RE: First Creative Memories Party
Personally if I was in your place, I'd try to return it. My first album wasn't a Creative Memories but it didn't hold a 12x12 either. I hated it. I ended up just giving it away and replacing it. It simply is not worth the hassle to trim down every page. You will be annoyed. Is it the kind where the pages are basically a piece of cardstock that you use as a base, and the page protector is a sleeve you slide over the completed page? If so, remember this is just my opinion, but I would not use that set up. If you want to add a layout in between two others or just change the order, you really can't do it because your layouts are basically glued to the pages. If you really like how the strap bound albums work, you can get pages that are basically top loading page protectors. You build the layout on the card stock of your choice and then slide it into the page protector. If you want to move it later, you just pull it out. No commitment required. Personally though, I really like the post bound albums. They tend to be true 12x12s and when you look at a two page layout you don't have the white strips in the middle breaking it up.
I have both the Close to My Heart and Making Memories post bound albums. The Close to My Heart offer really nice quality albums but you pay for it. The Making Memories album is still a good quality album but much more reasonably price and a lot more color options.
Close to My Heart is like Creative Memories in that you buy from a consultant. The Making Memories album you can buy in most scrapbook stores. Personally I prefer Close To My Heart over Creative Memories because I think they offer a lot more of the stuff I'm looking for.
I'm sorry, I didn't intend for this to be a dissertation on the subject, but I hope it helps a little.
Veronica
Miss Ellie 11/03
Baby Audrey 4/08