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Reviews
"For
Keeps" by Pride Publishing (Dec,
2001)
It's been quite
a while since Australia got its first dedicated scrapbooking magazine
with Scrapbooking Memories. There is now another kid on the block
in the form of "For Keeps" magazine put out by Pride Publishing.
The magazine
is broken into several sections:
- Regular
Features - which includes tips, scrapbooking online, web directory,
free pattern, one to three (where three designers are given the
same set of photos and we see the various results).
- Articles
- this months include info on safe preservation, getting started,
processing photos, journalling and using stamps in your scrapbooks.
- Technique
Focus - looks at several specific techniques and how to use
them - this month its frames, chalking and mosaic layouts.
- Page Layouts
- this section is scattered throughout the magazine and is in
the traditional theme format, with this months themes including
- at the beach, brothers and sisters, christmas, teen, at the
park and holiday fun.
- Directories
of Australian Businesses - lots of shops!
- Shop News
- which does a advertorial type bio of shops and
- Web Review
- again, advertorial looking at a specific website.
Firstly, I'll
cut to the chase, the layouts are fantastic!! The cream of the crop
has been choosen for this first edition and we can only hope that
the quality remains this high in future editions!
The layouts
pictured large enough to see what's going on. A materials list is
given but no instructions. For me this is a bonus as less text given
over to instructions means they have more room for more layouts!!
In the Layout gallery sections, this is also the case, although
there is extensive use of "Ideas to Note" which give tips
or some detail on a particular technique used in the layout.
There appears
to be no preference given to any one style of scrapbooking, the
very Becky, lumpy bumpy type layouts are right next to very simple,
mainly cardstock layouts. All look great.
In the Techniques
Focus section, enough detail is given to get people started with
confidence. The chalking article gives text supported by step by
step photos.
An issue with
anyone thinking about submitting their precious layouts to magazines
for publications is how those layouts will be treated. For Keeps
has devoted two pages of this first issue to detailing both upcoming
themes for submission, how to submit and what the process is for
selection for inclusion in the magazine - including how your layouts
will be stored/treated once they have been sent in. I think this
shows that the editors have thought this issue through very carefull
and are to be commended for it and I think they will reap the reward
of getting more and better layouts sent to them for possible inclusion
in the magazine.
Now another
issue that often comes up, advertising! Yes, there are ads in the
magazine. Personally, I like ads but I know this is not the case
for everybody. I think that the number of ads strikes a good balance.
Also, they are scattered throughout the magazine and to my mind
are fairly unobtrusive.
Overall, the
look and feel of the magazine is simple, classy and very appealing.
A great first edition and one that bodes extremly well for the future.
A publication up to international standards.
Rating:
9/10
Details:
"For
Keeps" by Pride Publishing (2001)
Price: $9.95
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