Meet Jennifer Longenecker-New AMM Designer!

We interrupt this Technique Tuesday to introduce you to one of our new designers!!

Welcome new design team member, Jennifer Longenecker! Today I would like to introduce you to this talented lady and the newest member of our team.

Hi all, my name is Jennifer Longenecker. I am a SAHM to 5 fabulous kiddos ages 10, 8, and 6. Zach and Austin are twins and Nathan and Heather are twins. Emily, my middle child, was also a twin and is very adamant that everyone knows that she is just as special as her brothers and sister. My hubby and I just celebrated our 13th anniversary, and we currently live in the great Lone Star state. I began scrapbooking in 2001 after Emily was born and in doing so uncovered a love for art and design. Scrapbooking is my release from the day to day stresses and has helped me work through some past hurts and disappointments. I am not sure I have a label for my style yet as it continues to grow as I learn more, but I love all things vintage and am currently enjoying playing with paint, mists and book text. When I am not scrapping I enjoy being with my family and searching for great antique finds which usually involves a little restoration.

Have a peek here at some of Jennifer's beautiful work.

"Beauty"

"Hope"

"Don't Bug Me"

I sent Jennifer a few interview questions so we could get to know her a little better. Read on to see what she had to say.

1. How did you get started in scrapping? A friend of mine introduced me to Creative Memories in 2001 right after my oldest daughter was born. I went to one of the CM demonstrations and signed up to be a consultant. I really didn't enjoy the consulting part of scrapbooking, so I decided to let it go after my initial 3 months. Shortly afterward I found my first LSS and that opened a door to so many possibilities and my passion took off from there.

2. How would you describe your style? I'm not really sure how to define my style. I am really enjoying a shabby chic, vintage, mixed media look with lots of white space.

3. What are your favorite manufacturers? There are so many to choose from, but I would have to say Prima and Sassafras Lass are my faves right now. It does change a little with each new CHA release.

4. What is your favorite color or color combo? My favorite color combo right now would be creams and golds ... they remind me of a golden sunny morning and bring so much peace.

5. Do you have any other hobbies other than scrapping? I dabble a little with sewing and painting, but my favorite hobby is antiquing if that's even a word. I really enjoy finding a bargain on an antique item and giving it a new life.

Thanks Jennifer. Look for more inspiration from Jennifer in the coming months and be sure to visit her blog.

Member Monday with Kat Glossop

Happy Monday! Kat is here with an all new pick for Layout of the Week. Ironically she chose the layout below by Carole Janson, not knowing that Carole would soon be joining our design team.

Kat said, "I love this page, it’s absolutely adorable! The hand cutting must have taken forever, the children swinging from above is too cute, the close ups are beautiful, shows all the little details hiding amongst the leaves, and of course those the gorgeous little eyes peeking through the flowers, awwww!"

"Tiny Boy" by Carole Janson


Carole will be continuing to inspire us as she joins our design team. To see more from her, be sure to visit her blog here.

Little Something Sunday with Larissa Albernaz

Since I like to include three dimensional elements to my layouts to get added dimension, I had the idea to include little boxes on the layout and to take advantage of the spaces inside to add embellishments or pictures for my page, like I did on the following two layouts.

Let’s see how to make the little boxes in the "Bee Happy" layout.

All you are going to need to do is to cut small squares in a corresponding number to the number of boxes you intend to use on the page.

Always leave a 1 inch space for each side and make creases every 0.5 inch, followed by the necessary cuts and scores, as shown in the pictures.

Next, fold, glue and add it to your layout.

Embellish as you wish, keeping in mind that summer demands happy themes, and that you can glue and assemble the little boxes in many senses and directions!

Page Layout Supplies:

White Cardstock

Patterned Paper

Little Yellow Bicycle - Smuggle bug collection (Boy Stroll in the Park; Girl all Over Snugglebugs; Girls Stripe Front)

SEI - Playday (Tickles, Recess, Dot-to-dot)

Studio Calico, Periodical

Embellishments:

buttons, felt stickers Flutter Making Memories & Remarks American Crafts

Brads: American Crafts, Basic Grey

Member Spotlight-Chatting with Karla Smith

A Million Memories, the community we all know and love, abounding with inspiration, support, and friendship would not be the place it is today without its members. All summer long we want to thank our members, new and seasoned, with a special member spotlight here on the blog. Today we are going to start with one of AMM's favorite members, Karla Smith, also known as "bluegumsmith" on the message boards.



I sent Karla a little interview to help some of our newer members get to know her better. I asked her some non-scrapbooking related questions as well. I think even some of the seasoned members may find a surprise or two here with her answers. So read on to get to know her!
1. What would the soundtrack of your life sound like? I would have to say the soundtrack from the Old 80's TV series " The Facts of Life".

2. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? A " Travel TV HOST" What a Dream Job!

3. What is your favorite color or color combination? Sage Green, add Purples and Tan, that would be my favorite combination.

4. How would you describe your scrapbooking/art style? I am a Shabby, Vintage gal at heart. I love to incorporate anything vintage into my projects if possible. Whimsy is another fun style for me due to always using my 6 year old Granddaughter as my scrap subject.

