As a mom of a two daughter, one a teenager and the other a preschooler, I know it is easy for kids to suffer from low self esteem and a feeling of not fitting in.  I have been looking for a way to show them both how much they are loved and how important they are- not just to me, but to their families and friends.  I was excited to learn of the Album of Hope campaign Creative Memories has started.  This campaign is about creating Albums of Hope that let the children in your life know that they are loved, valued, what your hopes for them are, and shows them how important they are.

"I believe photos and scrapbooks might be a parent's secret weapon,  There are few tools out there that are more powerful or effective in helping to raise confident, happy, well-adjusted kids."  -Dr. Kenneth Condrell

Please go to the Album of Hope movement page and join the movement.  This page will give you information and ideas on how to create an Album of Hope.

You can get ideas for creating quick and simple albums at CM Project Center.  There is free predesigned digital layouts for both PC and Mac in the digital by clicking here.

This is a sample digital layout

I look forward to seeing everyone's Album of Hope.  If you want to make an Album of Hope but need help, email me and I will help you put together an incredible album.

Some Digital Pages

With these four digital pages I only have two layouts to do for 2009.  YAY me!  It is now February 2011 so I have all of 2010 to do.  I hope to get a major chunk of that done while I am at a weekend retreat later this month.

The digital pages were really easy to do.  I know a lot of people think digital scrapbooking is hard.  I use Storybook Creator software and Creative Memories has kits called Click and Fills so all I have to do is drop my photos and the papers and embellishments into the predesigned pages.

The first two pages are from my oldest daughter's 13th birthday party.  With this I kept it very simple and used plain black for the background and added splashes of color that matched her Fiesta themed party.

These next two pages I used the Discover Power Palette with the Click and Fill Template.

Last Days of Album Sale

There are only a few days left of Creative Memories first ever Album Sale!  Save 20% off all albums, coversets, PicFolio Albums, page protectors, and side loading sleeves!

Also, Hardcover Storybook photo books are on sale 20% off! Don't think you will have your storybook finished by January 31st?  Purchase a Storybook credit at the sale price and you have 180 days to complete your storybook.  Don't know how to make a storybook?  I can do a one on one consultation with you to help you create your storybook.  Want a storybook but don't want to do it?  Contact me and I can do it for you!

Album Sale

New Baby

My brother and sister-in-law found out they were pregnant with their first child last September.  After their first ultrasound they scanned and sent out pictures of the newest member of our family.  I was so excited to become an Aunt again!  So of course I had to scrapbook it! 

In this layout I used Creative Memories Black & White Power Palette paper and ribbon.  I also used two of their brand new items- Page Planner and Chalking Inks. 

The Page Planner made it easy to layout a page quickly.  All you do is lay the planner template over your background paper and fill in the open spaces on with pictures or pieces of scrapbook paper.  Then I adhered the pictures and paper to the background paper with my Creative Memories Tape Runner and removed the template from the page.  A great tip for using the templates is to place the background paper on the Creative Memories 12x12 Custom Cutting System Mat and using the clips from the Creative Memories Multipurpose Tool & Clips, clip the template and paper to the mat so it won't move.

To make the journaling a little bit more fun, I cut out lengths of the Creative Memories Black & White Paper Ribbon and told the story on the pieces of ribbon.  I laid them out in a zig zag pattern and adhered them down with my tape runner.

The title I punched out several squares and used alphabet stickers.  Then I took out the new Creative Memories Chalking Ink to distress each square.  I also distressed the photo and journaling mats.

The Creative Memories products used on this page can be found on my website: http://mycmsite.com/sites/jillcouper/

Hi!

Welcome to my blog! I wanted to create this blog as a way for me to show off my scrapbook pages, show some scrapbooking techniques, and help people who want to scrapbook.  I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I do.