Have any unfinished scrapbooks?

As you may have heard, Creative Memories is in the process of streamlining and simplifying their business/product line.  We're back to basics, with a focus on "easy, quick, pre-designed, pre-assembled, beautiful, permanent, archival products."  All designed to help us continue to celebrate life's greatest treasures so that anyone with photos can easily enjoy their memories and tell their stories! 

 

So, to make room for the new, CM announced that we are clearing out most of our existing traditional scrapbooking products.  {Does NOT include PicFolios, Fast 2 Fabulous, OR Digital products.}  Now through July 31 is your LAST CHANCE to purchase our Pages, Protectors and many of our albums.

 

This may be startling news, but I am optimistic that Creative Memories has terrific products coming--especially for photo-lovers who are overwhelmed and starved for TIME. Sooooo, please hang in there with us through our "re-imaging"...

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW???   Will you please tally the supplies you need (especially tools, organizers, and decorative items) to complete works in progress?  You can place your order through my website to have it come to your doorstep OR just contact me.  I have supplies on hand or will order for you!  You know I am more than happy to chat with you!!!  Thank you for loving your families and photos so much.  What reminders all the recent storms and fires are that photos/stories are priceless.

Let me know if you would like to see our July Mini Catalog which includes some gorgeous products that were in the works long before these announcements were necessary. I have also scheduled the following FREE "Stop, Shop, & Crop" days for you (I am still committed to making albums, for myself and others!):

• Saturday, June 29th, 10am-4pm
• Wednesday, July 10th, 10am-4pm

Please let me know how I can be of service to you in this transition!

blessings,

Terri

Happy Mother's Day!

Praying that all the mama's out there are having a very blessed Mother's Day!!!

{We passed out about 300 of these little bookmarks today in Sunday school!}

Did I ever mention that I make Blog Books?

I have been in the business of helping people preserve their memories, save their pictures, and share their stories for almost 15 years! I do parties, sell albums and scrapbooking supplies, host workshops and retreats where my friends can have fun while preserving their memories, teach digital scrapbooking, and I help others start their own businesses. Plus, I do lots of projects for other people. 

When I first discovered blogging, I was in love. I think it is so great that so many moms are taking the time to share their photos and stories. This is just what my mission has been for so long! I love bloggers!!!

So what is better than a blog?

A Beautiful Blog Book!

I have had the joy of converting several blogs into colorful, unique, 12"x12" hardcover books that can be enjoyed and treasured forever. It is so fun to help my bloggy friends take their blogging to a new level by creating a Beautiful Blog Book that permanently documents all of their precious words and photos.

I lovingly copy each and every post, one by one, pasting it into this "newspaper" format so that you have a chronological record of your blog. OR, I can use selected posts... you may not want to have all your "giveaways" or diy's in your book, so I can include just the posts that you most want to save and cherish.

And then there are the photos! I actually do some photo editing, as needed, such as removing red eye and brightening up dark pictures. I do my best to include every picture, placing them where it makes sense, so that they flow with the story, just like you do on your blog.

Creating a Beautiful Blog Book is a labor of love for me. I am so honored when I am entrusted with this important task. I spend up to six weeks crafting each page, and placing each picture. You are able to choose from a wide array of beautiful digital artwork that complements your blog and style. But in the end, it is your stories and photos that are the star. Imagine holding your book in your lap, looking through the story of your life... who else might want a copy?

Isn't my sweet friend Jenny's family just the cutest? I loved making this book for her!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! What a joy to celebrate the birth of our precious Savior! Blessings!

Love Displayed in Meaningful Gifts!

During this wonderful season of giving (and all year, actually), I love to give gifts that are unique and meaningful. Here are a few fun gift ideas for you. {Bonus, I can help you with any or all of them!} If you are looking for information on my Beautiful Blog Books, click here!

Personalized photo gifts always are a favorite and much enjoyed by the recipient! Here are a few gifts I made this past year. The Photo Panel is wood and acrylic, but also comes in metal. {Free templates make it easy to put together yourself, or custom options can be designed.} Look here, and you will see how I am using another Photo Panel as my countertop dry-erase board!

The Custom Album Coverset can hold scrapbook pages or digital page prints. It can also be designed online, or made completely to your specifications.  Items like mugs, mousepads and t-shirts are always fun, too! Who wouldn't want to enjoy daily seeing their favorite people on an everyday item???

