Custom Framing?

     This blog post has nothing to do with scrapbooking...but is does have to do with my other passions, pictures and saving money...plus I'm really excited about it!  So here the story goes...
     I've custom framed Christy & Patrick's one-year-picture and they hang in our bedroom.  Since I started this tradition I kinda have to do it with all my kids!  With the other kid's pictures Creative Memories had their custom framing so it was easy and I got them at a discount.  Now that they don't do custom framing anymore I was hoping to find a frame with a mat for June's 1-year picture so I wouldn't have to pay the custom framing price tag.  Heading out to Hobby Lobby, I discovered they don't carry any matted frames in the 10x13 openings which I needed.  While I was trying to figure out what to do a sales lady suggested trying to find a framed picture and using that mat and frame...lightbulb moment...that was a GREAT idea!  I looked around, found one I thought would work for only $15!...the opening was a little big so I bought a mat board to go behind it.  After only a half hour I had my little project completed!    

                                               The picture I bought.

           
        I took the back off the picture, took the mat off the picture, used my Creative Memories tape runner to secure the picture to the mat board, put it all back together and I had my "custom framed" picture!  

               
                 The finished picture with a price tag of $23 v. $130!  
       

Christmas Photo layout idea

     If you're looking for a way to scrapbook some family photos, possibly those Christmas ones we all took, this is a really cute idea. My layout's not Christmasy but you can make Christmasy if you want. There's plenty of variations that can be taken from this layout depending on your pictures and papers but the most important part of the layout is the title "Family is a gift you treasure" (can also use "Family is a gift to treasure")  and the wrapped "gift".


To make the gift, simply cut a rectangle out of chipboard,  (I use the chipboard that comes in the page or page protector package)  cut a piece of paper 1/2 in. bigger than chipboard and "wrap" the chipboard by placing chipboard on paper and wrapping paper over the edge of chipboard, then glue the edge down.  Use either ribbon or thin pieces of paper for the ribbon on the gift.  Then cut two thin strips of paper, 1/4 or 1/3 in., fold in half creating a loop, and glue them to the top of the gift so they make a "bow".  


Products I used were:
Delight Designer Paper Pack, photo mats, flowers and ribbon
Honeydew Cardstock
ABC stickers
Creative Cuts letters for FAMILY
Flower template for the cutoff cutting system


Hope you enjoy this layout as much as I did!

Valentine's Day

I don't know about you ladies but I look forward to Valentine's Day. It's the bright spot in the middle of winter!  


Do you need inspiration for a Valentine's gift?  Other than chocolate or a teddy bear I mean.  Consider making an album!  Creative Memories makes this an easy and fun task with two album options.  


First, is the new 8x8 Love album, it's a small album and makes for quick work. You can purchase the matching Love scrapbook kit and you're good to go. This would be a great gift if you have a number of pictures of a specific memory, event, or trip in mind. 


The second option is a Simply Said book.  This is a great way of telling your significant other how you feel about them.  This project can be completed in about an hour.  All you need is a few pictures and a pen. 


So there you have it two great ideas to tell your lover how much you love them in words and not simply lace.. :) Let me know soon if you would like to order something so I can be sure to get them to you in plenty of time to be completed before Valentine's Day. 

And ladies, if you're thinking this might be something YOU'D like to get for Valentine's Day, drop a few hints or you can always give me his name/number and I'll let him know. :)

Album Sale

In celebration of their 25 year anniversary, Creative Memories is having an Album Sale!  20% off all Traditional, Picfolio, Custom Albums, and Digital albums for 25 days! (January 2-26).  Also on sale is digital product credit, so if you don't have a Storybook or Custom Album ready to order and don't have time to complete one before the 26th, you can purchase a Storybook product credit or a Custom Album credit, get the 20% off, and order the album later. (Expires in 6 months.)
With the Album Sale, January is also a great time to host a party, everybody will be excited to order albums at 20% off and you will receive hostess credit!

Christmas pictures!

I have so fallen in love with my StoryBook Creator Software.  Today, I designed my Christmas picture on it,  super cute and easy, and the best part?  I ordered them on Snapfish...had a coupon code...I got 140 pictures for $1.40!  With shipping the total was $9.90!  For 140 Christmas cards!!  That will fit nicely in the budget! :)

Open House

It's that time of year again...time for my Fall/Christmas Open House! 
The perks of attending my Open House you might ask?  Well...there's:

• Crop for FREE!  I'll have my cool new border maker you can try out, along with my other tools to use.
• 10% off all Albums, Pages, Protectors and Tape Runner!
• discontinued items 50% off Clearance 
• 2 door prizes (a cute Christmas paper pack with photo mats and die cuts, and tape runner with pen set)
• a FREE gift just for attending,
• a gift for filling out a wish list 
• a gift with purchase of $40 or more!   
• Browse the new products, including the adorable new albums that are 10% off!
• Yummy food!

I'm having my Open House during my regular crop time, this coming Thursday, Nov. 10th 10am-5pm and in the evening 6-10pm at my home.  (email or Facebook me for directions)
Please RSVP if you plan on coming by Nov. 9.

Door Prize!

Children love Albums!

This is one of the reasons why I scrapbook.   I walked into the living room the other day to find both of my kids sprawled on the couch looking at their scrapbooks.  I believe kids having their own ablums is important.  As a child, my aunt made me a scrapbook with my name sewn on the cover.  Nothing like we have today...I think it was the old magnitic kind where the page is sticky and the pictures stick to the page. (gasp!) Often as a kid I would go through the album and rearrange the pictures and play with it.   Looking through the album gave me a sense of belonging, an identity.  As a mom, I want to pass that along to my children.  And I hope they enjoy their albums as much as I did mine...but please don't rearrange the pictures! :)