Memory Makers Masters Blog

All good things must...

Memory Makers Master — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:33:07 GMT

This is a very difficult post to write. I have been putting it off for some time because good byes are always so sad. I can't believe that it has been an entire year since I sat waiting and hoping that Memory Makers would call me. I knew then if they did call that it would be one of the best years ever. I can honestly say that this year did not disappoint. I have been so busy being a new mommy again that this thank you note is long over due. I just wanted to thank everyone for their generosity, support and well wishes. I am still overwhelmed by how kind and caring everyone was when Gabriella was born. Beth, Katie, Patty and the rest of the MM staff were so wonderful to me. My fellow Masters and past Masters made this year so much fun. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to meet and work with every one of you. Thank you to all the readers who I gained so much inspiration from. I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved reading all your comments and emails.

Here is a look at my Master's entry. It feels like yesterday that I packed all these layouts up with crossed fingers. Thank you again for a wonderful year!! I'm sending you all well wishes and warm good byes. Love, Melissa

A Picture of My Heart

Snow Day

The Fashion Model

All the Moments In Between

The Quiet Observer

parting is such sweet sorrow...

Memory Makers Master — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:17:50 GMT

all of us are so sad that we are the last of the Masters...

I, like my fellow masters, truly loved working for such a great company, one where the editors wrote us little notes telling us how much they appreciated us

I still feel truly honored that i was asked to be a part of such an awesome group of scrapbook artist

Amy, Vee, Anabelle, & Ronda (Me)

Anabelle, Christine, & Ronda (Me)

We got to meet each other at CHA Summer in Orlando. I am ever so thankful. They are such a good group of gals and i am bless to call them friends.

so I thought i would leave you with some finds from Summer CHA...

1. Tim Holtz filmstrip 2. Hambly Elephants 3. Sassafras lass Monsters 4. Pink Paislee Cupid Patches 5. Maya Envelopes 6 Jenni Bowlin Alpha Stickers 7 Sassafras Lass Monstrosity 8 American Crafts Letterman Thickers 9 Making Memories Christmas 10 Zva Creative Pearls 11 Hambly Couture (Dress Forms) 12 Fancy Pants Christmas Wreath 13 Jillibean Soup Kraft 14 My Little Yellow Bicycle Lace 15 AC Thickers 16 Bella Blvd Flowers 17 My Mind's Eye Abbey Road 18 7 Gypsies Seam Binding 19 Prima Letters 20 Crate Paper Seasons 21 Doodle Bug Glitter Letters 22 Hambly Lace 23 Prima Flowers 24 AC Blue Skies 25 Basic Grey Lace

Thank you all for your support this past year. I wish you many blessings & hope we gave you some inspiration to create!

Leaving you with Love, Always
Ronda

It's time to say good bye.

Memory Makers Master — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:05:56 GMT

I can't believe it's been a year already! It feels like just yesterday that I got "the call"! I cannot begin to express what a pleasure it has been to work with Memory Makers Magazine. Beth, Katie and Christy are incredible, genuine and so encouraging I will truly miss them. I will also miss working with, sharing and creating with my fellow masters, 9 amazingly talented women. All with their own unique style. I feel so blessed to have been masters with them. I also have to say thank you to all of you for stopping by the MMM blog through the year, I have really enjoyed sharing my work with you. Well I guess it's time to turn up the lights, sweep up the glitter and say goodbye. The best way I felt to do that is to leave you with pictures of my entry that I submitted to Memory Makers.

{{HUG}} Christine

Happy 4th of July

Memory Makers Master — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:42:38 GMT

Well happy 4th one day late! I hope you had a great one! And I hope you remembered to take lots of pictures. I thought I would share a 4th of July layout with you to maybe give you a little inspiration for scrapping those pictures. Supplies: Patterned paper (KI Memories, Creative Imaginations), Brads (American Crafts), Lace cardstock (KI Memories), Acrylic letters (KI Memories), ribbon (unknown) Enjoy the rest of your weekend and happy scrappin' !! gretchen

An "a-ha" moment.

Memory Makers Master — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:09:18 GMT

You know, one of those moments when something hits you square in the forehead and you think "why didn't I think of this sooner!". Well I had one of those moments the other day when I was trying to decide what size circle punch I wanted to use. It seems every time I go to use a circle punch I have to punch a scrap circle to see what the size will be. Not to mention how I am always measuring the circle punches to figure out what size they are.

So my solution (which is really simple) was to punch a set of circles and label them. Now when I need to find the right size circle punch I just pull out my templates and I am good to go.

