10 March 2009

Product Review: New Seasons® Digital Scrapbooking Kits

Publications International, Ltd. started in the traditional scrapbooking game with archival quality traditional scrapbooking kits that included a booklet of 16 pre-printed 12x12 papers, a sheet of stickers, and a sheet of perforated diecuts. Recently, they've entered the digital scrapbooking arena with their New Seasons® line of themed digital kits, called Digital Album – Simple 1-2-3™, that include specialized software and post-bound albums. It's perfect introduction to the world of digital scrapbooking as well as a simple solution for those with very little time and a lot of photos to get out of the camera and into albums. Best of all, it's only $14.95.

The new digital scrapbooking kits feature a fabric or suede covered 12.65"x9" post-bound album with 10 page protectors that fit 11"x8.5" horizontal pages. The software comes with 24 pre-designed quick pages as well as 16 additional background papers and over 50 tags, ribbons, word art titles, and other assorted matching elements to created your own digital layouts.

The software is PC compatible (sorry Mac) and uses only the designs built into it so you cannot add images from other sources. It also features a variety of ways you can share your creations: print on your own printer, save as a graphic (jpg format) to upload to a photo sharing site or gallery, put it on a CD to print at a retail store or online photo processing site, send in an e-mail, or even save as an HTML file to post online.

The pages can be printed on any standard color printer, but the prints may have a white border anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2" on all sides. Do a test page before you print them all. Most photo-quality printers have a setting to print your pages from edge-to-edge (called a full bleed). Choose that option in the printer preferences for a more professional look. For best results, use the paper and ink suggested by the manufacturer.

The Publications International, Ltd. web site has no individual kit descriptions, however, there is a short demo video and a downloadable PDF flyer with more information. They don't list the Baby theme but I found it (and the other kits) at a local discount super-store in their craft/sewing department. I'm giving it to my tradtional scrapping daughter-in-law at her baby shower to bring her over to the 'digital side' .... bwahhaahaaa!

Available themes: Baby, Wedding, Travel, Traditional Memories, Modern Memories

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Publications International, Ltd. and did not get anything from this company to write this review. I bought both the Travel and Baby themed kits myself. However, if any of them read this review...I won't turn down any 'gifts' they may want to send...hint hint! ;-)


Consumer Service:
Publications International, Ltd.
Attn: Consumer Service
7373 N. Cicero Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
800-595-8484 (phone)


Warranty Registration and Claims:
Publications International, Ltd.
Attn: Warranty
820 N. Orleans #301
Chicago, IL 60610
800-454-9006 (phone)


Corporate Office:
Publications International, Ltd.
7373 N. Cicero Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-676-3470 (phone)
847-676-3671 (fax)

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the product reviews. It is just plan amazing.

Anonymous said...

I can't seem to get my software to launch. I've spent hours installing and reinstalling the cd and can't get past the copyright display box when I click on the icon that's created. I feel like an idiot.

Anonymous said...

I found this at Target, "Modern Memories", (last one on the shelf) and would love to get the Travel one for my sister-in-law's BDay in late April. I can not find it in a search of the web, nor through the website. The pages are 8.5" x 11" If anyone can help please post!

Catriona MacGregor said...

Anon 1: I don't work for the company so I can't help you. The one I bought installed just fine.

Anon 2: I found it at Wal-Mart. I also saw the baby one at Baby's R Us.

Anonymous said...

I can not get my software to load either. Any suggestions?

Catriona MacGregor said...

All I can say is to contact the company. There may be a conflict with your other software or your operating system or who knows what. They may have already looked into the same problem for other folks and will have a solution for you. If so, be sure to post it back here.

Anonymous said...

I cannot get mine to run either. The program loads fine onto the computer, but just won't run. This stinks.

Unknown said...

My software does not work either!
If anyone has heard back from the company on how to get the software to work, please let me know. I have tried on 3 different computers with 3 different operating platforms... nothing works. Contacted the company, have heard nothing.

Anonymous said...

I bought the Travel Instant Scrapbook photo Album. it was also the last one on the shelf. I get to the point where I want to print my page and everything just stops. Any ideas on how to get past this? I really like the idea of it all.......

Anonymous said...

Mine gets to a certain point and stops. Any ideas would be great. I love the idea of it all!

Anonymous said...

I just bought this today. The box says its compatible with vista. My computer says it is not. Bummer!

CocoAngel said...

