marytara's Full Review: Creating Keepsakes Magazine
Becoming a mother gave me a perfect excuse to let my creative juices start to flow as I put paper, ink, and photos together to create a keepsake album in honor of my son. Fairly new to scrapbooking I shopped the craft store aisles and picked out a little bit from here and there and set towards creation of my very first scrapbook album. Little did I know when I started that this hobby would become almost as addicting and enjoyable as motherhood itself (ok, well maybe that is a just a bit of an exaggeration - but I LOVE to scrapbook).
Making the Leap into subscription
After scrapping for about a year on my own I started to network with a few other scrapbooking moms who I met in various online forums and many recommended the publication, Creating Keepsakes. On recommendation, I purchased a one year subscription (10 issues) for around $23.00 directly from the publisher's website. Subscriptions are also available in 2 years (20 issues for approx $38) and 3 years (30 issues for approximately $53). Subscription to this magazine greatly saves you from newstand prices as each issue costs a whopping $4.99 if purchased individually.
In each issue
Each issue of Creating Keepsakes is over 200 pages covering everything and anything related to scrapbooking; ranging from sample layouts, contests, the newest technique or "in" thing, and the "latest and greatest" supplies.
There are usually 4 or 5 Feature Articles in each issue all revolving around various themes. For example for the July/August 2002 issue there are articles on scrapbooking Water Fun, Slumber Parties & Sleepovers, Dogs/Pets, and Retirement. There's also a feature article called CK Editors' Picks where the editors share insight on six new scrapping products that they "love".
Each issue also contains the following Departments that are repeated each month.
Editor's Note
Mailbox
Computer Corner
Tips & Tricks
One Concept, Three Looks
Reader Gallery
Creative Lettering
Your Photos, Three Ways
Latest & Greatest
Sharing the Story
Parting Shot
Individual Contributors
Page Ideas
Probably the department that I enjoy the most is Your Photos, Three Ways. In this section the same photos are given to three different scrappers to layout. Final layouts are shown with reasoning as to why the particular layout, color scheme, or focus was chosen. Often I will find that I have a definite preference for one "style" or layout from the three. But, I really like to see all the layouts as more often than not I can gleam from them ideas to use in my own book(s).
The Reader Gallery consists of 10 or so layouts (usually 1 or 2 pages) submitted from subscribers that all meet a certain theme. Most of the layouts are 12X12 pages but you will occasionally see an 8.5X11 layout featured. Each layout lists the supplies used and tells a little bit about each page. I'm a "people watcher" and find it most interesting to see how someone puts a memory to paper through sharing photos and scrapbooking.
In my son's scrapbooks I enjoy using fun fonts and lettering for titles and borders on your pages. The Creative Lettering section gives detailed instruction on a new alphabet in each issue. Usually this alphabet is tied into any current holiday or season. For example, in the July/August issue the alphabet shown is called "Patriotic Lettering" (each letter is shown looking like an American flag).
Also included is the following Reader Info:
CK Bulletin Board
CK Online
Cut & Copy Examples
Retail Directory
Advertiser Index
The CK Bulletin Board provides at-a-glance info about the latest Creating Keepsakes scrapbook supplies as well as lists dates for upcoming scrapbooking conventions and for QVC selling times.
Cut & Copy Examples is a perforated tear-out page that can either be traced or cut-out and used as is in your scrapbook. Each tear-out page includes 6-10 examples of titles, borders and more for your pages.
Also in each issue is a Retail Directory which is a list of regional brick and morter stores dedicated to scrapbooking listed by state and an Advertiser Index
which lists alphabetically the advertisers with a page reference.
About the Advertisements
I've learned the hard way that part of scrapbooking is the accumulation of various supplies including die-cuts, stickers, embellishments, frames, and more from various companies, and it can be as costly as you let it get. Some scrapbookers will develop a loyalty to a particular brand or supplies, or line of products and others pick and choose. Still others, make their own supplies from scratch. There's no right and wrong way and each keepsake is uniquely your own so do what you feel is right. The important thing is that to preserve your memory you will want to make sure all your supplies are Acid-Free and Lignen-Free so its best if you are going to purchase supplies to purchase things made specifically for scrapbooks.
Creating Keepsakes magazine features a ton of advertisers and products in each issue. Just about every other page in this magazine contains an ad of some sort. So, for a 200 page issue - I'd say that at least 100 advertisments are included (maybe more). While I love seeing all the new products out, the ads do get to be a bit much, especially for someone who doesn't use a lot of pre-made supplies.
Final Thoughts & Recommendation
I know that when I first started receiving Creating Keepsakes, I felt a bit depressed and discouraged when I tried to compare my pages to the ones featured in the book. Perfectionist that I am, I felt somehow inferior and very novice compared to the pages in the book. However, after sharing my own created keepsakes with family and friends and even strangers (at the scrapbook store, etc), I've received compliments on different "techniques" and style that I have in my pages which really made me feel positive about my pages again.
So with my experience in mind, I think its important to point out that the layouts featured should just be used for ideas and as a starting point. Your scrapbook should be your own unique memory and many of the pages included are submitted by people who are very expert at the art of scrapbooking (yes, it is most definitely an art). So, don't be discouraged!
If you love scrapbooking and want to see lots of other layouts to get ideas and you like be alerted to new products, then Creating Keepsakes is a magazine for you. I've subscribed to this magazine for over six months and I do enjoy it very much. I'd recommend checking out a single issue to preview it and if you like it, its well worth the subcription. A subscription of 10 issues to this magazine costs the same as 4 issues purchased off the rack!
Creating Keepsakes magazine is the #1 resource for ideas, inspiration and cutting edge scrapbooking techniques. Find layout designs, product reviews a...More at Magazines.com
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