This is interesting regarding paper crafting magazines....

I wonder if it's simply a matter of a smaller market (and I mean physically, like the size of the UK vs. the size of the US) meaning smaller shipping costs and a better profit margin on a smaller subscriber base.

Or sometimes I wonder if the rest of the world is more willing to pay for things than here in the US. The cover prices on those UK magazines here-- because almost all of them come with something-- are anywhere from $13-$25 dollars. Can you imagine how much longer US magazine companies could have stayed in business if subscriptions actually cost the face value of the magazine or close to it instead of "subscribe now for 12 issues for the price of 1!"

No, not for a specialist interest magazine. And they almost always come with something for free - stamps, papers, sometimes even dies.

The UK doesnt have a good scrapbooking magazine in my opinion but we have loads of sewing, card making and general paper craft magazines. And you can buy them in most places too, not just specialist magazine stores.

Thank you peachiceteas! I actually like the art and computer magazines from the UK. But they are expensive by the time they get to the US so I can’t buy too many of them.

Coffee for peachiceteas! It's the other way around.   (£12 would be US$14.50-ish, US$12 is approx. £9.60)

Oops - that’s me and my frustration at the pound to dollar right now on overdrive!

I feel ya. That was me a few years back with the euro to British pound rate. I was not a happy monkey... "Stop taking more money from me!" 

I was just flipping through the one issue of British Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine I ever bought. I'm not much into magazines because I prefer to limit my exposure to advertising. But it came with one of the most useful stamp sets I own. I wasn't sure how the quality was going to be but a faux calligraphy script alpha was just what I needed and it's been so useful (and people totally think I penned it by hand!)

The magazine itself has a range of projects for all levels of crafters, and it's really chatty - there seems to be a lot of customer/reader interaction. There were some things I rolled my eyes at but I'm making notes of several neat ideas I found in there - nothing brilliant and unique, but ideas that I can actually use. Maybe I struck it lucky because they show 6 ways to use a stamp I already own, but it also just feels more relatable. (And btw I get a kick out of weird terminology like "sticker fixers" which I gather are pop dots ?)

I'm also flipping through my 4 issues of Scrapbook and Cards Today and not seeing much at all that catches my eye. It's very slick and perfect. Not taking any notes or clippings from any of those.

I wondered if the Brits have a different relationship to magazines culturally, and/or if it has to do with more people using public transportation to get around. Magazines are nice to look at in the bathroom and on trains, IMO. Outside of those 2 contexts I barely look at them. Maybe our US car culture (outside the east coast cities) is part of the problem?

Or are British publishers just better at pitching their magazines to a broader audience?

scrapnnana What are the names of the UK magazines that you look at -- and where do you find them?

I have a subscription to these two (less expensive than buying individually, and it comes to my door):

Cardmaking & Papercraft

Papercraft Inspirations

I have found a variety of the UK magazines at JoAnn Fabrics.

I agree with this, but I also think that so many free-lance scrappers wanted to be recognized, and published that they gave away so much free information and pages, etc on their blogs. Blogs were instant gratification and most magazines had a 3-6 month lead time. Often, by the time layouts were published in magazines, the product were from a prior season and often not available. I worked for several LSS and Archivers over 10 years, and can't tell you how many people came in with a magazine and wanted that specific paper for this specific layout. Sorry, but that was from a line from 2 Christmas's ago! Frustrating for consumers and stores as well.

I love the British magazines always pick 1 or 2 up a month. Some of them comes with stamps,dies and embossing folder for $16. It's a great value.
I use to subscribe to a scrapbooking magazine I loved it,always come with a CD packed full with digital goodies and great videos. This was before YT. Then it just disappeared.
One of the magazines next month it will come with a altenew poppies stamp set and coordinating stencil. I will sure pick that one up.

Simply cards and papercraft
I hope this links shows up right🤞
trk.klclick.com/wf/click?upn=AgH0qcFZdvJajCVdN0ZywkiNFDlcYFPc-2Bm8mXVzTE4a3YRlbq23pRMhHxSHun-2FJ8rF9J4V-2B-2B5beujPQELjF10J2CHdyLxTdutUiYXTh9XZzvh4-2FS-2FD4HVBR81lWhzAm5NS8ThlSclHEF-2F0FtzT6t-2BaPaIEEqxAso5uHFAQOoaSKcwterHg90S-2BUSfTxJZBqznX-2BNZ4L52j9lT2Zkio2gpfj7UsJ4uhZd9P4XgD-2BMT3zISH32HR9qU1pFshEnou7kmkoSkPBAYlt47du4ZzNUYsPdzW7ds5fieXf11dCjBcrfIP5tUneqZHTjfl1Dvzv5JFrzM7RgQhhAQBwdBmys3IY-2FoOm3dnRtrzos-2F-2BGFccvaoinjK7YN94TkHR818TuvmLSD8Wnw7e75a-2BwIBqCzhSTHH5stsc-2F1hVqgXWSQMVA-3D_E-2Bm0O4sIOTdDht7ngvwndN8gIQuvF77sQuFRQCNOAgg6vGOO7vC4yygHQJWfgkZGthKSqjczfr-2FyLuxv6D2VcBN49lSH3eV8ZzWoHQs0fyIWMhbl-2F4MK-2FsdvmzsfGZpCXCv-2BZJpRO-2FqnEowaI6jpqRd9jrYZBkN3XGGyrEytkrjXK7IVyPZpS8sRz67b8JT-2FSvdIYUyzxT8bgR-2Fws58DzR2QWGOpUSDOrbITEpQgdlK-2BuoNM-2FyPKlduSDsqRABA-2FZqS9e5Di6IGOmQLZ2yEs4zQ6I-2BiHim99-2BFRFGBbL-2B5khu4wJcAACQ0piY8cJJSgegiRLkIW-2FGqZV8DulUWfdYeqXZDcLRQKCtRv6m3RwrNBXZuMtSxD1its9mhnKb61XP9dCSLTcW1CSa5ebP18Ufg-3D-3D

www.simplycardsmag.com has a lot of free digital downloads. You might have to register to download.

Just a heads-up about Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine. I received an offer for a discounted subscription in the mail in January, $24.99 for a year, which was listed as 6 issues. When I found that I was missing an issue. I contacted their customer "service" twice, and finally resorted to posting on their social media pages, to find out what happened to my missing issue. Their answer was that, in order to "save money," since I am in the US, they send only the EVEN-NUMBERED ISSUES. If I want the odd-numbered issues, I will have to PURCHASE them on the newsstands. Umm, what? Six issues are six issues. That's misrepresentation. They advertised a whole year of 6 issues, but this implied that that the magazine came out every 2 months. Very misleading. Their customer service is terrible. And I receive my magazines at the END of the month, when all the contests and special offers have expired.

This was after I waited 3 months for my first issue, only to find out, after 6 emails, that they had "suspended" my subscription (which hadn't even started yet). The original offer said that they would send me the first issue, and if I liked it, I would pay for the "year" and continue to receive future issues. They were waiting for me to pay them before they sent the first issue. As I said, misleading and misrepresenting.

Just be aware that the company is difficult to deal with when it comes to subscriptions. It is a really nice magazine, though, and the freebies are great.