Too Much Energy

Panstoria's Artisan Software

As you may or may not know, Creative Memories filed Chapter 11 and emerging as a new company in November.  We have no details as to what the new company will offer, but we know that digital products are being supported by Panstoria until the end of the year.

I am a very happy Creative Memories Storybook Creator user.  Have been since its inception a number of years ago.  When I upgraded to Storybook 4.0, I got a little disappointed.  I've configured everything I can, cleared history files and still, it chugged along SLOWLY.  Many times, I wanted to go back to Storybook 3.0.  However, I really like how the content is organized so I stayed with 4.0.  I know that I will be scrapbooking digitally for the rest of my life for current events (except for the photos that are still in my Powersort boxes - not shoe boxes, mind you!) so I decided to try Panstoria's Artisan.  Afterall, Panstoria developed Storybook Creator.  I downloaded the software (it's $39.95, good for 2 machines) and was working on my first page within 10 minutes, including migrating my storybooks and content over.

My first reaction - a SCREAM of Happiness!  It's so fast - compared to SB 4.0.  I'm so thrilled.  I created this page in Artisan.

Paper: La Puerta by grungesource

Embellishments: Clipped Stacks No. 6 by Katie Pertiet, Disney Vacation Power Palette by Creative Memories

Font: Microsoft Sans Serif

Now that I have decided on which software to use, the next thing I have to decide on is where to print my storybooks.  Artisan is set up to print at the Panstoria print shop.  I am still doing research on their print quality.  I like Costco's quality, but it's a pain to save to .jpg for every page and then, edit each page to just take the whole photo for each page.  When uploading to the Panstoria print shop, it automatically uploads every page in order.  Perhaps I don't have to worry for a while... after all, I have 3 storybooks to finish:  Shanghai, San Diego, and Washington DC - trips I took in 2012, 2011, and 2013, respectively.

So, if you decide to give Artisan a try, click here.  You can simply download a trial version for 30 days and see if you will be as happy as I am.

 

 

Slow scrapbooking effort

According to my 365 pages album on Flickr, I've only scrapbooked 28 pages so far!  Uh-oh!

Getting serious

Emily is graduating in 3 months and I need to get going on her albums!  I set a goal to scrapbook an average a page a day (365 pages for the year), I was doing fine until January 18 (I've scrapbooked 17 pages) - actually, I scrapbook a few pages in California as well... but here are some of them...

 

Scrapbooking in 2013

I've realized I've been so behind with my everyday scrapbooking that for this year, I'm going to scrapbook 365 pages!  That would mean an average of 1 page per day!  Before I start that, I want to post the rest of my Beijing Scrapbook so go get your cup of coffee/pop/beer and enjoy the rest of my album.

So that was my Beijing Album...  Hope you enjoyed it.  This year, I'll have to start on my Shanghai Album.

Christmas and Birthday Wishlist

Here's the annual wishlist for my family and friends who find me a hard person to shop for.  If you're going to get me something, please try to get one of these items that I'll resist buying the next month:

1.  Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns book.  This is available at Amazon.

2. Barbara G. Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns

3. Modern Family Complete Third Season DVD Set

4.  Mad Men Season 5 BluRay

 

5.  Trollbeads Zodiac Dragon:

6.  Trollbeads Chinese Dragon:

 

7.  Trollbeads Mahjong Fortune:

 

8.  Chamilia bead Summer Hydrangea:

Camilia Fortune Cookie:

 

 Pandora Beaded Beauty Spacer:

 

 

I'll keep thinking... that's all for now.  You can tell Emily to cross of any item you are getting.  She will know what to do.

Beijing Scrapbook Pages 58 - 67

I forgot about posting the pages here... I have indeed finished my book.. I just have to start my Shanghai album!

Two more posts and you'll have seen my complete album!

My latest Craze

Mini pies!! I've made quiche, curry puffs, chocolate pudding pies (not photographed), and today, mini apple pies! They're so good and fun to make!

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Beijing Scrapbook - Pages 43 - 57

I finished the Beijing Scrapbook last month.  I also changed a setting within Typepad, which made my Knitting blog the default blog.  I thought this would only affect my editing abilities, not realizing that you would not be able to view Too Much Energy.  When Jennifer asked me what happened to the blog or that Too Much Energy has turned into Too Much Work, I thought it was because I haven't updated this blog for 2 months.  But when Chris brought it to my attention that all she gets now is the Knitting blog, I realized what I'd done.  So, I'm back and to present you with a continuation of my Beijing Scrapbook.

 

100 degrees

Yesterday during the 5 o'clock news. Needless to say, I stayed indoors.



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Beijing Scrapbook - Pages 34 - 42

These are the pages for Day 2 of the trip!