Photo Calendars are another wonderful gift! Pictured here is a 12"x18" calendar... the page can then be inserted into a 12"x12" scrapbook when the month is over. This style is also available in 8"x12", for an 8"x8" album.

The calendar plus an album makes a wonderful gift for grandparents. {I like these luxurious 12"x12" Picfolio albums -- they will hold almost three years' worth of calendar pages!}

Another idea is to use the calendar pages for heritage photos... walk down memory lane with all your pictures from growing up, and give the calendars to your siblings. In 2-3 years, you will all have your own completed family album!

The desk calendar is new! It has it's own easel, and the 4"x6" images also tear out. It is a great size to put on a desk at work, or to carry when traveling. Every month can highlight a special memory or cherished person.

All of these calendars can be customized with one or more photos, words and quotes, as well as special dates and events. You can go here to see more info about them. Again, I am happy to help you with your custom calendars!

Now, here is another fun and personal gift! The Simply Said books are sweet little 7.5"x5" books ready for you to fill in the blanks with your photos and feelings. Don't know what to write? It is easy with the prompts that are provided!

So do you have a special person you want to bless this holiday season? These are all fun and easy ideas... and of course, there are also photo books, cards, photo displays albums, and more! I would be pleased to help you with your personalized photo gifts... in person or by email {terricendejas at gmail dot com}!

{If you create a Creative Memories Digital Center account, please use my Consultant ID: 24915986}

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a wonderful day to spend with family and friends, filled with memories and the tastes and smells of wonderful food. I am so blessed! I pray that we all are thankful, not just on this day, but throughout each and every day. Happy thanks-living!

31 Days Wrap Up!

Wow! Here is the last of 31 days of blogging through the month of October. I did it!!! It was fun, and not really a burden. I feel so good to have accomplished my goal, and look forward to continued blogging efforts. You can actually see a directory of all the posts from this month here.

October was a busy month for us, so I had a lot to blog about. My husband has also been working in the evenings, so I have had a little extra time for writing posts. As I mentioned before, I never lack for ideas, but my follow-through has not been there lately. This month I wrote more posts than I have written all year.

Family was my predominant topic this month. Jacob, our 8-year-old, had some medical tests (with good results) and a whole lot of teeth extracted, so I wrote quite a bit about him. Plus he was baptized this month, so that was pretty special. My mom, who lives in Arizona, came to visit for two weeks. She tries to come twice a year, and we always enjoy seeing her. This trip she was able to celebrate Jacob's baptism with us, and got to be the mystery reader for his class. We did have to say goodbye, though, after a great visit. I also enjoyed some special time with my sweet husband... seeing the movie Courageous, and having a "date" in the middle of chaperoning a middle school ministry event! I obviously need to devote a little more space to Abbie and Zac in the future, though.

Our church is a big part of our life. We are active in ministry, the kids are involved in activities, and we teach each week. Our church is not important to us for the sake of religion. Instead, it is our faith in Jesus Christ, our love for His Word, and our relationship with Him that we live for and rely upon. We are blessed to belong to a Bible-teaching church that provides us so many opportunities to grow, serve, and build community. We are so blessed by all the wonderful friends we have made in the past five years!

I had the chance the show off my creativity this month. I always love to be creative, whether it is an album project, making photo gifts for others, or putting together a raffle basket. I also get creative in the kitchen because I LOVE good food! This month I posted recipes for hummus, pumpkin cookies, and a layered quesadilla. I also feel like home management is another area where I can be creative to make our live run more smoothly, so this month I shared about packing lunches, collecting box tops, doing laundry, and my hiding place for my couponing deals!

It has been a full month, and I have enjoyed this little look back. I am going to keep on blogging!

{You can go here to get a taste of some of the others who took the 31 day challenge... and here to see a complete list of the over 700 participants! You will notice that I am #739 of 746 participants... and that most of the participants stuck to a theme during their 31 days. I was a rebel, and didn't. My goal was just to blog each day. I am happy to say I met my goal!!!}

Continue On

Continue On
by Roy Lessin

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life.
She feared she was wasting her potential being a devoted wife and mother.
She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference. At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated. "Is it worth it?" she often wondered. "Is there something better that I could be doing with my time?"

It was during one of these moments of questioning that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart.

"You are a wife and mother because that is what I have called you to be.

Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye.
But I notice. Most of what you give is done without remuneration.
But I am your reward.

Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support. Your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love.

Your children are precious to Me.
Even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me. You may never
be in the public spotlight. But your obedience shines as a bright light
before Me. Continue on. Remember you are My servant.
Do all to please Me."

