My StoryBook Lady

How to Resize Photos for HM Projects

2012-01-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

Did you get a new high-resolution big-megapixel digital camera for the holidays? If so, your photos may be larger than the maximum size limits on our site for uploading photos. Heritage Makers allows photos 10mb and under with a maximum size of 4800×4800 pixels. If your images are larger than those limits, you’ll need to do a quick re-size for your images stored in HM photo albums. Simply follow the instructions below to batch re-size them, upload them to HM, then delete the smaller copies off your computer, leaving the full-size originals where you downloaded them from your camera or memory card.
How to resize photos for HM projects

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Heritage Makers Celebrates National Digital Scrapbooking Day

2011-11-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

While we began our company by pioneering the concept of “storybooking,” we realize that because our Studio is online and our products are digitally designed, we are also part of the growing “digital scrapbooking” movement.
As more people move away from the traditional “scissors and stickers” scrapbook albums, the digital side is enjoying significant growth. And it makes good sense.
First of all, the photos we take today are already digital. No need to pay a developer to print out a pile of pictures anymore. Secondly, almost everyone has access to a computer that can get on the internet for instant availability to digital artwork and design inspiration. Third, we live in an increasingly time-strapped society where the ability to get something finished faster is definitely a draw. Digital scrapbooking seems to offer a speed advantage over traditional.
Digital scrapbooking and storybooking with Heritage Makers offers those advantages — simplicity, speed, security, easy and economical. That’s why we want to honor National Digital Scrapbook Day on Saturday, November 5, 2011.
Whether you are already addicted to digital scrapbooking, considering the switch from traditional paper to digital or thinking of trying the easiest digital option on the market, your Heritage Makers Personal Publishing Consultant can help you decide if Studio is right for you.
We thought it might be helpful to compare Heritage Makers online Studio publishing system with traditional paper scrapbooking and with general digital scrapbooking. We hope you’ll discover the significant advantages of Studio and begin to preserve your memories with ease.

Traditional Scrapbooking vs Heritage Makers Studio

Must buy & store supplies albums, page protectors, papers, stickers tools, adhesives, pens, scissors, etc	Everything is built on the site & stored on our servers
Takes up a lot of space to keep/ organize supplies	All you need is a computer connected to the web All artwork/tools are built into Studio All artwork & templates are easy to find (searchable)
Requires a dedicated space or time to set-up/take-down for a work session	Be designing in seconds online with a small laptop. Walk away or get interrupted, your work is saved.
Making multiple copies of a special project involves a major investment in supplies, time & effort	Simply click to order multiple copies easily. Or slightly customize each one without redoing the whole project every time.
Working with anyone else on a layout or album is difficult unless both live nearby	Conveniently collaborate across the miles with others to work on a project in one account
Can’t be portable without lugging a lot of supplies, photos, tools, etc. & then you need a lot of table space to set up & spread out for working.	Very portable! If you have a laptop, you can log in to Studio & work from anywhere, even without a table.

Holiday Hits Is Back!

2011-10-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

Holiday Hits was such a HUGE hit last year that we brought it back again! Double your dollars with the Heritage Makers Holiday Hits publishing program! Here's how to get the BIGGEST discount on your holiday cards, gifts, etc...

1.Simply join my publishing club, Club HM. Sign up for Club HM Bronze (save 25%), Silver (save 30%), or Gold (save 35%). You can sign up right from my website: www.MyStoryBookLady.com.

2. Then follow the publishing plan on the right and you will receive even deeper discounts on your holiday publishing! For example, publish your holiday cards in November and receive an additional 20% off! Check the flyer below for weekly discounts in November. Publish during the week that your favorite product is on sale and get an additional 10% off!

3. Tell your friends! When you refer them and they join Club HM, I will transfer 10 publishing points ($10 value) to YOU to thank you for your referral :)
To sign up for Club HM and get started go to www.MyStoryBookLady.com today! ~ Betty
Questions? Email me at betty@mystorybooklady.com or call me at 404.729.0388

Learn about Heritage Makers greeting cards!

