[creative] I would like to start off by welcoming Catherine and Kerry to CCAS!

[kerryscraps] Thank you - we are glad to be here!

[catherine] So glad to be here

[creative] This chat is a very exciting one as we all get to chat with Catherine on the mb, but in this forum we get to post direct questions to both Catherine and Kerry.

[creative] First of all, I would like to Congratulate Catherine on creating an amazing magazine that is a HUGE success!

[guest] Way to go Catherine such a unique idea…free!!!!

[guest] This edition is the first I’ve ever seen and it ROCKS! Congrats!

[catherine] thank you Jen, thank you to all of you for your continued support

[catherine] this is what makes it all worthwhile

[creative] Starting at the beginning, how long was the magazine in the planning stages?

[catherine] the magazine started over a late night conversation at the end of October and the first issue launched in March

[guest] wow - that seems fast!

[catherine] it was all my DH’s idea

[catherine] truly it was his brainchild and he just got me so excited that we ran with the idea the next day

[catherine] Jen was my first phonecall I think!

[creative] What was your main driving force in your decision to start SCT?

[catherine] We wanted to do something a little different

[catherine] I wanted to share both of my passions under one umbrella

[creative] Any experiences that have made you second guess your decision?

[catherine] yes, I second guessed all the way until the first issue and then some

[catherine] everyone has been truly so supportive in a way I never imagined

[creative] what are your passions?

[catherine] my passion was PAPER!!!!

[catherine] all kinds of paper….lol

[creative] What has been your highlight so far since beginning SCT? Any low points?

[catherine] I am also so lucky to have an incredible team with me … especially my wonderful editor!

[catherine] The highlights are the cards we receive in the mail where people just say “thanks”

[catherine] The low point came when I realized selling ads are not my strong point…..LOL

[catherine] the highlights are exactly this - spending time with people I have never met, but are my friends

[kerryscraps] and the emails…and meeting great people when we get into the stores…

[creative] What was the biggest hurdle you faced (if any) while trying to get the magazine off the ground?

[catherine] the biggest hurdle is getting people to take you seriously - they did not understand how something could be FREE

[catherine] ….I just told them…….we’ve got ISSUES…..LOL

[guest] free AND such great quality is what surprises most!

[catherine] thank you - that is exactly what we wanted!

[catherine] so many people’s artwork is so stunning that Kerry and I are amazed at the talent

[kerryscraps] we also get great ideas, suggestions and submissions from all of you!

[catherine] we love that people trust us to display their work in SCT

[guest] I have to admit I found the print in the last issue a might small though…any reason for that?

[catherine] good question - we did go a little smaller as some feedback we had was that people wanted to see more images

[catherine] We are still searching for a happy medium on this one

[guest] Could not the print have been a tad larger and the white spots,though giving the clean look…be a tad smaller?

[kerryscraps] thanks for your feedback, - we are always striving to improve

[creative] How do you choose your design team and how often do you make the switch? With so many talented scrapbookers there are, this must be extremely difficult.

[catherine] That is never an easy choice

[catherine] we have been fortunate to work with some great designers and we will change the DT again in Spring 2008

[catherine] It is always nice to showcase fresh work

[creative] Do you post DT calls, or how do you select the team?

[catherine] we did not post a DT call. Although we saw some incredible work, we also looked at those that could handle tight turnaround times and print deadlines

[creative] How many submissions do you receive on average for any particular call.

[catherine] we receive approx. 1,800 and choose around 25 - 30 NOT EASY!!!!!

[guest] wow

[guest] wowzers!

[kerryscraps] a fun, but difficult process, for sure!

[catherine] thank you even more was that over 350,000 copies of SCT were downloaded in 2006

[guest] Do you get many Canadian submissions?

[catherine] we certainly receive more US submissions

[creative] What are you looking for in your submissions?

[kerryscraps] we look for several things…clean design, strong photography, current product and good design principles…oh, and nice, big titles

[guest] what about for cards?

[catherine] again, for cards, clean design principles

[creative] What is the first thing that catches your eye when looking at a layout?

[catherine] the photography for sure

[catherine] we also love to see unique techniques to highlight

[creative] Do you ever see something on an online gallery or blog and approach someone to submit it for publications?

[catherine] we have done that especially if we are looking for something for an article - something specific

[catherine] sometimes we are sent a link to a gallery and we can open a discussion with a designer

[creative] How important is it to submit? Any other pointers?

[catherine] It is very important to submit, but not everything all the time

[catherine] I know people say to submit everything but that can be hard if it does not fit a current call

[creative] When will your summer call be posted?

