Layout Blueprints

March/April Featured Artist Contest

2010-03-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

What's your style? In our book "Scrapbooking: Styles Defined" we discuss different styles of scrapbooking, from the simple lines of the Graphic style to the freehand artistry of the Freestyle.

Here are the rules of the March/April Featured Artist contest:

Submit your best un-published layout that you feel expresses your personal scrapping style. Layouts may be any theme, any page size, and either one or two page. Please specify "March/April Call" in your email subject line. Submit your ONE layout by April 15, 2010 to bluemediasubs@gmail.com. Please note this email is ONLY for submittals, not for general questions, information, customer service, orders, or wholesale.

The BlueMedia editorial staff will choose an artist from the submittals to be our Featured Artist. The Featured Artist will be contacted and asked a few brief questions about themselves, and have their artwork and a brief blurb featured on our blog for the following month. They will also receive a special surprise gift package of great product from our ever-supportive wholesalers.

February Featured Artist: Rachel Houghton

2010-03-06T15:11:00.001-08:00

This month's Featured Artist is Rachel Houghton for her use of the February Blueprint in this lovely digital layout "Fuqua Orchid Center". We loved the bright colors, strong contrast, and beautiful photos.

"I took the pictures featured in this layout in May 2009 while I was in Atlanta, Georgia for a conference. I arrived early in Atlanta, so a friend and I went to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden. One of the featured attractions was the Fuqua Orchid Center, and I was hard pressed not to take a photograph of everything in the greenhouse.

Because I'm not normally a scrapbooker who works with bright colors, it took a while before I found the right kit to work with the gorgeously bright colors found in the flowers. When Songbird Avenue came out with their February 2010 kit, "Port Au Prince," to raise money for Haiti, I was inspired by both the February sketch and the kit to create this layout."

~Rachel Houghton aka rh_scrapbooker

We want to thank all the people who submitted to our call in February.

February Blueprint Contest!

2010-01-29T06:50:00.000-08:00

Are you obsessed with sketches? Love the Blueprints series? For all you sketch-crazed scrappers out there, this will be a fun one. This is a brand new Blueprint from Amy Elkins!

What can you do to make this Blueprint your own? We'd love to see!

Here are the rules of the February Featured Artist contest:

Submit your best un-published layout using THIS MONTHS new Layout Blueprint. Layouts may be any theme, any page size, and either one or two page. Please specify "February Blueprint" in your email subject line. Submit them by February 28, 2010 to bluemediasubs@gmail.com. Please note this email is ONLY for submittals, not for general questions, information, customer service, orders, or wholesale.

The BlueMedia editorial staff will choose an artist from the submittals to be our Featured Artist. The Featured Artist will be contacted and asked a few brief questions about themselves, and have their artwork and a brief About Me article featured on our blog for the following month. They will also receive a special surprise gift package of great product from our ever-supportive wholesalers.

Money Saving Tips from our star author

2010-01-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

Looking for places to save money on your scrapbooking addiction? Amy Elkins has a new article about saving money through organization. Check it out at her blog.

Special Wholesale Pricing!

2010-01-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

January/February 2010 Wholesale Specials
Great new deals for our wholesalers!

Order 12 or more books get 5% off your order!

Order 18 or more books get free shipping on your order!*

Order 24 or more books get 10% off your order!

*International orders will receive 9% off their order. Actual shipping applies.
Contact BlueMedia for your order forms today! If you already have an account, simply email, fax, or call with your order quantities and we will fill your order.

To set up a wholesale account:
Contact us at ws@layoutblueprints.com
We will need a copy of your current business license, and a completed order form.

A New Series of Blueprints!

2010-01-21T11:47:00.000-08:00

Watch future issues of Scrap n' Art Magazine for brand new Blueprints by Amy Elkins! The feature will run in every issue, 6 times a year, beginning this May/June issue.

Visit this high-quality publication for ideas, inspiration, and tips at www.scrapnart.com

Keep watching for updates!

Jan 2010 CONTEST! Featured Artist

2010-01-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

With the New Year comes a new series of contests! BlueMedia is happy to announce a new Featured Artist contest. Submit your layouts for review, and win a guest spot as a Featured Artist on our blog!

RULES:
Submit your best THREE un-published layouts using any of the Layout Blueprints from book one or two. Layouts may be any theme, any size, and either one or two page. Please specify the Blueprint book and page used as reference. Submit them by January 31, 2010 to bluemediasubs@gmail.com. Please note this email is ONLY for submittals, not for general questions, information, customer service, orders, or wholesale.

The BlueMedia editorial staff will choose an artist from the submittals to be our Featured Artist. The Featured Artist will be contacted and asked a few brief questions about themselves, and have their artwork and a brief About Me article featured on our blog for the following month.

UPDATE: Sept 2008

2008-09-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

BlueMedia suffered a devastating warehouse fire in July 2008. Much of our inventory was destroyed, along with our in-house computer network which included our order system, and phone records. With a short staff working clean-up efforts of our warehouse, phone systems, and order systems, recovery has been rocky, but the good news is, we are back on track with all our staff back from summer LOAs and vacations.

Orders are shipping as normal again. Delays, if any, are minimal. Wholesale orders can be expected to ship within 2 weeks of receipt (if all required information is included), and retail orders can be expected to ship within one week of receipt depending upon order volumes.

On another good note, artist copies of "Layout Blueprints 2" have all shipped finally. We know it has been a long wait, and we thank you all for being so patient. Without your efforts, and understanding, we would not have made it.

Please watch for more updates in the near future. Our website, blog, and message boards will be more active now that we've recovered from our losses, and have more staff to maintain them.

Layout Blueprints 2 NOW SHIPPING!

2008-04-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

Layout Blueprints 2 has arrived in our warehouse!

We are now shipping Layout Blueprints 2. If you placed a pre-order, be assured that pre-orders have begun shipping and you will soon see your copy.

If you haven't placed your order yet, you'd better get it in. This is a limited print run. Hurry and get your order in today! Don't miss your opportunity!

ORDER NOW!

Just an update

2008-04-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Just a line to let you know that Blueprints 2 is printing as we speak! Shipping should begin on schedule, and books should be in stores (if they've pre-ordered, and dependent on US Mail of course) by National Scrapbook Day! So keep your eyes open!

Layout Blueprints 2: PRE-ORDERS!

2008-03-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Well it's finally time!

