New for August: Bookworm and Go! Fight! Win! Collections

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. 

Layout using My Memories Suite Template with CM Fur Buddies

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.  

Road Trippin' Digital Layouts with CM Gallivant Collection

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.    

Lakeside Layout with Creative Memories Adventure Collection Digital Kit

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.   

New for July: Creative Memories Slice of Summer and more!

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.  

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. 

Camping Layouts with Creative Memories Digital Artwork

I knew when I saw the newly released Creative Memories Adventure Collection that it would be perfect for scrapping our camping layouts.  The graphics in this kit match our coastal British Columbia terrain. Even though we live near the ocean, we are surrounded by forests, mountains, and lakes.

I decided to use this kit for digital layouts of a camping trip we took back in the summer of 2010. 

As much as I love traditional scrapping, sometimes digital is the way to go.  I wanted these layouts to have large photos to showcase the lake and mountainside views.  The new Adventure Collection is the perfect accent to these pictures.    

I chose to go with a Project Life style layout.  Using My Memories Suite software I was able to create my own templates then fill in with photos, and add in the digital artwork using Creative Memories papers and mat packs and a few coordinating digital embellishments.   

This layout uses two digital images from the CM Adventure Mat Pack.  I added text to the top of each image and matched the text colour to the bottom layer of the "Roughing It" outline.  

This layout also uses two Adventure mats and I added my journaling to the larger box. I added the canoe embellishment and adjusted the opacity so it is just a shadow in the corner of the journaling box.

For this layout, I used the woodgrain paper from the Woodland Whimsy Boy paper pack to create the background of my journaling box.  Using the colour picker tool, I changed the text colour to match the dark brown of the slats.  The three embellishments are from the CM Gallivant digital kit - I thought they would work well with this page.  I love how versatile the kits are.   With My Memories Suite software, you can change the colours of embellishments.  For this layout, I decided to change the arrow to green instead of the original red.  I used the colour picker and matched it to the green on the "Let's Go" embellishment.

This layout uses the rock paper from the Adventure digital paper pack - I wanted it to match the mats that I used in my second layout.  

I used the Woodland Whimsy boy paper again but added the Happy Camper graphic from the Adventure kit over top.

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.    

Layout for CM NSD Virtual Crop: Challenge One

It's Day Two of the CM Virtual Crop for National Scrapbook Day 2017.

I haven't been able to get out to my craft room but managed to play along using the CM Fur Buddies Digital Kit with My Memories Suite digital scrapbook software (use code STMMM3762 for $10 off the MMS software). 

Creative Memories provided a sketch and asked us to add doodling to the page.

Here's my layout for Challenge One:

Be sure to check out the Events page and the CM Blog for more great ideas.  I won't be able to do all the challenges while the crop is on but plan to go back and use the sketches for future layouts.   There is also a coupon code for $10 off of a $25 or more order (use code CMNSD10 for US and Canada -ends 6pm CST Saturday May 6th)

Creative Memories Virtual Crop for NSD 2017 - May 5th & 6th

Join CM on Facebook for a 2 Day Virtual Crop.  Several Challenges will be posted on the Blog, and if you are able to follow along you can post your completed project over on the FB event page.

Not sure how it works?  Go to the Event Page and read the Details section for the Q&A.  Make sure you RSVP while there so you receive notifications when new challenges are posted.

All the challenges will also be posted on the Creative Memories Blog, so if you aren't online at the time of the crop you can still go back and save the different sketches to use later.  Subscribe to the blog to receive email notifications when new posts are added.

Not just for paper crafters!  Digi-scrappers welcome to follow along and create with your preferred digital scrapbooking program.

Don't have a digital program? Check out My Memories Suite software and use code STMMM3762 to receive $10 off your software purchase.

Creative Memories Digital Kits are available on my website - be sure to grab your favorite kit and crop along with us.

