Friday, December 30, 2011

My Memories - 2011 Top Ten

This week's challenge on the My Memories Blog is to scrap your 2011 Top Ten! Okay, I didn't have that fantastic a year but easily came up with my top ten. They are shown here in no particular order, although younger daughter driving up with her packed car and cat in tow in October during her move from Michigan to Tennessee is really high up on the list. Being married to my wonderful DH for 32 years is also really high up on the list. Added to the list are the new family members, Ryan, Finn and Kaylee. Ryan married into my highly crazy family and Finn and Kaylee are the newest generation. My title: The Best is Yet to Come is exactly how I feel about 2012.


My page is done with Marie H's "Clementine" kit. I can't believe how much I use orange since I started digitally scrapbooking. I don't even like orange as a rule, but it makes beautiful pages.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Freebie Friday - My Memories v 3


Are you new to scrapbooking? Want to get started by not sure how to go about it? Just bought My Memories Suite, version 3 and want to play with it? The answer is this "suite" set of quick pages that are yours exclusively from My Memories for a limited time. Not only will you download the quick pages, but you also get the papers and embellishments included on the quick pages so that you can stretch your two pages into as many as you want. And don't forget you can flip these pages, rotate them, mirror them to give you a great variety that is color coordinated.
If you haven't tried My Memories yet, try the trial version that can be downloaded here. If you like what you see, use my STMMMS188876 code to get $10 off the full version! Just click on the blinkie on the right side of the page!

You can down load these quick pages here.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Thursday, December 29, 2011

One Crafty Thing After Another

I had fun before Christmas working on some Christmas stuff. One of the things I made was these little gift card boxes, made with the round Laughing Cow cheese boxes and one of the poinsettia SVGS from SVGCuts. I also used it to make Christmas cards. I just glued Christmas paper to the box, trimmed it with ribbon and attached the poinsettia.

Then I made Christmas cards for daughters and DH. This is one of them. I did one on green cardstock, one on white and one on red.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas





Greeting done with My Memories Suite v 3 and "Blue Christmas" from Trixie Scraps.



Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, December 23, 2011

Freebie Friday - My Memories


Are you new to scrapbooking? Want to get started by not sure how to go about it? Just bought My Memories Suite, version 3 and want to play with it. The answer is this "suite" set of quick pages that are yours exclusively from My Memories for a limited time. Not only will you download the quick pages, but you also get the papers and embellishments included on the quick pages so that you can stretch your two pages into as many as you want. And don't forget you can flip these pages, rotate them, mirror them to give you a great variety that is color coordinated. 
If you haven't tried My Memories yet, try the trial version that can be downloaded here. If you like what you see, use my STMMMS188876 code to get $10 off the full version! Just click on the blinkie on the right side of the page!


Click here for the kit!

Happy Scrapbooking!

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Something That Isn't a Scrapbook Page!

Last night I downloaded a freebie from SVGCuts*. The kit is for one piece boxes. They are just the easiest thing to make, and if you are like me and your cutter is small - I have the original Cricut - you are in luck. SVGCuts has included the patterns for 12 x 6 mats. Since these work best with double sided paper/card stock, that is what I used. One has trim that was cut on the same paper and a tiny yellow brad and the other, lacy edged one has added gold bling.


*available for a limited time.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Monday, December 19, 2011

Speed Scrap Sunday - December 18th, 2011

Another great speed scrap last night over at the My Memories Facebook page! I love it when Jessica gives us a heads up on how many photos we need and what we'll need to do with them. In this case, I chose oldies but goodies. The papers and word art are by Word Art World by Jennifer and is called Remember. The flowers and ribbon, stitches and ric-rac were pulled in from other kits.

The main photo was taken in 1989 shortly before the lady in red (Mary) gave birth to her daughter. It was a surprise for my parents. The smaller pictures were taken in the mid 1950's, about 1964 and 1968.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, December 16, 2011

It's Freebie Friday - My Memories Suite v3


It's Friday and I've selected another pair of quick pages for you from My Memories.  Clicking on the first image will take you to the freebie!