Layout Blueprints 2 has been shipped to the printers! Hooray! Which means pre-orders will start NOW! Another Hooray!

This has been a long and arduous process, but we just know that you'll be very pleased with the new book and all the fabulous ideas you'll find in it. More Blueprint designs than the first. More sample layouts for each Blueprint. Complete Blueprint index. Layouts indexed by theme. And a fabulous new feature called "Getting More From Your Blueprints", which gives you tons of ideas on how to use each Blueprint in new and exciting ways making the book an even better value. We're sure you'll love it.

Hurry and get your Pre-Order in today! The pre-order pricing ends April 26th! Don't miss out!

Get the Pre-Order pricing deal here:
BlueMedia Store

Layout Blueprints 2: FEB 08 UPDATE

2008-02-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

Great news! Wholesale accounts may now PRE-ORDER "Layout Blueprints 2"! It's finally time to get those orders in, so let your Local Scrap Store know that you want to see the book on their shelves, and not to miss out on the first print run. Get a discounted wholesale rate for being early!

And not to worry. Retail pre-sale will be available soon, too. Stay tuned!

Layout Blueprints 2: JAN 08 UPDATE

2008-01-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

We know you are all anticipating the release of Layout Blueprints 2. We want to thank you for your continued patience in the long publication process. We wanted to quell some of the rumors floating around about the status of the book and its publication. We had hoped to publish before Christmas 07, however, things have not gone the way we had hoped, which has pushed back the publication date....

READ MORE...

Layout Blueprints 2: UPDATE

2007-09-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

We know many of you are anticipating the arrival of our next book "Layout Blueprints 2". We had scheduled a release date for this fall, however, the powers-that-be have pushed back the dates yet again. We are not releasing any dates, but we are sad to say it will not likely be before Christmas.

Please ask any questions on our message board where others can benefit from the answers as well.

Thank you.

Southern Oregon Scrapbook Expo

2007-08-07T08:07:00.001-07:00

October 13-14, 2007 9-5pm

FREE Admission!

BlueMedia is sponsoring the Southern Oregon Scrapbook Expo this October. Amy Elkins, author of "Layout Blueprints" and the soon-to-be-published "Layout Blueprints 2", will be there to meet and greet, sign books, and take photos.

Be sure to get in on their "Jammie Crop" for a fun evening with Amy and some great prizes and challenges. They even provide a catered dinner! Only 40 spots for this fun, exclusive crop, so get yours today!

The Expo will have everything a scrapbooker would expect: make n' takes, product demos, shopping, door prizes, contests, shopping, charity raffle, crops, shopping, goodie bags, celebrity sightings, and shopping!

Come join us, and the long list of fabulous vendors and manufacturers!

Details are at their blog: SOExpo

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 10

2007-06-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Can you take it?

We really want to know. Occasionally we see a layout that we like, with the exception of one element that needs to be changed to make it flow better. Do you want to know? Would you rather be published having made the change? Or would you rather not change a layout you've already created?

Often times it's something simple, like changing one mat color, mounting a photo, adding journaling, or outlining a title. We've begun asking for the small changes when it's a layout that doesn't need much, and it's easily communicated to the artist.

A few things we can mention that seem pretty common, that can really throw off a layout are:

- Titles. This one is huge. It's a really important part of a layout, and if the title doesn't jive with the rest of the layout, it can throw the whole thing off. And often times, it's hard to comminicate that to someone to have the layout changed. Title should be creative, not overwhelm the layout, and make sense with the theme and photos.

- Journaling. Again, an integral part of the story. A photo can occasionally stand on its own, but more often than not some journaling is required. Just remember that your audience (the editor reviewing your LO, and potentially the readers of the publication) don't know anything about the photo, the subject, or why it was taken. Interesting journaling will often be favored when deciding between two layouts of equal caliber.

- Photos. Choosing photos can be difficult in this age of digital, because we are able to take so many. But more is not always better. Choose photos that are in focus, clear, well-lit, and clearly show your subject or tell your story to be your focal photos. The other photos in the layout should add to, not detract from, the focal photo(s).

These are the main issues than can keep a great layout out of the final cut.

For more tips on these design issues and how to fix them, refer to our Design School post series on our message board.

A Publisher's Perspective: Compiled Article Links

2007-06-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

Links to help you find our great article series "A Publisher's Perspective". These articles offer tips to help you get noticed, get published, and get your layouts to the publisher.

Scanning your Final Submittals (if your LO is requested for publication)
Week 9

Week 6

Final Submittal Tips (if your LO is requested for publication)
Week 8

Week 4

Basic Layout Design Tips
Week 7

Submittals That Get Noticed
Week 5

Week 2

A Look at the Process
Week 3

Supply List Organization
Week 1

Learn Good Design Principles

2007-05-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

With Amy Elkins and other guest "teachers" in our new Design Principles 101 class series. It's a class designed specifically for those scrapbookers wishing to step up their design and start getting published, or getting published more. We will explore the basic principles of design, and see how they apply to scrapbooking, as well as specific scrapbook design principles.

Learn to make your layouts really pop and see how the pros get noticed from a crowd of other layouts.

The best part is, it's all FREE!

Sit in on a class in our new "Design School" forum here: Design School

*Design School posts are copyright BlueMedia and may not be copied or reproduced in any way.

BONUS Blueprint Call!

2007-05-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

I just had to crank out a couple more. So, you've got one more week to get these two done and in! Good luck! Same rules and guidelines apply to these as to the last batch.

These are due at bluemediasubs@gmail.com by 11:59pm PST May 30th.

Blueprint 58

Blueprint 59

Books for Artists

2007-05-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Just a note, because we've been hearing from many of the contributing artists. In the contracts each contributing artist signed it states that your copy of the book will be sent within 60 days of print.

Please understand that the folks buying the book have to come first. We will ship your copies, and layouts if you sent them in, well within that given timeframe. We only just received books on May 2nd. Please be patient.

Thank you.

LAST CALL for Blueprints 2! Due 5-31

2007-05-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

"Layout Blueprints 2":
This call is for our upcoming idea book "Layout Blueprints 2", the sequel to the highly successful "Layout Blueprints". Use the Blueprints shown below to create layouts, and email them to us for consideration. We accept paper and digital pages and international entries. Please include a supply list with your entry, and a copy of your journaling if it cannot be read in the picture. Entries for Blueprints must be in by their respective deadlines to be considered. Please make sure the files are no larger than 200Kb each so that they will be considered for publication. Please mark your email subject with the Blueprint number so that we'll know how to sort it.

