Double Punched Borders with the Creative Memories Border Maker System

As we roll into summer, I’ve been playing with some of the Creative Memories collections that are great for scrapbooking vacation memories. We have a general travel collection (Wanderlust) but also many specific collections that cover so many different destinations.

Water: Serene Waters
Tropical: Tropic Time
National Parks: Leave Nothing Behind
Amusement Parks: Sparks of Magic
Camping: Set Up Camp
Zoos: What a Zoo Too!
U.S. Regions and Cities: Wide Open Spaces, Florida, New York, Washington DC, and New Orleans International: United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico and Canada

We even have a collection if you’ll be staying home this summer (Staycation)!

For my first layout, I used the Tropic Time Collection to preserve memories from a Florida vacation. I also used the Monstera Leaves Border Punch and the Original Border Maker System with the Ancient Key Border Maker Cartridge.

I used the 12″ Trimmer with the Perforating Blade to score my paper at 3″. I turned the paper on it’s side and scored it again at 3″. I then folded the paper on the perforation marks and used the Original Border Maker System with the Ancient Key Border Maker Cartridge to punch borders on both folded sides.

For full instructions and to see a step-by-step demonstration, please view my video on my YouTube channel.

I used the same technique to create a second layout with some photos of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I used the Set Up Camp Collection and the Chevron Arrows Border Maker Cartridge for this page.

This technique will work with any knock-out style border maker cartridge. Please see my video for instructions. I would also appreciate your subscription to my YouTube channel! If you click on the bell icon, you will receive a notification whenever I add a new video.

You may purchase all of the tools and materials that I used for these layouts through my Creative Memories website link. I appreciate your purchases and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program!

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Painted Garden Spring Scrapbook Layouts

Although it was late coming this year, I’ve been enjoying our spring weather and the spring blooms in my garden. My peonies just finished blooming, but I can enjoy photos of them year-round in my scrapbook album!

The Painted Garden Collection from Creative Memories is especially beautiful and is a great complement to our spring photographs! Please see my blog post from May 2nd to view a layout using this collection.

And I also used the Painted Garden Collection to create the two layouts below for Creative Life Scrapbooking.

To embellish my first layout, I used a mix of the Painted Garden Embellishments, Stickers and Variety Mats. I also used the Rustic Fence Border Punch and the Floral Peaks Border Punch. I used the Original Border Maker System with the Citrus Slice Border Maker Cartridge to create the wheel for my garden wheelbarrow.

To purchase a printable PDF handout of these instructions, please see the Creative Life Scrapbooking website.


For my second layout, I created a beautiful border treatment by creating tiny envelopes and filling them with embellishments. The Painted Garden Embellishments are my favorite item in this collection. The pack is full of flowers, berries, butterflies, bees and humming birds! I used the Envelope & Bow Creator from Creative Memories to create my envelopes. This is a nifty tool for creating envelopes of all sizes and also bows!

To purchase a printable PDF handout of these instructions, please see the Creative Life Scrapbooking website.

My instructions include a video demonstration of how to use the Envelope & Bow Creator to make the envelopes and also written instructions for creating the envelopes with our 12-Inch Trimmer instead.

I offer a generous Customer Rewards Program and appreciation your purchases through my Creative Memories website link!

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

2023 National Scrapbook Day Layout

Happy National Scrapbook Day! It’s a day to celebrate our shared love of memory keeping and scrapbooking! Did you know that Creative Memories established the first National Scrapbook Day in 1994? It’s amazing to think about the number of photographs and family memories preserved in albums since that time!

To celebrate, Creative Memories releases a special National Scrapbook Day Kit each year. In addition to the NSD Kit, CM usually offers accompanying cardstock, embellishments, and tools. Some of our 2023 items are sold out, but the kit and a few other items are still available for purchase.

To create my layout above, I used materials from the 2023 NSD Kit with the Citrus Slice Border Maker Cartridge and Mandala Burst Border Punch. I appreciate your purchases through my Creative Memories website link, and I offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.

