"Introduction"
excerpt from Secret Ingredients

I find it a little bit ironic that so many of us will spend hours and hours trudging from store to store, surfing online and wracking our brains to come up with just the right gift idea. But if I suggest creating a gift from the heart, I’ll hear, “Oh, I just don’t have time.” Really?

As much as I love my scrapbooks (and anyone who knows me or has read my book, “Full of Love,” knows how much I love my scrapbook albums), a gift doesn’t have to be a monster photo album in order to show and share love. Some of the gift ideas you’ll find in this book are much simpler. They’re delightfully special little ways to let the people you love know how special they are to you. Bottom line, they can be easy to do.

So what’s it going to take to make it happen? Some photos, for starters. Depending on the project, you might ask family members for help gathering family photos. Sometimes it helps to talk with family and friends and get different perspectives on events and moments you remember. Mostly though, you just need love and a desire to share it.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind as you begin to look through this book and get started:

1. Use these ideas as great jumping off points … then customize them. For example, maybe we made the project for Grandma, but you know your sister would love something like this. Go for it!

2. Whenever we show computer-printed journaling in this book, please feel free to use your own handwritten words.

3. Some of these projects just show you a few pages to get started. We had too many ideas to share to include full albums for every project! So repeat the pages you like best, or do your own thing. If it’s from the heart, it will be perfect.

4. Every cookbook tells you exactly what to use and how to create the recipe. So does this one! But, as any chef knows, you can always customize the recipe to suit your tastes. This book is just like that – let our recipes inspire you!

5. Unless otherwise noted, Creative Memories Tape Runner was used on each project as the adhesive of choice.

One last thing: For the recipes you’ll find here, I call for ingredients you can get from a Creative Memories Consultant* because I really believe in the amazing quality and durability of Creative Memories products. I love the passion and commitment of the people I’ve worked with there – both the home-based Consultants and the folks in the corporate office.

That being said, the really important message in this book is that the people you love need to know how you feel. And you have the power to brighten their lives and lift their spirits in quick, fun, beautiful ways. Use the ideas in this book to do that. No matter what products you choose, I promise it will be among the best gifts that person has ever received. Now, go for it!

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