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By the time you read this, we will be off in Anaheim getting ready for the show. But, we didn't want to forget to give you one last peak into our new product release.
As soon as I opened my mailbox and found this Real Simple magazine sitting inside, I knew I had found the perfect inspiration for a scrapbook page! I loved the colors and the clean presentation. I used several different elements from the cover as my inspiration.
1. The color, obviously
2. The white flower
3. The way the title and subtitle are typeset
4. A numbered list for my journaling
5. Fun bullets for each item on my list, and
6. The little strip of brown and touches of silver accents
Of course, any one of these six elements would have been great inspiration, but I had fun combining all of them to come up with my own unique layout. I used exclusively Making Memories products…here’s a list if you’re interested:
Box Flower patterned paper (from the Boho, Lauren collection)
Vintage Hip trims (mixed sticker borders)
All About Alphas letter stickers (in sherbet)
MM Kids fresh stickers (in Kate)
Vintage hip buttons (Gracen and Paisley)
Jumbo Blossoms (wildflower spotlight)
Mini Blossoms (pink)
Strawberries and Cream cardstock
Simply Fabulous Gem stickers (Brooke collection)
So, for this week, the challenge is to find inspiration from a magazine. You can use the cover, an ad, or an article…whatever jumps out at you. When you’re done, be sure to post a layout in our gallery (along with your inspiration, if you want!). Have fun!!
Everyone at Making Memories has been especially busy for the last few months. Why you may ask, because we are getting ready to release new product at the upcoming Craft and Hobby Show (CHA) on January 28-31. Almost everyone from MM will be leaving for Anaheim for the show this week. Our booth left yesterday which consists of 10 crates (that are approx. 5 feet x 10 feet), 10 pallets (stacked over 6 feet high) and 11 rolls of carpet and carpet padding. This is a huge undertaking to put on a show, but we are so excited about it. Here are some photos of our booth being packed up into a semi truck.
We are so excited for two reasons
1. We will be releasing 225 skus of new product at this show. You will soon be seeing new tools, style programs, embellishments (and more embellishments), and organization. You are going to love this!
2. The weather in Anaheim is suppose to be 70 degrees versus the 30 degree temperatures we are experiencing in Utah.
We will be posting and taking photos while we are at the show, so make sure to check back.
Sitting right in the middle of my desk, so I can clearly see it, is my favorite fabulous find: a mini journal set from Chronicle Books. These little books became mine on a recent trip to Portland; we were trying to escape the constant rain and ended up in a little “junk” store. These petite journals inspire me in so many ways. I love how perfect the colors play off one another. I love the beautiful and intricate patterns. I love all the little details. I love how the inner sheets of each journal have been designed differently. I love everything about them and it almost makes me want to not write in them.
But more than anything I love how they inspire me and make me want to work harder at making products that will inspire others. Do you have something like this? Something that pushes you? Inspires you? What’s your fabulous find?
Jessica
I always try to add a quick ‘end of the year wrap-up’ page as the final page in my albums each year. Here is a sample of one that I just made for my daughter’s album. It shows some of the photos of her favorite highlights—moving up a level in gymnastics, entering the district art show, getting an iPod, and being the first person to jump in the lake this spring (it was freezing!!)…
I used the Fresh Anthology papers and embellishments, but I didn’t have any chipboard or cardstock on hand to match. So, I simply painted my chipboard letters to match the other embellishments, and I painted small scraps of white paper with a few of the paint colors as well. It’s much faster to do that than to run out to the store for matching paper, and I love the way it matches my brads perfectly. ~ Erin
Like every girl...I love shopping and I absolutely love great finds whether it be clothes, jewelry, books, paper, art, or just random stuff! I love to go out to new cities and shop and I have been to so many cool places this past year, but I must say...I also love shopping online. One of my very favorite places on the web (and there are so many to list) is www.frenchgeneral.com where I am always finding the greatest. I love anything vintage or with a vintage feel - so this site is heaven for me. A few of my favorite things from FG: Crystal flower buttons - so beautiful. Notions kits - 20 tins of jewels and baubles in many different color sets - green is my favorite! The decorating kit...there are many different flavors to choose from - this kit is full of tags, beads, papers, feathers, ribbons, flowers, labels, and ephemera to inspire and create. ...last but not least, French General's latest book The French Inspired Home, which is such a GOOD, INSPIRING read. I just got it last month and I have looked at it at least 10 times already!
