Noteworthy | 5.18.2012

Welcome to another week of Noteworthy! It was a relatively quiet week this week in the scrapbook world compared to the flood of releases and big news the past few weeks, but we still have lots of fun stuff to talk about! So let’s get started…

The biggest announcement this week arguably came from Becky Higgins, and it was about Project Life, of course. Details of the announcement are a bit sketchy because Becky’s announcement video is currently unavailable for viewing. However, the brief summary points that she posted underneath the video indicate the following big changes are coming soon to the Project Life core kits:

  • Project Life core kit production is being shifted to the U.S. from overseas. This will cut down on out of stock time as production is much faster, and the print and paper quality will be much better.
  • Packaging is changing to a large flat package that includes a plastic tray in which all of the cards will lay flat. All of the new packaging is 100% recyclable.
  • Kit contents will be changing: There will now be 500 journaling cards in each kit, with “filler” designs on the back, plus 40 bi-fold cards (up from 24). The title cards will be horizontal designs on the front and vertical on the back (the same designs, just shifted in orientation).
  • Another change that is coming to the kit contents: stickers are being eliminated, for now. Becky says it is too expensive to produce them here in the U.S., so they are eliminating them from the core kits, and looking at options to produce them as a separate item that can be purchased as an add-on for Project Life in the future.
  • The original Project Life kit is coming back! As part of the new U.S. production, all of the Project Life core kits are being reprinted: Clementine, Cobalt, Amber, and Turquoise – and the original kit is coming back as well! It will be called the “Cherry” edition.
No precise word from Becky on when we’ll see these changes in action in the product shipping to customers. [Read more...]

Gallery Highlights | 5.17.2012

Welcome to Gallery Highlights for this week! This week, we have a lot of color, a lot of creative designs, and some two-page layouts. So, let’s go take a look! You can click on the links to visit the layouts in their galleries and view supply lists, leave a comment for the designer, or view the designer’s other work.

Aunt Velma’s Cupcakes & Nasturtiums by readstoomuch

I was so excited to find this layout by Mollie for a couple of reasons. First, I’ve had a couple of requests for two-page layouts and they are hard to come by – with the exception of Project Life layouts. And second, what a cool layout this is! It’s part of a bigger project, a family cookbook that Mollie is making. I love that!

[Read more...]

Winners | French General by Jolee’s Boutique

It’s time to announce the winners from last week’s giveaway! Two Scrapbook Update readers are winning some of the hot new French General collection from Jolee’s Boutique by EK Success to play with!

And the lucky winners are….

The winner of Package #1 is Becky J (MplsBetty), who posted:

Just saw these at Michael’s. Love it.

The winner of Package #2 is Heather Beasley, who posted:

I am lovin’ all the new Jolees. These are going to be a hit!

Congratulations to Heather and Becky! You will get an email in a moment with instructions on collecting your prize! Thanks for reading Scrapbook Update!

Michaels Stores CEO John Menzer on Medical Leave After Stroke

Michaels Stores announced today that they are forming an interim Office of the Chief Executive to manage the company in the ongoing absence of CEO John Menzer.

The company had previously announced on April 20th that the 60 year old Menzer was hospitalized in stable condition, but they declined at that time to indicate the cause of his illness. Today’s announcement, the first update on his health situation from the company since that day, indicates that Menzer suffered a stroke last month and is in stable condition but is expected to be absent from the company for an extended period of time. The announcement says that the Board of Directors will reevaluate Menzer’s status periodically. Menzer has been CEO of Michaels Stores, Inc. since 2009.

Menzer has been in the news recently for the role he held previous to his tenure at Michaels, as Vice-Chairman of Wal-Mart. That company is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for the alleged payment of bribes by its Mexican subsidiary during a period of rapid growth in that country. The New York Times named Menzer as one of the key players in the U.S. company’s cover-up of those alleged actions.

The new Office of the CEO at Michaels Stores, Inc. will consist of Lew Klessel, who is Managing Director with Bain Capital Partners, LLC, and Charles “Chuck” Sonsteby, who is Michaels Stores’ Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Klessel has also been appointed to the newly-created position of Interim Chief Operating Officer at Michaels. Klessel and Sonsteby, as the Office of the CEO, will temporarily assume Menzer’s responsibilities as CEO, and will report directly to the Board of Directors. [Read more...]

Giveaway | Suzi Blu for Stampavie

Artist Suzi Blu is having an exciting 2012! In January at CHA Winter 2012, she released a new line of clear stamps with Stampavie that feature her signature hand drawn female figures, uplifting sayings and quirky style.

She also has a new book out this month, titled Mixed-Media Girls with Suzi Blu: Drawing, Painting, and Fanciful Adornments from Start to Finish. The 128-page book comes with a DVD that features instruction by Suzi on techniques in the book. (This, perhaps, is the future of publishing in this industry – books not just as books but as complete multi-media packages.)

Art journaling is a building trend in the industry and Suzi’s designs are emblematic of that community’s influence in all areas of papercrafting. Would you like to try some of Suzi’s stamps for your art journaling, scrapbooking, card making, or other mixed media project? You can win some right here thanks to Scrapbook Update sponsor Stampavie! [Read more...]