2011-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

On the first night of FREE Premier Weekend, Creative Team member Michelle Wolfley conducted a webinar highlighting holiday cards. The timing was great for this topic considering the season and the upcoming November 20% discount on greeting cards. Michelle showed off holiday card options, including available sizes, and took viewers through a demonstration of how to make a card in Studio. Finally she talked about how you can save money with Club HM.
This recording is now available here.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Holiday Shipping Deadlines

2011-10-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

It’s wonderful to be a Heritage Maker at any time of the year, but the holiday season offers so many opportunities to really show how much we cherish our friends and family. A personalized keepsake from Heritage Makers demonstrates how we feel like few things can. Please note the following holiday schedule so you can take best advantage of your Studio account during this special time of year.

U.S.
Dec 7 Ground/Priority
Dec 12 2-Day delivery
Dec 14 Next Day delivery
Dec 16 Direct Ship (cards)

Canada*
Nov 30 First Class
Nov 30 Direct Ship (cards)
Dec 5 UPS Standard
Dec 9 International Express

Re-ship Deadlines
To receive your projects in time to re-ship them we suggest you publish by Nov 30th.

*Suggested deadlines. Heritage Makers cannot guarantee holiday shipping to Canada due to possible unforseen delays at customs.

How To Import A Page

2011-10-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

We are very proud of the new "magic button"! Amy Dickerson has recorded a video tutorial to demonstrate the new import a page feature in Studio. You can view it here. ~ Betty

View the New HM Idea Book (Catalog) Onlne Now!

2011-10-04T04:51:00.000-07:00

See our beautiful new Fall & Winter Idea Book showcasing the best of Heritage Makers projects and get inspired! ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Heritage Makers Partners with ZenPrint

2011-09-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

PROVO, UTAH, September 7, 2011 – Heritage Makers, a pioneer in the memory preservation and personal publishing industry, today announced that it has partnered with ZenPrint, a Salt Lake based digital printing and fulfillment firm, to broaden its production capabilities and resources.

“We are excited about the possibilities that this new opportunity brings,” says Heritage Makers president Patti Gardner. “As a result of this merger we will have access to many new product and technology options that will allow us to continue to improve our operational quality and level of service.”

In order to maintain current brand equity and service existing customers ZenPrint will retain its name, but equipment and personnel will be moved to the Heritage Makers production facility. Justin Biggs will become the General Manager of the new company.

All Heritage Makers and ZenPrint products will be produced at the current Home Office location under the continued direction of Justin Biggs and the existing production staff. “This new alliance will allow me to focus my efforts on technology and overall operations; while at the same time helping develop new products to enhance the Heritage Makers line,” says Justin.

Patti Gardner will remain as President of Heritage Makers along with Brytt Cloward as VP of Sales and Marketing. Their respective teams will continue to direct Heritage Makers sales, marketing, customer services, Studio development, and all other support activities.

“This is a great opportunity for Heritage Makers,” says Patti. “It gives our staff and consultants the opportunity to really focus on the core business of Heritage Makers while having a trusted partner continue to help us maintain and grow our extraordinary product line. It’s been an amazing year and this change allows us to bring on new sales and marketing staff to provide our consultants with the tools and marketing materials that will help them be successful. We couldn’t be more excited!”

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Heritage Makers Quality Note

2011-09-01T04:34:00.000-07:00

We recently introduced an 8 x 8 soft-bound book. Here is some important information about our production process:

Heritage Makers is using a new method of perfect binding called “PUR” which is a hot melt adhesive manufactured with polyurethene reactive material. After the adhesive is applied, a natural chemical reaction occurs as it is exposed to moisture in the air. This reaction creates a superior bond within the fibers of the paper giving the product greater pull and flex strength. It also doesn’t allow the adhesive to get brittle and crack (allowing pages to fall out) like traditional perfect binding components.