I also absolutely love the fabric and pattern designs of Amy Butler. She is such a marvelous designer and what a great eye for style. She re-creates old vintage patterns, making them new and modern through her bold and daring use of color and placement. I have purchased so many of her fabrics and patterns...now I just need to get busy sewing! I pull my stash out to look at every now and then...it just makes me happy! Lately, what I am really excited about is her new book, In Stitches, I just got it today in fact!
I have recently been introduced (by my dear Margie) to the wonderful vintage collage jewelry by Sally Jean. I have a few charms now and gave my mom and sis some for Christmas, which they just loved. Check out her site for all her designs. She has just released an amazing new book, which you will love, called Pretty Little Things. Pure joy. Seriously. Can you tell I love books?
Last but not least, from Sally Jean' web site I found this great place called Papier Valise, where you can find all sorts of unique and vintage provisions such as these:
and these: and these!
There are hundreds of fun little items all gathered from around the globe and sold in limited stock!
If you haven't already guessed it, the theme for today is VINTAGE. I love it, I have a weakness for it. Let me know of any fabulous places you have found!
One of my favorite parts about this blog is getting to know all of you who read it. I love feeling like I have a connection with readers from all over the world. Today, we are going to get to know one of our bloggers, Andrea Wiebe.
Andrea and her family have resided in the beautiful area of Westbank, British Columbia for ten years. Andrea home schools her three children (ages 7, 9 and 11) and loves every minute of it. Her love for teaching has also extended into her design room. She describes the look as a colorful school room complete with corkboards to display her children’s art. It’s no surprise that it is one of her favorite places to be.
Andrea has been scrapbooking for four years. During that time her style has matured into what she would describe as an eclectic mix of a bit of this and a bit of that. Once, while on a camping trip with her family, she decided that she needed to scrapbook because she missed it so much, so she did with no supplies. The only things she could use, was whatever she could find around her. When she showed her finished project to her family, they all agreed that it was awful, so she made a pact with them to never again scrapbook while trying to vacation. Even though she dabbles in all kinds of different mediums while creating, she always returns to her favorites, which are paper and paper flowers.
While scrapbooking, Andrea has many other favorites including her Starbucks Carmel Macchiato, her music selection of Michael W. Smith and Jars of Clay and her Bible so can incorporate various versus into her scrapbook pages. Here are some samples of Andrea's favorite projects.
Thanks Andrea for sharing a little bit about you with the rest of us.
If you would like to be featured in a poster profile, comment by answering the following questions.
1. How long have you been scrapbooking?
2. Have you ever had a “creative injury?”
3. What products do you use most often in your creations?
4. What do you listen to while scrapbooking?
This year one of my goals is to be a better photographer. I find myself constantly looking at photos and asking questions in order to learn new tips and tricks to help me improve. I assume that I am not the only one who wants to be better at photography. I have asked our designers some advice. Today Erin is going to share her knowledge with us. Read her answers to my photography Q&A below.
What kind of camera do you have? Cannon EOS 10D
Where do you like to get your photo developed? For my albums, I usually print them myself. My printer is an HP Deskjet 6890 and I like Ilford Premium Pearl paper. If I have something really large to print or need something on filterboard, then I go to Adtech Photo Lab (in the San Antonia area only).
Share one of your favorite Photoshop tips with us. I adjust the curves in Photoshop on every photo that I take. I love to play around with the curves feature because you get really great contrast with it!
In Photoshop go under Image<Adjustments<Curves
What lens do you have? Which is your favorite and why? I have Canon EF 50mm 1:1.4 ultrasonic, a Canon Zoom EF 17-40mm 1.4 USM, and a Canon Zoom EF 35-300 1.4-5.6. My favorite by far is the fixed focal lenth 50mm! It's great for portraits and I love to add a 3x macro filter on it to get my detail shots.
What are some of your favorite photography websites? I don't really surf any sites for photo tips, but I would if I had time. If I have a photo shoot coming up on a particular subject (maternity, for example), then I may do a quick search on google to get ideas. I do ALWAYS check msn’s “the week in pictures”. I love that feature. I always try to vote for a favorite, too. :o) Another site I check when I have time is this one. They have interactive photo essays that I love. Very touching and a lot make me cry.
What is your favorite camera accessory that you own? My circular polarizer...it turns my world into blue skie and big, white puffy clouds.
Any favorite books that you can recommend for people learning about photography or Photoshop? Nothing beats Scott Kelby's books on learning about Photoshop. Hands down, he is the best.
Show us one of your favorite photos that you have taken. I particularly love kids and how they have a knack for letting you know when they're *done with the camera*. Having said that, this photo makes me laough. Anything that stirs my emotions is good.
If anyone in the San Antonio area is interested in an on-location photo shoot, you can email Erin at: etintexas@yahoo.com.
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