Making Memories

You asked for it…you got it!!

In reading over your comments about what you’d like to see on our blog; I noticed that many of you would like to see tips from the Making Memories designers.  In particular, Brek, elendae, Lisa D. and Di requested tips on how to use the older (but still awesome!!) Making Memories products in a fresh new way. 

In my sample here (“LBJ Adventure”), I’ve used the Making Memories Defined stickers to cover blank gameboard shapes and create a unique backdrop for my title.  It’s very easy to do…

1. Pull the sticker off the sheet and place it face down on your desk. 

2. Place the gameboard shape over the sticker and lightly press it down

3. Pick up the sticker and hold it up to a light source to see if you have the text lined up straight (unless you are aiming for a funky, ‘wonky’ appearance!)

4. Once it is straight, place it face down on a self-healing mat and trim around it with a straight-edged blade

5. I always sand the edges afterwards to give it a distressed look, but you could also try inking them or dipping the edges in paint

If you give it a try to see just how easy it is (or if you have any layouts using MM product)—I want to see your creations!!  We have a feature where you can upload layouts here: http://www.makingmemories.com/ideas/imgupload_menu.cfm 

Can’t wait to see what you’ve done!!

~Erin Terrell

Creativity Jumpstart! Scrapbooking tips....

It's the weekend...YAY!! If you are like me, you have a zillion projects you want to get done and it can be overwhelming to know where to start!  So....I thought you might like a little creativity jumpstart from some of our amazingly talented designers!  My best tip?  Don't feel like you have to scrapbook everything. Once you come to terms with this (I am still working through it!) it doesn't seem so unattainable. You will be more creative because you're not as rushed. Scrapbook when you are inspired, choose your best photos. Journal more. (I am guilty of this one!).  Scrapbooking is about capturing a moment in time, so make it count! 

Wishing you all a productive and creative weekend.  We'd love to see what you have created. Link us to your blog! Oh - and congrats to the 5 winners of Decorate Life: Scrapbook!  This book is AMAZING.

Ciao!

Jayme

Jennifer Jensen

I would definitely have to say that my favorite thing to do before I start with a new project is to soak in the environment around me!!  I love to go to my favorite stores and shops and look, look, look! I love to look at the new clothing, accessories, color  combinations, textures, home furnishings and advertising. Many times I can take a detail from something I have seen and turn it into an embellishment or idea for a scrapbook page. Nothing better than shopping to get the ideas flowing!!

Lynne Montgomery

One of my favorite unconventional scrapbooking tools is floss threaders.  I use them often to thread ribbons, fibers, yarns etc. through small holes instead in threading tiny needles.  It's much easier especially if you're working at night when the lighting isn't so great.  You can find floss threaders in the oral heygine isle at a variety of local stores.  The ones I use are by Butler GUM.  They look like a stick with a loop on the end and are made of thin blue flexible plastic.  Just put one end of your ribbon. through the loop portion of the floss threader and stick the other end through a hole and pull it through...your ribbon will follow.  If you loose a threader or it breaks...no biggie because tons of them come in a package.

Maggie Holmes

I absolutely love color! My favorite thing is to just pull out my cardstock and play around - mixing and matching - coming up with new and fun color schemes! I love that I can create so many different feelings on my layouts just by the color choices I make. Don't be afraid to be bold with your color choices and to use non-standard color schemes. Also - you don't always have to use a lot of a color to make a strong impact. Sometimes just a small amount of each color set against a neutral backdrop will do the trick! But most of all, just play around and have fun. Remember that there are no rules. Start looking for color inspiration all around you and you will be amazed at what you can come up with.

Erin Terrell

My best scrapbooking tip…take a break from it every now and then!!!  Personally, I get so caught up in deadlines and in creating that sometimes it gets stressful for me to make another page.  I find myself just sitting there…staring at my desk.  There is no magic snack (although M&M’s taste great!!) and I find that looking at scrapbook magazines or online sites just frustrates me.  So, when I get to that point, I know I need to just get out of the house.  I find that I can do my best work when I take moments for myself, just to relax.  Once I’ve cleared my mind, I start seeing inspiration everywhere I look—a great photo that I might want to capture while I’m out on a walk, a cool font on a billboard while I’m driving to the store, awesome graphics on a tag at Target, etc.  For me, I’ve learned that I’m at my best when I get plenty of time AWAY from scrapbooking.  Plus…it also affords me more opportunities to take pictures, so I have more subject matter to scrapbook about in the future!!