Hi, Ilove this little program but I find that sometimes where the pictures go, come out black and on
the tags sometimes appear on top instead of inserted; you know what I mean. Can you let me know what am doing wrong? I thank you from my heart for any help that you can give me. Best Regards, Coco

Anonymous said...

OK im confused! I felt stupid at first but when it says its not compatibale with my system, and i have a vista, im a little mad, this was bought as a present for my mother-in-law, and i cant make it for her now cause it wont work. i looked all over for a company contact number and i cant find one! anyone? have any ideas?

Sandy said...

Hi, I too cannot get the Wedding software to work. It totally froze my XP desktop and I had to do a system restore. I tried installing in on my Vista Laptop and it installed but when I click on the icon, I get the title page and nothing more. It won't allow any other window to open over it. I uninstalled it and then did a system restore.

I really liked the design of the kit. I would like to get it to work.

Sandy

Anonymous said...

Yea I got it from target for a bday present. It says it's compatible with vista but what it doesn't say is that it isn't compatible with 64 bit operating systems. And yea there is no contact number only an email address!!!

Sam Simma said...

I didn't realize there were different versions, I just grabbed the red book for school pictures- but then the backgrounds are too old in style to go with any of my pictures. is there a way to get different backgrounds? that's what I thought I was buying!

Unknown said...

I received the baby version as a gift at Christmas. Program will not load properly on my computer. Pop-up states that it is incompatible with a 64/bit version of windows. I am running Windows Vista, and packaging states that is a compatible version. I need to contact the company since I don't know where the product was bought.

Anonymous said...

I am having trouble printing pages. It tells me it is out of range. Has anyone ever experienced this? Or does anyone have a contact number for the company?
Thanks!

lost in tx said...

i too am having problems getting this software to work i thought it was because i was using windows 7 but i see that others are having the same problem i thought it was cool since it will save in jpeg i dont think any others do i did buy the software by accident though i wanted the album that it came with

Anonymous said...

Hi I have been doing a search to contact the company regarding this software. I bought two the baby, and Memories version. They were on sale for $5.50 each but I downloaded into my laptop which Has Windows 7 but you are able to run the specific software in windows xp or vista when you do the troubleshooting. My problem is that I am able to work with the page and load the photos but when it comes to the text it give me an error message TB85RTm module TBWIN.DLL -- don't know what that really means and it closes the program and I loose all the work. I am able to save the page if I don't click to add any text but the sad thing is that you cannot save it as a jpg so I would be able to open in another program to add text. If anyone has any info on how to contact please post. Thank you -- such a shame I wanted to make a baby album gift for my cousin who just had a baby.

Anonymous said...

Consumer Service:
Publications International, Ltd.
Attn: Consumer Service
7373 N. Cicero Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712

800-595-8484 (phone)


Warranty Registration and Claims:
Publications International, Ltd.
Attn: Warranty
820 N. Orleans #301
Chicago, IL 60610
800-454-9006 (phone)


Registration:
Warranty Registration


Claims:
Warranty Claim Request


Corporate Office:
Publications International, Ltd.
7373 N. Cicero Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-676-3470 (phone)
847-676-3671 (fax)

Linda said...

This software will not work with 64 bit versions of Windows...
I bought one and cannot load run it either...that's the message my laptop gave me..
To see what version you have, go to CONTROL PANEL and look for SYSTEM ...click and it will show you there whether your machine is 32 bit or 64 bit...hope this helps!

Terri said...

I have three of these cds. Travel, the Traditional and Modern memories. Anyone wants them email me and I will mail them to you. ajtw99@aol.com

Jennifer said...

purchased mine and it downloaded fine, but it won't let me add or edit text...judging by all the bad reviews, it's a rip off...

Anonymous said...

this is rediculous, i recieved this as a gift from my mother to make a babies first year scrapbook for my daughter for her first birthday but i cant get it to work at all. im highly irritated with this program. i believe they should be working out these kinks before putting this on the shelf or at least put a large note on the box stating that it WILL NOT BE COMPATABLE WITH MOST COMPUTERS.

Unknown said...

We too have 3 versions: Tradional, Modern, and Travel and can't get them to work on Windows7 64-bit. They worked just fine on WindowsXP but that computer is on its last leg.

We like the software for its ease of use and intuitive interface. Does anyone here have a strong recommendation for equivalent software that 'is' compatible with 64-bit OS?

Thanks in advance - Jeff