I was first given this encouragement from a dear friend at MOPS, at least 12 years ago. A couple years later, I received a beautiful framed print with these words as a gift from my sister-in-law. It continues to hang in my bedroom, a reminder that even when no one else sees or appreciates my efforts, my heavenly Father notices. Maybe you needed to hear this today.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
~Colossians 3:23-24

Don't forget to pack...

I know summer is quickly coming to a close... but some of my friends are still planning to head out on vacation in the next week or two. We think we will always recall the details, but I know my mind is not what it used to be.... Here is a tip that can make such a difference in how you remember all those precious stories and special moments! Journal as you go. Don't forget to pack your journaling supplies!

You may want to use a simple little notebook like this one that I picked up in a $1 bin at the craft store. It is just 5"x7", so it is easy to tuck into my bag and carry with me. I can easily grab it to write my thoughts, or the kids' cute reactions and conversations! Whether you scrapbook or not, don't you really want to remember all those things?

If you are a traditional scrapbooker, you might not want to have to journal twice by copying everything from your notebook. If so, you can take a set of journaling cards and a good pen with you so that the stories you write on your trip can be added right into your album along with your pictures. How easy is that?!

Here is a fun idea for a Disney trip! This photo album kit gives you bunches of cute cards on which to journal your stories. You can can also collect character autographs right on the appropriate cards! All of the pieces of this album kit are designed to slip right into our PicFolio albums, so once you print your pictures, you can slide them into the pockets, along with your cards and mats, and enjoy! Of course, you can also use these cards and mats in a traditional scrapbook.

So whether you are packing for vacation, or a playdate, don't forget your journaling supplies!

I am linking up this post at We Are That Family's Works-For-Me Wednesday!

Quality, not Quantity...

Having a great scrapbooking weekend on Topsail Island! Ten of us are making digital and traditional pages, eating {lots of yummy food!!!}, laughing, and enjoying the beach! Here is one of my pages... I unexpectedly, accidentally took this great shot of Jacob last week and had to devote a page to it. Maybe I will get a few more done before the weekend is over!

Connecting the Dots...

Yes, it is my 100th post to my blog! I can hardly believe it! This seems like a milestone, a momentous occasion. I have had a sort of block as to how to celebrate. I couldn't just let it pass without doing something special. I have a wonderful guest post for you, and at the end, a giveaway!


A few weeks ago I attended Creative Memories' Regional Saturday event. It was an inspiring day for me! One of the highlights was a speech given in the afternoon by a colleauge, Creative Memories Unit Leader Mindy Black. She has given me permission to share it here. I hope you will be as blessed as I was! It really affirmed for me why I do what I do, and why I love it so much.

The Dot Connector
by Mindy Black
{Speech given at Creative Memories Regional Saturday, February 2010}

I’m delighted to be here with you all. I am here today on a mission. You see, I am a dot connector and I know there is someone out there today, maybe many of you, who need me to help you connect your dots.

I have had the joy of being a professional dot connector with Creative Memories for the past twelve years. During that time, I have learned a very important fact. As a math teacher I always taught students that the shortest distance between two points is a line. I have come to realize that the shortest distance between two people is a photograph. Photographs draw us together. Stories flow. Strangers become friends and families are bonded together.

Today I would like to share a few such stories with you. These stories have evoked a deep passion within me for what I do. Through Creative Memories, I have been able to connect my own personal dots, my family’s dots, and the dots of many dear friends I have met throughout the years. It is my hope that I can help you understand the incredible significance of what you do as a consultant and/or as an album maker.

Have you ever met someone special who truly impacted your life? Sally was that woman for me. When I was in college I was involved with a Christian group on campus. Scott and Sally Koefed were the young couple who led our group. They opened their home to us regularly and we spent many a Friday night laughing and playing games together into the wee hours there.

Sally was someone I deeply admired. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Her intense love for Scott and their precious children was evident to all. I would watch her interact with each of them and would be amazed by her wisdom and wit. Sally always had a clever line to add to the conversation and I can still see her throwing her head back in laughter. Sally found great joy in raising her family and giving college students a home away from home. But what impressed me most about Sally was her genuine love for our Lord which simply radiated from her.

Two years ago I received news that Sally had been diagnosed with cancer at age 56. She was given two years to live. Scott and Sally actively kept us updated through her Care Page. Once again I was blessed through Scott and Sally at a time I needed to minister to them. Our loss was heaven’s gain when Sally went home to be with the Lord in October less than a year after her diagnosis.

