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 Thursday, October 25, 2007
A Scrappy Costume Idea
10/25/2007 11:59:18 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  I decided to follow today's prompt in the October calendar on page 14 and create a mask using scrapbooking supplies. I cut a mask-like shape and then began to adhere paper, apply rub-ons and attach flowers. And to top the whole thing off, I used dashes of glitter for some sparkle. I’ve always been a bit shy of a lot of glitz, but after reading Master ’08 Lisa Pace’s blog entry about glitter, I was a bit inspired. To finish off the mask, I simply punched holes in the sides and used ribbon and brads to make a tie. This project might be the perfect answer for anyone who is sewing-impaired (like me) and will probably never make a Halloween costume—unless, of course, I can use my scrapbooking supplies to do so! Have you used your scrapbooking supplies to make an entire Halloween costume before? Tell us about it at the Scrappy Costume Ideas thread in the forum.Create something. Inspire everyone.
GinaMarie
Supplies:
Glitter and brads: K & Company Fresh Paint embellishment tubes
Glue for glitter: Inkessentials Glossy Accents by Ranger
Rub-ons: American Crafts
Misc.: flowers/paper/ribbon
10/25/2007 11:59:18 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Check out our new MM Messenger Bags!
10/24/2007 12:20:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Hi friends! As you can see, we're all proud recipients of Memory Makers messenger bags from Cafe Press, and we love them! They're made of durable canvas with a strong plastic liner inside, and easily accomodate a 12x12 layout.  Katie, Patty, GinaMarie, Christy & Beth The bags are easy to order and arrive in a couple of days. Past Master Catherine Feegal-Erhardt reports ordering some goodies to give away at a class she'll be teaching on a cruise ship. What about you? What are you doing with your stuff from Cafe Press? Share photos of yourself and/or friends enjoying MM goodies—come to the forum and post your pics at the Cafe Press Photos thread. Peace and love, Patty
10/24/2007 12:20:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, October 22, 2007
Cafe Press Goodies
10/22/2007 3:18:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) We're excited to share that we now have inspiring items for sale at CafePress.com. We've got T-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, messenger bags, buttons, mousepads and journals! Check out the store here, and let us know what you think. If there's an item you'd like to see included, please e-mail us at editorial@memorymakersmagazine.com.   Enjoy! All the best, Katie
10/22/2007 3:18:02 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, October 19, 2007
Frosty Fun!
10/19/2007 12:30:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  Earlier this week MM recieved some new product from Heidi Grace. I totally fell in love with the Frost Blvd. collection. The different shades of blue, silver, white and warm grey evoked some wonderful memories from last winter. I immediately became inspired to take the product home and create a Christmas tag and a book to hold photos and journaling for the winter days that lie ahead. I am not a big fan of the cold weather, but there's something to be said of warm blankets, hot chocolate and sitting by the fireplace with a great book in hand. Even better: I have one tag done for a Christmas present and a book just waiting to be filled with warm memories. For more holiday project ideas click here. I hope Friday flies by for you so you can run home, spend time with those you love and have a restful weekend! Christy Supplies: Heidi Grace: Frost Blvd. collection (patterened paper, satin stickers, rub-ons, ribbon) Note: I even used part of the packaging because it was so cute. A great way to recycle, right? :) 
cardmaking
10/19/2007 12:30:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, October 18, 2007
Testing the Digi-Waters
10/18/2007 12:01:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) I have wanted to test the digi-waters for quite some time, so when I found Picnik.com, I was excited to try my hand at digital or hybrid scrapbooking. This free online site allows you to download pics from flickr, picasa, facebook, photobucket or your computer. All of the basic tools are free, but if you wa  nt something a little more advanced, it’s only $24.95 for the year. I had to download the latest flash player, but it was painless and quick, and I was able to begin editing in minutes. At Picnik.com you can edit, crop, resize, sharpen, delete red eye and use other basic tools. The real fun comes in when you add effects, text and shapes to your photos. There are really a lot of possibilities, and I had such a fun time exploring the different effects. Once you’ve created the effect you want, you can save the image to your computer, share them on your blog or print them whenever you get a chance. If you have drooled over layouts like the one in Master ’08 Tracie Radtke’s last blog, now is your chance to experiment with hybrid scrapbooking and all-digital layouts. I think Picnik is a great option if you want to experiment without investing a lot of money into a photo-editing program. I really liked the results, given the fact that I was able to do  everything online without downloading or investing any money. If you decide to test the waters and want to talk about it, check out the Testing the Digi-waters thread in the forum. Let me know what you think about picnik.com, or share information about other photo sites you love. Top Left: Eating one of my favorite pasta dishes while I was home visiting my family. Left: A picture of my dad who is a photo-journalist and constantly taking pics, but rarely in front of the camera. Create something, Inspire everyone. GinaMarie
Digital Scrapbooking
10/18/2007 12:01:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Christmas Is Coming ...