If you'd like some tips directly from BlueMedia on submitting great layouts, search for the "Publisher's Perspective" article series on the Layout Blueprints BLOG.

E-Mail your entries to : bluemediasubs@gmail.com

This is the final call for Blueprints! These are all due by 11:59PM PST, May 31st. Be sure to have your UNSEEN layouts in to BlueMedia by then!. Please ask any questions on our message board so that everyone can benefit from them. Thank you!

DOWNLOAD BLUEPRINTS AS PDF Deadline MAY 31

Shipping and Delivery to Blue

2007-05-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Recently the city of Washougal (where we are located) saw fit to make some street name changes. This has caused some confusion among delivery drivers and we are experiencing some issues receiving packages. There is more than one street named "T" now, and drivers are showing up at the wrong one with packages for us. You may get a package returned for "bad address" or "non-deliverable". Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about it.

Here are some tips to help you get your packages to us without delays or delivery issues.

Use either USPS or UPS - these services seem to still be reliable. Though USPS is the best at this time.

Make sure you have the address correct on any packages or correspondence.

Print CLEARLY or TYPE your labels.

Include our phone number for delivery drivers (if possible).

We will conduct an audit for layouts requested for the new Layout Blueprints 2 book, and if we have not received your layout, we will contact you. Meanwhile, if you have troubles with delivery, or a package is returned to you, please double check the address and use one of the services above (preferably USPS).

New Blueprints Call! It's a Quick One!

2007-04-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

This call is for our upcoming idea book "Layout Blueprints 2", the sequel to the highly successful "Layout Blueprints". Use the Blueprints shown below to create layouts, and email them to us for consideration. We accept paper and digital pages and international entries. Please include a complete supply list with your entry, and a copy of your journaling if it cannot be read in the picture. Entries for Blueprints must be in by their respective deadlines to be considered. Please make sure the files are no larger than 200Kb each so that they will be considered for publication. Please mark your email subject with the Blueprint number so that we'll know how to sort it.

If you'd like some tips directly from BlueMedia on submitting great layouts, check the FAQ section for links to the "Publisher's Perspective" article series on the Layout Blueprints blog at layoutblueprints.blogspot.com.

E-Mail your entries to : bluemediasubs@gmail.com

These Blueprints are Due April 30 by 11:59pm PST. Be sure to have your UNSEEN layouts in to BlueMedia by then!. Please ask any questions on our message board so that everyone can benefit from them. Thank you!

Backordered!

2007-03-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Layout Blueprints is currently on backorder. We will ship orders when our shipment of books arrives. We'll keep you posted.

CALL: 20 New Blueprints Due 4-30

2007-03-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

This call is for our upcoming idea book "Layout Blueprints 2", the sequel to the highly successful "Layout Blueprints". Use the Blueprints shown below to create layouts, and email them to us for consideration. We accept paper and digital pages and international entries. Please include a complete supply list with your entry, and a copy of your journaling if it cannot be read in the picture. Entries for Blueprints must be in by their respective deadlines to be considered. Please make sure the files are no larger than 200Kb each so that they will be considered for publication. Please mark your email subject with the Blueprint number so that we'll know how to sort it.

If you'd like some tips directly from BlueMedia on submitting great layouts, check the FAQ section for links to the "Publisher's Perspective" article series on the Layout Blueprints blog at layoutblueprints.blogspot.com.

E-Mail your entries to : bluemediasubs@gmail.com

Deadline for these Blueprints is April 30th. Be sure to have your UNSEEN layouts in to BlueMedia by then!. Please ask any questions on our MESSAGE BOARD so that everyone can benefit from them. Thank you!

Download Blueprints

You will need to download them. There are too many to post here. Thanks!

January Blueprint Calls Done, and HM winners

2007-02-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

Wow. Again this was SOOO difficult. Everyone is making this so hard on us! This month we'd like to recognize some exceptional layouts that we were not able to include. Consider these our "Honorable Mention" layouts:

We loved these layouts for Blueprint 6:
Lori Watson "Love"
Audrey Pettit "Serpentine Slides"
Rachael Giallongo "Springtime in New Hampshire"
Stacey Hackett "Cheap Thrills"
Justine Hasty "Paws Up!"
Shannon Blinn "At The Zoo"

We loved these layouts for Blueprint 7:
Jana Eubank "Traditions"
Theresa Tyree "First Snowman"
Shannon Blinn "Jenny"
Amy Shupe "COSI"
Julie Ann Shahin "5 Years Old"
Charity Hassel "Beautiful Girl"

Thank you all for your hard work, and for sharing it with us. We're consistently overwhelmed by the entries and the amazing talent you all have.

Don't forget, we still have plenty of Blueprints calls out! Check the BlueMedia website HERE for more info.

BlueMedia's Digital Design Team Search

2007-01-18T13:43:00.001-08:00

BlueMedia, manufacturer of scrapbooking idea books (*ahem* like Layout Blueprints), is launching a new website and community for digital and digital-fusion scrapbookers! We are searching for digital designers with professional attitudes and creative perspectives. We are seeking the ultimate designers who are not only creative and talented, but professional and positive. We would like to start with a small team of designers for a trial period of 6 months, at which time the design team contracts will be reviewed. We are interested in all scrapping and design styles. Flexibility is key at this stage.

What we expect from our designers:

- 6 month exclusive commitment
- 2 complete kits per month AND
- 2 accessory packs OR sampler packs OR pre-made pages OR other item per month
- Participate in our online community
- Post projects to our gallery using the kits/accessories you've designed
- A positive, professional attitude. A "best face forward" when communicating within the scrapping industry.
- Occasional assignments and requests for projects for BlueMedia idea books (additional compensation)

What you can expect from us:

- $25 per month for first 6 month trial period (at which time contracts can be re-negotiated and/or renewed)
- Any digital kits/accessories added to the site during your time on the team FREE
- Any idea books produced by BlueMedia during your time on the team (Plus "Layout Blueprints")
- Opportunity to provide input on upcoming publications/products
- You will be treated with the professional courtesy fitting of your position

To apply email bluemediasubs@gmail.com by 11:59pm PST February 9, 2007 with the following:

Submit in one email:
- Your name, address, phone, and email
- A link to any online galleries, resume, blog, etc. where we can see additional work
- A short paragraph about yourself and why you'd like to work with BlueMedia
- 3 layouts using your best original digital designs (we are more interested in your digital work than the layout design, so choose layouts that reflect your best digital products)
- Submit 1 full kit* of your choice (preferrably a link to your download, or a zipped file to save space)
- Please disclose if you are currently on any other digital design teams where you produce digital products for their use, or produce items for sale for any site or company.

