Birthday Cards!

Aren't these fun?  I sure had fun designing them and I can't wait to create them with you!

The class is Friday, October 3rd, from 7 to 10 pm at my house.  For $18, you get 12 cards plus a bonus!  Please RSVP by Wednesday the 1st.

Fall Festival Time!

This year, we'll be making these adorable cards.  Supplies to make all six, pre-cut and ready to go, will be waiting for you when you arrive.

Plus, you'll have a chance to make this adorable Christmas card that will coordinate with the Christmas cards you can make at my card class in November.

These cards are ONLY available at my Fall Festival.

Fall Festival is Coming!

This is a fabulous opportunity to spend time with other scrapbookers and work non-stop on your albums for 16 hours over the course of two days!  

            When:             Friday night, September 19, 2014 from 7 pm – Midnight

                                    Saturday,  September 20, 10 am – 9 pm.

            Where:            My home, 5317 S Wildflower Lane, Murray

            Fee:                 $40.00. 

            Deadline:        Friday, September 12 (You're welcome to register after that date, but I can't guarantee there will be an opening).

Your fee includes:

·         Plenty of space to work

·         Lunch and dinner on Saturday

·         Use of all of my tools and idea books, including my Cricut machine

·         Wi-Fi access and power for your laptop

·         Door prizes

·         A Grand prize

·         Free gifts

·         And much more!

Let me know if you'll be scrapbooking traditionally or digitally so I know how much space you'll need and if you'll need power.  Also, if you'd like to double your workspace, you may do so for an additional $20.00.  Space is limited, and seats are reserved on a first-come, first-paid basis, so get your registration and payment in promptly!  To register, or for more information, you can leave me a comment here, or shoot me an email at mamaerica@hotmail.com.    

I want to say a heartfelt "THANK YOU" for your continued support of my business throughout the upheaval of the last two years.  I'm working hard to rebuild my business, Erica's Memory Solutions.  I offer organizing workshops, digital photo organization and digital scrapbooking through my affiliation with Panstoria, Inc, as well as monthly crops, power layout workshops, and more!  Please pass this invitation along to anyone who might benefit from the services I can provide, invite them to come with you (earn more free gifts!) or just to drop by during the event.  I appreciate YOU!

I'll see you there!

Erica L Meyer

Lessons From Old Photographs

My mother-in-law passed away last week.  Her death was not unexpected, and was, in many ways, a blessing.  She'd broken her hip about a year and a half ago and her health had been steadily declining ever since.  The funeral was over the weekend.

It seems that these are the moments when there is a renewed interest in those old family photo albums, and my in-laws have dozens of those.  There are albums going back to the 1940s and maybe even earlier (FIL was born in 1931; MIL in 1927).  There aren't many photos of MIL from her childhood as the family didn't own a camera.  There are a few of my FIL on the farm in Minnesota, but most of those come from when he was older.

Lots of these photos are in albums that are falling apart!  They're on those old newsprint-type pages (though heavier than that) or on black pages.  One book is stitched together and is still holding up fairly well, while another has the pages simply falling out.  The oldest photos were put in albums using photo corners, which means that they're easy to remove and scan, but it also means that the photos fall out.  Of course, those that are glued down face issues with the glue, and you can't read the back.

A couple of lessons....

1.  Put FULL NAMES on photos.  We found many with captions that read "Me and my 5 daughters," or "Stanley and Harold; ushers at the wedding."  Okay....who's ME?  What wedding?  Stanley?  Harold?  There are 7 Stanleys in the family.  Another one read "Mr. Groom, Mrs. Groom, Bride, Groom, Mrs. Bride, Mr. Bride."  Do the parents have first names?  I'm sure they do!

2.  Put DATES on the photos.  Again, what wedding?

3.  If you're into genealogy, put the photos WITH your research.  My FIL has done extensive work on his family history, so he's got all the tables and charts and such.  But, if those aren't actually with the photos, it doesn't help much.  We were cross-referencing back and forth to find dates and names and such.  (Yes, we did figure out what wedding and just who the couple's parents were because there was ONE first name listed, so we went from there).

4.  Talk to your older family members now about these things.  Sometimes it can be a pain, hearing the same story over and over again, or realizing that it really is true that the first born has more photos, but you'll be glad you did down the road.

5.  Try to write carefully.  We had one photo of some "Oyster"something roosters (oysterloop--apparently it's a breed) and other's where we tried, and failed, to decipher the handwriting.

One other lesson.....What we do is important.  People want to see the pictures and hear the stories.  Our scrapbooks make that possible, so keep it up!

Oh, and one last thing.  There weren't many pictures of MIL in the later years, after the kids grew up.  She didn't want to be in the pictures because she didn't like the way she looked.  Some of the family (including grandchildren) only saw her every few years.  The youngest of these are 12 and they won't have many memories of Grandma.  They won't have many pictures of her either.  So, please, get out from behind the camera and smile, even when you feel "ugly."  I promise, the kids won't see you that way.  They'll say, "Hey!  I remember that day!"

