make your own board book for kids!

Hey, remember a couple of months ago when I told you about Heritage Makers' newest product, the Board Book?  And I gave you some info and showed you a bunch of pictures?

Well, I'm very happy to say that I now have photos of my own board book.  This one is actually very special to me and very meaningful.

My mom passed away last year.  My brother's daughter was almost 2.  He and his wife have been concerned about her not really remembering my mom, and not having a chance to get to know her.  We talked about making a Heritage Makers book for her.  I am already making a book of my mom's life for all of us, but I couldn't really figure out how to summarize everything my mom was into something a toddler would understand and appreciate.

And then the board books came out.  And I decided that the main message we want my niece to know is that her grandma loves her.

Throughout the book, my niece can read about all the things that her grandma loved.

 

And it concludes with how Grandma loved her grandchildren the very most.

 

 

This is going to be an invaluable gift to my niece.

I was really impressed by the binding.  I mean, a board book that's intended to be used by kids has to be sturdy.  The pages are nice and thick, and the binding is a black material that looks like a backpack strap.  (I'm at a loss for what that material is--nylon maybe?)  Anyway, it's sturdy stuff. 

It's really AMAZING to be able to make your own board book!  

I designed my board book myself, but you can use a template if you prefer.  There are more and more templates for board books being added to our fabulous Template Gallery all the time.  Here's "I Love You Because You Are You."  

 

And this cute little Book Of Family Faces! 

 

This one is "What I Love About You From A to Z".  I love this one, too.

A book is an incredible gift for a child anyway, but THIS kind of book is just so meaningful and can make SUCH an impact!!

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever.  See examples of kids books using Forever's easy templates:

• Simply Fresh (This lay-flat book is similar in thickness and binding to the "board book" ones pictured here.  Because of the extra-thick pages, they cost more than the standard ones listed below, but they're nice for little kids.  The 8x8 is a great size for kids.  Be sure you get them on sale!)
• Everyday Shabby Chic lay-flat book
• Very Vellum lay-flat book
• the Little One book (standard book)
• ABC Playful standard book 
• the Always book (standard)
• ABC pink or ABC blue (standard)
• There are lots more free templates to choose from, so feel free to explore here!

If you prefer designing your own book for a more personalized look and message, both the lay-flat book and the standard book can be created using Artisan digital scrapbooking software.  Learn more about Artisan here.

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ENJOY your photos

Do you enjoy your photos?  I hope so!

In my work, I speak with many people about their photos.  Most of the time, people talk about their photos with a sense of guilt.  Some of them--without realizing it, I think--even hang their heads a little.

I hear things like

• "I don't know how to get my photos off my phone."
• "I have years worth of pictures I really need to do something with."
• "I don't do anything with my pictures."
• "I need to do something with my photos."

It makes me a little sad when I hear this, and when I see guilt on people's faces.  Photos should bring you JOY!  You should love them.  They should not be eating away at you.  They are a powerful gift for recalling happy moments, seeing faces you haven't seen for a long time, even healing hearts.  Photos are a gift! 

So if you're one of those people who feels shame when you think about your photos, let's stop that right now.  Let's get a SOLUTION.

Photos left in digital form aren't the ones that get loved; published photos are.  Published photos can be held and loved and shared and remembered.  They're the ones your memories are attached to because when you publish them, you can preserve their stories (memories) and details right along with them. 

First, find out what's stopping you--what's in your way of publishing your photos.  

Is it time?  Money?  Not knowing where to start?  Read through these tips and find something that will help your particular roadblock, and some ideas for getting past it.

Second, find a high-quality memory-keeping option that works for you.  

Something that's just the right fit will make it much more doable than trying to use something you don't love.  These three options are heirloom quality, and they range from easy-button style to quick pre-designed templates to full creative flexibility.  Which one fits your needs best?

And, as always, don't hesitate to contact me.  I'm here to help and support and get you on your way to a SOLUTION--something that works for YOU as your cherished memory-keeping tool so you don't hang your head ever again!

Get started right here, and you're on your way to enjoying your photos!

my memory-keeping consultant story

I dedicate a lot of time and energy to inspiring people to tell their stories, and giving them an avenue with which to do it.  That's because I believe in it so much.

And that is true. 

I was challenged recently to share MY story here--my Heritage Makers story.  I've told my personal story in many ways, in several hardbound Heritage Makers books (including my personal history) and scrap pages that are scattered throughout my home, but here I'll share my Heritage Makers story.  

I would say my Heritage Makers story starts pretty much at birth.  I was born with a desire to connect and remember.  I have always loved journaling, writing,  reminiscing, photos, personal histories, and family stories.  I find those connections strengthening; they increase both peace and happiness to me personally.  

