It’s CM’s Birthday–and the gifts are for you!!

What a year it’s been!
CM's first year has been amazing!! It's included leaps of faith, belief, fun, growth, learning, experimentation, laughs, love and much, much more that make me adore this business more each day.

A HUGE Thank You for sticking with me & CM through ups & downs – now it’s time to celebrate!!

CMs  first year has exceeded all expectations and they would like to thank all – Advisors and customers - for making it phenomenal.
One day isn't enough.
We're going to be celebrating all week Monday through Friday!
The Birthday Bash runs Monday, 11 a.m. CT through Friday, 3 p.m. CT. 

There are five fun BDay Bash offers you'll want to take full advantage of:

1. FREE Fall Stickers!
Every order during the Birthday Bash gets this 3-pack of sticker - FREE! An $8 value.
2. FREE, exclusive 12x12 bookcloth album cover with every retail product order of $250 or more!
Each features a four-seasons design in silver foil on either warm sand or smoky blue bookcloth (the album will be chosen randomly by CMs Special Ops team).  Important: you will need to click "Add to Cart" when the system prompts you for the free album to be included with your qualifying order.

3. A chance to win a Golden Ticket and amazing prize packages! Each day during the Birthday Bash CMs Special Ops team will be randomly dropping three sparkly Golden Tickets into three separate orders at different times of day. 
Today's prize is the Fall In Collection, valued at $94. Each day's prize will be different and tickets will be numbered accordingly.
Visit CMs Facebook page or the Birthday Bash page each morning to see what sort of stupendousness will be won with each Golden Ticket! 

4. Ideas, ideas, ideas!
The Creative Memories Blog will be hopping during Birthday Bash week. There will be a creative new project idea each day you won't want to miss! You can either check it daily, or better...follow the blog to be notified the moment any new posts go up.
We’ll conclude the week of festivities with a Blog Hop, jam-packed with ideas from our Content Contributors. It will be project idea nirvana!

5. FREE shipping with any order of $75 or more!
Yep! During the Birthday Bash, every retail order of $75 or more gets shipping free!

Conveniently, launching today are lots of fun new holiday items and the return of some old favorites!!  You can find them in the “Whats New” section on my CM Advisor Site.

Thank you for the first of what I hope to be many, many amazing years with CM!!!!!

CM Halloween Blog Hop - Stop #4

Come in and sit for a spell! 

You have reached the fourth stop on today's Halloween Blog Hop.  My fellow CM Advisors and I are handing out some sugar-free goodies: ideas and inspiration for your Halloween pages and paper crafts featuring Creative Memories products. After you’re done visiting all the CMAs blogs be sure to visit the CM Blog & leave a comment for a chance to win some fun treats (no tricks)!

How about some fun Halloween punch art? 

 

The paper I used in the background is from the new Trick or Treat paper pack.

Look at all these fun papers that will be the perfect compliment to your Halloween photos…and the new Trick or Treat stickers, too! 
The Gold ABC/123 Stickers work beautifully with these fun new Halloween themed products. (Thanks Candace for this great picture!)

Need a closer look at that fun Pumpkin Patch black (bookcloth) Mica album?  Here you go!

Here is a close up of each each member of this “too cute to spook” group and the tools I used to create them:

Bat

Body: use the new Two-Way Corner Rounder on a corner of Black Cardstock first, the use the Circle Cartridge and the Shape Maker System to cut out the rest of the shape. (Did you know that the wonderful, smooth, solid colored cardstock so many of us miss is back while supplies last?!  Check out the Going Gone section of my CM Advisor site while it’s still available!!)
Wings: use the Blossom Place n Punch first then use the Circle cartridge with the Shape Maker System.  Cut this in half for the wings. (See photos below).
Eyes:  Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge.
Mouth: Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Picket Fence Cartridge (comes with the system).

Spider

Body:  Shape Maker System and Circle cartridge (punch 2)
Head: Inside of the Circle Tag made using the Shape Maker System.
Legs: Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System.
Eyes:  Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge.
For easy assembly layer the legs and head between the 2 larger circles.

Green Guy

Head: Using the same technique as we did for the bat first use the Two Way corner Rounder then finish with the Circle Cartridge with the Shape Maker System.
Ears: A Leftover rectangle from the Filmstrip Cartridge used with the Border Maker System cut in half
Eye:  Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge.
Mouth:  Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System.
Fang: A Leftover rectangle from the Filmstrip Cartridge used with the Border Maker System cut in half and trimmed down.

Purple Guy

Head:  Circle Cartridge with the Shape Maker System.
Eyes & Nose:  Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge.
Mouth & Stems for Eyes:  Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System.
Fangs: A Leftover rectangle from the Filmstrip Cartridge using the Border Maker System cut in half and trimmed down.

Little Devil
Head: Using the same technique as we did for the bat first use the Two Way corner Rounder then finish with the Circle Cartridge with the Shape Maker System.
Ears/Horns: A Leftover rectangle from the Filmstrip Cartridge using the Border Maker System cut in half
Eyes:  Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge. 
Mouth:  Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System.
Fang: A leftover rectangle from the Filmstrip cartridge using the Border Maker System cut in half and trimmed down.
Tail: Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System and a piece from the Filmstrip Cartridge using the Border Maker System cut in half and trimmed down.

Moon

Use the Circle cartridge with the Shape Maker System and punch out a circle. Position this piece back in the cartridge to punch out the piece, leaving the crescent shape for the moon.

Black Cat

Body:  Use the same technique described above used to make the moon.
Head: Inside of the Circle Tag made using the Shape Maker System
Whiskers & Tail: Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System.
Eyes & Nose: Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge.
Ears:  A Leftover rectangle from the Filmstrip cartridge and the Border Maker System cut in half.

