Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Publication Review: Creating Keepsake Magazine special issue!


If you are anything like me, you have tons of 4x6 pics just waiting to be made into pages.   There are so many photos I’ve been collecting for the past few years, just waiting to be taken out and worked with.  Yet, the time never came and were finally put back in storage for another later date.
If you find yourself in the same boat,, perhaps you have no idea where to start?  Well, if you need a little nudge on getting those pics out of storage and into beautiful projects, then this book is for you!!

Creating Keepsake Super Fast Pages with 4x6 Photos

I was at the check out yesterday when I noticed this magazine. What drew my attention was the very strong color combo on a relatively very simple layout. With it’s simplicity, I realized I could scraplift this layout very easily with the tools I currently have on hand.  For example, I could use all my Provo Craft Cricut cartridges such as the butterflies, borders, flowers to follow the basic design presented on the cover.  What could be easier??  

After flipping through the magazine quickly,I decided to buy it. I rushed home  to explore the magazine more leisurely and soon realized that a lot of the layouts looked familiar. . . especially the Kelly Purkey and Mou Sasha's projects.

Finally, it dawned on me that most of these projects have been published before in Creating Keepsakes magazine. Now, if you don't have a subscription that's ok. You can catch up. If you do have a subscription, this makes it easy to find layouts that fit your need.  You can easily find project by page separation for 1-2 photos, 3-4 etc.. and so on. 

Before delving into this magazine in length, here's all the things on the cover that drew me in:
  • 95 simple quick pages, make 1  tonight
  • 27 sketches to create pages in a jiffy
  • Scrap more photos with no cropping approach
I was motivated enough to grab my post-its and make notes on different pages.  I noted layouts I liked or the pattern papers, tips and even some sketches I wanted to try. I plan on making 10 lay outs from this book using the sketches and some other great ideas I've found. For example, on page 45, there is a great tip on using a pen in place of that perfect color thread you just cannot find!  

What I liked about this magazine:
  • It is very functional and has the photos separated
  • Tips at the bottom on how to finish a page faster
  • The layout photos are huge. They take up most of the pages so you can see the details better.
What I didn't like about this magazine:
  • Price tag was a little too high at 14.99
  • 85-90% of the layouts were previously published hence the reason the price is too high
  • Not much direction on how to recreate most of the layouts (loved the tips though!)
  • Might be a  hard book for a brand new scrapbooker to follow
What do you think? Do you have this magazine? We will be giving away one of these magazines to a lucky reader!.  To win simply:
  1. be a follower of this blog
  2. leave a comment
That’s it!  What could be easier??  Drawing will held on October 7th and the winner will be chosen by the random.org  tool.  :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don’t forget to participate in the GYPSY GIVEAWAY!!  We are giving away two!!  Deadline is October 3rd.  More details HERE!
GOOD LUCK and have a great day! 
maggie-sig
Share/Bookmark

46 comments:

sandi7753 said...

Sounds interesting. Since I discontinued my subscription , everything would be new to me.

IRW Dana said...

I love 4x6 LOs so I"m very curious about this book. Thanks for the chance to win.

IRW Dana said...

Yah, I'm a follower. My Mom always told me being a follower wasnt a good thing, but this time it is. Thanks

Katherine said...

Thanks for the review. I subscribe to the magazine and have seen this advertised. I've been debating on the purchase since it is a bit pricey. Also, I'm already a follower of your blog. It's great, I'm really enjoying it.

Anonymous said...

I would love to win the 4X6 Photo book. It is real insightful

Best Regards

Christina
abc6rst@aol.com

RAP said...

I'm a follower. These special issues always seem a bit overpriced to me for what is really just another issue of the magazine only on a special topic. I would love to read it though.

bhelenj said...

Thanks for the review. Yes!, I'm already a follower and looking forward to this book because I use a lot of 4x6's in my lo's.

Donna VW said...

I am a follower. Thanks for the review. I make a lot of gift scrapbooks for people to just add their 4x6 photos, so this is just what I need.

Crystal said...

I dont have this one but I do have the other version (earlier) one and I agree with your critique, little high in price, and wish they gave step by step like scrapping for dummies LOL!

Scrapamum said...

hmm, I think I would enjoy this since I don't have all the issues. It's great to get a few new ideas.

Summer Braxton said...

I'd like to see their ideas... sounds like a great issue.

Corrie said...

I like the ideas they have. I haven't bought it in a few years

Anonymous said...

