Friday, December 21, 2012

wow! so excited...

Check it out:


2013 is going to be another great year for MemoryWorks and our consultants. Along with all of the new and exciting happenings at MemoryWorks we are thrilled to bring to you a brand new TeamWorks Team. This talented group of designers and business professionals will be there every step of the way, working together to promote, educate and inspire MemoryWorks and our wonderful consultants!
After receiving and reviewing many wonderful applications from our talented consultants we are officially announcing the new 2013 members of TeamWorks!

2013 Team Leader
Lacey Igo

2013 Assistant Team Leader
Sheri Feypel

2013 TeamWorks Members
Jenn Bidwell - Edwardson  --------THAT'S ME!!!  
Amanda Bratu
Kelly Holbrook
Cathie Hollins
Giavanna Lau
Megan Peacock
Janey Pumphrey
Rosann Santos - Elliott
Katie Skiff
Jody Spiegelhoff

We're thrilled to welcome these super talented ladies to the MemoryWorks TeamWorks Team. We will be working together to provide a top-notch experience, ideas and inspiration to our consultants! Congratulations!

I'm looking forward to being on the team again this year.  I can't wait to get started with all the great supplies MemoryWorks carries.  I feel so engergized and can't stop smiling.  :)

Thursday, December 20, 2012

croptime

I've had this layout sitting in my album for awhile.  The photos are from a CKC crop a couple of years ago.  I love this paper and I had fun using embellishments made by my friend.


I love layering patterned papers and using papers from a coordinating line makes it a snap.  I used kraft card stock to mat the photos and of course I inked my edges.  I used the WRMemory Keepers Sew Ribbon tool to add a border to ground some embellishments.  

Enjoy!

Friday, December 14, 2012

15 Days of the Holidays: Day 14: Recipe for Christmas



Over on the MW blog we're celebrating the 15 Days of the Holidays featuring mini albums that are fast and easy to create during the Holiday season.  My mini is all about our family celebration.



















I started with a Jenni Bowlin Chipboard Journal as my base.  Great because I don't have to cover all the pages, only the front and back cover.  Otherwise the lined and gridded insides and tabs and pocket are great for adding a layer or two of paper.



With the journal pages as a base I used papers from the 6x6 Authentique Festive paper pad and sticker sheet.  I pulled a couple of other pieces as I needed for additional embellishments and used kraft or cream card stock to mat photos.  I liked this to quiet down the pages with the riot of colors in the photos.














I've already included some photos since this mini isn't year specific.  I've also left room to add photos as I take them.  For example, my niece and I made the meatballs for Christmas this past weekend and I have some really fun pix to add.  I can add additional pages if I want to expand this album since it is a ringed binder album.



I used the pocket page to create a place to tuck in the recipes for some of our family holiday favorites.



The tabs in the journal were perfect to divide my mini into three categories, people, food and tradition.



Hope your Holidays are full of love, joy and peace and the people you love.  Enjoy!

Jenn 



Thursday, December 13, 2012

me & my sis

I had fun playing with my granddaughters one summer afternoon.  They are so cute together, it is obvious D wants to keep up with her big sis and Eden loves to play with her little sis.  This layout came together quickly using MW papers, Thickers alphas and a wood bird I picked up at Michaels.  




Quick and easy.  Lots of layers, lots of ink, but otherwise pretty simple.

Enjoy!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

christmas decor

It's time to start decorating for Christmas!  I made this piece for a MemoryWorks challenge using Simple Stories Handmade Holiday papers.  It's simple, using a chipboard base.


I used an acetate photo cover to anchor "joy" and put the holly leaves cut from a Sizzix long die under the photo cover to tone them down.  More of the holly is seen along the top of the piece.


I found a little paper mache gingerbread man and tore some papers to collage onto him.  I love gingerbread men.  :)  A few buttons from my stash finish him off.  It's easy using Simple Stories papers which have so many great elements in the pack.  Of course everything is inked.  Now, to get on with the rest of my Christmas decorating.  

