Creative Memories bankruptcy update 6/15/13

Here is what I know as of today and this is all pending Court approval:

1. An extensive list of Current products (including many coversets) will be While Supplies last in June

2. Refill Pages and Page Protectors will be on a LAST CHANCE availability in July. They will make as many of these as needed starting July 8 (again this is assuming the Court approves this plan). So we will have July 8-31 to order Refill Pages and Page Protectors (and many Coversets).

3. Rewards Club ends August 21. So if you are a Rewards Club member and have credit, you need to use it or lose it by August 21.  

4. The "new" Creative Memories will launch in the U.S.A. this Fall. They have not said if they are changing their name or not. It will be a party plan business like CM currently is.

5. The "new" CM will offer "fresh" and "new" Albums and Pages. They will not give any more specifics other than they keep saying how Fast to Fabulous has been a big seller for them. They are moving to a SIMPLE offering of albums to complete quickly. They are closing out the old and rolling in the new.

Picfolios

Fast to Fabulous Albums

 

 

What is Fast to Fabulous? Basically their beautiful coversets with 12x12 pages that are predesigned...all you have to do is add photos and you're done! You can also add stickers, title stickers and journaling to personalize your album and make it more meaningful.

Fast to Fabulous Baby Girl

 

 

So it sounds like they are going in this direction. The only thing I don't understand is why Page Protectors would be on a LAST CHANCE in July. Unless they are changing the size? Or repackaging? But if they are just repackaging, then we should be able to purchase 12x12 sizes in the future I would think they wouldn't tell us to get them in July. I wish I knew! I think if the Court approves their plan, then they will be able to tell us more. I would hate to stock up on Page Protectors in July and then have them reintroduced in the Fall.

 

"All great changes are preceded by chaos." 

 

Here are some more Fast to Fabulous kits that are currently available:

 

 



color wheel paper organization

having fun organizing my paper storage today for easy accessibility!

 

 

I started with the basic color wheel for my mostly solid card stock.

 

 

After the basic color wheel, I still have 16 available spots!

I think I'll use the rest of the slots for themed papers and maybe even album projects.

 

So now instead of taking over the dining room table....which I don't really like leaving out like this,

 

 I may have to start scrapbooking in my office credenza because it is conveniently located next to my new paper storage...

 

Happy Scrappin'!

 

Creative Memories bankruptcy update

The following email went out to Rewards Club members today. It says that there will be a "last chance" order period in July for some core products, like Refills, Page Protectors and some core albums. This is pending court approval. They are intending to re-launch (perhaps under a new brand name or new packaging?) in the "future" but they have not been specific in how soon the future would be. Recently CM closed in Australia and their While Supplies Last lasted about two hours. I'm optimistic yet cautious as so much of this is out of CM's hands now and in the hands of the Court.

 

What do you need currently to make progress on your Creative Memories albums? Please take stock of what you have and decide what you may need in the near future to complete your current album projects. I will help you as best I can with keeping you up to date with news from CM. It is my heartfelt desire that our albums, pages and page protectors be around for generations to come.

 

Hugging my CM albums today,

Donna Lyn 

 

Dear Rewards Club Member,

Thank you for your membership, and for your belief in Creative Memories products and mission.

As you may know, we're working on exciting plans for a bright new future for our business that will bring the mission to even more people. As we’ve shared before, we intend to emerge from Chapter 11 with a simpler, more focused business model, and will be sharing more with you as we go.

As part of the Chapter 11 process, Creative Memories has sent a few official notifications on behalf of the Court, and you will be getting another one later today. It will likely be in "legalese," so we'd like to explain what it includes.

The future business we're working on includes new, fresh products and programs. To make that happen, we need to begin transitioning out of current products and programs. So we've filed a motion for the Court's consideration. It establishes procedures and modifies some of our programs related to while supplies last for many traditional products and a last chance order opportunity.

What's been put before the Court is our intention, and it does require Court approval, so it is not a certainty yet. But upon approval, what does that mean for you and for the Rewards Club?

• We will stop accepting new members or renewing existing memberships of the Rewards Club (this is effective as of the filing today, June 12, 2013).
• We will honor Rewards Club Credits, and the Rewards Club program will continue until August 21, 2013.
• Due to the while supplies last of traditional products, we will not be restocking much of the current inventory on hand, so this is an excellent time to use your Club Credits to get those products you've had your eye on.
• We will issue Club Credits to compensate for unused days of Membership. We will use August 21 as the final day for the Rewards Club and base calculations on the membership fee of $39. So for example, if an individual bought a membership on June 1, 2013, then as of August 21, 2013 she would have used 82 days of the membership, leaving 283 days used.  Thus, she would be credited with $30.24 in Rewards Club Credit ($39 x (283/365)).
• For some core products, like Refills, Page Protectors and some core albums, we will be offering a "last chance" order period in July, during which time we will do our best to manufacture to demand. We will communicate more about that as it gets closer, including the specific products available for a last chance order.