Looks very interesting and may be just what I need to get that creativity flowing again!
Carrie

Charity said...

Looks like it has lots of good ideas!

Karen and Kyle said...

I don't subscribe to any magazines currently, so I could use this. And I always just use what I have to recreate pages, so the lack of explanation wouldn't be much of an issue for me!

Darla said...

Thanks for the review. I had seen this book advertised, but now don't think I'll get it since I subsribe to the magazine. I have been a follower of this blog and love all the reviews you guys do!

Samantha Taylor said...

Thanks for your clear, concise review of this publication. I may just have to get it now.

Juliet said...

Cool. They are always an inspiration.

Donna said...

I don't own this magazine but would like to. Haven't seen it on the news stands yet. I don't have a subscription so I would enjoy seeing the layouts in this magazine.

Thanks for sharing,
Donna

Susan said...

Interesting magazine. Do you sometimes spend more time looking through the "Plan" magazines than you do actually scrapbooking???

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the review. Sometimes I see the cover articles and wonder whether the L/O's they're presenting are really something I would want, but I'm glad to hear that there is some other helpful info in it as well.

b said...

Thanks for the info, I need all the help I can!

Angie said...

Wow, I would love to win this mag! Thanks alot, I am a follower as well!

Nicki Lundeen said...

Thank you for reviewing this publication. I have been considering this as a purchase. I subscribe to the mag...so I am sure I have all the info in this. However, it might be nice to have it all in one place rather than flipping through all my gazillion magazines. Don't know if I would spend $15.00 on it, but I would sure accept a free one! : ) Thanks for the opportunity.

Rhadonda said...

I am hoping this comes to local hobby lobby to use 40% off coupon to help with the price. I agree more directions are always helpful. Thanks for the review. Thanks for opportunity to win.

Anonymous said...

ooh I really need something like this. Since, I don't have any subs for crafting mags. I wonder if they carry it on our post? Thanks for the review.

farmhouse-story said...

love these magazines! thanks for the chance, maggie!

Live Love and Scrap said...

I love CK magazine!!! I am going to start following your blog...great stuff =)

moale8 said...

thanks for the 411 and i hope to get this because i need all the help i can get as a new scrapper.

Anonymous said...

would luv to win this!!

Susan L said...

Being a new scrapbooker, I like the idea. I have been getting more creative with my pages but always looking for more ideas. I am considering posting some pics and blogs about the pages I have done so far. Thanks for the chance for a great giveaway.

Happy Scrappin :)
Susan

bvnaia said...

your review of the mag was great...but like you said the price is too high.

Rach1fun said...

I dont have a subscription to this magazine, so they would all be fresh ideas to me! Thanks for the chance to win :)

Rach1fun@yahoo.com

Tara said...

I love the magazine, I am a NEW scrapbooker so any help will be greatly needed,,Thanks for the chance to win,

bjhay@wildblue.net

cinnabon said...

sounds like I great magazine! I don't have a subscription, but sometimes buy it at a store. I'd love to win this too!
I am a follower of your blog.
Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog now...
I don't have this issue, and don't think I would spend that much on one magazine, but your review of it has intrigued me. Sounds interesting to have all that handy info in one book!
Thanks for the chance to win it! =)

Tammy Koch

Jodie R said...

Oh, this does sound interesting! Most of the time I have to gaze from afar, because it is a little pricy. I would love a chance to win it though! Thanks, Jodie

Mary Jean said...

Thanks for the chance to win! Like most others here. It's a bit pricey...lol...all these new carts to spend my money now!

Angela M. said...

This would be a great issue to have... what could be simpler than scrapping with 4x6 photos! However, the price is a little high even for a special issue. Maybe my library will get it and I can check it out!

Kraftychick said...

I started to stop my subscription to CK's magazine but decided to cancel another one instead - but I would love to have this book about the 4x6 LOs 'cause I need all the ideas in one place or I can't find them again! Thanks for the chance to win!
Jackie

Dawn Edwards said...

Thank you for your insight!

FitterTwit said...

You KNOW I have to leave a comment! hahahaha! Good stuff.

SewCalGal said...

Please count me in your giveaway. And I am a follower!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

chignon said...

Sounds like a great magazine but the price would put me off so hopefully I could win one! I love the idea of 97 quick layouts.

4kids4 said...

Looks like a great magazine for us newbies!! Thanks for the chance to win!

Unknown said...

I don't buy scrapbooking magazines, but I do get a lot of ideas from the tv shows. My favorite is Scrapbook Memories on BYU.