Creative Memories NEW Product Tote

Ohhh this is cute!  Creative Memories new Product Tote.

It measures approximately 16" high and 17" wide (8" deep) and has 3 zippered pockets

Perfect for carrying current projects and supplies to workshops or retreats, or as extra storage for albums, pages, paper or tools. And it's cute too!

I love that the inside is light blue with polka dots -- the light blue color will make it easy for me to retrieve things from inside the bag! I won't need to use my flashlight when looking for that multipurpose tool that has fallen to the bottom.  And it is a cheery color - blue is one of my favorite colors!

Speaking of blue....how would you like a new blue cardstock?

Introducing Eggplant, Gray, Peacock Blue and Beige! Creative Memories 12x12 solid cardstock is acid-free, lignin-free and buffered. Comes in packs of 10 sheets.

You can get more info or order any of these products on my website:  creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

Happy Scrappin'

Creative Memories Wedding Album and Heritage Album

Natural Elegance is pre-decorated so all you do is add your photos. I love this video and I love how versatile the album is because of the neutral colors. Your wedding colors will POP off the page! 

I also love the suggestion to use this album for Heritage Photos. Yes!! Such a gorgeous background for your black and white prints.

You can see and/or shop for the new wedding collection here:  creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

Happy Scrappin'!

Decluttering tip: Digitize your Old Home Movies, Slides and Scrapbooks

Ahhh summer...when life pares down to the simple: flip flops and a towel.

Part of my decluttering mission this summer is to digitally transfer my outdated yet precious VHS home movies and slides.  Here is a decluttering tip:

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This picture shows the comparison after I digitally transferred 3 old home movies onto DVD and Cloud storage. I went from taking 3-1/2 inches of space to just 3/4 inch (and no space at all in Cloud storage) - and this is just the beginning of my collection! 

I'm in the process of getting all my movies, slides & scrapbooks digitized onto DVD and Cloud storage!! I love how uncluttered it feels to throw out my bulky media storage. This is what I do for my clients too  - I help people digitize their media before it deteriorates. 

But more importantly, I love helping people celebrate the family connections made through reliving and sharing memories. We laugh so hard we cry when watching these old movies! My kids never knew their mom was so hip (thank you 80's) and that their grandma looked just like Angie Dickinson (thank you 70's). So many more gems to discover on this heritage hunt! I love my job as a Legacy Maker!  (I'll share a snippet pretty soon!)

DIY Guest Book with instax photos

Here is a fun idea for an interactive guest book. I picked up a mini burlap scrapbook from a local craft store to use for a recent surprise Anniversary Party.

The cover of the album was cute but no place for a title so I found a package of heart-shaped chalkboard tags. I wrote the couple's initials with a white Chalk Marker, then tied it to the front of the book with some twine. (The chalk marker dries quickly but can be wiped off with a wet cloth so if you make a mistake, it can be easily corrected.) 

We set out an instax mini 8 camera (it's a mini Polaroid-type camera by Fuji) next to the album on the reception table. My daughter was stationed at the table to let guests know what to do. "Take a photo!"  "Tape it in the Book!"  "Write a Message to the Couple!" It was super fun to do and we got a lot of surprised and nostalgic comments about Polaroid memories...Fun!

We had plenty of film for the 100+ guests -- and were able to order in bulk through Amazon prime. It's also a good idea to have a few replacement batteries on hand just in case.

We also had a white pen and a black Creative Memories pen at the table for guests to sign the book next to their photo(s). And a couple rolls of decorative washi tape (Japanese removable masking tape) so guests could quickly tape their instax photo into the guest book:

On the first page of the guest book I put a photo of the happy couple (from their wedding 30 years ago):

Soon the book started to fill up with fun photos and special notes:

My son also walked around the party throughout the evening taking photos of guests who maybe didn't see the guest book as they arrived. We took some photos of the decorations and cake too...anything that will document this special occasion:

If you're into social media, you can have a mini chalkboard or sign out with the designated hashtag for your event. Here is an idea I found on Pinterest from BrideBox Wedding Albums:

Their chalkboard sign displays the hashtag they want guests to use to post photos of the event on Instagram.

Here's a cute wedding display from cocodaydream.com 

One of the guests at my brother's Anniversary Party created a temporary geotag on Snapchat :

There are so many ideas to make guest books interactive and fun!  I hope you enjoyed these!

Happy Scrappin' 

Creative Memories Coupon Code July 2016

Use promo code  HEART10  on my Creative Memories website to get $10 off until July 29:  creativememories.com/user/donnalyn 

Happy Scrappin'

Creative Memories Owner, Caleb Hayhoe

I'm so grateful to Caleb Hayhoe, Creative Memories owner! Here is your chance to virtually "meet" him and see his vision for Creative Memories. He knows what we love and he has brought back all of our favorite "Made in the U.S.A." scrapbooks and paper (without any drama). 

He scrapbooks.

He "gets" it.

He listens to what we, the customers, want. 

What a concept!! ;)

Enjoy and Happy Scrappin'


To visit my website and see what's new:  creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

How to Photograph Fireworks

This is not how you take them.....

and this is not how you take them...

"Hey, I have an idea! How about we ask an expert?"

Here are some great tips from my favorite photo guy Nick Kelsh.
You can read more of this article and other great tips on his website:

How to Photograph Fireworks by Nick Kelsh

Have a safe and happy 4th

and

Happy Scrappin'

Creative Memories 8x8 Albums for Summer 2016

These uber-giftable summery 8x8 Album Covers are only available one more week. After that, the only place you'll be able to get these colors is in 12x12's!

