**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I'm finishing up my holiday preparations and quickly put together a couple of the Christmas Tag Gift Card Holders by Printable Cuttable Creatables.
I imported the file into Cricut Design Space and resized it to make a large tag. I have a couple of certificates that aren't standard gift card size. The finished tag is approximately 6" tall by 3" wide. I added the rectangle so I would have a piece to stamp on since the Recollections patterned paper is very busy.
Since I am still working on bashing my stash, I used an old stamp from SU All Year Cheer II and some stickers that I have had since the early 2000's. I also used up some old embossing powder that I've had for at least 15 years, not my favourite as far a quality goes but the colour was right for this project. The ribbon is SU Whisper White.
These will hang from the tree until my kids get here to open gifts on Christmas Day.
I might even make a couple more in a standard gift card size if I have time - they are perfect for gift card giving year round.
I'm in love with the latest collection by Creative Memories. Released earlier this month, this collection is perfect for all sorts of layouts, and the collection is also available in digital format for use with your favourite software.
The primary colours are great for children's layouts, and the patterns are easy to mix and match for any occasion.
I know I am going to be using mine to finish up some of my Florida vacation layouts.
Check out this Album Cover, isn't it gorgeous?
And with this 8x8 Fast2Fab Album you can finish your album in an hour or less.
Just grab some photos, adhesive and a few embellishments...
then add your journaling and slide on the included page protectors. Page refills are also available.
Here are all of the new products for December, you can find them on the What's New page on my Creative Memories website.
This week we are celebrating 3 years of the new Creative Memories with the launch of some great new products, a free shipping offer and a chance for you to win one of the new Rolling Bags and a $200 Spree!
This week only, enjoy FREE SHIPPING on orders of $95 or more (includes surcharge areas!).
Offer ends at 3 pm CT on Friday, November 10th.
Check inside your order for a Golden Ticket, 20 lucky winners* will receive a Golden Ticket in their order, which allows them to earn a FREE Rolling Bag!
1 lucky winner will receive a Platinum Ticket in their order when it arrives, which gets them the FREE Rolling Bag plus a $200 Shopping Spree!
*One chance to win each day per name and mailing address.
Visit my Creative Memories website to see all the new products listed in the What's New section.
Getting close to the end of this album, I only have a few more layouts to do of our tour of the Historic O'Keefe Ranch in Vernon, BC.
For this set of pages, I wanted to highlight the heritage features of the buildings so I kept my layouts simple by matting my photos on black cardstock and using the same woodgrain chevron pattern cardstock on all three. My only embellishment is a strip of Shimmer Trim that I cut in half lengthwise and used as a border along the edge of the cardstock.
Schubert House - this house was smaller, but the trim work inside the house reminded me of the heritage house that my family had owned.
These are my favourite pictures from this tour and the reason that I decided to stick with very simple layouts. I really wanted the pictures to stand out on these pages.
I love all the old products in the General Store. I was a Watkins Consultant for many years and spotted a few Watkins products on the bottom shelf.
I found a map online and printed it out and added to one of the layouts. So glad that everything is online to reference since these photos are from 2002 and I couldn't remember the names of all the buildings.
These layouts were so easy to put together - unlike the rest of my album where I used sketches, for these layouts I was inspired by the Power Layouts method. I laid my pictures out on each sheet of cardstock and set aside. When it came time to adhere I just quickly matted all the pictures at once, cut the two sheets of wood grain cardstock and the embellishment strips, adhered everything, journaled and just like that I was done.
So fast and easy! I love decorative scrapbooking but I have quite a few albums to do so I am trying to keep it as simple as possible. After I do the last three layouts from this trip I will have completed three albums this year. The first album took the longest (started a couple years ago) because it is all decorative layouts. The last two are fairly decorative but I planned differently and they went a little quicker - better use of my time and supplies. I will be ordering one (or two) of the re-released Power Layout kits from Creative Memories and pre-sorting my layouts so the box is ready to grab and go when I find I have an extra few minutes. I will still do some decorative layouts - I'll just add a post-it note to the guide to reference which sketch I want to use for that page.
If you aren't familiar with this sorting method check out this YouTube video - it's from 2010 but
explains very well how this method works.