[catherine] the summer call has ended but the Fall call should be ready on May 1 and will be sent out to our email recipients, put on Pubcalls blog and via word of mouth/message board…lol

[kerryscraps] our gallery is very seasonally inspired, so submissions that fit with the season are best and are more likely to get noticed

[creative] when is the summer issue due out?

[kerryscraps] the summer issue launches June 21st

[kerryscraps] the stores who carry SCT will also post the next call to get their customers and design team submitting

[catherine] we are SO EXCITED about the summer issue!

[guest] Loved the Spring issue!! Can’t wait for the summer issue!

[guest] What about the sketch challenge, do you get many submissions for that?

[kerryscraps] we are getting more and more sketch submissions with each issue, but continue to wish for more

[creative] Have you met any of the big names in the industry? Designers? Manufacturers? guest? Ali? Who was your favorite person that you’ve met?

[catherine] well, our very own Vicki Boutin of course!

[catherine] other big names…..Karen Foster, Becky Higgins, Martha Stewart (from a distance!!!) and lots of manufacturers

[catherine] Debbie & Ryan of Piggy Tales are great

[guest] scrappers are amazing people~

[creative] what were your thoughts on winter CHA?

[catherine] CHA winter was very exciting and very exciting for SCT

[catherine] it was nice to walk that very, very large floor and begin to feel surrounded by friends

[catherine] it was very busy and I find it hard to leave my family but California in January was kind of nice….lol

[creative] what do you think the current trends are, or future trends coming out of CHA

[catherine] I hear mushrooms are in!

[guest] Mushrooms are all over the Heidi Grace paper!!!

[guest] I’m still struggling with the birds

[guest] owls and birds too!

[kerryscraps] lots of flocking and other textures like velvet, felt and foam

[catherine] yes, and I have struggled with the owls too

[guest] remind me of 1970!

[catherine] Hambly overlays are beautiful

[guest] I love Hambly but find it hard to get in Canada

[kerryscraps] hibiscus flowers and other “tropical” flowers and vegetation as well

[creative] do you wish you could change any of the trends? is there anything you are seeing too much of?

[catherine] no, I think there is a wonderful mix of products for all levels

[catherine] like life itself, we have an ocean of options

[creative] Have you found the magazine industry very competitive?

[catherine] it probably is competitive but we are on such a different mission with SCT

[catherine] We have really just had an amazing experience with SCT

[creative] SCT lists “respect for the environment” as one of their core values - I’m wondering what that means. What do they do to uphold this value?

[catherine] we use paper that has recycled components as much as possible and inks that are better

[guest] that is quite interesting. You do not hear about recycled paper as much in scrapbooking as in anything else.

[guest] soy based inks?

[catherine] I can’t answer exactly what the ink is based…..a great question for my DH though….lol

[catherine] ok, just asked DH - we use vegetable based inks

[catherine] not petroleum

[guest] I’m a big environmentalist - so I like to ask questions about it!

[creative] We have a few questions for Catherine now … How long have you been a scrapbooker?

[catherine] after I had my son I started my daughter’s album

[catherine] I went to Michaels and went crazy

[catherine] problem is…….I used rubber cement

[catherine] on EVERYTHING

[catherine] Had I went to my local store or online retailer, that would never have happened

[catherine] this is one of the reasons my last editorial spoke to the education in the stores because her album is completely ruined

[creative] How do you find the time to scrap when you are trying to run a major magazine and your family as well?

[catherine] admittedly I don’t scrap as much as I used to nor do I design cards as much however, today I made two tags and felt great about that!!!!

[creative] Where did you go to school? What did you study?

[catherine] I actually was in real estate development with a large format retailer

[catherine] I took care of all of their excess property across Canada - I have a real estate law clerk background

[creative] Tell us about your family.

[catherine] I have two kids, Erica - 9 and Alex - 7. I have been with my DH for 22 years and this June will have been married 15

[catherine] they are great kids and he is a very supportive husband - right Jen….lol

[catherine] lets just say when I have doubted why I do this in the past, he reminds me to keep going!!!

[creative] Describe your scrap space.

[catherine] hmmmm……scrap space………

[guest] dining room table???

[catherine] just about everywhere in my house these days seems to be a “scrap space”. My offices look like a tornado someday and in between issues can be quite neat

[kerryscraps] perhaps that’s because there is no room to eat - lol!

[creative] and now a few questions for Kerry … What was your very first challenge as the Editor for SCT?

[kerryscraps] challenge…hmmm..that’s a tough one…

[catherine] nah, there were no challenges….lol

[kerryscraps] I don’t really feel that there have been that many - I guess just adjusting to working again - I had been home for 8 years!

[catherine] (shhh, she keeps me WAY organized)

[kerryscraps] and my DH travels during the week

[kerryscraps] seriously though, it is just an awesome opportunity and I feel fortunate to have it everyday

[creative] What is the best part of your job?