If you have any questions, please contact info@layoutblueprints.com or bluemediasubs@gmail.com or visit our message board to see the FAQ section and ask questions www.bluemediapublications.com

*Kits will NOT become property of BlueMedia when submitted. All rights remain with the artist until contract terms are agreed apon.

Thank you,

Nancy - Marketing Coordinator
BlueMedia Publications
www.bluemediapublications.com

Visit our NEW MESSAGE BOARD!
http://xsorbit32.com/users5/bluemediaforums/index.php

New Calls for Blueprints!

2007-01-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

Details and answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at the BlueMedia Forums

It's time again for a new Blueprint! YAY! This month, you get TWO! Double YAY! Watch for more later this month as well.

Please note that ALL themes and subjects will be accepted.

Use the Blueprint to create a one or two page layout, then send your pages to BlueMedia for our next Layout Blueprints book! Missed the first one? You can get it here: Layout Blueprints

For your convenience, there are both 12x12 and 8x11 versions of each of the Blueprints. Enjoy!

Mail your entries to :

bluemediasubs@gmail.com

Please make sure the files are no larger than 100Kb each so that they will be considered for publication. And mark your subject with "January Blueprint Challenge" so that we'll know to open it right away. If you'd like some tips directly from BlueMedia on submitting great layouts, check the "Publisher's Perspective" series on their blog at http://layoutblueprints.blogspot.com.

This call/challenge ends January 31st. Be sure to have your UNSEEN layouts in to BlueMedia by then!

Good luck!

BlueMedia Launches New Website!

2006-11-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

BlueMedia has launched a new website, with all the information you want in one spot!

See the cover of the NEW Scrapbooking: Styles Defined book!

Join Blue in the Forums and chat, share, ask questions, and enjoy contests and calls!

Check it out! BlueMedia Site

New Blueprint Call!

2006-11-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

All the details are at Amy Elkins' blog. TWO new Blueprints due by the end of the month! Don't miss out!

Amy's Blog

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 9

2006-10-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

This week, some thoughts on Scanning a Final Submittal

As a convenience to our contributing artists, we offer scanning as an alternative option to get your final submittal to us for publication. We say alternative because it is the less desirable form of submittal. We offer it because it makes things easier for both parties, in general. It offers a way for the artist to submit their final work without worrying about sending their page in through the mail, and all of the many things that could happen to it along the way.

However, scanning a final submittal is a priviledge. We have certain requirements that absolutely must be met - without exception - in order to be published. In choosing the scanning option, you must be very confident with your scanning and stitching abilities. You must also be very prompt. In the case that your scans are not acceptable, you want to allow yourself time to get another scan in, or mail your layout before the deadline. We operate under strict deadlines, and therefore, so do you when working with us.

To help you understand why our requirements are what they are, we've outlined each requirement below, along with the reasons behind it.

1. Scans must be a minimum of 300 dpi. REASON: 300 dpi is the minimum dots per inch at which any color printed book of this quality can be printed and still maintain a clear picture. Anything less than 300dpi will appear fuzzy.

2. Reduce scans to 900x900 pixels. REASON: To conserve space and download time. We will reduce everything smaller than that anyway. 900x900 at 300dpi is 3-inches by 3-inches, and plenty large enough for publishing. Save your disk space and upload time and reduce your file sizes.

3. Must be in our office by DATE, 200X. REASON: We have strict deadlines to work with in order to get the books into production and on the shelves. If we have stragglers that do not meet the deadlines, the entire book's production is held up. We don't tolerate late submittals when a clear deadline is posted and publication (and therefore the deadline) has been comitted to by the artist. Even when we start making calls for layouts we start hearing, "When will the book be out?" We want it out just as badly as you do, but we rely on several people to be able to do that.

Here are some tips to help you get through the scanning process for your final submittal:

1. Follow the tips in this article for scanning basics: A Publisher's Perspective: Week 2

2. Check your photo editing/stitching program to make sure your save settings are saving at the proper dpi. Often that is the problem when layouts are scanned correctly, but arrive to us at 72, 76, 92 dpi. Adjust your settings before you save.

3. Before you send the file, check the file size. If it's under 1MB, your dpi is probably incorrect. Most files, if saved properly, will be over 1MB. If it's in the 300Kb - 800Kb range, you need to check it.

4. The original scan absolutely must be no less than 300dpi. If you SCAN at 150dpi, but SAVE at 300dpi later, the image will still be pixelated and fuzzy and will not be acceptable for publishing. Check your scan settings before you scan each time then you will be sure your files are correctly scanned.

Thank you for taking the time to read our articles. Please pass this on to anyone who may benefit from these submittal articles.

New Message Board!

2006-10-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

YAY! BlueMedia has started a message board for discussion about calls, contests, idea books, and upcomging events all in ONE PLACE! Hooray! Here is the link:

BlueMedia Forum

NEW STYLE BOOK: Calls are done

2006-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Calls for our next idea book, "Scrapbook Styles: Defined", are finished.

Those of you who got the call, please read the below Publisher's Perspective article for information on how to send your final layout submissions for publication. The other articles in the same series will also be beneficial.

A Publisher's Perspective Week 4

Also, there are still calls out! Check Amy's Blog for the current Blueprint call for our next Blueprints book.

NEW Blueprint Challenge and Call

2006-09-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

Check out the author's blog here: Amy Elkins' Blog for details about a new Blueprint challenge and a call for submittals for, that right, LAYOUT BLUEPRINTS II!

RULES AND CLARIFICATIONS:

Submittals must be in by Oct. 1, 2006. File sizes must be no larger than 100Kb per file. Please include "Blueprint Challenge: Sept" in your subject line so that we know what it is and can send it to the right place. Submit layouts using the Blueprint to: bluemediasubs@gmail.com

Please send us layouts using the Blueprint that has NOT BEEN POSTED in any online galleries. Remember this is for an upcoming idea book, and we want FRESH ideas. Thanks all!

