Magic Wand & More Webinar

Join Julie Howell as she teaches us how to use the cutting tools in StoryBook Creator Plus. Using the cutting tools you can create pages like these and more. She has so many great ideas to share with you.

Click on the link to watch this webinar http://tinyurl.com/nwayda

Changing Predesigned Papers

1. Find the paper you want to use. (from With Love Digital Kit)

2. We want to remove the flowers

3. Use the Rectangle cuter tool and adjust the size to be just around the first flower. Move the rectangle to the area to copy from.

4. Choose copy the shaded area

5. Move the copy over the top of the flower to hide it. Group the two elements together. You can use your arrow keys to move the copied area and keep them exactly lined up.

After you are done covering up the flowers use the Enhance Ribbon and choose Hue. You can now choose a new color for your paper. Using this technique you can create many more papers and extend your scrapbooking budget. Besides it is fun to create new papers or elements.After you create your new paper, make sure you right click on it and Save Selection. To save you must already have created a folder in My Scrapbooking Stuff. You can also save it to your Exchange folder on your desk top.

With this technique you can create new papers or embellishments and be able to add to your collections. Changing them to match the colors of your pictures, layouts or two page spreads, adds great fun to your scrapbooking fun!

StoryBook Tricks & Tips

Drop Down Menues Any of the drop down menus can be moved. Left click, hold and drag, on the top colored bar. You then can move them anywhere and can see what is under the drop down menu.

Text Ribbon Use the Sample dropper to copy a text box with all the formatting.Use the Apply dropper to copy and paste all text box formating to a new text box.

Changing a background paper to normal Unlock the background paper by clicking on the yellow lock and making it go grey. Right click on the background paper, and choose Order.The left click on Make Normal (not background)

Photo Boxes If your photo box is landscape and you need it to be portrait. Right click on the photo box, choose Aspect Ration. On the next window you can choose a different size and orientation.

Always remember that you can right click on your mouse and get different menus.

July new products

Have you checked the new products that are available in our digital collections. With the 4th of July upon us this is one fun package and one of my favorites. There are lots more packages, to create your pages from, check them out at this link: http://tinyurl.com/npjwpz

Memory Manager 3.0 Editing your photos

Brandi McMillan teaches this webinar, how to use the editing features in Memory Manager 3.0. There is a lot you can do to touch up photos and make them look better than the original. You can touch up the color, light to dark, clone out things you don't want in the picture and much, much more.

High quality picture and sound link: http://tinyurl.com/mpwypt

Lower quality and faster download link: http://tinyurl.com/krd4fn

Memory Manager 3.0 Webinar

Michele Kingsford teaches this webinar about Memory Manager 3.0. Learn how to use this fantastic program, which can organize your photos and get them into your life. MM 3.0 also has some great photo touch up tools. Come watch and learn!

High quality picture and sound link: http://tinyurl.com/l7qpxb

Low quality picture and sound, but faster download link: http://tinyurl.com/nrwjun

StoryBook Creator Plus Webinar class 1

Brandi McMillan, teaches the basics of Storybook Creator Plus. You will get a peek at the amazing NEW predesigned pages! Watch and learn how easy and fun it is to create a StoryBook. This will be a beginning - get your feet wet - class for those wishing to see the software in action.

This webinar is about 55 minutes and very helpful. Click on the link to watch the webinar. After you click on the link, on the next page click Download Now.

High quality picture & sound: http://www.4shared.com/file/111081607/bb667acc/2009-06-09_2137_StoryBook_Creator_Class_1.html

Low quality picture & sound, but downloads faster: http://dc153.4shared.com/download/111081607/bb667acc/2009-06-09_2137_StoryBook_Creator_Class_1.wmv

How to Print MM & SBC images at your favorite store

Madelyn Brownell, teaches this webinar about how to print your favorite pictures using Memory Manager & StoryBook Creator Plus, at your favorite store. Click on link to watch the webinar.