To Create My First Page:

  1. Cut a 1/2″ x 12″ strip from Canary Cardstock and save for the second page. Cut (2) 4″ x 6″ photo mats and set aside.
  2. Use the Custom Cutting System with the #2 Circle Pattern and Blue Blade on the inside edge to cut (11) circles from the Canary Cardstock.
  3. Use the Mandala Burst Border Punch to punch (2) borders from the Dark Green Cardstock. Cut off of the cardstock at 1-1/2″. Punch a single mandala piece also from Dark Green Cardstock and cut off of the cardstock at 1-1/2″. Use All-Purpose Scissors to cut apart the single mandalas from the borders.
  4. Adhere the single mandala pieces onto the canary circles.
  5. Use the Custom Cutting System with the #3 Circle Pattern and Red Blade on the inside edge to cut (6) circles from the yellow sun paper. Cut the circles in half. Adhere the layered canary/mandala pieces onto the yellow sun semi-circles.
  6. Use the Custom Cutting System with the Jumbo Circle Pattern and Red Blade on the inside edge to cut a circle from the center of a sheet of the lemon/lime paper.
  7. Adhere (8) of the yellow sun semi-circles underneath the teal side of the cut-out circle. Adhere the teal circle to the other sheet of the lemon/lime paper.
  8. Adhere the two photo mats to the layout. Trim and adhere border stickers to the top and bottom of the mats.
  9. Add stickers with Foam Squares as shown. Use a Green Dual-Tip Pen to add faux stitching as shown.

To Create the Second Page:

  1. Cut striped paper to 12″ x 9″. Stripes should be running vertical, so cut in the horizontal position.
  2. Use the Border Maker System with the Citrus Slice Border Maker Cartridge to punch (2) borders from Dark Green Cardstock. Cut off of the cardstock at 1″ and adhere to the top and bottom of the striped piece.
  3. Adhere the striped sheet to the sheet of lemon/lime paper with the circle cut out of the center. Make sure to only put adhesive on the edges of the striped piece.
  4. Adhere the 12″ x 1/2″ strip of Canary Cardstock to the top of the bottom border.
  5. Cut (3) 3-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ photo mats from the yellow sun paper and adhere as shown.
  6. Adhere (3) of the semi-circle pieces to the tops of the photo mats. Adhere the reverse side of one semi-circle as shown for a journaling box.
  7. Add stickers with Foam Squares as shown. Use a Green Dual-Tip Pen to add faux stitching as shown.

If you would like a printable PDF Handout of these instructions, please join my private Facebook group, Karyn’s Croppers, and look in the FILES section. Click here to join Karyn’s Croppers.

If you like this layout, you’re going to LOVE the exclusive layouts that I created for my Virtual National Scrapbook Day Workshop! You can purchase access to the instructional handouts and videos for these layouts. In addition to the NSD Kit, I used the NSD Cardstock Sampler Pack, NSD Laser Bundle and NSD Mini Embellishments. You can substitute with other materials.

2023 National Scrapbook Day Layout Instructions

You will receive access to handouts and instructional videos to create 8 single page layouts. The layouts pair perfectly to create double-page layouts if desired. After you purchase, you will receive an email within 24 hours with instructions for accessing the materials. I ask that these layouts are not shared with others and are not shared on social media including Pinterest. No refunds.

$20.00

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Ladybugs Scrapbook Layout

I had fun creating an adorable layout with the new exclusive Ladybugs Punch and Paper that are part of Creative Memories current promotion. With $135US in purchases, you can select either the Ladybugs Bundle or the Unbe-leaf-able Bundle for FREE! You can receive both bundles with a $270 purchase.

The promo ends on April 25th at noon CT, but it’s common for our items to run out before the end of the promo. So don’t delay in purchasing! Which freebie bundle will you select?


I used the super cute Ladybug Paper and Punch to create this super sweet layout! The left border is 4″ x 12″ with an 1/8″ trim of Black Cardstock and a border punched from White Cardstock with the Original Border Maker Cartridge and Woven Scallop Border Maker Cartridge from Creative Memories. The Woven Scallops BMC is an exclusive cartridge, and I’m glad to ship one to you! Please contact me for details.

I cut ovals and circles using the Custom Cutting System to create my flower. I layered ladybugs punched from Black and Cranberry Cardstocks, and adhered them with Foam Squares. The background paper is from the new Totally Tonal Red Paper Pack.

To a see a step-by-step video demonstration of how to create this layout, please see my YouTube video.



I appreciate your purchases through my Creative Memories website link, and I offer a generous Customer Rewards Program. Don’t forget that the Promo ends on August 25th at Noon CT or while supplies last.

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

P.S. Don’t forget to register for the Creative Life Scrapbooking PJ Party Virtual Crop on April 28th. The page classes will be recorded if you can’t join us on Zoom. Click here for more info and to register.

