Upcycled Education: My Memories

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Upcycled Education presents.....

Yahooooo! Our first giveaway (and coupon code) for fall 2011!

About two weeks ago, a gal from MyMemories.com contacted me about reviewing their digital scrapbooking software. Let me set the record straight: I am not a scrapbooker, much less a digital scrapbooker. Though, I adore decorative papers and make a ton of cards and lunchbox love notes for lil O, I just have not carved out time to scrapbook. With that said, I believe scrapbooking - of any kind - is a wonderful way to creatively capture people, events, special occasions, trips and moments in time.

Case in point: I literally have a plastic bin full of lil O's memorabilia highlighting special occasions and milestones; the thought of scrapbooking the bin's contents overwhelms me. However, you know I adore technology, so put the word "digital" in front of anything and I am pretty certain, I will pounce. Enter digital scrapbooking.

Case in point, #2: I spent an hour and a half this past Sunday morning playing with My Memories digital scrapbooking software. Instead of tackling lil O's overwhelming life bin, I decided to focus on a group of other people I adore, my college students. See, aren't they a smiley group? And guess, what? They are all future teachers! (PS - My students gave me permission to use their photos online).

Using My Memories Suite, I created a 7-page digital scrapbooking spread and let me just say, I found the software easy and intuitive. My Memories Suite allows you to print pages and photobooks AND (wait for it...) make uber-cool items like interactive albums, videos (with narration and/or music) and iPod/iPad-ready movies! Can you say a "teacher's dream?" Seriously, there are endless possibilities for the classroom - interactive book reports, presentation-like movies that are not PowerPointless, class yearbooks, thematic digital scrapbooks - I could go on and on.

Here's what I liked best about My Memories Suite besides the pre-designed templates & layouts and the free (and low cost) selection of digital scrapbook papers (My Memories calls them "packs" or "pages"):

On the downside, I tried using the "Fast Fill" option that automatically populates your photos within your digital scrapbooking spread. I did not like how it placed some photos and preferred to use the "Pick and Click" option, which was super easy to use. Perhaps, I need to visit the My Memories tutorial page, which appears handy (I did watch one tutorial and was excited about what I learned). I just noticed there is a tutorial on the Fast Fill option if you visit their tutorial page. I am experimenting with My Memories Suite's movie options as I think it would an engaging way to teach a lesson via a digital scrapbook movie either you or your students create. You can click here to see how digital scrapbook pages look when you save as a "movie" and then upload to YouTube. Again, my college students are a happy group, aren't they?

Want to win a free copy of My Memories Suite? It will save you close to $40. Plus, the kind folks at My Memories have given Upcycled Education a coupon code (Coupon Code: STMMMS57701) for $10 off the software - in case you miss winning the giveaway - and $10 in free merchandise from the My Memories store. The store is where you can buy other digital papers packs that do not come pre-loaded with the software; for example, if you wanted a specific theme - like something related to science, Rome or school in general.

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One lucky blog reader will win a free copy of My Memories Suite- a $40 value! To enter, simply leave a comment below and share which digital paper pack is your favorite from the My Memories store.

For Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each)::
-Follow Upcycled Education on Facebook, Twitter or subscribe to our sweet blog using the links on the right side of this page. If you are already a FB/Twitter/Blog fan, feel free to leave an extra comment below, too. You should be rewarded for being so cutting edge.
AND/OR to score extra entries.....
-Follow My Memories on Facebook, Twitter or their blog

Rules
-Please provide your email address so that I can contact you if you win.
-Giveaway ends September 17th, 2011 at midnight PST.
-Winner will be announced on this post on September 18th, 2011 - sometime after my morning coffee

Giveaways are soooo much fun!

Tootles,
Jen

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If you would like more information on sponsoring a blog post on Upcycled Education or being a giveaway sponsor, contact jen at upcyclededucation.com

And the My Memories giveaway winner is....

MyMemories.com for Tech Tuesday and Giveaway!