Making Memories

Chat with Wendy on A Million Memories

Wendy is doing an online chat with A Million Memories tonight.  For more information see Wendy's blog so you can join her.

Education Week - Tag Curler

Sometimes I wonder if I love scrapbooking as much as I do because of all the cool tools I get to use. For example, I love my sewing machine, paper trimmer and punches. Scrapbooking without them just wouldn't be the same for me. I made this page using another cool tool: MM's tag curler. Although the tag curler is great for curling tags onto ribbon, which by the way is a fun way to embellish presents, I like to curl it onto paper too. To create the border on this page, I cut strips of paper then curled the tags onto the ends. Once I adhered the strips to the page, I put a block of paper over strips then machine stitched across the top and bottom.

If you've never tried the tag curler, it's really easy to use. The first time I tried it, I just followed the pictures on the back of the box and it just took seconds to do. MM has a lot of different themed tags for curling plus they also now have these really cute epoxy tags too, which I can't wait to try!

Just as a side note, the photo on this page was taken in Hawaii. My family and I love dropping by this little truck on the North Shore of Oahu after our all-morning swim. This truck sits on the edge of a shrimp farm so the shrimp is fresh and tastes so good! Being there with my family is one my all-time favorite things to do. We just love it!

Leah

Education Week - Shimmer Kits

Who does not love a little bling on their pages!? I know that sometimes when my "mojo" is a little low, I always look to a little shimmer to make me feel inspired again. Another thing that I love to do is make my own accents. Not only is it a way of saving a buck, but mostly it makes your pages truly unique. And it's not nearly as difficult as it looks. So, for today's challenge, we are using the awesome MM Shimmer . I love working with this glitter as it comes in little bottles with a tiny hole so that you don't cover your entire area with bling! Don't ask me how I know that! : )

I used the MM flower foam stamps and on some craft paper, I stamped some of the flowers with a glue pad instead of ink. Then I used the MM shimmer in orange, pink, blue and black to "color" the flowers.

You can also stamp the flowers with white paint and then trace it with a wet glue pen and add your glitter. Or even just add your glitter to the still wet paint.

After it dried a little, I traced it with respectably a black and a white pen and then I cut out the flowers. When I thought about the page, I decided to go for the diagonal look! So, get out your glitter and play and remember to upload the pages to our User Gallery so that we can all see and be inspired by you!

Love
Wilna
x

Education Week - Foam Stamps and Paint

Foam stamps and paint.  That was my assignment for Education Week.  I have to admit, I was pretty stumped about this one – I am definitely not the most creative or artistic MM designer…but I’m also not one to back down from a challenge.

Since this was a challenge for me, I decided to just sit back and play – without a plan, without a sketch, without an idea – just play.  Can I just say that I need to do this more often?!?  Here’s what I did.

1.  I love the Simply Fabulous letters, but didn’t want to use these particular colors…so I attached the letters to my background paper and …

2. …painted over them!  I used them as a mask.  I painted three good heavy coats of deep coral paint and let it dry.

3.  Since I was also supposed to incorporate foam stamps, I decided to use this paisley from the Easter set, along with a little bit of manila paint and stamp right over the top of my letters.

4.  I also painted around the edges of my background paper, then I washed out my foam brushes while I waited for everything to dry.

5.  Next, I carefully peeled up the letters (they came off beautifully and evenly, without a single tear).

6.  I wasn’t so sure about the masked area on my page, but I LOVED the way the letter stickers looked now.  Ultimately, I opted to use both sets on my page.

7.  In keeping with the “play” theme, I added some more fun patterned papers, stickers, and ribbons – then used some rare photos of me playing with my little guys!

8.  I ended up with a page that I am satisfied with…but even more importantly, it jump-started my creativity and got my mind rolling.  Sometimes pulling out some of our lesser-used tools can be a very, very good thing!

Now I’ll challenge you – pull out your foam stamps and paints and see what you come up with.  Post your project in our gallery or share a link here!

Have fun PLAYING!!

Wendy

 

Education Week - Grommet Tool

The grommet tool is really fun for creating dimension and interest to your pages. I love using the grommets to frame pictures, paper and even other embellishments on my layouts. In this particular layout I used it to create a shape that mimicked the heart drawn on my layout. Here are a few quick steps that make using the grommet tool a little easier.