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 8

2006-09-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Some more submittal tips.

In receiving thousands of submittals, you can imagine the frustration when hundreds of them come in with missing information, incorrect information/attachments, and scans/photos too large or poor quality to view. Which is the entire purpose of this weekly article. To help you send better quality submissions that will help you get recognized instead of overlooked in frustration.

First and foremost, when you send in a scanned image, make sure that it meets the requirements as well as flatters your page or project. Try these helpful tips to get better results:

Try pressing lightly on the lid of the scanner as it scans so that you get an even scan without shadows or distortion. That will also make it easier to stitch later.

After you've scanned and stitched, be sure to check for color quality. Simple brightness and contrast adjustments can make a big difference in the finished look of your scan, and the accuracy of your colors.

Size your saved scan appropriately. It's VERY important to meet the publisher's guidelines on size requirements. If they say "no larger than 100Kb" make sure you send files that meet that requirement. Scale your layout down. A good reference that will get you to that 100Kb range is 150dpi and about 500x500 pixels. If a file is too large to even fit on the screen, the publisher will not take the time to resize your file for you so that they can view it properly. It's not flattering to your layout to have to scan through it at larger-than-life scale on a computer screen where you cannot even view the whole layout at once.

Submitting your work for review is your one opportunity to be viewed by a publisher. Think of it as an interview, but instead of meeting you personally, they have to meet your work first. So put your best foot forward, and submit quality scans or photos to get yourself noticed. If you present yourself and your work well, you are more likely to be "hired" or published.

HOW TO ORDER

2006-09-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Seems we get this question about 10 times a day. So, we made the links on the website a bit more obvious, and will also post it here. To order - either wholesale or retail - just email us! We'll take it from there.

Email to: orders@layoutblueprints.com and let us know if you want retail or wholesale information, and how many you are interested in. It's that easy.

Thank you all for your interest!

A Perfect Score! We're Starry Eyed!

2006-09-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

You may have seen it already, but Scrapbook Answers magazine has reviewed Layout Blueprints, and they LOVE it! They gave it 4 out of 4 stars! Check it out in their October issue, in stores now. Or read it at our website: Layout Blueprints Reviews

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 7

2006-09-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

Just some quick design tips

We've been so terribly busy with orders, and all of the press we've gotten recently, that we haven't been keeping up here. So just to make this quick, we'll give you some very basic guidelines to creating publishable pages.

1. Use all the elements. Make sure the page has a clear title that is meaningful for the photos, or becomes clear in the journaling. Make sure you include SOME form of journaling. Even if it's a quote. Something to give a little insight to the photo, something to spark that connection between a reader and the photo.

2. Choose your best photos. Just because you took 37 pictures at Jimmy's birthday party doesn't mean they ALL have to go in the scrapbook. Choose the ones that best tell the story. Choose clear photos - preferably with eye contact to draw the reader in - as your focal photos.

3. Choose attractive colors. Choose colors that set the mood for your photos as well as highlight them. For example, blues and purples will set a calm, or cool tone for your page. Reds, oranges and yellows can draw attention, but also create a sense of urgency.

4. Balance. Use the rule of triangles. Build your layout so that your eye has an obvious entry point on the page, and then follows to another point, then another, thus moving your eye around and through the layout. Successful advertising does just that. Set up a page with visual triangles, and you'll have a successful page every time. If the triangle is not obvious, try moving a few elements until it is.

And I can never stress it enough: FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! We lay down guidelines for a reason, not just to exercise our typing fingers. Please read the directions and follow them when you submit. Did your school teacher let you slide by without following directions, while the other students worked diligently to follow them? Probably not. Nobody is an exception to the rules.

SOLD OUT!!! *Next shipment arrives 9-15

2006-08-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Layout Blueprints is temporarily sold out! The response to this new idea book has been overwhelming. Stores all over the world are selling out, and so are we! Our first run sold out in just 5 weeks! Don't worry, you still have a chance to get this incredibly popular new sketch idea book. We are receiving our next shipment September 15th. Don't miss out!

Get your order in now for the next print run of Layout Blueprints, and don't miss your chance to own this beautiful, inspiring new idea book!

To Our Artists

2006-08-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

If you are still waiting for your book, please do not worry. Not all copies have been sent out. In fact, a very small percentage has shipped. Those who had only one layout in the book have shipped. Others will be shipping as soon as AP cuts checks to artists.

Please be patient. Your contracts promised they would ship "within 60 days of printing". It has been 30 days. You will receive your books WELL within that time frame.

Thank you for your patience.

ETA ALL BOOKS HAVE NOW BEEN SHIPPED 8/25/06

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 6

2006-08-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

Entering the graphics process

This process may not effect you, and then again, it may. If you are one of the artists who made the choice to send in a scan of your layout, this process might be good to know. If you mailed in your layout, you are a bit safer from scanning errors, and quality requirements, but this may still be good to know.

When a layout is scanned and sent it is sent to our graphics department. It is checked for visual errors such as shadows, stitch lines, or obvious color and contrast errors. When the graphic designer is ready for it, the layout is checked for proper DPI resolution, sized, trimmed if necessary, color-converted, and "dropped" into the page format. The process can be very lengthy if the requirements specified in the original request for submission are not met. In some cases, many attempts by the artist were required to get the correct results. In very few cases, requirements were not met, and layouts were dropped entirely.

Our graphic designer does the best with what he has, but if simple guidelines are not met, nothing can be done. It's a very difficult editorial decision to make, but these things do happen. We made an effort to allow some freedom of choice in submission style to accommodate those who did not want to give up their layouts. But those people also had to be confident in scanning practices.

Here are some tips to help you in the future:

- Know your scanner, and your scanner/photo-editing software.
- Double check the SAVED .jpg or .tif file for the proper DPI before sending it. (some softwares automatically save at lower DPIs regardless of what you've scanned at)
- I can't state this enough: Press down on your scanner lid as it scans to avoid discoloration, shadows, and warping in your scans.
- Check your scanner settings to be sure that you are scanning at the right DPI. DPI cannot be changed later, you MUST scan at that DPI.
- If you are good with your stitching software, try scanning layouts in 4 pieces (quadrants) to make sure that none of the edges are cut off.
- Have a good stitching software that you are familiar with. If you have one, but are not confident, try this website for some fantastic tutorials:

www.retouchpro.com

If you mail in your layouts you do not have to worry about the above steps (although, it may help you in your submitting and gallery scanning). Layouts we receive in house are carefully stored until the photographer is ready for them. Each page is photographed separately. Photographs are given to our graphic designer, who has to crop, trim, rotate, enhance color, and size the photo. It is then paired with the other page (this is why it helps to label pages "left" and "right" when you send them in). The pages are stitched into a "layout" then further edited for the correct color, brightness, contrast, and size, and dropped into the book format.

