In the past, creating photo albums and scapbooking journals is something I've really enjoyed doing. Fun rummaging through pictures and putting something meaningful together. I recall the first 'Creative Memories' workshop I went to at a friend's house in 1994. The scrapbooking phenom was new back then. We were all sitting around tables and learning how to crop photos and make "theme pages". This was a revelation! A BIG step-up from "magnetic" albums with tacky cardboard pages covered with plastic, that over time warped, faded and discolored your photos. So yes, I suppose we were all hankering for something better. The vast array of decorative papers, stickers, templates, tools, and trimmers helped motivate me and move the projects along. And for years that's pretty much how I rolled in an effort to preserve the family photographs.
These early albums are still very much enjoyed and cherished; they are practically a work of art for all the time and money that went into them. I still have six or seven shoe boxes of photo prints tucked away that end at 2001. That's when I began to transition over to digital photography. At some point I plan to get them all into albums like this one. But everything that came after that is on a disk or in a file on my computer. Which in some ways is good. No need to worry about dust gathering there or where to store boxes. But there are also some drawbacks. Like when the computer crashes and all your data is lost, or you copy everything onto a disk and it gets lost or destroyed. The reality is, you can never get those bits and bytes back. They are lost in cyberspace forever. Since I only take digital photos now this worries me a little. Often I have wished there was an easier way to put it all on to a hard copy for safe keeping. Yes, Blurb and a few other book services can do that, but without frills. Adding your own can take a fair amount of time and know-how.
Well, recently I had the opportunity to review a product called My Memories Suite, a digital scrapbooking software designed for photo journaling. It's been out for awhile, and lots of people are talking about it, blogging about it, raving about it, and doing give-aways for it, but somehow all this escaped my attention. It's easy to get tunnel vision sometimes! I need to look up once in awhile. Wow!
It could not have come at a better time. After I downloaded the program I was able to make a 30-page photo album in just under a week! Remember the Summer Book I was trying to put together for my granddaughters? That project was about to fizzle because it was taking more time than I had just to edit the photos and create the design elements for the pages. But then My Memories Suite came to the rescue and I now have a lovely album to give as a Christmas gift, and to more than just one person because you can also print duplicates. All for about $20 each. What!
I still can't believe how easy it was to use. The program does all the work. It has everything you need to jump-start your way into making beautiful photo albums, books, calendars, and even note cards. There are background papers, trims, word art, and a host of other nifty design elements and embellishments traditionally used in making scrapbook photo albums. You can even create and load your own art from other programs, or purchase additional package sets from the My Memories website as needed.
Are you as thrilled as I am? I hope so, because My Memories would like to give one of my readers their My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software FREE! Here's what you need to do to participate. Visit the My Memories website, take a look at the digital paper kits and/or the different layouts in the gallery, then leave a comment here on the blog telling about your favorite, or anything else you love about scrapbooking. I'll announce the winner a week from today.
Special Offer: To purchase the My Memories Suite V2 Scrapbook Software, use this Share the Memories code STMMMS37056 to get a $10 discount off the purchase price, and a $10 coupon for the My Memories store. Just use your mouse to copy and paste the code into the box as prompted on the order page to receive your discount. (Once you're up and running, you can easily download all the free digital scrapbook kits currently available!) Be sure and visit the My Memories blog for updates, events, workshops, and tutorials for inspiration and fresh ideas.
I'm already thinking about my next album! It will have to wait until after the New Year though because I think my Christmas plate is pretty full right now. Hopefully, with cookies and fudge soon! Oh, and BTW, the PatternBee Embroidery Shop is closed for the time being, but you HAVE to visit to get your Holiday Greeting from me. (Turn on your speakers!) I'll be back with another give-away after this weekend too! Ho ho ho...
UPDATE:: Contest is now officially closed...check the December 23rd blog post for the winner!
I'd gladly tell you what I love about scrapbooking but....I've never tried it. Online or off. In fact the last photo album I put together was my son's baby pictures, and he's now 25. FOR SHAME. This has been weighing on me and I've vowed to GET MOVING.
Posted by: Jan | December 16, 2011 at 06:25 AM
Oh, how exciting! I've used Scrapbook Boutique in the past, but there's just something more appealing about the tangible act of scrapbooking that makes you feel like you're preserving a treasure. I stopped by the "My Memories" website, and oh my! They have such a great selection! I particularly like the Christmas layouts/embellishments...the Fancy Schmancy one is my favourite! :) Thanks for sharing this giveaway!
