New Vintage Tins

My thirteen-year-old would let you to know that the title 'New Vintage Tins' is an oxymoron. I love that he's actually awake and listening in his English class. Yes, New and Vintage do seem to contradict each other, but these tins are new...even though we designed them to look like they've been around a few years.
This summer's trip to New York inspired me to create the Ellis Island collection. My Pops (Grandpa Stanley) was at the forefront of my mind as I searched the photo collections at the Library of Congress. Oh, how I wish I would have come across a miraculous picture of nineteen-year-old Stanley, fresh off the boat and ready to conquer this new world. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything bearing even a faint resemblance of the man that married my grandmother (the earliest photograph that we have of him), but I did stumble across some amazing images. My favorite is the photograph of the mother with the three small children. Look closely at her eyes. Life is a little uncertain, but there is hope in her eyes; hope and courage to face whatever lies ahead.

Our Simple Thought collection is just that; simple thoughts that are meant to uplift and inspire. I love the sign that says: Breathe...Again. Seems so simple, but I've had a day or two when a reminder would have been nice!

How to display a SbM Magnet Board

We've had several requests for a review on ways to display our magnet boards. These different options work equally well with our 8x8 or 12x12 boards.

1. Easel
Probably the easiest and fastest way to get the project out and in front of your face. If you're using the easel with a Memory Tree, look for something that won't collapse while your kids are playing with the set. We offer our own version...which beautifully displays either board size.2. Ribbon
Not much to this option. The holes have been predrilled, you just need to push through the paper design. We recommend holding the board up to a light and pushing from the front to back of board. Use a thumbtack...a toothpick...a paperclip...or whatever is handy! The holes are purposely small. If you're considering thick, chunky ribbon, you might want also use a couple of metal book rings.
3. Magnets
Here's a great option for displaying your project on a filing cabinet, refrigerator front or other metal object. Just make sure to use several super-strong magnets on the back of your board.
4. Frames
We LOVE the customized look that these unfinished frames give to our different projects. We purposely sized our metal boards small enough to fit into most standard frames. Click on the links to learn how to make your own.

Collage Frame Instructions:
Fabric Frame Instructions:
There are our ideas. Hope it inspires you. Be sure to share your own creations!

Swiss Days, 2009 - 30 days & counting!

Wow! The temperature might be cranked up a notch or two, but as we turn the page on another month, summer is quickly fading. Not sure where the time goes, but that seems to be a regular theme in our lives. Swiss Days is exactly 30 days away. We're excited for the event and (knock on wood) feel like we're on track to having everything ready.

If you're the kind of person who likes surprises, stop reading this post and be sure to write C7 on your calendar, forearm or even forehead, for that matter. That's where you'll find us thirty days from today!

If you'd like to sneak a peek at some of our exclusive Swiss Days offerings, keep reading and check back as we unveil more fun products in the days to come.

As an extra enticement, we'll be offering a Swiss Days coupon to our Stories by Me customers. If you are already on our mailing list, have no fear. A coupon will be arriving via email in the next couple of weeks. Wanna' be added to our list? Just drop a line to mythoughts@storiesbyme.com with the phrase Swiss Day Coupon in the message.

Here's a sampling of several exclusive magnet boards that will be available at Swiss Days. These beauties feature vintage designed fabric and distressed metal. No two are alike. If you like them be sure to come early because there will only be fifty!

We've been busy!

We couldn't wait to show you what's been keeping us so quiet on the blog front... and housework front and time with friends front...

Some of the products are new and improved, some are brand-spanking new; all will be available on our website and/or Etsy store.

Let us introduce you:
Memory Puzzle Blocks - These are what got us started. And what a great start!! We'll be eternally grateful to My Mind's Eye for giving us a hand-up and helping us bring in our first boatload of puzzle kits. We've now sold more than 10k of these wonderful little kits that preserve memories in the uniquest of ways. This year we hope to introduce a Stories by Me kit version. We think you'll like (scratch that...LOVE) our new and improved Memory Puzzle Block kit!

Memory Trees - These big guys were unveiled last summer and much to our delight were an instant hit! We're thrilled that you have embraced them and made them such a popular gift item. Yes, we know that the hard part is finding pictures of all the loved ones that need to be featured in your family tree. But it is SO worth the effort! Remember that while our tree's were made to display 3 or 4 generations, you can keep making face buttons and add them to your family button box. That way no one gets left off of the family tree!