My sister recently read an old letter I wrote when my brother and my mom were visiting my grandparents a few states away.  I think I couldn't have been older than about 13 or 14 at the time.  In the letter, I spent an entire paragraph (of a fairly short letter) admonishing them to TAKE PICTURES of everything they did.  I told them if they didn't take pictures, it's like it never happened.

I have always kept scrapbooks.  And by that I mean:  For my entire life, I have kept scrapbooks.  I've always seen their value and purpose. 

When I was introduced to Heritage Makers in 2005, I was a busy mom of three.  If you promise not to tell them I posted this (because they're sensitive, private teenagers now), you can be privy to this sweetness:

These were my littles when Heritage Makers came my way.  I was already a memory-keeper.  I wasn't about to let my babies grow up to be jpegs.  

I scrapbooked because I wanted them to know that their lives matter to me.  I wanted for them the self-esteem and the sense of belonging that comes from memory-keeping and making family connections.  I wanted them to feel secure in who they are, where they fit in our family, the talents I see in them, and their importance in many lives.  I wanted them to have something to look back at to remember good times when life's tough moments show up.

In 2005, I worked full time for these three, and I wasn't looking for anything else to put on my plate, let alone a job.  One of my friends who introduced me to Heritage Makers said, "It's like a company made for YOU!"  And I knew she was right.  

I kept thinking about the possibilities Heritage Makers would provide for families.  I knew that I wasn't the only one who wanted to gift self-esteem and a sense of belonging to my children--or my parents and siblings, for that matter.  

I also knew that not everybody loves to scrapbook.  But Heritage Makers was digital, and it went beyond scrapbooking.  It was memory-keeping, yes, but it was the ability to tell a life story or to make a little "10 things I love about you" book.  

I realized that the ability to record a family photo history or a life story or a love story went far beyond what we knew as "scrapbooking."  I knew that it could be a powerful tool for many people, including the many people who aren't "scrapbookers."  

Despite some real introvert tendencies, I knew this was something I could step out of my comfort zone for, something I would be excited to get out and tell people about.

And I was right.  I've never looked back.  There's nothing better than spending my time changing lives through the power of story and the power of the connections that come from it.

2023 UPDATE:  18 years after I started, I still love sharing the power of photos and stories.  This year, Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  Start bringing the power of photos, stories, and connections into your life!

don't lose your history

Have you had one of those life experiences that teaches you that life is short?

If you haven't yet, you will.  Trust me.  

Don't lose your history.  Make the memories and record them.  Get in the photos even if you are getting a double chin.  Be present.  And then give a gift to your loved ones.  Calendar some time each week and tell YOUR story.  Record it.  It's an irreplaceable gift. 

If your story isn't told, it's lost to your family forever.  Only YOU are what you are to your family.  Our stories make us who we are.  Our lives and our stories connect people together.  

Here are some great resources to help you tell your story.

Be sure you tell and preserve your story in high-quality products that will protect the time you've invested in it!  

For a straightforward, simple way to preserve your history--your life story--try using this template:

 

Remember:  our stories bind us and make us who we are.  The time to record your story is now! 

get caught up on your photos

Thanks for visiting.  2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

________________________________________________

I will admit that I am never more than about 2-3 months behind on preserving my photos in Heritage Makers digital scrap pages.  (Other people use the hardbound books.  I love that there are OPTIONS!  UPDATE 2021--check that link for additional memory-keeping options, too!)  

Photos and memory-keeping aren't a burden to me.  If you asked me why and how I keep up on my photos so well, this is what I would tell you:

• It's easy because it's digital.  It's really no effort because there are no "supplies"--it's as easy as checking e-mail.  I can do memory keeping for an hour or for 15 minutes here and there, which adds up!  
• Templates are free and make things go quickly.  If I want to take creative time to design something myself, I can, but if the goal is to just GET IT DONE, templates are a huge time-saver.
• I enjoy it.  It's quiet time.  Creating something meaningful is peaceful to me.  
• I set aside the time.  You never "find" time.  You make it.  I set aside personal time, but I also host online events for my clients from all over the country where we "meet" at a specified time to work on our individual computers and share what we're working on.
• I get the best prices by being a Club member! (It's free!) 
• I don't use every photo I ever take.  If you take a lot of photos, I highly recommend just choosing your favorites.  It is okay to not use a photo you've taken.  You can't be so knee-deep in photos that it precludes you from enjoying ANY of them!  

If you need some tips for getting caught up, click this link.

Join me and get caught up on your photos!   Get started right here!  

Let's rock this.

Who lives in your memory? And have you built a bridge?

There are people who live in your memory who don't live in the memories of younger generations.  A grandfather, a special aunt, a parent.  What do you know about those people that you want to make sure lives on and isn't forgotten?  How can you make sure the people below you in the family tree know about the people above you?

