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

Creative Memories 2016 Catalog

Creative Memories 2016 Catalog

You can flip through the online version here: http://issuu.com/cmemories/docs/cmgroupcat_0116_usa_issuu

or click on the photo above and it should take you to the flippable Catalog view

To order from the Catalog, contact your CM Advisor

If you don't have a CM Advisor, or if I am your Advisor,

you may order directly through this link:

creativememories.com/user/donnalyn

Feel free to share this with your friends!

Help me spread the word that Creative Memories is back

 under new ownership (still in the U.S.A.) Hooray!!

Happy Scrappin'

Transfer video tapes and slides to DVD

Part of de-cluttering and simplifying my life in 2016 is getting my old VHS and 8mm tapes transferred to DVDs and Cloud Storage. I chose to become a Legacy Maker with Legacy Republic so that I could get the Consultant discount and earn commission on my own order(s). 

This short 4-minute video gives an overview of why I chose Legacy Republic in Santa Clara, California to send my precious memories to. They truly take the care, attention to detail and security seriously. 

One of my recent clients had her wedding and honeymoon videos digitized as a surprise Christmas gift for her husband. She hadn't been able to view them for years. When she received her first batch of digitized videos, she was overwhelmed with emotion. You see, her mother was on those videos (the wedding ones, not the honeymoon!) in living color and vibrant voice. Her mother had passed away recently so having her "back" through these videos is a legacy she can now share with her own children.

That is just one of the unexpected benefits of rescuing our old movies. And another reason I am a Legacy Maker.

Creative Memories Calendar Album!

You all know how much I love planners so you can imagine how super excited I am about the new Calendar grids and Calendar stickers being launched this month from Creative Memories!!! I can't wait to use these for my 2016 Family Scrapbook. 

 These Calendar Grids will also be a fun addition to a bulletin board. You could use the Calendar Grid to track birthdays and special occasions....a prayer journal...and more!

The Calendar Stickers are January-June with another pack launching in the summer for July-December.  The stickers are the perfect size to fit inside the daily boxes on the Grid.

A Year to Remember Stickers 3/pk

A Year to Remember Embellishments (available mid-January)

12 double-sided patterned papers including 6 calendar grid designs are included in the

 Year in Review Paper Pack (not all patterns are shown).

ABC Stickers in Watercolor Green are now available:

ABC Stickers in Navy will be launching mid-January:

These products are making me super excited to keep up with my 2016 Family Album!

I also recently purchased these 14x14 Organizers at Costco which I plan to use one for 2016 photos/memorabilia/supplies:

I'll be sharing more about these very useful Project Boxes in a future post!

Until then,

Happy Scrappin'

Christmas Scrapbook document your favorite decorations and ornaments

Recently I posted this "vintage" animated Santa on a garage sale site. 

One of the first replies:

 "I remember my Aunt had one of these Santas!" 

The commenter wasn't interested in buying it but his comment made me pause. For him that was a vivid memory and I flashed forward to future grandchildren and thought hmmm... maybe I should hang on to this little guy. He might spark some Christmas nostalgia in my own children when they return home as adults. I quickly removed him from the For Sale page, dusted him off and plugged him in his honorable spot next to the Christmas tree. 

There he sits writing his Nice List by candlelight....

This Christmas during the hustle and bustle you might want to take a few photos of your favorite decorations and ornaments to add to your Christmas scrapbook. 

If you receive some new ornaments this year, your Christmas scrapbook is the perfect place to document where the ornament came from, what year it was added to your collection and the meaningfulness of it.  I started writing down a list of our ornaments a few years ago and I update it before I pack the ornaments away.

Here are couple of my "old" favorites...

"Just Married" 1988

"Drummer Elf" 1968-ish

What part of Christmas still makes you smile like a little girl or boy?

CM's Day 4 Golden Ticket Prize Package

Monday I posted our Birthday Bash Celebration News! Creative Memories is giving away 3 Golden Tickets each day. They're being placed in 3 random orders throughout the day, each day this week! When you place an order via my website you may be the lucky recipient of a Golden Ticket. 

Thursday's Golden Ticket can be redeemed for:

Prize package includes the Home for the Holidays Cream Mica Coverset, White Pages & Protectors and the Christmas Joy Paper Pack, Stickers and Slide-In Pack!!

Everyone who places an order via my website today will receive a free 3-pack of Fall Stickers:

Everyone who places a $75 or more order via my website today will receive free shipping!

Everyone who places a $250 or more order via my website today will also receive one of these two Exclusive 12x12 Coversets with silver foil seasons design!

 So much to celebrate! Thank You for a phenomenal year!

 Happy Scrappin'