My "new" old Cricut Machine

I am now the proud owner of a Cricut Machine! Yes, it only took me 15 years to take the plunge, haha.  It is the old-school kind (meaning that it doesn't hook up to the computer). 

It basically cuts out shapes and letters from paper (using the cartridges it came with) and you can adjust the sizes to use for bulletin boards, card making, scrapbooking, etc..

It's called "Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter."  My neighbor told me she heard there was a scrapbook room at a local Estate Sale so I went to check it out. I arrived 15 minutes before they closed on Sunday. I found the sacred scrapbook room and said a silent "bless you." I was happy they weren't selling her scrapbooks and I was relieved I didn't see any uncompleted projects or photos.

I found the machine-that-always-intimidated-me marked with a $167 tag and a $250 receipt tucked in the manual.  The sale was quickly closing and dishes were starting to be packed up. 

I offered $50 and guess what?

They said sure!

It came with 4 Cricut Cartridges, 2 replacement blades, a pack of Cricut paper, 5 Cricut ink markers and 10 Cricut cutting mats. They also had some other things in the box as well including a Creative Memories cutting mat (slightly used). I hope that's a good deal. 

I also purchased several bags of Ribbon for just a few dollars. I LOVE using ribbon - not so much in my scrapbooking, but I love using ribbon because I love wrapping presents! So now I have a ton of really cute spools of ribbon to add to my gift wrapping stash!

I'm sorry the owner passed away and I don't know her 'story' but I do hope she would be happy knowing that some of her supplies will be put to good use and creativity. I'm grateful I could get this older version and not have one that connects to the internet. I'm already on the computer a lot and I prefer to go offline when I'm scrappin'.

How about you? What is the best "deal" you've found at an Estate Sale recently?  Do you enjoy going to Estate Sales? I would love for you to share you comments below!

Happy Scrappin'

How to make a Father's Day Shirt & Tie Card

Finally! A shirt and tie that Dad will love! 

I think homemade cards are the best, don't you?

You can download a free pdf of instructions on how to make this card by using this link:
http://d2gcc62nhy2pl5.cloudfront.net/media/wysiwyg/ShirtTieCard.pdf

Happy Scrappin'

Creative Memories While Supplies Last List

We are making room for some NEW products coming out so the following products will be available only While Supplies Last starting June 1, 2015....you can check prices/availability on my website: 

 creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

Little Lady Fast2Fab Scrapbook Album

includes pre-decorated baby girl pages and Page Protectors

Mr. Mister Fast2Fab Scrapbook Album

includes pre-decorated baby boy pages and Page Protectors

This is a Creative Memories Bookcloth coverset only (pages sold separately)

Orchid You Not Mini (8x8) Fast2Fab Scrapbook Album

includes pre-decorated pages and Page Protectors

Dual-tip Pen in Spring Green (one side is Bold tip, one side is Fine tip)

I'm hoping this means that a NEW 12-inch+ Trimmer is coming....will let you know asap but in the meantime, this is a super handy Trimmer for smaller paper, photos and craft projects. The arm on the left swings out so you can measure both vertically and horizontally

 while you're cutting.

Sooo as much as we begged them to offer 8x8 mini albums, these have not been a very big seller. They have decided to take them out of our Core Album line and instead offer them a couple of times per year in a theme or giftable format.  

I hope this info is helpful. Thank you so much for your interest in Creative Memories. I'm so happy to be helping you find the very best for your precious memories!

Happy Scrappin'

Memorial Day

Arlington cemetery- page from my Washington DC scrapbook - we arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier right when the changing of the guard was taking place. The dedication, commitment & sacrifice was evident to all. 

Memorial Day or as it was known "Decoration Day" was started when the women of Mississippi honored the graves of both Confederate and Union Soldiers by covering them with flowers. People all over America were inspired by this.

On May 30, 1868, General Logan issued an order that "every post of the Grand Army of the Republic should hold suitable excercises and decorate the graves of their dead comrades with flowers." 

Now Decoration day is known as Memorial Day - where we pay tribute to the men and women who have died for our freedom. 

High School Graduation Party Photo Displays

Here are some fun ways to show off photos of the graduate...

I think every graduation party should have school portraits hung up - seeing the progression of time from adorable preschooler, growing elementary schooler, awkward middle schooler, blooming high schooler....it is such fun to see it all together!

You can tape the portraits to a stand-up Display Board (tri-fold board from Office Depot), put them in a pocket-style Portrait Album, or just clip them to some pretty ribbon and string along your window like this:

I attached the ribbon with a thumbtack hidden just between the window frame and wall, then covered the thumbtacks up with some of Blondie's Cheerleading Bows in the school colors. Then I hung up her 8x10 school portraits from Preschool through Senior year using miniature white clothespins. 

These portraits were easy to find because I keep them stacked in the frame hanging on our wall with the most recent portrait on top (see previous blog posts on how to Organize School Photos).

http://adashofscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-organize-school-photos.html

Blondie's two school albums  (see how to make School Albums) were displayed on the photo table showcasing Preschool through 8th grade in her first album and showcasing High School in her second album.  You can also throw some memorabilia on the table such as trophies, ribbons, pompoms, her diploma, etc...

