Monday, October 21, 2013

Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories

The "big reveal" was today and Creative Memories is rolling out information on their new company, pending court approval, "ahni & zoe", ahni meaning "beautiful" and zoe meaning "life" - from A to Z!

Fast to Fab(ulous) album Kits, pre-decorated pages, page protectors.
Slide-in Pocket style albums
Pre-decorated refill pages and Pocket Page albums will fit into either style albums.

Tape Runner
4 Pens: Black, Brown, Gold and Silver

A smart phone app

Magnetic Displays

And that's about it!

Simple.

For the "time-starved mom."

You may be able to view the new Catalog here.  I would love to know what you think!


41 comments:

  1. Not happy with the removal of the White & Black plain pages.

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    1. Not happy with this new line altogether - they have removed the creativity we all loved... going forward everyone's family albums will look identical except for the photos! Can you imagine? It would have been SO SIMPLE to also offer plain colored albums and plain pages... just pull some off their assembly line before they go through the printing process! I'm starting to look elsewhere for my supplies.

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    2. not happy with new layout what happened to the card stock It was the best paper back the basic colors

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  2. Not happy with the fact that you cant get multiple different album covers (red, green, blue) and you are not able to get the single albums (only available in black and greige) with full pocket pages. That tape runners refills are $8.50 instead of 6 (close to) like before. Oh well. I guess I will be taking my business else where.

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  3. There must be some legal reason why they are not offering plain White or Black or Natural Refill Pages. If they can make the pre-printed ones, surely they could make the plain ones for those of us who like to put more than 3 pictures on a page. Or who like to do our own embellishing. Just doesn't make sense. So it must be some 'insider' reasoning. Tape Runner is $9.50 - it's the Refills that are $8.50 maybe they are twice the size? (one can dream, right?)

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  4. Are the albums still 12x12? What about page protectors- I didn't see any mention of them? Time will tell how I feel about the changes. At first glance, I am not thrilled. But I am going to try to keep an open mind.

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    1. I don't see dimensions but I'm assuming the album is 12x12 but do not know that for sure. The Page Protectors are included in the price of the Fast to Fab Kit.

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  5. Prepared to keep an open mind, but under whelmed at this point !! Can't understand why there is no standard pages even if they stopped offering black and spargo and only did white it would at least be an offering to those who want traditional scrapbooking. It appears that they customers who have got them their name are the ones being abandoned or forced to do fast to fabulous


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    1. I agree it's really strange to abandon the traditional scrapbooker. Not sure the logic behind leaving such a loyal customer base to find "new" customers. That's why I'm thinking there must be some other reason that we don't know. Otherwise, it seems it would be really easy to just offer a plain page option. (But I did notice there is no paper, no trimmers, no stickers...but still, plain pages are such a staple at my house!)

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  6. I'm glad they are still around and making an effort to give us access to their good quality scrapbook. For me though, my basic needs would include a plain refill page options, whether it be white, spargo, or whatever... just atleast have one option. Also, for years I have scrapbooked for my kids and have color coded their albums. I've always used the basic colors hoping they would be the ones to be easiest to find. (Black, blue, red, green & pink) I am unsure how to proceed with their albums with the "bright" options that are presently out. I know they have to start somewhere, so I am hopeful. But as of right now, I don't see anything that would meet my needs.

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    1. I just posted an update "Frequently Asked Questions" and their answer is that the albums will not be made of Bookcloth. Posted on 10/22/13 So sorry.

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  8. First, I have to preface my comment by saying I'm MINNESOTAN and an Independent Consultant for a different "stamping" and paper craft based direct sales company but I first discovered scrapbooking (my first and original paper craft passion) through Creative Memories. Although I quickly strayed away from CM because their system was "too" basic and I was quickly ostracized (or felt that way at least) for liking to include "chunky" embellishments on my scrapbook pages.

    It was through Creative Memories that I discovered scrapbooking. I'm definitely not a fan of the new name although the meaning behind the name is kind of cool but too hard to associate with the new name. From what I see in the new catalog I'm not excited. I know companies are trying to attract a "New & Younger" generation to crafting but it CAN be done without completely getting rid of an "old" style. Sometimes it just means taking a new approach or showing the next generation how to adapt scrapbooking both digital and traditional.

    It seems to me that the new phone app is only going to be initially available to iPhone users.

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  9. Loving the new direction. I've used CM products for many years and lately have not been able to find the time for traditional scrapbooking. I am very excited for the new iPhone app and really hoping it'll be available on the iPad too. Looking forward to finally completing more books for my family.

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    1. great to hear Tina! What did you think of the print prices?

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    2. I do use Shutterfly and have ordered numerous 8 x 8 albums from them. I feel these prices are higher, however if the design works for the theme I am going for, I am more than happy to pay the cost.

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  10. What happened to the digital stuff?

