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 Wednesday, October 08, 2008
a few of my favorite things ...
10/8/2008 9:21:44 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Graphic 45 paper: I've
never really been drawn to vintage papers until I came across Graphic
45 (I'm a contemporary and minimalist kind of girl). The colors,
collage and layered look, and vintage feel make all their collections
SO yummy! American Crafts clear back letter stickers: I
love how these stickers are easy to peel off and work with. They have
unique font choices too! (the photo shows the Chloe font). I love how
they don't look like stickers when I adhere them to a project.  These two products made a simple and lovely birthday card for a dear friend.  My
newest favorite thing is photography. I mean, I've always loved it, but
I have been spending more time lately learning more about the technical
side and taking lots more photos. Luke and I got our wedding photos
back last weekend and every time I look through them I remember why I
love photography so much ...  ...
It's moments like this, with my dad, that I want to vividly remember.
The photo tells the whole story; the time of day, the occasion ... and
by our expressions i can still feel the emotions i felt that moment
every time i look at the photo. I believe it's why I love to scrapbook
too, it captures all those beautiful memories I want to always hold
close to my heart. christy
cardmaking | photography | products we're loving
10/8/2008 9:21:44 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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Tuesday, October 07, 2008
November/December Recap
10/7/2008 10:59:34 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
The November/December issue hits newsstands today. I’m here to provide you with a few highlights:
WEB EXCLUSIVES Get a jump-start on your holiday cards. We've got FREE card templates by Michelle Coleman available at memorymakersmagazine.com/holidaycards.  Get inspired by Hot Off The Press Designer Tessa Bundy’s star card tutorial at memorymakersmagazine.com/hotoffthepress.  More digital goodies: Download FREE digital labels at memorymakersmagazine.com/labels.
PG. 12The November/December calendar is packed with prompts that will keep you scrapbooking ‘til your heart’s content. A few of my favorites:*Create a layout or mini-album that shares what reading means to your family. Make a tribute to your favorite book, local library or literary character. *Make a page about your fondest cold-weather memory. *Have a Welcome Winter gathering with cozy blankets, hot chocolate and your favorite holiday movies. (Document the evening for scrapping later.) PG. 18Make the most of your family gatherings this holiday season. Grab photography tips in this issue’s Focus on Images column. Plus, get tips on how to photograph holiday lights from Frank Siteman, professional photographer and Digital Photo Academy instructor.  See inspiring examples from Frank's portfolio in this Web exclusive. PG. 12I love to use paint on layouts. Check out the Try This column for a few painting tips. You’ll find two more cool painting techniques on the Masters’ blog, here and here. PG. 48Looking for a quick gift idea? Make a mini-album. In Good Things Come in Small Packages, Master ’07 Crystal Jeffrey Rieger shares 15 creative ideas for mini-albums that can be created in just a few hours. PG. 54Enjoy stress-free holiday scrapbooking with the timesaving tips Courtney Walsh shares in The Busy Scrapper. Plus, get a sneak peek from the book by the same name (to be released in November). As always, please let us know your thoughts. Our readers are our #1 priority, so we truly appreciate hearing what you like and dislike about each issue. All the best, Katie
current issue recap
10/7/2008 10:59:34 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, October 03, 2008
Go With the Grain
10/3/2008 2:19:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) One of my favorite techniques for fixing a bad photo is to go with the grain.
This is a BAD photo; it's dark and the background is distracting. When I lighten the image, the grain and noise intensifies.
The first thing I do is zoom in and crop. This gets rid of the floating arm and focuses the eye on the central subject--my daughter blowing out her birthday candles. Next, I reach for my favorite Photoshop actions, the Totally Rad Actions by Boutwell Studio. An action is a recording of a series of commands in Photoshop; it automates just about any task.
Instead of trying to reduce or eliminate the grain, I run with it by playing the Old Skool Totally Rad Action. In the end, I have a more focused, noisy, dramatic image with a vintage flair!
Here are a few of my favorite Old Skool photos.
If you'd like to try this technique without purchasing the Totally Rad Actions, I'd recommend this FREE Holga action.
Here's a photo I processed using the Holga action from the Adobe Exchange.
Remember, gotta bad photo? Go with the grain! Happy weekend.
Grace and Peace,
 Emily Powers
Emily is a freelance artist and photographer from northeast Ohio. She is a 2009 Contributing Editor to Memory Makers Magazine. She's married to her high school sweetheart and has a three-year-old daughter and three furry children.
