Making Memories

Monogram Necklace Gift Ideas

The holidays are a time for lots of treats, especially here at the office. Usually I make chocolate dipped pretzels for my work friends. However, this year I wanted to give something different - something with zero calories. :) I thought jewelry would be a better option. I created these monogram necklaces for my co-workers in minutes using Vintage Groove. Chocolate covered pretzels taste better, but these monogram necklaces will last much longer!

Check out the Vintage Groove website to see the entire collection and to find a retailer in your area.

Advent Calendar

We get so many requests from our reader about this advent calendar so I thought I would post it again this year. This advent calendar was created by Katie from California. See below for her instructions.

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 snowflake 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.

1. 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.
2. Glue down the red snowflake paper making sure the paper is centered (so the space above and below are even).
3. Create a calendar template (or download one here). Leave a little border all the way around instead of cutting it right to the black line.

1. Center the calendar paper in the middle of the red paper and adhere down.
2. Glue two strips of white ric-rac on the border of the red and green paper.
3. 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. We hope your day is filled with lots of memories.

Give Thanks Tray

This adorable Give Thanks tray was created by Wendy Anderson. Wendy used the Slice and the Turkey Daze Design Card.

If you need a last minute decor idea for your Thanksgiving table, give this one a try.

Big Box Advent Calendar

Amy from Mod Podge created this awesome advent calendar using boxes. It's a perfect decoration for your home this holiday season. November is leaving us quickly so get started early on your advent calendar.

Check out Amy's blog for all the details on this project.

Free Product Friday Winner

Help me congratulate our Free Product Friday winner from 11/12. The winner is Heather Ippolito.

Heather Ippolito please email Maricarmen at mnecochea@makingmemories.com so we can send your prize.

Congratulations.

Guest Designer Aphra Boyler

Today we are so excited to have Aphra Boyler as Making Memories' guest designer. She created a beautiful layout just in time for fall.

For my Fall Find layout, I chose the beautiful new Making Memories Paper Reverie collection.  The rich browns and oranges were a perfect match for my photo.

I LOVE the decorative edge on the glittered Specialty Sienne paper, so I used it as the base of my stacked strips.  I piled on some Leopard paer, Brun gem tape, pleated Brun tape, and a Metallique scalloped border sticker.  Ahhh, this collection has so much pattern and texture available.

I used my Slice Noteworthy Design Card to cut all the fun frames on my layout.  To give the appearance of chipboard, I cut each shape three times, glued them together, backed them with patterned paper, and then embellished each. 

Finally, for my title, I pulled out some Making Memories Autumn Spice metallic chipboard alphas that I've been hoarding for a while.  I love the size and the shimmery bronze finish.  To give them a little richer tone that matches the Sienne paper, I lightly brushed them with some alcohol ink.  For the second word of the title, I created a little banner out of the argyle pattern on the back side of the Bees Handwriting paper.  I just cut out each of the diamonds and then folded them over a piece of baker's twine.  The small letters that spell out "find" are Halloween Shimmer Alphas backed with cream cardstock. 

It was such a pleasure to get to Guest Design for Making Memories today.  Thanks Making Memories!

 

Stunning Layout by Keisha

Making Memories designer - Keisha Campbell - never ceases to amaze me with her talent. She used Making Memories' Paper Reverie collection and the Slice for her layout. 

What do you think of this project? 

Free Product Friday

Today is Free Product Friday! The prize today is your choice. You get to pick which collection sample you would like to recieve.

Enter this giveaway by letting us know what you are thankful for. The winner will be chosen on Monday.

 

Guest Designer Carina Lindholm

Today we are hpapy to have Carina Lindholm as Making Memories' guest desiger. She comes all the way from Sweden.

 

Carina created a project with the Making Memories’ Noel collection. Carina explained how she created her projects.

 

 

I knew right away that I wanted to use Making Memories’ Noel collection for my project. I think it’s so beautiful. I ended up mixing the Noel papers along with embellishments from past collections.

 

To create this layout, follow these simple steps:

 

1. Cut Kraft cardstock to 11 ½” x 11 ½” and adhere it to the dotted paper.

2. Cover frame with red snowflake paper.

3. Adhere music note paper inside the frame.

4. Adhere photos, white flowers, leaves, and metal key to the frame.

5. Cut out green snowflakes from paper and adhere them to the layout.

6. Add title with alpha stickers.

 

Items Needed:

Paper: Making Memories’ Noel collection (green snowflake, music note, brocade, snowflake argyle).

Embellishments: Making Memories Mistletoe metal key, Noteworthy Shimmer alpha, flower shop blossoms.

I also created a Christmas card. 

1. Adhere green/beige paper on the card base.

2. Cut out green snowflakes and adhere to the card.

3. Cut out “Christmas Greeting” sign and adhere on the large snowflake.

4. Draw “stitching” around the edge of card.

 

Thank you Carina for sharing your talents with us.