American Greetings Crafts!

Rating:
Summary: $$$$Must purchase code to unlock most images $$$$
Review: I have the Crafts 2 which is suppose to be better than the 1st version. Yes, there are lots of good things to make here but ... you must call their 800 # and receive a code to unlock many cards, projects, etc. And, if your computer happens to go down and you must reload all of your software, you will need to call again and get another code to unlock them all over again. Let me go into a little detail on how many projects there are and how many you can actually use:
Envelopes: card size: 5 out of 23 can be used without purchasing the code.
Envelopes: half-card size: 16 out of 39.
Envelopes: #10 size: 14 out of 36.
Stationery: 26 out of 50.
Self mailers: 20 out of 33.
Wearable Fun: Masks, hats, mostly t-shirt designs, 1 badge: 202 out of 232. (Note, in any program, you can turn any design or clip art into a t-shirt transfer, you just select t-shirt transfer instead of paper when you go to print).
Package decorations: 19 out of 27.
Activities: Bookmarks: 28 out of 49.
Kids Toys: You can get all of these, but there are not that many: 5 pinwheels, 4 finger puppets, 5 lunch bag puppets, 5 paper airplanes.
For the Home: Frames: 53 out of 64.
Albums: 15 out of 22.
Boxes & Bags: 42 out of 56.
Posters, Certificates, & Banners: 82 out of 180.
So you can see that this can be very frustrating.
To purchase the additional images and or projects:
Fun with crafts 2, 100 projects, ...[undisclosed dollar amount],
Add-a-photo, 247 projects, ...[undisclosed dollar amount],
Christian Expression, 250 projects, ...[undisclosed dollar amount],
there are also WWF, NFL, Dilbert, Garfield, and Brother Francis packages, each ...[undisclosed dollar amount], or you can buy their
Super Upgrade package for ...[undisclosed dollar amount], which includes everything.
I have used American Greetings CreataCard for over eight years now. The first version was just like this craft software. I had to buy the addition upgrade package, then call back and get another code when our computer went down. So, when American Greeting sent me an offer to upgrade to the next version, the first thing I asked was whether or not I had to do the same thing. I am now using the Platinum 6 version and it is really wonderful. (Just received the Platinum 7 also) I save a ton of money printing cards for everyone for every occasion. It is very easy to use. I love being able to print cards with our own family photos on them. It also has a very easy to use workshop where you can edit your pictures: remove red-eye, brighten, add special effects, etc. I have made several of my son's teachers very nice certificates to show appreciation and they all just loved them. I can do the envelopes, labels, add-a-photo projects, frames, stationery, Christmas ornaments and lots more with it. I would not waste my money on the Crafts software even though it does have some nice features. Being frustrated when you finally find the perfect card and realize that you can't have that card unless you pay more money, just wasn't worth it to me. I would recommend just going with the Creatacard software- the later versions.

Rating:
Summary: $$$$Must purchase code to unlock most images $$$$
Review: I have the Crafts 2 which is suppose to be better than the 1st version. Yes, there are lots of good things to make here but ... you must call their 800 # and receive a code to unlock many cards, projects, etc. And, if your computer happens to go down and you must reload all of your software, you will need to call again and get another code to unlock them all over again. Let me go into a little detail on how many projects there are and how many you can actually use:
Envelopes: card size: 5 out of 23 can be used without purchasing the code.
Envelopes: half-card size: 16 out of 39.
Envelopes: #10 size: 14 out of 36.
Stationery: 26 out of 50.
Self mailers: 20 out of 33.
Wearable Fun: Masks, hats, mostly t-shirt designs, 1 badge: 202 out of 232. (Note, in any program, you can turn any design or clip art into a t-shirt transfer, you just select t-shirt transfer instead of paper when you go to print).
Package decorations: 19 out of 27.
Activities: Bookmarks: 28 out of 49.
Kids Toys: You can get all of these, but there are not that many: 5 pinwheels, 4 finger puppets, 5 lunch bag puppets, 5 paper airplanes.
For the Home: Frames: 53 out of 64.
Albums: 15 out of 22.
Boxes & Bags: 42 out of 56.
Posters, Certificates, & Banners: 82 out of 180.
So you can see that this can be very frustrating.
To purchase the additional images and or projects:
Fun with crafts 2, 100 projects, ...[undisclosed dollar amount],
Add-a-photo, 247 projects, ...[undisclosed dollar amount],
Christian Expression, 250 projects, ...[undisclosed dollar amount],
there are also WWF, NFL, Dilbert, Garfield, and Brother Francis packages, each ...[undisclosed dollar amount], or you can buy their
Super Upgrade package for ...[undisclosed dollar amount], which includes everything.
I have used American Greetings CreataCard for over eight years now. The first version was just like this craft software. I had to buy the addition upgrade package, then call back and get another code when our computer went down. So, when American Greeting sent me an offer to upgrade to the next version, the first thing I asked was whether or not I had to do the same thing. I am now using the Platinum 6 version and it is really wonderful. (Just received the Platinum 7 also) I save a ton of money printing cards for everyone for every occasion. It is very easy to use. I love being able to print cards with our own family photos on them. It also has a very easy to use workshop where you can edit your pictures: remove red-eye, brighten, add special effects, etc. I have made several of my son's teachers very nice certificates to show appreciation and they all just loved them. I can do the envelopes, labels, add-a-photo projects, frames, stationery, Christmas ornaments and lots more with it. I would not waste my money on the Crafts software even though it does have some nice features. Being frustrated when you finally find the perfect card and realize that you can't have that card unless you pay more money, just wasn't worth it to me. I would recommend just going with the Creatacard software- the later versions.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: This was my first investment in the American Greetings publishing series...and it got me hooked. From bags to baskets to origami, this program has numerous new ideas! I give it only 4 stars because it seemed like a lot of the graphics I wanted to use had to be purchased in an add-on pack.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: This was my first investment in the American Greetings publishing series...and it got me hooked. From bags to baskets to origami, this program has numerous new ideas! I give it only 4 stars because it seemed like a lot of the graphics I wanted to use had to be purchased in an add-on pack.