If you ever take digital pictures or have ever scrapbooked, boy do I have a surprise for you!!  Just last week, through my ever-investigative cousin, I was turned onto the most incredible picture tool imaginable and all for FREE!

As an avid scrapbooker, once a Creative Memories rep. and the whole works, I have had a lot of trouble getting to my craft as I've grown in homeschooling, homekeeping, etc.  As it all sits precariously piled and collecting myriads of dust, I've considered digital scrapbooking--but lets face it.  It's hard.  Hard to know where to start...hard to pay money to experiment with it.  It's pretty much a no-go for this paper-pusher.  I'd about given up hope when Andrea said, "Try this!"  So as not to keep you in too much suspense, it's a free program that you download from a photo lab company.  You load the pictures in and make a book.  They print it out and get some $$$--BUT it's not too bad a price AND WAY cheaper than paper scrapbooking.  If you've ever done one of those business tests to determine what your time is worth per hour, you'll understand.  I just printed a 46 page hardback 10 X 10 photo album, had the cover embossed, all on high quality paper + shipping for $54.00. 

So back to this program!  It is amazing!  You can arrange your pictures, crop and zoom.  There are tons of templates that are all adjustable!  They have back ground papers to use, or you can use photos as background.  It's SO cool.  Also, as I've considered my next few albums, I've realized it wouldn't take much to take digital photos of my current pile of favorite scrapbook paper, sort them into a file and use them as backgrounds!  Did I mention the FREE part?  The journaling is really great too.  Just open a text box anywhere and it will pull from any font you have on your computer.  How cool is that!  You can add borders,  fade pictures, do b&w and sepia shots--the works!  The only things it won't do is get your groceries and actually edit your pictures.  Apart from that, we're good!

So my 46 page album (50 pg max) is printed on linen paper (no extra charge!), hardback 10 X 10.  They embossed my cover for $7.  There turn around time is lightening fast and here's another great thing:  You will now have a digital backup of your pictures and books!  Drop it in the toilet?? No problem!  Just get a re-print.  Need one for Grandma--no problem! 

I'm telling you...this is the greatest thing since sliced bread!  It could very well steal the market.  I have to caution you...this is very addictive and a joy to work on!  Finally a completed album.  Over 400 pictures (chosen from 700) in just a couple of afternoons.  Suzette, Angel, Missy!  You're all gonna love this!

 PS...Memorabilia!  Lay it out...take a digital photo of it...put it in the book.  Works for me.  Anything that won't work that way, you probably shouldn't have in there in the first place!