapbook pages, as well as specified personal interviews. Finalists were selected based on showing enthusiasm for the hobby, being able to inspire other scrapbookers and presenting a unique viewpoint to the industry.

SOURCE: CK Press Room

MemoryTrends 2006: Karen Foster Designs

Centerville, UT (October 10, 2006) – Explore the wonderful world of brads with Karen Foster Design’s new idea book, Braditude – the book of brads (MSRP $9.99). With 96 full-color pages of new techniques, helpful hints and step-by-step instructions, Braditude is perfect for beginners, but even the most advanced scrapbookers can learn how to obtain impressive results using all types of brads from the everyday to the innovative.

Braditude showcases a wide variety of brad possibilities and with sections ranging from Brad Basics to Brads with Style, Braditude illustrates the versatility of brads in scrapbooking, cardmaking and general paper crafting. Helpful hints and bonus ideas from top designers offer easy shortcuts, alternative techniques and detailed photographs. Braditude is 8” x 8”, spiralbound and printed in full-color for easy reading and reference.

Braditude will be released at the Memory Trends trade show in Las Vegas in October 2006, and available for shipping immediately after the show.  Karen Foster Design currently carries over 15 different styles and over 80 individual SKUs of brads in various shapes, sizes and colors.

KFD is also launching the all new 2007 Calendar Creations, Special Occasion Calendar and Throughout the Year 12 x 12 Biggie Bundle, as well as 16 new product theme groups ranging from retro Christmas to classic New Year’s Eve to a beautiful line of Spanish language paper and stickers called Spanish Momentos.

New Memory Trends paper and sticker theme groups (many of which include 12” x 12” rubons) are:

• Fun in the Snow
• Christmas
• Valentine’s Day
• Happy New Year
• Dance With Me
• Baby Girl, Baby Boy, Little Girl, and Little Boy
• Road Trip
• Retirement
• Aunts & Uncles
• Cousins
• Talents
• Heroes
• Spanish Momentos (Wedding, Birthday, Baby Boy, Baby Girl, Christmas and Family)

“Our new Calendar Creations collection is beautifully artistic,” says Lisa Crandall, Product Development Manager. “Rich, bright colors and doodly images and designs give the papers and
rub-ons amazing depth and versatility in all kinds of scrapbook layouts and papercraft projects.”

New embellishments include Pinch Tabs, Page Hangers, Rub-bits, Shirt Labels, Resin Brads, Metal Signs, License Plates and Mini Charms. All new embellishments coordinate with new paper and sticker themes.  All products will be shipping immediately following the show.

Digital Scrapbooking Magazine Ships in February

As previously mentioned, Simple Scrapbooks magazine has purchased Digital Scrapbooking magazine.  According to the information available in their booth at MemoryTrends, the first issue of the new magazine and its companion website is available in February 2007.  The companion website will feature message boards and a gallery, among other resources.

Lynda Angelastro is the Managing Editor, Molly Newman is the Associate Editor, and Renee Pearson will be heading up the website side of things.  The rest of the Editorial and Creative Board is listed here.

Technorati Tags: Simple Scrapbooks, digital scrapbooking, scrapbooking

MemoryTrends 2006: Sneak Peeks via Scrapbook.com Blogs

Massive Sneak Peeks of MemoryTrends product launches at Scrapbook.com: Blogs.

• Cosmo Cricket
• Mustard Moon
• Around the Block
• SEI
• Technique Tuesday
• SRM Stickers
• Karen Foster
• WUBE
• 3 Bugs in a Rug
• Scenic Route
• Paper Salon
• Hambly Screen Prints
• Carolee's Creations
• Flair Designs, and more.

Looking at all the fabulous stuff to come....we're all in a lot of trouble.  Wallets and husbands... beware.

MemoryTrends Previews Scrapbooking Product Innovations

Show Attendees to Get First Look at New Products for Scrapbookers

MEMORYTRENDS 2006, LAS VEGAS - October 3, 2006 - With just days to go before the show floor opens, MemoryTrends today offered a preview of some of the new products that will be making their debut at this year’s exposition. MemoryTrends Conference & Expo, the world’s most comprehensive event dedicated to scrapbooking, will be held October 10-12, with education beginning October 8, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV.

MemoryTrends attendees will be the first to see a wide range of hot new products for scrapbookers in the New Products Display area, and in exhibitor booths throughout the show floor. From adhesives to embellishments, papers to organizational tools, attendees will get an exclusive first look at the must-have products for the coming year.

