Friday, March 30, 2012

My Memories Software and Giveaway

*** GIVEAWAY CLOSED***  The winner is #24 who is Barb!!!  Congrats Barb!!!

So I am super excited about today's post.  A few weeks ago I was contacted by My Memories, a digital scrapbooking software company.  They asked if I would be willing to review their My Memories Suite.  At first I thought, "Ugghh I'm not a scrapbooker".  But I figured it couldn't hurt to try so I uploaded the software and Hoolay!!!!  Was I blown away.  Let me share a little bit about my test run.

TEST RUN 

I started out basic.  It's a scrapbooking software so why not make a scrapbook, right :)  So I decided to make one of my Quilts from 2011.   So you start by picking a template (which there are so many to choose from)  and then you just simply drop in the pictures and type a few words.  Seriously, within 20 minutes I was done!!!

And then I thought, I need to show this on my blog.  So I clicked on the Share button.  Once again, Hoolay options.  You can have your digital book made into an actual book, made into a calendar,  export individual pictures, turn it into a slideshow, burn it on a dvd, and even . . . . .  Make it into a movie file!!!!!  So fun!!!  (I mean, how awesome would it be to have a video like this playing at a wedding, birthday, graduation, ect. ect. ect.)



So now that I had played a bit, and was a little more familiar with the software (which is super user friendly) I got to thinking . . . "How can I use this on my blog".   Instantly, I thought of blog buttons.  Why start from scratch when all you have to do is add in some words and you are done.  These 2 buttons took about a minute each!!  And aren't they so fun!!!  (oh, and in case you are wondering, I am not doing these swaps, they were simply for playing purposes :)

And ya, you can have pictures in your blog buttons as well.  So fun!!!  One of my favorite things about the software is how easy it is to customize.  For instance, I made that white text box bigger than the original template.  And in the buttons above, I deleted out the picture spots and added text instead.   It is so simple to make it look exactly the way you want!!


And why stop at buttons???  Headers are always fun too!!!  I made this up on the center of a page and then exported the digital image, cropped it to header size  and WhaLa!!!  A header whipped up in 4 minutes.


And what about tutorials??  Could I use this software in my tutorials??  You betcha!!!  How much cuter is it to see this mosiac of pictures then a plain old black and white.  And I love being able to type instructions right on the pictures!!  (I think you will be seeing this on a tutorial soon :)


So now I was really having fun.  And I got a little daring.  I figured, I was getting so familiar with customizing a template to the look I wanted, why not start without a template.  Like as in make up a page completely from scratch.  So I picked a background (oh so many to choose from), added some embellishments (cuteness galore), added some photos (easy) , and added some words (so many fonts).  And within minutes, ShaBam!! I made this page all on my own!  This software is so easy to use!!!  You can literally make whatever you can dream up!!!

Oh, and side note, While I was adding the words I stumbled on to what I think might be my favorite "cool thing".  You can have a image show up in your words.  How cool is that!!!!  That's my quilt in the Happy Quilting title :)


So by now I am feeling really comfortable, and honestly, having a really good time.  So I figured, lets see if this software can solve the little video problem I have been having.  You remember that FMQ video I showed a few months ago, well not much has happened with it.  Why?? Well I want to be able to add printed words to the video and I wanted to figure out how to be able to take several videos and put them all into one video. And I wasn't getting very far with video software that came with the computer.  

So I thought, I wonder if I can put a movie into a scrapbook, have the words come up first, then switch to the movie and then back to the words.   And sure enough, Yes you can!!!!! 


This has go me so excited.  (I have some serious plans for some videos in the near future now!!!!)  I can add as many small videos as I need into one scrapbook and then turn the entire thing into a movie file.   And after I made this I found you can also add narration, so maybe you won't have to listen to the sound of my sewing machine in the background, unless you like that :)

REVIEW

So the quick answer -  I really liked this Making Memories Suite

Here's my 2 cents

 I know that there are lots of free programs out there that you can use to do similar things.  I have used them in the past.   I have used one program for mosiacs, another for banners, another for buttons, another for a book of my kids, on and on.  I really liked that this program has it all and in 1 place and has capabilities beyond what any of the separate online programs have.  

I liked that the templates made things fast!!!  Fast is important to me.  This program was so great for whipping up a blog button.  I used to create buttons in Microsoft Word and then I got a graphic designer to help me when they looked awful.  This program literally gives you the graphic designer's templates, you just have to add the words.