High quality picture and sound:
http://www.4shared.com/file/110663510/5b48fe34/2009-06-08_1350_How_to_print_MM___SBC_images_at_your_favorite_store.html

Low quality picture & sound, but downlaods faster:
http://dc118.4shared.com/download/110663510/5b48fe34/2009-06-08_1350_How_to_print_MM___SBC_images_at_your_favorite_store.wmv

If you would prefer to watch this webinar using Windows Media Player, click on the download button, after clicking on the link above.

Copy one size page to a different size

Instructions
1. Open the 12 x 12 predesigned book you want to copy from and select the page
2. Open the 11 x 8.5 book you want to copy to and select the page
3. Unlock every element on the 12 x 12 predesigned page
4. Press the CTRL key and press A to select all elements
5. Right click on the mouse to get the menu and then left click on Copy
6. Go to your 11 x 8.5 book page and right click on the page, then left click on Paste you can also use CTRL C to copy and CTRL V to paste
7. Now resize all elements to fit the 11 x 8.5 page. You will now have a 11 x 8.5 predesigned page.

Watch the video to see how to copy the pages.

High quality picture and sound:
http://dc145.4shared.com/download/108436916/f68232d5/2009-05-28_1607_Webinar_Now.wmv

Low quality picture and sound, but downloads faster:
http://dc145.4shared.com/download/108436916/f68232d5/2009-05-28_1607_Webinar_Now.wmv

Understanding Your Computer

This a webinar presentation given May 20, 2009 on "Understanding Your Computer." and is 50 minutes long. It covers Memory Manager, Storybook Creator Plus and your computer. There is also a handout in the files section at the right on this blog, that can be downloaded.

Click on the link to watch the webinar.

High quality picture & sound:

http://www.4shared.com/file/108045369/1fef0dbd/2009-05-20_1204_Understanding_Your_Computer.html

Low quality picture & sound, but downloads faster:http://dc152.4shared.com/download/108045369/1fef0dbd/2009-05-20_1204_Understanding_Your_Computer.wmv

Please send any feedback you may have about the webinar. To bobsiglow@msn.com

Plaid Overlay

1. Using the Digital Overlays-With Love, choose the one that has a boarder on the top and bottom with 3 flowers.
2. Use the tools tab and choose the Rectangle cutter. Cut the top just above the flower. Make two more copies and align them. Group all three and then flatten.
3. Copy the flattened image and past it. Rotate the copied image by right clicking and choose properties. Rotate it 90 degrees.
4. Flatten the two together. Use the Tools ribbon and choose the Rectangle cutter. Select Make a Square and cut the center out, erasing the outside edges.
5. Finished Page: You now have an overlay that can be filled with gradients, color or papers. You can use a layout like this page only filling in the corners with photos and the center with journaling.

NewsFeed

If your Storybook Creator Plus, News does not look like this picture, it can be fixed. Make sure your Storybook is closed.

For Windows XP:

Open My Computer

Open the "C" drive

Double click on "Documents & Settings"

Double click on your name folder

Double click on "Application Data"

Double click on "Creative Memories"

Delete the file called "NewsCache"

For Windows Vista & Windows 7, it is a different ball game. Here is what you need to do.

Open My Computer

Press the ALT key to get the Menu bar and click on Tools, then open Folder Options, on the View Tab look for Hidden files and folders and click on Show hidden files, folders, and drives, then click ok and close that window

Double click on the "C" drive

Double click on Users

Double click on your user name folder

Double click on AppData

Double click on Roaming

Double click on Creative Memories

Delete the folder NewsCache

Open StoryBook Creator and the newsfeed should be fixed.

