Freebie Download–Spring Banner

Happy Spring!

Hope its warm in your corner of the world – still a bit frosty here but I’m sure spring-like weather is just around the corner!

Here is a fun project to help you celebrate warmer weather, blooming flowers & all the fun springtime happenings!

This banner is designed in SBC+ and each panel is designed to be printed as a 4x6 image – you can easily print these at home or where you have your photos developed. 

I have done all the design work for you and you can download the file here at 4shared.

These banners are so fun to make & come together so quickly!  You can simply cut out the banner shape, string each panel on ribbon and hang or you can add a bit of dimension if you like.  I’ve included embellishments to cut out by hand or you can add stickers, paper flowers and sticker/paper ribbon and other embellishments.  I did a bit of both – cutting out the images included with the banner and also adding layered some Days of Spring Layered Stickers.

Here is a close up shot of each panel – you can use the CASE method (Copy And Steal Everything) or have fun adding your own touches!  This would be a great activity for the kids, too!

These little guys are my favorite! You can find them in the It’s A Boy and It’s A Girl lines as well as in the Tiny Treasures products which includes a Cricut Cartridge as well as those same images available in digital formats!

I created the banner using Storybook Creator Plus, the Digital Tiny Treasures Frame & Tag Content and It’s A Boy Digital Kit. 

My sister CMC, Karen Beavers, put together a handout explaining how to create these banners – you can download it here.

Spring Fling Sale!

 Storybook Creator Plus and all digital content is on sale until 10 p.m. CST April 1st!

Don’t forget - you can download a 30 day free trial of SBC+ too!

If you’d like to purchase some pre-made banners I’ve uploaded some to the CM Digital Center.  Each banner is in a different album.  Once you’ve logged into your account these will show up in the “Photos” category under “My Friend’s Albums” at the bottom of the page.  New to the CM Digital Center?  Sign up & you can get 20 free prints! 

Click on each album name to view the contents and order the prints.

Easter

 

Pastel Christmas  by Doreen

(Spells out “Merry Christmas”)

St. Patrick’s Day

Create

Valentine’s Day by Lori Bickford

Thanksgiving by Lori Bickford

Boo! by Lori Bickford

These banners are easy to make and could be used for all sorts of occasions – sports teams, names for children's’ rooms, birthdays, graduation – the sky’s the limit!

Thank you to my sister CMC’s for sharing their banner files! 

Custom iPhone Case & Insert–Coming Soon!

Available for iPhone 4, 4s or 5, Creative Memories’ new iPhone Cases put the “fun” in functional. You can protect your phones while showcasing favorite photos, phrases or designs!

Choose from predesigned templates, or create your own custom design using StoryBook Creator 4.0 Software. Each order includes a plastic case that snaps around your phone and a custom printed metal insert panel. Best of all, and unique to Creative Memories, you can order additional Insert Panels without having to order the entire case.

Details:

• The retail price for one Case and Insert Panel is $29.95.
• Extra Insert Panels are $12.95.
• Beginning April 15, iPhone Cases will be available to order on the Digital Center. Product credits will be sold on my CM Website. 
• The iPhone Cases will be featured in the May/June Mini Catalog.

 

Fabulous Fall!

Finally – it’s Fall!    Time for sweater weather, pumpkin flavored everything & fun fall inspired projects! 

At the Patch 12x12 layout

Rustic Fence Border Maker Cartridge
Hocus Pocus 6x6 Stack Pack
Cardstock:  Brown, Green Apple & Carrot
Cheerful Seasons Cricut Cartridge
Foam Squares

How to Create:
Use a sheet of Green Apple Cardstock as your layout base.

Add two sheets of beige argyle patterned paper from the Hocus Pocus 6x6 Stack Pack to the layout as shown.

Add some accents punched out from the stack pack as shown.

Punch a border from Brown Cardstock using the border maker system and the Limited Edition Rustic Fence Border Maker Cartridge and add it to the bottom of the layout.

Using a Cricut machine and the Cheerful Seasons Cartridge cut a pumpkin accent and title letters from brown, orange, green, and beige paper. Add them to the bottom right side of the layout layering some of the letters on the Hocus Pocus banner punch outs.

Back to School 12x12 layout

Ingredients:
Autumn Addition
White Cardstock
Circle Maker

How to Create:
Place orange and red Autumn Addition mats on background paper as shown, staggering the red mat so it is about 3/4” lower than the orange mats.

Crop photos to 3-1/4 x 3-3/4”. Place the right and left photos so they are even with the top of the red mat and touching the edges of the red mat. Center the middle photo.

Cut a strip of White Cardstock that is 1/2” wide. Trim 2” off and place under the left photo. Repeat for the right side. Cut a 2 ½” long piece and place vertically above the middle photo.

Punch a large circle with the Circle Maker and place a leaf sticker on it. Repeat with a second leaf sticker. Center the circles under the left and right photos.