We are one of only a few PUR perfect binders in the U.S. and wanting this new technology was one of the reasons we waited to bring soft-bound books on as a product offering.

Check out the new 8x8 soft-bound book today at MyStoryBookLady.com ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Wrapped Canvas Prices to Increase Sept 1st

2011-08-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

If you are publishing canvases...now's the time... Due to increased production costs, prices for canvas prints will increase on September 1st as shown below. These prices already appear on the new “Idea Book” catalog. As you can see, the Heritage Makers pricing still easily beats the competition with Club HM discounts. ~ Betty

Check Out These New Products!

2011-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

5 x 5 Greeting Cards
Square cards are everywhere this holiday season and Heritage Makers has them! Perfect for celebrations of any kind these cards will add an entire new dimension to our card offerings.

4 x 8 and 8 x 4 One-sided Photo Cards
Want to send cards to everyone you know this holiday season. One of our newest cards is a super sleek design and an exceptional value that will cost Club members around 50 cents.

11.5 x 8.5 Tri-fold Brochure
This heavy-duty business offering comes in pack of 20 and makes the perfect Christmas letter, team roster or standing menu.

6 x 9 Booklet
If you like our 8.5 x 11 booklet, you’ll love its smaller cousin the 6 x 9 booklet. The standard 16 pages are just the right size for a program, neighborhood recipe book or child’s art book. The booklet is expandable to 32 pages in four-page increments.

8 x 8 Soft-bound Book
A fabulous and inexpensive book for those kid or school stories, this 21-page, soft-cover book is perfect bound and expandable to 50 pages.

12 x 12 Wrapped Canvas
Possibly the most applauded new product, the 12 x 12 canvas is the perfect size for wall groupings or photos of every family member.

Pearl Paper
New for Reunion, choose pearl paper at check out for an extra dash of style on cards or 12 x 12 scrap pages. With its glittery, pearlescent finish, this upgrade will be a winner for baby announcements, holiday cards and wedding invitations.

Get started today at MyStoryBookLady.com ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Here's Something Fun! You Might Be A Heritage Maker If...

2011-08-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Photographs

2011-08-09T04:42:00.000-07:00

Watch this thought provoking video.
This is why photos are important. But listen to the lyrics at the 3:00 minute mark. Heritage Makers understands that you shouldn’t make people “read between the lines.” ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Got kids? Going on a vacation or road trip?

2011-08-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

Avoid “are we there yet?” by making them this fun Travel Journal so they can capture their OWN memories in a keepsake booklet. Template designed by Brenda Kruse.
See the project here. Available in the Template Gallery at MyStoryBookLady.com. ~ Betty

Motorhome Guestbook & Journal

2011-08-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Do you know someone that owns a RV? Here’s a great vacation template submitted by Deborah MacCalum for recording your RV adventures. See the project here. ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Studio Tips

2011-08-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

1) Use the right size book for the right size photos. Multiple 4×6 or 5×7 photos at full size do not usually fit inside an 8×8 book.

2) When using buttons, fit to appropriate size. Coat buttons are 1 inch across. Shirt buttons are a half inch and baby buttons are a quarter of an inch. Check element size in the LAYOUT tab and a ruler.

3) Turn rulers on to check alignment, equal size borders etc. Turn them off for an overall design feel.

4) Alphabets are easier to find if you place only one number, one lower case, one upper case in your MY FAVORITES folder.

5) We see the finished book in spreads. Go to the VIEW/PRINT PREVIEW. Faster easier, more reliable.

6) A well designed page should work upside down or sideways. Flip things, and change them up to make a spread.

7) Change the size of elements that drop on the page at equal size. In nature, little is identical in size or rotation.

Overlap elements to make natural design groupings but make sure enough of each element shows to preserve its identity.

