Making Memories

Cooling Off

It’s been really HOTin Utah lately.  We couldn’t think of a better way to cool off than to play some water games.  Here are some photos of our fun. 

 

*Why spend a lot of time thinking of the perfect saying for a card, when the words have already been made for you? Cardstock tags are perfect to hook together to create a chain of sayings for a card front or a border for a scrapbook page.  They can also be easily transformed into a cute flower with all the right words on each flower petal....great for any project!

*Tiny alpha stickers are just the right size to add to anything. I like to thin down a bit of paint and brush over a page of stickers. It is a quick and simple way to dye them any color that you may need.

‘You’re perfect’

Supplies: Card Base, Chipboard Heart, Crystal Brad, Heart Brads, Like it is Stickers, Cardstock Tags (talk about it), Rick-rack, Rub-on, Tiny Alphabet Stickers - MM

Instructions:

1. Choose five cardstock tags that compliment card theme.

2. Cover chipboard heart with sticker and trim around heart.

3. Overlapping holes of oval cardstock tags, place heart and crystal brads through first three tags to create chain.

4. Adhere covered heart and then last tag of chain to card front.

5. Add tiny alpha stickers above last tag and decorative rub-on under last tag.

‘XOXO’

Supplies: Card Base, Crystal Brads, Gem Stickers, Cardstock Tags (Love1 & Love2), Ribbon, Rick-rack, Rub-ons, Tiny Alphabet Stickers - MM

Instructions:

1. Choose five plain and five oval, cardstock tags with sayings or words on them.

Trim off one end of tag that has a punched hole in it.

2. Stack all ten tags and place crystal brad through punched tag center. Fan out tags to create tag flower.

3. With watered down green paint, wash over two white tags to create flower leaves. Let dry.

4. Cut a 5 ½" piece of rick-rack. String tag leaves through rick-rack and adhere to bottom of card base. Add tiny alpha stickers and decorative rub-ons to tags.

5. Adhere flower to card, on top of tag leaves. Add small ribbon pieces to underside of flower and 4 ½" piece of rick-rick to left edge of card.

Give it a try.  When you are done, upload them so we can all see.

Jenn

 

Creating a project from start to finish….

Hi. Many of you have asked about how designers create a project from start to finish. So I thought I'd share my design process when creating a layout for one of MM's idea books.

1) Once I'm given an assignment, I take into consideration any specific techniques or color schemes that need to be included on the layout. With this in mind, I choose the photos that will be used on my page (although I don't print them out yet).

2) Then I flip through my idea notebooks for inspiration. I keep quite a few notebooks full of pages torn from magazines, ads, catalogs, etc. They provide inspiration for accents, composition, type, colors, and more.

3) As I look through my notebooks, I make a note of any ideas or elements that I feel could work on my layout.

4) I draw a rough sketch of my page on graph paper, indicating the size and placement of photos, journaling, title, and accents. The final layout may not duplicate my sketch exactly, but drawing out the basic composition helps me determine if the page will look and feel balanced.

5) Once I am satisfied with the sketch, I pull out all of the papers and accents I will need for my layout.

6) At this point, I size and format my photos (and journaling) in Photoshop, print them out and trim them as needed.

7) With my sketch in front of me, I assemble the layout, moving around elements if needed to form a unified page.

8) Once complete, a scan of the layout is sent to MM for approval.

9) The page is then mailed to MM where it is photographed for the book.

 

Pouring through the pages of a MM book is so inspiring and exciting. But the creative process is truly half the fun :)

Happy scrapping!

Mellette

Tuesday Tip - New Product Release Schedule

Are you ready to shop?  The CHA Summer show has ended, many retailers have placed their product orders, and “insider” information is prevalent on all of the chat rooms and blogs.  So, we decided to let you know first hand when some of our hottest new releases will be available in stores.

In stores Mid-August

Leather Albums – Our very popular faux leather albums are now available in 5 new colors in both 12”x12” and 9”x 9” sizes.  Look for new albums in lavender, meadow green, sky blue, manila and navy at a retailer near you.

Single Size Rim Packs -Tagmaker™ Rims are now available in single size packs.  Look for medium and large circle, tag, and square shaped rims individually packaged in packs of 12, at your local scrapbook retailer. 