My Memories Freebies - December 1 - 7, 2014

My Memories Freebies

My Memories is another scrapbooking software that I have been using for years.  I'm an affiliate with them - check the link in the right column to go to their website and you can save $10 on the purchase of the software when you enter the code  STMMM3762

Here are a couple of freebies from them available this week only:

Click here to get Autumn Dance Cluster freebie

Click here to get Merry Merry freebie

Here are a couple of pages that I have just uploaded to Studio J for printing.  I made these in My Memories and exported them as jpgs to my desktop.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the software.   There is also a trial version available on the website if you want to try before you buy.  

Studio J Layouts

I placed an order at the end of November to take advantage of the $5 Layout Special pricing.

I did a cost comparison in a previous blog post comparing the regular Studio J pricing to what I paid at my local Costco for 12x12 layouts.

With the November Special I ordered 12 Studio J layouts, which is the equivalent of 24 pages from Costco.

Costco price:  24 x 4.99 = $119.76

My Studio J order total with my Consultant Discount of 22% plus s&h and tax = 69.63

Savings of $2.09 per 12x12 layout!

In Studio J you can choose from 3 types of layouts - in these I choose a photo template & a paper kit then dragged my photos into the photo wells, added my titles & journalling and embellishments and coloured the existing embellishments (ribbons & buttons).  You can also delete anything that you don't want, you can resize and add more pictures with this type of layout.  There are 130 kits to choose from.  There is also a Studio J app for iPhone that shows all the kits.  I find it handy to look at so I don't have to go back and forth in the program. 

In this next set I chose from pre-done layouts. 

These were really fast I just added my photos and personalized with my own titles and journalling.

With this type of layout you can't make as many changes but it is fast and great if you don't have a lot of experience.  Great way to learn how to use the software and then move on to the other types of layouts when you are more comfortable with how the program works.  And since there is no charge to use Studio J you can make an unlimited amount of pages while you learn the program.  

And finally I choose a No Limits layout.  

You can do anything with the No Limits. 

I added a page that I had created in My Memories scrapbook software to the left side and a page I created with the Project Life iPhone app on the right.  

You can also fill the page with different sizes of photos. 

Great way to save on photo finishing when you use odd sizes (like 2x2 or 2x3 or 6x8) in traditional scrapbooking or pocket scrapbooking. 

You can create as many layouts as you want and won't be charged anything until you purchase your prints.  The software is web-based so you need an internet connection to use it.

I often upload my pictures into different projects from my desktop and then login from a laptop or even from my iPhone (with Puffin web browser).  

Layouts are saved in the software for 90 days which gets extended once you make a purchase.  I created over 50 layouts but only purchased 12 - the expiry date was extended after I ordered.  I created many of the layouts back in July when I was first off work for my tendinitis and very limited to how I could use my left hand.  

Digital scrapbooking was the perfect option to be able to work on my scrapbooking without having to do any cutting or stamping and hurt myself more. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Studio J.  There are also many video tutorials on the Studio J site. 

If you live in the Langley, BC area and would like to see how it works I will be doing tutorials in the New Year.   Sign up for my newsletter to be notified of upcoming dates.  

Try it free today at http://nancyhelmer.studioj.com

Using QR Codes In Your Scrapbook Layouts

Well I'm happy to say that I finally found a way to integrate all the videos that I take with my camera and cell phone into my scrapbook pages!

When I import into my computer everything is saved by date in iPhoto.  Then I create separate folders by year, month and layout so everything is grouped together.   Most of the time I've just deleted or worked around any videos that were in those folders.  Now I'll be able to go back and add in the videos and as I do each layout I can add a QR code to my page and anyone with a QR reader on their phone can scan and be directed to the video.

I played around with it today and it was pretty easy.

Here's step by step of what I did:

• First I add a video to my YouTube account.  
• Then I copied the link to the URL for the video
• I used the code generator at  http://www.qr-code-generator.com/ to get my image in jpg format.
• I downloaded it into iPhoto and renamed it so I would know which video it was.
• I also created a folder on my desktop with the qr code and the pictures I wanted to scrap with it.
• I opened Studio J and created a layout with my pictures and added two qr codes linking to two different videos that I had take when I took those photos.

