Countdown to Christmas Blocks

Christmas is almost here! Start the countdown with your own custom blocks your family will love. You can make 2 blocks sets with 3 12x12 pages.

Fun Christmas Gift Ideas

The holidays are quickly approaching and it's time to get serious about the gifts we're going to be giving. Don't just buy something because you have to give a gift, give a gift this year that will be treasured and used, and for sure not returned or re-gifted.

I'll be posting some fun SUPER AFFORDABLE ideas you can give using Heritage Makers publishing studio. Some of the ideas are "crafty" using our 12x12 pages and other ideas are our beautiful products, such as cookbooks, calendars, playing cards and more!

Here's a sneak peak of some of the ideas... more to come in a few days:)

Mini 3" books created from 1 12x12 page. Create a mini book showcasing the Christmas's from the past and hang then on your tree as fun ornaments.

2x3 wood blocks - 3 sets of JOY can be made from 1 12x12 page.

Making Family History FUN!

I just made the funnest interactive family tree!!! I used a 18x24 poster from www.storiesthatlive.com and taped it to a 18x24 metal sheet (you can get these at your local heating and cooling store). Then I made magnets using a 12x12 scrapbook page and a sheet of 2x2 tiles from Home Depot.

I laminated the poster and attached the pictures to the tiles with Mod Podge then hot glued the magnet to the back.

Jace and I just tried it out. He went from saying "Who's that?" to "Can we do it again, that's fun"

If you want to learn more about how to make this attend Heritage Makers Master class tomorrow August 27th.

Thu, Aug 27, 2009 7:00 PM MDT
Topic: From Page to Project
Instructor: Lynda Angelastro
Studio Product Manager Lynda Angelastro and her Guest Presenter show many giftable ways to use Heritage Makers art. (I'm the guest presenter)
Click here to register.

To get started on your own family tree please contact me at heidi@storiesthatlive.com

Decorating on a Budget!

Are you looking for ideas of how to decorate your house or office, but are limited by a budget?

You've come to the right place! Heritage Makers has AMAZING products that can turn your home or office into a masterpiece at SUPER AFFORDABLE prices. My little girl is 1 month old and I have already managed to make several things for her room (there would be more, but I ran out of ModPodge and I haven't had the energy to take 3 kids to Wal Mart yet to get some more:) See below to get some fun ideas for your kids rooms.

Clock: 8x8 scrapbook page from Heritage Makers ($2.50) clock at Wal Mart ($4)
total= $6.40
WHAT A DEAL!!!

Blocks: 3 8 inch blocks cut from a 2x4 ($.50) and 12x12 scrapbook paper from Heritage Makers ($3)
total = $3.50
Box: 2 12x12 scrapbook papers from Heritage Makers ($6) and craft box at Wal Mart ($2)
total = $8

20x24 Heritage Makers Canvas $130 comes gallery wrapped and ready to hang OR you can also do the same thing on a 18x24 poster for only $15

3 12x12 scrapbook pages from Heritage Makers ($9) mounted on foam board ($5 each) and a roll of ribbon from Wal Mart ($2)

total=$26 (for all 3)

Scanning Services for your Reunion

SCANNING:
Would you like copies of the photos your relatives have, but they aren't willing to let them out of their site? If so, ask them to bring them to your family reunion and I can scan everybody's treasured photos right there at your reunion. Everyone gets a copy of everyone's pictures and everyone goes home with their special photos- it's a win win for everyone! Contact me for details at heidi@storiesthatlive.com.

Family... Isn't It About TIME

Make a fun personalized clock for under $10. Great for your home or as a gift!

FUN, EASY, AFFORDABLE craft ideas for Reunions

MAKE AND TAKE!!
Do you need a fun CRAFT idea... here are some simple, fun and AFFORDABLE ideas!!!

SPECIAL MEMORIES BOX: This is a great way to keep all your favorite cards, notes, letters, etc. all in one place. (see photo below in previous post) This is made using 2 12x12 pages and a 7in craft box ($2 at wal mart).

FAMILY CLOCK: Super easy and a great addition to your home. This is made using 1 8x8 page and a 9 inch clock ($4 at walmart) (see photo above).

BLOCKS: Create your blocks to say whatever you want... does your reunion have a theme? If so make a block per family or per kid with the theme or family moto. 1 12x12 page will make 5 blocks, then cut a 2x4 into 7 in blocks. (see photo below in previous post)

TILES: Create a tile with an ancestors picture or grandma and grandpa with one of their favorite sayings. 1 12x12 page can make 4 tiles, then get 4 6x6 tiles at Home Depot (or any home improvement store).

Great Family Reunion Ideas!

Do you have a family reunion this summer? Here are some great ideas of some fun things you can do at your family reunion to strengthen your families heritage!

1. Family Treasures Card game this is fun family game that has a playing board (poster that you laminate) that goes with it. To view the instructions click here.

2. I AM a Heritage Maker Activity Book: This is a great way your kids and their cousins to get to know their heritage in a fun activity book.

3. Personalized Card Deck: Does your family like to play card games? Create your own custom deck of cards with pictures of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. There are lots of templates to choose from in the gallery (rook, old maid, go fish, face cards, etc.)

4. FAMILY LAND: this fun game is just like Candy Land, but with your family name and the family activities you enjoy doing together. A great game that will keep the kids entertained for hours! It also has a deck of cards that go with it.

