Scrapbook & Cards Today Blog

First day of spring...let's celebrate!

Hello friends!  It is the first day of spring so let's celebrate with a spring issue giveaway!!!

 

 

Just leave a comment below telling us how you are enjoying today and we'll pick a winner at midnight tonight EST!  Good luck!

 

It's here! The Winter issue is here!

We could not be more excited to share this beautiful issue with YOU!  It is ready for viewing on our website right here!  And because we want you to have the full experience if you don't have a paper copy of this issue, we have installed a new application on our website that allows you to view the issue with such amazing clarity you'll want to touch the screen!  It even downloads perfectly to any smartphone, ipad, playbook, tablet, etc! 

With more than 100 great tips, techniques and projects to celebrate the season our brand new winter issue is not to be missed!  Full of your favourite articles, including our 3 Designer Challenge, Easy Detailed Expert and Designer’s Notebook, we also show you how to “tie it up” with twine, some beautiful holiday gift ideas and cards for the season!  The best part, you can view it or download it for free!  But if you want to actually hold it in your hands you need to run to your local store that carries it today, or click here for a subscription - you just pay the shipping!

Or, you could win one!  That's right we have a copy to give away to a lucky reader.  But, do you know what else that lucky reader will win?  We have a wonderful box that is full of one of our favourite collections this season, Holiday Style from Bazzill Basic Paper! 

and this...

 and these sweet buttons too!

 

If you want to be the lucky reader to win this, just leave us a comment below by Thursday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m. EST and we'll choose one lucky reader to win it!   Good luck!

Join us for Day 2 of our December Countdown right HERE!  See a beautiful card from the talented Danielle Flanders and be sure to check back each day as we post a new project each morning! 

And one more surprise today...

Our annual "12 days of Holiday Giving...SCT style" starts right here next Friday, December 9th!  Fabulous prizes from our fabulous sponsors just for you!  And let me tell you, they are pretty incredible prizes.  The best EVER!  Mark your calendars because you will not want to miss this annual SCT tradition!

Is that enough fun for today?  Go grab yourself a warm cup of something (I've got a creme brulee latte!), get comfortable and enjoy our latest winter issue!  From the entire SCT team, thank you for being the best readers out there!

~ Catherine

Publisher, Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine

(ps...for all our friends in the Winnipeg area, don't forget that registration for Crop & Create opens on Monday at 7:00 p.m. right here!  It's going to go fast!)

 

 

 

Look what went to print today!!!

A very exciting day around the SCT office as look what went to print today...

  

our beautiful winter issue!!!  This issue will be in stores and online on Friday, December 2nd.  It is jam packed with the most incredible artwork and projects not only for the season but inspiration all year through.  Make sure to mark your calendars and if you need to renew your subscription OR if you would like to purchase a little "to me, from me, love me" gift for the holidays, then you can do that right HERE! 

But wait, there's more!  Look what also went off to the printer's today...

Woohoo!  It's a double the fun kind of day!  Yes friends our 2012 PageMaps Calendar will be ready to ship late next week.  If you would like to order it too, you can do that right HERE. 

Oh and would you like to hear a little secret?  We have something really fun planned on our website starting December 1 - 24!  24 days of December Inspiration!  And not so secret is our annual "12 Days of Holiday Giving...SCT style" which starts right here on December 9th.   Wait until you see the prizes - the best yet!  Because we love you  :)

You have just a few hours left to leave a comment on the incredible Studio Calico prize package offered here last Friday.  See you tomorrow!

~ Catherine

 

Presenting...our fall issue! (and a BIG giveaway!)

Each time an issue leaves the "nest" (aka the office!) we are always so excited to see how far it goes and how fast it goes too!  With readers now in over 100 countries, we could not be more excited to share with you our newest fall issue! 

 

If you are near a store that carries Scrapbook & Cards Today then pop into your store today because when they're gone, they're gone!  If you don't have a store nearby then you're in luck because you can download or view every issue online for FREE!  Just click here! And if you really need to feel it in your hands, you can also subscribe here.

Of course, since it's launch day, we've got something pretty special to giveaway from one of our favourite companies!  As some may know, Bazzill just hosted the last Creative Escape.  Sigh.  Creative Escape is a first class event, in a fabulous resort with some amazing teachers. Truly top notch.  Since we know many of you could not make it, we asked our friends at Bazzill if we could bring Creative Escape to you.  Not only did they say "YES", they said we could have one of EVERY kit to give away!  Imagine a kit from Ali Edwards, Vicki Boutin, Janet Hopkins, Karen Burniston and so many more not to mention all the extra goodies including the exclusive CE Idea Book.  The box is absolutely HUGE!  Here is just a small sampling of just a few of the classes...