Our designer, Carol, has done us proud!! We are drueling over our new Antique Floral design and the Cream Leaf pattern goes with EVERYTHING!

Vintage Tins - These beauties were created in conjunction with our Memory Trees. We had all these fabulous vintage photographs that were begging for a more prominent spot than what the archives could offer. They have been a huge hits at our shows and our collection keeps growing, thanks to your many suggestions. Only problem is that we haven't figured out how to make them available on our website since the collection is constantly changing. We're working on adding a core collection to the website and will put other pieces on Etsy, as time allows.

Memory Calendars - We are so excited about our new Memory Calendars. We've been kickin' around the idea for nearly a year and then BAM! it just all came together beautifully. The calendar will be sold in kit form (like the Memory Trees) and offer just what you need to make your own memorable calendar. What makes these so cool is that you'll be able to customize your calendar by featuring family faces on special dates. We know... we just had to include family pictures in the project! Yeah, the picture is so tiny, it doesn't do justice to the finished project, but more pictures are coming. And, Suni is working to get this into our Etsy store.

Thanksgiving Giveaway Winners!

Did you note the plural use of WINNERS? We only had a few contestants so we say EVERYONE's a winner!

If you left a comment for last week's drawing send us a note at http://www.mythoughts@storiesbyme.com/ and let us know your preference of the Thanksgiving tins. (Pick between Turkey Boy and Pumpkin Girl) Be sure to tell us where to ship your prize so we can get it to you right away!

Here's who we're looking to hear from:

elizabeth

nana sue

trent

and janis

Thanks for taking the time to send us your comments. We're not done playing. Christmas is right around the corner and our Vintage Christmas tins are every bit as cute as the Halloween and Thanksgiving collections. Check back soon.

Random Giveaway: Thanksgiving Vintage Tin

Why not? We had such a great time hearing from you during our Halloween giveaway that we thought we'd do it again. These tins have been very popular and we think you'll enjoy displaying one in your home or office. Each tin measures 8x8 inches and includes two hand-finished magnets. These sweet images were once featured on Victorian era greeting cards and they are a great reminder of simplier times.

Here's how the giveaway works: Leave a comment on this post before midnight on Thursday, November 6th. We'll choose a random visitor and post the winner on Friday the 7th. The winner will be able to choose one of the above Thanksgiving Vintage Tins. Best of luck...we look forward to hearing from YOU!

We have a WINNER!

Thanks everyone for participating in our Vintage Tin random giveaway. We loved reading your comments and look forward to hearing from you in the future!

Thought it would be fun to pick an extra winner, so not one but two of you get to contact us at www.mythoughts@storiesbyme.com to determine your Halloween Tin preference. (Pick between Halloween Witch and Scared'y Cat.) Be sure to tell us where to ship your prize and we'll get it in the mail pronto!

Drum roll please..........................
and the WINNERS are:

sharee72 said...

I love these products. I was thinking of making a box to put all the extra buttons in and wow here it is on the blog. I'm so excited. It will be so much fun for the kids to learn their family lines.

Niki said...

What a fun and unique way to showcase your craft business! I'm new to your blog and plan to be a frequent flyer!

If you didn't win this round, have no fear! Thanksgiving is right around the corner and our Thanksgiving Tins are every bit as cute as the Halloween variety!!

Random Giveaway: Halloween Vintage Tin

That's right - we're giving away one of our Halloween Vintage Tins. The tin measures 8x8 inches and includes two hand-finished magnets. The Holiday series feature vintage greeting cards from the Victorian era. We would love to hear your thoughts on our products so tell us what you think!

Here's how it works: Leave a comment on this post before midnight on Tuesday, October 14th. We'll choose a random visitor and post the winner on Wednesday the 15th. The winner will be able to choose one of the above Halloween Vintage Tins. Good Luck!

Watch for more random giveaways in the next few months - keep checking back!

Yeah, we know...you can't find these tins on our website. We have been sooooo very busy trying to fill orders that we've not had time to put our own house in order (literally, not just figuratively!). We hope to have this fixed soon. There's another reason to check back!

Project: Button Box

Several people have asked about our Button Box - a place to keep all of your extra family faces when not using them on the Memory Tree. We have put together a step by step tutorial to help you create your own Button Box.