To solve the problem of having to measure my circle punches every time I used a sharpie to write on the punch what the punched size is.

I hope this little tip helps, and have a great Fourth of July weekend!

Christine

Creative Paper Piecing

Memory Makers Master — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:28:25 GMT

Here is my layout that was in the July/August Masterpieces issue. I thought I'd share a close up look at what I did. I've never quite figured out how to do cute paper piecings. But, I wanted to try one for this page. I decided to use a page from a Maya Road sheer house book as my base. It worked wonderfully! All I had to do was cut paper that fit it and embellish! I added lots of buttons to the roof and used the bottom for my title.

There are so many shaped chipboard or sheer books out there that you can use this technique with - stars, hearts, birds, vehicles, flowers, etc. You can explore lots of possibilities.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Great Deals @ GASC

Memory Makers Master — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:43:43 GMT

I had a great oportunity to attend the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Chantilly last Friday. I love shopping for scrapbook supplies especially if they are on sale. The show did not disappoint, lots of sales were going on in the vendors' booths. I found some fabulous product that will not break the bank and can be used numerous times to create! Come on for a quick tour...the next date is September 25-26, 2009 in
Chattanooga, Tennessee. Your pocketbook and creative soul will thank you, for more information check out the event website at http://www.greatamericanscrapbook.com/!

I love Luxe Designs papers and rubons, their papers are double sided and the colors really go well with other papers in their collection because they are printed with the same colored ink. I purchased the green and white dot paper in the upper right corner. They had rubons for a dollar and are avaliable in all the colors they print their papers in, awesome....so I picked up a package in green as well. :)

I fell in love with this collection of paper from MME (My Mind's Eye). It is a bit heavier pattern paper ($1.00/sheet) but I couldn't resist it! I love the tone and colors in it, so I purchased the second and fifth patterns in this display.

Bling for .99, yes please! :) I love bling on my layouts and Want2Scrap had some cute designs I did not have so I purchased a package. I must admit I can not pass up bling or pearls for my creative endeavors...

I love these fibers, aren't they pretty? I resisted them but it was hard. :)

As you know I love to use chipoard shapes as masks and stencils. So I couldn't pass up this deal!

If you are in need of some tools, scrapDeals had these fun colored punches for $1.00.

Lastly, a photo of my new goodies from the show. All items were $1.00 a piece or less, I love pretty things for less, I know I am not alone! :) If you aren't able to check out the convention always look for close out scrapbook items at Target, JoAnn's and your local scrapbook store. The trends are always changing and stores need to make room for the new inventory so that means cost savings for the consumer!

Making your Summer Album

Memory Makers Master — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:45:14 GMT

I got some requests on how to make the Summer album, so I thought I give you a little tutorial. This album is a great way to use up left over chipboard letters. Here I used all the same letters but you can use a mixture of letters.

You will need:

Foam or Paint Brush
Palette knife or Popsicle stick
Gesso
Heavy Molding Gel (Paste)
Chipboad Letters
Paint
Pen
Strong Hole Punch
Sandpaper

First off I sanded and applied gesso to chipboard letters. This way they were ready to go when I put them onto the album. Next put a layer of gesso onto the chipboard. Gesso is a great way to prep any surface for paint.

I love this product. It is like the paste you used to find in the classrooms but extra thick. So many fun possibilities with this product.

Take the paste and smear it all over your chipboard piece. You can use a palette knife or just use one of your extra Popsicle stick.

You want it rather thick. This is what you are going to "smoosh" your chipboard letters into. I love having a rough texture but you may want it smoother. It is up to you!

The first letters you want to smoosh into the paste layer is your title so have these ready to go before you do your paste layer.

Next start layering in the rest of the chipboard letters. I like to change the direction, putting them upside down and backwards. Keep moving quickly as the paste tends to dry quickly.

Keep on layering in the chipboard pieces until you completely cover the surface. Those great little accents like quotation marks, asterisks are great fillers to fill in the gaps.

Next I put a layer of Gesso on the pieces, making sure I got into the nooks & crannies of the letters. This preps the whole surface for paint.

Paint your chipboard any color. For the first one, I used white. I like the clean white look. This second one I decided to go with a bright yellow.

Next do something to make your title stand out. You can outline it with a pen, paint it a different color, or you could choose not to accent it and just let it sit there in the background. Punch holes into your chipboard and attach binder rings to your album. I used my Crop-a-dile II Big Bite to make the holes and cut through the chipboard letters.

Hope you have fun creating your own little mini!

Love, Always
Ronda

Little Details

Memory Makers Master — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:32:36 GMT

Hi, everyone! I want to share a simple way to jazz up your photographs.

