November 13, 2026

The November 2026 Virtual Crop is HERE!

It’s officially time for the November Virtual Crop! This is your invitation to a weekend full of inspiration, connection and fun! Let’s get started!

If this is your first time participating in a Virtual Crop and you would like a quick step-by-step guide of what to expect before you jump in, you can get ALL the details about Virtual Crops in this blog post, including how to participate (in our Virtual Crop Group), supplies you’ll need, examples of challenges, types of prizes and more.

Know what you’re looking for? Find it faster here:

SKETCH CHALLENGES

LAYOUT INSPIRATION

PRIZES

In this post, you will find ALL four sketches for this crop (these sketches are for the entire weekend; no additional sketches will be posted), a downloadable PDF with the four sketches for your convenience, hashtags to use when posting your challenge layouts in the Virtual Crop Group, prize information and layout inspiration. This is about to be an amazing weekend and we can’t wait to see what you create!

To make sure we see all your submissions for a chance to win, you’ll want to post each layout you complete as its own new post with the hashtag for that challenge. You have until Tuesday, November17 at 11:59pm CT (AU: Wednesday, 18 November, at 2:59pm AET) to submit your layouts for a chance to win (more details on what you can win further down this post!). Again, we’re so excited that you’re here. Happy scrapping!

Now, let the fun begin!

Watch: November Virtual Crop Kickoff Video!

DOWNLOAD THE SKETCH FLYER

Meet the Sketches

Challenge #1 — #CMVirtualCrop1November2026

Creative Memories scrapbook page layout template with decorative scalloped border, photo placeholders, title area, and labeled photo dimensions.

Challenge #2 — #CMVirtualCrop2November2026

Graphic illustrating a wall display layout with three large circles, a blue blade, and photo frame size measurements.

Challenge #3 — #CMVirtualCrop3November2026

Challenge #4 — #CMVirtualCrop4November2026

Here’s some inspiration…

Challenge #1

Family scrapbook page with group photos, autumn decorations, and the words “November Vibes” and “Full Heart”

Collection Used: Your Own Way

Debbie’s Tip: This one is made with nothing but Your Own Way paper, stickers and mats! For the scalloped frame, Debbie recommends the Sunrise Scallop Border Maker Cartridge “or another simple Border Maker Cartridge that stays on the page, not chain.” Her trick for punching the frame? “Fold paper on the diagonal, then fold again on the diagonal and punch the open side!” Open it once, place the flat side at the top and cut it in half. Then cut a 10-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ piece of paper “that will cover up your folds.”

Challenge #2

Scrapbook page titled “Making Memories Together” featuring three family vacation photos from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with decorative black-and-white patterns.

Collection Used: Blackout Brush

Debbie’s Tip: “Pick two or three designer print papers you like both sides of.” You’ll need 12 circles, which Debbie cut with the largest Custom Cutting System circle and the Blue Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge on the inside cut. “You can save paper by taking your base paper and cutting a 2″ frame,” or simply start with a solid cardstock base. Arrange the circles all the way around the page so they’re just touching the edges, then top it off with a 10″ x 12″ mat placed straight or on a slight angle.

Challenge #3

Festive Christmas scrapbook collage featuring family photos, a decorated Christmas tree, holiday decorations, and the message “It’s the Most Wonderful Time.”

Collection Used: Timeless Tidings

Debbie’s Tip: The shelves are the star of this layout! Debbie started with a 5″ x 12″ piece of paper, then cut two shelves from a neutral color: a 1″ x 4-3/4″ strip for the smaller shelf and a 1-1/2″ x 12″ strip for the larger one. To give each shelf its shape, “measure in 1/2″ from the bottom of strip on both sides and mark with a pencil,” then place it back in the trimmer and cut from the upper corner down to your mark on each side.

For the greenery, she punched two strips each from Parakeet Shimmer Paper and Dark Green Solid Cardstock with the Evergreen Edge Chain Border Maker Cartridge, trimmed one of each to 4-3/4″ for the small shelf and layered the darker border behind the lighter one. “To sway your evergreen, take scissors and cut about 3/4 of the way through every third one in between the larger parts.” Finish with your photo mats: two 4″ x 4″, two 4″ x 6″, one 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ and one 5″ x 7″. Want that 5″ x 7″ mat to look like a frame? Debbie says “use a pen.”