I wish this method had been around back when I first started using CM products in the mid-90's. I probably would have completed more albums. I really like that you know what will be on the back of the right-hand page. I love the quality of the CM pages with the jeeping but was always concerned that I would mess up and put the wrong pictures on the back. By using the guide to represent the back of a page I can rearrange and have everything exactly as I want it before adhering.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
This card was fun to make - it was my first time using Texture Paste with one of my Tim Holtz stencils. My hubby is a car guy and I'm always looking for craft supplies that I can use on his birthday cards or scrapbook pages. This Tim Holtz Treads stencil is perfect!
I went over it a few times so I could get a lot of colour in between the tire treads.
I blended the Hickory Smoke Distress Ink all around the edges of the cardstock. Then I added a bit of Stormy Sky Distress Ink - the ink pad was really wet compared the rest that I bought (leaked in packaging), and it went on heavy so I blended it out as best as I could.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Another layout using up my stash of scrapbook paper from Michaels. I kept it simple with a Red & White theme and added a little contrast with a pre-cut zigzag border from an old kit in my stash.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Working my way through my pictures from 2002 and bashing as much of my paper stash as possible. I've been going to the paper holder with my old Recollections and Stampin Up papers before looking at anything newer. The Razzleberry Lemonade DSP has always been one of my favourite SU products. I love the vibrant colours.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I love the Sketches by Scrapbook Generation. I found myself constantly pinning their layouts so I decided to buy a few of their e-books earlier this year and I find I am using them a lot.
I'm working on older albums and my pictures are all printed in 4x6 format. I've been scanning the pictures with my Photomyne app before scrapping so I have a digital copy in addition to the original negatives.
I bought a couple of the 4x6 SG Sketch Books and recently added the 6x6 Paper Pad Class to my collection. I have a bunch of 6x6 samplers left over from when I was with CTMH and I figured the layouts would probably work with almost any paper that I have in my stash too.
This layout uses one of the 6x6 paper pad sketches. I used up some of my 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock from Michaels (comes in those multi packs that always go on sale each month).
My journaling circle was inspired by some layouts that I saw on YouTube by ohMamarazzi Scrapbooking. I cut the circle and the mat on my Cricut.
The Holly was cut using the CTMH Artistry Cricut cartridge - I backed it in white and brushed over it with my CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush for some sparkle - to go with the white accent on the Holly on the cardstock.
The titles were cut with my Cricut using the Augenblick font.
I embellished with some CTMH White Shimmer Trim, Whisper Twine and Black Sparkle Flourishes.
I'm trying to use up as much of my stash as possible before buying anything new. It's fun rediscovering things that I've bought over the past few years.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Another layout using up product from my paper stash. My goal this year is to keep up a steady pace so I can get my older albums completed and use up as much paper and embellishments that I already own instead of purchasing more.
It's been easier than I thought and with my husband being on strike the past couple weeks I have been able to complete a bunch of layouts without spending a dime.
I love using my Cricut to create custom titles and embellishments instead of having to buy stickers for each layout.
Today's layout is inspired by a sketch that I found on Pinterest by Basic Grey. I placed an extra photo on top of another before taking the picture of the layout. Once I slide the layout into a page protector I will be adding a 4x6 Flip Flap to it with the photo on the bottom left in it.
On Monday, Creative Memories released the new products for August. Two new Collections for scrapbooking plus new Tools and Digital Artwork.
Back to School time is near and the Bookworm Collection is perfect for scrapping the school year.
Coverset, Papers, Stickers, Embellishments and Mat Pack make up this school-themed collection.
Here's a video by Creative Memories using the new Bookworm Collection.
Instructions for this project are available on the CM Blog
The Go! Fight! Win! Collection has everything you need for documenting your child's extra-curricular activities. Sports-themed Paper, Stickers, and Album Coverset make up this Collection.
I was impressed by how many different activities were included in the sticker pack.
You can see all the different activities in this video from Creative Memories. Stay up to date on new products and instructional videos by subscribing to the Creative Memories YouTube channel.
The Dancing Daisies Border Maker Cartridge is the latest addition to the Border Maker System.
Here are all the Border Maker Cartridges that are currently available. They do retire the cartridges as more are added so make sure to order early to avoid disappointment.
Once put on the Going, Gone list they are usually out of stock within hours due to the popularity of the Border Maker System.
Here are all the new products that were released on Monday. The Crop Caddy will be available to order towards the end of the month, unfortunately, there was a delay with the shipment.
The new products are all available to order now through my CM Website (with the exception of the Crop Caddy).
Not in Canada? Check out the Advisor Locator on the website to find a CM Advisor near you.
The new paper packs and embellishments are also in available in digital format.
I use My Memories Suite software for my digi-scapping.