When I heard the news I was overwhelmed with emotions. I wanted to be there with Scott and the kids. I had an intense need to be there. But “there” was Michigan and I was in North Carolina. There was no way for me to make that happen. I knew I could send flowers but that seemed empty to me. I couldn’t send my heart in flowers.

As I lay awake that night I kept asking God, “What can I do?” The thought of making an album kept coming to my mind. But how could I do that? I had only seen them a couple of times over the past twenty years. I didn’t have photos. Now was not the time to ask Scott for pictures. Then it came to me. There were pictures on the care pages.

The next day I set to work. I poured over the pages Scott and Sally had written. I wanted to give Scott and the kids something to hold in their hands. I wanted them to be able to read Sally’s words of love and encouragement over and over and hear her speaking to them. Carefully I lifted her words from the pages and wove them together with verses and songs that had encouraged them. The internet photos were not great quality but they were something. When I finished the paper album, I slipped it into the envelope and placed it in the mail, praying that it would bless those I loved during their difficult time.

I was shocked to receive a phone call from Scott within a couple of days. I can’t tell you how much that album met to him. He was so appreciative and talked about what a special and unexpected gift it was. He couldn’t wait to share it with his kids. Then he told me their youngest daughter was sick with the flu that day. My heart skipped a beat as I knew that when Joanna curled up with that album, her mother’s love would be reaching out to her once again when she needed her mother most. Yes, important dots were connected for all of us.

As Sally’s family meant the world to her, my husband and four children mean the world to me. Creating albums of love for my family enables me to connect our dots. My albums give me a place to proclaim my love to my family and to let my children know that I delight in them. Individual talents and triumphs are celebrated there with words of praise and encouragement which can read over and over. Within those pages I capture magical moments of trips taken so we can savor them again and again. There I record the very handprint of God as He guides our family.

One of my favorite albums holds the amazing adventure our family took through nine months of unemployment. We shouldn’t have survived one month yet God faithfully walked us through nine. The stories I could tell you! That album is one of our priceless treasures as it records the incredible miracles God worked on our behalf that I don’t ever want us to forget.

But it is not enough just to connect my dots and the dots of those I love. There are countless numbers of people around us who have their own stories to tell and dots that need connecting.


One of my customers was having trouble with her teenage son. It didn’t matter what she said. There was constant friction between the two of them. So she set about to make a baby album for him. In the album she reminded him of special times they had spent together and wrote of her love for him. When she completed the album she handed it to him. He placed the album under his arm and disappeared into his room without a word. An hour later he came out and threw his arms around her. You see, what he couldn’t hear went straight to his heart when he saw it in photos and print. Their dots were connected.

I’ve seen a grown man and woman with tears in their eyes after receiving an album on their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Too often people enter the later years of life and wonder if their existence even mattered. When faced with an album filled with photos, stories, and letters of love from their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, that couple realized that they had indeed touched many lives and that they were very much loved. What a gift they were given!

Some albums won’t have their greatest impact until years later. I’ve helped adoptive parents create an album of love for a child they had yet to meet. There they shared the longing of their hearts for a child who they already loved but did not know. As the years pass and the child wonders about her “real parents”, she will rest secure in the love of the parents who longed for her before they had ever known her.

Yes, I am a dot connector and I love what I do! But so are you. If you are simply creating albums of love for your family, you are a crucial dot connector. If you are a consultant, you are both a family and a professional dot connector. Do you have any idea how huge this is?! Do you understand the significance of what you do when you come along side of others and help them create albums of love for their families and friends?

This isn’t just about selling stuff or creating hobbies. This is about impacting lives. I can’t do this all by myself. We consultants can’t do this by ourselves. We need customers to share the mission and we need more consultants to join us. You are here today for a reason. It is time for you to connect some dots. May you have joy in the journey. May it begin today.

Thank you for reading, and for sharing my journey in blogging with me! Are you a dot connector for your family or others? If not, or if you need assistance, I would love to help you. And, to commemorate my 100th post, I promised a giveaway! Leave a comment, tell me how you connect dots (or not), and you will be entered... the prize is a goody bag of Creative Memories products worth at least $25! All my followers will automatically be entered, as well as commenters. The drawing will close at midnight EST on Friday, March 12th.

{I'm participating in Tuesdays Unwrapped with Emily at Chatting at the Sky because ordinary, regular days have a way of slipping into sweet memories we want to keep.}