My Memories Suite Software Review + Giveaway!

While I'm not much of a physical scrapbooker, I've always wanted to give digital scrapbooking a try just for the heck of it. I enjoy graphic designing here and there (I often design blog hop buttons and graphics for my blogs), and like the idea of not having to spend a lot of money on all those fun embellishments when you can get them for so much cheaper digitally, and use them over and over again without having to worry about running out. So when I was approached by Liz from the My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking company asking if I'd like to receive the software for free and review it on my blog, I couldn't pass it up! 

My Memories Suite is primarily a digital scrapbooking software that also allows you to create photo books, custom gifts, and much more. The possibilities are literally endless with this fun and easy to use software. The My Memories software retails for $39.97 and comes with a wide variety pre-loaded embellishments and papers for most holidays and occasions. So many digital creations can be made without even having to purchase additional kits! Here's a quick list of projects that can be made using the My Memories software:

- Scrapbook layouts
- Photo books
- Cards
- Calendars
- Graphics
- Place cards
- Recipe cards
- And more!

The first project I made using My Memories was actually not a scrapbook layout but a couple of buttons for upcoming blog hops I'm hosting. The first button was made using a winter kit that came pre-loaded with the software. The second button was also made using a pre-loaded Easter kit. No additional purchase was necessary! 

The only downfall with making blog badges is their size.. since they're so much smaller than scrapbook layouts when it comes to pixels, adding embellishments and papers makes them huge and you have to zoom out and resize them to add them to your button. The papers and embellishments were made sized for bigger projects, so that's why they have to be resized. It makes the process a little more time consuming, but definitely worth it when the product turns out super cute... and free! I plan on using this software to make many more buttons and badges in the future.

If there's a theme you're looking for that My Memories doesn't come loaded with, you can visit their site and browse through hundreds of kits and templates to find just what you're looking for. They even have free kits! Some kits are solely paper kits, some are quick pages that have the layout and design done for you, and others come with everything - papers, fonts, embellishments, everything you need to design that perfect project for you or a special someone. 

One of the pre-loaded kits I chose to work with to share a sample layout with you was a 4th of July kit. Even though it's the middle of winter I can't help but wish for sunny, warm, weather and a nice summer breeze. :) When you design a digital scrapbook layout using My Memories you can design your own photo template or choose one of their many custom templates. I chose one of their templates, so all I had to do was plug my pictures in. (NOTE: I do NOT take any credit whatsoever for these pictures - these were found using Google Images for the sole purpose of creating a sample layout for this review).

All of the elements come with the kit and it's just a matter of figuring out which ones you'd like to use and where you'd like to put them on your layout. It can be time consuming if you're detail-oriented and a perfectionist like me, but creating a layout, is really, really easy. The software even comes with pages already designed for you so all you have to do is add your own pictures and print. How easy is that?! For a first time digital scrapbooker (and really, a scrapbooker in general) I found this software super easy and fun to use, and will definitely be doing some more playing in the future.

Like what you see and want to give the software a try for yourself? You can enter to win the software for FREE here at Made Especially For You by doing the following:

1.) Become a follower if you aren't already

2.) Visit the My Memories website and pick your favorite kit you would download if you win, then come back here and leave a comment telling me what it is

For extra entries...

1.) Follow my challenge blog, Red Carpet Studio

2.) Follow my creative blog, All that Stickles

One winner will be randomly chosen and announced here at Made Especially For You on Friday January 25th. The winner will receive a special code via email that will allow them to download the software for free.

If you can't wait to get started and would like to purchase My Memories right away... here's a code that works for for $10 off your purchase and gives you a $10 coupon to the My Memories store!
STMMMS99661

You can also stay connected with My Memories 
through their social networking sites!

Blog - http://www.mymemoriesblog.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MyMemoriesFans

Twitter - http://twitter.com/mymemoriessuitehttp://twitter.com/mymemoriessuite

Thanks so much for reading! I'd be happy to answer any questions about the software if you have any - feel free to email me at especiallymadeblog@gmail.com. Have a fantastic week!