Something that I heard from several of her friends who attended..."You are so lucky! I wish I had my photos in an album"....hmmm.....it was both sad and amusing to see 18-year-olds these days looking at printed photos like they were something they remember from long, long ago...maybe having seen printed photos before in some distant memory? 

I used leftover paper scraps (scrapbookers always have a stash of scraps for useful things like this) to make labels for our dessert buffet. I love labels on buffets, don't you? I want to know what it is I am about to bite into. It is also helpful for avoiding nut-allergies, etc. when buffets are labeled.

We rolled clear plastic-ware into a large white napkin, tie with sheer black ribbon to resemble a diplomas.  We put these in a large basket outside on the BBQ buffet table. 

We also displayed this book she received on her first birthday - we had a few pens on the table and asked everyone to sign her book with advice and good wishes:

You can find some other fun ideas on my High School Graduation Party Pinterest Board.

I hope this has helped you with some photo display ideas. 

Happy Graduation and Happy Scrappin'!

Creative Memories new Spring/Summer Colors!

Just look at these bright, new, delicious colors by Creative Memories!

Fuschia
Spring Green
Ocean Blue
Orange

12x12 Bookcloth covers Made in the U.S.A. Pages/Page Protectors sold separately.  

Which color is your favorite?

You can fill these with plain scrapbook pages or pre-decorated Fast2Fab pages or a combo of both. We even have clear pocket pages for variety!  You can see What's New via my website link:  creativememories.com/user/donnalyn 

 Happy Scrappin'!

How to make a Birthday pop-up card

Jenny Rowan created this fun birthday pop-up card for us and you can make this too!  

Supply list:
Blue Cardstock
Designer Patterned Paper Pack
Scissors
Double-Sided Adhesive 
Paper Trimmer
(available on my website: creativememories.com/user/donnalyn )

Optional: FREE downloadable pdf "Happy Birthday to You" quote

FREEBIE!
Download full instructions here:  http://ss1.us/a/FD5nJzgT

Happy Crafting!
DL 

How to make quick scrapbook borders

Here's something fun to discover within Creative Memories' Look on the Bright Side Paper Packs - one sheet is dedicated to super cute instant page topper borders!  All you do is slice them apart with a 12-inch trimmer then add them to your page. Super fun and easy for some instant gratification!

Cut them apart and you will get 8 individual 1.5-inch border strips! I just love how colorful they are!  You can use them on plain white Refill Pages or jazz up our pre-decorated Fast2Fab pages!

See how this Fast2Fab album page is already decorated for you:

Now look how you can just add one of the borders to the top for even more fun:

Or if you prefer plain White Refill Pages for your album projects, you can just add the Border Strips to a white page - also use a quick pre-cut Journaling or Title Box from one of our Slide-in Packs for a coordinated look.  This page layout will take you about 2 minutes to complete:

You can even mix and match your White Page Refills with your Pre-decorated Fast2Fab Refills....for even more album expansion and fun!

"Look on the Bright Side" - the entire paper pack is full of bright, fun goodness!   

Happy Scrappin'

My current state of Scrapbooking

Ack!! It's not a pretty picture. My youngest daughter outgrew her dolls and no longer needs a closet "nursery"; my little Prince is too social to play in a closet so the "Lego Cave" idea flopped; that left me thinking...hmmm...that's some good storage space I've got there.

I quickly filled the top shelf with all my Thirty-One Gifts bags and business samples. Then I went around the house and gathered 

saved memorabilia, 

loose photos, 

incomplete scrapbook projects, 

trimmers, 

and other scrapbook tools 

bags and boxes....

and filled the bottom shelf plus underneath the shelf which spilled out onto the closet floor with piles of scrapbook "to do's!"

I need a Hero!

Oh, yah....I'm that Hero: 

Where are you "at" with your photo projects?

 Are you under a pile? 

 Or Systematically tackling the photo projects one giant leap at a time?

 Or (gasp!) enjoying being all caught up?

Would you dare post a photo of your scrapbook pile(s) on my Facebook page? I would love to not feel like I'm the only one. :)  

www.Facebook.com/adashofscrapbooking 

Let's start making some progress together! One little pile at a time! 

Happy Scrappin'

Scrapbookers are Superheroes!

Do you believe this to be true?  We have documented our family life for 25 years. I feel a bit like a Superhero each time I pull a completed album off the shelf to celebrate a birthday, clarify names/dates/places, settle disagreements (of said names/dates/places), make our family laugh (remember when.....?), tug at the heartstrings (awwww) and bring smiles to their faces. Every. Time.

How about you?  Do you feel like a Superhero?

March Creative Memories retirement list

just a heads-up that Creative Memories will be introducing some new products in April so to make room, they are putting a few things on our While Supplies Last list:

Sand Shimmer Blossom Silver Coverset

Sand Shimmer Blossom Blue Coverset

Unwrap the Magic Fast2Fab Album

Unwrap the Magic Fast2Fab Refill Pages 

Unwrap the Magic Slide-in Pack

Robin Egg Shimmer Coverset

For those of you wondering what we will do for Christmas albums after Unwrap the Magic sells out.....I'm happy to announce that a new holiday album is coming this October! 

You can visit my affiliate website if you would like more details or to see the While Supplies Last products in detail.  www.creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

Thanks and Happy Scrappin'