Page Submissions Q&A

Q. How do I submit pages to your magazine? What do you look for when deciding what to publish?

A. We accept page submissions in any size or shape. We ask that you do not send originals. Instead send a color copy, photograph or electronic file of your layout:

• Color copies. Take your pages to a local copy shop and ask for further directions. The store clerk should be able to reduce your page (such as a 12" x 12") if necessary. It isn't necessary for the copy to be perfect; we just need to be able to evaluate the layout.
• Photograph. To photograph your pages, remove them from sheet protectors, place the pages on a neutral background with even lighting and take a picture without the flash.
• Electronic file. To submit an electronic file of your page, attach it to an e-mail message and send the message to editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com. Please note that attached files must be less than 500K in size.

When submitting pages, please keep in mind that because of printing deadlines we must complete magazines three to four months in advance of issue date. Seasonal pages should be submitted four months in advance.

Each submission should include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if you have one), the size of your page, the number of pages in your layout, and any details about the supplies or special techniques used on the page.

If you are submitting a layout for a specific column, include the name of the column above our mailing address. For example, write "Attn: Just Because" or "Attn: Seasonal Sampler" near our mailing address. If the layout is to be considered any place it would fit well in the magazine, just include "Editorial Submissions" above our mailing address.

Due to the volume of the submissions we receive, we cannot acknowledge every submission. If we do select your submission for publication, we will notify you with additional details and ask you to send the original for scanning purposes. Your original layout will be returned to you.

Judging
When we receive a layout submission from a reader, we evaluate it on the following:

• Photographs. Because the photographs are what a scrapbook is all about, we look for strong photos that are the focus of the layout. We understand that some of the moments caught on film are "keepers" but not the best pictures. While we prefer to go with higher-quality photos on the pages we publish, we do encourage you to include these less-than-perfect pictures in your personal albums.
• Creativity. We love pages with creative ideas! These can be tough to judge, so we look for two main things in this category. First is whether the layout provides meaningful information about its subject. We make an exception for title pages or beginnings of spreads, where the meaningful journaling may be contained on different pages. Second, we evaluate the use of accents on a page. They're fun to use, but easy to overdo as well. We look for layouts that use accents appropriately, drawing from themes, colors or ideas in the photos.
• Quality of craftsmanship. Scrapbooking is a form of design, so the pages that stand out are those that incorporate basic design principles such as use of color, balance, focal point and arrangement. (To learn more about these principles, see the Creating Keepsakes special issue, Marvelous Scrapbook Makeovers. It teaches how to make your pictures the focus of your page, use the most pleasing shapes and more.) Also critical in our selection process is the overall neatness of the page. This means lines are straight or round (but not uneven), pencil marks are erased, excess glue has been removed and the page is free from unnecessary clutter.

Although we use these guidelines to help us judge pages, we recognize that there are always exceptions to each rule. When submitting a layout, always ask: "Is it pleasing to the eye?" "Is the focus on the photos?" "Does the layout convey important details so people can understand them?" Come on—show us and other scrapbookers your best!

By Catherine Scott Creating Keepsakes, February 2000.