Create A Holiday Tradition!

Start a new family tradition with a personalized Christmas story. Thanks to Tanja Rigby for this great idea. Tanja used Clement Moore's poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with some of the great Christmas art from http://www.aboutthepictures.us/ and her family's names and photos to create this family storybook. Now it is a favorite that must be read each Chrismas Eve! Imagine having your own family story that is passed down for generations!

Need Halloween Decorations? There's a Template for that!

Kids and grownups love dressing up and the festivities of Halloween and fall festivals. Heritage Makers just released new art that includes many Halloween templates! Use photo block templates to make festive word blocks like "Boo!" Make a 12 x 12 page using Halloween photos from previous years and frame it for a great decoration! You can even make great little scripture cards to go into the trick or treaters bags along with the candy. The possibilities are endless! Make yours at http://www.aboutthepictures.us/!

Find even more Halloween ideas at the Heritage Makers blog .

Canvas Collage

Do you love canvases, but have a hard time trying to decide which pictures to use? How about a canvas collage!

(click to enlarge pictures)

This collage features a 20x20 wrapped canvas in the middle with 20x8 and 8x20 canvases on each side and 8x8 canvases on each corner. It is beautiful, decorative, and features LOTS of treasured pictures! Best of all, every canvas seen here is a template! Visit www.AboutThePictures.Us to start making your canvas collage today!

If you can't afford to make them all, make 1 or two at the time and hang them individually or in small groups until you have them all ready!

September Pick of the Month - Calendars

It's a great time to stock up on calendars! Make your customized calendar for your family or your business! Showcase your photography or your favorite places. Grandmas love them! Click here for sale pricing and sizes.

VIP Board Book

I was so excited to receive my latest creation this week! It is a VIP board book. Every member of the family has a page telling my son why he is very important! And best of all, it is a template! I just uploaded my pictures to www.AboutThePictures.Us, dragged and dropped them into the template and viola! I also changed the text to reflect what each person said about him. This will be a treasure when he gets older! (click to enlarge)

Home Decor Idea: Photo Blocks

With www.AboutThePictures.Us, you can make great gifts and photo decor for your home. Here is a sample of photo blocks made with two 12 x 12 sheets. Don't worry, it's a template so it is easy... The Heritage Makers Way! When you sign up for a free account, e-mail me your account number and I will send you a similar template to make your own blocks as well as the full directions!



Brief Assembly Directions (e-mail me for full directions):
1. Purchase a 2x4 piece of wood at your local home improvement store. Ask the store clerk to cut it into two 3.5 x 5.5 pieces and three 3.5 x 3.5 pieces (2x4 lumber is actually 3.5 inches).
2. Sand the blocks and paint the edges with a dark color (cheap black spray paint works).
3 Prepare your photo sheets at www.AboutThePictures.Us using templates.
4 When your 12 x 12 pages arrive, cut them into the pieces needed for the blocks.
5.Use a black or brown Sharpie marker around the edges of the photo page pieces to cover the white edges.
6. Use spray adhesive to adhere the page pieces to the blocks.
7. Use Modge Podge to seal the blocks and protect them (2-3 coats recommended).

Digital vs. Cut and Paste Scrapping

When people hear that I have started doing all my scrapbooks digitally, they have many questions. I haven't given up on paper books, just the mess and bulk of making them. When I make a book at www.AboutThePictures.Us, it is not only faster, but I don't have to clean up when I'm done! With my busy lifestyle this is a definite plus! Here is a little video I put together to show the difference. Enjoy!

Swatchbooks - Perfectly Simple!

Swatchbooks make great gifts! They are small and durable which makes them perfect for pocketbooks or the dash of Grandpa's truck! They also come in a rectangular shape and a square shape or as a spiral bound flipbook.

Here is an example of a flipbook


Or click here for an example of a complete swatchbook (the preview is in low resolution. The actual book is crisp and clear!)

WWW.AboutThePictures.Us has templates that are perfect for many projects including summer vacation memories, autograph books, recipe books, grandma's brag book, and more!