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    1. Here is a blog post regarding Digital. Digital has been negotiated back over to the developers (Panstoria). Here is the info and link to my post: Here is an update on the Digital: http://www.adashofscrapbooking.blogspot.com/search/label/digital%20scrapbooking

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  12. I would love to see the white pages because I can do my own colors to match my pic. I sure hope that will be one the list, a lot of people are wanting plain pages.

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  13. Like the new Books but with plain pages as will not sure if I would buy the books with printed pages.

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  14. Just be thankful CM is still going to be around in the new company, as we don't have it in Australia anymore. Gone but not forgotten, the paper, the range, the quality...we have another new company in the market now to fill some of the void but my heart will always be CM. Be positive, it might be a smaller range (for now) but at least it is not gone completely.
    Tasmania, Australia

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    1. Well, it's not a done deal yet...this plan is still pending on court approval here in the U.S.

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  15. Totally bummed! I am a traditional scrapbooker who has always stood by CM products. There is just nothing for me in the new A&Z. With out plan white pages and normal albums in 12 x 12, I don't see anything I would purchase. Maybe in the future more options will be there.

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  16. All I have to say is Totally Disapointed with CM. They have snubbed not only their loyal customers but have the elitist attitude that everyone has an iphone. Not Cool.

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  17. Certainly nothing new and innovative, just jumping in on the Project Life-type scrapbooking.

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  18. Have been a CM customer for year. Don't like the new launch. They have lost a very loyal customer. Shame on them!

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  19. Not as thrilled as I hoped to be. Keeping an open mind because I loved CM products just think they have taken the same old in some areas and tried to re-invent. Seems like the copy craft store stuff and no longer what they once were many years ago a stand out .

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  20. I used to be a CM consultant. I am not happy with the new direction but I do remember being at a rally with Rhonda (owner of the company) 5 years ago and she said that eventually CM would go almost all digital. It appears that is what they are doing. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the new line for traditional scrappers unless you like pre-made slap the photos on the page scrapbooking.

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    1. CM and RA did think that Digital would be a huge market for them unfortunately, they could not compete with Snapfish, Shutterfly, Costco, etc. in pricing. The R&D was extremely expensive for them as well so they are actually getting out of the digital books for now and going with a Cloud-based app storage. Digital is still in development with the new company and I know I keep repeating myself, but this is all based on court approval. Yes, nothing in the new line for traditional scrapbookers except pens and tape runner. Sad :(

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  21. Not happy with the new line. White pages is a must for most of us that has been with CM for about 20 years.

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  22. I think this will have potential for those that are cell phone photo takers. I do like the idea of this. Would I use it? Probably not, BUT.....with all the people I know that use only their cells to take photos, I think this is a great idea. I think the albums would look better than what you would get from shutterfly or mac.

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    1. It's starting to grow on me...I picked up one of their Fast to Fabulous albums for my Hawaii trip and it is beautifully decorated...it is comforting to me to know that I just don't take as many photos as I did when my kids were smaller so if I pick the best photos from our trip, I will have our trip album done in just a couple of days. For me, that is a plus. I will let you all know when I finish it and post pics here!

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  23. I fail to see why none of the negative Nellies who are commenting above about no blank pages don't see that all you have to do is lay a 12x12 piece of paper on a pre printed page and you have a blank slate from which to begin. Most folks put down a piece of paper anyway. The printed pages are less expensive than they used to be so stop griping and give this company who is reinventing itself a chance. You have not even seen or touched on new thing in the line and already you are ready to leave. Well, I would challenge you to find a better made album and products that this company offers. I'm so relieved my albums are still going to be available, and I don't have to go find others which would never make me as happy. Please people, I'm so tired of the negativity. Approach it from how can I use this, rather than immediately saying it's bad.

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  24. Not happy with the new albums. Don't know why you could not have kept producing the CM albums, pages, and some of the paper. It is just not the same!

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  25. I too am not crazy about the new stuff - to me it's not scrapbooking. Sliding pics into preprinted pages and making books is not scrapbooking!!

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  26. I have been a CM customer for ten years, and feel kind of "dumped" because I am a traditional scrapbooker. It seems like you are out of luck if you don't live on an iphone 24/7. Where is the creativity?

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    1. Thanks for commenting. I'm sorry you feel dumped. I missed the blank pages too until I saw these albums in person and see how they have the same wonderful strap hinge binding and beautiful pages...there is still plenty of room for creativity if you desire to add your own personal touch of photo matting, borders, journaling, etc... I don't live on an iphone 24/7...I use an SLR camera and my phone. Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories is encouraging us to print our photos and tape them into an album. Or slide them into a pocket page album. Or combine the pages for both looks! It's hard to explain or show in a Catalog but if you get a chance, I hope you'll take a peek in person before you decide. Believe me, I was kicking and screaming through the changes several years ago and so I know how you feel. I do hope you give Ahni & Zoe a chance. I've been a customer for twenty years and I am really loving this new line! Truly!

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