If this does not work, call Tech Support at 866-440-2420

Font Installation

Have you had problems installing new fonts with Windows Vista? Well here is your answer, and it works wonderfully for my computer. Here is the link where I found the answer.
http://www.lytebyte.com/2007/07/03/how-to-install-new-fonts-in-windows-vista/

Here are the steps if you do not want the link:

1. Go to Control Panel ->Appearance and Personalization -> Fonts
2. You will be taken to the System's fonts folder. Right click anywhere inside the folder and click add fonts. You will be given a pop-up box which will aid in installing new fonts.
3. Using the Drop down menu at 'Drives" and NetWork", select the folder where you have kept the new font files.
4. The font files may be in different formats like Type 1, True Type or OPen Type.
5. If the folder you have selected has any font files in these formats, it will be listed under 'List of Fonts'
6. You can preview each font style below by highlighting them. To install, just select the font files you want to install and click 'Install.'
7. Make sure you have selected 'Copy Fonts to fonts folder,' so that you can manager all the font files easily.

A good place to get free fonts is http://www.dafont.com/

May - June New Products

Check out all the new products at my website at www.mycmsite.com/sites/cathieowens

We have the new Memory Manager 3.0 which is a fantastic new program features.

And look at the new kits, they are so much fun and we could create a lot of great pages with them.

Mosaic

This is so much fun to create!! Instructions are from Dawn Oldham article in the "Lasting Moments" magazine page 24.

1. Create a blank page. Leave the background locked for now.
2. Add an empty photo frame (click on the Photo Tab, then Add from the Frames section).
3. Make this photo frame the size of one tile in your mosaic by dragging the corner of the frame.
4. Right-click on the tile and choose Copy. Then right click and choose Paste over and over until you have what you need just for the top row.
5. Line them up roughly across the page with the spacing you want between the tiles.
6. Select all the tiles (CTL +A, or click on each tile while holding down the Shift key).
7. In the Layout Tab at the top of the screen choose the icon that will align them from the top (top row, fourth in).
8. Click on the icon that will space them evenly (second row, fourth in).
9. While they are all selected, click on the Group icon (Layout Tab).
10. Right-click, copy and paste until you have the number you need to complete your square tiles.
11. Select all rows of tiles (as per Step 6).
12. Use the Alignment tools again to make them even on the left edge (top row, first icon).
13. Choose the last choice on the bottom row of alignment tools to get the tiles evenly spaced vertically.
14. With all rows still highlighted, flatten them, using the Layout Tab at the top of the screen.
15. From your Photos Tab on the right, select a photo.
16. Right-click on the photo and choose Fill the Selected Element with This Photo.

For the Reflected Type refer to my post on December 2008.

To add the photos, choose the Photo Tab, then Add a new photo frame. Make the frame the size you want it to be. Drag your photo into the photo frame.

Photo Corners

Do you ever want a photo corner to match your page or photos? Well here is the answer for you. In the Digital Embellishments - Office Supplies Gold or Silver there is a photo corner. Drag the corner onto your page. Copy and paste it three more times. Rotate the other three to fit the photo corners. Now select each corner and choose the Tools Tab. You can use either the Gradient, Paper or Color to match your photo corners to your page.

You can also click on the one on my blog to make it go bigger. Then right click on the corner and save it to your computer. After you have saved the corner import it into your Scrapbooking Stuff.

Memory Manager 3.0

News Flash!!!!
Memory Manager 3.0 is being released May 1, 2009.  Check my website at http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/cathieowens Go to Digital Scrapbook at the bottom and on the next screen you can click Memory Manager.

Be the first to get your latestest update to this fantastic photo organizing program.

There are also some new digital fancy fonts check my site for prices.  A new Digital Office Embillishment kit with fun stuff. Here are pictures of each one.

Ten Memories in Two Hours

Do you like a challenge? Here is one that we received at our Spring Forward meeting. Draw your hands on a piece of paper. For each finger write a word or two about these memories.
Left little finger: a story about the youngest person in your family or the shortest
Left ring finger: a love story you want to tell or at latest wedding, anniversary or engagement
Left middle finger: a story about the tallest person in your family
Left index finger: a highlight of your life or something you are proud of and want to point out
Left thumb: a hobby or activity you or a family member enjoys
Right thumb: a story about a special trip or place you love to go
Right index finger: a story about a favorite sports team or family member involved in a sport
Right middle finger: a community activity you or a family member are involved in or your view of the world at this time.
Right ring finger: a story of faith or perseverance
Right little finger: something small that had a big impact

If you do not like these memory joggers then you could create your own. You could check this site for other question ideas http://articles.scrapbooking.com/family_history.htm. The object of this challenge is to create a memory book in 2 hours.

