Say It Ain't So...Good Bye Simple Scrapbooks Magazine

I finally stopped in at The Simple Blog, one of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine's blogs that I used to read regularly, until I started reading so many personal blogs online and found this post. I am so sad, my favorite scrapbook magazine is no longer going to be published!

Sure the word is it's going to be folded back into Creating Keepsakes Magazine, where it's concept originated, but it won't be the same. I was just wishing it would publish every month instead of every other and now after the May/June 2009 issue it won't be coming to my mailbox at all. I always liked it because it had simple and clean designs that were easy to reproduce and because each issue has a simple album scheme, and I love mini albums. It helped take the design work out of the equation while still letting you personalize things with your paper and embellishments so more time could be spent getting all those great memories down on paper.

I do like Creating Keepsakes, especially Becky Higgin's monthly sketch, but they're adding more and more digital scrapbooking and frankly I just don't have the time and energy to learn a ton about digital. Plus I like good ol' fashioned paper and scissors fun. A lot of their designs seem to require a lot of work, more than I've got right now, especially since I just added blogging to my list of must do.

Better and Homes and Garden's spin off magazine Scrapbooks Etc. is also a great magazine, probably my second favorite after Simple Scrapbooks but a lot of their content eventually ends up being on their website. Great but then why subscribe, well I do because Amazon.com was running a super duper rate for Christmas but before that I got most of it online. I do really like having a paper format it's much more accessible for me.

I love Somerset Studio Magazine type work with it's shabby chic artsy designs but that look doesn't come naturally to me. It's more of something I admire other's for. I especially like their magazine Artful Blogging it's full of beautiful photographs and inspiration. But their magazines are expensive and a bit hard on the pocketbook. By the way, if you're looking for some vintage inspiration work try Jessica's blog. I love looking at her stuff.

I've also learned the Country Home has stopped publication, and I read Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion is too, although I can't find an Internet confirmation. A magazine I loved and subscribed to for years Victoria magazine just started back up again, is that in jeopardy? What about another fave Country Living, could even, dare I say it, Martha be in trouble...now I know I'm jumping to conclusions but hey that's what's running through my head right now. You can probably tell I'm a magazine junkie by now, hence the withdrawal pangs!

I'm sorta worried about Paper Crafts Magazine too. Also published by CK Media, you can find it on Creating Keepsakes's main web page under magazines. It recently reduced its number of publications per year to six, will it be going away too. I am so bummed, stupid economy being slow...she whined.