Download a free trial from the My Memories website or use code STMMM3762 for $10 off your software purchase and a 10% discount off of photo books or giftware purchase.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I love working with sketches and after making the switch to Creative Memories, I was really happy to see that they provide Project Recipes with the release of each new paper pack.
For today's layout, I used the Creative Memories Mi Amor Project Recipe with supplies from my stash.
I love how easy it was to pull everything together with this Recipe. I was able to use my Cricut, my CM Border Maker System, and some CTMH Thin Cuts and they all went so well together.
I love how the CTMH Peacock cardstock pops against the Pink Paislee background cardstock.
I used a Pilot Precise V5 Pen in my Cricut to add some journaling to this banner using the Kyden Cricut Font.
I cut my title from the Cricut Photo Fun - Holiday Memories cartridge.
The hearts on the title go perfectly with my CTMH Heart Thin-cuts.
With my order last month I purchased the Paw Print Border Maker Cartridge. I had wanted this before I had even bought the Border Maker System and couldn't wait for it to arrive. I have so many pet layouts to do and I know that this will probably be the cartridge that I use the most.
Isn't it cute!
It was so easy to make this border along the edge of the page.
Here's a quick how-to video by Creative Memories showing how easy it is to create pretty borders for your scrapbook pages.
I grabbed my CM Fur Buddies Paper Pack and chose a few papers to go along with the Cat patterned background following the Fur Buddies Project Recipe. If you haven't tried a Project Recipe yet ask your CM Advisor for more information. New Recipes are released with each new paper collection and feature cutting guides and instructions to help you quickly put your layouts together.
Here's my finished layout - I followed the Project Recipe to create the page then decided to re-arrange my photos in a different pattern than in the recipe. I matted them on solid yellow and gray cardstock and decided to put the White Patterned paper away and use it on another pet layout. Since I've been bashing my stash this year I'm trying to use up as much of my old cardstock as I can before digging into my new stuff.
I submitted this layout in the CM Canada Advisors FB Group for a challenge and I was so excited to learn that I had won! CM is sending me the new Adventure Collection! I have camping pictures printed and will be doing layouts as soon as it arrives!
Supplies Used:
CM Original Border Maker System
CM Paw Prints Border Maker Cartridge
CM Fur Buddies Paper Pack (also available in digital)
CM Fur Buddies Stickers (also available in digital)
CTMH White Shimmer Trim
CTMH Whisper Cardstock
Recollections Gray Cardstock
SU Crushed Curry Cardstock
You can order Creative Memories Products in Canada from my CM Website or use the Advisor locator to find an Advisor near you.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
July Mystery Box for only $29.99 ($150 value). Available while supplies last! Order now to avoid disappointment! Free shipping in the US with code CHRISTMASINJULY Get $14.99 Flat Rate Shipping to Canada on all orders $50+
I love using sketches when I scrapbook but don't usually use the built-in templates in My Memories Suite software. I only had 4 pictures to add to this layout so I decided to see what kind of templates were in the software. I knew that I wanted to use a background paper this time instead of my usual white with the large pictures that go almost to the edge of the page.
I found this template with 4 photos and was able to quickly add in my pictures, background, embellishments, and text. It was so much faster to just drag and drop without having to resize all the photo boxes.
I still love the freedom of creating my own designs from scratch but will definitely be using this feature again since I have so many layouts I need to do.
I'll be adding some tutorials to the blog in the near future using My Memories Suite software. Be sure to follow me on Google+ or follow my blog to receive updates if you would like to learn more. Links to follow me are in the right-hand column.
Supplies Used:
CM Fur Buddies Digital Kit
My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbook Software
The Artwork for these layouts is available for purchase in Canada on my Creative Memories website. You can also use the Advisor Locator to find a CM Advisor near you.
My Memories Suite V8 software is available to purchase on their website - use code STMMM3762 for $10 off software purchase or 10% off photo books and gifts. You can download a free trial of the software if you'd like to try before you buy.
Here's another digital layout that I made using My Memories Suite digital scrapbook software and Creative Memories digital artwork.
I love using larger photos on my layouts when digital scrapbooking and it is so easy to use the digital paper as a background in the title and journaling boxes - just drag and drop and you can zoom in closer for more detail or adjust the opacity and make your journaling stand out.
All the background papers and embellishments are from the CM Gallivant Digital Kit.
This is such a great kit for scrapping road trips - I love the embellishments and as I was putting in the junkyard photos I noticed the outline of a VW Bug so I just had to use the matching embellishment from the kit. My husband is a car enthusiast so there are always pictures of old cars mixed in with our travel photos.