Enjoy!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

'tis the season...

for organization!  It seems like as the holiday season counts down, store shelves previously filled with holiday gifts are filled with organizational products.  I guess everyone must have "be more organized" on their list of resolutions for the new year.  :)

I have been feeling less than organized lately.  I function much better when I have a schedule, but if it is too tight I feel confined, if it is too loose I procrastinate.  I have to find the perfect balance between the two.  I have recently been working on a weekly schedule, along the lines of, if it is Monday I must be _____.

However I have no problem staying organized when it comes to meal planning and shopping, I have been doing this for years.  About a million years ago when I was homeschooling my kids, it was imperative that I have a plan not just for dinner but breakfast, lunch and snacks as well.  I learned to think once and then execute, execute, execute.  That was a long time ago, and while I don't need to be so rigid in order to get everything done, I still practice meal planning to feed the men in my life.  I have a few tricks to make it faster--Meatless Monday, Guy's Choice Thursday and my personal fave, Fast-Food Friday where I make my own version of take-out food.  I'm currently loving Bobby Deen's Beer Battered Fish and Sweet Potato Chips.  Yum.  (Focus Jenn)

I have long used a spiral bound notebook for my meal planning and shopping.  I got this idea a million years ago while homeschooling from I don't remember where or whom.  Just want to give credit where credit is due.  lol  I open it up and on the left side I list the meals I plan to make for the week with any notes regarding location of the recipe(if it is new, cookbook, website, Pinterest), any additional baking or cooking I need to do, I've even used it to plan big events and small catering jobs.  On the right side I list the ingredients I need to purchase for the recipes.  This is my shopping list.  Sure, there are always things I buy, replenish staples like fruit, veggies, hummus, eggs, milk, bread, etc and I add them to the list as needed.  Once the notebook is filled it gets put away or thrown away, depending on my mood.  This works for me for a few reasons:  it is all in one spot; when I am blocked I can look back to previous plans and pull from there; when I am doing a big event or catering job I can look back at my old notes and tweak from there; and I can see how our needs have changed.  So what does this have to do with scrapbooking?  Well, the last time I replaced my spiral notebook, I jazzed up a little notebook using Memory Works Simple Stories Campout papers and embellies.


I went the extra mile and removed the spiral from this small notebook to cover the covers.  Cover the covers, lol.  Yes, that meant I had to re-punch each hole to re-twist in the spiral.  For both the front and back.  It was worth it to me to get the finish I wanted.  I die cut the ovals and used the complimentary alphas to title the book.  I did cover the words with Crystal Effects because I knew this book would get knocked around on the counter, in my bag, in the shopping cart, etc and I knew they'd be peeling off in no time so I wanted to reinforce them.


I covered the inside as well and lined the ugly, yellowish pocket with papers as well to tuck in coupons and receipts.  I don't coupon a lot, only the few things I am brand-specific on.  I tend to cook mostly from scratch with raw ingredients and I don't usually see coupons for meats, fruits and veggies.  I do buy pre-made hummus.  And lots of it.  So I hunt down those Sabra coupons.  lol  Back to business.  I like the little "This is how we roll" sticker because it is how we function best.

So go ahead and get organized and Enjoy!


Saturday, November 24, 2012

i'm a bit card crazy...

Over on the Memory Works blog the team has been featuring cards created from sketches each day this month.  I'd highly recommend you check out the cards and the cards created by consultants and blog readers based on those sketches.  Make a few yourself and link them up.  You might win a prize.  :)

http://www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile, I'd like to share the cards I created for today's post.  The sketch was actually posted on November 17th, last Saturday, which also happens to be my birthday.



I created both a Christmas card:


I used a kraft base, Authentique's Festive papers and a denim fabric paper for the pocket.  I bedazzled the pocket with a left-over pearl swirl.  

I also made a birthday card:


I started with a kraft base once again, and used Crate Paper's On Trend papers, chipboard and 6"x 6" pad along with Sn@p Typeset alphas.  

The cards side by side:















I've been going card crazy all month and have an amazing stack of Christmas cards all ready to send out.