If you choose to do this challenge make sure in your book file name you include TNT. After you have uploaded your book and paid for it. Then email a copy of your invoice to springforwardtnt@creativememories.com Include your Order number, date and cost.

Come on all you scrapbookers, get your story written! You have until April 20, 2009 to upload your book. If you meet the challenge you will receive a FREE download!

I took on the challenge and loved working on my book and also the finished product only took 3 days to arrive at my door.

Freebie page 1

For some fun freebies keep checking your consultants website. You want to click on Project Center, then click on the Digital Project Ideas. On the next page click on Digital Freebies. Make sure you explore all the links there are some great ideas for your pages

Freebie page 2

Free downloadable themesgo to your consultants website, click on Shop Products then Digital Scrapbooking, then under the link Digital Content Downloads click on Free downloadable themes.

There are over 80 free themes, these are predesigened pages and lost of fun to use

Copying Pages

Have you ever wanted to copy a page from one book to another? Well it is totally possible. There are a few ways to do this.

If your pages are the same size you can click on the Home Tab, then click on Import Pages. Using this option you will have to select a book with the same size. One the next screen you can select a page to copy and then click on Get Pages. Your copied page is now in your new book.

To copy a page that is not the same. To do this, you must have both books open. You can have 3 books open at one time in StoryBook Creator Plus. Go to the page that you want to copy. Make sure all the lock keys are turned off on every element. Then hold the CTRL key down and hit the A key. This will select every element on your page. Then right click and select copy. Now go to your new page, right click and then left click on Paste. This will copy and paste all the elements on one page and paste it to the other. You will have to work on the layout, resizing and move things around.

If you have you have questions on this please feel free to email me at bobsiglow@msn.com

Photo Blocks

This example was granted permission to us on this Bloy by SAUNDRA L. ENGLE, Consultant ID# 12278273, Cell phone: (520)226-5057, cm_scraps@cox.net www.mycmsite.com/engle

Double Mat

Mat your photo the color of your choice.Then right click on the photo and left click on Copy. Now right click and then left click on paste. You will have two of the same thing.

Remove the mat off of the copied photos. Click on Tools and choose your paper or color to fill the photo box. Then make it slightly larger than the photo. You will then need to place it under the photo by left clicking on the second photo box in the element panel and dragging it under the original photo.

You now have a double mat photo and you can choose Tools and use a heavy shadow to make them both pop off the page.

Importing packages and elements

You will have to download the new content from your Consultants website, to your computer. Keep track of where you save the file on your computer. From the home page select CM content. Select Import Package. After the package is installed, you will need to click on "Enter Activation Code" and enter the code that was in the email you received when you purchased the package.Some packages that you install will not show up until you restart the program.

You can download pictures from google.com images. I right click on the image and choose copy. Then go to my StoryBook Creator page and right click, then left click on Paste. Your image is then placed on your SB+ page.Once you have used the StoryBook Tools, to take away any unwanted background. Then right click on the image and select "Save Selection" You will then need to go to where you save your Creative Memories files on your hard drive. Then go to "My ScrapBooking Stuff" find the folder you want to save the image to. Make sure you save the image to a "Scrap" folder that has already been created. Note: you have to have already created the folder from the home page on "My Stuff" If you do not have a folder you will have to choose File then "Add Collection"

From this screen you can also change the directory where you have your packages stored. Click on Change location at the top.

Fill words with photo

Choose a photo, one that has quite a bit in the top left corner. When you join the words with the photo, it copies from the top left corner down. I have tired this on several pictures only to have it look bad. So I have come up with two ways to accomplish the same thing.After you have your photo, choose a chunky fat font and type your word or words. Match the top of the words to the bottom of the photo. Next click on the words then hold the Shift key down and left click on the photo. You then need to click on the Layout tab at the top and then Flatten the two to make them one Element. Next use the same photo and click on the bar that is on the right side of the photo and choose "Fill the selected element with this photo."