Challenge #4

Winter-themed scrapbook layout with blank photo frames, snowy pine trees, snowflakes, stars, moon, and plaid borders.

Collection Used: Moonlit Pines

Debbie’s Tip: Start with a 1″ frame, then build your tree! Debbie cut a 1/4″ x 8″ trunk from a scrap of brown cardstock and punched three strips of boughs from Dark Green Solid Cardstock with the Spruce Bough Border Punch, cutting them into pieces ranging from 4″ down to 1-1/2″.

Place the trunk 3-3/4″ from the outer edge, then add the 4″ boughs 3″ up from the bottom of the trunk “at a little angle.” Keep working your way up the tree with smaller and smaller pieces, finishing with a 2″ piece at the top. “If you would like to put snow on your tree, use a white gel pen.”

Prizes

Two crafting tools are displayed: a black border maker cartridge on the left and a blue punch on the right, with the text 'Challenge #1' and instructions below.

A collage featuring various patterned paper sheets and embellishments for a crafting challenge titled 'Challenge #2'. The design includes black and white graphics such as birthday decorations, balloons, and party themes, with text labels and descriptions of the items included: 1 paper pack, 1 embellishment pack, and 1 sticker pack.

NOTE: The Prize Pack will be awarded to one (1) participant in each challenge. Valid only for products currently in stock (excludes products that are out of stock or expected to return).

We will award the prizes randomly, but to win, it must be obvious you used the sketch we provided as inspiration to create a project. You’re highly encouraged to use Creative Memories products, but it’s not a requirement to win. You have until Tuesday, November 17 at 11:59pm CT (AU: Wednesday, November 18 , at 2:59pm AET) to submit your layouts for a chance to win. Winners will be announced Thursday, November 19, at noon CT (AU: Friday, 19 November, at 3am AET).

Virtual Crop Tracker

The 2026 Virtual Crop Tracker & Sticker Bundle is on sale now! You can also download the tracker yourself by clicking the image.

Color in or place a sticker on one shutter for each sketch challenge you complete during each monthly Virtual Crop in 2026. Once you’ve completed all 12 months’ sketch challenges (that’s 48 completed pages you’ll be adding to your albums), you can submit your tracker for a chance to be one of three grand prize winners! More information on how to submit will be shared in the Virtual Crop Group as we near the final sketch challenge.

P.S. Are YOU a member of the Virtual Crop Group? It’s your go-to place for MONTHLY Virtual Crops, MONTHLY Completed Album Challenges, QUARTERLY Secret Box Openings with project tutorials and so much more! We hope you’ll join our community of more than 53,000 fellow memory-keeping enthusiasts — you’ll feel right at home!

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein

November 12, 2026

Gingham & Banners: A Stenciled Moonlit Pines Layout

Bring a little cabin-cozy charm to your winter pages! This layout pairs the plaids, snowflakes and falling stars of the Moonlit Pines collection with two of our new 5×5 stencils for details that look hand-painted.

Rows of Black gingham squares frame a trio of patterned strips, while the Banners Stencil and Kelly Green ink create a one-of-a-kind banner for your title. Gold-edged mats and a few White Gelly Roll Pen dots finish it off.

SHOP THE PROJECT

To create this layout, you will need:

Love this layout?

SHOP THE LOOK

Layout by **Brenda Rose**, Creative Memories Design Team Contributor

Love this layout?

SHOP THE LOOK

The word 'Instructions' displayed in a bold, stylized blue font on a black background.

Step 1: Use a sheet of Bright White Solid Cardstock as the base for this layout.

Step 2: Cut three 3″ x 8″ pieces of designer paper: one each of black snowflakes, plaid and falling stars.

Step 3: Adhere the black snowflakes piece 1/2″ from the right edge and 2″ from the bottom of the page. Working to the left, adhere the plaid and falling stars pieces, leaving 1/8″ between each one.