Posted by: Bobbi M | December 16, 2011 at 06:40 AM
This software sounds fantastic! I would love to own it! I love the Snow Cardinals digital scrapbooking kit. I love Cardinals. They were my Mama's favorite bird and I tend to use a lot of them now.
Blessings,
Diane
Posted by: Diane | December 16, 2011 at 08:01 AM
I have never done digital scrapbooking, but it sure looks like something I could get into, that site is wonderful. Maybe that's just what I need to get me motivated into scrapbooking again. I did get our Mexico trip scrapped into a book and I love going back are reliving our trip.
Thanks for this wonderful give-away.
Posted by: Judy | December 16, 2011 at 08:07 AM
I love the Christmas greeting you created for Pattern Bee, Vicki. So cheerful and old fashioned.
I've enjoyed digital scrapbooking for awhile now. The thing I like best about the site that you've shared are the old, worn papers, and I love the idea of being able to create a real book. Digital scrapbooking in general is nice I think, because you can reuse the elements. It's hard to use some of our most special "real" things. With digital scrapbooking, you have unlimited supplies of them. I've been wanting to start a journal of memories for my son. Random thoughts and pictures, nothing really in order. This looks like a simple way to do that.
Lena
Posted by: Account Deleted | December 16, 2011 at 12:33 PM
What a spectacular offer! I popped on over to the site and fell in love with the Christmas Whimsy designer pack. Those are SO my colors! I've had a friend needling me about scrapbooking for ages, but just didn't like the idea of the extra supplies and clutter in my studio. Digital scrapbooks catch my fancy, though. This appears to be a great introduction.
Posted by: CameoRoze | December 16, 2011 at 12:41 PM
I really am happy to hear about this.. I hope you remind us of this after the holidays.. right now I couldn't possibly take on another project. Thanks for sharing..
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*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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Posted by: Teresa Kasner | December 16, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Adorably cute banner! Just makes me smile.
Posted by: samantha | December 17, 2011 at 11:08 AM
I just realized yesterday that I had a scrapbook I'd just started and then forgot about (came across it while looking for another scrapbook).
This program would make finishing it so EASY. :)
Posted by: Brenda@Coffeeteabooksandme | December 18, 2011 at 06:41 AM
This format actually seems like something I could do! I find regular scrapping to be to time consuming and expensive, this is more my speed :)
FYI, I still haven't put together an album of our daughters wedding, her 3rd anniversary is next month :O
Posted by: Bridgette | December 18, 2011 at 06:27 PM
I like the Hunt Combo Kit, as I hope to put together some family heritage scrapbooks soon, filled with old photos and family stories!
Blessings!
~Nadine
Posted by: Nadine | December 18, 2011 at 09:57 PM
I just made a photo book yesterday to give to my husband with the 365 pictures I took this year, one a day. It was very time consuming, and also expensive! Wish I'd known about this software! Would love to win this....
Posted by: Wylie | December 19, 2011 at 08:49 AM
I don't do much with scrap-booking because of what you describe...all my current photos languish in my camera/computer...this software sounds great, thanks for the chance!
Posted by: Kris | December 19, 2011 at 11:26 AM
I love the santa memories one. anything with santa is the most fun. [email protected]
Posted by: Linda gerig | December 21, 2011 at 08:06 AM
Happy Holidays!! This software sounds amazing!! I would live to try it out and put together some nice gifts for family.
Posted by: Natasha | December 21, 2011 at 04:53 PM
After just finishing a digital photo book for my hubby, i have decided this is the way to go. This was such a timesaver! I really liked the calendar pack.
Posted by: Jennifer Gregory Miller | December 22, 2011 at 07:25 PM
Thank you for the "heads up" on this one. I love scrapbooking but find the project too time-consuming and the results way too bulky.(I noticed some quaint 2-D buttons that are in "My Heritage Pack".) Those are beautiful books-treasures really- that you created for your granddaughter's Christmas presents.
Posted by: Shirley | December 22, 2011 at 08:40 PM
I've been wanting to try digital scrapbooking for some time. It looks like they've done everything but take the pictures. There are so many beautiful layouts & paper kits that it's hard to say what I like best. Fast and easy sounds like what I'd like best, though.
Posted by: Faith | December 23, 2011 at 04:02 AM