All of this is pending approval from the Court, so items like the reimbursement of Club Credits will happen when and if we get approval.

We understand this is big news, but hope, if approved as proposed, the transition period will be sufficient for you to get the supplies you need. And please know that we will welcome you with open arms as we re-launch in the future.

Thank you from the Creative Memories Home Office Team

 

 

 

scrapbook store closing

 

My favorite (and only) local scrapbook store is closing.

 

This is so sad to me. It has been a gathering place for the past several years where I have met many scrapbookers who have become dear friends. One Saturday a month from about 4pm-11pm I pull up a chair and get to work on my scrapbooks with Michael Jackson playing overhead. My friends and I would take a break and head out to a local restaurant for dinner. One time we even skipped out for an entire movie! Tuesday afternoons I used to pop in on a regular basis and get my photos into albums and journal our family memories. I was just putting Tuesday scrapbooking back into my calendar when I heard the news.

 

I'm not sure what we are going to do. I wish there was a "gathering place" nearby where women could get together and work on their projects together. Yes, we can meet in each other's houses but there is something more focused about being somewhere with sets of long tables and good lighting (and the laundry not buzzing at me or the 'should,' 'more importants' or 'to do's' distracting me).

 

I went to their close-out sale and picked up this awesome scrapbook paper storage unit:

 

 

For some reason my husband was not happy with this purchase. He didn't understand it. So I just set it up in my office and so far have left it empty until I figure out how I'm going to use it. I've noticed though that every time I walk by it I get a little pop of JOY!  It makes me happy. So in my mind it was a good buy. It also gives me many happy memories of my local scrapbook store. 

 

How about you? Have you noticed stores going out of business? Or are you fortunate enough to still have a local place to scrap?  Have you purchased any Scrapbook Furniture? How are you using it and how has it helped with your creativity or productivity? I would love to read your thoughts! (Post a comment below.)  

Laying out a Travel Album

 

First I jot down our itinerary



 

 

Next, get the Photos developed

 

 

 

Using plastic Page Guides, I stack photos/memorabilia by subject/date using the guides to keep each event/day separate. This is just a loose filing to start the process. (You can use anything to make your own 'guides' - pieces of cardboard, heavy colored cardstock, or even scrapbook pages that you will use later.)

 

 

 

 

Then I lay out empty Guides on my pool table (as many will fit). I transfer each day's "pile" onto these guides - just start tossing photos onto them, purging duplicate photos or photos that won't fit, using my itinerary as a reminder of chronology, and including Memorabilia where appropriate. This is also a great way to see if you can get your photos into some double-page spreads, or if just a single side is needed. You can shift Guides around as needed.

 

So this is what a Guide might look like during this process:

 

 

Kind of a 'rough draft' if you will.  But this is a brilliant way for you to get an overview of your entire album and it's especially important in my case where we took so many photos I'm not sure that we can get our trip into one album.

 

 

Soon you will have a series of these "laid out" Guides. After the first batch is done, I throw another layer of Guides on top of the first set and keep going.

 

And add another layer, and another....we took so many photos on our Washington D.C. and New York trip that I ended up with 5 layers of Guides!  Which ended up being exactly 97 sides (49 pages). 

 

Creative Memories recommends 40 pages max (80 sides)...I've seen 45 pages (90 sides) but that is really pushing it. So I either need to:

 

1. Purge some pages/photos/memorabilia

or

2. Split the Trip into 2 albums.

 

Oh, what to do? what to do?

 

For now, I stacked the Guides (starting with the last page which will end up on the bottom), then stacking each Guide on top until I end up with the first page on the very top. They are all neatly in a Power Sort Box (no longer available to purchase from Creative Memories I'm sorry to say but some Consultants still have them if you want me to search for you), waiting for me to decide if I'll do one album or two. 

 

Next step: transferring these 'layouts' onto actual real scrapbook pages with mounting tape and then adding photojournaling and embellishments.

Creative Memories update

Creative Memories has announced that they had to make the difficult decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. My intent with this post is to keep you informed, not to worry you. An email is going out to all Rewards Club members so I wanted to let you know what is happening. The 'good news' is that they want to use this opportunity to streamline their product offerings and refocus on their core mission which is preserving memories.

As you know, I'm a huge fan of Creative Memories albums, scrapbook pages, and page protectors (and tape runner, personal trimmer, and Power Palettes....). I'm sure 12x12 albums and scrapbook pages will remain part of their core products. They are going to streamline their product offerings, however, so what you may notice is that a lot of products will be available 'while supplies last' and may not have much warning. If you've had your eye on something, you may want to purchase it now instead of waiting until later. All of the Nancy O'Dell products are currently on hold and not available to order (however, they are working on getting these back so stay tuned).