 Don't forget you get the elements used to make the quick pages - that way you can tweak them to get a slightly altered 4 page set if you so desire!

Don't forget that you can rotate the pages, too. It gives you a slightly different look. This page has been rotated 90 degrees. And then it was rotated 90 degrees more.








Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Monday, December 12, 2011

Speed Scrap!

This was done on December 11th on the My Memories Facebook page. The subject is our youngest grandkitty, Belle. Younger daughter brings her to visit. She's a lap cat, but I sometimes thinks she is  a dog because she begs and rolls over.

You might not believe that it was accidental that I chose the paper with circles and then found one of the instructions was to add circles to the page! The papers are all from Happy Go Lucky collection.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Dog-Cat

Our newest non-human family member (don't tell her) is Belle, younger daughter's 3 year-old-adopted cat. But she must be part dog, because she does tricks. She begs. Oh yes, as soon as you spend more than 30 seconds in the kitchen, she is there begging for whatever you are working on. And you can get her to beg nicely for a treat. Really. Also, we caught her rolling over several times. And she sits under the table while you eat hoping for crumbs. She won't eat them, but she waits for them anyway.


The cat part of her is elusive. Just try to get a good picture of her. While she expresses some interest in the camera, she won't hold still for a camera shot.
 
Finally, we decided a bribe was in order, so that we could get her to beg for a snack.  It worked. Belle loves her snacks. You can even get her to eat the snack right out of your hand.


Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, December 9, 2011

Freebie Friday from My Memories

I have another exclusive quick page set for you from our friends at My Memories. I thought I'd tell you how I come up with the pictures for these pages. Usually, when I design a page, I have a picture in mind for it, so the page is totally designed with the picture in mind. With the quick pages, I look at the pages, how it is set up for photos, the colors and then pick the photos. Sometimes, like this week, that comes easy. Other weeks, it's a struggle. And since these quick pages are meant for use as two-page spreads, which I admit, I usually only do with these quick pages, it can be difficult.

But, as I said, this one was easy. My kids are crazy. Somewhere along the line they decided they were tired of the sweet sister photos and started hugging each other - viciously! You know, those are some of my favorite pictures. I've picked out some of my favorites for this two page spread.

 

 This is what I've done with the pages.



Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Christmas Traditions

What more appropriate kit could I use for this week's My Memories Blog Challenge, than a Christmas Traditions kit I picked up on the Blog Train. This particular kit, "Sugar Plums" by designs by Krista really tickled my fancy. I love the colors of this kit and who wouldn't love that cute little gingerbread boy peeking out from behind the gifts?

Since most of my family's traditions center around food, I almost didn't enter this challenge. Then I took a look at the stockings hung from the mantle and knew I had my "tradition." You see, this is the first year in many years all the stockings and stocking holders have been in the same place. Our oldest daughter moved away from home and down to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2004. That year, I decorated dollar store stockings for her, her roommate and our younger daughter. Those are the large stockings on the left, which already came with embellishments - I only had to put their names on with foam letters and puffy paint. Their stocking holders - a kitty - Mandy - and a dog - Max were named for our former pets. The stockings on the right are mine and my husband's. I have wanted to get him a new stocking for years, but he loves his Goofy stocking.


This is also the first year since 2004 that we are all living in the same state. An old tradition in a new state.



Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Speed Scrap!

It's getting crazy around here - what with rain, Christmas decorating, and more rain. And then there is Sunday Speed Scrap over at the My Memories FB page.  Jessica fortunately told us we would need a landscape oriented photo and so I chose one of my niece and her new hubby. Yes, they've been the subject of a scrap page before. Last one was utilizing "fancy pants" font and I used a quick page. This one I laid out on my own.