 

 

 

 

...and so much more!  So if you would like to win this amazing box of goodies, just leave us a comment below before Thursday, October 6 at 6:00 p.m.  Easy right?  Good luck!  And, as a bonus, if you would like the opportunity to win a copy of the fall issue, pay a visit to the Bazzill site here!

Let's announce last week's winner of a beautiful Stampin' Up! prize package...

I would love to win an idea book and gift please!  Posted by: Canadiannancy5679 | September 18, 2011 at 05:46 PM

Congratulations Nancy!  Please send us your mailing address to ideas@scrapbookandcards.com and put "Stampin' Up! blog winner" in your reference line.

Have a wonderful weekend where we hope you can take a few minutes to enjoy our latest fall issue.  It was inspired by you and made just for you!

~ Catherine

Publisher, Scrapbook & Cards Today

 One week until Crop & Create!  There is still a few spaces...come join us!

 

A surprise giveaway...and a hint!

As we have sent the fall issue off to print, we thought today is a perfect day to unveil the new cover...

 

Don't you just love that fall feel?  Would you love to win one?  Just leave us a comment below for a chance to win one!  We'll pick a winner next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

This issue will hit stores and online on September 23rd.  So mark your calendars to rush to your local store to get one (if they don't have it, ask them to contact us ;) or to view it online.  There is truly so much inspiration in this issue you won't want to miss it!

And, what has 13 months and sketches all over it?  Come back tomorrow for another reveal! 

Presenting...our summer issue!

Good morning and thank you so much joining us today!  It has been an exciting few months putting together our summer issue and I'm sure you'll agree that it is filled with seasonal inspiration, brand new products, not to mention tips, tricks and techniques!  Our team of designers and contributors have truly outdone themselves.  We have so much to share today so go grab a cup of coffee, a tea or my personal favourite a latte and get comfortable!

First, here is our summer issue that you can view online OR you can download to your smartphone, iPad, Playbook, etc...for FREE!

 
Download HERE

And if you are looking for even more inspiration, did you know that we have added many project sheets to our website that you can download from some of your favourite manufacturers?  Just click right HERE.  (pssst...there is a giveaway in one of them!  Here's a clue ~ check out who our featured designer is HERE!)

 

The Colour Suite is a brand new monthly colour inspiration challenge by design team member Summer Fullerton starting July 15th on our website!  With Summer's extraordinary eye for colour, she will provide you with a beautiful colour palette and inspiration layout to get those creative juices flowing!  Be sure to join us for the debut of "The Colour Suite" on July 15th!

Of course, release day would not be complete without...a GIVEAWAY!  One of our top 10 most wanted items from this issue is the brand new Presto Punch from Spellbinders and our friends at Spellbinders have offered a Presto Punch and Font punch template for one lucky reader!  OH YES THEY HAVE! 

   

"Presto Punch™, the first automatic Punch and Embossing Machine!  Presto Punch offers the easiest, most convenient solution for paper punching. Its innovative design and one touch operation virtually eliminates the need for a multitude of bulky, space-consuming punches.  With Presto Punch, you can cut and emboss effortlessly and store more than 30 punch designs in the space of just one standard punch." 

The Presto Punch is brand new and just starting to ship so you will be one of the first of all your friends to have one!  And of course, we would be remiss if we didn't offer a one year subscription to our lucky winner as well!  Just leave a comment below telling us what you really liked in the summer issue before Thursday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m. EST for your chance to win this amazing prize.  Good luck!

We also want to share last week's winners who will automatically receive a copy of the summer issue!  Winners are Kim Holmes, Jackie Hyland, Theresa Miller, Heather Pitre and Melissa Mason.  Thank you to all who entered.  Our subscription manager will be in touch for your mailing information.

Now, either run to your local store that carries the summer issue or hit download above and enjoy what our designers have put together for YOU!  And if you would like it delivered to your door, we've got a special price on subscriptions JUST for the weekend!  Subscribe HERE!

A special thank you to the Scrapbook & Cards Today team for another job well done!  Have a great weekend!  Lisa Dickinson is joining us next week so don't miss it!