Quick Summer Schedule Update

It's a good thing I have a clause in here somewhere that lets you know my calendar is subject to change, because it frequently does!

We're headed to Yellowstone on a bit of a spur-of-the-moment trip this month, so I've moved my crop to the weekend of the 25th & 26th instead.

Then, in August, things get a little crazy with Tristan headed off to school, school starting for the girls and I and the like.  So my crop will be the 22nd & 23rd.

October is CRAZY with a scrapbooking retreat for me, plus UEA weekend, and Halloween, so I've moved my Fall Festival to September.  I'd planned for it to be the last weekend, however, that's also the GIANT rummage sale for my daughter's bell choir.  I'll be a tad busy.  So...

Fall Festival will be held on September 19th & 20th.

At this point, I don't see much changing with this schedule.  My monthly crops and classes after that should be:

October 24th & 25th
November 14th & 15th
December 12th & 13th (this one could be moved back a week to the 5th & 6th)

Thanks for your continued support and understanding.  You make this job fun!

Cards, Cards, Cards!

A card kit is included with your monthly crop fee.  Here are the cards for June, July, and August.  I'll also be offering a card class using more of these designs.  Keep an eye on this site or follow me on Facebook for the latest information and the schedule for that class (I'm looking at the end of July/first part of August).  

 This is the card we'll be making this coming Saturday.  There's still time to register for my crop!

 The card for July

And August. 

Aren't they fun?!  I'm sure having a good time designing them!  These cards will only be available at my crops, so stop by and have some crafting fun.  My crop schedule can be found on the Calendar tab.

*Please note that there may be slight variations in the cards*

CM Products Available to Order

There's a whole lot of legal mumbo-jumbo behind the reasons why, but there are a few CM products available again, at slightly below the former retail prices.  

There aren't any CCS blades or replacement blades for the old trimmers, nor will you find any white or spargo pages listed.  

There are, however, coversets available, and you can order white or spargo pages with protectors from Ahni & Zoe that will fit in the CM coversets just fine.  Those page/protector sets cost $29.50 for a set of 16, which is comparable to CM's pre-bankruptcy prices.  

If you are looking for Tape Runner or Refills, those are also available through Ahni & Zoe, at prices of $9.50 & $8.50 respectively.  The A&Z refills fit the most recent CM tape runner.  

I am still an Ahni & Zoe Consultant, though I don't plan to stay one much longer.  I will either deactivate by the end of this month, having not met my minimum purchase requirement, or, in the event that ya'll order lots and lots of stuff, I'll be resigning by July 31.  It is time for me to move on to other things, but fear not!  I'll still be offering classes and workshops, and working to build Erica's Memory Solutions.  

To view the Ahni & Zoe products, click here.  White/Spargo pages are found under "Other."

To view the CM Outlet products, click here.  Please note that all products are While Supplies Last.  

Please order directly through me, as I no longer show up in any kind of search on the website and would not get credit or commission from your order.  I'm happy to help you complete it, and I deliver!  I still accept Visa & Mastercard, personal checks, and cash.  

Drumroll please.........

My business has a name!

Erica's Memory Solutions
Offering creative and innovate answers for your photo crafting needs

The winner of the "Name My Business" Contest is.....

Susan Elder!

She provided me with a very long list of possibilities and it was from those ideas that the name was born.

Susan won an album from Ahni & Zoe, with a pack of refill pages, plus a slide-in pack, and a black pen!  Sh was so excited, and so am I to finally have a name for this creative adventure of mine.

Thanks Susan!

A Sneak Peek

Spring Spectacular is NEXT weekend and I've been busy!

First up, the menu:

Lunch:  Sandwiches and Salad, complete with my soon-to-be-famous sandwich spread (I promise to share the recipe with my guests), plus a homemade dessert.

Dinner:  Taco Bar, with black beans and/or chicken, plus all the fixins, and, of course, another homemade dessert

Next, fun gifts!  

Here's a sneak peek at the page kits I've been working on.  This two-page spread is one of TWO you'll receive simply for joining me!  

And these adorable handmade cards are part of the Grand Prize!  There are 10 in all, perfect for just about any birthday or celebration!  

There's lots more and I know you don't want to miss out, so register TODAY by sending me an email at mamaerica@hotmail.com or leave me a comment below.  Registration closes on Wednesday, April 30.  Hope to hear from you soon!

Register now for Spring Spectacular!

Please note, I have had to change the date due to a multitude of family conflicts.

You're cordially invited to my annual

Spring Spectacular!

This is a fabulous opportunity to spend time with other scrapbookers and work non-stop on your albums for 16 hours over the course of two days!  

            When:             Friday night, May 2, from 7 pm – Midnight

                                    Saturday,  May 3, 2014, 10 am – 9 pm.

            Where:            My home, 5317 S Wildflower Lane, Murray

            Fee:                 $40.00. 