After all of that, the graphic designer must then credit each layout with the artist name, layout name, and the supply list, which are matched up from our database. It's quite an intensive process and can be extremely time consuming if scans are poor, or photos have to be retaken, or if a lot of touch-up is required.

Graphics were the most labor-intensive part of our process. Things can be made much easier on this end (and on your end) if artists choose to send in their layouts if they do not feel confident they can meet the scanning requirements, or if they already are comfortable with their scanning software and experienced in scanning. So brush up before your next submission request, and you'll look like a pro!

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 5

2006-07-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

How to stand out from the crowd

These are just some tips that will make you more visible to a publisher (or at least to THIS publisher).

- Be Positive. A positive, upbeat attitude with "can-do" answers to our questions, or requests will make you rise above the pack.

- Be Professional. When writing an email, read it carefully before you send it. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors (especially in journaling). Use a professional "voice". Don't use message board and email abbreviations (KWIM, LOL, AAM, etc.) because not all editors are message board cruisers and reading abbreviations you don't understand can be frustrating.

- Be Concise. An editor does not want to read your life story and accomplishments in a submittal. (unless that is what was asked for.) Keep it short, simple, and to the point.

- Be Consistent. If you submit multiple times to the same publisher, try to use the same format for each submittal. Eventually an editor will know exactly where to find each piece of information in one of your emails.

And a bonus tip for scanning.

- When scanning your layouts, press lightly on your scanners lid as it scans. This will help eliminate warping of the image toward the inside edge (where the image cuts off) and shadows caused by the scanner lid lifting on one side where the page hangs over.

This makes stitching MUCH easier, and much cleaner.

CoNTesT WiNneRS!!

2006-07-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all your comments everyone! We love to hear what you have to say, and that you are reading and enjoying the articles. Our comments contest has come to a close, and here are the winners:

di (spot on)
Amy Alvis
chrissyw
deanna kroll
jensmack

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 4

2006-07-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

This week we will discuss Preparing your Pages for Final Submittal.

We saw so many creative ways to pack layouts! From large boxes stuffed to the brim with peanuts (highly unnecessary, I might add), to unmarked layouts just crammed into a thin paper envelope (Yikes!). Layouts with elements falling off. We saw it all. And that is one of the things that prompted this whole discussion series in the first place.

Let's start with marking your layouts. When you are submitting your layout to be photographed, be sure to mark directly on your layouts your name, address, phone number and email at the very least. Make sure to put this information on EACH PAGE. Other very helpful information to include would be a supply list (no matter if you included it in an email, contract, or what have you.). The words "RIGHT" and "LEFT" for a two page layout will help keep your layout from being published "backwards", which has been known to happen.

Noting these items in an email, or on a contract will not help. Emails and contracts are separated from the layouts when they arrive. Imagine losing your layout because you did not simply write your name on the back of it. Ouch.

Handwriting can be hard to read, regardless of how nice it is. Typing your information is always better. You can print it on a piece of white paper, and temporarily adhere it to the back. Some people used address labels to print their personal information on and adhere to the back of the layout. Handy, easy, and always attached.

We also saw several layouts with elements barely attached, or not attached at all. By the time it makes it through the mail, things have sort of rattled loose. Adhere all your page elements securely. We cannot stress this enough. A photographer will have little patience with a layout that comes in pieces. Those pieces may get lost, or discarded. Use a good, strong, permanent adhesive and make sure everything is well-secured before packing it to ship off.

When you have marked your layout, and adhered every element on the page, you are ready to pack it to ship off. Because you never know what the weather will be like on your layouts journey, it's a good idea to seal it in a plastic bag. 2 gallon zip-close bags work best for 12x12 layouts, and can be found at most grocery stores, and stores like Target and Big Lots. That will guarantee that your layout will remain dry.

Don't forget to include your contract(s)! (we will address contracts later.)

We saw some ingenious packaging ideas. It seems pizza boxes can be bought from your local pizzeria, and happen to be the right size for a 12x12 layout. Enforce your layout with cardboard on both sides, tape it up, and place it in the addressed pizza box. Voila! Another good idea was to get a free USPS Priority Shipping box, or FedEx box. Keeping it flat, seal one end. Insert your bagged layout and contract, and seal the other end. You have a perfectly flat "box" for mailing. No layouts sent to us in this way were damaged.

It is entirely unnecessary to box your layout with bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, etc. Keep in mind that you are mailing paper, even if it is important paper. We found that the bubble wrap, peanuts, foam etc actually allowed the layouts to bend MORE as the packing material flexed. Keep in mind that air space will allow layouts to move, packages to dent/bend, and pages to be damaged.

Clearly address your package, adhere the proper amount of postage (wouldn't want a last minute layout returned to you!), and send.

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 3

2006-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

This week will be a glimpse into the process of receiving your initial submittals.

Imagine hundreds of submittals pouring into your email box every day. Can you imagine the work in just sorting through them? Knowing you have to examine each one carefully? Knowing that not all of the required, or necessary, information will be included? Sometimes not even the submitted layout will be included! (Please see Week 1 for Organizing Information)

When a submittal arrives in our inbox, this is the process it goes through:

Email is checked for proper information and attachment

Artist information is taken from email and placed into a database

Attachments are downloaded, numbered, and saved with corresponding database number

Attachments are then sorted by their Blueprint numbers

Files are reviewed to make sure the layout matches the Blueprint it claims to match (if not, the artist is contacted)

Email is deleted to make more room for incoming submittals

As you can imagine, doing this hundreds of times a day can get monotonous at best, and it is difficult to capture all information every time because each person's submittal email is different. Though we are learning from our first book the things to do, and not to do, on the next one. Continuous process improvement, we call it.