Orange

Sunshine

Spring Green

Teal

Ocean Blue

and Ebony

The Orange one would even make a cute album for this Fall...visits to the Pumpkin Patch or a record of your children's Halloween costumes. 

Scrapbook Pages sold separately and are available all year long. Just the 8x8 album covers are a limited edition item. 

The summery colors will also make a perfect mini album for you or your child to complete after a memorable vacation.  Just print 24-30 of your favorite vacation photos to put inside. Super special memories which will allow you to relieve your vacation over and over again.

And my personal favorite....fill with photos and send to the grandparents....they love printed photos and would appreciate a miniature album "brag book" if you will.

What are you using your 8x8's for??  Comment below or on my Facebook page: facebook.com/adashofscrapbooking 

Happy Scrappin'

DIY Graduation Wreath

I took a beach themed wreath (from Target) and added some graduation themed die-cuts 

to create this festive welcome to my daughter's graduation party

This Creative Memories embellishments pack is called "Achievements" I believe it is available for a limited time only as one of the die-cuts specifically says "2016"

Here is a sample of what's included in the pack (over 80 shapes plus bling stickers):

To attach them to the wreath, I punched a small hole near the top of the die-cut and tied it to the wreath branches with some twine.  

Because they are tied on, I'll be able to easily remove them for use in her scrapbook or save them for some future card making projects.

As you can see, Creative Memories embellishments aren't just for scrapbooking!

Creative Memories Mini Convention

What a thrill to be with my CM sisters for a Creative Memories Mini Convention!

Thank you for supporting my Creative Memories business -- it was such a surprise to be recognized in the "Top Sales" and "Top Recruiting" categories from August-January!  Wow! I received two Creative Memories Albums as a 'recognition reward'. I couldn't have done this without YOU! Aren't they beautiful?! (Teal and Pink Lemonade)

CM's Mini Convention was located in a gorgeous Northwest Lodge in the state of Washington...we were greeted with a fun coloring sheet and sweet treats at our seat. We also received product samples and business/product tip handouts. (I found the Starbucks on my own, wink wink.)

We heard from the Home Office and from our local area speakers. One of my favorites was Eileen who completed 8 albums in 1 year using our Fast2Fab (predecorated) albums!! She loves them as much as I do:

Sue shared her creative ideas on using our Border Maker System. We each brought our own and had some hands-on workshop time to play around! 

I was excited to break mine in and finally start using it! Did you know that the cartridges can also double as punches? They do not have to be attached to the Border Maker to punch.

I was asked to speak about using social media in business. That was fun because what little I know, I learned from my teenagers! They keep me young, haha! 

One of the things I love most about Creative Memories is the people. There is no "hype" and "pressure to perform" -- it is just a group of ladies (and lads) who love their photos, love family stories, love to celebrate the past and give hope for the future through photo albums. About as down-to-earth as these pretty flowers....

The highlight of the day for me was spending time with Carla and getting to know her better. Carla joined my team over a year ago and loves Creative Memories! And no, we did not plan to both wear purple...we just naturally coordinated (which will make a great page spread, haha!). We enjoyed several hours of "workshop" time after the convention part was over. We cropped til we dropped!

Our next Pacific Northwest Mini Convention will be in Seattle area this August. I'm already looking forward to it!!  I am taking this mental picture because I imagine by August we will have many more CM Advisors joining us. Until further notice, CREATIVE MEMORIES IS BACK! 

Creative Memories Coupon Code February 2016

This one will be going fast as the exclusive punches are While Supplies Last...but Creative Memories has put together these fun Paper Bundles. Each Paper Bundle purchase includes a BONUS Stylish Heart Punch or Cherry Blossom Punch ($21.50 value) for FREE!  You do not need a Coupon Code - the punch will automatically be added to your cart depending on which paper bundle you choose.  No limit to the quantity - you will get a punch with each bundles just as long as supplies last!  

creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

Happy Scrappin'!

Creative Memories Valentine Collection 2016

I'm so excited to share Creative Memories 2016 Valentine Collection!!

Let's start with the album...12x12 Fuschia Bookcloth Coverset 

Hooray for it being a Coverset (meaning just the cover with no pages inside)! 

This means we have the freedom to choose which page refills to add: 

plain pages

predecorated pages

or clear pocket pages

or my favorite option: mix and match pages with clear pocket pages!

xoxoxo

Love this! 

(It is much prettier in person as the silver and hot pink hearts are foiled in.) 

Gotta have paper and embellishments, right?

Watercolor Love has 12 double-sided 12x12 sheets of "lovely" paper (Made in USA); including 2 sheets of pre-designed panels that can be cut apart and used on pages, cards, bulletin boards, etc. (The back side is another fun print so if you don't want to use the cut-aparts, you don't have to!) 

Die-cut Embellishments are fun to layer on projects too and include some sparkly self-adhesive heart bling! 

And, drum roll please, here's a new Cartridge for our Border Makers:

How fun is this? after we punch our border chains, we will have a bunch of mini hearts to sprinkle on a page, a table or sprinkle in our cards throughout the year!

What do you think?

Do you love?

xoxoxoxo

and Happy Scrappin'

DL

creativememories.com/user/donnalyn