            Deadline:         Friday April 25^th (You're welcome to register after that date, 

                                     but I can't guarantee there will be an opening).

Your fee includes:

·         Plenty of space to work

·         Lunch and dinner on Saturday

·         Use of all of my tools and idea books, including my Cricut machine

·         Wi-Fi access and power for your laptop

·         Door prizes

·         A Grand prize

·         Free gifts

·         And much more!

Let me know if you'll be scrapbooking traditionally or digitally so I know which customer gift to have for you.  Or, if you'd like, you can choose to have both for an additional $5.00.  Also, if you'd like to double your workspace, you may do so for an additional $20.00. 

Space is limited, and seats are reserved on a first-come, first-paid basis, so get your registration and payment in promptly! 

Contact me via email (mamaerica@hotmail.com) or leave a comment and I'll get you a registration form.

See you there!

Two Sales You Want to Know About!

First, from Panstoria:

Spring Content Sale - 30% off

Spring seems like it has been a long time coming this year, but it's finally here. To celebrate, we have marked down all digital content in the Panstoria.com store by 30%! That's right, all content from Panstoria, Creative Memories, Cottage Arts, pixels2Pages, Kaisercraft, Little Feet Digital Designs, and Simply Kelly Designs is now available for 30% off the original price.

No coupons are necessary, as the prices in the store have already been reduced.

The sale runs only through the end of March so get your content now.

Be aware that most of the artwork will only work with Artisan (Panstoria's version of StoryBook) though the Creative Memories content should work just fine with StoryBook Creator Plus.  

Panstoria Digital Content

And then from Cricut:

They've re-released many of the Creative Memories cartridges, so now's your chance to order them if you'd like.  AND they're on sale!  The regular price is $49.99 and they're on sale for $29.99.  I don't know how long the sale runs, however, so grab them while you can!

Cricut Cartridge Sale 

So, what kind of scrapbooker are you?

Here's a fun little quiz to find out!

Scrapbook Style Quiz

I'm a Classic Storyteller.  What about you?

Name My Business Contest

My business is taking a new direction, or perhaps it's simply splitting off, or something....but it needs a NAME!

And that, friends, is where you come in.  Name my business and win a fabulous (and, as yet, undetermined) prize!  Are you game?

Qualities I would like to see in my business moniker:

• My name, or some part of it
• Descriptive of what I do 
• Easy to remember

What do I do you ask?  Well, let's see.

I help people organize their scrapbooking/crafting supplies.  I encourage people to get their photos out of their computers and into their lives.  I offer workshops and crops to help people meet those goals.  Anything else?

Ready?

GO!

*Disclaimer:  It is completely up to ME to decide what business name I shall use.  I reserve the right to combine suggestions, or reject them all.  If I do combine suggestions, those who provided them will all receive a prize.  As I am currently unsure just what the prize will be, its value cannot be determined.  Odds of winning depend on a bunch of stuff--how many people play the game and whether or not I like the names, among other things.  In other words, this is supposed to be fun!  :-)

For the man who has everything

My parents are at that stage in their lives where they have everything they could possibly need, and most of what they want.  And, really, if they want something, they simply go buy it.  This makes gift-giving quite the challenge!

Dad's birthday is this week, and I had a spark of inspiration, so I created this photo collage for him in StoryBook Creator Plus.  You could create something similar using Panstoria's Artisan software (Panstoria wrote StoryBook and Memory Manager for Creative Memories).

Organizing workshops are going live!

Do you spend as much time LOOKING for your crafting supplies as you do CREATING?  Are you absolutely CERTAIN you have that perfect paper or embellishment, but you can't remember where you put it?  Have you ever purchased DUPLICATE supplies?  Do you struggle with ORGANIZING your crafting and paper supplies? 

Join me for a series of workshops that will help you get organized once and for all!

I'll help you sort your papers and embellishments and put them into a system that's personalized and easy to use.   I'll also provide the space and time you need to get it done! 

Workshops include:

• 3 hours of time to sort, purge, and organize your supplies. 
• A full 6-foot table on which to work
• Handouts to help you along your way
• Assistance, support, and encouragement as you work
• Snacks and drinks (of course!)

As you work, you'll become more organized so your crafting time can be spent actually crafting!   And when you're finished, you'll be able to find the things you're looking for and easily put supplies away when you're finished with them and/or when you buy new things. 

Each workshop costs just $15 and there is NO product purchase required.  I'll show you the products I use and like, but I also encourage you to use what you have. 

Workshops will run:

• Friday 7:00 - 10:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Saturday 2:00 - 5:00 pm
• Crop Saturday 6:00 - Midnight

Attend one or more workshops for $15 each or attend all four for just $50. 

The first set of workshops will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 14 & 15, 2014.  To RSVP, comment or send me an email and then mail me a check to reserve your spot.  Spaces are available on a first-come, first-paid basis. 

I'm looking forward to sharing these workshops with you!