BREAKING NEWS

There is a lot happening recently.  I wanted to put this link up here for my LOYAL former Creative Memories customers.  I left the company months ago for many very personal reasons.  I thought you'd like to read this interview:

Co-founder Rhonda Anderson Resigns

3/1/14 update:
Here is a link to Rhonda's new page that will have details about the things to come with a new product line at the company Youngevity that owns Heritage Makers that she is now representing http://www.heritagemakers.com/644303

My Bird Feeder

I have been attempting to get this fellow's picture ALL season.  I was finally able to catch him this weekend, but not at the feeder so I have nothing in the photos for a scale reference.  I am just glad that I was able to catch him foraging in the snow for seeds.  This is my Downy Woodpecker.

CRICUT Sale!

Be sure to check out these links and take advantage of the sale!

30% Off  Ends 2/23
30% OFF all Cricut digital images and image sets! Ends 2/23.


FREE SHIPPING:

FREE shipping on Cricut orders over $35! Use code FEBSHIP. Coupon Code: FEBSHIP


30% off baby themed images
30% OFF Cricut baby-themed images! Ends 2/26.
30% OFF Cricut baby-themed Cuttlebug folders! Ends 2/26.

Cricut cardstock & Vinyl (select items)
30% OFF pastel collections of Cricut Cardstock & Vinyl! Ends 2/26.

Quick -n- Easy Scarves

Scarves I've made since last evening. Thank you Stephanie for sending me the You Tube video showing how. They are so easy to make. Each one took me about an hour to do. I found with the cotton yarn that it's best to unwind from the skein b/c it's so very soft.

The one not pictured is teal & green together. I used two skeins with the sparkly edge & crocheted them at the same time for Lizzie. They did not have the 2 colors together & that's what she wanted. It worked up very nicely, but took me about 2 hours b/c of working with the double yarn.

Cricut Sale through February 18th - Check it out!

30% OFF Cricut's NEW tool set! Ends 2/18.
30% OFF Cricut's top home decor image sets! Ends 2/18.
30% OFF kids' image sets from Cricut! Ends 2/18.
 Buy Cricut's Mystery Box and get 3 top cartridges - only $29.99!

Ahni & Zoe now offering plain white pages & protectors

Ahni & Zoe now offering plain white pages & protectors

(from a fellow blogger's post - Lisa's Workshop)

Though Creative Memories has changed it's name to "Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories" and the product line is vaguely familiar they’ve seemed to leave traditional scrapbookers in the dust.  Until now.  Cue the entrance of an old favorite - plain, white, blank pages with page protectors!  These are available indefinitely. (Sorry – not sure exactly what this means but it’s what AZ has said.)

Of course, there is more to this story: 

1) The regular line of products in the "new" company are LARGER than the old. I have no idea if these pages are the exact same size as the True 12x12 ones produced until August 2013.  Edited to add:  According to many posts on the A&Z Facebook page, these new pages are the same size as the old ones.   I’ll post if I get new info.  The new albums are NOT bookcloth covered.  They are "Soft Touch Laminate," a plastic I've heard referred to as something similar to those rubber pants they used to put over cloth diapers...with a sort of waxy feel to it…or dolphin skin.  Either way, it’s not bookcloth. 

2) The "new" company has said they do NOT test for photo safety any longer.  It is one of the many, many reasons I am no longer a consultant.  This information is NOT listed that way on their website.  Another CMC I am acquainted with had gone back & forth with the company trying to get specific information regarding the tests they use to ensure their products are safe and they could not (or would not) provide this information.  The "standards" they mention on their website are about the durability of the album and it's pages - not about scientific testing done to ensure that the photos and memorabilia you place on the pages will be around for future generations to enjoy. 

3) I will be honest and tell you that the company does appear to continue to have financial difficulty.  They're financials are public information and their income is still less than their expenses. PLEASE be careful when ordering to only use a credit card.  Beware - the new return policy for albums is ... unique, for lack of a better word.   If you buy an album with it's pre-designed pages and are not happy with it you are not able to return it (despite their “Happiness Guarantee.”)   However, if you put all your photos and journaling in the album and are unhappy there is no problem…simply return the COMPLETED album - yes, including the photos - and you should receive a product credit - NOT a refund.  

On a more personal note...I have very mixed feeling towards this company.  I feel that they abandoned many customers and consultants but I do not wish to see them fail.  After all, If they fail they can not pay back the money they collected from sales of products that were supposed to go to the Make a Wish Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation or the money that they (legally) took from many, many CMCs retirement funds. 

Link to the blank pages & protectors on the Ahni & Zoe/Creative Memories web site.  PLEASE be sure to select a consultant if you order…if you don’t AZ/CM makes all the money.

I'll continue to provide information so you can make an informed decision.  And thank you to Lisa's Workshop for posting & sharing this information with me.

CRICUT

 I am now an affiliate for Cricut  Please take a moment to check out current specials and upcoming ones as well.  There is a link on the left side of the page.

Chase away the winter blahs

with more snow on the way today I decided to work on some digital pages.  This is my latest creation.  I so love watching the birds at my feeders.  They always bring me a smile.  The other day I was leaning across the wood-box with my head propped in my hands and my daughter asked if I was bored?  I told her no, I was enjoying the birds.  Her comment to me was that it still sounded like I was bored.  Hope you like my page.

Click on photo to enlarge

I am hoping to get several more done today.  This was made using Storybook Creator 4.0 with Customer Appreciation artkit from Winter 2012.

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Today I want to share with you the joys I have had with this great little scanner.  I purchased mine in August 2012 and immediately fell in love with it.  I have used it so many times for large framed articles that I wanted in digital form.  I have a few listed below that I have done and I am thrilled with the outcome of each photo.

My very first one is a photo from my family's genealogy.  It is an 11x44 inch framed panoramic print from a 1930's reunion.  My mother painstakingly identified most of my immediate family members in the photo & then had it framed.  Afterwards as technology advanced, she wished to give me and each of my siblings a copy.  I used my NEW Flip-Pal scanner and after 22 scan stitched together this was the end result:

Please click on photo to enlarge

Most of my family is located on the left side of the photo, except for one lone sole on the right n the front row...I'm told by him that he wanted to be up front and away from his siblings (smile).

The nest time I used this great little scanner was for an old newspaper article my mother had saved from a Fair that I had items entered in...I used the dry/erase pens and marking board to identify my article without having to write directly on the news article.  That photo is shown below:

Please click on photo to enlarge

I have also used this again and again for many things.  Photos that are in albums that can't be removed, I have scanned right over the page protectors and they give me a terrific digital copy.  Here's an example of a 2-page layout I wanted to share right here on my blog.  You'll have to excuse the skipped areas, it was a learning process for me & this was one of my early scans.

please click on photo to enlarge

I've brought these photos to your attention because I LOVE my Flip-Pal scanner and wanted to show you the many uses for one.  Between my genealogy & scrapbooking I have found endless uses for mine. 

To purchase one for yourself check out the link on the left of my blog page.