Scrapbook Update

Junkitz Bankruptcy Auction Update

The Junkitz bankruptcy auction took place on April 15th and the auctioneer has filed his bill with the court, which included the amount of the proceeds of the sale. The auction did not bring any good news for the company's unsecured creditors.

Despite the fact that in their bankruptcy filing (and the auction advertising), the company's assets included 5 computers, office equipment, warehouse equipment, and what the company's petition estimated was $30,000 in unsold inventory, the auction only produced gross proceeds of $6,955.50. (It is unclear from the report whether all the items were sold or not, but it appears likely they were from some wording.)

After the auctioneer takes his fees and expenses, $4416.47 should remain to be turned over to the trustee - only a small fraction of the company's outstanding bills to even its secured creditors.

Book Review: Baby Face by Barbara Smith

Baby Face: Celebrating Your Pregnancy and Baby with Beautiful Photo Crafts, by Barbara Smith, is from Watson-Guptill Publications. Smith is a wedding and portrait photographer based out of Los Angeles, and also the author of The Art and Craft of Keepsake Photography: Engagements & Weddings: How to Take Perfect Photos and Make Perfect Invitations, Announcements, Albums, Thank You Notes & More .

As you might expect from a book whose author is foremost a photographer, the pages of Baby Face are full of inspiring eye candy: beautiful photographs, and photo-based projects. (Disclaimer: This book makes use of artistic nudity in its photography of pregnant women. If you were offended by Demi Moore's famous Vanity Fair cover while she was pregnant, you will probably not like this book.) If you are pregnant, have friends who are pregnant, or are a photographer who regularly takes pictures of mothers-to-be, this book will almost certainly stretch your creative boundaries.  The photography techniques include both ideas for during a photo session and for in the "digital darkroom" of photo editing afterward. (The photography tips aren't only limited to pregnant women, either - there are also tips for taking beautiful portraits of babies an older children.)

In fact, there is a lot of digital hybrid content in this book. Most of the suggested projects rely at least somewhat on digital techniques and provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete them. The projects include ideas on how to use photos in everything from baby announcements and gift thank yous to baby shower accessories and photo albums. And while the project ideas are illustrated with newborn pictures and baby shower examples, it is easy to imagine the techniques being applied to other events and topics.

If you like to get "artsy" with your photography and your papercrafting, and you like to use your photos for more than just for scrapbook pages, you will love Baby Face. It inspires and teaches at the same time...a wonderful combination.

Email Subscription and Feed Updates

The email subscriptions for the site should be working normally again. For feed and email subscribers, I have made changes to the site's settings so you should be receiving the entire post via email/feed rather than just an excerpt!

I hope everyone likes the change!

Hear More About the Orphan Works Legislation!

Yesterday I talked via phone with designers Joanne Fink and Brenda Pinnick. Both of them are very concerned - and very knowledgeable - about the orphan works legislation that is currently before Congress.

Joanne is a prominent calligraphy artist who owns her own company in the Orlando area and who has been very vocal in leading the public fight against this legislation. Brenda creates licensed scrapbook product designs for, among others, Sizzix and QVC, and is on the CHA design council. She also serves on the Professional Advisory Committee for the Art Institute of Atlanta.

Both Brenda and Joanne have a lot to say on subject of how this legislation directly affects scrapbookers and the scrapbook industry. If you would like to hear what Joanne and Brenda had to say in its entirety, the 25 minute interview can be heard below:

After hearing the interview, if you want to learn even more about this issue or would like to learn how to contact your Congressperson to express your opinion of the legislation, please visit:

CAPWIZ

Digital Pick: Free ScrapArtist CD/DVD template

I write a lot here at Scrapbook Update about paper scrapbook products. To bring in some of the digital scrapbooking products, I am periodically going to bring you Scrapbook Update's "Digital Pick" of a downloadable digital scrapbook supply. Sometimes it will be a kit, sometimes a template, sometimes embellishments. I will try to mix up the styles so there will be something for everyone!

What better way to start out a new feature than with everyone's favorite price: free! I love ScrapArtist.com and Amber Clegg is one of my favorite designers there. They are currently offering a free downloadable template to use to create a custom CD or DVD case so the next video or photo cd that you gift can come in a beautiful wrapping!

Amber Clegg's CD/DVD Template at ScrapArtist.com

Are scrapbook retailers competing for rebate checks?

I wrote a few days ago about the competition between electronics retailers to get a piece of the tax rebate checks that many Americans are getting. But are scrapbook retailers getting into the competition for those dollars? They should be!

My newspaper this week brought no Michael's ad and a very small AC Moore ad. Are smaller scrapbook retailers taking advantage of the possible windfall where those bigger retailers apparently aren't trying to?

I haven't seen any big sales at the major online scrapbook retailers, but I don't have a local scrapbook store near me. So tell me, are any of your local scrapbook retailers running special sales right now? Fill us in!