I’ve tried. I have a Creative Memories tote chock full of supplies (albeit, most of them are several years old and quite out-dated). I’ve been to all the parties and been motivated a hundred times. But the truth is, it scares me to death, people. I am perfectionism epitomized when it come to craftiness (and most other areas of life, as it so happens), and the sheer open-ended-ness of being handed a stack of pictures, a book, some blank pages, a whole bunch of pretty paper and, oh goodness, all those buttons and ribbons and brads and the little metal hole thingies… it makes me break out in a cold sweat right now just thinking about it.
So when I heard of the term “digital scrapbooking,” I was sold on the idea. Scrapbooking on the computer? Now that’s something I can do. I admit I haven’t even done much in that realm yet, but at least it’s actually on my list of things I really want to do, as opposed to making me feel queasy every time I think of it.
I did, however, make one digital photobook a few months ago. Shutterfly offers a middle ground between a plain digital photo album and a full-fledged digital scrapbook, with lots of customizations and fun extras, but yet not enough to be overwhelming. I took advantage of this and made one for John for Christmas this past year–a photobook I titled “The Story of Us,” filled with pictures from the days before we were anything to each other, all the way up until a few weeks before Christmas.
See? He liked it.
Now, Shutterfly, in association with David’s Bridal, has offered me a promo-code for a 20 page, 8×8 photobook, an at least $30-$40 value, for free. How nifty is that? You are free to customize the book with several cover options, drag-and-drop photo placement, hundreds of background options and layouts, and even the “title” of your photobook on the hand-bound spine.
I can attest to the fact that these are extremely easy to make (it only took me three naptimes to make John’s–and one of those was the day I filled the last page with pictures of Merritt after he was born and then ordered the album) and the quality was better than I even expected.
If you’d like to make your own photobook, just leave a comment in this entry telling me what you’d do with your album–would you make a baby book, showcase pictures of a vacation, make it a Mother’s Day gift, or do you have something else in mind? Because the offer is only good until April 30th (your book must be completed and ordered on or by that date), I’ll only leave this open until 8pm on Friday night (April 11) and post the winner that evening.
Now, the part about the FREE MONEY! (Woohoo!!)
You know that feeling of finding a twenty in the pocket of your jeans when you pull them out of the dryer? That’s kinda what this is like.
Revolution Money Exchange, an completely free, up-and-coming money exchange service (and the one I’m using for my blog design customers) is giving away $25 to anyone who makes an account with them. SERIOUSLY. All you have to do is sign up, and, viola!, twenty-five buckaroos right in your account. You may have seen this other places in the blogosphere–because it is so awesome!–and be assured it is completely legitimate and very secure. It’s really not too good to be true!
Who can say no to having cash tossed atcha?
All you have to do is click the little button here right there (if you click on the button here, from my site, and sign up, I’ll also get $10 just for referring you… and then you can do the same from your blog. Are these people nuts?????) and sign up. Easy cheesy.
So, all I have to say today is FREE! FREE! FREE!
What fun free stuff is, huh?
Darcy says:
I’d love to make one of those digital scrapbooks for Mother’s Day! However, I would need to decide whether or not to keep it for myself, give to my mom, or to my mother-in-law. :)
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April 9th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Nicole says:
Wow, Ash. I just checked out Shutterfly and I am so hooked!!! :) I’ve been wanting to make my Mom and Harry a wedding album; so I think that would be my choice for the 8×8. :)
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April 9th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Elizabeth in Alaska says:
I would love to make a digital scrapbook of the past few years of our lives… courtship, wedding, pregnancy, William’s babyhood. I have no idea if I could fit it all in, but I’d have a go at it!
I am the same… real scrap booking scares me to death. I have a ‘kit’ sitting in my closet from Christmas and I haven’t even opened it yet…
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April 9th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
jane says:
hmpfh. I’m not normal that way either. I have all the stuff but very few pictures in the album. It’s sad really.
I hope someone wins that will truly appreciate it. :oD
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April 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Anonymous says:
I am making one of these for Mother’s Day for my mom. But I think if I were going to make one for myself, I would do it of photos I took while I spent a semester traveling Europe. I have all these photos I’ve been meaning to scrapbook… and they’ve been sitting around since I got back three (!!) years ago. Wow, maybe I should start doing my scrapbooking digitally just so that it will get done!
Amber
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April 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Anonymous says:
How would you ever decide what to do first?! I’d probably do it (the book) with pictures of my adorable niece. Or one of the other million ideas floating around in my head. ;)
Fun, fun!!!
Morgan
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April 9th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Megan says:
Oooh, I like this! :) I have been dying to make a brag book for my mom of ALL the gazillion grandbabies. Sounds very cool!
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April 9th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Sileena says:
Well Ash, I guess I could make one about my shoe collection…I could probably do it in 20 pgs! you know I kid. I don’t actually have any kind of wedding album and it’s only been 9 years. I love what Shutterfly has done with digital scrapping so there you have it. That’s what I’d do with it. Here’s hopin!
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April 9th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Heather says:
Hi Ash…I sure have missed you…I just can’t seem to “face” my blog these days. I (((love))) you and find myself praying for you without *totally* realizing it. The Lord is so good. He keeps you and your family at the forefront of our minds. I will be back to my blog by and by-whatever that means ;)(((hug)))) and kiss those precious little princes for me-okay-gonna check out this give-away!
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April 10th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Mark and Courtney says:
I’m with you, Ashleigh. I’m too much of a perfectionist to be able to cut my pictures for scrapbooking. What if I decide I want it cut differently later on?!? Of course, now I could just scan and print more copies, but still… :)
I’ve been looking into the digital scrapbooking as an alternative. We adopted two little boys in December 2007 (you can see pics on my blog! :) :)) and I would love to chronicle our journey to them.
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April 10th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Elizabeth says:
I’m not entering the give-away, but … wow … what a lovely gift idea! It looks as if you made a beautiful scrapbook for John. Obviously, he liked it! :->
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April 10th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Tiffany says:
I think it would be fun to have a digital scrapbook but I would still much rather make one myself!! You know me.
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April 10th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Jodi says:
Hi Ashleigh,
What a sweet giveaway … the digital scrapbook sounds like so much fun!! I would probably make it a album of pictures of my 15 month old … all of our pictures are digital and I don’t take alot of time to print my favorites … this would be loads of fun !!!!
Thanks so much!
Jodi
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April 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Anonymous says:
I love you blog and lurk alot here, but i would make a baby book, for my soon to be here grand daugter. Now i am gonna go check out shutterfly. I did make a calendar and it was easy.
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April 10th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Erica says:
I do a website for a sweet couple who has a poetry ministry, and she is also a photographer. I have wanted to put together a beautiful book for them for quite some time, and I think this would be the perfect opportunity to put some of their poetry and photos together to make a wonderful keep sake!
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April 10th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Brittany says:
That’s just too easy! HaHa!! “Aunt Morgan” sent me over here from her blog!! I’m a newlywed (well it’s been 9 months!), so a wedding scrapbook would be my project of choice!!!! =) Thanks for sharing this giveaway!! ~Brittany
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April 11th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Jessica Elisabeth says:
Hi, Ashleigh,
I’m Gretchen’s Acheson’s sister. My mom is a Creative Memories consultant. Creative Memories now offers digital scrapbooks too! We have already done a storybook for my brother, and I’m working on a harp storybook as well. It’s so wonderfully easy! You can get a free download, and a twenty page book costs $40. Isn’t all this digital stuff so much fun?
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April 11th, 2008 at 8:50 pm