Go to MyStoryBookLady.com and have fun in your Studio today! ~ Betty

Refer A Friend, Get 1/2 Off!

2011-08-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

Want to earn a coupon that will get you a 50% discount on any HM project you choose? Just refer a friend to your consultant (that would be me! :). When that referral signs up for Club HM, you’ll receive the coupon. Hurry, this offer is only good through August 18th! ~ Betty

Today is BLITZ day!

2011-07-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

I'm BLITZING today! Inviting all my friends/clients to invite them to join Club HM and giving them 15 FREE publishing points ($15) when they join Club HM by the end of today. I ♥ Christmas in July! Start saving your publishing points NOW so you're ready for the holidays (3 months til Oct!) With this head start, you can be the gal or guy with the most meaningful gifts under the tree, the neighbor with the yummiest giveaways and the co-worker with the coolest office gifts--all while letting your Club HM membership pay the bill :)

Log in to your account at MyStoryBookLady.com, then click "my account" to join Club HM! Here's a link to a short video to find out more about Club HM then check out the flyer below. Let me know...Are you feeling Holly, Jolly or Holly Jolly? ~ Betty

How to Make Coasters with My StoryBook Lady

2011-07-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy 235th birthday America! To celebrate, I made some coasters :) This is a super easy project that ANYONE can do...seriously, if I can do it then you can do it too. Here's how:

Step 1: Go to MyStoryBookLady.com and log in.
Step 2: Go to the Template Gallery and find these adorable 12x12 scrap page templates. (If you are unable to locate them, just email me and I will transfer them to your account.)
Step 3: Open in Studio, customize if you wish (I didn't) and hit publish!

What you'll need when your scrap pages arrive from HM:
4x4 tiles, scissors, Tacky Spray to attach the paper to the tile, and a high-gloss finishing spray to really make them POP!

Let DRY :)

Waaa Laaa...sooo cute! These are perfect to take to 4th of July parties and give to the hostess! You can also customize other scrap pages at MyStoryBookLady.com and create some for Back To School, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, End of the year teacher gifts, etc...! ~ Betty

HO-HO-HOT News! Christmas In July Is Here!

2011-07-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Visit MyStoryBookLady.com today!

Are you feeling Holly, Jolly or Holly AND Jolly? July is the time to join Club HM and start collecting all the publishing points that you will need to create meaningful keepsake gifts for the loved ones on your nice list. By the time the first snow falls you'll be sipping hot cocoa by the fire instead of fighting the holiday crowds!

Check out the ultimate (and most CREATIVE) layaway plan ever! Make a list...holiday cards, calendars, canvases, etc. and then choose the monthly points plan that works best for your needs. It's that easy! Questions? Need help? Call me @ 404.729.0388 or email me. It is my pleasure to assist you during the most wonderful time of the year! ~ Betty

Christmas in June?! Is she nuts???

2011-06-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

Nope. I'm not crazy nor has the heat wave fried my brain. Just looking ahead to helping my friends, family and clients have the happiest of holidays this year! :)

What is Club HM?

Club HM is a publishing club that allows you to save each month as you make projects OR you can bank publishing points to save them for special occasions like the holidays (think of it as a layaway plan for publishing points.) 1 publishing point = $1 retail value, but can be purchased as low as .50 cents each.

* get points monthly at wholesale (25-34% off)
* FREE Premier account ($20 monthly value)
* 4000+ pre-designed templates
* 50,000+ pieces of digital art
* unlimited photo storage
* FREE project upgrades
* signup special of 100 additional points for only $50
* monthly additional publishing discounts
* online idea classes and club community
* fun contests, great prizes and more!
* plus ME, as your consultant :)
There is a minimum 3-month commitment. Point plans renew on the 5th or 20th of the following month. You can cancel renewal anytime online.