Once the calls had ended, we had veritable mountains of submittals to review in various photo and picture formats. The review process starts with an initial cut. Layouts were cut based on many factors, just a few of which are:

Too loose an interpretation of the Blueprint

Color coordination issues

Design elements and quality

Too much going on in the layout, too busy

Photo quality

Above and beyond basic layout quality, editors have to consider things like, Do we have too much of X product? Does the layout coordinate with another layout we've picked so that they will look good on the same page? Is the theme too common? Have we chosen a layout for every scrapping level for each Blueprint? Is the Blueprint well represented? And so on.

We may have really wanted a particular layout in the book, but other factors like the ones listed above might have kept it from being published. Perhaps it used a very common product that was already featured in too many other layouts. Perhaps it was too high a skill level to appeal to readers. Perhaps the theme of the layout was already featured in another layout for the same Blueprint, or just too common in general. There are so many things to consider when choosing layouts, that our choices are often revised again and again before we come to a final decision.

The bottom line is: Don't take it personally when your layout is not picked up for publication. There are too many factors to be considered when choosing a layout, for it to be personal. And on a side note, we chose to separate layouts from the artist's information and give them an anonymous number before we started choosing any layouts. We felt it gave us a clean perspective.

We hope you enjoy the book!

BOOKS ARE SHIPPING!!!

2006-07-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

We have FINALLY received our long lost shipment, and will be shipping out orders starting today! Please be patient. We will begin with wholesale orders, then pre-orders, then retail orders, then contributing artists.

Our first printing is almost SOLD OUT! Get your orders in now to be among the first to have the book!

If you have questions, please email us at the link to the right.

The Next Idea Book

2006-07-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Onward and upward! We will soon be shipping Layout Blueprints, and we have already begun work on our next book concept. We have some working ideas, but would love to hear from {YOU}.

What would you like to see in idea book form? What do you feel is lacking in the idea book realm? Do you have an idea to pitch? Are you searching for a particular type of idea book that you can never find?

Email us using the link at the right, or leave your comments here. We're all ears!

Comments CONTEST! WiN tHe BoOK!

2006-07-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

We know you're out there. We can see you lurking, watching, waiting for the next update that will say "Books Have Shipped!". In the meantime, let's have some fun!

The rules are very simple. Leave comments on this blog, on ANY topic, anywhere in the blog. That's all. We'll peruse the posts and comments and choose {FIVE} lucky winners at random! Winners will be chosen July 20th.

Winners will receive a copy of the book!

How CoOl is THAT?

Ready....

Set...

GO!!

The Fine Print:

BlueMedia employees are not eligible. Contributing Artists are not eligible.

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 2

2006-07-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

This week's topic: Superb Submittals

Are you a scanning and stitching pro? Do you take photos of your layouts? Do you crop and alter and enhance until your layouts look as close to life as possible? If you're shaking your head, this article is for you.

When you are submitting your work for review, you want to put your best foot forward, right? You want your work to look as close to true colors, and real life as possible. In short, you want your work to shine. Visible stitch lines, discoloration, dark scans or light scans are all things that could get in the way of your layout looking its best.

It's worth it to invest in a good photo editing software. For simple scanning and stitching, there are several inexpensive options available. Some recommendations from other scrappers are Adobe Photoshop Elements (around $60), Digital Image Pro (around $90), and Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (around $600). All of which will stitch beautifully, and edit any digital photos - including cropping, changing to black and white, red-eye reduction, and more. A quick internet search will reveal trial versions of all of these, plus many others and even some free photo editing programs.

When scanning a 12x12 page, you will most likely need to scan it in two parts, and stitch the two parts together. This is not as difficult as it sounds, and once you get the hang of it, you'll be a pro in no time. There are several tutorials out there for all of the major photo editing softwares. A quick search on the internet with the words "stitching tutorial" followed by your desired software, will bring you several options. Take the time to read the tutorials and learn how to use the software you have. We have found www.retouchpro.com to be a helpful site for tutorials.

Once you've scanned and stitched your pages, you may want to enhance colors, brightness and contrast so that the scan looks as close to the real thing as possible.

If you're photographing your layout, try setting it on a flat, white surface. Using white as the background will help the colors to stay true and not be "influenced" by a surrounding color of carpet, for example. Purchasing a piece of white poster board is a great way to get a clean background for your layouts. Try to take the photo from directly above the layout to avoid distortion. Natural lighting is the best, but not bright sunlight. Bright sun could cause glare on photos and shiny elements, or stark shadows from 3D elements.

Once you have cropped, edited, and enhanced your layout, you are ready to put your best foot forward and send it off for review. Remember last week's article, and include all of the required information as well as every bit of your contact information.

Just a Bit Longer...

2006-07-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems that we're always saying this but, "just one more week". *SIGH* The freight company promised us a 5 day delivery, that has taken 11 days! We were supposed to be shipping out all of our pre-orders and wholesale orders this week, whereas we're sitting on our laurels while the books are sitting in limbo in Chicago.

We're very sorry for the delay. We are {almost} as excited as you are. We appreciate your patience with the printing, shipping, and graphics delays. We are almost there, folks. It's the almost that almost caused us all fits. Next time we'll know to add a month to our expected ship dates.

Meanwhile, layouts are shipping. Some have seen theirs already, others will be seeing them within the next few days. Hang tight.

A Publisher's Perspective: Week 1

2006-06-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first installment of our learning series! We are excited to be sharing some inside information with you about the process of publishing a scrapbooking idea book. From the initial call for layouts, to the selection process, to the finished product and finally the return of your layouts, we hope to help you as artists understand the process so that you can respond, and be recognized as a professional by publishers you want to work with.

This week's topic: Organizing Your Supply Information

When a call goes out for layouts, each publisher will have different specifications. Do you read them all closely before you submit? If you don't already, start now.

A publisher lays out those guidelines in order to streamline the intake of submissions to their calls. It can be frustrating for the publisher to continually get submissions that do not meet the criteria. Read the criteria and directions carefully, and make sure you cover your bases. Your layouts may even be overlooked because of missing information, or incorrect submissions. Ensure that you will not be overlooked simply for not following directions, or not including all the information requested.

We gathered some tips from scrapbookers just like you, who are submitting their work to various publishers regularly. We heard several great tips on how to organize your supply lists so that all of the information you need is readily available when you need it. For example, Karen Kenny {one of our Contributing Artists} had this tip for digital scrappers, "For my digital pages, I like to put the supply list in the File Info of the .PSD file. I usually do this when I finish the layout, or if I am working on it over a period of days, at the end of each day. I note what kit/designer I used, fonts, and any special techniques that I might want to do again."