All I really added was the title and the photo. Not bad. Below is the one I did on Sunday. Each one of these speed scraps pushes me just beyond my comfort zone adding elements. The first one was done using MMS version 2 and the bottom was done with version 3, which is a little more user friendly, I think.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Monday, December 5, 2011

My Memories - Card Making Tutorial

Are you still working on your Christmas cards? I have a great tutorial inspired by My Memories Suite. This is particularly sweet if you have upgraded to version 3.

Of course I had to check out this tutorial for myself. It's by Barb Eastwick, and is very easy.

First, get yourself version 3 of  My Memories. If you don't have it, you can get $10 off the cost of the full program using my code STMMMS18876 when ordering.  If you do have it, upgrade it. Worth every penny. (This part is my idea, not Barb's!)

Second, once you download and install the program, it will prompt you for a new album. Choose your size, which can be either a landscape or portrait album and you want the 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inch size (5-1/2 x 4-1/4 if you choose landscape.)

Third, choose a background paper. Keep in mind when you choose a background paper and any embellishment, you have to comply with the terms of use (TOU.) Mostly, these terms mean you can use for your personal use - like making cards to send to family and friends - but NOT selling them.  I chose a paper from Barbara Marcusi that I got on the December Blog Train. If you choose a paper and decide it isn't write you can always delete it or use the Change Background tool on the menu (Arrange > Change Background.)

Fourth, choose elements, word art, what ever you'd like on the front of your card. I chose to make a frame using the Shapes - Frames option. Then I colored it using a gradient. I also did a square shape that you probably won't pick up on, to use just under the frame. I used the color picker, picking out the burgundy in the foreground paper and then fading it a bit. I wanted the design to show through. Finally I added my Word Art, "Joy to the World" from "Holiday Snows." The ribbon came from 3 Li'l Monsters, and the snowflake was also from Barb Mancusi.

When I was done, the first thing I did was save it! Then I clicked on the SHARE Album button on the control panel, export pages, and exported it as a jpeg file.


When I go to the folder where I have saved this image, I will select print:


I'll select the option to print a page of 3.5 x 5 photos.


So your screen should look like this:


Select your quality, the type of paper, and print.  Once you have printed them, cut them out. They are sized to center on a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 card. You might want to position some nice holiday paper behind them to camouflage the white space. Add some bling or other 3-D element and you have four really nice cards.

Barb has put together a great PDF for this and you can download it here.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Blog Train

No, I'm not a participating designer. To be honest, I'm not a designer at all, but I do love freebies! This month you can hop on the Blog Train and visit 90 blogs and download free holiday kits. These people are so talented. Be sure to visit the blogs and leave some blog love! I guarantee that you will have trouble choosing which kit to use for whatever holiday project you have in mind. And please, be sure to abide by the Terms of Use.

Christmas light a freebie last year from Northridge. 

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, December 2, 2011

My Memories Suite - Freebie Friday

I have another great selection for you of a two page spread from My Memories Suite.  Remember you get the quick pages and the papers and elements used to make them.

I know some people are confused by the quick pages, thinking they are backgrounds. They are EMBELLISHMENTS, so you add them that way, and then add your picture and send your picture to the back.

This is the page I've selected for you this week. I really like how the bottom one is divided. There are so many things you can do with that, with a little imagination. You can download these here. Please remember that these are limited offers and exclusive for me to share with you!


 Here is an example of what can be done with these quick pages.




Hope you enjoy them.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

December Freebie Calendar


This December calendar was made with My Memories Suite v.2. I exported it as a .jpeg as a small image. Enjoy!

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Monday, November 28, 2011

So Did I Really Accomplish Anything?

Let's face it, holiday weekends are almost always a total washout if you want to get anything done. Really, I felt lucky to get the house clean for company - younger daughter and her cat. They showed up on Wednesday and Thursday, of course was Thanksgiving, which I spent cooking. It was 60+ degrees here and by the time dinner was done, I was ready to put shorts on.

