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Saturday, August 18, 2012

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.  crop2

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

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!

photo panel - gymnastics

View the Gymnastics Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

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View the Football Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

photo panel - volleyball

View the Volleyball Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

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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! 

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

dry erase magnetic pens at target

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Custom Coverset – Mitten Memories

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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!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Camp Crop-A-Lot October 12–14 @ The Novi Sheraton

It’s time to register for our upcoming weekend retreat at the Novi Sheraton!  It is a wonderful weekend filled with lots of fun, ideas, great food & company!  You can view more information about the weekend at our Camp Blog here:  www.cropalot.blogspot.com

Our weekend retreats at the Novi Sheraton are filled with fun, great food, wonderful company, inspiration, tips & techniques and plenty of space and time for you to work on what you want.  Plenty of optional activities for you to participate if you want to – including massages, make & takes, classes, drawings and raffles.

Please note that you’ll need to register by September 1st to get the Early Bird price & save $15!  Also, when you register by September 1st  with me I’ll send you a confirmation packet filled with new product samples, Pre-Camp sale information and a mini catalog with the newest limited edition products. 

I have sent the registration for to those on my CM email list – if you didn’t get it you can download it here.

You can download the registration form here.

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Fall 2012 Creative Memories Product Discontinuations

It’s that time of year again…new products coming so that means time to get rid of some old ones! 

I don’t have any information other than these products are only available while supplies last beginning 8/6/12.  I hope some are just being updated but honestly don’t have any info – so my advice is if you see a favorite – grab it before it’s gone!

You can view the  While Supplies Last products here and Clearance (discounted) section here on my CM website.

Traditional Products

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Digital

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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Join the Rewards Club for FREE!

When you join the club for $39 from Aug. 8-15, you’ll receive $39 in club credit to use on a future purchase.   That’s like joining for free!

The deal works if you’re a current club members too, regardless of when you renewed! So even if your renewal isn’t due, you can use this offer to extend your current benefits by one year and take advantage of the $39 in club credit.

Rewards Club members earn 15% in credit on CM purchases made with any CM Consultant!  That means if you buy from me in person I’ll be able to credit your Rewards Club account with that purchase amount & you’ll earn 15%!  Online purchases are credited to your account automatically. 

Exclusive products and digital content are available to Rewards Club members, too.  You can learn more about this great program here on my CM website!  Rewards Club information and current exclusive gifts.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Showcase 2012–Digital

Upgrade for Memory Manager – Here’s a quick overview of the changes!

Changes to the Pixels 2 Pages subscription -

Fantastic new structure lets you subscribe to content to fit your needs.  Or you can get it all at a great rate!

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Link to view above P2P info

Sunday, August 5, 2012

New Products–Showcase 2012 Border Maker Cartridges

Rustic Fence and Pumpkin Chain

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Twinkle Border Maker Cartridge – Croptoberfest exclusive

Make & Take –using this and Croptoberfest Hostess Gift – chalking ink in barn red & olive.

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This was beautiful – they used the barn red chalking ink on the punched border

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Love this lacy look made by using multiple borders that have been lightly chalk inked.IMG_0678

New Cricut Cartridge–Holiday Frames & Tags

Another CM exclusive Cricut Cartridge coming in November!

50 layered tags, 30 layered frames, 20 layered labels and 10 layered borders, 3 fonts. Plus 3D  rosettes & boxes and envelopes.

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A cute make & take from Showcase.

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New Showcase 2012 Products–Holiday

2 new albums!  Beautiful silver accents on a rich cranberry colored album.

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2 new Holiday collections – Nordic and  Be Merry – available beginning in November. I am pretty sure these will be available in digital format, too.

Nordic

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Be Merry

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