Home Sweet Home Spooky & Sweet Scrapbook Layouts

I love creating scrapbook layouts and sharing them with you here! But I also share layouts on Facebook through a group called Creative Life Scrapbooking. Creative Life Scrapbooking is a group of 7 Creative Memories advisors who are passionate about CM products and share twice a week with ideas for using CM’s tools and materials. We also host quarterly virtual crops called PJ Parties. Our next PJ Party is November 4th. If you can’t participate on Zoom with us, you can still register to receive access to the recorded videos and printable layout instructions. To learn more and to register for the PJ Party, please see our website. We also offer printable Idea Books and access to past PJ Parties on our website.

Spooky!

I used the Original Border Maker System with the Home Sweet Home Border Maker Cartridge to create a spooky layout and a sweet layout. Below is my spooky cute Halloween layout that I created with the Happy Hauntings Collection from CM and shared with Creative Life Scrapbooking today.


I used CM’s Original Border Maker System with the new Bats & Stars, Home Sweet Home and Ghost Chain (retired) Border Maker Cartridges to create a spooky street border for the top of the layout. I added some fun shadows and cobwebs with our White Chalk Pen. Further down the page, I used the new Spider Web Frame Punch to create individual spider webs to adorn the layout. For step-by-step instructions, please see my original Facebook post.

Sweet!

A few weeks ago, I created this super sweet layout using the Original Border Maker System and Home Sweet Home Border Maker Cartridge and also shared it with Creative Life Scrapbooking.

I used the housing unit of the Original Border Maker System as a hand-held punch and punched around the outside edge of circle. The houses came to life with a little work with a Micro-Tip Black Pen. I added a few other pieces from a variety of CM punches and border maker cartridges to create a super sweet street scene.

Please see my original Facebook post with Creative Life Scrapbooking for instructions. If you would like a printable handout with instructions, please see our CLS 2022 Idea Book Volume 3.

If you would like to purchase any of the tools or materials that I used for these layouts, I would appreciate your orders through my Creative Memories website. I also offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today!
Karyn

P.S. Don’t forget to register for our PJ Party Virtual Crop.

Easy Mosaic Scrapbook Layout

Today I’m revisiting an old layout that I shared here a few years ago. I’ve created a demonstration video, and I’m using this technique for my monthly Technique Tuesday layout and challenge. I challenge all of you to use this technique to create a layout and share a photo of your layout into my #TechniqueTue 30 Album in Karyn’s Croppers on Facebook.

For this layout, I used the lovely Serene Waters Collection and paired it with Dark Sea Green Cardstock. I used the 12″ Decorative Trimmer to cut my photos and paper pieces and added border pieces that I punched with the Friendly Fish Border Punch. I finished the layout by adding some stickers, embellishments and pen details. All tools and materials are from Creative Memories.

Now is a great time to make a purchase as Creative Memories is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $80US until noon CT on September 9th.

To create my layout, you’ll need:

(2) 12″ x 12″ sheets of tonal paper for your background
(2) 10-1/4″ x 9-3/4″ pieces of Dark Sea Green Cardstock
(2) 1-1/2″ x 6″ pieces of designer paper
(2) 1″ x 4″ pieces of designer paper
(2) 2-1/2″ x 4″ pieces of designer paper
(2) 6″ x 4″ photos
(4) 4″ x 6″ photos
12″ Trimmer
12″ Decorative Trimmer
Friendly Fish Border Punch
Repositionable Tape Runner
Foam Squares
Dual-Tip Pen


I appreciate your orders on my Creative Memories website and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.

For step-by-step instructions, please view my video on YouTube. I also appreciate your subscription to my YouTube channel.

Above is the layout that I created and shared in 2020. Please click here to view more photos of this layout and also some technique photographs.

I hope that you give this technique a try and share it on Karyn’s Croppers!

Have fun creating!
Karyn

P.S. Don’t forget that FREE SHIPPING ends at Noon CT on September 9th.
PS. Don’t forget to register for my Virtual Croptoberfest Workshop on October 15th.

Scrapbooking Technique with Treeline & Dollop Arch Border Maker Punches

Each month I share a scrapbooking technique on my YouTube channel and challenge all of my Facebook followers to use the technique to create and share a layout. When they add a photo of their layout to the appropriate album in Karyn’s Croppers, they are entered into my monthly Door Prize Drawing! These layouts feature the technique that I’m sharing for August.

I’m calling this a Puzzle Piece Technique as we put the punched pieces back together again to create a striking visual effect. Leaving a gap between the punched pieces creates a new secondary pattern and also creates depth on the layout.

I used the Treeline Border Punch and materials from the Leave Nothing Behind Collection for my first layout. This is a retired punch that Creative Memories brought back for its Tool Time Buffet that is happening August 1-9. When you purchase 3 of 9 designated tools, you will receive a free pack of exclusive embellishments. For this promo, CM brought back two additional retired border punches and also introduced two new border punches and a new border maker cartridge. These items are only available until noon CT on August 9th or while supplies last. They will not be available for purchase otherwise.