For paper scrappers we found that many of them write supplies directly on the back of the layout itself, which is helpful in the short term, but will not save you typing time when submitting to multiple places. "Whenever I feel like a certain layout is good enough to be submitted I make a draft in Outlook (any mail program will work, even hotmail) and make it in submittal format complete with my name, personal info, layout name and supply list," Theresa Marie Jasper offered. "I save that draft and then just forward it to whichever publication I would like to submit it to! I keep the draft saved in a folder with all [my] layouts and the title as the subject and just change the subject when I send it off."

Another scrapper suggested keeping all of your supply lists in a Word document. When you submit the layout, simply copy and paste the information into the email. She also recommended adding a note to the document stating to what calls you've submitted the layout. Some use a simple Excel spreadsheet. Others simply type the information into one email, then copy themselves and save the email for future reference. Many scrapbookers use an online service such as scrapsubmit.com to organize their images and supply lists.

Whatever method you choose, these simple steps at the beginning can save you time, typing, and headaches in the final submittal process. Always be sure to include all of your contact information, including name, address, phone numbers, and email even if the call does not specify needing all of that information. Consistent, organized lists with all the pertinent information will help you stand out as a professional in the eyes of publishers and companies you want to work with.

RESOURCES:

Try these resources to help you in your submitting.

Scrapsubmit.com for storing your images, supply lists, and personal info, and submitting to new calls.

Pub's Calendar a detailed calendar of current calls for just about anything.

Meet the Artist

2006-06-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

Amy Elkins was born in Missoula, Montana in the quaint Bitterroot Valley. She spent most of her formative years just 200 miles away in Bozeman. In 1998 she moved to Portland, Oregon where she met a small group of ladies who shared a similar interest in scrapbooking. Amy had been scrapbooking in the raw sense of the word – putting memorabilia into albums – but had never been exposed to scrapbooking as a concept and industry. It opened her eyes to a new way of preserving memories. She changed her mode of scrapbooking to scrap the acid-free way, and began taking classes, reading books and magazines, and absorbing the hobby as a whole.

She quickly formed a style and drew on the design principles she had learned as an advertising student at Montana State. With the encouragement of her scrapbooking friends - who had formed the group The ScrapDivas - she began assembling some ideas for a book. Many ideas went by the wayside, and then in early 2005 she began assembling her drawings and layout ideas into a more organized format. That inspired her to write Layout Blueprints.

“I have The Divas to thank, “ Amy says. “If they hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t have taken those last steps to make it a reality. This book is really a tribute to them. I hope it will give people a different outlook on their scrapbook page designs, and help them get over that initial hump of ‘How do I arrange my photos?’, which can be the hardest part of getting started. I hope to breathe life into the two-page layout again, because that is how most scrappers scrap, as far as I’ve witnessed. So many of us just want to tell the story and include as many photos as we can. It’s hard to do on just one page.”

Amy still draws on her advertising background to find inspiration. She admits most of her Blueprints were inspired by advertising. “Advertising just uses basic design principles. It’s easy to take those elements and translate them into scrapbooking.” She hopes you will find inspiration in this book, and use the Blueprints time and time again to build your layouts. Amy intends to keep designing “blueprints” and hopes to assemble another book of them in the near future.

Post Series: From A Publisher's Perspective

2006-06-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Layout Blueprints was a major endeavor for us, and a great learning experience. We plan to share our lessons learned, and help give some insight to scrapbookers who are submitting their work - for the first timer, or the experienced submitter. We will give you an insight to our process on this end, and give you some tips on how to make things go more smoothly for the publisher, AND for the submitter.

We hope the series will help you in your submissions, and earn you a place of respect with the publishers you work with. And for those scrapbookers working up the courage to submit their work, we hope this will be a valuable tool to help give you confidence throughout the process.

Stay tuned!

Artists: Layouts Shipping this week

2006-06-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Just an update to our contributing artists who sent their layouts to our office. We are packing and shipping layouts beginning this week. So keep an eye out for them in the coming week.

Books will follow later under separate cover.

Update: June 16 - Get Your Order In!

2006-06-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

We have a proof in hand, and the book looks absolutely fabulous! The color is fantastic, the binding is very sturdy, the pages are heavy and durable. This book will last a long time, I can tell. You'll be seeing your copies (if you have a paid order) starting the week of June 26.

If you have not paid for your order, you may want to do so. It looks like our first run will sell out! That's great news for us, but not great news for those who want to get a copy right away. It's first come, first served. So get those orders in!

Printing Update

2006-06-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to announce that we will be able to submit the book to the publisher on Monday! The book will be printing in the next 2 weeks, and will ship by the end of June.

An associate will begin making phone calls to Pre-Orders to collect billing information next week. Orders must be paid before they ship.

If you have any questions, you can email us at info@layoutblueprints.com

URGENT CALL for Blueprint #49 - FILLED

2006-06-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

We have filled this call. Thank you to those that met the challenge and submitted work. It is amazing what scrappers can do in just one day!

MAY 30 UPDATE

2006-05-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

We have hit some delays in graphic design and are a bit behind schedule. Where we thought we'd have released to the printing house this week, we are pushing hard finishing up final details in design. However, we feel we are only 10 days behind schedule, and still intend to print and ship in June.

I must say, the book is looking fantastic. I am still amazed at the level of talent out there, and all the beautiful layouts going into this book. We are very excited to see what you all think of it.

Printing Delays

2006-04-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

We've run into some delays with the photographer, which means that delays the graphic designer, which delays the actual print run. So our print run will not be until June now. Wish I had better news for everyone.

What is Layout Blueprints?

2006-02-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

Layout Blueprints is a new scrapbooking idea book, scheduled to hit the shelves in June of 2006. It will offer sound layout design concepts for your scrapbook pages, with beautiful, full-color samples for each design. Choose from over 50 Blueprints to create your scrapbook page on a strong foundation. Then just add photos and embellishments! It really is that easy!

Just take a peek at some of our Blueprints at www.layoutblueprints.com to see a sample of some of the amazing things that will appear in the book. Over 175 NEW layout ideas based on 56 Blueprints!

You can reserve your copy today, or place a wholesale order by emailing Orders@layoutblueprints.com.

Calls for Layouts are finished!

2006-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

What a long process! But it's all finished now. We've completed our selection process, and all the calls for layouts have been made.