1. Grommets come in all shapes but the inside size is always a circle, so it makes it much easier finding things to go inside.
2. Cut your paper/pictures into a circle first and place it inside of the grommet (just inside of the grommet prongs)  instead of putting the actual prongs through the picture or paper.  That way there are no “indention” marks on my “framed’ object.
3. Use the grommet prongs on the back of the grommet to go through the layout background paper, you are placing it on, to hold the grommet in place. 
4. Create shapes using the grommets or to follow a path (like a curve or a circle) with the grommets too. Since there are so many different sizes, shapes and colors, the possibilities are endless!

Enjoy

Christy

Education Week - Tag Maker

All the kids are back in school, right?  Well now it’s your turn to have a little education for yourself.  Welcome to EDUCATION WEEK.  All week we are going to show you new ways to use MM’s tools.  Each day this week, one of our designers will show you a cool new take on the tool and give you some great tips to use it.  We will be covering the Tag Maker, Grommet Tool, paint and foam stamps, shimmer and the Tag Curler.  Your homework will be to try the tips and techniques that learn.  Today Keisha is going to share some of her knowledge about the Tag Maker with you.

I am having a serious circle addiction, can't stop cutting them out for layouts. I also love circle embellishments, including the tag maker rims because they add a fun touch to my work.  Tag rims filled with coordinating paper add an extra touch of color to make the layout visually appealing.  A great way to make your tag rims stand out is to add a few grommets.  Add them slightly off the edge or in the center of the rims. Don’t be afraid to mix up the colors and sizes (a large tag rim with smaller grommets). It is a real simple way to add extra interest to your page. I loved adding them to my page with 3-D glue dots, so they float a bit above the page.

Supplies:

12” x 12” cardstock, Noteworthy Die-Cut paper, Funky Vintage Flocked Ruby paper and Lizzie floral vine paper, Tag Maker and rims, (large-3, med-1, small-2), Funky Vintage Fabulous Flowers, Funky Vintage Grosgrain Edge Lipstick ribbon, Grommets (flower silver/spotlight), Magnetic Stamps (Providence), Crystal Brads, Clear Creations (Doodles): Making Memories

Instructions:

1. Mount Noteworthy paper to cardstock

2. Cut an 8-9” circle from the flocked paper; mount to layout

3. Stitch layout

4. Cut Lizzie paper into various circles to fit tag rims, but don't attach the rims yet

5. Punch holes for grommets, and then add the tag rims

6. Add grommets

7. Using 3-D pop dots, place two dots onto one medium size tag rim. Add 2 large tag rims to either side of the medium tag rim where dots are.

8. Add all tag rims to layout

9. Add ribbon & flower

10. Add photo & attach Clear Creation to page with brads

Winners

Thank you everyone for posting a comment about Making Memories new product that was released at Memory Trends.

We picked three winners from the many comments that were submitted.

Congratulations to:

• Carolyn
• Shelley May
• Melanie aka Bat Girl

If you are one of the winners, email me (jweston@makingmemories.com) your address.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the first day of fall on September 23rd.

Kraft Paper and Dye Challenge

Here is a great way to use your MM Kraft paper.  This idea was emailed to us by Kim Frantz.  She used dye to create her own customer colors of Kraft paper.  For alternative dyes, you can use re-inkers (normally used for re-inking ink pads).  You just need to dilute them with water.  The more water you use, the less intense the color will be.  Tea, Kool-Aid and even watercolors work (liquid water colors need to be diluted with water).

Another fun way to color Kraft paper is to wrinkle and wet with a spray bottle, rub Distress Ink by Tim Holtz across the surface, then use a warm iron to speed dry. Can produce a similar look to dyeing.

• KIM'S PROCESS:

1. Fill small plastic containers with dyes (check the instructions for proper handling).
2. Lay out paper towels for drying. You may need to protect your work surface with a layer of plastic first.
3. Tear and cut pieces of MM Kraft Paper and place into containers.
4. Experiment  - leave some pieces in the dye a short amount of time, leave others in for an hour or so. Longer times equal more intense color saturation.
5. Dye other materials as well (like tags, ribbon, and paper flowers).
6. You can let your pieces air dry or use a warm iron on an old dish towel.
7. Put your pieces in piles according to color...and just start creating!

Wilna

Many of you know Wilna as the winner of Making Memories first MM Idol competition.   Today you are going to get to know her a little better.