The other way to fill the words with a photo, is to use a chunky fat font. Type your words and then choose Layout and flatten the word. Then click on the photo bar and choose "Fill the selected element with this photo."You then can line up the word with the bottom of the photo.

Making Shapes of your Photos

When making a shape out of a photo. Right click on top of the photo and choose Aspect Ratio, then make the photo a Square. Then use the Photo tab and choose Mat, and select Cut Outs. Choose your shape. If you cut out photos this way, you will not have to flatten the photos.

If you are doing multiple photos on a page with the same shape, copy and paste the original shaped photo, as many times as you want to add a new photo. This will maintain the same size and features on each shape. Then drag your new photo into the copied Shape.

Torn Edges the easy way

Start with one of Creative Memories digital pages that has a torn edge. Select the edge, and copy it, then paste the edge. You will then have two of the same thing. Next change the color of one edge to white (or the color of your choice). Use the opacity tool to make it lighter. Then change the color of the second one to any paper of your choice. Then layer the two with the white one on the bottom and the colored paper on top. This makes a wonderful torn edge and very easy to create.

This page was created using Earthy Serenity Predesigned pages.

You can then save the torn edge by right clicking on the edge and choosing Save Selection to save it in your My Scrapbooking Stuff.

Touching up photos

Have you ever scanned a photo that had a textured finish to it and could not get rid of the texture?  Well StoryBook Creator Plus and Memory Manager both have the neatest tool to help you fix those grainy photos.  On the Enhance Tab at the top in StoryBook Creator, use the Focus area click on Soften.  The top photo was the original scan photo and the photo on the bottom has had the Soften focus used.

One of my favorite tools is on the Enhance tab.  The section for Color and Light.  The photos on the right were corrected using the Levels.  The first adjustment that was made was to reduce the red tones, then I used the light level and adjusted it to where the photo looked it's best.

The soft edge on the paper is done by the Tools Tab and the choose More Effects, Edge Blur.

Memory Manager Questions

I had several questions about Memory Manager and could not find my answers in the videos and webinars and helps. So I called support, who was a great help for me. Here are my questions and answers.

How do I get photos into my blog? We have to export them from MM to a folder on our computer or desktop and import them into our blog from that folder. We could have a sort box for Blogs and one for emails (just an idea) and then export them from those sort boxes. I do have an export folder on my desktop but that can get full at times, so I am thinking I may need a few others for specific jobs. I also have problems finding the Exchange folder at times because it is on my desktop. So to sum the question up, we must export the photos from MM into a folder and then bring them in with our blogs.

Naming photos? I explained that when I share photos with extended family members, that I want them to know the names of the people in the photo. Is it better to name photos by names or events? He told me that would be a personal preference and that the name we put to each photo would go with the photo when emailed from MM. I tested this and it does work somewhat. It puts a lot of extra characters like $# and things like this, but it is understandable. If we use Tell the Story and put the names there, that would not go with the photo.

Can we get pictures out of MM folders? Not right now. The second support person said that he had heard rumors that this could change and that our folders and sort boxes might be maintained for easier finding with my computer icon.

I have heard in classes and webinars that once you get your photos into MM you can delete them off your hard drive, is this a good idea? He did tell me that once you bring them into mm and still keep them on your hard drive it will have the same file size as say you’re My Pictures folder, so yes there would be duplicates and take up twice the disk space. I am still nervous to delete the fold My Pictures, until I know how this will work. I also am thinking that maybe having my memory vault on a external hard drive might be a good idea. We can change where the vault is located, like our external drives. If I can not access my pictures like we do when using My Computer icon, I am scared. So I do hope they change this option soooooon.

How does the 63 folders that are in my memory vault folder work. I tried to find the photos in my vault using My Computer and found a folder with 63 folders and photos randomly placed. I wanted them to explain how that works but both support guys just said that is how it is programmed by the programmers and that the photos are just randomly put into these folders. So I have gathered from these two support guys that there is not an easy way to find our photos using My Computer.