5. Where do you get your inspiration? Any sites you visit regularly you would like to share? I love to search through The AMM gallery, and magazines for inspiration. Blog hopping is another favorite of mine... I Love my Morning Scrap Scene email.... There are so many talented ladies out there.

6. What is your favorite A Million Memories kit? Michelle always gives us her best, I don't think I have ever been disappointed with a kit in the 3 1/2 years I have been here with AMM. FEBRUARY 2010 SEW SWEET, MAY 2010 Summer Flea Market, JUNE 2009 PICKET FENCE. Just a few of the many favorites I have.

7. What is inspiring you right now? I am enjoying all the "White Space" pages I am seeing right now, with many layers...

8. What three scrapbooking items could you not live without? Lace, sewing machine, & my punches!


I also asked Karla to share with us some of her favorite layouts and/or projects and these are the ones she chose.

This one won Karla our Banner Bonanza contest. So adorable!

All of our featured members will receive an exclusive store discount. It is just our way of saying thanks for being a great part of A Million Memories. Stay tuned all summer long to see who gets the spotlight next!

June Kit reveal-"Summer Breeze"

Our new design team members will begin working with our upcoming July kit, but today I wanted to share with you some fantastic designs from our June kit.

First up are these beauties from Tonya Dirk. I love how she added the crochet trim to the top of the banner and created one large banner piece on which to mat her photo.
"You Make My Heart Flutter" by Tonya Dirk


This one is so precious. I love that flower border beneath the picture using some of the banner pieces and flowers from the October Afternoon sticker sheet.
"Sweet Slumber" by Tonya Dirk



Next up is Staci Taylor. I love the series of photos she used her of her daughter enjoying an ice cream and the banner running through the middle of the page.
"Summer Treat" by Staci Taylor


I adore Staci's title work here.
"Sweet Summer Lovin" by Staci Taylor



Last, but not least, is Karen Grunberg. I adore the picture and the white cardstock background.
"today, tomorrow, & forever" by Karen Grunberg


I love how Karen cut the Pink Paislee die cut paper and arranged it on this layout.
"I Know the Feeling My Son" by Karen Grunberg

To see more of what the design team has done so far with the kit, check out the Design Gallery here. Stay tuned for layouts from our guest designer.

Welcome New DT Members

Please extend a warm welcome to the four new A Million Memories Design Team members! They will be joining your existing design team to bring you fresh designs, new tutorials and challenges, and more inspiration all around. We are all very happy to have them and we hope you are too.

Check out their blogs from the links below. They have also been added to the sidebar.
Carole Janson
Jennifer Longenecker
Kay Rogers
Zoe Nembert



Over the coming weeks we will be introducing you to these lovely ladies one by one. So please give them a warm welcome and leave them some love on this post! Congratulations girls!

Catching Up with the Design team Challenge

Today we are checking in with the Design Team Challenge going on now through June 21st. So far there are are only these two lonely but lovely entries.

If you need a reminder about the details on the design team challenge be sure to check out this thread.

First is this layout by Sarah Rentz, also known as "polkadotrentz" on the message boards. She flipped the sketch upside down!
"Walking with Daddy" by Sarah Rentz


This next one is from Guiseppa Gubler, also known as "seppa" on the boards. She added a 4th picture tot he sketch and centered her title and journaling.
"You Are A Hiker" by Guiseppa Gubler


If you want to participate in the challenge and have a chance to win a $10.00 AMM store gift certificate as well as a selection of AMM vintage trims (to be shipped with your order), then be sure to check out the challenge details and get those layouts uploaded to the gallery and the challenge thread by midnight on June 21st. Kat will then select her winner. Good luck!

Technique Tuesday with Kat Glossop

Make Your Own Patterned Chippy Letters
For a class I did recently, I showed the ladies how to create their own patterned chippy letters – a very simple idea, but everyone seemed to really like the technique, so I thought I’d share it with you.


First up, paint your chipboard letters – these can be bare chipboard letters, or even leftover Thickers which you can paint to suit your page.


The mottled letters I’ve created by using a dish sponge – make sure when you apply the paint you don’t put too much on and avoid filling in all the cracks in the sponge.


Apply it to your dry letter like you would a stamp.

For the dots use the end of a match stick.

And finally for the lines, use a scrap piece of card, apply paint to the edge, and stamp onto the letter.


Once you’ve finished, clear emboss and you’re done! And while you’re at it, have a looksy around your house for other textured surfaces like the sponge for more patterns.

Member Monday with Rachel Hall

This week's Member Monday was selected by Rachel Hall. She chose the layout below by Jenni Hufford for our Layout of the Week. Rachel said, "I love Jenni's layout for it's striking and beautiful focus on the photo and the way that she used the smalls bits of patterned paper in squares turned diagonally to create a beautiful and mosaic look. Combined with the misting and subtle punched touches with the butterflies, she has created a truly beautiful and striking layout that I am so inspired by!"

" How" by Jenni Hufford

To see more of Jenni's beautiful work and be even more inspired by her, visit her blog: http://www.huffordhouse.blogspot.com/