Making Memories

Jeanette’s Giveaway

Everyone one loves a chance to win right?  If you fit in that category, take a look at Jeanette’s blog.  She is doing a giveaway today for the MM Tag Maker and rims.  If you want it, make sure to visit.

Happy Monday!

3 Ways to use brads

I was really excited about this assignment because I got to play with the new Funky Vintage product! This product ships in May, so enjoy the sneak peak! I wanted to show you three different ways to use brads (something we all have) along with a new product.  In this first layout, I wanted to draw the eye to the picture from the text, so I created an arrow using brads that started from the text and circled up to the picture. It also gives the layout a whimsical look and is a great idea when you have a lot of brads of one color and not quite sure what to do with all of them. You can also create other images such as hearts, circles, and stars.. just about anything!

 

On this second layout, I love the little details in this paper from the Funky Vintage line and wanted to dress them up a bit. So I used assorted brads to enhance the details in the paper. It's fun to find different patterns in your paper and detail it with brads. This technique is great for brads that are small and that don't nessicarly match. I also used a brad to hold a sheer object into place. Often times, glues and adhesives show through under your sheer objects, and so using a decorative brad in an obvious place on your sheers, not only adds a cute detail to it, but helps hold it in place!

Christy

Things I Love Challenge

Spring is here and I’m ready to incorporate some pastels and crisp whites into my scrapbook pages, how about you?

This page is all about my favorite place to be—at the lake. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows me. I love being at the lake because it’s an escape for me—away from my house, work, and all responsibilities. I love being there so much and just my spending time relaxing with family and friends.

Why not create a page about a place you love? For the challenge, I want you to try 3 things (or at least try one of the three!):

1. Use a white background
2. Use the Making Memories Fresh Anthology Papers
3. Print journaling strips and separate each thought with mini brads—it helps to add some color to your journaling!

Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Be sure to load your pages to our gallery for everyone to see!

Erin T.

Maggie's Studio

I feel lucky to have an entire room in my home that I can use for scrapbooking! It really makes it so convenient and nice to have a big work area and all of my supplies within reach! It is also our den so we have a desk in the room with our computer, printer, etc. I spend a lot of time in here so my boys tend to be in here a lot too. I added a little kid-sized table and chairs so that they also have a place to sit and color or make projects. Matthew, especially, loves to "scrapbook" with me! I think he mainly just likes using all of my tools - punches, decorative scissors, etc!

Almost all of the furniture in the room came from Ikea. I have my desk on one wall and then bookcases on the other three walls. In the center I have an island where I do all of my creating and it has storage inside so I can keep all of my tools and most-used items right at my fingertips! The island is actually two wall cabinets from Ikea that we attached together (back-to-back). Then we added a table top and 4 legs - also from Ikea - and we ended up with the perfect work station! We put doors on one side of the island - the side that you see when you enter the room - and then we left the other side open, without doors, so that I can just reach down and get things easily! It is probably my favorite thing in the room - so functional and yet it was so inexpensive because we did it ourselves!

I am a very neat and organized person and I like to have everything in its place! I try to keep this room as orderly as possible so that I can think and be creative in here! I do make a mess while I am working on projects but I always have to clean everything up and get it back in order before I can move on to the next thing! It's just the way I function - I have a hard time focusing and being creative when things are cluttered and messy!

Maggie

   