44,000 pictures and 849 folders They were amazed by how many photos I had. We had a discussion on how to best organize this mess. We merely bounced ideas off each other. I really don't think at this point there is an easy and simple way to organize all my folders and photos. I think the way I have done it in the past may be the best. Like we talked about today, I could have a sort box for each family and then put the members of the family in that box. I keep thinking of a pedigree tree and thinking that I should use this an the basis of organizing my Family Sort Box. Still keeping my other sort boxes that would fit the different occasions and events. I do think that of all the questions I asked these guys this one was the biggest and hardest to get a good answer. It really is up to each person how they sort their photos. Oh I could also have a separate vault for each family, but I think this might make it harder, as you can only have one vault open at a time.

I do know that we can export any folder to our desktop or a folder on our computer and then burn copies for family members, with the name staying with the photos. The year and story will not copy unless we use the backup function or share function and then if a person has MM can import and all information will be maintained. We can email the photos.

Text Box

This is an easy way to put a frame around your text.

StoryBook Creator Plus Ideas

Here you will find several new ideas to touch up your pages. StoryBook Creator Plus is just the most fun program and you can get hooked real fast when using this program.

Reflected Type

This is a really fun feature to add to your pages and simple to do. Just follow the instructions and you will be on your way to decorating your pages.

Memory Manager Ideas and suggestions

Memory Manager has many photo editing tools that make your photos look really good. You can even crop any photo the way you want to. Storybook has limits in croping.

Please remember do all your photo editing when your photo is open the first time. Each time you open and edit a jpeg or jpg file and then save it and then open the file again and save the second time. This will decrease your photo quality. So only open and edit your jpg photo one time.

Photo cutouts

This is another way you can Mat a cut out photo. It may even be easier that the other post at a earlier date.

Memory Manager and StoryBook Creator Plus helps

Using Memory Manager tips for backing up your folders and photo editing.

StoryBook Creator Pluse tips for using the Custom Cutter, writing on the spine of your books and colorizing your Digital Overlays.

Tiled pictures and Notes

To create a tiled picture use these ideas. Also there are other notes and suggestion for StoryBook Creator Plus.

Word Art

Do you find word art that you want to seperate the letters and create other words. Use these suggestions to create your own words. You can also fill the words with a different color or paper.

Cutting around People or objects

More ideas to cut out objects, people, or animals for your pages.

Removing the Vellum paper on Word Art

If you do not want the vellum paper behind the words then used these suggestions to help cut the letters out.

Cutting Shapes and Layering them

Cutting shapes is fun to do! Follow the instructions on this page for a fun effect to your pages.

Great Shadow Effect for Text

This is really fun and easy to do. Create your text and then copy and paste it. Colorize one and then layer the two for the shadow effect. Use the arrow keys to line up the text.

Tips and Helps

This page shows you how to do an angle cut and have two papers showing. There are other Useful tips to make your StoryBook Creator 2.0 even more fun to use.

Torn edges and cutting shapes

Do you ever want to have that torn paper edge look on one of your pages. Here are the instructions to help you create this beautiful edge.

You can also cut shapes out of any paper and put the same shape behind it to make it stand out. This can also be done with photos. Choose your photo and then click the photo tab at the top. Use the Mat option and then choose shapes.

Cropping one item out of a group of items (Straight Cutter)

Do you have a photo that has more than one person or item in it and you want to crop it out? Use the straight cutter to help in this process. You can also use the other cutter tools crop.

Crop a photo with shapes

Cropping photos with shapes and adding a background shape is fun and easy. It is also a way to dress up your pages with creativity.

Octagon Collage

Do you have a lot of photos you want to fit on one page? Try the octagon collage! This is a real fun way to display your photos and fancy up a page.

Resize Photos & Aspect Ration

Do you ever want to resize a photo and the crop tool won't do it the way you want. Try these instructions, to temporally disable the Aspect Ratio