For more info about the Tool Time Buffet and to purchase, please visit my Creative Memories website. I appreciate your orders and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.

For my second layout, I used the Dollop Arch Border Punch which is a current tool in our product line. I also used the super cute What a Zoo Too! collection. I love this collection and highly recommend all of the pieces!

For step-by-step instructions on creating these layouts, please visit my YouTube channel. I would also appreciate your subscription to my channel.

For an entry into my August Door Prize Drawing, please use this technique and share a photo of your layout into the #TechniqueTue 38 Album in Karyn’s Croppers.

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Border Maker Triangles Done 3 Ways

Today I’m sharing a fun technique for our Creative Memories Border Maker System. For my examples I paired the Original Border Maker System with the Flourish Vine and Sandcastles Border Maker Cartridges. Instead of punching in a straight line, I punched around two different sized squares. I love when we can use our tools in multiple ways to get more utility from them!


For my first example, I used paper and stickers from our new Sunrays for Days Collection and the Sandcastles Border Maker Cartridge to create a fun layout with decorative corner pieces. Sunrays for Days is a fun and bright collection that is great for photos of all of our summer activities!

Please view my YouTube Video for a demonstration of how to create the border pieces.

To Create My Layout:

1. Cut (2) 4″ x 4″ squares from the tan print paper.
2. Center the squares in the housing unit of the Original Border Maker System with the Sandcastles Border Maker Cartridge and punch all four sides of each square. (You will not use the tray of the Original Border Maker System.) Please see my YouTube video for a demonstration.
3. Use the 12-Inch Trimmer to cut the squares in half on the diagonal. Adhere the triangle pieces into the corners of the blue paper.
4. Cut a hollow frame from a piece of 9-3/4″ x 9-3/4″ yellow paper.
5. Cut flip flop paper to 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ and adhere to the yellow frame. Adhere the piece to the center of the layout.
6. Crop and mat photos with White Cardstock. Add to layout.
7. Fussy cut and add a journaling piece from a Sunrays for Days Variety Mat and embellish with Sunrays for Days Stickers adhered with Foam Squares.


For my second layout, I used the Flourish Vine Border Maker Cartridge and used the same technique but created a decorative border from the triangle pieces. I started with 4″ squares cut in half on the diagonal. To get the smaller end pieces, I cut one of the triangles in half a second time. I also added a traditional border punched with the Original Border Maker System and Flourish Vine Border Maker Cartridge. After punching the border, cut it off of the paper at 1-1/2″ and add a 12″ x 1/4″ strip cut from Charcoal Cardstock. For this layout, I used the Our Moments Paper, Embellishments and Stickers.

For a demonstration, please see my YouTube video. While you’re on YouTube, please subscribe to may channel.


I originally created my third layout for Creative Life Scrapbooking. I used the same technique but started with smaller squares that measured 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″. I punched all four sides of the squares but did not cut them in half. I used the Our Moments Paper, Tone-on-Tone Paper, Stickers and Embellishments for my layout. For step-by-step instructions, please see Creative Life Scrapbooking.


I hope that you give this technique a try! Please take a photo of your layout and share it into my #TechniqueTue 36 Album in Karyn’s Croppers on Facebook for an entry into my June Door Prize Drawing! I would love to see your versions of these layouts!

You may purchase all of the tools and materials that I used through my Creative Memories website link. I appreciate all of your orders and offer a generous Customer Rewards Program.

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Tiered Borders Scrapbooking Technique

Instead of focusing on a specific collection, this post is about a specific technique that I’m calling “tiered borders”. This is a simple but effective technique to use with any of the chain style border maker cartridges from Creative Memories. Chain style cartridges punch a stand-alone border that falls off of the paper after being punched. Currently CM has 10 chain style border maker cartridges and any of them would work with this technique.

For my first layout, I used the Original Border Maker System with the Mirrored Scallops Chain Border Maker Cartridge. I also used the new Lullaby Lane Collection. The Lullaby Lane Collection features papers, stickers and embellishments that are great for baby boy or baby girl layouts and also extra gender specific papers.

For instructions on creating the tiered borders, please see my YouTube video. Before you watch, please make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

I loved this technique so much that I created a second layout using a different border maker cartridge. This time I used the Original Border Maker System with the Rope Chain Border Maker Cartridge. I used the Seaside Collection for my boating photos. After punching the borders, I cut the rope paper to 11″ x 11″. The striped border piece at the top is 3-3/4″ x 1-3/4″.