Enjoy!

Jenn

Monday, November 12, 2012

30 days of cards




Over on the Memory Works blog (http://www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/) the team is posting 30 Days of Cards.  Each team member has chosen a sketch and has created a card based on that sketch.  Consultants, other team members and anyone who views the blog is invited to play along and post their version of the sketch.  While the intention is to post holiday cards, you are welcome to post any card based on the sketch.

Here is today's sketch by Lacey and her card:

        

She used Simple Stories Handmade Holidays for her card.  I also used SS Handmade Holidays for my take on her sketch:


I've made about half of the cards in the 30 Day, 30 Cards challenge and have a nice stack of Christmas cards to send out.  Play along, link your interpretation, and your name will be entered to win a prize from the Home Office.  Check back later this week, my first card will be posted on Wednesday and I'll have another card to share on Saturday as well.

Enjoy!

Friday, November 9, 2012

playing with distress

The Memory Works October Challenge asked us to play with Distress pens but I went a little wild and used Distress Stains and inks as well.  I layered the stains on the wood background and added some Teresa Collins Vintage Finds paper, stenciled with the stains and used the pens to ink the stamps, color the trim, outline the flourishes and for overall color.


This wood piece is 8"x8" and perfect to showcase my cuties playing in the straw on our big pumpkin picking adventure,

Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

memory works fall blog hop is here!!!




The Memory Works fall catalog is ready and available, and full of the best scrappy goodness around!  To celebrate, the Team Works girls have been playing with the new lines and have created this blog hop for you to check out the newest supplies, and to inspire you to get scrapping.
You should have arrived here from Jody's blog.  She always inspires me.  I hope you remembered to leave a comment on her blog as well as all the others for your chance to win a prize from the home office. I'll be picking a random comment here too for some blog candy, so be sure to leave your email with your comment for a chance to win.  So, on with the show!

I chose to work with the Farmhouse Fair Skies collection.  I love the colors and feel of the papers and the chipboard embellishments are grand!  You get lots to work with, and they are so much fun to add to your layout.
I rarely cut my photos in shapes but circles seemed so appropriate here.  I layered on several of the papers to create my background and of course, I inked everything with Distress Ink in vintage photo.  Forgive the freakish white band at the bottom of the layout.  Somehow that appeared during editing.  :)                       

\

I love the clouds and hot air balloons and suns and flowers and all the other pieces included in the chipboard pack.  You get a great variety to work with.


 This close up shows some of the chipboard embellishments I layered on.  The kraft flag is from Jenni Bowlin, but pretty much everything else is right out of the chipboard pack.


My niece Jax is such a sweet girl, even at 16.  It was so much fun attending her party and creating this layout to keep in the scrapbook as a memory of that day.

Your next stop is Lacey's blog.  Lacey Igo http://laceybugcreations.blogspot.com LillyBee Persnickety  Remember to leave your comments for a chance to win.  Happy Hopping!

Enjoy!

Jenn

Here is the entire list just in case you missed something.

1. Memory Works Blog- www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com

2. Sheri Feypel www.thedesperatescrapper.blogspot.com Simple Stories: Harvest Lane
3. Christy Musack www.christymusack.blogspot.com Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic
4. Jody Spiegelhoff  http://spiegelmom.blogspot.com   My Minds Eye Lavender Theme
5. Jenn Bidwell Edwardson http://frommypapercraftstudio.blogspot.com/ Farmhouse Fair Skies
6. Lacey Igo http://laceybugcreations.blogspot.com LillyBee Persnickety
7. Janey Pumphrey  http://nevadagal1.blogspot.com  Teresa Collins - Vintage Finds
9. Kelly Holbrook  kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com  Lily Bee Designs - All Spice
10. Rosann Elliott http://brooklyngirlnextdoor.blogspot.com TC Tell Your Story

Monday, October 29, 2012

memory works fall blog hop

Memory Works has released their new fall catalog filled to the brim with the latest scrapbooking projects.  To get you going the Memory Works team has put together a blog hop featuring different lines from the catalog.  Check back tomorrow and hop along.