5. Family Cookbook: If you have time before the reunion have family members send you a favorite recipe and a picture. Put together a family cookbook. Take the cookbook to the reunion and if family members would like a copy you can take orders. **If you don't have time to put it together before the reunion, have family bring their picture and favorite recipe to the reunion, then put the cookbook together after the reunion.

6. BINGO: Create your own bingo cards with pictures of grandparents and other relatives. Great way for the young kids to learn their great grandparents names:)

Special Memories Box

Need a special, unique, personalized gift, or maybe just a fun new custom designed box for home decor... check this out:)

This is a brown craft box I found at wal mart for a few dollars. I needed a place to put the letters that my husbands grandmother sent him while he was on his mission, so I made this box that says "special memories special memories" on the top with pictures of his grandparents on it. I then put the letters inside the box. It makes a great item to put on a shelf or book case, it's about 7"x7".

Make your Child the STAR!

Are your kids playing sports this summer? Why not make them the STAR and help build their self esteem and confidence! This is a 8.5x11 page (template in the gallery) that looks like the cover of a sports illustrated magazine. When I showed this to my son he said "Mom, you made a magazine about me!" It was just the cover, but he felt super special!

The clock is a 9" clock I got at walmart for $4. It's a picture of my son and it says "It's GAME TIME" So fun hu!!!

Contact me if you are interested in making any of these items at heidi@storiesthatlive.com

FUN new IDEAS!

Here are some FABULOUS home decor ideas that are super AFFORDABLE and EASY to create!

They also make wonderful gifts to give to friends, family, neighbors, etc.

These are made using 12x12 pages from Heritage Makers and 6x6 tiles, and 7 inch wood blocks (cut from a 2x4) (the poster is a 12x18 Heritage Maker Poster)

If you are interested in making any of these products please contact me for a schedule of my "make and take" workshops.

These can all be customized to say exactly what you want them to say!

This is a 12x18 Heritage Makers Poster! (Only $9.95, what a steal!)

This is a tile with my grandma Fern out hiking with a saying she used to say
"Slow down kid... you may never pass this way again."

This tile says "Come What May... And Love It." ~Joseph B Wirthlin
(tiles can be created to say whatever you want)

This is a 7 inch block, it says family: Where life begins and love never ends.

This is also a 7 in block

A Great Poster Idea

This is my latest poster I made to hang in my house. What's great about HM is that you can customize everything, so if you have a favorite quote or saying you can easily put it in place of the quote that is in this project! This template is in the gallery and I just put a quote in place of the photo in the large box. Let me know if you'd like to make one your self. It's super easy and very affordable ($15)

Bring Heritage Home

Here are some fabulous blocks you can make to bring Heritage into your Home. Jill Means, a professional designer in California and a Heritage Makers consultant designed these darling blocks! Thanks for sharing Jill! If you'd like to make a set for your mom or dad for Mother's Day or Father's Day please email me! heidi@storiesthatlive.com

Wedding Wonder Special

Do you know anyone who is getting married, or just got married.... or hasn't done anything with their wedding photos and their wedding story? The Wedding Wonder Special is here! For only $184.95 you can preserve all your wedding memories into beautiful keepsakes!

A Heritage Home

You can do so many fun things with Heritage Makers products! With the Heritage Home special this month you can create some amazing home decor items that will help strengthen your home and family at a great price!


This is a 18x24 poster- IDEA: put pictures of your family around the outside and your family mission statement, family rules, etc. on the inside.

This is also a 18x24 poster- IDEA: Put your family picture on it with a great quote and your family name

12x12 scrapbook page and 7x5 storybook

This is a 12x12 scrapbook page- IDEA: design it however you want and then mod podge it to a tile and display on an easel.

These are also 12x12 pages- IDEA: Take a family picture, make it 12 inches by 12 inches put a quote on the page and frame it. The little tile on the right is a from a 12x12 page, I divided the page into fourths and then cut it and put it on the tile with mod podge. It says "Hold tight to that which you cherish- FAMILY"



This is a 5x5 storybook and 12x12 pages- IDEA: Design your 12x12 page into 7.5x3 inch images and then mod podge them onto 2x4 wood blocks.

These are 12x12 scrapbook pages- IDEA: Help build your child's self esteem by displaying photos of them with great quotes. These pictures hang in my 5 year old sons room and he LOVES them! They say, "TRADITION" "HERITAGE" AND "HEROES" with definitions below them.


These are 12x12 scrapbook pages- IDEA: (same as above) Design whatever you want it look like and say and mod podge it to wood 2x4's. Create different blocks for each holiday!



This is a 12x12 storybook- IDEA: Create a family yearbook each year and make copies for each member of the family. Display your book on a table so you can look at it often.

This is a 12x12 page- IDEA: Create 6 3x3 inch squares on your 12x12 page, cut out the squares and put them into a photo cube, or you could mod podge them onto a wood block. This is a 6 generation cube for my daughter. Each side has a photo, name, birth place, birth date/ death date (if applicable) and then characteristic traits about the person.

This display has lots of different products: Family Fold, Canvas Posters, 12x18 poster, storybooks and more!

Publishing is SO Simple with Templates!

I am so excited about my Heritage Makers business. I love working from home, preserving my stories and helping others do the same. I recently just finished a book about my son. I used a template from the template gallery and had the book done in less than an hour!

Click here to view his book

If you have any questions about your projects or need help getting started please don't hesitate to contact me.