~ Catherine

Publisher, Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine
 

The Spring issue is here...let's get the party started!!

 

(download/view HERE)

Good morning everyone!  First, before we even get started, we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you for joining us today to celebrate our FIFTH birthday!  It seems like yesterday we launched our first issue in March, 2006 and just five years later, we are thrilled to present issue 21!  It is because of you and some amazing advertising sponsors that we have reached this milestone today.  This spring issue was so much fun to put together - from the beautiful cover by Christine Middlecamp to the fabulous reader's gallery, and everything in between!  A great issue to celebrate our birthday!

And, for those of you that know us, you know that not only do we LOVE rewarding our readers every Friday but we love a celebration (remember our annual "12 days of holiday giving"?)  Keep reading friends...it only gets better  ;)

One of the great parts of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine is that it's free.   Free in the stores and free to download anywhere in the world - 122 countries and counting!  When the magazine first launched many asked "why free?"  My answer was very simple - because I LOVE my local scrapbook store and I truly wanted to give them something special that they could share with their customers four times a year.  While I initially loved my local large craft store, I never felt better than when I stepped into my local store where they educated me, celebrated with me and enhanced my creativity (and caused me to learn to hide some receipts!)  While I know many do not have a local store near them, I can also say that I came to love an online store who had a message board that was a wonderful source of inspiration.  There are so many that share our passion for scrapbooking and card making, so thank you for sharing yours with us.

Over the years we have built a great team of editors, designers and staff who passionately love this craft and work extraordinarily hard (and sometimes on some pretty tight deadlines!) to bring you the latest and greatest in trends, techniques and design principles in a clean, well-design, approachable way.  I am blessed to have such an amazing team of talented people and by you being here today, you have shown us that we have done a great job.  A huge round of applause for the Scrapbook & Cards Today team!

So now for some fun on a Friday!  One of the companies that have supported us since the very beginning is doodlebug designs.  I don’t think I could ever get enough of their sugar coated cardstock or their new adorable buttons (and have you seen their brand new cards?  OH MY!).  Of course when they heard it was our birthday, our friends immediately offered us a fabulous birthday prize to give away!  Just look at this all this doodlebug prize!

 
But wait there’s more friends!  Are you wondering what is in the adorable bag our editor extraordinaire Becky Fleck created on page 7?  Well, over the past year we have worked hard to reach out to you not only with our magazine but also online through this blog, our website, our facebook page and twitter.  We designed our online magazine so that you can read it right from home but we would like to go a step further.  We would like to keep in touch so that you’re in touch with your very own .....“ipod touch”! 

 

That’s right, one lucky winner will receive an Apple ipod-touch so that you can keep up to date with us no matter where you are!!  (and btw...you will all need to have the Bazzill App!) To win the ipod touch and the doodlebug giveaway, just leave a comment below telling us what you enjoyed most about our spring issue!  Easy!  Leave your comment before 6:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 31st and we will randomly choose a winner that will be announced on Friday, April 1st.

We hope you enjoy our spring issue (download/view HERE!) and once again we want to thank you for being such AMAZING supporters of Scrapbook & Cards Today.  Join us on Monday for a very fun blog hop with our design team celebrating the launch of our brand new CardMaps Today special issue, on Tuesday with a great tutorial from Becky and some surprise announcements on Wednesday and Thursday.  And did we mention that we will have a prize giveaway every day next week?  Make sure you join us every day!

~ Catherine

Publisher, Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine
 

One more sleep!

 

Hello friends!  You are remembering what tomorrow is right?  That you are joining us right here for a big kick off of the spring issue and to celebrate our fifth birthday right?  Great...thought so!  We are very, very, VERY excited for tomorrow!  (can you tell?!)  And when you see what is here tomorrow...you will be too!  (practice singing Happy Birthday ok?!)  I could not be prouder of what the SCT team has put together for you in not one, but two issues! 

See you in the morning!

~ Catherine

(you have another couple of hours to leave a comment for the Pebbles prize package on THIS post!)

Our surprise revealed and a giveaway too!

Did we peak your curiosity on Friday when we mentioned a surprise announcement?  Well, it is time to reveal what Becky and 16 fabulous designers have been working very hard on...

 

 

a peek at the inside...

 

and a little more about CardMaps Today...