Tuesday, July 24, 2012

grow

For those "one little worders" out there, here's my word for the year:  grow.  I am not participating in the class, however I have taken time to interact with my word to help identify and focus on specific areas in my life that I want to see change.  I need to grow.


I started with four 4" square canvases that I picked up at Michaels.  I used papers and cardstock stickers from Echo Park's This & That line.  I love greens and earthy tones so these papers caught my eye.  And yes, grow sounds green to me.  :)  

Of course I used Distress ink on all the edges of my papers and elements.  I die cut the flourishes and used some Pebbles candy dots to play them up.  The cardstock sticker sheet included the negative frames and I thought they looked great with the yellow striped background and Pink Paislee Cocoa Cushie alphas.  I used bits and pieces from my stash to finish out each canvas.  You'll also notice some tiny alphas on each canvas that spell out areas that I want to grow in:  faith, relationships, confidence and love.  This word has helped me focus in on what kinds of things are important and what activities, events, commitments that I don't need to focus my attention on.  

The beautiful beaded tree on the "g" panel was made by my friend Sasha.  I had told her about my word and the fact that when I saw the word in my head, I immediately picture a tree.  Not only do I see the branches and leaves but I also see how deep the roots go as I grow.  She really listened as I talked about wanting to grow and the next time I saw her, she had created this incredible tree from wire, and green faceted beads.  This looks so much more amazing in person and it really captures the idea both of what you see in my growth--greenery, what you don't--the roots.  

Mini canvases are so much fun to work on.  You can use lots of scraps and bitsy pieces to complete them.  Give one a try!

Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

future scrapbooker

My adorable granddaughter, once again.  Last Christmas I was cutting felt pieces on my Sizzix while I was playing sick-baby day care center.  Dinara is very observant and she watched me turn the handle and when I stopped and turned my back she crawled on over and started turning the handle like a pro.  I snapped a couple of pics of her knowing they'd land on a layout at some point..


I used My Mind's Eye papers here, layered in some Bella Blvd washi tape and played with some hand-cut hexagons.  Otherwise I kept it real simple to showcase D.  I plan to encourage her to become a scrapper in her future.  :)

Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

the prettiest flower

I just completed this layout featuring my granddaughter Eden on our day out to the Philadelphia Flower Show, in March of this year.  Without realizing, her mother had sent her in a colorful dress that stood out beautifully in all the tropical greenery of the Hawaiian themed show.


I had the My Mind's Eye Lime twist paper from last summer.  I've been hoarding it actually, as I love the pinks, violets and greens in the paper.  I made good use of the double sided paper and used a scrap of pink to mat the photo.  The alphas are October Afternoon, another fave.  The bling flower is ZVA and the butterflies and brads were leftovers from other projects.

I have tons more pics from the day, I just need to decide--a couple more layouts or a mini-album.  Hmmm....

Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

my prayer for you

My baby girl moved half-way across the country last December.  Her birthday, June 15th, was a time of reflection for me.  I miss her like crazy.  She is fiercely independent and calls when she can, but it isn't enough for me.  Did I mention that I miss her?  I created this layout using a photo she posted after she moved and cut her hair.  New city, new look?


I used Teresa Collins Fabrications patterned papers, chipboards, and brads, Bazill solid purple card stock, Want 2 Scrap bling, and distress ink and glassine envie from Tim Holtz Ranger and idea'ology lines.  I ran the envelope through my Sizzix with a Cuttlebug swiss dot folder for texture and created the dimensional flowers using several layers of punched papers fastened together with a brad and then crumpled for texture.  The tag in the envelope holds my prayers for my daughter.

Enjoy!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

we have a winner...

Debra Miller, c'mon down!  I have a little something to send to you!  Please send me your mailing address (jennedwardson@hotmail.com) so I can send you some blog love.  Put MWbloghop in your subject line so I don't miss it.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Happy Birthday MemoryWorks Blog Hop Today!

Today is the big day!  