Step 4: Using Place & Peel Tape, tape off the 5×5 Stencil – Gingham so only one line of 11 squares is showing. Using the Black Ink Pad and Craft Blending Brush, stencil the squares next to the patterned pieces on the top left, bottom left, bottom right and top right as shown.

Step 5: Find the mat cards with the gold edges. Use the large mat card as a mat for a 4″ x 6″ photo, and trim the smaller mat card to 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ for a 3″ x 4″ photo.

Step 6: Adhere the large photo mat 1″ from the right edge and 2-3/4″ from the bottom. Tuck the smaller photo mat under the left edge of the large mat as shown. Use the White Gelly Roll Pen to add dots in the corners of the gold edges of both mats.

Step 7: Cut a 4-1/2″ x 3/4″ strip of black snowflakes paper and a 4″ x 1/2″ strip of plaid paper. Dovetail the left end of both strips.

Step 8: Adhere the plaid strip 1/4″ from the top of the page and against the right edge. Tuck the black snowflakes strip under the plaid strip.

Step 9: Choose the banner you’d like to use on the 5×5 Stencil – Banners. Stencil it heavily with the Kelly Green Ink Pad and Craft Blending Brush on a scrap of Bright White Solid Cardstock, then fussy cut the banner with Micro-Tip Scissors, leaving a small white edge.

Step 10: Adhere the banner to the bottom of the large photo. Write on it with the White Gelly Roll Pen or add a sticker.

Step 11: Finish the page with embellishments and stickers, using Foam Squares on some for added dimension.

Want to recreate this layout?

We’ve gathered all the products featured in this project in one place, making it easy to find the papers, embellishments, tools and more.

SHOP NOW

P.S. Are YOU a member of the Virtual Crop Group? It’s your go-to place for MONTHLY Virtual Crops, MONTHLY Completed Album Challenges, QUARTERLY Secret Box Openings with project tutorials and so much more! We hope you’ll join our community of more than 53,000 fellow memory-keeping enthusiasts — you’ll feel right at home!

Text graphic stating 'Life is yours to craft.' in a stylish blue font on a black background.

November 10, 2026

Dive Into Adventure with This Cool Serenity 2 Layout

Close-up of Cool Serenity 2 papers and stickers.

Dive right in! Snorkeling trips, splashy pool days and underwater discoveries deserve a page that feels like you’re right there in the water. This layout uses seaweed, bubble and fish designer papers from the Cool Serenity 2 collection to create a cool ocean scene for four favorite photos.

The Tropical Fish Border Punch does double duty here: punch it once for a scalloped wavy edge on the seaweed paper, then again for a school of dark sea green fish swimming across the page. Circle photo mats cut with the Custom Cutting System keep the bubbly, underwater look going.

SHOP THE PROJECT

To create this layout, you will need:

Ocean-themed scrapbook layout with a punched tropical fish border, seaweed and bubble designer paper, and four circle-matted snorkeling photos made with Cool Serenity 2. — Layout by **Karyn McDermaid-Rolfe**, Creative Memories Design Team Contributor

Love this layout?

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Love this layout?

SHOP THE LOOK

Step 1: Use the Tropical Fish Border Punch to punch a border from the seaweed designer paper. Use Micro-Tip Scissors to trim off the fish and seaweed, leaving a scalloped wavy edge. Cut the paper to 12″ x 7″.

Step 2: Use the Tropical Fish Border Punch to punch a border from Dark Sea Green Solid Cardstock. Cut the punched border off the cardstock at 1-1/2″.

Step 3: Adhere the scalloped wavy edge of the seaweed paper to the dark sea green border.

Step 4: Adhere the layered piece to the bottom of a sheet of blue bubble designer paper.

Step 5: Use the Tropical Fish Border Punch to punch a border from Bright White Solid Cardstock. Adhere the white punch debris in the center of the dark sea green fish.

Step 6: Cut a 12″ x 1″ strip from Bright White Solid Cardstock. Adhere the strip about 3/8″ from the scalloped wavy edge of the seaweed paper.

Step 7: Cut a 12″ x 7/8″ strip from the fish designer paper and adhere to the bright white strip.