I also really liked how much freedom I had with this program.  I could use a template for speed, but if there was something I didn't like I could just delete it.  If there was something I wanted to add, I could just add it. 

For me personally, I felt like the program was really user friendly. But, As I had mentioned before, I have used other programs  for editing digital images and making buttons and so forth.  I think that knowledge helped to translate to this software.  There was a bit of a learning curve at first, but the more your play with it, the more you get to know it.

Finally, I liked the versatility of this program.  It is fabulous for creating scrapbooks but it can do oh so much more than that.  (In fact, I was just thinking, It would be great for making up some business cards!!!)   You can create anything that you can dream up.

So ya, I liked it!!!  I am excited to continue to play with it to see what I can come up with.  And you can bet that you will be seeing more creations from the My Memories Suite on the blog rather soon :)

GIVEAWAY and DISCOUNT

So are you intrigued?? Are you excited??? Do you want to try out the My Memories Suite for yourself ???  We'll there is 2 ways you can.

First . . . If you are lucky enough, you can win a copy of the My Memories Suite.

To enter for a chance to win simply pop on over to My Memories and then pop back here and leave me a comment telling me your favorite Digital Kit :)  

Easy as that :)  One comment per person please :)    The giveaway will be open until April 5th and I will announce a winner on the morning of the 6th.  International Entries welcome :)  



But we all can't win . . .  and so for the rest of us there is a DISCOUNT!!!

My Memories is offering a special discount to Happy Quilting Readers!!!  Simply copy and paste the code

STMMMS89139

and enter it into the promotional code field on the shopping cart page for a $10.00 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the My Memories.com store.  That's a $20.00 value!!!


Oh, and if you buy the software and then happen to win the giveaway you can be reimbursed.  No worries., We have got you covered :)

So jump on over to My Memories and check out this amazing software!!!  I think you will like it every bit as much as I do.  Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!!
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54 comments:

  1. Thanks for your great review - so much information, and it sounds very versatile. I like the Dearest Friends kit, (as well as many others.....)

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  2. Sounds like something to look into. Thanks for the chance to win. My favorite kit is the Dearest Friend.

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  3. such cute designs, it's hard to pick! i do like the 'in the pond' and 'xoxox'.

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  4. I'm sure you've noticed the closing date of the giveaway. You have the prize awarded on my birthday. Now I would love that kind of birthday present but I already celebrated my birthday this month and while the years are going faster and faster, I just don't feel a year old yet. Sounds wonderful. I'll take a late birthday present though.

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  5. i sure would love to win thank you for the giveaway

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  6. I like the Color My world Lime. Thanks for a chance at the software, looks like a good way to jazz up my still rather new and plain blog :) Looks like you did some fun things with it already!

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  7. How can one choose a favorite with all those "Possibilities". Yep, that one of my favorites.... Possibilities. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Noell

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  8. Hi
    I couldnt decide it was either happy days or xoxo. thank you angchappell@yahoo.com

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  9. The through my eyes photo book. Its gorgeous and girly and fairy tale-ish. :) would make an amazing book chronicaling our year.

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  10. Wow! I can't believe that you can do all that you did with the software and more! I like the Flower Garden kit. Thanks!

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  11. sweet blossom designs xoxox....especially love the colors of this one! thanks, melissa

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  12. Sounds like fun software. My favorite is the Musical Melody Scrap Kit

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  13. This is a really helpful post; most of the time I'm way too intimidated by new programs. I really like the Sweet Cooking Girl kit...it's...well...sweet! Ha!

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  14. Wow!! so many choices but I Love the colors and flowers patterns in Lucky Fields :)
    Thank you for the chance to win such a great prize!
    Marta

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  15. I'm going to have to bookmark your page for ideas - what a great tool. I've been wanting to create my own blog header and buttons and such. This would be so nice to have!

    And my favorite kit is the I Love Cupcakes one. Super cute stuff!

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  16. You want me to pick just one??? Darn that's going to be hard... um let's see, how about Spring Song! So many choices. I haven't tried digital software, Looks like fun

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  17. Life is an Adventure would be a fun one to have, although The Love Words one was nice also. I think it would be easy to get lost in the choices, holy cow there are a lot of them.

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  18. Hmmm...intriguing. I am also adamantly "not a scrapbooker" but the possibilities for this are impressive! I like the Vintage Flair papers and embellishments. Thanks!