You should have arrived here from Rosann's blog:  www.brooklyngirlnextdoor.blogspot.com  Didn't she have an amazing project?  She is so talented.  If you didn't start from the top, I've listed the hop in order at the end of this post.  You don't want to miss any of the projects featured by the TeamWorks girls.  They are fabulous.

When I think of birthdays, I think back to one of the parties we had for my daughter Jess.  We had a birthday tea complete with tea cakes, dress up clothes and hats, crafts, and of course, tea!  It was always one of my favorite birthday memories.  She was girly enough to enjoy a girly celebration.  When the Birthday blog hop was announced I immediately thought about a birthday tea.  While this Cosmo Cricket paper collection is called Tea for Two, it is not why I chose it.  I loved the colors and vintage feel.  I could take it to frilly without going too fussy.  


I made a birthday party invitation and rosette decor for a birthday tea party.  I used the rosette motif for both, and the flowery paper sets just the right mood for a fun tea party for either a child or adult.



I printed out both the front invite and invitation information on solid yellow American Crafts cardstock.  The rose colored background paper is also from AC.  I die cut the invitation using a Sizzix die and my Big Kick.  I used two of the papers from the Tea for Two line utilizing both sides of the double-sided papers.  I love the versatility of double-sided papers.  I used the Tim Holtz rosette die and a little flower punch to finish off the front.


For this big rosette I cut two 3"x12" strips of yellow AC cardstock, and used a Fiskars edge punch to scallop the edge.  I repeated the process with patterned paper, this time using  2.5"x12" strips of paper.  I then lined up the "dip" in the scallop pattern in my scoring board and scored that line.  I had to shift the paper every time as it did not line up perfectly.  I then accordian-folded each strip and glued the matching strips together.  I needed two strips of each size to create the size rosette I wanted.  I layered the patterned rosette on top of the solid rosette and finished with a plain punched circle and a scalloped punched circle, once again using the second side of the rose paper.  The paper rose in the center is a Spellbinder's die finished with a pretty pearl.



You could use this rosette to ground crepe paper streamers, or you could make the rosette double sided by finishing off the back with a layered rosette, circles and rose to hang.  
I hope you were inspired to make your own birthday invitations and decor for your next party.  Keep hopping!  The next blog on the list is Kim's: http://www.cafeanglais.wordpress.com/
Please leave a comment.  I read them and appreciate them.  Become a follower too!
There will be a *prize for one lucky winner!
Leave a comment at each blog you visit along the hop for more chances to win!  You have until midnight to leave your comments.  Winner will be announced on the Memory Works blog on Wednesday, June 27th.
*Prize sponsored by Memory Works.  

Enjoy!

The blog hop in order:

4. Christy Musack   www.christymusack.blogspot.com
5. Jody Spiegelhoff   http://spiegelmom.blogspot.com/
11. Janey Pumphrey http://nevadagal1.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

birthday sketch

I created this layout for the June MemoryWorks challenge.  We were given a sketch to work with and instructed to incorporate a birthday theme.  I found these photos of our birthday celebration for my niece and thought they'd work quite nicely.



I used Crate Paper's Storyteller paper for the background and Lily Bee's Double Dutch papers, 6"x6" pad and bits for layering and embellishing.  The banner pieces came straight from the bits bag, and index card from the pack for journaling.



Reminder--Memory Works Birthday blog hop next week.  There are lots of great birthday projects to inspire you.

Enjoy!

Thursday, May 31, 2012

4 generations

The Memory Works monthly challenge for May was titled, "A Mother's Love" and we were asked to create a project--layout, card, altered item, etc to celebrate that sentiment.  I knew instantly that I would scrapbook this photo of my grandmother, mother, myself and my first-born, Rebekah.  This photo was taken on Rebekah's dedication day, late summer in 1979.  It is one of the few photos I have of my maternal grandmother and I was delighted to use it here.