Step 1: Gather Materials

You will need a wooden box, Mod Podge glue, a foam brush, a damp cloth, a dry cloth, a variety of family pictures printed on a laser printer, a razor blade or exacto knife, sandpaper, Krylon Acrylic Matte Finish spray and distressing supplies, if desired.

Step 2: Layout and Attach Pictures

Before you start gluing, it's a good idea to have all of your pictures trimmed. Get an idea of where to place each picture by laying them in position on the box. Once you have a plan, use the foam brush and apply a thin layer of glue on the wood box. Apply just enough glue to cover the space where the first picture will go. Use the dry cloth to rub the picture flat, making sure there aren't any air bubbles. For the next picture, again apply a thin layer of glue where that picture will be placed. Be sure to place glue over the first picture where the second one overlaps. Place the second picture and LIGHTLY wipe around it using your damp cloth to remove any excess glue. Then use the dry cloth to smooth the picture and remove any air bubbles. Rub gently. If you rub too hard you will rub the picture off. Continue for all sides of the box until the box is covered with your pictures. It's a good idea to have a variety of picture sizes available to fill in spaces as you work through the project. We also like to print our pictures in a combination of black/white (gray scale) and sepia for visual interest.


Step 3: Trim Edges

Trim any overhanging paper edges using your razor blade or exacto knife. (Make sure that the glue has dried before you trim! Otherwise you will just tear your picture.) If you have glued a picture that covers both the lid and the box, take your razor blade and cut along the seam to separate the picture.


Step 4: Sand and Distress Button Box

After all of your pictures are glued, trimmed and dry, sand the edges of your box using the piece of sandpaper. We like to soften the corners to help 'age' the box. Rubbing distress ink or chalk on the edges will also give the project an authentic 'old' look. Let the ink dry before giving it 2 or 3 coats of the Matte Finish Spray. This seals your project and protects the pictures.

Now you have your very own Button Box! What a great way to enjoy your family pictures and store family faces.

Together We Can Do So Much!

I don't know about you, but as we slide into the bottom half of July, the schedule gets a little relaxed, the morning wake-up calls come a bit late, and the house falls into disarray. (Who are we kidding? It hits rock bottom on the cleanliness scale!)

We need an escape to the beach! As a true-blue Southern CA girl, I miss my roots. I tried to take the kids to the Great Salt Lake once. We spent less than 10 minutes floating amid billions of shrimp flies...I kid you not. It took hours to rid the muck between the toes and the smell...oh the smell defies description. Gratefully, we can now laugh at the memory!

We don't see any beach time in the foreseeable future. Who can afford 1000 mile road trips on $4.50 a-gallon gas? (Especially if you're stuck driving a 12-mile a gallon guzzler!) This favorite beach scene conjures feelings of how summer should be spent. Who wouldn't go for a couple of uninterrupted hours of fun in the sun, accompanied by a great friend, and (not to be missed) being the epitome of high fashion! We'll hang on to the old memories and live vicariously through the stories of others!

Love the picture? Look for it on our vintage tins!

Vintage Tins

The creative juices are flowing and here's another fun way to get those 'need-to-be-seen' photographs out of the books and boxes and in front of our faces!

We've taken an 8x8 inch magnet board, added a vintage photo as a background, distressed the edges because we LOVE everything OLD and thrown in a couple of magnets (different magnet options based on the package). You can use them to post messages, photos or just as great wall art.

Print a birth announcement or wedding invitation on to vellum paper and create a personalized magnet of the featured individual(s). Talk about a much appreciated gift!

We've created more than a dozen designs featuring vintage photographs and other great art work. They are only in a few stores right now, but we're working on making them easy to get. We'll also offer them on our website in the near future. (Somehow, there is always more work than time in a day!) If you can't wait to see the different options, go ahead an drop us a line at sales@storiesbyme.com. We can send you a .pdf of what's available. Suggested retail for the tins is $16.00. Shipping will cost a few bucks more.

If you live in the Salt Lake area, consider having a Block Party! We love sharing our ideas and there's no better way help people see how easy it is to preserve family stories than by attending one of our classes. We'll help your group (12 or more) complete one of our projects. We even offer discount pricing to the group to sweeten the deal! Contact us right away because dates are filling quickly!