This is my Studio J layout with the two codes added in. The first video is my dogs wanting to go outside. And the second is them rushing out the door to play in the snow. It's also our puppy's first snow so I'm happy I could add these great moments.

If you do pocket scrapbooking or digital pocket scrapbooking you can add the qr code to a digital journaling card and either print it out as a photo or use it on a digital layout. I had this card already saved so I just added a photo box for the QR code.

You can also add the code directly to a photo and then have it printed or use it in a digital layout.

If you do traditional layouts or pocket scrapbooking you can print the QR code onto paper and add it to your layout or journaling cards.  

Feel free to contact me for more information on using QR codes in your layouts or leave a comment below.  Happy Scrapping!!

Last Days of Studio J $5 layout sale & using Studio J with outside programs

Just today and tomorrow left to take advantage of the Studio J Lucky 5 promotion.  You get a 12x24 layout printed for only $5.00 plus s&h.  That is about half the price of what I would pay to get my pages printed here - Costco charges $4.99 for a 12x12 layout.  CTMH Consultants also get a 22% discount off of that price and orders count towards your quarterly minimums. I've been working on layouts all week - just need to do my final spell checks and I'll be ready to order.

If you aren't familiar with Studio J - it is an online digital scrapbook program by Close To My Heart. You login, create a project, upload photos, choose a digital kit and a two page photo layout or create your own with the No Limits feature. Drag and drop your pictures, add some journalling, titles and embellishments and your done. There is also an option with the pages pre-finished and you just add your photos and journaling - I found those were a real time saver. The program saves your layouts for 90 days so you can order as many layouts as you want. It's flat rate shipping so more economical to save them up and do a larger order all at once.

So that's the basics - there are many other things you can do with the software.   If you are a traditional scrapbooker and like to print out odd sized photos you can do that too.  Just use a No Limits page and create the photo wells in the sizes you like and drag and drop your pictures in - great for those odd sizes like 2x2, 3x3 or larger 5x7.

If you are a digi-scrapper you can import your jpgs created with other software and get those 12x12 layouts printed at a great rate.  Or print out digital images for use in pocket scrapbooking.  I have a lot of digital journalling cards that I can now add to my regular pocket album.  I can even import them and add a text box and do my journalling right in Studio J before I get them printed.

When I checked my email this morning I had an offer to buy the Project Life app for iPhone for $.99 this weekend.  I decided to download it and then did a search online to learn more about it.  You can use your photos that you take with your phone in the app or use photos from Dropbox.   For me that's a bonus because I personally don't care for many of the Project Life journalling cards.  So I can save my digital journalling cards (lots of free graphics online) and import them right from Dropbox.

Here is the first layout that I made with the app.  The kit choices included with the app are very limited and I'm not going to spend money on any other kits when I can use my own graphics.  The Snow Fun card is one that I downloaded for free off the internet and uploaded to Dropbox from my computer.  I was then able to add it to the layout in the app.   It was fun to play around with and I can see it being handy for pictures that I don't necessarily want to keep but can still scrapbook while it's fresh in my mind.   These pictures are from last night - it had just started to snow and my 4 month old puppy needed to go out.  I took them with my cell phone and they aren't great quality but I'm happy I've got a quick page done.  It's these everyday moments that I love to capture and too often I miss out because I wait too long to scrap them.  

Another fun iPhone app that was recommended when I was looking into the Project Life app was one called Phonto.  It was a free app that lets you write directly onto your photos.   I tried it out on a picture with my dogs and it worked great.  

Now I can add it to a Studio J page or a pocket scrapbook page and don't have to wonder later why I have a random picture of the dogs looking out the window.  

Here is the layout I made with the Project Life app imported into Studio J alongside a 12x12 layout that I made in My Memories:

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Studio J.  There's no cost to try it out and you don't need to create an account right away either.