The paper is from Lily Bee, the Buttercup line.  It has soft yellows and blues and Lily Bee's standard small prints that can mixed into layouts using other lines.  The papers are so versatile.  I used two pieces from the 6x6 paper pad, the index card and little bits are also from this line.  Sassafrass Lass alphas and Petaloo flowers finish off the layout nicely.  It was fast and easy to put together, the way a good layout should be.


Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

birthday blog hop

Memory Wo,rks is turning ten!!!  Don't miss our upcoming blog hop,


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

memory works spring fling blog hop




Welcome to the Memory Works Spring Fling Blog Hop! The Teamworks Girls have been busy behind the scenes creating beautiful projects with some of their favorite products in our New Memory Works Spring/Summer Catalog. Make sure you stop at each blog along the way to check out all the inspiration, and don't forget to leave a comment at each stop! One lucky reader will win a giveaway sponsored by Memory Works! The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win! You have until midnight on Thursday to leave your comments.

Leave a comment here and become a follower for two chances to win a prize from me! Include your email address in the comment section so I can contact the lucky winner!

Below is the list of blogs. You should have come from Christine's blog where you viewed some great Dear Lizzie projects. Next up is Lynn's blog with My Mind's Eye Be Happy papers.

So let’s get started with the projects I created using Teresa Collins’ Everyday Moments. First, I have to tell you how excited I was to find such a fun navy blue and yellow paper line. I’ve been looking for a couple of years for papers in these colors to use to make some wedding pages for my daughter’s 2010 wedding. Her wedding colors? Navy blue and yellow. The line is fun yet elegant, appropriate for the photos I wanted to scrap with. I found the mason jar chipboard album at Want to Scrap and bought several, as mason jars were featured heavily at the wedding as vases for centerpieces and drinking glasses. Well, you’ll see what I mean as you look through this mini:



The photo in this layout is a bit grainy--iPhone pix are not always the best, but I like how it captured the moment. Not every photo has to be absolutely perfect, work with the photos that tell the story:
When I have a bunch of matching supplies out after creating a layout or project, I love to make cards and ATCs:

I still had a bunch of chipboard pieces, element stickers, brads, and papers left over when I finished. Other than the mason jar chipboard album I supplemented the theme paper kit with some solid cardstock in white, yellow and navy. I used punches and dies, a few buttons and my Sew Right tool and some floss, and some Thickers for my layout title. I love this line so much I actually bought doubles of everything so I could use it for other projects as well. Enjoy! Keep hopping along. Lynn - MME: Be Happy http://frommybungalow.blogspot.com/

Here's the list in case you missed anything--

Starting at the MW blog http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/

1. Sheri - Echo Park: Charming http://www.thedesperatescrapper.blogspot.com

2. Cathy - BoBunny: Weekend Market http://cathiehollins.blogspot.com/

3. Christy - Bella Blvd: Baby Boy http://christymusack.blogspot.com/

4. Kelly - SS Awesome http://kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com/

5. Kim - Fancy Pants Be You http://www.cafeanglais.wordpress.com/

6. Lacey -Amy Tangerine: Sketchbook Theme set http://laceybugcreations.blogspot.com/

7. Rosann - MME: Be Amazing http://brooklyngirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/

8. Jody - MME: Dolled Up http://spiegelmom.blogspot.com/

9. Christine - Dear Lizzy http://christines-creativetherapy.blogspot.com/

10. Jenn - Teresa Collins: Everyday Moments http://frommypapercraftstudio.blogspot.com/

11. Lynn - MME: Be Happy http://frommybungalow.blogspot.com/

12. Caroline - Lilly Bee Double Dutch http://carolinescraftiness.blogspot.com/

13. Jade - Three Bugs: One Fine Day http://www.thescrapyardrose.com/

14. Sharon - BG Plumeria http://ascrappersmemoir.blogspot.com/

15. Janey - MME: Howdy Doody http://nevadagal1.blogspot.com


If you need me to hook you with these or any of the other paper lines you see featured in this blog hop, leave me a message in your comment and I'll get in touch with you. New catalogs are out (and mine should arrive any minute now) and I'd love to show you all the great new product Memory Works is featuring for the next six months.