We have some winners!!!

I had a blast reading each one of your comments about your favorite MM books.  Thank you, thank you for all of your comments.

I assigned each one of you a number and put them in my cute little teacup.

So let's get to the fun part, which is giving away some Decorate Life: Scrapbooking books. 

(drum roll please...)

And the winners are...

I sent all the winners an email, so if you think it's you, check to see if you have an email from MM and send us your address so we can get you a copy of this book.

For everyone else, keep coming back to visit.  We had so much fun we are going to do something like this again (sooner than you think)!!

Gail

Inspire Me!

The beautiful thing about design is that it is everywhere. One of the
fun aspects of my job here at Making Memories is that our team
understands that it is important for us to get out and be inspired. We
look everywhere for inspiration. We go to craft and scrapbooking stores,
we pour through magazines, we shop in fun, little, out of the way
boutiques, we even devour the dollar section at Target. (As you can see
from Jessica's post, we even travel far and wide.... o.k. San Fran isn't
that far...) We do anything we can to get our brains working on the
latest styles and coolest new trends and product ideas.  We are always
working to keep Making Memories as a leader in product innovation and
style. The best part is, we have fun with it. You should see us walking
down the street and Margie shouts out, "I love the font on the side of
that building!!", or when we all get sooo excited in a new shop, because
they wrap our goodies in a little glassine envelope with a seal. It's
the little things that many people might take for granted, or even
overlook that keep us excited about our jobs and this industry!

We love getting tuned in to great new avenues of inspiration. How do you
get inspired?  Send us your comments.  We'd love to hear!

Here's a picture of my desk in case you're curious about our work
environment!
Have fun!
Audre

We went, We conquered...

We're already working on the new products!!!

San Fransisco was a blast (especially for me because I'd never been there before.) It might not look like work to most people but nothing beats getting out of the office, traveling to a beautiful city, visiting amazing stores, and eating fantastic food to get the create juicies flowing. I promise we got A LOT accomplished, even if nobody in the office believes us.

I wish I could share what we are working on but all in good time. For now here are some shots of us HARD at work.

Jessica (the one stuffing her face with IKEA meatballs) Kopp

MM Newsletter

Its new, Its fresh and Its fun!  "It" is the new Making Memories newsletter, and what better way to stay updated on all the new MM product.   

I work in the walls at MM, so everyday I live and breath this stuff... but, the newsletter is just so fun... we all subscribe!   

The newsletter will give you tips from our latest publications, the word on the newest product from MM, and even where you can find MM as we travel for special events.

To sign up, Click Here then simply type in your e-mail address and user info. 

Once you get all signed up, reply to this post and tell us what you would like to see in upcoming newsletters...maybe we'll use your idea in our upcoming newsletter!

Watching for your post,

Jodi Holbrook

Decorate Life: Scrapbook

Even though things are crazy around here, like right now I am in the middle of finalizing the next Decorate Life book...Decorate Life: Home Decor, we had to find time to blog!  For example the last few days I have been down in the warehouse spray painting projects as we enter into the final stages of photography, writing, graphics and you know...those last minute touches to make it great.

To kick of this new blog we thought a give-away would be fun... and since I have some pull in the area of books, I thought it we should give away the latest publication from Making Memories - Decorate Life: Scrapbook.  This is the first book in the series of the three Decorate Life series. (Oh yes, there will be one more after Home Decor)

Here's how to win the book: 1- Reply to this post by Wednesday, March 8th at 5:00pm MST.  2- Name a publication from Making Memories before the Decorate Life series. 3 - Tell a friend about the new blog at MM! (jk)

We will randomly select 5 lucky respondents and send you this hot new book!

ak, (air kiss)

Gail

-I'll see you after Home Decor goes to press...send caffeine!

We have a Blog!

Hey all...Making Memories has a blog! Check us out!
All of us will be posting so you can get to know us! We are so excited to share some fun stuff with you!
So...Come back often! See what we are working on...Read what we are thinking... How fun!
love to all
kiss kiss
m
(Margie Romney-Aslett)