10/17/2007 9:56:30 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) While most people's thoughts are on Halloween costumes, pumpkin carving, and trick or treating, I'm looking a little further ahead to Christmas. It always sneaks up on me, mainly because I so love fall, Halloween and particularly Thanksgiving, and I get swept away by all things autumnal. Before I know it (and I should know it sooner because holiday decorations and catalogs are already everywhere!), it's December, and I'm trying to cram shopping, baking, gift buying, card writing, etc. in among work and everyday life. Even though we're a small family with a pretty laid-back approach to the holidays, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and a bit frantic. Last year, I took a more leisurely approach, and it helped immensely. I went to Organized Christmas and used its 6-week organization plan to complete most of my holiday planning and preparation by the first weekend in December. This free site offers more than 50 printable forms, calendars and checklists for creating a personal holiday planner. I'm reusing the holiday planner I made last year from Christmas scrapbook paper, chipboard and binder rings, and I'll just print out and add in the 2007 forms. (For an even easier planner solution, just use a 3-ring binder.)   While I didn't follow the Organized Christmas plan to the letter, it
offered a step-by-step big picture that helped me ensure that I
wouldn't overlook anything I felt was important to our family and our
traditions. This year's program kicks off October 21 with "Get
Organized Week." Wanna join me in a more organized Christmas? In the
meantime, pass the candy corn ... Best, Beth
10/17/2007 9:56:30 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
New Page Calls for the May 2008 issue
10/16/2007 12:03:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Come to the forum and check out the most current page calls. We want to see your pages about Fresh Starts: Weddings, Graduations, New Jobs, Moving/New Homes, New Normal (life after after a change in health), New Hobbies, New Goals, etc. This call is pretty wide open. And we want to see baby pages: younger than toddlers. Check out the detailed requirements in the forum. Please do NOT post any pages here. Thanks and we can't wait to see your layouts! Peace and love, Patty
10/16/2007 12:03:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, October 15, 2007
November/December Issue
10/15/2007 11:24:56 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Just a quick note that the November/December issue goes on sale tomorrow, October 16! If you're a subscriber and already have your hands on a copy, we'd love to hear what you think. Leave us a comment below. A few of my favorites in this issue:1. Audreys Neal's tips for taking group photos on page 30. I love all of the family get-togethers that happen during the holidays, but it sometimes can be a challenge to snap great group shots. 2. The Clearly Unique article about transparencies by Courtney Walsh on page 32. I love the look of transparencies, and Courtney offers up some crafty ideas for incorporating them in your layouts. Plus, Courtney includes a number of ways you can attach them. 3. The Get An Attitude of Gratitude feature on page 66. Lately, I've been addicted to making theme albums. (Right now, I'm working on an album about my apartment and the comforts of home.) I think creating a gratitude journal is a lovely idea. "Gratitude journals can serve as personal reminders of the good in your life, or you can share them with others as part of your home or holiday décor," Courtney Walsh writes in the article. At the end of every day, in my personal journal, I write down five things I am grateful for—in my life or about the day that's coming to a close. I could easily adapt some of these for use in a decorated gratitude journal. 4. Séverine Di Giacomo's layouts in The 30 Minute Scrapper, page 84. I'm especially drawn to Les Couleurs and Routine. I love the idea of capturing the small, everday moments in our lives. The translation for the journaling on her Routine layout reads: "I like to begin my days with coffee, orange juice and fruit. During the week I savor my breakfast alone while everyone sleeps." Sometimes, it's the simple moments that mean the most, yet these often get overlooked when we're looking for subjects to scrapbook. (For more on capturing everyday moments, check out That's Life from Memory Makers Books.) We hope everyone enjoys the issue, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts. All the best, Katie
10/15/2007 11:24:56 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, October 12, 2007
Embracing Your Style
10/12/2007 2:25:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  
Yesterday I was taking the style quiz in Find Your Groove by Kitty
Foster and Wendy McKeehan, and I must say it left me a little
unsettled. The quiz rated me as having a Shabby/Old World style, but
what I wanted to be was eclectic or hip and trendy. I kept asking my
co-workers what they thought I was because I’ve never felt like any one
category completely described my style. Last night as I was working on
a page of my boyfriend’s recent visit to town, it struck me. I have a
bit of a shabby style…and there’s nothing wrong with it. I have a
conglomeration of many styles and it’s fine, because it’s mine. I’ll
take my distressed painted and inked edges, my melted wax and ribbon,
metallic penned hearts, bottle cap and gemstones. I’m a mix of a lot of
different things, but what’s important is that it’s all me. Embrace
your style. I like finding inspiration in everyone’s pages, but in the
end when I’m working on my art it always comes back to having an
element of me in each page. Don’t lose your style to win a contest or
receive praise. Be true to you because it’s all you can be.