10/3/2008 2:19:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Instructions for Handmade Journal
10/1/2008 9:57:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
techniques
10/1/2008 9:57:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Ideas for Easy Organization
9/30/2008 11:11:23 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Recently, I got up the motivation to organize my scrap space (one-half of the spare-room office I share with my husband). Now that everything has a place, I scrap easier and faster, and more often. And clean up is always a breeze!  Here are some of my secrets to easy organization:{below} I keep my embellishments organized in these plastic desk-top drawers, which come in multiple sizes and colors (and I keep another set in black for my sewing supplies). The drawers are transparent so I can easily see which drawer holds what.  {below, left} I need super simple strategies for organizing, so my big plastic drawers are the best way for me to keep larger items organized. The bottom drawer holds all my paper—both full sheets and scraps, plus my trimmer. That way, I can see all my patterns at once and then toss leftovers right back in. I stash my sheets of letters (my supply obsession) in the top drawer for easy access. The middle drawer holds blank cards, envelopes and empty mini albums.   {above, right} This is possibly my favorite organizational and money-saving trick. I had a ton of random baskets and this plain black bookshelf that I used to house all my miscellaneous tools and supplies like paint. But they didn’t look all that neat or pretty. So I sewed a fabric square to hang on a tension rod to disguise the mismatched arrangement. The baskets are small, so I just grab a couple from the shelf before I scrap and then toss everything back when I’m done. Want tons of great organizing ideas from the Memory Makers Masters? Click here to purchase a copy of Ask the Masters: Organizing Your Scrapbook Supplies.
Happy organizing! Kristin
Memory Makers Books | organization
9/30/2008 11:11:23 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Organize like a Master!
9/30/2008 10:53:16 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  If you’re a fan of the Memory Makers Masters, then you’ll be excited to know that the third installment of the Ask the Masters! book series is here! With sidebars full of tips and a gallery of layouts from the Masters, Organizing Your Scrapbook Supplies will have you bursting with inspiration and getting organized like a Master. For tons of great organizational ideas, you’ll have to grab a copy of the book for yourself. But here are some sneak peek ideas: Keep a stack of rub-on sheets in one place by punching a hole and inserting a binder ring. So simple!  Here’s another: Keep sheets of letters organized in a notebook binder. Ready for more ideas? Click here to purchase a copy of Organizing Your Scrapbook Supplies today! And don’t forget about the other books from the Masters: Scrapbook Solutions and Making the Most of Your Scrapbook Supplies.   Kristin
Memory Makers Books | organization
9/30/2008 10:53:16 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Celebrate World Card Making Day
9/29/2008 2:26:08 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Did you know that this Saturday is World Card Making Day? Read all about it here! For me, every day seems to be World Card Making Day. I make a lot of cards at home. I’ve made it my mission to use my card-making skills to brighten people’s days. Whenever my husband needs a card for someone, I’m there. And I seem to have designated myself the official office card maker as well. In honor of the upcoming World Card Making Day, I thought I’d share some recent cards as well as my best card-making practices.   {Above, left} Sympathy card for my friend.Ribbon: Amy Butler for K&Company
Letters: American Crafts Thickers (foam, Daiquiri){Above, right} Birthday card for bird-lover Katie Hilbert.Paper: American Crafts' new Moda Bella line (which I adore!)Tag: Martha Stewart CraftsCard-Making: Best Practices• I make all the birthday cards for one month at one time at the beginning of the month so I’m not caught empty-handed. My husband has five siblings, plus their wives and families, so that side alone adds up to a lot of birthdays to remember! • I keep a huge stack of white 5"x7" envelopes that I got here in my desk drawer. That way, I’m never left without a large-enough, coordinating envelope. • I keep white cardstock (just plain-old printer cardstock) on hand to use as card bases. It frustrates me to no end to make a beautiful card and then realize too late that the inside is too dark or patterned to write in. • I use the same basic template for almost every card (just look at the cards on this page!). Sometimes I flip it around, but the basic design is still there. It allows for creativity in the pattern and details (which I take care to cater to the recipient) but saves time having to plan the actual layout.   {Above} A "manly" card for my carpenter/artist brother-in-law,
complete with undressed chipboard, staples and roughed-up eyelets. Letters: American Crafts Thickers (vinyl, Daiquiri)
What are your best card making practices? How will you kick-off the holiday card making season? Have any special plans for World Card Making Day? Share your thoughts! Happy Monday. Kristin {below} Card my sweet husband left in my car for me last week.
Just had to share!
cardmaking
9/29/2008 2:26:08 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, September 26, 2008
Quick Multi-photo Layout
9/26/2008 10:31:12 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  I was inspired by Kristin's Favorite Things layout, so I made this Hello, Fall page using the contact sheet photo technique she learned from Genevieve Simmonds in Claudine Hellmuth's The Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit. It's a great way to quickly create a multi-photo layout. And I love the look!
