Making Memories

Holiday Board

One of Making Memories' designers -Leah Fung - created this beautiful holiday board using Making Memories' Mistletoe collection. This is a great project to get you in the spirit for the holidays.

You can download the instructions for this project here. 

Advent Calendar

Advent calendars are always fun to create during this holiday season. Last year Katie from California created this beautiful advent calendar using a cookie sheet. Our blog readers loved it. In fact, I still get emails about it. I thought it would be a great project to post since the holiday season is right around the corner. I hope you enjoy it again.

Supplies Needed

• White spray primer and spray paint
• 25 magnets (preferably silver and not black because black tends to leave scuff marks)
• Cookie sheet (non-Teflon)
• Assorted pieces (for daily magnet)
• Paper Trimmer and scissors
• Wet adhesive (i.e. Fabri-tac)
• Black pen, white pen, pencil
• Paper Piercer
• Sanding block
• White paint and small paintbrush
• Instant setter
• Wire cutter

Helpful Hints

Buying the cookie sheet: You just need an inexpensive cookie sheet. The dollar store has a great selection. You DON'T want a Teflon one because the magnets wont stick.

Painting the coolie sheet: You need to use spray primer and paint. I used a primer called American Accents - Oil based primer (made by Rust-Oleum) and then followed it up with American Accents Blossom White spray paint in a smooth satin finish.

**Note: It is important to spray the middle of the coolie sheet even though it will be covered with paper. It only needs the primer and it doesn't have to be a perfect coat.  Your paper will stick to the metal better with the primer coat.

Preparing the cookie sheet: Sand the edges of the cookie sheet lightly to give a distressed look. Brush off any paint dust from sanding.

Preparing the background (2 sheets of paper):Use a corner rounder to round the top two corners of one piece of paper and the bottom two corners of the other piece of paper.

• Use a get glue (i.e. Fabri-tac), glue down the vintage snowflake papers, being sure to adhere as close to the edge of the cookie sheet as possible. Rub the paper down so that the glue underneath disperses evenly.
• Glue down the paper making sure the paper is centered (so the space above and below are even).
• Create a calendar template. Leave a little border all the way around instead of cutting it right to the black line. You can download Katie's calendar template here.
  
  

• Center the calendar paper in the middle of the red paper and adhere down. Glue two strips of white ric-rac on the border of the red and green paper.
• Arrange letter for the title. Distress edges for a vintage look.

Attach a wire hanger: Use your Instant Setter to punch two holes evenly apart on the outer edges of the cookie sheet. Thread a wire through, wrapping the ends up and around, trim any excess with wire cutters.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us to all of you.

Black Friday Special for the SLICE

Get a head start on your Black Friday shopping. Buy the Slice Cordless 3-in-1 Digital Designer for $50 off. This is a online only special not sold in stores.

 
With this offer you will receive the Slice Cordless 3-in-1 Digital Designer, the Exclusive 2-in-1 Basic Elements and Seasons Design Cards, 1 Design Card Booklet, 1 6" x 6" Cutting Mat, 3 Embossing Tips, 1 Embossing Mat, 3 Drawing Tips, 1 Blade Replacement Tool, 1 Power Cord, 1 Battery Charger, 1 User Manual and these Free Gifts: Repositionable Tacky Adhesive, 1 Foam Brush Applicator, 1 Spatula Tool, 5 Replacement Blades, 12 Project Recipe Cards and a 20 Pack Assorted 8 x 8 Paper.
 
This special will only last until December 2, 2009.
 
Visit buymyslice.com for more information.

What I'm Thankful For - Keisha

Keisha - a Making Memories' designer - created this beautiful card using Making Memories Mistletoe collection. She can keep this card close by as a reminder of how thankful she is of her beautiful daughters.

 

It's Almost Time to Register for CKU Portland

Making Memories’ will be teaching classes at CKC Portland starting February 5, 2010. Tickets for classes go on sale on Wednesday, November 25th. If you plan to attend that consumer show, make sure you mark your calendar so you can buy tickets before they sell out. Click here for tickets.

Making Memories will be offering Slice Cordless Digital Designer classes at this event. The classes are as follows:

SLICE TIPS, TRICKS AND TECHNIQUES -- Intermediate Level
Join Making Memories for a fun and informative class completely revolved around Making Memories' SLICE Cordless Digital Designer. If you're ready for the next level of Slice cutting, this is the class for you! We will reveal our most innovative techniques including cutting, mirroring, shadowing, and layering. This gorgeous project comes from Making Memories' newest spring line, Flutter. You won't leave disappointed - if you know Making Memories, you know that everyone walks away a winner. You'll be adorned with specialty aprons, bags and free product! Join us for an hour of exciting craft projects and educational cutting techniques!

 

 

SLICE 101 -- Beginner Level
Class Description Join Making Memories for a fun and informative class completely revolved around Making Memories' SLICE Cordless Digital Designer. If you've ever wondered how the innovative Slice works, this is the class for you! We will cover all the basics while creating a handful of beautiful cards to use for a variety of occasions. You will use the latest product from Making Memories' baby line, Pitter Patter and our spring line, Flutter. You won't leave disappointed - if you know Making Memories, you know that everyone walks away a winner. You'll be adorned with specialty aprons, bags and free product! Join us for an hour of exciting craft projects and educational cutting techniques!

We will be announcing our consumer show schedule on Making Memories’ website. For more information about our schedule visit the Making Memories’ website.

Birthdays Galore

This is a popular birthday week here at Making Memories. Help us with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to (from left to right):

Tess - Graphic Design Manager

Tara - Product Designer

Gail - Director of Product Design

Jen - Event Manager

Christmas Canvas Wall Décor

Roxanne Olsen - a Making Memories Facebook fan - created this beautiful Christmas Canvas wall decoration. December is only about one week away, so it is a good time to start thinking about your holiday decorations.

Using the eyelets that are used in framing, I was able to screw them into the canvas frame by hand. I measured where I wanted them to go, and then marked each canvas to be identical. It helped so that they hang straight. I also added a jump ring to each of them. At the very end I connected all 3 canvases with a double sided clear glass link (you can find this in the jewelry section at a craft store).

I typed out a Christmas poem using Adobe PSE7, then printed it out on kraft cardstock. The bottom of each piece was cut with an edge punch.

Each canvas was decorated uniquely. One technique I used several times was to cut the patterned paper and some kraft paper the same size, sewed the edges on my sewing machine and then distressed the edges with Making Memories' Edge Distresser and ink. The second layer of cardstock added depth as well.

 

 

 

We have Company!

The last few days have been really exciting here at Making Memories. Some of our design team members were able to come and visit us at our offices in Utah. We had a lot of fun eating yummy dinners, training, and building friendships. It was great to have them here.

 

 

 

 

AND we have other exciting news. We are so happy that Wilna made the Two Peas Digital Creative Team. CONGRATULATIONS!!!       

Guest Designer Cindy Liebel - Thank You Mini Book

Thanksgiving is in one week from today. Here is Cindy's last idea for Thanksgiving gifts to give to your loved ones.

To create these cute bags trim and adhere floral pattern paper and leaf journaling die-cut to paper bag. Add ribbon trim to hide the seams. Use the Slice to cut a 2" leave and embellish die-cut shape with metal rim tag with leaf die-cut and metal embellishment. Pop-dot off gift bag. For the tag, repeat same process, but cut die-cut out at 3" using cardstock and adding pattern paper to metal rim tag. Adorn with ribbon.

Design card used: Think Pink and Calendar