Slot Punching Tool – punch up your projects with our Slot Punching Tool™.  Create perfectly proportioned openings for weaving paper and ribbons, or use the crescent-shaped slot to make notches for corners.  It works with the Instant Setter™  or as a stand alone punch with a base and a hammer. 

Cheeky™ Style Program – a coordinated collection of papers, ribbons, shimmer alphabets, mini albums, pebble stickers, chipboard, clips and more in 2 unique color pallets. 

Large and mini blossoms – we now have our very realistic paper flowers available in Jumbo (2” & 3”) and mini styles.  Jumbo packs contain 8 flowers and extra large crystal brads.   Mini packs contains 50 flowers and 30 mini brads for attaching.

Arriving in late August

Textured Tape – think of Textured Tape™ as an adhesive ribbon of sorts.  These sticky-backed fabric spools offers patterns and prints that compliment many of our latest looks and styles, including: Cheeky™, Vintage Hip ™, Boho Chic ™ MM Kids™ and more.  In 6 varieties, each package contains 4 tapes, 1 yard of each.

Halloween – Spooks, rejoice!  Now the memory of all those little goblins and ghouls can last much longer then your stash of Halloween goodies.  Let this collection of stickers, foam stamps, paint, tags, kits and more haunt your creativity. 

Available late September

12” x 12” Precision Paper Trimmer – Professional construction meets sophisticated utility with this trimmer.  The long-lasting rotary blade provides accurate, straight cuts, while sharpening itself at the same time.  Its one-of-a kind folding design offers crafters a full 12”x12” cutting surface, that folds down to easily fit into a Runway Roller™.  A trimmer this specialized, at this affordable price, makes it a cut above the rest. 

 

Winter and Holiday– Two distinct but coordinated programs, celebrating both the fun of winter activities, and the classic look and feel of Christmas traditions.  Each program contains a variety papers, trims, stickers, tags, rub-ons, paints, foam stamps, kits and more. 

As always, products listed above, along with all Making Memories' current products are available to purchase on our web-site www.makingmemories.com .

Sneak Peaks Revealed

As promised, (drum roll please), we are revealing the “sneak peak” products we have been posting Fridays for the past 2 weeks.  The CHA show opened this morning in the Chicago area, and along with many retailers, you are getting the first look at some of our hottest new releases

Sneak Peaks July 7 –

Are you Cheeky?  If not, you will be as soon you try our latest style program. Cheeky™, is a collection of coordinating Papers, Pebble Stickers™, Glitter Alphabet Stickers, Ribbons and Trims, Chipboard Alphabets, Clips and more in both Abby™ and Emery™ color palettes. Making Memories’® Cheeky™ line will be available from your local retailer in late Aug. 2006.

Decorate Life: Celebrations ™ is our latest literary creation.  The third volume in our Decorate Life™ series, Celebrations™, is like having your very own private party planner.  From holidays and birthdays, to baby showers and weddings, this book offers a captivating guide to delightful gatherings.  Available from local your retailer, the festivities will begin late Aug. 2006.

Sneak Peaks July 14 –

Ribbons are the most sought after accessory, second only to shoes, that is, and now you can get Making Memories® most popular ribbons and trims in bulk.  These 8 Cheeky™ inspired trims will be available by the yard from local retailers in late September 2006. 

Get that little bit of sparkle worthy of any red carpet event, with Making Memories® Scrapbook Shimmer Kits™.  Splash this ultra-fine, professional quality glitter on any surface for that extra audacious twinkle.  Available in four custom color palettes – Springtime, Boho, Childhood and Cityscape.  Each kit contains 6 coordinated bottles of shimmer and an easy to use funnel tray.  Use with Making Memories® Ready-to-Glitter™ stickers, to create custom shimmer stickers that make every project shine.  Both Scrapbook Shimmer™ and Ready-to-Glitter™ stickers will be available in stores in Oct.  2006.

Stay tuned next week for more tips on being the first to get our latest product releases. 

Summer Flower Challenge

I love summer! Even during the Texas heat, I love the kids being home, family vacations, and blockbuster movies. But one of my favorite things about summer is the blooming of beautiful flowers. Flowers are my passion. I love them! In home decor, in the garden, on clothing and accessories, and especially on my scrapbook pages! I am always trying to find new and different ways to include them on my layouts. Here's a fun way to use the MM Petals and Blossoms on a scrapbook page:

1) Attach pattern papers and photo on a scalloped cardstock background as shown.

