Creative Pages & Cards

Check out our Ebay Auction

2008-04-01T16:37:00.004-04:00

I was feeling creative last week and decided to put together an 8X8 premade Birthday album. I made a similar album last year for a door prize. I recently listed it on ebay on Sunday, May 30th. The auction will end on Sunday, April 6th. I love the way it turned out! I created the listing to not only show all the pages but also to enable you to click to enlarge the pages. I really wanted to show off the details! Go check out my ebay listing by clicking here.

I usually charge around $8 a page for a premade 8X8 album. However, for this auction, I created a 20 page premade album with a starting price of $89.99. That's only $4.50 a page! What an awesome deal!

Selling A Bunch Of Idea Books

2007-10-08T20:48:00.000-04:00

After years and years of collecting scrapbook idea books, it's time for some of them to go. I have at least 50, enough to fill a large basket under my work table and four magazine holders. I have spent hundreds of dollars on these books so I could keep up with all the latest trends and techniques. Some of these books are just like new. These days, I find that I don't need all that many books. My own style is well developed and I'm able to modify it to suit the needs of my clients. Long ago, I stopped copying layouts ("scraplifting") and started using these books as a springboard for my own creativity. So now, I'm ready to auction these books in the hopes of giving someone else a springboard and recouping some of my investment. My auctions will be listed on ebay under 'timandcorie'. So come on over and check them out. Happy creating!

Recent Projects From the CPC Studio

2007-10-05T10:30:00.001-04:00

I'll be the first to admit that making premade albums is not my favorite thing. Since photos are always the inspiration for the colors and patterns I choose, it's really hard for me to get inspired without them. However, recently, I created two premade 8X8 albums and I was really please with the way they turned out. These albums each have 20 pages and are priced at $180. Each page layout is designed to hold 2-4 photos. Here are a few of the pages. If you would like to see more of our work, please visit www.creativepagesandcards.com

Why I Scrapbook

2007-05-22T08:40:00.000-04:00

I started scrapbooking in 2000 after a friend invited me to a Creative Memories party. I went, we played with photos, white pages, and triangles, and that was 'all she wrote'. I was hooked. I had two little girls and I wanted to make a scrapbook for them. Why? I guess because I didn't have any baby pictures of myself, I didn't feel like I had a history or a story of how I came to be. Not having baby pictures really bothered me. I felt like I'd just been dropped on the planet with no record of my past. I wanted my girls to have a story. Photos are only part of the story. Documenting the events and/or circumstances surrounding the photos completes the story. I document my memories so that my girls will not have to guess at what happened at that time in their life. They can go back and read my words, look at the photos, and relive that event. They won't have to remember the names of the people in the photos because I've written them down. By reading my journaling, they will know who I am, what I felt, and how I lived. They will have a history, a story of how they came to be. That is why I scrapbook.

"I have 85 photos to include in a scrapbook, how many pages will I need?"

2007-04-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

I recently received this excellent question by e-mail from a perspective client. On my website, I quote a 'per page' price for several page sizes. However, if you don't know how many pages you need, how are you supposed to determine the total cost of your custom scrapbook? So let me explain how I estimate the number of pages needed and the price quote of a custom scrapbook.

First, let's decide the size of the pages. There is no right or wrong size to choose but size will determine how many pages will be needed. Larger pages will hold more photos. Next let's determine the number of pages per layout. Usually, clients like the opposing pages to match and prefer two page layouts for each category of photos. Now, let's group the photos. Most of the time, photos are categorized by an event such as a birthday, a day at the park, first foods, etc or specific occurrences in a single event such as opening the presents, cutting the cake, trimming the tree, first day of our trip, etc. Once the photos are separated by event or specific occurrence, we can see how many photos are in each category. Can any of the photos be cropped? Finally, let's decide how many pages will be needed. A 12 X 12 page will usually accommodate about 5 cropped photos or 3 uncropped photos. An 8-1/2 X 11 page will usually accommodate about 3 or 4 cropped photos and 2 uncropped photos. An 8 X 8 page will usually accommodate about 2 cropped photos or 1 uncropped photo. Anything smaller will usually hold about 1 photo per page. Now that we have the facts, let's determine the price of the project:

My client has decided she would like a 12 X 12 scrapbook with double page layouts and that she has 12 events to be included in the scrapbook. There are 5-7 photos in each of 11 events and 14 photos in the last event. She has also decided some cropping was fine but specifically identified which photos she didn't want to be cropped. Based on this information, the client needs 28 pages for her 85 photos of 12 events and I've quoted a price of $504 plus tax. Let's look at a breakdown of the price quote:

1 Introduction page (12X12) $20
22 pages for 11 events $440
4 pages for the last event $80
1 Ending page $20
------------------------------
Total for 28 pages $560

Total price less 10% ($56) quantity discount $504 plus tax

As you can see, many variables are involved in determining the cost of a custom scrapbook. Rest assured, you don't have to figure it out all by yourself. Just call or e-mail our designer and answer a few simple questions. Within 24 hours, you will receive a detailed price quote for your custom scrapbook. It's that simple. No math. No risk. No cost. No obligation.

DIY--Is It Less Expensive?

