Anyone familiar with Creative Memories?

[ShainaT]

I have been invited to a Creative Memories scrapbooking party. The first one I go to, I am told, is free. After that I have to pay for each party I go to.

I am very curious about Creative Memories. How does the consultant make any $$? I know they sell scrapbooking materials at Target...are they the same stuff? Why are so many people into scrapbooking? Does it cost a fortune?

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Shaina


shaina1023@yahoo.com

[mum23]

CM Consultants make money selling supplies, including albums, paper, stickets, etc and by hosting "crops" where customers can come to the consultant's house and work on their scrapbooks. Usually, you have access to all her cutting supplies and templates.

Creative Memories is a direct sales company, so they also make money off any recruits that sign up under them.

I personally no longer use CM products, but that is how I got into scrapbooking. There's a whole world of stuff out there now and I love to experiment!

[lauseng]

Creative Memories is a good company. They have great products, and wonderful ideas. I enjoy going to their cropping parties..especially the big ones on National Scrapbooking Day (in May).

However, their prices are VERY high and they don't have anything I am interested in that I can't get elsewhere. Go there to learn, but save your money. It'll go twice as far at a craft or scrapbooking store. As an example, they charge $55 for a 12x12 album! Even the nice ones at our local scrapbooking store max out at about $35. And some can be had for around $15 on sale at places like Michaels.

I've never heard that they charge for home parties though. I just knew they charged for crops (get-togethers to scrapbook).

Jackie

[AtlantaGAL]

I use Creative Memories. I never hosted a party and don't plan to, but I always go to them when I am invited (great freebies, heh-heh). I have never had to pay any fees to go to hostess parties tho.

I recently got a new rep because my friend, who got me into this, stopped selling the stuff. I spent $100 last night getting a new book and a bunch of supplies. I probably have spent about $300 in a year on the stuff, but I am set for awhile.

While it's true you can pick up stuff elsewhere, like Michaels or JoAnn, I tend to think the CM stuff is higher quality. So, I don't mind paying more for it most of the time. I do buy things like paper, stickers and die cuts elsewhere when they catch my fancy, but for the main stuff, I only use CM.

The markup on CM stuff is pretty decent. Because as my one friend was selling out her stock, she gave it to us at cost. So there is money to be made selling CM if you're good at sales and you have friends who take a lot of pix. My purchase last night was only at a 10% discount, but as I said, I am set for awhile.

I only "scrap" one type of book. It's a "travel & events" theme always (my Vegas pages turned out really good!), but I know people who have a book for each kid, holidays, each pet, a wedding, travel and kids sports. It's easy to get carried away, and it's a lot of fun!

[Jaxxie]

I find that going to michaels, A.C. Moore, Joann stores and even target i find better deals. Also surfing the internet i have gotten some wonderfull ideas. A.C. Moore and michaels on many occassions sells their paper for 4 for a buck. I just went to the local Joann store and they had a endcap filled with paper clearance. I tend to buy the bulk solid color paper because i find i can do more with it by decorating with stickers, markers, borders, etc.

I readily admit my pages are not artistic creations to win awards. I learn as i go. I am just glad i finally have started to do something with the boxes and boxes of pictures i have had laying around. The best thing i bought was templates for paper, you can either use them as matts or page layouts.

Also keep in mind the size book you purchase, they either hold 8.5 x 11 or 12X12. I personally like the larger 12 x 12. But i also have 25 years of family pictures to catch up on. The hardest part was gathering all the pictures and putting them into piles of who, what where, etc. But now i have a little file box by my favorite tv chair and i work on it when i finally get to sit still.

[lauseng]

Jaxxie,

You mentioned the piles and piles of pictures. I just have to share what finally got me organized.

I got a 12x12 3-ring scrapbook. I also got some of the page protectors that work with a 3-ring scrapbook. Each protector got at least one 12x12 piece of card stock. Odd colors. Doesn't matter. Great place for those oranges and yellows you may not use elsewhere. Then, start putting your photos in the sleeves in a tentative order. If you have stickers or die cuts that you know you want to put with those photos, slide those in too.

I have an entire year loose in a 3-ring binder. Some are incomplete. These have post-its on the OUTSIDE (the sticky part isn't safe for the photos) that explain what else I need or have title ideas, etc. The others, I can go ahead and scrap. When done, the page gets slid back in until the rest are done. Then, I put them all into the final album.

This also lets me know what papers and stickers I may want to pick up. And I can skip around until I find inspiration for that first page instead of staring at it for hours like I used to. lol.

Hope this made sense. It's been a life-saver for me.

Jackie

[AtlantaGAL]

And to the others who read and/or post in this thread, here's another familiar vendor who now has a scrapbooking line of products very similar to CM...

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

(hint: it's Current)

[kewlgirl29]

Creative Memories 12x12 Albums are 36.00 for their main line, they also carry a specialty line which is 55. Then they have smaller albums priced all the way down to 18.00.

There are cheaper albums on the market. Some at walmart etc. But personally those cheap ones arent as nice. Im talking about the 15.00 Pioneer and even the westrim albums that look similar to CM arent as nice especially now that Cm has changed their bookcloth.

Shaina, if you are new to scrapbooking you will enjoy a cm party. I think what you were told about the first one is free but then you have to pay may means that it is a crop or workshop (or the next ones will be) and usually the Consultants charge and they rent a place to crop, have product there to use plus for sale and sometimes they provide snacks or even lunch. They are well worth the small crop fee that is charged.

Creative memories sometimes charges for a home class where you actually bring your own pictures and the Consultant lets you use her tools and supplies and teaches you how to construct a page. You go home with that page. It costs 10.00 and that is a bargain. I have been to classes at scrapbook stores and they run lots more many times. To be completely honest this was how most CM Consultants made most of their profit. They sure dont make much on selling the product! I lost money the whole time I sold CM.