This year’s launches include the following products:

• Filexec, Booth #333, will show the new Travel Craft File, a tool toting file box for the scrapper on the go
• Imaginisce, Booth #183, will present two new collections of papers and embellishments: Trade Winds, featuring elegant old-world designs, and Go for Baroque, evoking the feel of seventeenth-century French parlors
• Just Jinger Designs, Booth #291, will show new pre-made page spreads, featuring the company’s signature dimensional layering, and handmade embellishments. The new pages include soccer, skateboarding, travel and holiday themes
• Krylon, Booth #327, will introduce Brights, superior quality pain pens in bold, fluorescent colors. Available in five acid-free colors and suitable for use on paper, plastic, chipboard and fabric
• Papillon Ribbon & Bow Company, Booth #766, will introduce a variety of new ribbons, including these new animal themes: Poodle Love, Bone-A-Fide, Teddy-Heart, and Teddy-Love
• Pink Martini Designs, Booth #1191, will premier Flirtini, Pink Squirrel and Orange Creamsicle, three new lines of papers and page embellishments with bold, rich colors and fun fresh designs
• Retrospect by Smead, Booth #1249, will show the 8" x 8" Paper Organizer with Tote, an expanding organizer teamed with a tote designed for the growing supply of 8" x 8" paper and associated accessories
• Romanoff Products, Booth #1621, will introduce the new 6" deep Scrapbox. The Scrapbox is stackable, and is available in a rainbow of colors
• Saunders/UHU, Booth #1342, will show UHU Glue Rollers, featuring both permanent and repositionable glue; UHU Foam Rubber and Flexible Materials glue, for working with foam rubber and other flexible materials; and UHU Fabric Glue, a solvent-free glue created especially for fabrics
• ScraPerfect, Booth #989, will debut the Strap-n-Tap addition to the Original Perfect Printing Pouch product line, designed for printing on difficult surfaces such as vellum. The new Strap-n-Tap enables users to treat larger surfaces quickly and easily
• Tilano Fresco, Booth #1348, will launch the Photo Art Canvas Transfer Kit, which allows users to transfer their own images onto gallery quality 8" x 10" stretched canvas
• Treasured Reflections, Booth #1492, will introduce Poetry Pages and Sideline Sentiments, original poems and verses on cardstock created especially for scrapbook pages
• Unibind, Inc., Booth #1597, will launch the PhotoBook Creator, a thermal binding machine that gives consumers and businesses the ability to quickly create inexpensive professional-quality hardback books

“For buyers, retailers, store owners and managers who are looking for the latest scrapbooking products and trends, MemoryTrends is a must-attend event,” said Tina Battock, publisher of Craftrends magazine, which is presenting MemoryTrends. “Today’s product preview is just a taste of the excitement that attendees can expect at this year’s show.”

SOURCE: MemoryTrends Press Room

technorati tags: MemoryTrends, scrapbooking, scrapbooking+industry

MemoryTrends 2006: Creative Imaginations

Sharon Soneff has posted a sneak peak of new Creative Imaginations products on her blog: The Life Poetic: MEMORY TRENDS PREVIEW.

Sonnets Love Letters collection
Anthology: Juliet collection

She also posted images of make&take projects she'll be doing at the show.

Scrapbook Answers To Cease Publication

Via Scrapbook Update, and confirmed on the 2Ps message board, the Scrapbook Answers message board, and editor Ana Cabrera's blog:

Scrapbook Answers magazine has been cancelled. November 2006 will be the last issue.

Editorial Director Jon Phillips commented on the decision:

I want to share some insight on what happened.  First off, the magazine was not profitable. Subscription uptake was very strong -- amazingly strong in fact. We projected X number of subscriptions within a certain time period, but actually achieved 2x in short order. But very, very few consumer magazines rely on profitability on subs alone, and those that do achieve that only do so after many years in business...

SBA's newsstand sales were also good; quite solid in fact. And a few issues sold GREAT on the newsstand. But very few magazines can survive on newsstand sales alone. Everyone on this board should be aware that the newsstand industry is not in great shape. Sales are down in every sector -- craft mags, auto mags, music mags, etc...

Regardless, because we bundled our magazine with a disc, that increased the costs of putting magazines on the newsstand...

...we had very promising results with newsstand and subscription sales. But ad sales were low. This is common for a start-up magazine.  No one is to blame for this -- not the editors, ad sales staff, readers or advertisers. But it is a fact.

SBA Forums moderator [Ch]amsalot posted that "subscribers will receive a refund for their remaining subscription."

technorati tags: scrapbooking, Scrapbook+Answers, magazine

Scrapbooks ETC Offers Online Video

Via Scrapability, a heads up that Scrapbooks ETC magazine is offering streaming video for the Scrapbook Lifestyle daily video series.  Four episodes are available as of this posting: one for each day of the past week.

They even offer RSS feeds for the videos, to keep track of in your favorite blog reader.

MemoryTrends 2006: American Traditional Designs

American Traditional Designs® is proud to announce the debut of several new additions to its line of scrapbooking products.

