*** We have a winner! Congrats to D-lyn from Yesterday! ***
I am a photographer. I think most moms are! We want to capture those sweet moments, those funny moments, those OH NO moments (that later turn into funny moments), and yes, even those heart wrenching moments. Why do we do that? Because we want to always remember, and never forget, all those wonderful LIFE moments of childhood and motherhood and family.
With my oldest daughters I was very good at diligently keeping scrapbooks.I wasn’t good at it – NOT AT ALL but I did manage to save the memories. After the first three though everything started to slide downhill pretty fast. The amount of pictures taken didn’t subside but getting those pictures into albums, let alone scrapbook pages was almost nil.
And now it is getting worse. I am a couple years behind in actually getting the pictures printed. YIKES!
Enter digital scrapbooking. I’ve been doing it with my Adobe Photoshop. I’ve been able to create family calendars that way and it has been a lot of fun, but it is also time consuming. I was given the opportunity to review My Memory Suite, the #1-rated digital scrapbooking software. Talk about easy!
Here are a couple of pages I was able to make in five minutes flat.
And that was with the basic papers and embellishments that come with the software. But you don’t have to limit yourself to those! There are a ton of freebies on their website: templates, papers, and embellishments for you to download for even more scrapbook options. They even offer great freebie packages on their facebook page every Friday!
Here’s one using the Autumn Embrace Quick Page.
And one using the facebook freebie from this week.
Isn’t the owl adorable?
It was difficult at first to find all the papers, embellishments and templates that I downloaded to use. I had to go searching through them. Once I got that figured out though it went faster (obviously). It would be nice if there was a recently added feature, kind of like in itunes, or a download folder where you can more easily find what you downloaded.
My Memories Suite can do a whole lot of things, not just scrapbook pages or photobooks, which you can order directly from My Memories. You can create slideshows with music or narration and then burn them onto dvds. Can you imagine the fun, personalized Christmas gifts those would make for grandparents or distant relatives? We are anxious to try our hand at those in the next month.
One feature I really, really like is the auto fill. If you have a folder of pictures already sorted out – say a special day like a trip to the pumpkin patch – you can create an album with already designed templates, then have My Memories auto fill all of your pictures into it! You can easily go back and add text and other embellishments if you want but the majority of the work is done – and isn’t that most of the battle we face with digital photos and scrapbooking? My older daughters plan on using that to create special photo books of Girls Camp and their trip to Barcelona.
This isn’t just a review of My Memory Suite, this is a giveaway too!
To Enter: Visit My Memories, choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then comment here telling which one you chose. (All of their digital packs can be used with other programs too!)
Open to everyone! The giveaway closes Sunday, October 23 at 5 pm PST. A winner will be chosen via random.org.
As a special for all of you readers, here is a code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store – ($20 value!) There are so many cheap digital kits you can purchase with that $10. And with the price of the software at $39.97 you get 25% off! The code is STMMMS48094 . Just enter it upon checkout. The easiest thing to do is copy and paste it in the box at checkout to avoid typos.
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Tristan says
I think it would be fun to use the Twilight Fanpire papers/kit for a special Valentine’s day set of pages with my hubby. 😉
The White Silk Purse (Dana) says
Golden Days is my pick! Just right for this time of year.
Stephanie says
Thanks for these great tips! I really enjoy digital scrapbooking pictures of my daughter, but I still have lots to learn so this was very helpful.
Shauna says
Sweet N Sassy! Great giveaway!!!!!
The Boohers says
Little Yellow Canary! I love the yellow and the birds. Thanks for the giveaway.
Andrea :) says
I would love to use my family’s Halloween pictures with their Happy Halloween Complete Pack. Thanks for a great giveaway! 🙂
Brynley says
I have been using them for 3 years now. I love it. But, I have gotten behind on scrapbooking still. It is hard to find the balance with blogging and scrapbooking and trying to not duplicate. I printed a calendar for my extended family and loved it. I’m just trying to find a cheap place to print the pages. I don’t know if they have lowered their prices recently. But then I keep thinking with the ipad and technology, are we still going to want to print or just click through the pics on our computer?? Will my kids want a book or just click through a blog of pics and movies??
Don & Tammy says
I love the Halloween Designer Pack! Thanks for the giveaway!
Lindsey says
I just got lost on their site. SO many options! Time for me to really get into digital scrapbooking. I’d pick the Affinity pack.
Raejean says
The Moments of Everyday pack is my favorite. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Deirdre says
It’s funny, but as much as I shoot digital and use computers (every day, all day when I worked), I abhor using them for my albums. I like to touch and feel the pictures, pages, etc. I do simple, straight forward albums. Heavy on journaling the who, what and where of an event or happening. It works for me. And, yes, I am at least three years behind! But that’s okay – if I stress, then it’s not fun.
hunter-holmes clan says
I was completely overwhelmed with all the options…I’m not sure I can pick just one. I think this would be a terrific way to pick up scrapbooking again (like you I got caught up in real life and my younger children don’t have any scrapbooks).
~Kris says
I’m torn between A Love of Music and Be Prepared Girl Scouts! Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!
D-lyn says
wow I never have thought to try digital scrap booking boy are there tons of fabulous things to see over there and I think it is very affordable too.
I like smell of dreams and a lot of the designs with ribbons and buttons because you wouldn’t have to worry about bulk.
Super fun for the winner
Becky Rose says
I didn’t know about this type of thing. I loved the Dog Gone Cute word art pack! I have 2 dogs!
Cardon Times says
I really like Emma!
Hales Family says
There are alot of cool ones but I really liked the follow your dreams pack.
Faith says
I am wanting to get started with digital scrapbooking, and really like the Butterfly Buddies. I have a question: Where can you have your scrapbook pages printed?