The pages are really easy to put together using My Memories Suite software - I don't use templates when making pages like this. I just add a bunch of photo boxes and resize them until I have all the pictures the way I want them.
The second layout on this page is a duplicate of one of the camping pages that I made last month.
I had already saved a copy to print onto my computer but had left the original album saved in the software. I just continued working in the same album and duplicated the older page and then replaced with the new photos and graphics. Even though the format is the same they look completely different.
The Artwork for these layouts is available for purchase in Canada on my Creative Memories website. You can also use the Advisor Locator to find a CM Advisor near you.
My Memories Suite V8 software is available to purchase on their website - use code STMMM3762 for $10 off software purchase or 10% off photo books and gifts. You can download a free trial of the software if you'd like to try before you buy.
Another digital layout from 2010 using the Creative Memories Adventure Collection.
Instead of a camping layout, this time I used it to scrap pictures that my husband took when visiting family who had recently moved onto lakeside property.
I used My Memories Suite software to make the digital layout. The tree background, title and mat pack are all from the Adventure Collection Digital Kit by Creative Memories.
In order to show the layout side-by-side, I took a screenshot of the layout while in the software so it is a lower resolution here but I did save the high-resolution 12x12 jpegs to my computer so I can get professional prints made for my album.
The Artwork for these layouts is available for purchase in Canada on my Creative Memories website. You can also use the Advisor Locator to find a CM Advisor near you.
My Memories Suite V8 software is available to purchase on their website - use code STMMM3762 for $10 off software purchase or 10% off photo books and gifts. You can download a free trial of the software if you'd like to try before you buy.
So many great new products now available from Creative Memories for scrapbooking your Summer Memories.
I'm loving the new Slice of Summer Paper and Mat Pack and co-ordinating stickers. Also available in digital format for use with your favourite digital scrapbooking or diecutting software.
There's also a new border punch - how fun is this for creating Sun-inspired borders for your layouts.
And check out the foil accents on the spine of these matching coversets!
And as if all that wasn't awesome enough!
You need to see the latest CM Border Maker Cartridge - Footprints!!
How perfect is this for your Beach or Baby layouts?
And that's not all....there is also a new addition to the Custom Cutting System and new Mix & Match patterned paper and embellishments. See the What's New Flyers below for more information.
The new products are all available to order now through my CM Website.
Not in Canada? Check out the Advisor Locator on the website to find a CM Advisor near you.
The new paper packs and embellishments are also in available in digital format.
Download a free trial from the My Memories website or use code STMMM3762 for $10 off your software purchase and a 10% discount off of photo books or giftware purchase.
I've been so busy working on my son's baby album that I haven't posted any layouts for a while.
I'm taking a break from his book while I wait for more of the CM Woodland Whimsy paper to arrive with my next order, so I thought it would be the perfect time to go back to the album that I started earlier this year.
I joined the Bash Your Scrapbook Stash Facebook Group earlier this year and it has made me look at my supplies in a totally different way. I was able to finish putting my 2001 layouts together in just a couple of months with the exception of journaling and titles. And I've cut way back on buying new stuff - I've been going to my stash and looking through old product first when putting layouts together.
I did buy a few 4x6 layout books from Scrapbook Generation. I kept pinning their layouts and when they had a sale on the e-books I decided to buy them. I'm glad I did, my layouts have come together so fast using the guides and I don't tend to crop my pictures after printing them so these books are perfect for me.
For this layout I wanted to keep it simple, our friends were building their 1st house and I wanted to showcase the pictures so I went with neutral cardstock on black pages. I'm not exactly sure which sketch I used for this layout - I usually write down the supplies and sketch used but I've moved everything around while doing the baby album and couldn't find the list.
Same great coversets in a compact 8x8 size, perfect for children or mini-albums.
Available to purchase until July 7th. Pages and protectors are available year round.
New exclusive colours available for a limited time, choose from:
Teal Polkadot 8x8 Album Cover (foil accents)
Coral Chevrons 8x8 Album Cover (foil accents)
Steel Gray 8x8 Album Cover
Warm Gray 8x8 Album Cover
Glacier 8x8 Album Cover (will be substituted for Dusty Blue if supply of Glacier runs out)
For a limited time only, get the exclusive 8x8 Ocean Blue Sweet Treats Album Cover
FREE with the purchase of 4 or more 8x8 Album Covers!