Anyway dont be confused just go and give it a try!! I have been scrapbooking for 5 years. I love it. More than anything it gives me a chance to get away from home away from my kids and talk with other women and have fun...

[kewlgirl29]

FORGOT to include the link to the Creative Memories site. You can see all of their supplies and read about the company as well as other stuff there.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

[momlbe]

I also got started scrapbooking with Creative Memories. I thought they did a good job of explaining how to get organized and the benefits of using the proper materials to handle memorabilia so it will last as long as possible.

One of my neighbors is a rep and I know that she holds "scraps" at her house for her customers and it is a great way to keep current on scrapbooking (wonder why I don't go?) although I don't think she charges a fee.

I am a bargain hunter. I have done much better buying materials on-line and at Michaels and JoAnn Crafts than at any CM event. They key is to buy quality - - and it seems that Michaels is adding a lot of great vendors who do offer acid free (you will learn about this) products.

I rec that you attend the party for the info and decide if you want to do it. If you do - - - try picking up the magazine "Creating Keepsakes" and going to their site [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] because it has TONS of information and ideas to get you started and keeping you going. Which brings me to my last point . . .

I have a LONG way to go before I am ever done with books for my three kids! But I love it anyway!

[cata5]

Thought I'd add some links to frugal scrapbooking ideas. I haven't looked at these myself but plan to.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] (article with the following links)

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

[Ttulipss]

I've been scrapbooking for several years now and really enjoy it. I started a book for dh and I for our honeymoon, but never really devoted much time on it. I got half our honeymoone in and need to finish the rest as well as add our wedding pics, shower pics, etc.

I'm also doing books for my girls. I'm a little behind as we've had bigger projects to deal with.....moving, building (as most of you know we did a lot of the work) a new house, and of course moving again. Now I'm trying to get prepared for our little boy so I'm getting done what I can now so I can then devote time to scrapbooking.

I love Creative Memories as well as my consultant who is a family friend. I make it a point to go to the workshops each month for "me" time. Yes, the workshop does cost $15, but it's 4 hours with some great people, getting new ideas and having a lot of the consultant's supplies for use. Lunch or dinner is also served and my consultant is a great cook! To keep the cost down, I try to get only what I need for the pages I'm working on at that time. I do purchase a lot of "contraband" from Michael's and a local scrapbook store (Scrapbook Co. - this one is THE BEST!), but I make sure I always buy my albums, pages, and page protectors from my consultant. I actually have too much stuff (stickers, papers, etc.) right now and am trying to use only what I have. I also try to get together every now and then with another friend who scrapbooks, but has a different consultant. We share supplies and trade stickers, papers, die cuts, etc.

I've done 3 albums so far for my oldest and am trying to work on my youngest. Trying to catch up before I have a baby boy album to begin. Some of my pages are pretty detailed from ideas I've gotten out of Creating Keepsakes yearly idea books, but I also like to keep them pretty simple, too - which is what Creative Memories stresses. I'm not very creative, but am good at copying! As for supplies, the cost adds up, but you don't have to go overboard. The important thing is getting those pictures into archival quality (acid free, lignon free) albums to preserve them.

As for the party, they can do it two ways. One is you go (no cost) and watch the consultant explain, discuss, give ideas, etc. The second does cost (I think $10) and each person would bring several pictures and for hands-on instruction. You're provided with supplies to make a page for the pics you brought. I have personally never gone to a party, just immediately got involved with the monthly workshops.

National scrapbook day is a lot of fun and an opportunity to win free stuff. I've gone to the last three and have come home with letter and number stickers, already done pages (just need to add photos), mini idea books, little packs to make a page (includes stickers, paper or whatever is needed to create a theme page - picture of page is included), etc. Plus there are new ideas to be seen and new scrapping friends to be made!

I have to go, but will come back to post some of my fave links for scrapbooking ideas on the net.

~~~~~~
Okay, here are some links:
Graceful Bee (my favorite) [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
Scrap Happy [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
Find quotes and poems [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]


You can also find supplies (paper, stickers, punchies, etc. - just about anything you need to scrapbook including CM items) on eBay!! I've purchased some things and couldn't have been happier with what I received and at the price I got it for!

[galena]

i've been curious about this but avoided hooking up with a local c.m. consultant because of her high-pressure sales tactics. she hounds the parents while we wait outside my son's kindergarten door (captive audience!), leaves flyers on our doorsteps, and works tales of her c.m. business into alot of her conversations. it's turned me off but i do like the idea of putting together scrapbooks for each of the kids. i've heard how expensive c.m. is but as previously mentioned, there may be similar supplies available elsewhere for a bit less.

[Ttulipss]

I think the high pressure sales tactics all depends on the consultant. My consultant is not like that......sure she'd like everyone to have a party, bring new people to her, etc. but she's very easygoing about it and I have never once felt any pressure or have seen her exhibit it at the workshops.

I don't feel the prices are excessive. No matter where you get your supplies, they all add up! I would recommend, though, that if you're going to buy any higher priced items like a paper cutter, marker set, etc., check out Michael's. Not that the items are cheap there, but I know in our Sunday paper they'll have a coupon for 40% off any regular priced item. If they don't have an add with all the other regular Sunday ads, there will usually be one buried in Section A or B of the newspaper.

[lauseng]

FYI, there is a regular Michaels insert coming out in Sunday's paper with a 40% off coupon. And there are some weeks coming up when there is no ad...not even a black&white type buried in the paper.

If you ever are looking for a coupon, feel free to ask me. I should be able to tell you where to look for them in advance. I'll try to remember to post when a 50% off coupon comes out. (None in the near future. I usually know about a month in advance.)

Jackie