Photo Q&A with Joanna

• What kind of camera do you have? I have a Canon 5D, which I really, really like.
• Favorite place to get your photos developed? Usually I just print them at home with my Epson R1800, but I’ve also used on-line sites such as mpix.com.
• Share one of your favorite Photoshop tips.  To add text to your photo before printing it, use the Horizontal Type tool to draw a text box in the location where you want your text. Then select your font, font color and point size and type your text as desired. Finally, use the move tool (it looks like an arrow) to move your text into its exact location. What are your favorite photography websites that you look at for inspiration, tips, new products, etc.? I look on ilovephotography.com occasionally. I love the photography in National Geographic’s Traveler magazine, too.
• What lens do you have?  Which is your favorite and why? I have a few different lenses – 2 fixed mm portrait lenses and a 70-300 telephoto, as well as a 10-22 wide angle. My favorite is probably the 50mm fixed lens, because it functions in low light and makes portraits easy.
• What is your favorite camera accessory? I think it’s handy to have a tripod, for those times when I have a photo of myself or my kids in mind, and nobody else around to take the photo. With kids it’s important to strike while the opportunity presents itself (i.e. before the meltdown!)
• Favorite books that you can recommend for people learning about photography or Photoshop. Bryan Peterson’s book, Understanding Exposure, is very helpful in explaining the principles of photography. As for Photoshop, Scott Kelby has a bunch of books out that give helpful tips and step-by-steps. There are also photography magazines and computer magazines that can be helpful for specific functions or tips.

Here is one of Joanna’s favorite photos of her children. 

Joanna is currently working on a wedding photography business.  If you want more information about that, feel free to contact Joanna.

 

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you

Joey Whittaker is the newest member of the Making Memories book design team.  Since she is brand new, we thought it would be appropriate to get to know her a little better.  We asked her a few questions about herself and the MM Idol contest.

Tell us a little bit about your family.  I have been married to my sweet husband, Scott for 15 years. We have 4 kids; Chloe is 12, Isabel is 9, Oaken is 5, and Jilly is 2.

How long have you been scrapbooking?  I have been scrapbooking since my first child was born - about 12 years ago. I was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator at the time, creating cards and projects, and scrapbooking was just starting to get really popular. I wasn't going to start it though - I didn't need to start another hobby (I tend to go a little crazy when something new interests me - buying EVERYTHING for it and going a little overboard) and I wasn't going to do it! Well, wouldn't you know that I already had everything I needed and I haven't stopped since!

What made you decide to actually enter the MM Idol contest?  I have always loved MM products and entering the contest seemed pretty harmless. If I didn't make it to the top 50, nobody would know. Plus, I have been following American Idol and it seemed like fun to have this contest at the same time! I was so excited when I learned that I was one of the top 50 but I never thought it would go very far. I wanted to make it to the top 10 - I had been eyeballing those fabulous trimmers! When I made it to the top 5, I actually started to believe that maybe, I really could go all the way.

Describe your scrapbooking style. My scrapbooking style is on the clean and orderly side with an eclectic twist. I love to throw in an unexpected element here and there. I would also say I have a fun style that shows in the color combinations I choose and the hand-made things I create. I love to use color and pattern.

What are you most excited about in being the winner of the MM Idol contest? Are you kidding? I still can't believe I won! I am really excited about working with such an incredible company - creating with fabulous products and sharing some of what inspires me about this hobby, this lifestyle, with others.

What kind of support did you get from others while you were in this competition?  I was consistently so impressed and thankful for the support I received. My family and friends were very supportive, always interested in the next level and what the challenge was. My oldest daughter would announce it whenever she could! It was fun sharing something I was so passionate about with them and I appreciate so much their time and efforts in my behalf. But this competition was so much bigger than that, it was open to everyone and all that interest made it so much fun. So, a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated.

What is your strength that you feel like you are bringing to the MM design team?  It is still amazing to me to be considered "part of the team" and their work is so inspiring and wonderful, I can't imagine what I can bring to the table. I think my style goes great with the MM products and I love finding new and simple ways to use things. I hope to inspire people to try new things and show them how easily it can be done.

How did you handle the stress and anxiety of being in this competition?  Oh, my old friends Stress and Anxiety - I know them well! I would start off by asking my husband what he thought I should do. His answer would usually require about 12 steps, most of which would be impossible to do using scrapbooking products and I would end up laughing and then getting a little perspective. A step back and a deep breath now and again would help with stress but mostly just realizing that the challenges could be broken down into smaller steps would help. I would mull things over in my brain for awhile and then play until I found the thing I wanted to do.