Here's how I created the contact sheet in Adobe Photoshop CS2:
1. I chose the photos I wanted to use and put them in a folder on my desktop.
2. I opened a new 8.5x11 document in Photoshop.
3. Then I went to FILE>AUTOMATE>CONTACT SHEET II.
4. A box will pop up for you to enter the information necessary to create the sheet, including what folder you want Photoshop to pull the photos from, how many rows and columns you'd like, how much space you want between each photo, etc. (See the screenshot below for what I used.)
supplies: Patterned paper (Graphic 45, KI Memories) • Letter stickers (Making Memories, October Afternoon) • Paint (Making Memories) • Photo printer (Epson R1900) • Misc.: buttons, staples
I checked the box "Use file name as
caption." For my captions, I used file names to help explain the photos, which illustrate some of my favorite things about fall. The captions also serve as my journaling.
*applecider.JPGI absolutely adore apple cider. It's definitely one of my favorite things about fall. I like to drink it hot while I'm reading a good book or scrapbooking. *iheartfall.JPGI liked this photo of a heart-shaped leaf that I found on my deck. *sister_time.JPGOn a recent visit home, I had the chance to spend some quality time with my sister, and it was much-needed and wonderful. *pumpkins.JPGI love fall decorations. These mini-pumpkins are on my dining room table with my pumpkin spice candles. *new_scarf.JPG and boots.JPGI love fall fashion—boots, scarves, sweaters, jackets. * birthday.JPG and birthday2.JPGMy September birthday is a fall favorite, of course! If you try the contact sheet technique, I'd love to see your layout! Post them in our Online Idea Gallery. What are your favorite things about fall? Happy Friday! Katie
layout inspiration | photography | techniques
9/26/2008 10:31:12 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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More Office Crop Layouts
9/26/2008 9:34:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) As promised, today I'm sharing some of my coworkers' projects made during the afternoon office crop:   {Above} Managing Editor Jessica Strawser's all-time favorite things. And Art
Coordinator Eileen Aber's favorite things from 2008  {Above} Designer Kelly O'Dell's favorite TV show {Above} Designer Corrie Schaffeld's mini album (which got an "Aaawww"
from each female team member)I'm impressed with their work! So here's your weekend assignment: Think about your favorites and scrap a page. Then share it in the forum. Have a happy scrapping weekend! Kristin
Memory Makers Books
9/26/2008 9:34:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Afternoon Office Crop
9/25/2008 10:43:47 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) The Memory Makers Books team works closely with the North Light Books craft team, and from time to time we do some crafty team bonding. Yesterday, we all got together for an afternoon crop at the office—time to eat Skittles, chat and create a page about our favorite things (inspired by the Favorite Things challenge in We Dare You). And for many on the team, it was a chance to try scrapping for the first time.   Although we were all given the same challenge, we came up with totally different layout styles and themes. And various team members also learned a few things along the way: *Having a plan is the key to fast scrapping. *Self-adhesive chipboard letters are not that self-adhesive. *You can make 8.5"x11" or 2-page layouts in addition to single, 12"x12" ones. *Making a scrapbook layout inside a video-game cover is not as easy as it looks. My first wedding anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks so I decided to make a layout about my favorite things about being married:  (Contact sheet photo idea from Genevieve Simmonds in Claudine Hellmuth's
The Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit.) During the crop, I realized how many ideas I adapt from the books I’ve edited. And I was reminded that that’s what our books are for—inspiration. So go grab some MM books and get inspired! And stay tuned for another post showcasing my team members’ crop-time layouts. Kristin
Memory Makers Books
9/25/2008 10:43:47 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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A Two-for-One Hip Necklace
9/25/2008 10:23:57 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) I was at GASC Chattanooga last Friday, and two hip, lovely women walked by wearing beautiful necklaces. I commented on their artsy jewelry, and Juli, who created them, said they were super easy and cheap to make. She used panty hose (!), two washers, a magnet, a circle punch and patterned paper scraps. She promised to bring me one the next day. And she did and I love it!    Here's how to make the necklace. - Cut a thin horizontal strip of black panty hose.
- Knot it through a little washer from the hardware store.
- Glue a strong magnet to the washer.
- Use a circle punch to create two different patterned circles and glue them to a washer of the same size.
- Attach the magnet to the decorated washer. Flip sides to match your outfit.
These would make great Christmas gifts, and they'd take no time at all to make. Thanks, Juli, for sharing your art and for being such a great GASC volunteer! Hope to see you in Chattanooga again next year. Best, Beth
creative prompt | gift ideas | jewelry
9/25/2008 10:23:57 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Want to be featured on our Web site?
9/23/2008 2:52:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  We can't wait to see your work! —Katie
layout inspiration
9/23/2008 2:52:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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