Step 8: Use the smallest circle from the Circle Custom Cutting System Patterns with the Green Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge on the outside edge to cut two photo mats from Bright White Solid Cardstock. Use the Red Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge on the outside edge to cut two photos, and adhere the photos to the mats.

Step 9: Use the largest circle pattern with the Red Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge on the inside edge to cut a photo mat from Bright White Solid Cardstock, and the Green Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge on the inside edge to cut a photo. Repeat with the Green Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge for the second mat and the Blue Custom Cutting System Blade Cartridge for the photo. Adhere the photos to the mats.

Step 10: Adhere the matted photos to the layout as shown.

Step 11: Cut three 4″ x 3/8″ strips from Bright White Solid Cardstock. Use the Black Dual-Tip Pen to add journaling, and adhere the strips to the layout as shown.

Step 12: Add stickers as shown, using Foam Squares to adhere some for dimension.

Pick Your FREE Black Friday Gift

From Nov. 2–13, choose a FREE Black Friday gift for every $150 USD / $165 CAD / $250 AUD you spend — with no limit! Pick from the Perfect Pairings Bundle, Tinsel & Cheer Bundle, or Cool Down Bundle, while supplies last.

SEE THE GIFT CHOICES

Promo starts Nov. 2 at 9am CT and ends Nov. 13 at noon CT (AU: 3–13 Nov.).

Want to recreate this layout?

We’ve gathered all the products featured in this project in one place, making it easy to find the papers, stickers, tools and more.

SHOP NOW

P.S. Are YOU a member of the Virtual Crop Group? It’s your go-to place for MONTHLY Virtual Crops, MONTHLY Completed Album Challenges, QUARTERLY Secret Box Openings with project tutorials and so much more! We hope you’ll join our community of more than 53,000 fellow memory-keeping enthusiasts — you’ll feel right at home!

November 9, 2026

The Gift of a Finished Album: 2 Ways to Give an Album Kit This Holiday Season

Somewhere on your list is someone with a phone full of photos and a heart full of stories they’ve been meaning to do something with. This year, give them the gift of a finished album. Creative Memories Album Kits turn a stack of photos into a complete 12×12 album with a simple, guided system, and they’re one of the most meaningful gifts you can wrap up this season.

There are two ways to give one: finish it for them, or gift the kit so they can create it themselves. Below, we’ll walk through both, help you match the right kit to the right person and share why Album Kits are the perfect place for a beginner to start. And when you’re ready to shop the rest of your list, our 2026 Holiday Gift Guide is here to help make every gift merry, bright and made to be remembered.

SHOP ALBUM KITS

What’s Inside Every Album Kit

Every Album Kit is built on the same simple system, so whichever theme you choose, the experience is the same: open the box, follow the Guidebook and finish an album. Each kit creates 16 coordinated layouts and holds up to 104 photos.

Inside every Album Kit, you’ll find:

A 12×12 album with top-loading pages, in a choice of three bookcloth colors
48 pre-printed base pages and cut-apart sheets, each labeled with its layout number
80 die-cut embellishments, numbered to match every layout
6 sheets of border stickers
A Repositionable Tape Runner
An instructional Guidebook with sketches, photo sizes and placement guidance for every layout

A Creative Memories Album Kit wrapped and ready to give as a holiday gift.

Want the full tour? Take a look inside with The Official Guide to Creative Memories Album Kits.

Two Ways to Gift an Album Kit

The best part about giving an Album Kit? You get to decide how much of the creating you do. Here’s how each option comes together.

Option 1: Give It Finished

For the person who treasures their photos but would never call themselves crafty, there’s nothing quite like unwrapping an album that’s already made. Because every piece in an Album Kit is numbered and every layout is sketched out in the Guidebook, you can build the pages yourself, no design experience required. Then choose how finished you want your gift to be:

Ready for photos. Complete all 16 layouts, leaving the photo spaces open, and slip each finished spread into the album. Your recipient simply crops their favorite photos to the sizes in the Guidebook and adds them to the premeasured spaces. Tuck the Guidebook in with the album so they know exactly what goes where.