2) Cut various petals and blossoms in half.

3) Attach the cut blossoms/petals across the page below the photo.

4) Attach the other half of each blossom/petal above the bottom row (don't attach the top half to the flowers that are directly below the photo). Mix up halves for a unique look.

5) Adhere ribbon across the page where the two halves of each flower meet. Tape the ends of the ribbon to the back.

6) Add buttons to flower centers over ribbon.

This was fun! I challenge you to cut those blossoms and petals in half and get creative! Attach them to the edge of a photo, use them as a border, create a floral frame...the possibilities are endless! So take the challenge and be sure to upload your page to the MM Idea Gallery. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Happy scrapping,

Mellette

Supplies:

Scalloped edge cardstock-buttercup

MM Kids Emma paper-flowers

Boho Chic Olivia paper-floral lattice

Boho Chic Lauren paper-box flower

Ledger paper

Nothing But Numbers-spotlight

Blossoms and Petals

Ribbon-blueberry and rose

Simply Fab Maddi ribbon-velvet yellow

Vintage Hip buttons

Photo anchor and mini brad-silver

Off to CHA

Everyone here at MM is getting ready to attend the Craft and Hobby Show which is at the end of this week in Chicago.  This is where we introduce our new product to the retail stores.  Jen Allen from MM is in charge of our shows.  She along with many others puts many, many, many hours of preparation into this event.  We set up our booth in our warehouse and tweak and tweak until everything is perfect.  After all the new product arrives and is set up, new samples are made, a new catalog is finished, and everything is complete, the booth is packed up and shipped to Chicago. 

We shipped 12 large crates, 6 palettes full of boxes and other stuff, 10 rolls of carpet and 10 rolls of carpet pad.  All of this fits double-stacked into a large semi truck.  Once the truck arrives in Chicago we go through the process of setting everything up again in preparation for the big show.  It’s A LOT of work but lots of fun too.  Wish us luck!

Meet Jolene George

Jolene currently resides in Mesa Arizona with her husband of 20+ years, her 5 handsome sons, 1 beautiful daughter-in-law, and her first grandson which will make his debut this September. 

Jolene is a veteran when it comes to scrapbooking.  Her 10+ years of experience has allowed her to see this industry evolve into what it is today.  She has seen lots of new product releases, new styles, techniques, etc.  If she had to pin-point one particular product favorite, hers would be the MM ribbon charms and rub-ons, because she can use them pretty much anywhere and on anything. 

Since Jolene has a house full of boys, her scrap room has become her place of refuge; it’s the only room that’s all hers.  It feels warm cozy, has the look of country-like décor, and has the background sound of country and soft rock music or the food network.  Her favorite possessions (besides her family, of course) are her Cannon Rebel XT and her computer, which both reside in this room with her. 

Her favorite way of organizing is to use jars.  She uses them to organize all sorts of things such as ribbon, buttons, flowers, etc.  She then keeps all these jars in a spice rack.  Jolene loves how quickly she can find what she needs by a simple turn of the rack.  Jolene adds, “Who wants to spend all their time in search of that little something? Certainly, not me.”

Lavender Runway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who submitted their favorite purple pieces.  We got a lot of fun entries from flowers, to jewelry, to shoes, to scrapbook pages, etc.  It was so much fun to look at all of them.

The person who won happens to be a huge fan of the color lavender.  She says, “I could take pictures of several purple things in my life….. my Amethyst colored Durango that I drive.  My lavender plants in front of our house.  My favorite homemade Lavender French Vanilla Ice-Cream….. my purple Crocs, my Memory Dock Grape colored planner…. The list goes on.”

Congratulations to Shannon Stamp from WA who is our winner.  She submitted a picture of her lavender and sage green comforter on her bed.

A BIG congrats to Shannon and a BIG thanks to everyone who entered.

 

Sneak Peak (part II)

You saw the sneak peak from last Friday and you are ready for another one, right?

Well, here you go.

We're headed to Chicago soon for the show (only one week left - we can't wait).  Next Friday we will be revealing more so check back for a full scoop!

THANKS for all your submissions for your favorite purple pieces.  We are taking a closer look at all of them and we'll post a winner on Monday!

Happy Friday!