If you do order online, I suggest using a credit card vs. a debit card. The hearing is scheduled for May 9th so we should hear soon how this will all play out.

The leadership of Creative Memories is very committed to their future and mission. If you would like any more info on this, they have set up a web page including a letter to their fans on creativememories.com / restructuring.

Thank you for your loyalty to Creative Memories and your support!

Happy Scrappin', dl 

Album Progress update

 

I was so inspired getting ready for scrapbooking retreat, that later on Saturday I delved right into updating Sugar's School album. I've never been one to sit through an entire movie during family movie night (I mean how many times can one watch Kung Foo Panda? A ton of times -  apparently, for My Hero, it never gets old....Skadoosh!)  I just plopped Sugar's school album, her folder of memorabilia, photos, my trimmer and tape runner onto the family room floor and went to town on her album! 3rd grade and 4th grade, Complete! Check! 

 

A simple 4-page spread for each school year. Only one more year to go (she's currently in 5th grade...this is her last year of elementary school). Preschool through 5th grade fits perfectly into the Picfolio Album with a few pages to spare in the back for her 5th grade party/'graduation' photos.

 

Prepping for a Scrap Retreat

 

 

Lately I've been putting Post-it Notes on all the projects I want to bring with me to an upcoming Scrapbooking Retreat. It's important when you are invited to an entire weekend devoted to scrapbooking, that you come prepared. If you're not prepared with enough to scrap, you may find yourself huddled in the corner sipping Bailey's and devouring the plentiful bags of chocolates found at these retreats. Come to think of it, that doesn't sound so bad....

 

 

This morning I took a few minutes to create a master task list so I'll know what to pack:

 

Then feeling quite confident that I will finish the above list, I start to add my "Wish List" of projects that I would like to complete next:

 

 

Soon I have a huge list and start to feel overwhelmed. So I stop writing and let it go. My family truly enjoys our completed albums and so I know that for me it is worthwhile to write down these stories and get these photos into albums. Plus it's fun to hang out with my friends, eat chocolate and scrap! How about you? What's your 'plan of attack' when it comes to preparing for a Retreat? 

Free digital download Baby

Here are some cute digital freebies from Creative Memories. Baby Boy and Baby Girl Burst, Banner and Title. You can download them for free here. Enjoy!

Scrapbook Project Storage

Today was a scrappy day because several Power Sort Boxes arrived! Creative Memories no longer makes one of my Very Favorite Products so I had to search high and low and across the country. Several Consultants came through for me and now I have my wonderful black boxes in which to transform my overloaded 'to scrapbook' cupboard.

 

This is my "before" photo:

 

I purged a ton of memorabilia. Some of it was from my own childhood. Do I really need to keep the first sponge painting I ever did (age 3)...I don't think so.

 

Both my trash can and my recycling can are completely full!

 

This is my "after"...I still need a few more Power Sort Boxes. I may just have to put my feelers out for more. I like the uniformity of them and also that they safely store my photos, memorabilia, even scrapbook pages and everything I need for that album project. Easy to transport to a workshop as well!

 

Album Progress Update!

This weekend I took my piles of laid out photos (3 years worth) and mounted them into our Christmas album. I did this during family movie night.  I didn't do any journaling or decorating. Just trimmed the photos and mounted them into the album along with memorabilia. A huge bunch of it ended up in the recyling bin. 

 

 

 

Without journaling and embellishment, it looks rather plain but the important thing to me is that my photos are in the album and not in a pile somewhere. Now I am setting this album in my Workshop Tote. Next time I go to a Workshop, I will bring:
         

 this album

 pens

 embellishments (stickers, title stickers, paper for borders)

 scissors/trimmer

 adhesive 

 page protectors

It will be quick and easy to add the finishing touches. I like to save 'brainless' work for Workshops. Workshops can be distracting for me with the conversations and music. Workshops aren't a place I want to be making a lot of decisions (like...should I keep this photo? How can I get the maximum # of photos on this page? What year was this taken?). Workshops are a place where I can scribble a date and some names under the photos, add a cute sticker or border, and my favorite part - slip on the Page Protectors and call it DONE! 

How about you? How did your album progress go this week? A lot of you may have attended Celebrate! in your area (an at-large scrapbooking workshop). I try to avoid crowds during flu season...so I did not attend (I tend to avoid crowds in general). But I heard it was a ton of fun! I also heard it may be the last one. That is so sad. I can only imagine that some resourceful women will take charge and decide to continue the tradition by taking this back from CM. Hopefully so. But if not, keep scrapbooking! Don't save it just for once/year because you are going to a large event. Make it part of your monthly homemaking...being the family photo historian.