Digi Scrapping - inc Giveaway!

Hello!

The lovely Liz at My Memories Suite offered me a chance to try out this digi scrapping software, to let you all know what I thought of it, and then offer a copy of the software as a Giveaway to one of you! This was my first ever try at digi scrapping, so read on to see what I thought of it and to try and win a copy (worth $39.97) for yourself...

I was suprised how quickly I was able to get to grips with My Memories Suite and make a good page. I'm going to point out that I haven't tried using any other programs (like Photoshop) to digi scrap, so I can't compare, I can only say what my experience is with this software.

I found it quite easy to navigate through all the free papers (over 1500), embellishments (over 1300), and other bits and pieces which come with the package. Just using the included items it only took me an hour (after downloading and installing) to browse and then make this layout:

Supplies include Decorative Papers New Orleans 'Sea Foam and Mulberry' and 'Amethyst', Designer Embellishments Princess Diva 'Lace Black', Shapes 'Scallop Circle' and 'Scallop Rectangle'.

I love how realistic the lace looks, and I had great fun playing with things like the opacity of the grey satin ribbon, it's so easy to customise things like this to fit in with your page.

Straight from the start my favourite thing about the software is the 'picker' and 'match' tools. I love that I can find colours in my photos, background papers, or embellishments, and use them for matting, colouring fonts, and more. I like using similar colours throughout the page to bring it all together, so I know this is a tool I'll use every time!

After finishing this page I had a look at the free downloads of extra papers and embellishments that are available on the My Memories website. I downloaded two free items, 'worn paper' and 'loving you 2' and used them, alongside the items included in the software, to create this layout:

Supplies Include: 'Worn Paper' Pack and 'Loving You 2' Pack.

I enjoyed being able to twist, flip, and resize elements to fit my page (like the flourish on this page), something I wouldn't be able to do with paper scrapbooking. And the worn paper and the rose embellishments look quite textural, I like having a variety of surfaces on my layouts.

I think both these layouts still look like my style, I was worried that digi scrapping would stop them looking like mine. What do you think?

I don't think I'd ever convert completely to digi scrapping, as I like playing with stash way too much! But I can definitely see me using it more, especially for certain projects, like ones I'd like to print out several copies of to give as gifts. I can make an album with photos of my kids, and then order copies for my mum, my mother-in-law, and even my grandparents. Plus I can sit and scrap when I'm watching the TV in the evenings without having to bring a load of stash down to the sofa.

The software can also be used for other things. You can input music and videos to create a video (something I want to have a go at sometime!) and you can use it to make cards. It would be quite easy to make a square card, but I wanted to try and make an A6 Christmas card. So I used the 'portrait' setting and I came up with this design using items included in the software:

Supplies Include: Small Polka Dot Paper 'Rose', Designer Embellishments Holiday Snows, Scroll Flourish 'White 4'.

After exporting it as a j-peg I copied it into publisher, and had to trim off the two sides a bit to fit it onto an A6 card front. I printed two to use a whole sheet of A4 paper, and after cutting and folding I added a few adhesive gems to finish the card off (sorry the colour's not great on this photo but I'm away from home at the moment so I can't re-take it):

I've just paid for another pack of Christmas papers so I can make some more Christmas cards like this, it will be a good way to make cards for people I don't know so well, like my hubby's work colleagues. I'll still want to make paper ones for my family and close friends. But this would also be really useful for making a batch of cards like invites or thank-you cards, whether I added an extra embellies or not it would still be making the process a lot faster!

So overall I think this software is great, and definitely good value for money when you compare it's cost to other programs like Photoshop. The only thing I'm not sure of yet is how easy it would be to use with digi packs purchased elsewhere on the web - it's something I still need to investigate. I checked that you can use them with the software, but the website only says that they won't install as easily as those purchased from My Memories, and doesn't tell you how to install them. I guess this is because they want to make it easiest to purchase their kits and promote their own designers, which is fair enough, but it would make the software have certain limitations for me. But, like I say, I haven't investigated it fully yet, and they do have lots of tutorials, and a My Memories blog (which has challenges to win gift vouchers to the site!), so the information may be there somewhere, or it might be quite easy to work out for myself. I'll let you know!

Now, if you'd like to win a copy of this software for yourself, all you have to do is pop over to the My Memories website, have a browse of their digi kits, and tell me which one appeals to you (I'm going to look at your suggestions to see which kits I fancy buying next!). You just need to leave me a comment on this post to enter, before next Wednesday 26th Oct 11.59pm GMT. I'll draw a winner on Thursday 27th, so don't forget to come back and check if you've won! (If you think you might forget then please leave me an email address so I can contact you if you win.)

Finally, if you want to buy a copy of My Memories version 2, I can offer you a discount code to get a $10 discount. You'll also get a $10 coupon to the store to buy yourself some more papers or a digi pack! If you want to take advantage of this then use this code: STMMMS40449. I'm going to be honest and say that if you use this code then I get a bonus too. I hope you don't mind me putting it on here, I thought it would be okay, as it would benefit both of us if you fancy buying the software.

I shall stop babbling on now. I hope you've enjoyed seeing my first attempts at digi scrapping. Don't forget to visit the My Memories website and let me know which kit is your favourite, if you want a chance at winning the software.

See you soon, x

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