All my grandparents are gone.  My mom's mom was a genealogist.  She was hilarious, resourceful, and a hard worker.  She knew every plant native to Oregon and would point them out on our drives to the coast.  My mom's dad reminds me of my youngest son.  He was quiet but hilarious and had the best laugh.  He was stalwart and someone I always looked up to. 

My dad's mom had a beautiful singing voice and played the piano and the violin.  She was quick to serve.  She was a widow for 31 years, and I think one of the grandest unspoken things that I knew about her was how very much she loved my grandpa.  My dad's dad died two days after my 6th birthday.  He was only 65.  I always wish I'd had more time with him to know him better, but he was with me when I caught my first (and only) fish, and he loved sports and would play with me.

These are the people who live in my memory.  They don't live in my children's memories.  That makes me {the bridge}.

I am pleased to share a beautiful poem today (with permission) by Colleen G. Brown Pasquale over at Leaves & Branches called "Suppose You Were the Only One" that will inspire you to do something with what you know.  It's here:  http://leavesnbranches.blogspot.com/2016/03/suppose-you-were-only-one.html?m=1

I'm all about solutions!  No use feeling inspired without something to DO about it.

The people in your memory can be shared when you put them in a storybook!  

Here's one possibility:

 

And here's another:

 

There's no time like RIGHT NOW to preserve your what you know and remember!  Be that bridge.  It makes a difference.  

In fact, {studies show} that the single biggest predictor of a child's well-being is their knowledge of their family stories.  It creates a sense of belonging and even makes kids more resilient.

Here's a simple and straightforward method for making an heirloom-quality legacy storybook from a pre-designed template:

If this method for publishing a legacy story looks good to you, simply {follow the directions here to make your own}!

So don't let who you remember and what you know only live in your head.  Make a record of it!  It will be priceless to you and to generations.  

What makes a "storybook" different than a "photobook"?

family yearbook photo credit: Denise Pehrson

A few years ago I was teaching a Heritage Makers memory-keeping class and a gal in attendance told me that she had just barely finished a photo book.  She went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip and took lots of pictures and was so excited to share them.  

BUT, she said, the company she used for her photo book didn't leave much room at all for text, so she wasn't able to put the details of her adventure in the book.  She told me she was frustrated because here she'd gone on this fabulous trip, spent time and money on this photo book, and yet every time she showed it to someone, she had to narrate it.  

She had to actually sit down with the person and explain all the photos on all the pages.

You've probably seen a good handful of companies that allow you to put photos in a book.  

A photo book seems like a good idea, right?

Well, only if it's a photo-storybook!  

photos + text/story = memories

You want high-quality books, for sure.  But you also want space to record your memories--the story behind your photos.  

Without the story--the reason you took the picture!--a picture doesn't really mean anything, especially because memories fade.

So find our best photo-storybook recommendations and get started creating them yourself by clicking here.

preserving family history (family stories) NOW

I just read a beautiful article about family history.  Maybe you don't think of yourself as a family historian, maybe you don't research ancestors, but preserving photos and memories (you could call them the stories behind the photos) really is family history.  

It's the story of your family now.  The history in progress.

As I've mentioned before, when children connect with their family, they feel a sense of belonging and purpose.  Connections like these are very good for the hearts and souls of both children and adults.

This article is a must-read.  It will give you some perspective on memory-keeping or scrapbooking, with inspiring gems like this:

• Our stories bind together the past and present, give a glimpse of the soul, and help our children master the art of listening. What Children Gain When You Open Up
• Bruce Feiler, author of The Secrets of Happy Families, asserts that “knowing more about family history is the single biggest predictor of a child’s emotional well-being.” 

Read this inspiring article, "The Role YOU Can Play in Family History Right Now" by Rebecca Cooper at Simple As That here:  http://simpleasthatblog.com/2016/02/the-role-you-can-play-in-family-history-right-now.html

Memory-keeping, family history, scrapbooking...  Whatever you call it, it has great potential to do immeasurable good and truly impact those around us.  Take the knowledge and inspiration you gain from Rebecca's article and get started on heirloom-quality memory-keeping!  #thereispowerinphotos

I believe that you MUST find something that works for you or it's easy to neglect this important contribution you can make.   I only recommend the best there is, so find the option that's the best fit for you right here and get started now!

I love helping people begin this fantastic journey, so if you have questions don't hesitate to contact me!  

Remember:  these stories are for NOW.

The Best Kind of Retail Therapy

Do you practice "retail therapy"?  Do you know anyone who does?  Today I'm so excited to share with you the best kind of retail therapy, and I guarantee it's something you've never thought of before! 

Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the buyer's mood or disposition. Often seen in people during periods of depression or stress, it is normally a short-lived habit. Items purchased during periods of retail therapy are sometimes referred to as "comfort buys".  -Wikipedia

If you practice "retail therapy," you probably buy shoes or clothes or a pedicure for therapeutic benefits.  (Or maybe ice cream?)  What are you accustomed to doing or buying to improve your mood? 

Let's blow your mind.  

I have a friend who is a therapist who uses memory-keeping in her practice.  She has her patients gather photos and write about their thoughts and experiences.  Guess WHY she does it.  Simple.  It's therapeutic.

It's true!  Did you know that memory-keeping is therapeutic?  

Now I'm not just talking about "scrapbooking" in the way we tend to think of it.  I'm talking about the act of looking at photos and combining them with their stories (our memories)--it actually has a healing effect!  

Memory-keeping is so much more than "doing something" with your photos, doing something "cute," or wanting to pass something on to the next generation and the next.  Memory-keeping is actually GOOD FOR YOU.  It's therapeutic.     

{This photo therapist}--yes, that's a thing--explains it well!  You can find many more sources and many more examples at the {"benefits of memory-keeping" tab} above, too, if you're still feeling a little skeptical.

Reflecting on your own life is cathartic and can bring many great memories to the forefront.  That's one benefit I always find in memory-keeping--we tend to just take pictures of the good stuff, so that's what we tend to remember.  It helps us focus on the positive and reflect on happy times.

What about just taking time to reflect on a special vacation, a family reunion, or a milestone?  How often do you sit down to just enjoy and appreciate?  I would guess that none of us do it as often as we might, and that actually doing it would have a lot of therapeutic results.

If you spend $50 on a pair of shoes that will just go out of style, why not spend $50 (or less) on something that will quite literally increase in value over time?!  

That's what makes memory-keeping retail therapy the very best kind!  (But definitely keep your standards high--only accept heirloom-quality books and pages with a photo privacy guarantee.  See my memory-keeping recommendations here.) 

Who do you know who would love something like this?  You're probably thinking of someone right now. 

"Never suppress a generous thought."  - Camilla E. Kimball

Equally cathartic and therapeutic is honoring those who have passed on.  One shared experience all of us have as human beings is loss.  We have all lost someone dear (or will).  Preserving that life story is priceless.  It can help connect generations, but it can also be a healing experience as you put the tribute book together.  ({Here's my personal experience.})

I haven't experienced the heartbreak of losing a child, but I know people who have, and I know how a storybook has helped to keep those precious little ones close.  I know it can be meaningful for both parents and siblings to have a keepsake of the sweet angel relationship, no matter how brief.

So give memory-keeping as therapy a try!  It truly is therapeutic, whether you create something for yourself or for someone else.  

Our own memories or expressions of love for others through storybooks are excellent retail therapy. 

There are so many possibilities!

Think about it this way:
pedicure: $30
two tickets to a chick flick + popcorn and drinks: $40
new shoes:  $50
scented candle:  $20
a handful of trips to Starbucks: $30
a storybook full of your own photos and memories (or a special keepsake or gift): priceless

Get started {right here}.  It really is the best kind of retail therapy!

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"History will be kind to me because I intend to write it."

(Winston Churchill said that.)

One of the enormous benefits that Heritage Makers digital storybooks offer over the traditional "photo books" you might see around is this:  THERE ARE NO LIMITS ON TEXT.  You can write as much text as you can fit on a page.  (There are also no limits on the amount of photos you can put on a page, but that's a blog post for a different day.)

What this means is that the story behind the photo, the reason it was taken, can be recorded without restriction.

This also means that you can create books that are largely text.  Heritage Makers, from the beginning, has never been a "photo book" company.  You can add photos, yes, even a lot of them, but we're all about the STORIES behind the photos.  Tell an adoption story, a love story, a survival story, or a life story.  As Mr. Churchill said, history will be kind to you if YOU are the one recording your personal history.

"You can make yourself life forever through writing.  Do not pass through life without leaving something behind for others to learn from your experience--even if no one but your children read it.  You may discover a you you've never known."  ~Antwone Fisher

Writing your own life story is more important than you think.  It has real benefits to you personally--take a minute to learn about them at that link.

Whether you are writing about yourself or someone else, there are a LOT of templates available.  Remember, too, that Heritage Makers templates are FULLY editable, so you can change anything you want.  Of course, you can create any book yourself instead of using a template, if you prefer.

As you get started on a life story, you might also appreciate a Story Map!

Story Maps are just PDF files that give you step-by-step instructions, with prompts, ideas, and an outline.  Access the Life Story Map here.

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  The heirloom-quality legacy storybook below is just one example.

Tell your story!  Record the life story of a loved one.  Get started right here!  It's a priceless gift to your family!

Be sure to check out the current sales and this additional savings option, too.  If you have any questions, just contact me!