In my sample below, the first photograph has no border treatment. It is a nice, clean look...but it needs a little interest.
The second photograph has a worn edge added. It is a subtle effect, but I think it provides a lot more depth and character.

You can purchase worn page edges from several digital scrapbooking sites. The edges I used below are from Lynn Grieveson. They were made for 12 x 12 papers, so I just sized them down to fit a photograph. They are my new favorite supply right now!

Hope you enjoyed this quick and simple way to add a little pop and pizazz to your photos!

Leftovers.

Memory Makers Master — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:31:42 GMT

Leftovers, we all have them and I am not talking about the kind you find in your fridge. I am talking about those bits and pieces we put together to go on a layout but then don't use. For instance I created the bow accent on this card to go on a layout. I had originally had it wrapped around the bottom of a picture, but it just did not look right and I ended up taking it off. Well rather than set it aside to gather dust or take it apart, I decided to use it on a card. I do this a lot - it's a great way to use up what you have already put time and effort into and you get a card done ahead of time, which is always a good thing!!

To create the mask effect I simply traced around the original die cut label to create a mask, cut it in half and positioned it on my card then sprayed it with some glimmer mist. Added a little outline in black pen and I was done.

I was asked in the comments on my last post how my new process of sorting my papers by color was going. I have to admit to not having had much time to scrap in the last few weeks, however the few times that I have needed to look for something I did find it MUCH EASIER! I would have to say that so far I am liking the new organization. I also picked up another printers drawer at an antique store this weekend (I have one on my wall that holds my rubber stamps and I love it!) and I may use it to sort all my little "do-dads" by color too!

Have a wonderful week everyone! Christine

Just Smile

Memory Makers Master — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:12:39 GMT

just because you can. why not??? here's a little smiley love for you this fine day... put the smile in your pocket and pull it out, often, as you go through your week. share it with others and hope for the same in return. just smile.

this was in MM May/Jun '09 issue and is an all digital LO featuring mostly goodies from Little Dreamer Designs.

Sweet Summer Time

Memory Makers Master — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:51:31 GMT

Such a great time of year. BBQS. Outdoor Activities. Water Sports. Lots of time soaking up the sun.

So how are you organizing all those memories? If you are like me you click, click away and have tons of pictures at the end of summer. This year I decided to do a summer mini album. This album is a quick & easy way for me to organize tons of pictures, plus it also gives me a chance to play & use up some scraps.

I used some chipboard, chipboard letters, gesso, & heavy molding paste to create the cover. I outlined my title so it would stand out a bit more. I love the texture & feel of this album.

The interior pages are baseball (sports) card holders. They are the perfect ATC size (2.5 x 3.5). I cut down the pages to create just six pockets on a page instead of the usual 9 pockets. This just the start of my album & I am looking forward to filling the pages. I am also excited about playing around with some techniques on these little cards. I will be sure to share those cards in the coming weeks here.

Hope you are having a good summer so far!

Love,Always
Ronda

Father's Day

Memory Makers Master — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:38:49 GMT

Father's Day is right around the corner. I'm sure many of you will be creating cards this week. And you will be taking lots of photos over the weekend. So, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Father's Day quotes. You can use these on cards or on layouts!

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father! ~ Lydia M. Child, Philothea: A Romance, 1836

Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance. ~Ruth E. Renkel

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~Author Unknown

Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. ~Author Unknown

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown

I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Adabella Radici

Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever. ~Author Unknown

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope. ~Bill Cosby

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years. ~Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi " Atlantic Monthly, 1874

Hopefully, these will spark your creativity! Have fun creating. ;) ~Anabelle

June is the month for weddings!

Memory Makers Master — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:48:34 GMT

If you have lots of weddings to attend this month, I have a quick card idea for you. I made this card for a girl that I work with who is getting married later this month. Honestly I hate battling gift registries so I plan on putting a gift card inside of this card and calling it a day! :)

{Supply list: Cardstock (Prism), Patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket), Brads (American Crafts), "For keeps" sticker (October Afternoon), Misc (red tulle, tiny tag)} {All supplies from June kit from Scripts} Have a great weekend! gretchen

Getting ready for summer.

Memory Makers Master — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:46:15 GMT

I am looking forward to summer and being able to spend more time outdoors soaking up the sun and playing with my boys. Summer also means the chance to capture pictures of all those great outdoor activities. This layout is about one of our favorite things to do in the summer - play down at the swing set!

Make sure to take your camera with you when you go out to play this summer!!

Have a great week everyone, Christine

Don't forget!

Memory Makers Master — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:21:12 GMT

Father's Day is coming up!
Sunday, June 21st

It is not too late to make cards for all the fathers in your life!

Supplies: Cardstock (Prism), Patterned paper (Fancy Pants), Brads (Basic Grey), Die cut star (Sizzix), twill
All supplies from May Scripts kit.

Have a great day!
:)
gretchen

Close up

Memory Makers Master — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:15:34 GMT

Hi!
I want to share my layout from the Masterpieces article in the July/August issues.
The theme we were given was "Life Changes".
I was on a college retreat in Gatlinburg my sophomore year when I met my husband.
That was a huge life change for me and that is what my layout is all about!

Supply list: Patterned paper (KI Memories, Fancy Pants), Brads (KI Memories), Chipboard accents (KI Memories), Lace cardstock (KI Memories), Alphabets (American Crafts, Making Memories, Basic Grey)

Journaling reads:

So this is how it all went down:
It was Campus Outreach Christmas Conference in Gatlinburg , TN over the Christmas break of 1997-98.
I went with a bunch of Chi Os-Brooke, Melissa Rosenbaum, Renee Dabbs, Shanna Steele, Summer Sisk, etc. We praised & worshipped, played flag football in the snow, ate pancakes, stayed up late, got tricked into thinking Third Day was playing in town, had a snowball fight, etc.
I was hanging out with Michelle Petty on the last night of the conference & for some reason we ended up in a room with a bunch of guys including this Lee guy.
We were up late talking & goofing off.
Then this Lee character busts out with these card tricks.
And I was mesmerized.
After awhile I end up walking downstairs with Lee to get drinks for everybody.
He pointed out how the ice on the coke machine looks like a woman lying on the can. Oh what a sucker I was!The next day the conference ended & everybody went their separate ways until school started again in a few weeks.
I was going to Shanna’s house to celebrate the New Year & I remember hoping so much that Lee would end up coming.
But he did not and it was going to be a long few weeks until I might see him again at school.
And he did not have my phone number. I really thought whatever we had started might never get past whatever it was.
Little did I know that Lee ended up going back home & telling Adam that he was about to start dating a girl named Gretchen.
It was not long after we got back to school that Lee called me.
All because I was a sucker for some silly card tricks and the ice lady on the coke machine.
How is that for happily ever after?!!

And if you read all that, I am impressed!
Thanks for looking!
Have a great week!
gretchen

Switching things up.

Memory Makers Master — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:38:46 GMT

Sometimes when I am feeling "creatively challenged" I like to do some reorganizing. This usually gives me the creative boost I need. So while doing some blog hopping the other day I was inspired to try sorting my papers by color. I have toyed with the idea of sorting all my paper by color before, but to be honest the idea really scared me - I mean what about all the multi-colored papers?? I thought I would take the baby steps approach and sort all my buttons by color first.

Here is a picture of my buttons about half way through the sorting process.

And here they are all lined up, aren't they pretty!

I was feeling pretty good about it all after the buttons, it just really seemed to make sense, so I decided to dive into my papers. As I started sorting I realized that when you look at most papers you really do see a predominate color and the whole process of sorting them went rather smoothly. I ended up with not to big pile of multi colored papers (which was mostly stripes).

Here is what my basement floor looked like for a day and a half as I waded through my stash of patterned paper

They are now all filed in my closet in nice stacks by color! The whole process has really gotten my creative mojo going and I can't wait to start scrapping tomorrow! So the next time you need a little creative boost switch things up, try a new way of doing things, it just may give you a whole new perspective.

Have a great rest of the week, Christine

Stamped Snowflakes

Memory Makers Master — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:54:23 GMT

Time for another closer look at a page from the July/August issue. This was such a fun page to put together. Even though it may be warm and sunny outside, you can still be working on winter pages! To recreate the snowflakes that I made on this page, paint white paint onto a snowflake stamp (mine is Paper Salon). Stamp it onto a transparency. Then, while it is wet, sprinkle on some glitter. Once dried, the snowflakes can be cut out and added to a layout. I added a brad and a gem to mine as well. Apply the adhesive onto the paint so it can't be seen.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

Card challenge!

Memory Makers Master — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:56:50 GMT

I have been all about making cards and doing challenges lately!
If you are interested, American Crafts has a fun, easy challenge up on their blog this week.
The challenge is to make a birthday card using some Thickers.
Easy!
You can check it out here.
Here is the card I made:

And a little close up peek:

All supplies (paper, brads, chipboard Thicker, rub-ons, butterflies) are American Crafts.

Thanks for looking!
gretchen