Filled with memories. Take it one step further and add the photos for them. Gather pictures from a year together, a family trip or a lifetime of milestones, then add a few words of journaling to every layout. You’ll give a finished keepsake album that tells their story, the kind of gift that gets passed around the room and treasured for generations.

Quick Tip: Make a finished album even more personal with a Custom Foiled Spine. Choose a bookcloth color, foil and font to add their name, a year or an album title.

Option 2: Gift the Kit to Create Themselves

For the crafter on your list, or the friend who keeps saying, “I’d love to try scrapbooking,” the kit itself is the gift. Everything they need comes in one box, so they can get started the moment the wrapping paper comes off. With a pair of scissors or a 12-inch Trimmer and their photos, they’ll move from one layout to the next with confidence.

Make it a complete gift with:

Photo Trimmer: crops photos to the exact sizes in the Guidebook
12-inch Trimmer: quick, clean cuts on every cut-apart sheet
Photo Trimmer Build-A-Bundle: start with the Photo Trimmer, then add the extras they’ll reach for
Photo Sleeve Variety Pack: adds extra photo space that binds right into the album

SHOP THE NEW MEMORY KEEPER

An Album Kit for Everyone on Your List

With six themes to choose from, there’s an Album Kit for just about every story. Each one comes in three bookcloth colors, so you can choose the look that suits them best.

Find the right Album Kit for:

The new parents or grandparents: Bundle of Joy Album Kit captures those first moments with baby
The newlyweds: Perfect Match Album Kit turns wedding day photos into a finished heirloom album, perfect for the couple or the mother of the bride
The proud school parent: School Years Album Kit organizes years of school photos, from the first day through graduation
The traveler: Global Getaway Album Kit is made for any trip, anytime, from a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to a family road trip
The everyday optimist: On the Bright Side Album Kit, designed with Amy Tangerine, celebrates life’s fun, everyday moments
The family historian: Natural Beginnings Album Kit is made for every memory, with a timeless, neutral look that suits family photos, milestone birthdays and more

Bundle of Joy Album Kit

Perfect Match Album Kit

School Years Album Kit

Global Getaway Album Kit

On the Bright Side Album Kit

Natural Beginnings Album Kit

SHOP ALBUM KITS

Why Album Kits Are Perfect for Beginners

If someone on your list has always wanted to scrapbook but never knew where to start, an Album Kit was made for them. It’s not about being crafty, it’s about getting crafty. Album Kits take the guesswork out of memory keeping, so a first album feels achievable from the very first page.

Everything is labeled. Papers, embellishments and border stickers are all marked with layout numbers, so it’s easy to see which pieces go together.

Every layout is mapped out. The Guidebook shows exactly how each layout comes together, with sketches, photo sizes and placement guidance.

No measuring required. Thoughtfully designed spacing creates balanced, polished pages without measuring or second-guessing.

Mistakes are easy to fix. The included Repositionable Tape Runner lets them adjust pieces as they go.

It fits their schedule. They can finish all 16 layouts in an afternoon or complete a couple at a time, and still end up with a finished album.

That first finished album is often what turns a new memory keeper into a lifelong one, and it’s exactly why Album Kits top the New Memory Keeper picks in our gift guide.

Find Even More Gifts in the Holiday Gift Guide

An Album Kit is a wonderful place to start, but it doesn’t have to be the only thing under the tree. Our 2026 Holiday Gift Guide brings our most-loved tools, kits and supplies together in one place, organized by who they are, your budget and how they love to create. Pair an Album Kit with a Build-A-Bundle, tuck a few Stocking Stuffers in alongside it or let them choose their own extras with a Creative Memories e-Gift Card.

EXPLORE THE GIFT GUIDE

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need scrapbooking experience to complete an Album Kit?
No. Album Kits are designed for beginners and experienced memory keepers alike. The Guidebook walks through every step, so anyone can create polished layouts without design skills.

How many photos does an Album Kit hold?
Each Album Kit creates 16 coordinated layouts and holds up to 104 photos. Want room for more? Photo Sleeves bind directly into the album to add extra photo space.

Can I complete an Album Kit as a gift for someone else?
Absolutely! Complete the layouts and leave the photo spaces open so they can add their own photos, or add the photos and journaling yourself for a finished keepsake album.