Describe what you learned about yourself during this contest?  I learned I have a very supportive family who is proud of me no matter what I do. I have always known that whenever I create a page for my family I show love. They know how important they are to me and they feel special and self-worth. But I didn't know that same effect could be so much bigger. I have been touched by the hundreds of comments on the MM Idol blog about this contest and the projects. So many have talked about being inspired by things I created and that is HUGE to me!

Describe your creative process.  My creative process for this contest would usually start with reading and re-reading the next challenge. I would break down different possibilities and then go shopping! I am a firm believer that inspiration can come from shopping. I would then start working on the project...starting with the main challenge, making sure my idea was going to work, and then finishing off the project.

If you want to submit a question to Joey, feel free to leave a comment so she can get back with you.

Welcome Joey!

It’s TEA TIME

Relaxation is one of those things that we want to do, but never have time for, right?  The benefits really do outweigh the work load that stays behind.  It’s refreshing to actually think about nothing or take some time to talk and laugh, or whatever you decide to do.  It can even help us to be more creative and innovative during the rest of the day.  If you need an example to follow, take this one.  Our Graphic Design department took the initiative to set up a “Tea Time” for their relaxation.  At 3:00 every day they take 15 minutes to have a little treat and just chill. 

This is our Graphic Design Department.  (from the left)  Meet Tess, Jihae, Collin, and Amy (who is behind the camera).

So, your assignment today is to take some time and relax.  Tell us what you are going to do for your 15 minutes to yourself.

Happy Relaxing!

Fill Out Survey = Free Product

We need your feedback.  We have a short six question survey on our website.  We would love it if you could five minutes to fill it out.  After you fill it out, you will be entered to win a Making Memories Runway Tote filled to the brim with scrapbooking products.  The survey must be filled out by Monday, April 23rd.  The winners will be emailed on Tuesday, April 24th.

To fill out the survey now, click here.

The People I Love - My Family

The other day I was thinking about my life and how different I was six years ago, before I met Mark.  I had very little direction and was not sure what I wanted to do with my life or how I wanted to spend my time.  Would I start planning for my future by establishing a career?  Or would I get married and have children?  I was never really sure until Mark and I met and fell in love.  Three years later we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy, and I knew that I was exactly where I wanted to be.  It's amazing how moments of clarity can come at times when you least expect them.  At the time I met Mark I never thought that in six years I would end up with a family and my dream job.  I cannot think of anything else I would like to accomplish with my life!

It is difficult not to think about all the "what ifs".  What if Mark and I had never met?  What if we were never blessed with our son?  What if I decided not to become a stay at home mother?  My life would be so different.  I love how my life is now, and I have those two to thank.  Before them, I was living my life for myself and only six years later my dreams and goals involve two other people.

 

I wanted to document these feelings in a scrapbook layout for my new family.  I wanted to show them how grateful I am that they came into my life and changed it for the better.  There are no two people in this world that I love more than these guys, I cannot believe how lucky I have become!  They are a constant source of inspiration for my pages, and 99% of my layouts are about them.  Who better to scrapbook about than the people you love most?

My challenge for you is to create a page about the people you love most in your life.  It can be your family, your friends, or perhaps even a mentor or a role model.  Journal about why they are important to you and how they have changed your life.  The words you write will remain invaluable for both you and your subjects for years to come.

For my 9" x 9" page, I thought that the Fresh Anthology Eliza papers suited my theme well.  The pinks and blues together make a great feminine and masculine combination.  Although my photos are male subjects, the page itself is about me and my feelings towards them.  Since I wanted my focus to remain on my journaling and photos, I decided not to overbear my page with the different patterns.  For a different approach to embellishing pages, try restricting your papers to the centers of grommets and create a border across your page.  I still used 5 different patterns, but keeping them inside the grommets was the subtle touch I was aiming to achieve.  I then embellished the page with the Fresh Anthology Sydney alpha stickers, and Poolside jigsaw alphas with Fresh Anthology scrapbook colors paint in Country Blue.

Try creating this look on a tribute page for the people that you love, and don't forget to upload your photos to the MM Gallery so that we can all see!

Jill

The Winner As Been Announced

Take a look at the MM Blog to find out who won the MM Idol contest.