Getting started:
~ Go to my website, MyStoryBookLady.com, create your FREE account or log into your existing account.
~ Click on the "My Account" tab and Sign Up for CLUB HM. You decide which monthly points plan works best for you:
40 points + FREE Premier for $30 (save $30)
70 points + FREE Premier for $50 (save $40)
150 points + FREE Premier for $100 (save $70)

If you shoot me an email or call me 404.729.0388, I can give you the Club HM Sign Up Special of 100 points for only $50!!! This sign up special is NOT available online, so you must contact me!

Coupon for You: Sign up for Club HM before June 30th and I will add an extra 30 points ($30 value) into your account!

I look forward to helping you make your holidays
AFFORDABLE and ADORABLE!
Your Personal Publishing Coach,
Betty Miller
Heritage Makers Star Consultant
404.729.0388
Betty@MyStoryBookLady.com
MyStoryBookLady.com

Memorial Day Special

2011-05-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL! Starts today and ends Monday at midnight! Join Club HM and I'll pay for your 1st month! Sign up for Bronze Club HM, I'll put 30 points ($30 value) in your account! Over 3 months, you'll get 120 points for just $60! CAN'T BEAT THAT!

From my website www.MyStoryBookLady.com, create your FREE account. Sign up for Club HM from your account or give me a call! Need to know more about Club HM? Use this link to watch a quick video! ~ Betty

Sneak Peek: New Art for June

2011-05-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of the art that will be added to HM Studio for June. Be sure to join Club HM so you will have access to all of it including the templates! ~ Betty

Thank You, Oprah!

2011-05-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Today marks the final broadcast of the beloved Oprah Winfrey Show. After the countdown of special guests, show surprises and fanfare, the grand finale is here. Today we can all watch the final chapter of a 25-year media phenomenon.

Heritage Makers would like to take this opportunity to salute the enormous contributions of Ms. Winfrey and the legacy of inspiration, compassion, empowerment, and understanding she has established and encouraged. It may have started out as just another television talk show, but it soon became so much more. Millions have been impacted in positive ways, and as heritage makers, we count ourselves as part of that group because Oprah helped us introduce countless readers to the magic of storybooking.

In December 2008 she listed Heritage Makers storybooks as one of her “Top Ten All-Time Favorite Gifts” in her O, The Oprah Magazine holiday gift guide issue! Shortly thereafter, her best friend and magazine editor-in-chief Gayle King talked glowingly about HM products to Robin Roberts on a Good Morning America holiday gift segment. It was wonderful exposure for a young and growing company based in Utah.

How did Oprah Winfrey know about Heritage Makers? The answer lies in the inventiveness and moxie of a single mother of two from Waterloo, Iowa. In 2007, Brenda Ebel Kruse read an editorial by Oprah describing her grief over the accidental death of her dog, Gracie. Brenda was not a “dog person” but resonated with the life lessons Oprah was able to glean from the tragic experience.

Using the editorial content and photos from the article, Brenda created a simple tribute to Gracie in the form of a 5 x 5 storybook. Brenda was certain Oprah would appreciate the gesture, but how to deliver the finished project? She first tried sending it to the celebrity’s dog trainer thinking she would see that it reached the intended recipient. After several months of no response, Brenda decided to send it directly to Harpo Studios in Chicago with the hope that the right person would put it into Oprah’s hands.

On May 28, 2008 at 5:46 p.m., Brenda was unpacking groceries in the kitchen when the phone rang. She picked up the receiver, but hearing no voice, set it down and returned to the groceries. A minute later the phone beeped with a voice mail notification and Brenda got the surprise of her life as she listened to a message from Oprah Winfrey herself! The rest of the story is best told in Brenda’s own words:

“I listened to that famous voice say how thankful she was for the ‘lovely, lovely book’ and how it was “such a treasure. She talked about how she had gotten the book just in time to honor the one-year anniversary of Gracie’s death and said she’d read it on that day as a memorial to Gracie.