• Describe your scrapbooking style:

I will define my style as lyrical. Lyrical means "expressive of deep emotion, of personal nature" and another meaning is "poetic." I love the combination of words and art on my pages and try as I might, I just cannot change those two aspects of scrapbooking for me. Lyrical also refers to the romantic in me. I love subtle colors and muted tones.

• What has been your most rewarding scrapbooking moment to date?

The most rewarding moment to date was without a doubt winning the MM Idol contest. For a few reasons, first I had the opportunity to work with MM and as I realized again at CHA, working with this company is an awesome privilege.  Secondly, the competition stretched me as a scrapbooker and showed me that I can do more than I ever imagined.

• What keeps you motivated and inspired when you are working with deadlines?

I would say music and movies. The reason being is that one's mind cannot think two thoughts at once and when I am stressed, it's better to keep my mind on something else while my hands work! My iMac is on my scrap desk and one of the reasons I got it is to have a wide screen to watch movies on. I love watching movie previews and movies like Pride and Prejudice The Bourne movies, Much ado about nothing, Shakespeare in Love, The man in the Iron mask, The count of Montecristo and one of my all time favorite movies are The four feathers.
I love listening to music. My favorite band is Third Day. But I must admit that I love most music! Music really sets the tone for me to work and my biggest dream is a full surround sound in my scrapbook room! Imagine that! But I don't think my husband will agree because a) I will never come out and b) I will bring the house down with the volume.

• Tell us three things you can’t live without when scrapbooking.

Ok, so you know about my iMac. The other 2 things are my craft knife which I have had for 17 years and then I HAVE to say... Making Memories scrapbook colors (their wonderful paint).

• Tell us about your family.

Josias and I have been married since we were 20 years old in 1991. Both of us were full time students for 4 years. He studied medicine and I studied art at the University of Pretoria.  We graduated in 1996.  In 1997 our first girl, Tia was born and then Kirstin in 1999 and Jana in 2001.  We moved from South Africa to Canada in 2005 and have been living in Saskatchewan ever since.  We love our town and the friends we have made here. 

• What TV shows do you enjoy watching?

I am not a big TV fan, but my husband works Tuesday evenings so every Tuesday I love to watch NCIS.   Mostly I would watch CNN. I love news.

• Who in the industry inspires you?

This is a beautiful question. So many people! I love Mary Grace and Elizabeth Dillow sure knows how to tell stories! . To be quite frank, my most inspiration lately comes from this group of women's work.  Go there and be prepared to be amazed! 

• Describe a typical day in your life.

I am not “the” morning person, so my day starts at 8 am. After the kids are off to school, I take time and clean the house a bit. I would not say I do it (house cleaning and stuff) all the time, but I do something every day. I love the quietness of my home in the mornings. Then I would bury myself in my scrapbook room and work on projects and pages until Josias comes home for lunch. We love to have coffee together, so we would grab something small to eat at home and go to our Starbucks just around the corner to have coffee. I love a house blend, but he loves a latte. After lunch, I have an hour or two to finish up what I am doing because after I fetch the girls from School, I am a taxi. All three of them have dancing almost everyday and that keeps my busy in the afternoons. I think I should start a scrapbook class at the dance school for all the moms there! I love to cook so I usually cook for dinner (as my moms do) and after the girls go to bed, Josias and I would read or sit and chat. I love spending time with him. I think that's why we don't like watching so much television!

• What is one word best describes you?

HE{ART}. I am all in this one word. My heart is my art. My art is about my heart, my heart is my faith, and my love and my life; my art is my process. Like breathing and rain and tears.

MM's Latest Products

This week we'll be at the Memory Trends trade show in Las Vegas, where we'll unveil our newest programs including "Love Story" and "Garden Party." "Love Story" is a modern and sparkly take on Valentine's Day. Epoxy topped embellishments, glitter brads, and a host of romantic accents are truly, madly, and deeply irresistible. "Garden Party" explodes with all the promise of a new season: bright greens, yellows and blues are brought to life with scalloped edges, polka dots, and shimmery accents budding in a coordinated program of papers, stickers, flowers, brads, and tags.

To learn more about our latest release visit our Memory Trends album. Then, leave us a comment about which of these new products looks most exciting to you. We'll select three posters at random to receive $50 each worth of Making Memories newest goodies!