Print the journaling on White Cardstock using brown ink. Trim the journaling block to 2x2”. Adhere the journaling to the brown leaf mat and randomly cut around it. Adhere under the middle photo. Place the apple sticker on the bottom right corner.

Place the Autumn Additions title sticker on White Cardstock. Trim and place above the middle photo.

Football Wall Print Poster

Ingredients:

• StoryBook Creator 4.0 Software
• Football Digital Additions

  How to Create:

  1. Create a new 16x24 Wall Print Poster project.
  2. Add Football Paper 3 to the top of the poster.
  3. Add Football Paper 4 to the bottom of the poster.
  4. Add a large photo across the center of the poster.
  5. Add the Super Star embellishment.  Under the Format tab, add the Cord surface.
  6. Add the MVP embellishment.
  7. Add the name, filling with Football Paper 1.  Add a light shadow.
  8. Add the Gold Star and Player 1 embellishments.  Add the Cord Surface to each.
  9. Add the Touchdown title.
  10. Add the school and mascot as desired.
  11. Order on the Creative Memories Digital Center.   Please use my  Consultant Id #96470395 when ordering from the digital center.

 

Cropping for Causes - Using Digital Embellishments in Traditional projects.

 

Welcome to the croppers stopping by after the  fundraiser crop for Inflammatory Breast Cancer!  Please take a moment to learn about the symptoms of IBC – it is a rare and very aggressive form of breast cancer.  It is usually not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds. 

I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute to the goody bags for this crop and thought it would be a good chance to feature some of Creative Memories Think Pink products.  A portion of the sales from this line go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), an organization I am proud to be associated with! 

Unlike many organizations that associate themselves with raising awareness for breast cancer (like the Susan G. Komen Foundation) the BCRF does not have a huge portion of their funds going to pay immense salaries, lawsuits against those that use “for the cure” in their efforts to raise funds for other causes and they most certainly do not fund other organizations.  You can be sure that by contributing to the BCRF and buying CMs Think Pink products you’re actually helping to fight against breast cancer. 

BCRF continues to remain one of the most fiscally responsible charities in the country.
BCRF holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, its tenth such designation since 2002.
Additionally, BCRF is the only cancer organization designated as "A+" by CharityWatch.

If you print the image below as a 4x6 print you will be able to punch out the buttons with CMs Circle Maker and use them on your traditional projects.  They look great on top of the Scallop Circle, too. 

This was created using CM’s digital scrapbooking program – Storybook Creator Plus (SBC+).  I use this program for so much more than scrapbooking!  Flyers, invitations, gifts, album covers – SBC+ is an easy to use program that can help you create custom items quickly!

Here are some items I did to show you just a few quick and easy ideas to mix digital and traditional items – creating hybrid items.

The Think Pink line is available while supplies last!  If you want these items order them before they’re gone!

This page uses decorative cardstock  (it has beautiful silver foil accents) and printed paper for the photo mats are from the Think Pink Specialty Pack.  The paper ribbon is from the Think Pink Embellishment Pack.  “Cropping for a cure” title and ribbon button embellishments are from the Think Pink Digital Kit and are included in the freebie print at the top of this post.  The button at the bottom of the page is mounted with Foam Squares on top of a Scalloped Circle punched out of Pink Shimmer Cardstock and that is adhered to a scalloped circle punched out of Raspberry Cardstock.  The Scallop Circle Maker punches out 2 shapes.  Sliding the lever on the base allows you to choose which shape to cut – scallop, or decorative scallop.

Paper and die-cut border at the top of the page are from the Think Pink Specialty Paper Pack.  I used the Silver Metallic pen to accent the edges of the photo mats and journaling strips.  Layering a black scalloped circle underneath a pink one gives the embellishment a bit of a shadow.  Ribbon button is from the Think Pink Digital Kit and can be found in the freebie at the top of this post.

Epoxy Sticker is from the Think Pink Embellishment Pack.

I used the computer to print out the “Think Positive…” sentiment for this card.  Much easier, more precise and a lot cheaper than using stamps!

CM also has a Ribbon Maker that can be used to create all sorts of awareness ribbons.

I love helping out with fundraisers!  Please let me know if you need help raising funds!  Even if you’re not local I’d love to help!

Dry Erase Boards for Practice Schedules

The Photo Panels from Creative Memories can be a great way to display favorite photos – but they can also be used as a dry erase board.  Here’s a few I created and can be personalized with your team colors, names, etc.  You can preview these and order them directly from the CM Digital Center (minus the watermark).  These are a 12x12 size but I can easily upload them in an 8x8 size.  These make great fundraisers, too!  I’m happy to help your organization raise money.  Contact me for more details!

View the Gymnastics Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

View the Football Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

View the Volleyball Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

View the St. Mikes Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

If you buy the dry erase pens that are magnetic you can glue a metal washer to the back of the photo panel and you’ll have a handy spot to keep a dry erase marker! 