What tools are needed to complete an Album Kit?
A Repositionable Tape Runner is included in every kit. All that’s needed is a pair of scissors or a 12-inch Trimmer and photos. A Photo Trimmer makes cropping photos to the Guidebook sizes quick and easy.

How long does it take to finish an Album Kit?
Timing varies. Some memory keepers finish all 16 layouts in an afternoon, while others complete a few at a time to fit their schedule.

Which Album Kit should I choose?
Start with the story they’ll want to tell: Bundle of Joy for a new baby, Perfect Match for a wedding, School Years for school memories, Global Getaway for travel, On the Bright Side for everyday moments and Natural Beginnings for any memory at all.

Whether you finish it for them or give them everything they need to create it themselves, an Album Kit is a gift that keeps giving long after the holidays, every time they turn the pages. Here’s to a season that’s merry, bright and made to be remembered!

SHOP THE GIFT GUIDE

P.S. Are YOU a member of the Virtual Crop Group? It’s your go-to place for MONTHLY Virtual Crops, MONTHLY Completed Album Challenges, QUARTERLY Secret Box Openings with project tutorials and so much more! We hope you’ll join our community of more than 53,000 fellow memory-keeping enthusiasts — you’ll feel right at home!

November 6, 2026

A Cardinals & Spruce Winter Layout with Moonlit Pines

There’s something magical about a winter night under the stars. The new Moonlit Pines collection brings that cozy, night-sky feeling to your pages with deep teals, tartan plaids and warm golden accents that glow like a campfire.

This layout pairs a stenciled starry background with black punched borders from the new Spruce Bough Border Punch and the Cardinals Border Punch, creating tree and bird silhouettes that look just like a nighttime forest.

SHOP THE PROJECT

To create this layout, you will need:

Love this layout?

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Layout by **Krislyn Mattei**, Creative Memories Design Team Contributor

Love this layout?

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Step 1: Use a sheet of Bright White Solid Cardstock as the base for this layout. Place the 5×5 Inking Stencil – Winter Elements along the top and bottom edges of the base and use the Tangerine Ink Pad and a Craft Blending Brush to lightly apply stars and dots as shown.

Step 2: Cut two strips of dark sea green tone-on-tone paper to measure 12″ x 1/2″. Cut a piece of trees designer paper to measure 12″ x 8-3/4″. Adhere the trees piece 1-3/4″ from the top of the base and tuck the two strips slightly behind it so 3/8″ of each strip shows.

Step 3: Punch borders from Black Solid Cardstock using the Cardinals Border Punch and the Spruce Bough Border Punch. Adhere the cardinals border along the top edge of the trees piece. Tuck the spruce bough border slightly behind the bottom edge of the trees piece and adhere.

Step 4: Cut a strip of plaid designer paper to measure 3″ x 12″. Using scissors, cut a “V” shape into one short end. Adhere the strip 2-1/4″ from the left edge of the layout.

Step 5: Place a 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ gold mat on the left side of the layout as shown. Cut a mat from Bright White Solid Cardstock to measure 4″ x 6″. Crop a photo to 3-3/4″ x 5-3/4″ and mount it on the white mat, then adhere it on the gold mat.

Step 6: Cut two mats from dark sea green tone-on-tone paper to measure 5-3/4″ x 3-3/4″. Crop two photos to 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ and mount them on the mats. Adhere them on the right side of the layout.

Step 7: Finish the layout by adhering stickers and embellishments, using Foam Squares on some for added dimension.

Step 8: Use a Black Dual-Tip Pen to journal as desired along the bottom (or top) of the layout.

Want to recreate this layout?

We’ve gathered all the products featured in this project in one place, making it easy to find the papers, embellishments, tools and more.

SHOP NOW

P.S. Are YOU a member of the Virtual Crop Group? It’s your go-to place for MONTHLY Virtual Crops, MONTHLY Completed Album Challenges, QUARTERLY Secret Box Openings with project tutorials and so much more! We hope you’ll join our community of more than 53,000 fellow memory-keeping enthusiasts — you’ll feel right at home!