[kerryscraps] shopping for photo shoots!

[kerryscraps] love shopping…

[guest] Any thoughts on why there are not very many 2 page layouts submitted?

[catherine] not sure - could be the trend of “moment” scrapping

[creative] people have to remember that you can only publish layouts that are submitted and many of them are still single photo single page layouts even though everyone is asking for multi photo two page layouts

[catherine] lets take a quick poll here…….

[kerryscraps] we’d love to receive more doubles, for sure !

[catherine] who tends to scrap two page layouts with multi photos?

[guest] I do!!!:up:

[guest] most of my layouts are two pagers

[guest] I do single page layouts with 1-3 photos, but usually one photo

[guest] not me

[guest] I scrap a lot of single page layouts with multi photos

[guest] I tend to like do use several photos and journaling and still show off the pp so I find two pagers better.

[guest] I’m a single page - 1-5 pics

[guest] I would rather scrap single -pages

[catherine] so even here you see more a scrapping single pages

[creative] I think you have to have good design skills to be able to pull off 2 page layouts unless you are using a designers sketches

[guest] I do two pagers when I have alot of pics to show

[guest] LOL I never do 2 pagers

[guest] How do you place your 1 pagers together???

[guest] they are all in a pile!!!LOL!!!

[creative] I don’t match my pages left and right in an album, so I don’t worry about what pages go together as long as the theme is similar

[guest] That’s a good point though they still have to kinda go together don’t they

[catherine] Vicki, from a designer standpoint, what are the most important elements of a 2 page layout?

[guest] I used to scrap all 2 pagers…

[guest] then I became more focused on the photography…

[guest] and now do more one page layouts….

[guest] I find that when I do 2 pages, I am happy with the first page but sort of run out of mo-jo for the second, it never seems as good.

[guest] when I scrap 2 pagers I like to do 8 1/2 x 11

[guest] I prefer one-page layouts

[guest] for events…definitely 2 page layouts

[guest] I find that I am always more confident with my single page layouts - the doubles, not so much

[catherine] I think people will always debate the one and two page issue however it just comes down to your comfort zone

[guest] just do them both…

[guest] based on the topic and the photos you have

[guest] There is alot to be said about your comfort zone. But.. it’s nice to break out every now and then too.

[catherine] some photos are just so good, they stand alone I find

[creative] kerry … another one for you … Tell us more about your family.

[kerryscraps] I have two boys - Spencer is 8 and Graham is 5. My DH and I have been married for 9 years and together for 11, although we have known each other since I was 10! His sister is my best friend and I grew up in the house across the street from him.

[catherine] so lets ask everyone - what do you like about SCT? what would you like to see more of? what changes would you like to see?

[guest] more cards

[kerryscraps] we’re working on that, trust me!

[guest] Love how you photograph the the artwork and such!!!

[guest] I don’t want to be a suck up but.. I really love it as it is

[catherine] so sweet, thank you

[guest] What I like about the magazine is that it feels like I’m reading a book, not a mag.

[guest] I would love to see more than one “easy, detailed, expert”

[guest] easy detailed expert with cards

[guest] I’m curious what other galleries you peruse?

[catherine] actually fashion galleries too!

[guest] What do you like to do with your “free time”?

[catherine] I work from 8 am until 3 pm. I am a mom from 3 pm until 8 pm and then I work from 8 until midnight most nights

[catherine] lol….not alot of free time

[guest] Do you see many men scrapbooking?

[catherine] I love that more and more men are scrapping

[guest] my dh also scraps

[catherine] Kerry and I attended a crop night and this man and woman were doing their travel album together - his nick name was Die Cut Dan…lol

[guest] We have a few male scrappers in our area…one of them is an awesome paper piecer, too!

[catherine] my husband loves to use my QuicKutz

[guest] Here is a question for both of you since we are on the topic- either of your hubbies ever do a page or help in anyway with your layouts?

[catherine] I give him all my scraps and he cuts for hours!

[kerryscraps] My DH is the photographer in the family - he is a wiz with photoshop!

[guest] I wonder if more men contributing to the industry would result in even more groovy tool-oriented toys?

[guest] Question - where can I get SCT in the US?

[guest] Do you send to the US?

[catherine] I think we are about to get more of that as an article in a trade put is going to run about us

[catherine] our US friends can hang here at CCAS or purchase a subscription online

[catherine] the US distribution is one of the reasons it is online

[guest] yeah - it’s nice online, but better in print!

[creative] This chat has run overtime.  I would like to thank Catherine and Kerry for spending the evening chatting with us.  Best wishes as you move forward with Scrapbook & Cards Today.  We all look forward to the release of the Summer issue.