I recently found fine tip magnetic dry erase pens at Target with the school supplies.

Custom Coverset – Mitten Memories

Look what my UPS man dropped off this week from the Creative Memories digital center – ready to fill with our summer memories!  This year we decided to play tourists in our home state of Michigan.  We took several shorter trips within the Lower Peninsula and had a blast! 

You can easily create a similar coverset for your travel memories!

The You Create It Albums can be customized using Storybook Creator Plus or online at the Digital Center using templates provided by Creative Memories.  (Please use my consultant ID  #96470395 when ordering from the Digital Center.  I am also happy to help you create your custom album.  This is easily done via the internet & email or I’m happy to meet with you in person if you’re local. 

These custom coversets can hold Side Loading Sleeves – perfect for digital page prints, custom album pages (digitally created and printed right on scrapbook refills) or traditional  scrapbook pages, 12x12 PicFolio pages – pocket pages that you simply slide in your photos or scrapbook refill pages.  You can also combine page types – it’s up to you!

Here are the products I used for my Mitten Memories You Create It Album:

State of Michigan outline, robin & apple blossom image - North American Road Trip Digital content – no longer available but I can use my digital content to create a page for you.  Contact me for more information!  (I have A LOT of digital content – including Disney kits – Cars, Mickey & Friends, Princesses, etc.) that are no longer available.)

Background paper – Enchanted Summer digital kit

“Escape” graphic in lower right hand corner – Destinations Digital Kit

For the graphics representing the stops on our trip I used various images that I found on the internet and erased what I didn’t want (white backgrounds, unwanted content, etc) with the wand tool. I also just used a nice font for “Charlevoix” LHF Goldsmith & “Frankenmuth” Heidlelbe-normal

I used the Text Shape tool in SBC+ to create “Mitten Memories” and “2012 Summer Tour”.  This tool lets you take any font on your computer and give it a nice border.

I’d love to see your custom album designs!!  You can email them to me or share them in my Facebook group!

Resources for Memory Manager and Storybook Creator Plus

It’s no secret that I love Storybook Creator Plus (SBC+) and Memory Manager (MM).  These programs let you easily organize & edit your photos (MM) and create beautiful digital projects with just a few clicks of your mouse (SBC+).  These programs are very easy to use but just getting started sometimes can be overwhelming.  Luckily there are tons of resources for learning how to use these great programs!

Want to see what you can do with these programs? You filter which posts you are viewing by clicking on the categories listed under “Labels” on the lower right hand side of this blog. 

As your Creative Memories Consultant I’m also one of your resources!  I don’t want to just sell you stuff – I want to help you complete your projects!

When you are a digital customer of mine I’ll send you links to digital content to thank you for your business. 

Please use my CM ID number when ordering - #96470395

Free Artwork on my CM Website

Calendar pages, card templates, overlays, predesigned pages – lots of freebies can be found here! 

The free digital artwork is listed with the digital artwork for sale on my CM website.

CMs Project Center is another great place to get inspired!  Complete instructions & ingredients are listed for all projects shown.  The Project Center is divided up into Traditional & Digital sections. You can find the link to the Project Center on the bottom left hand side of my CM website.  

Within the Digital Section you’ll find Freebies (new ones are released every Freebie Friday) & links to CMs idea blog and Tips & Techniques.

Facebook

My facebook group (also called Lisa’s Workshop) is where I usually first post about CM, scrapbooking & photo related items. 

CMs Go Digital Facebook page is a great place to interact with other SBC+ & MM users.  To see posts by people other than the CM Go Digi page admins click on the tab in the middle of the page under the top section of the page & click on “Posts by Others”

There are some fantastic tutorials in the CM Go Digital FB group.  To access these click on “Tutorials & Freebies” underneath the cover photo.

CM Home Office also has a Facebook page – lots of great info there.

Help Zone on my CM website

Access the Help Zone by clicking on the link in the upper right hand corner of my CM website.

There are multiple sections within the Help Zone – you can choose them by clicking on the categories at the top of the page (the green arrow is pointing to these) or see all of them by clicking on the drop down menu (the red arrow is pointing to these).  Don’t forget to click “Go” if you use the drop down menu.

Pixels 2 Pages 

Pixels2Pages (P2P) is a web-based digital training subscription. The 90-day subscription gives unlimited access to a training and inspiration website featuring videos, training guides, idea galleries, blogs, monthly freebies and learning challenges for SBC+. From beginner to advanced digital users, subscribers will find encouragement to complete projects and learn the full functionality and creative potential of SBC+.

You can get an idea of what P2P is about when you click on the Free Trial tab at the top of the P2P home page.

Rewards club

Exclusive Digital content is sent to you via the Rewards club newsletter.  The Rewards club is a great way to earn 15% on every CM purchase, digital & traditional, with any CM Consultant!