Skeleton

Head, Ribs & Pelvis: Leftover pieces from the Circle Tag used with the Shape Maker System.
Bones & Feet: Leftover pieces from the Picket Fence cartridge used with Border Maker System. Cut one in half for the feet. 
Hand with Fingers: Cut down a piece made with the Filmstrip cartridge and the Border Maker System.
Shoulder, Elbow & Knee joints, Eyes and Mouth: Leftover pieces from the Border Maker System and the Bubbles Cartridge.

Lots of tiny pieces were used to make this crew!  Use your Multi Purpose Tool to position single strips of Tape Runner adhesive on these small parts. Sure makes me miss that Mini-Tape Runner!  (Between you & me…it’s scheduled to make a comeback – not sure exactly when, but it’s in the works!!)

Thanks for stopping by!   The fun continues over at Fran’s blog, she is the next stop on our CM Halloween Blog Hop!  

In case you get lost along the way here is the list of all the stops on this fun Blog Hop:

Stop 1 - Sarah Fitzgerald
Stop 2 - Julie Tambrini
Stop 3 - Candace Bouldin
Stop 4 - Lisa Graham <------You Are Here!
Stop 5 - Fran Smitherman
Stop 6 - Diana Brinsley 
Stop 7 - Stefani Jones

After you’ve completed the Blog Hop don’t forget to visit the CM Blog and leave a comment for a chance to win some fun treats!

Happy Halloween!!

New Boy Scout and Cub Scout Cartridges From Cricut

(See below for some great deals & coupon codes for Cricut.com)

Holy cow – these are nice!   We have so many great memories from Scouts and it’s not always easy to find Scout related papers, stickers and embellishments.  These 2 cartridges will make it easy to decorate, make custom shirts, invitations, scrapbook layouts and more! 

Both of my Boys started as Tiger Cubs and crossed over into Boy Scouts.  My youngest decided Scouting wasn’t for him just a few weeks ago but my oldest is all in.  He just needs to pass his Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review & he’ll have the rank of Life Scout.  The next rank after that is Eagle Scout!

Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold, camping, hiking, Court of Honor, Eagle Scout and more are all covered!  The cartridge is also available digitally for use in Cricut Craftroom. 

Do Your Best…for Cub Scouts on Cricut.com

Be Prepared…for Boy Scouts on Cricut.com

While you’re at Cricut.com you might want to check out the October Mystery box. For only $39.99 you’ll receive product that is worth over $200!

What's inside Cricut's October Mystery Box? Cricut’s not telling. But they do give a few hints ...

• It's valued at a whopping $208, but you'll be able to purchase it for only $39.99!
• It includes 4 cartridges

And that's all they're sharing because they don't want to spoil the other surprises contained in this October Mystery Box! Purchase it for yourself and solve the mystery of what's inside! With Cricut, we know you won't be disappointed.

If you would like to know what’s actually in the box before ordering you can watch a video of Debbie ONeal showing what her Mystery Box contained.  These Mystery Boxes are supposed to all have the same items in them but if something sells out then Cricut will substitute another item of similar value.

Need to upgrade to a Cricut Explore Air?  This bundle is only $189 in October!!

Beginning 10/16:  Save an extra 20% off digital items at Cricut.com

Free shipping on orders over $30 with code: FALLSHIP

Save $20 on Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat

Today is the last day to register for our weekend at the Early Bird rate. Please make sure your registration is postmarked by September 16 to save $20!

Not familiar with our retreats? We specialize in a fun, relaxed atmosphere with great food, hotel space and no drama  Take a peek at our retreat blog for more info.

Buy A CM Bundle…Get A FREE Flower Garden Punch!

CM has some fun F2F bundles for sale that include this flower garden punch (freestanding, not for use with the Border Maker System). The punch is not available for purchase on its own. Each of the four Fast2Fab bundles (Vintage, Primary, Bright and Neutral) includes a Fast2Fab album, Paper Pack and Slide-In Pack, plus the free Flower Garden Punch!

There is no limit to the number of free punches per order: you will receive one with each Fast2Fab bundle purchased. Please note: the free Flower Garden Punch will only be included with a purchase of one of these four bundles; buying Fast2Fab components separately does not qualify.

This is a unique promotion because its end date will be based on the availability of the punches. (CM has several thousand more of these than the recent Heart, Heart, Heart, but they are in a set quantity.) So the promotion will end when the Garden Punch runs out or September 28, whichever comes first. You'll find the bundles on my website under the "Going Gone" category. http://www.creativememories.com/user/lisagraham

Stamp–n- Storage – Save 10% or more.

I have heard such wonderful things about the products from this company! I am always looking for new & improved ways to organize my workshop, especially now that I’m branching out and acquiring more Kiwi Lane and Fun Stamper’s Journey items.  Stamp-n-Storage (SnS) has storage options for craft items including ink pads, pens, paper, dies, punches, embossing folders, ribbons…just about everything!

I’m not an affiliate with SnS but I do have my eye on a few of their products and I’m always looking for ways to save money.  SnS has a nice loyalty program – and I just signed up for that.  I’m able to share savings with you!  Click here to sign up for an SnS account & get 10% off your first order.  Anyone can sign up for their Storage Rewards & earn points towards a discount on your SnS orders. 

I recently moved all of my stickers, premade borders, and embellishments in to a Scraprack and now have some space in my IKEA Expedit shelves to work with.  

Stamp-n-Storage has items that are designed to work with the IKEA cube shelves.

Be still my heart!  You can read about this beautiful craft space in this blog post on the SnS blog.

Be sure to click on “Win $50” at the top of the home page – when you fill in your information you will be joining their mailing list and will be sent the next issue of their newsletter & a copy of their catalog should be sent to you, too!

Do you have any Stamp-n-Storage items?  Any you have your eye on?