The day after Thanksgiving, was of course, Black Friday. No, I didn't participate in the crazy sales this year. I did it once and that has cured me forever. My wonderful DH, however, used to get up early the day after Thanksgiving and shop for my gifts. Even he participated in cyber shopping this year. Mine is almost done, just have to pick up an item set aside for me and I will be done. I've kept up with the wrapping so that is out of the way.

Unfortunately, the weather does not want to cooperate enough for us to get our Christmas stuff out of the shed or any lights up outside. This incessant rain will make me crazy yet.

I did get the chance Sunday night to participate in My Memories FB page Speed Scrap. It was fun, and I layered away.  The page was mostly done with "Joyeux Noel" by Becca. I did the word art for "2010" but The Merry and Christmas were already for me to plop on the page. This was done, incidentally with My Memories Suite version 3 which was released last week. Some of the changes are big, some subtle, but they really make it easier to use.

If you are observant, you will notice that I redesigned the blog header. I'm still tweaking it, hope to get it a little smaller yet, and plan to change it out regularly! So I guess the weekend wasn't a total loss!

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, November 25, 2011

Freebie Friday - My Memories Suite - Share the Fun!

The quick pages this week are awesome! The ones I have chosen really didn't need anything except a little text and a picture. I love the color, the texture, simply everything about the pages.  And you can get them free over at My Memories here. Remember, the kits I offer are available for only a short period of time. And don't forget the kits come with all the elements from the quick pages, so you can tweak it if you so desire.


This is what I've done with the pages. I think they make an awesome two page spread, don't you?


 
Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Thursday, November 24, 2011

My Memories Wednesday Challenge - Why I Am Thankful

Every year, we've been thankful for our family and our health. This year has seen a big change in my health and my DH. You see, this year, I was diagnosed with diabetes and my DH with Parkinson's Disease. He calls it our wake-up call. So yes, we are thankful for that wake-up call. My page "I Am Thankful" says it all.



Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

My Memories Suite, Version 3

You know how you mean to do something, but you have to complete step A & B first before you can do step C? That's how my week is going. On Monday, My Memories released version 3 of the best scrapbooking software ever!  On Monday, I eagerly awaited my upgrade notice. And waited. And waited. Because I am part of a select group of affiliates, it took a little longer. I finally received my cherished email yesterday, signed into my account and downloaded version 3. And started installing.

You know how things go wrong? Well, it looked to be a long install, so DH and I had lunch, did some Christmas shopping, picked up some last minute items at the grocery store. On the way home, I saw a competitor of our cable company and said to my DH "Uh-oh, looks like we're going to have problems with the cable." It always happens. Sure enough, got home to find that the download aborted because the connection was lost. So I clicked on the icon to install and after two hours it failed.

By this time, it was dinner time. We had dinner, I decided I was going to delete the file I downloaded and try again. File downloaded, install commenced and took 6 interminably long hours. I have cable modem, it should not have taken that long. Finally around 1:30 a.m. I opened my program. I. Love. It. It has some great new features and enhancements. The best new feature for me is the calendar one. I am going to delete my old Calendar Creator program, which has become so difficult to use. And I don't need it any more. I can do everything I did in Calendar Creator better in my MMS3 software without having to relearn the program every time I want to use it.

This page was created with MMS3 at 2 am. I wanted to get an idea of working with some of the new features and figured I should do a page for my DH's book. Shhh! It's a surprise!


A little birdie told me that on Cyber Monday, there are going to be some great deals in the My Memories Design Shop. Go here to visit the web site. If you don't already have an account with them, you can create one and save the items you want to your wish list.

Remember, if you want to purchase the program, please use my STMMMS code on the right side of the page and save!

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Monday, November 21, 2011

My Memories Suite, Version 3

Today was the release date for the new version of My Memories Suite (version 3.) While I am still waiting for my special update code yet, I have seen what is new in this version, thanks to Lisa Jurrens' helpful videos. Here, however, is the What's New in Version 3 link. If you don't yet own My Memories, you can download a trial version. Then, if you do decide to purchase it, use my code, shown on this page to get a $10 discount.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Saturday, November 19, 2011

A Little Birdie Told Me ...