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  19. Yikes! There are a ton of choices! Oh Happy Day caught my eye first, but I'm certainly not stopping there! LOL. I'm going back to find more fun kits! I was a traditional scrapbooker before I was sucked into quilting and it looks as if the digital scrapbooking world had exploded. Very cool program. Thank you for your wonderful review of what looks like a very cool program.

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  20. Wow, amazing selection. I like the beads design kit. I think it would be loads of fun to play with this software! thanks for the giveaway.

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  21. LOTS of choices...I love the Freedom sets! Thanks for the great review and the opportunity!

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  22. sounds like you had alot of fun. I liked the four seasons - summer and the beads design kits. Love to have a chance to win. Thanks Aurea Gillis

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  23. Love the Cats and Dogs kits! Would love to gift it to my daughter to play with on her blog! Thanks for the chance.

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  24. It's kinda cutesy, but I like the "I Love My Dog" digital kit. I had My Memories on my Christmas Wish List, but I was given another product which wasn't at all what I wanted. Mother's Day is coming up . . . .

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  25. That software looks like a lot of fun! I really like Forest Friends but I'd also have to get the fairytale one since I have 3 little girls!

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  26. That software sounds fantastic! I liked the look of spring song :)

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  27. That software sounds terrific. I like Word Play.

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  28. "Oh, happy Day" and "precious" are 2 of my immediate favorites. Your review makes me want to try it right now!

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  29. This sounds really cool! And I would love to try it. My favorite kit is either summer ring or XOXO its a tie =) Thanks for the chance to try this fantastic sounding software.

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  30. Fascinating! LOVE Cherry Limeade!!

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  31. Hum, I don't have very good luck with these sort of programs...we get something made and then can't get into onto a Disc or printed... maybe this would change that! My Memories seems basic and well done? My girls would love to tinker around with it.

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  32. The Look Who kit is adorable. Owls are just so trendy and cute now a days. I could definitely get lost for hourse playing with everything...

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  33. In liked the My Funny Easter package the best.

    C_kaminsky(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  34. I like the different holiday ones! I love the idea of the simplicity! Maybe even someone as 'uncrafty' as me could make it work :)

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  35. So many to choose from.. If I have to choose I guess I'd say Vintage Fair...


    Carri
    simplydonewright.blogspot.com

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  36. It's hard to choose but I really like Moments in Time.

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  37. Don't enter me in the contest, because I won the software already at the end of last year! It is fabulous! I've used it to make things for the church bulletin board, too, and I love the many options it has. I haven't tried a video, but after seeing yours, I'm going to have to try that! I love all the free kits you can get, too!

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  38. I didn't know there was software like this. It sounds great. I like Oh Happy Day Borders.

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  39. OH MY Goodness, how can one pick only one?? Hope Floats is one I love... butterflies are my favorite. I hope I win.
    Thanks for the chance.

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  40. Out of this world, looks like a modeern contemp quilt colorway. love it.

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  41. I would love the Oh the Places Combo. What fun would that be to make kid-themed projects. Thanks for the chance to win a super cool product.

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  42. thanks for the chance to win--mom and daughter looks great.

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  43. Loving the Enchanted Photobook! Super cute. =)

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  44. I love the colors in Candied Peppermint Bark. Thanks for a chance to win.

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  45. This sounds fabulous! I really like the traffic Jm kit ... along with at couple dozen more. With baby #3 on her way maybe baby #1 won't be the only one with a scrapbook - he he he

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  46. I like the April Morning pack. Thanks for the chance to win this fabulous software.

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  47. There are so many to choose from it is hard to decide but the one that really caught my eye because of the beautiful colors is April Morning Pack. I am amazed at how affordable the software is and there are many things that are free to add to the software.

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  48. I am not tradityionally a scrapbooker, but "beads" looks promising. I think i would like to try it out. Would love to win the software. Here's hoping

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  49. I am not a scrapbooker per say, I bought my first papers last week, and am dieing (LOL) to get into it. This seems really great. I am a quilter mainly, but my friend uses her papers/stamps/punches and does really nice things. I would really be interested in this. thank you

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  50. I like April morning pack

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

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  51. I like "One in a Melon". It has all my favorite colors in it.

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  52. I like the Winter Wonder. I love anything winter or Christmas.

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa