In case you're on the fence after the last post...

Because any good addict tries to minimize their guilt by enticing others to participate in their illicit activity, I wanted to share a couple projects I found on the MW Studio consultant idea gallery. If you were doing a double take after seeing the picture of BoBunny's Whoo-ligans line in the last post, you'll HAVE.TO.HAVE.IT. after you see these:


Thank you Sheri Feypel for your absolutely ADORABLE layouts and card...I'm placing the blame for enabling thousands of consultants everywhere to justify buying another set of Halloween paper squarely on your shoulders. Unless that means the MemoryWorks home office sells tons of sets...then I'll take one for the team and take the "blame". :)

Confessions of a Halloween Paperaholic

Hello. My name is Sandy. And I have a problem.

I don't know that I'm quite to "addiction" yet...but its getting close...dangerously close...

You see, it is not even the end of September yet and my house looks like this (imagine the "Psycho" shower scene music playing as you go through these photos...):


And even more scary...this is what is in my "Fall" patterned paper folder...which is the biggest folder in the batch:
This is a 2" tall stack of nothing but Halloween paper my friends. Considering how few Halloween scrapbook pages should be produced in a given year, and the fact that most people don't send "Halloween cards", etc....Yeah...It's that bad.

SO, this year I told myself I wouldn't buy any more Halloween paper until I used what I had. And I held firm all the way until approximately September 20th. And then I saw Cosmo Cricket's Matilda line:

And Pink Paisley's Hocus Pocus (hello, Hogwarts!):
And I HAVE TO HAVE these MME stamps:
And then there is the BoBunny Hooligans line...:
It's not too early to start ordering Halloween stuff, right? After all...you need plenty of time to work with it while the spooky mood strikes...And come on, this paper could totally double-dip for aliens, robots, all manner of non-Halloween creatures that attract small children's attention...right? Right??
My resolve is hanging by a thread...

Going...

Going...

Going...

Simple Stories Tuesday

We have arrived to our final Tuesday of September 2010! Wow this month has flown by! Today I want to feature a few projects created by MemoryWorks Consultants using the Simple Stories line.

First off, Jody Spiegelhoff posted an adorable album of her daughter! I couldn't resist sharing it with you all!

Love these little page elements in between her pages.If you are a MW Consultant - head over to the MW Studio to see the entire album.

Also, I wanted to highlight MemoryWorks Consultant, Shannon Ryan who created an accordion album off the directions I posted a few weeks ago! I love her take on the project. It goes to show you that you can really make something your own! Great work Shannon!Want to make your own accordion album? Check out the instructions here.

Finally, I wanted to share a project made with the Simple Stories: Life Documented line that TeamWorks Member Sandy Zent put together. Isn't this basket adorable! LOVE IT! What a great gift idea!
Are you a MemoryWorks consultant and want to share what you have done with the Simple Stories kit? Share your projects in the MW Studio gallery and/or the MemoryWorks Gallery (on the main website).

Looking to purchase this kit for yourself? Contact your local or favorite consultant to order it today! Don't have a consultant, find one on the Consultant Finder.

Home'Scool

I homeschool all four of my kids. That means four different grades multiplied by 6 or 7 different subjects, meaning somedays it's impossible to determine who has done what without asking them, which means I have to interrupt (and distractions mean it takes awhile for them to get back on track) or if I am working with one child and someone finished their work they need to know what else to do again, meaning an interruption. I wanted to create something that the kids and I could determine what schoolwork had been done and what still needed to be accomplished.

Enter in the Simple Stories Ele.ment.ary kit. MemoryWorks sent me this collection to play with but how was this "homeschooling mom" going to use this more traditional school kit? Fanning through the papers several were lined "chart style" and that gave me an idea. I wondered if I could create a reusable chart that would show me at a glance what the kids had already done and show the kids what they still needed to accomplish for the day.

I tossed around a few ideas, laminating, cork board, dry erase but the one that made the most sense was a magnet board. Something that would allow me to change subjects based on the day and allow the kids (younger ones especially) a sense of accomplishment marking off what they had finished.

I started with a sheet of metal. Instead of purchasing something new, my husband (for some reason known only to him) saved the side panels of our old dishwasher. He cut down one of them to fit a frame I picked up at the thrift for $2. I had refinished the frame with a light crackle coat (layered gold and cinnamon for those wondering) I wanted the frame to have the same vintage-y "old school" feeling I got from the kit.

I then laid out papers and embellishments to suit my purpose.

I did need to add several lines to the green paper to have enough spaces for all of our subjects. I used a "metal" embellishment glue stick to adhere things to the metal sheet and then covered everything with several coats of "paper mod podge" (I love mod podge!) I could have used the mod podge to stick things down with (especially since it was heavier cardstock) but I have a tendency to be VERY generous with the mod podge and didn't want my paper to buckle. For my title I inked chipboard pieces and then instead of mod podge-ing them with everything else. I did them separately. Some types of ink can run when it's applied so to solve that I did them by themselves, let them dry and then glued them on.

To create the subject magnets, I used the printable elements from the simple stories collection (the do it yourself word tabs) I photoshopped the words on the tabs before I printed them out on cardstock and then ran them through the Xyron 900 with laminate/magnet backing. The markers used to check off when a subject was completed were made by adhering glass stones to scraps of cardstock with glossy accents. (I coated the backsides as well before adhering sticky back magnet strips to them.)

Overall I was quite pleased with the way this turned out. The kids were thrilled to be able to KNOW what had to be done during a particular day and love to be able to "mark off" when something is done. Best yet I can see at a glance who has done what!

Supplies used: MemoryWorks Simple Stories Ele.ment.ary kit and digital elements. Ranger ink, Glossy Accents, Velspar crackle paint (gold and cinnamon) Chipboard (Rusty Pickle Random) Pioneer metal embellishment glue, Mod Podge paper (matte finish.) self adhesive magnet strips, Xyron 900 w/laminate magnet cartridge.I

So long, Summer!

Apparently this week marked the end of Summer...on the calendar, anyway! For most people "Summer" officially ends when school starts...even though the hot weather can linger all the way until October and beyond. Luckily, scrapbook supplies are fun to use at ANY time of year...and the right supplies can bring a little sunshine to your day, even when its cold and foggy outside!

Yesterday (a cold and foggy day, I might add), I sat down and made a couple of summer layouts combining the last two Express kits. I LOVE it when Express kit parts coordinate with each other across several months - its like doubling (or tripling...or more) the size of your kit, and giving all kinds of coordinating possibilities!

This first layout holds a 5x7 focal photo, partially hidden journaling cards and fun little multi-purpose squares that can hold journaling, or small photos:
I loosely attached the yellow squares with paper clips, but once they are loaded up with journaling or photos, I can easily put a small amount of repositionable adhesive on the back of each one to keep them anchored in place once in my album.

Here is a close-up of one of the journaling cards (the most difficult part of making the layout was cutting apart all those Prima alphabet stamps!):

Next, I made a quick but fun layout using mostly paper and stickers. I haven't made a non-3D page in so long, it seemed weird to have a page with nothing bumpy on it! These stickers are so darn cute, though, it seemed a shame to gussy them up too much!

I dare you to pull out some bright, summery MemoryWorks products when you have a dark and dreary day outside....it'll brighten your mood - and your scrapbooks!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Product Wednesday: Happy Fall!

Happy Fall, everyone! Today's the first day of Autumn! Crisp mornings, pumpkins and gourds, spiced lattes and changing leaves...they're all coming our way (albeit, a little slower in some places than others). This Californian is dreaming of a colorful Autumn (yes...I'm humming to the tune of "I'm...dreaming....of a white Christmas")...

So, in honor of the Autumnal Equinox, I decided to get crafty with Fall colors using the new (very Autumn-inspired) Basic Grey Pyrus line! Check out these cards I made with this awesome theme set and Basic Grey "What a Pair" Clear Stamp set (soon to be available from MemoryWorks - $10.00):

I also found many other products in the new 2010 Fall/Winter MemoryWorks catalog which coordinate beautifully with the Pyrus line! I used some "wood grain paper" from the Cosmo Cricket Wanted 6x6 paper pad on my "Owl" card above. Lots of awesome "Fallish" papers in that line!

I also love how the kraft-colored Tim Holtz Journaling Tickets look with the Pyrus theme set!

I also used the backside of a Maya Road kraft journaling card from a recent MemoryWorks Express Kit for the "with Heartfelt Thanks" saying on one of the cards. Love how all the embellishments from those kits are useful for so many projects!

Oh, and I must mention I'm LOVING the new "In Stitches" Fiskars border punch (as seen on the bottom of the "owl" card above). I added a strip of green Bazzill cardstock behind it for a fun orange/green layered look. Can't wait to use it for actually sewing on a project next...

Needing some more inspiration to get going on card-making? Check out the Basic Grey: Pyrus Card kit:

These kits include everything you need to create 8 awesome cards and envelopes using papers and embellishments from the Basic Grey Pyrus line.

So, what signs of Fall are you seeing (or wishing you were seeing) today - this first day of Autumn? What a great scrapbook page that would make...

Happy Scrappin'!

Simple Stories Tuesday

Today's projects are from TeamWorks member Sharon! She created a few layouts using the NEWEST Simple Stories kit - Ele.ment.ary! But I also fell in love with some of her Simple Stories: Life Documented projects that I feel like you all need to see them as well! So today you get to see BOTH kits in use!

Simple Stories: Ele.ment.ary



Sharon's awesome 2011 Calendar using the Life Documented Kit



Thanks for your inspiration today Sharon!

GIVEAWAYS!
There are TWO MemoryWorks give-a-ways going on right now!

1. Head over to Ali Edwards Blog for a chance to win the Simple Stories: Ele.mentary Kit
2. We have hit 2000 fans on FACEBOOK! Become a fan of the MemoryWorks Facebook page and leave a comment on the prize give-a-way post for another chance to win the Simple Stories: Ele.ment.ary kit!

If you simple can't WAIT to get this awesome kit in your hands, find a consultant nearest you and purchase one for yourself! Be sure to post pictures of your projects for us all to see!

Lisa Harris--September Guest Designer!

Lisa Harris our September Guest Designer totally rocked the MemoryWorks express kit this month. I loved all of the projects she did with it but if I had to choose, my favorite would be the "Family Fun" layout I loved the bright colors, it really shows off the photos!

PS (if you hit the "X" on the pets ad you can see the captions)