Digital scrapbooking has become a popular method for preserving memories, creating personalized gifts, and designing custom stationery. For U.S. consumers interested in exploring this hobby without significant upfront costs, various free digital templates, software trials, and promotional offers are available. The provided source material highlights specific freebies, software promotions, and organizational tools relevant to digital scrapbooking enthusiasts. This article details these resources, focusing on free content availability, software functionality, and access methods based exclusively on the information found in the source documents.
Free Digital Scrapbook Templates and Content
Several sources mention the availability of free digital content designed for creative projects. These resources range from customizable templates to digital paper packs, allowing users to create layouts for various occasions.
One source highlights "stunning free digital scrapbook templates designed for creative memories." These templates are described as customizable and easy to use, suitable for preserving cherished moments. They are intended for any occasion and are available through a specific online platform. Additionally, this source mentions a "cute digital paper pack" called "Hocus Pocus," designed by Just So Scrappy, which was available at My Memories Suite. This pack includes Halloween-themed images that users can incorporate into their layouts.
Another source provides specific "email sized digital freebies" for personal use. These freebies are sized for email or evites or approximately 4x6 for printing. The user is permitted to alter them to add necessary information but is instructed not to pass them off as their own or sell them. These freebies include space for a personal note at the bottom, making them suitable for printing and sending. A similar, plainer background version is also mentioned as available on Facebook.
A forum post recommends a website, digiscrapdepot.com, as a source for free graphics and backgrounds. The user claims this site offers over 50,000 graphics, which can be used with third-party software to build pages. This suggests that external repositories exist for acquiring free digital assets beyond those directly offered by software providers.
Software Promotions and Free Trials
A significant promotional offer detailed in the source material is the availability of free My Memories Suite software. This offer is specific and includes detailed redemption instructions.
- Offer Code: The code
FreeTreatLO97is required to receive the free software. - Redemption Process: Users must copy and paste the code exactly as provided into the promo code field during checkout on the My Memories website.
- Activation and Expiration: The offer became active on October 21st and expired on October 28th.
- Compatibility: The software was available for both PC and Mac options.
- Availability: The offer was intended for English-language computers and available worldwide, though technical support was English-only.
The source describes My Memories Suite as being easier to use than PhotoShop or Illustrator, particularly for users who do not have access to those professional programs. The software allows users to create collages, blog headers, blog buttons, invitations, and labels using their own photography and digital scrapbooking elements.
In addition to My Memories, other software options are mentioned in forum discussions. One user mentions using "Ideasoft Scrapbooks Plus" by Nova Development, a $2.00 digital scrapbooking software CD found on Amazon. However, the user notes that this software does not come with graphics worth using, necessitating the download of free graphics from external sites like digiscrapdepot.com.
Content Management and Software Features
For users of Creative Memories software, the source material provides an overview of the Content Manager feature in newer versions (specifically referencing Storybook Creator 3.0 and subsequent updates). This tool helps users organize the digital assets used in their scrapbooking projects.
- Library Management: When installing new content, the program prompts the user to select a library for saving. The default location is "Creative Memories Art Kits." Older content is found in a "Packages" folder.
- Fonts: The "Installed Fonts" kit automatically collects special fonts found on the user's computer, such as webdings and wingdings.
- User Content: Two specific folders exist for user-added content:
- Personal Art Kits: This is the designated location for "extra content, like the Digital Freebies," that the user brings into the program.
- User Content: This folder stores extra content imported from earlier versions of the software.
- Views: The Content Manager offers different organizational views:
- Category View: Allows users to create custom categories to organize their content.
- Tags View: Automatically reads keywords tagged in version 3.0, providing a quick way to view content by specific keywords.
Status of Creative Memories Digital Products
It is important for consumers to note the current status of Creative Memories digital products as reported in the source material. Creative Memories filed for bankruptcy in 2013, and the company is no longer trading in Australia. The demonstrator network has been taken over by Close to my Heart.
Consequently, the future of Creative Memories digital products is described as "uncertain." Users can no longer print books through Creative Memories. However, the source suggests alternatives for printing existing projects:
- Forever: Users can print old storybooks using Forever's software.
- File Conversion: Users with access to existing software are advised to use the "File - Save as" feature to save pages as JPG files. These files can then be printed using other photobook systems, such as Shutterfly, which supports digital scrapbook styles.
Conclusion
The provided source material outlines several opportunities for consumers to access free digital scrapbooking resources. Key takeaways include the availability of free templates and digital paper packs, a specific time-limited promotion for free My Memories Suite software, and recommendations for external sources of free graphics. For users of Creative Memories software, the Content Manager offers robust tools for organizing digital freebies and user-generated content. However, consumers should be aware of the reported bankruptcy of Creative Memories and the resulting limitations on printing services, for which third-party alternatives are recommended.