1. Snow Day: This new collection celebrates the wonder of winter with fun snowmen and snowflakes.  The new twist on these favorites is the use of trendy colors and patterns.  Shades of teal combine with warm orange and lime green to update this classic winter theme and paisley shapes are incorporated with a variety of winter images for a fun new look.  Snow Day boasts designer papers, coordinating albums and a variety of embellishments, including our new Printed Ribbon.

2. Printed Ribbon Collections: Ribbons continue to be a strong trend for scrapbooking.  We've taken the idea a step further to create uniquely themed ribbon trims.  Our assortment includes 16 of our most popular themes - each with 5 different designs.  Themes include Dogs, Woodlands, Holiday Cheer, Snow Day and more!  MSRP is $5.00.

3. Textured Cardstock: Cardstock is a "must have" basic for every scrapbooking and paper crafting enthusiast.  Our assortment includes 4 distinct palettes: Relax, Refresh, Renew and Reawaken.  Each pad has 48 linen-textured sheets, 6 each of 8 different colors.  MSRP is $15.00 for the 12” x 12” pad and $12.00 for the 8” x 8” pad.

4. Embossed & Glittered Alphabet Stickers and Alphabet Basics: One can never have too many alphabets!  Our assortment includes fun font styles with letters that range from ½” to 2 ½” tall.  With 16 different styles to choose from creating titles, monograms and page accents is a breeze.  MSRP is $4.00 for the Embossed & Glittered Alphabet and $3.00 for the Alphabet Basics.

All of these new products will be unveiled at the Memory Trends Show in Las Vegas, October 10-12.  Please stop by the ATD booth (#1353) to review their entire product line.

Journal: A New Way to Experience a Scrapbooking Mystery

Who was Amy Zoe Mason? 
How did she die, and why?

"That's what we found ourselves asking when we 'discovered' her journal in the secretcompartment of an old desk that we bought at a thrift store," said Kristine Atkinson and Joyce Atkinson, sisters who share a passion for art, mystery, and intrigue. The artists joined forces to create their stunning debut novel, JOURNAL: The Short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason, (Simon & Schuster; September 2006; $23.00) which Publishers Weekly calls "tantalizing."

The result is an innovative, genre-bending work that the Atkinsons call a "Discovery Novel." In these pages, visual and verbal clues invite readers to do their own detecting into the shadowy fate of a young artist, wife, and mother. Leads are interspersed among images, text, and live weblinks, all pointing, with the suspense of a well-crafted mystery, toward potential solutions to Amy's fate. Unlike conventional mysteries in which the reader is a passive observer JOURNAL allows the reader to become an active participant by exploring and interacting with the pages to discover the mystery.

JOURNAL begins on January 1, with Amy's resolution to keep a journal. Rather than face a blank page, she chose a ready-made canvas for self-expression in the form of the 1860 novel, Lucile, by Owen Meredith. Onto the pages, Amy layered a pastiche of words and images, collage and found objects, that combine to offer a scrapbooked record of her life.

Amy hopes the creative exercise will help her deal with two stressful life events: her mother's sudden death, just two months before, and her family's impending move from Houston to Boston.  Her husband, Bob, is leaving in three days to start work as Director of the Wentworth Heart Institute, funded by the well-connected, widowed Julia Wentworth.  Amy is left with the job of selling their house and preparing for her future as a social asset to her husband.  Happily, she has the welcome distraction of two children, Susan and Alex, and her volunteer work with the elementary school art program.  Still, she misses Bob, who seems to miss her back-at least for a while.

Amy finds unexpected relief from her loneliness-and fast friendship-when she chooses Vanessa Garamond as a real estate agent.  Recommended by a colleague of Bob, Vanessa not only exceeds her professional reputation, but goes out of her way to make Amy feel special and less anxious about her future in Boston.  Before long, however, Vanessa's personal touches take a turn for the ominous.  Readers who peer between the lines, and behind and beyond them, will come to suspect that Vanessa has ulterior motives-aimed at Bob.  Does Bob harbor malicious intent of his own?  A telescope, a sudden illness, a prescription for sleeping pills, the gift of a spa massage, plus myriad clues and uncanny coincidences, will raise the haunting specter:  Was Amy driven to suicide - or was she murdered?

Using the love triangle featured in Lucile as the textual backdrop for JOURNAL, the Atkinsons allow some of that tragedy of a bygone era to peek through and add a chilling edge to Amy's story.  Of course, it's all very intriguing and pure fiction.  Or is it?            

About the Authors
Sisters KRISTINE ATKINSON and JOYCE ATKINSON are mild-mannered artists who have a mind for murder. They live two miles apart in a suburb of Houston, Texas.

technorati tags: journal, murder-mystery, novel, Joyce+Atkinson, Kristine+Atkinson, altered+journal