2007-04-05T23:03:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, after I quote a price for a potential client, they ask me this question: Wouldn't it be less expensive if I made my own scrapbook? I honestly tell them it depends on what supplies they own and how much they value their time. First, let's talk supplies: How much will it cost to buy the tools and supplies necessary to make an album?
Here's a "Recommended Beginner Supply List" and a price range for each item:

Paper Trimmer $15-$30
Scissors $5-$20
Adhesive & Refills $3-$20
Cardstock & Pattern Paper $.50-$.89 each
Journaling Pens $3-$5 each
Adhesive Remover $4-$10
Decorating Chalks $13-$20
Cutting Mat $10-$35
Font CD $10-$30
Idea Books $10-$30
Scrapbook Magazines $5-$25
Album & Page Protectors $3-$50

These are the basics but most do-it-yourselfers do not just buy basic supplies. They look at the idea books and scrapbooking magazine and want to add 'a little something' to their pages. How much does 'a little something' cost?

Stickers & Diecuts $1-$5
Punches $3-$20
Stamps and Ink $3-$20
Embellishments (metal, ribbon, etc.) $1-$20
Special Tools & Upgrades $5-$50
Lettering and Shape Templates $3-$20
Die Cut Machines $20-$1000
Metal Dies $3-$20
Organizational Products $5-$1000's
Scrapbook Classes $10-$35 each

Lets take a look at this list again. How many of the above products are consumable? How many products would you probably buy more than one? How many products will you use only once? How many products won't get used at all? How many products will you upgrade when the latest, hottest "must have" tool hits the market? Will you be someone who purchases everything on the "Beginner Supply List" and then decides scrapbooking just isn't for you? Will you be someone who loves the shopping and collecting but doesn't really like the cutting and creating? Will preserving your memories fit into your already jam packed schedule? Unfortunately, you won't find out these answers until you purchase the products and begin creating your scrapbook.

So what's the alternative? Hire Creative Pages & Cards to create your scrapbook! We have the paper, the embellishments, the tools, the experience, the knowledge, and the time to create a one-of-a-kind scrapbook for you. You could spend $500 on scrapbook supplies and gamble that you'll love doing it yourself and have time to finish your album or you could invest the same $500 (12X12 album, 28 pages) and get a beautiful, finished scrapbook that you'll cherish for years to come. DIY isn't always cheaper, sometimes it's a gamble. When you want a finished album, Creative Pages & Cards is a safe bet!

Paper Craft Projects

2007-02-15T17:38:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've had several clients' call and request that I design a project for them that isn't a scrapbook. Even if I've never done that specific project, I will always give it a try. I've had four jobs in the last month and only one was an actual 'scrapbook'. Here is one of my recent projects (pictured here and below). A client wanted "something" done with a large toolbox that would be used to carry her daughter's dance supplies. She requested that it be "embellished", "girly", and that it not "look like a toolbox". It also had to be waterproof. So being the paper crafter that I am, I suggested decoupage and adhering embellishments with a really strong glue. After enduring the pain that comes when learning any new skill, we have a beautiful final product and, more importantly, a very happy client!

The Cost of Scrapbooking

2006-12-05T13:07:00.000-05:00

Unless you're a scrapbooker, you really don't know how expensive and time consuming this hobby can be. To get started scrapbooking, you need basic supplies: paper trimmer, acid free adhesive, journaling pens, pattern paper, cardstock, scissors, an album, and page protectors. Sounds simple right? Well, most scrapbookers also purchase stickers, idea books, embellishments, ribbon, fiber, wire, tags, chalk, ink, specialty paper, stamps and even die cut machines and dies. And now that you have all those supplies, you probably want to learn how to use them, so you go to classes that can cost anywhere between free and several hundred dollars! I've read on quite a few message boards that some scrapbookers 'boast' about setting a "budget" of $200 per month. That's $2400 per year!

Let's talk about the time it takes. You've got gorgeous photos so you want to find the perfect pattern paper and cardstock to match. You want to find the right embellishments to go with that pattern paper and cardstock, right? So you shop at your local scrapbook store or scrapbook chain or craft store. Your eyes instantly glaze over from all the CHOICES you have. Do you want stickers, die cuts, ribbon, or rub ons? Do you want eyelets, brads, snaps, zippers, or wire? And how in the heck do you set an eyelet?? Also, why do you have to buy 100 brads when you only really need four? Well..let's say you make your decisions and get home with your perfect pattern paper and just the right shade of cardstock to match. You know what comes next? Creating! So when are you going to have a few hours to sit down and scrapbook your pages? Tomorrow? When the kids go to sleep? When the kids grow up? And if it takes you several hours to do one layout, how will you ever get caught up?

These are the kinds of things I hear from my clients over and over again. This is why they hire me. I've already invested in the tools, I've already taken the classes and I'm ready to put in the time to give you a beautiful scrapbook, a FINISHED scrapbook. You don't have to step one tiny toe in the scrapbook store. You don't have to stress over finding the right paper and embellishments. You don't have to worry about finding the time to sit down and scrapbook. It's all done for you. So you get a beautiful scrapbook without all the work.

Introduction and FAQ's

2006-11-09T13:48:00.000-05:00

Hello, my name is Corie Spurling, I'm a custom scrapbook designer and I own Creative Pages & Cards. When I say that to people they tell me "That's great! what in the heck is a custom scrapbook designer?" A custom scrapbook designer creates scrapbooks for people who do not have the time, energy, knowledge, or desire to do it themselves. So you take the photos and I create the scrapbooks using your photos. Simple enough?

Another question I hear frequently is "Who hires a custom scrapbooks designer?" My clients are not any different from the type of people who hire an interior designer or professional organizer because scrapbooking is like interior design for your photos.