Create something. Inspire everyone. GinaMarie   Supplies: October Afternoon: patterned paper Ranger: Tim Holtz distressed crackle paint Colorbox: silver ink Making Memories: paint Heidi Swapp: gemstones and ghost hearts Adornit: foam letters
10/12/2007 2:25:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Some Friday Fun
10/12/2007 1:39:17 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) It's a little cloudy and chilly in Cincinnati today, but that doesn't keep the MM team from having a little fun. We decided to go pumpkin picking during lunch today. The church down the road from the office is selling pumpkins to raise money for a missions trip. We kindly asked one of the girls who was working there to take our picture. I bought a little pumpkin to paint and a big one for Luke to carve this weekend. Hope your weekend is great! Christy  
10/12/2007 1:39:17 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, October 11, 2007
What’s in a work space? SBIG Creativity Challenge
10/11/2007 10:47:22 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) If you saw Master Tracy Austin’s blog entry about her workspace compared to her hubby’s desk, you’ll get a hint of where I’m going with today’s blog. Christy (MM art director) and I have become friends as well as co-workers, sharing our faith with one another, our trials and tribulations and our hopes and dreams. And just like blood sisters can often be, we’re as different as night and day! This picture was taken at a picnic this past weekend.  Christy and I work side by side, separated by only a cubicle wall (upon which Africa the stuffed turtle sits). Part of why we sit so closely is that we collaborate constantly as an issue is prepared for print. But check out how radically different we keep our work spaces! Yes, my desk always looks like this; this is not just a bad day. I know where everything is and I bounce around throughout the day doing a little editing here, a little writing there, and occasionally a little layout design (usually right on top of everything else). Those green folders are columns and features for the Feb 08 issue. Note the chocolate donuts nearby. I've got my day planner and favorite Vera Bradley purse behind me ... I'm ready for anything!  Christy, on the flip side of the wall, maintains this order on her desk and is just as ready for the world as I am. It makes her a little uneasy to have to come to my chaotic cubicle if you want to know the truth. Note that Africa (our stuffed turtle that reminds us that slow and steady wins the race) casts his eyes onto the serenity of Christy's space.  And here’s how all of this ties into the Scrapbook Idea Gallery (SBIG) Creativity Challenge. (SBIG is on sale now at your local bookseller.) SBIG challenges you to “find your style.” •Clean & Classic •Romantic & Shabby Chic •Digital & Hybrid •Modern & Eclectic SBIG Challenge: 1. Take a photo of your desk/work space 2. Create a layout that echoes the style of your work area (see style categories above) 3. Include multiple photos (more than one) on your layout 4. Post BOTH the photo of your work area AND your layout in the forum in the SBIG Challenge thread before midnight October 25 5. The subject of your layout may be about your work space or not. Your layout just has to echo the style of your work space. The randomly chosen winner of this challenge will receive a copy of Find Your Groove by Kitty Foster & Wendy McKeehan ( Memory Makers Books). Can’t wait to get to know you all a little better and see your layouts! Peace and love, Patty
10/11/2007 10:47:22 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Give Us Your Expert Input ...
10/9/2007 3:34:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) We’re working on some Cafe Press items and want your expert input! Tell us: 1) Which of these slogans appeals to you, and 2) What products would you be most likely to purchase for yourself or as a gift (mugs, journals, calendars, messenger bags, stationery, T-shirts, etc.)? 1. Possibly slogans: a) I'm a Memory Maker! b) Will scrap for product. c) Got Adhesive? d) Ideas. Inspiration. e) Mommy's Little Photo Op f) Go away ... I'm Scrapping! 2. Possible products: g) coffee mugs h) calendars i) T-shirts j) journals k) mousepads l) magnets & buttons m) stationery n) messenger bags Come to the forum and share your opinions on the Café Press thread. Then stay tuned for when and how to order your very own MM products—it’ll be SOON!
10/9/2007 3:34:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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