"PageMaps and Scrapbook & Cards Today have teamed up once again to bring you “CardMaps Today.” This brand new, limited edition, special issue includes 50 never-before-seen CardMap sketches from Becky Fleck and 80 beautifully designed cards from 16 fabulous designers, including Kelly Goree, Vicki Boutin, Marla Kress, Kimber McGray, Melissa Phillips, Roree Rumph and many more.  Full of techniques and the latest trends in paper crafting, this 84 page, full colour magazine comes with complete instructions for each and every card! 

CardMaps Today will be available in many of our distributing stores starting on March 25th or is available for pre-order here.  Hurry now to reserve your copy for only $9.95 - they won't last long!  And why not order one for a friend, too – a perfect gift for that friend who understands when you call your paper by colour names (Hillary, Pomegranate or Thunder)!    CardMaps Today will start shipping on March 21st!"

For anyone who knows me, you know I am the worst at keeping secrets and we have been keeping this  secret for 6 nearly months.  We are all so happy to finally share it with you and have it available for preorder.  It truly is beautiful with the best cards we have ever seen.  Our designers worked especially hard to give you their absolute best based on Becky's amazing CardMaps.

And now for the giveaway!  Would you like to win one of the first copies of CardMaps Today?  Then leave us a comment below and we will choose a winner on Friday!

Was that a good start to a Monday?  Thank you so much for joining us this morning to celebrate this special issue.  Join us tomorrow for a fabulous project from Aly Dosdall and also our March Project 12 sketch release!  Make sure you have a big cup of coffee or in my case a large mug of tea...you might be with us awhile!

~Catherine 

Publisher, Scrapbook & Cards Today...and CardMaps Today too!

The winter issue has arrived...and so much more to tell you!

 

 
I know we have been leading up to this all week but finally it's here!  Becky and I could not be prouder of our team and all the contributors to it.  From beautiful winter-inspired layouts and festive cards to home decor projects that are perfect for the holidays.  Be sure to check out Summer Fullerton's article on die cuts and Kathy Thompson's tips for indoor/outdoor photography.  We also have brand new PageMaps sketches and, speaking of PageMaps, we have an exciting announcement at the end of today's post!!  So run to your local scrapbook store while the winter issue is in stock or go to our website at www.scrapbookandcards.com where you can either view it online or download it right to your computer. There is no doubt this is one of our most favourite issues EVER!   

 

We are also so proud to officially release the inaugural limited edition 2011 SCT/PageMaps Sketch Calendar!  You can purchase this great inspirational resource in many of our distributing stores or we have about 80 copies left that you can purchase from our website.  This calendar includes 26 brand new, never seen PageMaps sketches and 13 months of inspiration from some of the best designers out there!  This is also a perfect gift for a scrappy friend or to put in your own stocking.  One of those to me, from me, love me presents!!

OK, its giveaway time!  Of course we could not release an issue without giving away some subscriptions so three subscriptions are up for grabs and because we are in the giving season...we will also add a calendar to each of those subscriptions!  Just leave a comment below and we'll choose three winners next Thursday at 6:00 p.m. EST.

 

But wait, there's more!  Our wonderful friends at Maya Road have offered some fabulous goodies from their brand new winter release to celebrate our winter release!  We've got chipboard, mists, stick pins along with some of the most beautiful ribbons and flowers out there.  OH MY!  You can check out all the Maya Road goodness here.  We will choose one lucky winner next Thursday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m. EST  Good luck everyone!

Do you think the giving stops there?  Of course not!  We are so pleased to announce our "12 days of holiday giving...SCT style" and do you know what Day One is?  Hmmm...should I tell you?   You all know me too well and know I am terrible at keeping secrets.  Since this LARGE box has been staring me in the face in my office for weeks now, I just have to tell you.  Day One is a Sizzix Eclipse!  Be sure to join us next Friday, December 10th when all the fun starts!  Wait until you see what we have in store for you fabulous blog readers!

Ok, remember way back in the beginning of this post I mentioned PageMaps?  Well SCT and PageMaps are collaborating once again to bring you a CardMaps special issue!!!  With over 100 card ideas and sketches, look for it on store shelves at the end of March 2011!    More details will follow including preorders starting February 14th.

Well, have we all had enough excitement for one day?  Go grab a latte (I've got a tall non-fat, gingerbread one beside me right now) and head out to your local store or to our website to get our beautiful winter issue!

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

~ Catherine