If you would like to purchase any of these tools or materials, now is a great time! Creative Memories is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $80+ in the US. I also offer a Customer Rewards Program for those who purchase through me. Make a $150 purchase and receive a gift of exclusive paper and stickers from me! Hurry, FREE SHIPPING ends at noon CT on March 11th.

I would love to see your layouts using this technique! Please join my Facebook group, Karyn’s Croppers and share a photo of your layout!

While you’re here on my blog, check out my Online Page Classes. I just added a new class using the Welcome Home Decorative Bundle.

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Summertime Scrapbook Layouts

Summer is in full force, and I hope that you’re enjoying it! Creative Memories Summertime Collection is colorful and fun – just like summer should be!

I used the Custom Cutting System with the Rectangle Cutting Patterns to create a colorful row of popsicles from a selection of the Summertime Variety Mats for my first layout. When my granddaughter visits later this month, we have plans to make some icy treats in a variety of flavors, and the layout will be perfect for our photos.

To Create My Layout:

1. Use the Custom Cutting System and the smallest rectangle from the Rectangle Cutting Patterns and the Red Blade on
the inside edge to cut shapes from six different Summertime Variety Mats. Position your cutting pattern to conserve
the mats, so they can still be used to mat photos. From one of the rectangle pieces use a flower-type of punch to
punch out the right upper corner, so it looks like bite marks. I used the old Dewdrop Flower Punch.

2. From Light Gray Cardstock cut six pieces to 1/2″ x 1-1/2″, and adhere to the bottoms of the rectangle pieces leaving
a 1″ section protruding from the bottom of the rectangles. Adhere the popsicle pieces to the bottom of a sheet of
Black Cardstock.
3. Cut a piece of Summertime Designer Paper to 11-1/2″ x 6-1/2″, adhere at the top of the page.
4. Use the Original Border Maker System with the Lamplight Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from
Summertime Designer Paper. Trim to 11-1/2″, and cut the border in half length-wise, and adhere to the bottom of
the designer paper.
Cut a 11-1/2″ x 1/4″ strip of Black Cardstock, and adhere at the seam of the designer paper and the border piece.
5. Crop three of the leftover mat pieces to 3-5/8″ x 3-5/8″. Crop two of the leftover mat pieces to 3-5/8″ x 3/4″.
Cut three pieces of Black Cardstock to 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and two pieces to 3-3/4″ x 7/8″. Adhere the mat pieces to the
black pieces to create double photo mats and journaling boxes. Adhere to the layout as shown. I used Foam
Squares to adhere my middle mat.
6. Add a title with Black Script and Black Serif ABC/123 Letter Stickers.

For my second layout, I used the Sunny Days Journal Template to trace and cut a sheet of Summertime Designer Paper in a sunburst pattern to use as the background of my layout. The Sunny Days Journal Template is great for tracing journaling lines onto a layout, but it’s also can be used for tracing and cutting designs. Please see my post from July 2nd for another example of how this template can be used.

To Create My Layout:

1. Use the Sunny Days Journal Template to trace a sunburst pattern onto the backside of a sheet of designer paper.
Use Micro-Tip Scissors to cut around your trace marks.

2. Adhere the cut-out piece to a sheet of White Cardstock.
3. Cut a 1″ hollow frame from a sheet of Summertime Designer Paper, and adhere to the outside of the layout.
4. From the same sheet of designer paper, use the Custom Cutting System with the medium circle from the Circle
Cutting Patterns and Blue Blade on the outside edge to cut a circle. Adhere the circle to the center of the layout.
5. Cut two 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ photo mats from Summertime Designer Paper. Crop photos to 4″ x 4″, and adhere to mats.
Adhere matted photos to the right side of the layout.
6. Cut a small segment from a wave Summertime Laser Cut Border, and adhere the two pieces to each side of the
bottom photo. Adhere a second wave Summertime Laser Cut Border above the first one as shown.
7. Add a Summertime Laser Cut Border as the title. Adhere with Foam Squares.
8. Add Summertime Stickers with Foam Squares as shown.

I hope that my layouts have inspired you to scrapbook some of your summer photos! You can purchase the Summertime Collection and all of the tools that I used through my Creative Memories website link.

If you’re looking for a fun virtual scrapbooking event, you might enjoy the PJ Party Virtual Crop that my friends and I at Creative Life Scrapbooking are hosting on Friday, July 30th. For information and to register, click here. If you can’t crop along on the 30th, you can still register and have access to our printable handouts and recorded instructional videos.

Happy Summer!
Karyn