When you get ready to make your first swatchbook, I will send you a link to a video tutorial or we can sit down for a quick lesson over lunch!

Celebrate the Heroes in Your Life

We just finished a week of Vacation Bible School with the theme "Hero Headquarters". We learned that with God's help we can all be heroes in small ways and unexpected ways. It reminded me of the heroes in my life. Don't wait until your heroes are gone to celebrate them! I will be making a hero book about my grandma soon. I hope to have her autograph it with a special message to each of my kids. Discover more at www.AboutThePictures.Us

Family Recipe Books - One of my Favorites

I think this family cookbook is one of my favorite items at www.AboutThePictures.Us. I have wanted to collect our family's favorite recipes like Nana's pecan tarts and my uncles chocolate cheesecake for years. Now I have a great way to get them all organized and saved for my kids!

Christmas in July Specials!

Now is a great time to stock up on greeting cards, canvases, playing card decks, and calendars. I am using the postcard/invitations as our Christmas card this year. I will be putting a picture of the boys on the front and a short "family update" on the back! I think our family appreciates our Christmas cards as much as anything we do all year! And my mom will be getting a family calendar with pictures and quotes from the boys. Shhh! Please keep it a secret! ;)
www.AboutThePictures.Us

54 Great Ideas in One Deck of Cards!

When is a deck of cards more than a tool for bridge? When you make your own custom creations! Because the playing cards are heavy weight with a protective coating, they make verstaile decor and gifts! Think outside the card box!

Here are 11 ideas from the templates and friends:
Chirstmas decor. The cute knick knack at the top of the blog is in the template gallery. Make 3 with one deck of cards and you have a special gift for teachers and co-workers.

We've Moved! Create a special "change of address" card for the new married couple or a move. Put your picture on one side and your new address on the other!

Graduation invitation inserts. Everyone inserts the name cards. Be different and insert a picture your family and friends will appreciate. They have helped you along the way, and they would love to share your success! Put a graduation picture on one side and the "Class of ..." on the other.

Family Go Fish or Old Maid. Use family photos to make a game the kids will never forget!

Family Fun Facts. This is another template in the template gallery. Help the kids get to know their heritage or pass them out at a family reunion and have everyone find the family member on the card!

Sports Playing Cards. Every kid wants to be the star. Decks of cards make an affordable option for creating a special trading card of your special athlete.

Gift Tags. Design your own gift tags that people will never forget!

Recipe Tags. When you make your Christmas goodies, attach a tag with the recipe on one side and a special message on the other (example: Merry Christmas from the Smith's Kitchen!)

Chore cards. Create your own chore chart by placing one chore per card. Hang it in a flat makeup bag and have the kids turn a card each time they complete a chore.

Prayer aids. Put a special saying, verse, or prayer aid on one side of the card and the name, address, phone number, etc. on the other and place them in the vestibule for visitors or give them out as a silent testimony.

Romance Cards. Put a picture of you and your husband on one side and one simple romantic idea (example: take a walk holding hands) on the other. When things get a little dull, just pull a card for a romantic moment! (Great for wedding gifts, too!)

Bookmarks. Use any of the ideas above or just put your favorite sayings and pictures on bookmarks for your friends. You can raise someone's spirits with a small act of kindness.

And don't forget you get the best prices of the year on all cards during with the Christmas in July Specials at www.AboutThePictures.Us!

Grand Opening Fun

We had a ton of fun at the Grand Opening Celebration! I am looking forward to sharing ideas and storybooks with the new digital scrapbookers in the area. Take a look at this video to get an idea of what Heritage Makers is all about. Be sure to hide the music advertisement so you can see the captions better. Enjoy!

Getting Started

I am so excited to be starting as a consultant with Heritage Makers! I have made so many wonderful projects to preserve my own family's heritage, and now I can help others do the same. Heritage Makers is by far the easiet and most creative resource I have found for digital scrapbooking, and it is so much more! I am having a Grand Beginning Hour tomorrow and I am hoping others will be excited as well!