A Little Birdie Told Me that version 3 of My Memories Suite is being released on Monday. Sweet Suite! I for one can't wait because this program is so easy to use and my pages are simply gorgeous dahling!

If you are interested in version 3 or bought version 2 very recently, watch your email for a special upgrade notice. If you have been holding off? Wait until Monday and use my code in the sidebar and save $10.

I'm thinking I better get some blog posts written for next week so I can play AND get ready for Thanksgiving!



Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, November 18, 2011

Freebie Friday From My Memories

This week's two page spread is another colorful quick page duo with accompanying  embellishments. I mean, how easy is it to load up these pages and add your photographs, journaling, etc. Or use the included embellishments to build your own pages if you want to tweak it a bit! I love it. In this case I just added a couple of tags and a ribbon. And the photos of course!




 You can pick up the freebie here.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Thursday, November 17, 2011

WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE - FAMILY TRADITIONS

Over at the My Memories blog this week's Wednesday Challenge is to do a page(s) for a family tradition. Well, it seems that the only time of year we could all be together - more or less - was Christmas. Therefore, my Family Tradition page is photos of our family from 1954 to 2000. The first time I tried to do this page, I crashed My Memories. I think I blew it when I tried to add shadows to all the text. So I started over. This time I used the Joyeux Noel kit by Becca. Its a beautiful kit. The Word Art is done with  XMAS LIGHTS font from dafont which you can download for free here. I filled it with an image of one of the papers from Joyeux Noel. For those of you who are hybrid scrapbookers, as I am, it cuts beautifully with a sharp blade on my Cricut.

Tomorrow is Freebie Friday - be sure to check back for the free pages.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Friday, November 11, 2011

My Memories - Freebie Friday


I love the pages that I chose for you this week to receive for free from My Memories! Yep, that's right for FREE!  I really enjoyed putting together this two page spread. Remember, you get the quick pages AND the separate elements in this set, so you can tweak it if you feel the need.


The text on the picture on the first picture was done by choosing to use text shape - in this case an outside square - and sizing the text window to fit the frame! You can download the pages here.

Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Thursday, November 10, 2011

My Memories - Hats Off Challenge

I spent the last day digging through scanned photos for pictures with hats. That was a challenge.  My kids loved playing dress-up when they stayed at their Grandma's house. They would raid her stock of knit hats and scarves and as you can see, my older daughter had unusual taste in purses! Here it is!



Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Challenged by Digital Scrapbooking Day, part two

Whew! You can see by yesterday's post that I was challenged. But wait! There are more! All these challenges took place at the My Memories FB page here. And I didn't tell you that they were also giving prizes - not for the challenges, but for answering questions and stuff. It was lots of fun. Most of the time we were with family or driving, so I didn't catch up until late Sunday.

So this is where I am probably totally out of sequence. There was the "What is your Current Favorite Kit?" challenge. My current favorite kit is "When the Heart Sings." Here is the link to it in the My Memories Design shop. The subjects are my two daughters. They both have gorgeous smiles.

Another challenge was to use the "Fancy Pants" font in any layout. I cheated and used the "Happy Place" quick page - which is a freebie at MyMemories design shop. The subjects are my niece and new nephew-in-law whose wedding we attended on Saturday. I used the font to put their names and the date on the page and added the picture.

Then there was the "Scrap that tune" challenge. It was actually pretty easy.  I used the "Scenes from Summer" kit. That cute couple is my DH and me!

The final scrap was the "I Survived Digital Scrapbooking Day" challenge. The challenge here was to do it with a fun picture of yourself. Instead, I morphed myself into the owl. The owl was cuter before! The kit that I used for this one was "Silly Autumn from Leelou Designs.

There is always something going on over at My Memories FB page. IF you want to see all the wonderful pages made possible with this software, stop in any day and you will see our brag pictures posted on their wall.


Copyright 2011, ACK, for Generational