Oprah went on to say that she loves the idea of everyone having a story and even quoted the tag line on the book sleeve: “‘every story deserves a book of its own,’ you know I believe in that!”

After hearing her minute-long message, I was scared to death that I was going to hit the wrong button and delete the proof that she really did call me, so I carefully hit the save button and then screamed, jumped up and down, and called my family and friends with the unbelievable news.

At first I was disappointed I didn’t get to talk to her but then realized that I probably would have either been speechless or just rambled on nonstop. Plus, I wouldn’t have been able to remember exactly what she said. Now that I have her voicemail recorded forever, I can’t ever forget this memorable thank-you!”

Brenda’s thoughtful gesture will forever be part of the lore of Heritage Makers. To this day, one of the first things you’ll hear from a consultant is that “We are one of Oprah’s favorite things!” This is both a tribute to an epic communicator and opinion leader AND the power of story.

_______________________________________________________________________

See a preview of Brenda’s storybook and hear the actual recording of Oprah’s thank you message here.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Heritage Makers Introduces New Line of Business Supplies

2011-05-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Print on demand options will help small businesses increase market exposure and cut costs.

May 19, 2011 – Provo, Utah – Heritage Makers today announced a new addition to its successful line of custom printed hardbound books and photo keepsakes. The company debuted a new line of business products, including business cards, flyers, booklets, and wire-bound books. The business product line is aimed at helping the small business owner create personalized business tools while reducing inventory expenses.

“We’re thrilled to introduce business supplies to our product line,” states Justin Biggs, Heritage Makers General Manager. “We have seen a need in the market for affordable, high-quality business products that will help small business owners succeed.”

Now, in addition to personalized hardbound books, greeting cards, and canvas prints, customers can custom print single and double-sided business cards, 8.5 x 11 flyers, 8.5 x 11 magazines/booklets, address labels, and 8.5 x 11 wire-bound books. The new collection features traditional, as well as unique print formats that will serve to increase visibility of businesses in all markets. The 8.5 x 11 magazine-style booklet is especially attractive as a promotional tool for realtors, photographers, retailers, travel agents, and other entrepreneurs. “We have developed these products with the small business owner in mind, however many of the items are completely adaptable to personal and family projects,” states Biggs.

Every entrepreneur is striving to compete and survive in their specific industry and each is looking for the same thing—to stand out; to be faster, cheaper and better than their competitor. Heritage Makers is now able to partner with small businesses by printing company ID and promotional tools on demand and in small quantities. This allows them to grow and adapt to the market and reduce the waste associated with outdated inventory.

All Heritage Makers business supplies are easy to personalize using the company’s online design software. Customers can start from a blank page or access an existing template and simply add their own photos and text. Personal publishing consultants are readily available to any customers needing assistance. For more information on the Heritage Makers business products line, visit MyStoryBookLady.com.

###

About the Company: Heritage Makers helps consumers showcase their favorite photos and experiences through custom-published books and other printed keepsakes. The Heritage Makers publishing platform is easy to use—anyone with photos and a story to tell will enjoy the process. With Heritage Makers’ unique online publishing tools, including a searchable database of over 52,000 digital art pieces and 5,200 pre-designed templates, photos and memories can be shared with family and friends preserved forever. In addition, Heritage Makers offers a unique income opportunity fueled by a strong sense of mission that resonates with consumers.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Connecting People with Their Pictures After the Tornado

2011-05-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

I got this note from a fellow consultant on my team and wanted to share...

"I also wanted to share a remarkable story I heard from a contact I met at the Time Out For Women in Atlanta in October. She called me out of the blue last week and I have been sharing her story every since. Her story truly touched my heart and I want to share it with EVERYONE.

My contact lives in Alabama and she was only 20 minutes from her dear friends who lost EVERYTHING in the tornadoes and 60 min away from the HUGE devastation we are all seeing and hearing about on the news. She said her friends 20 min away jumped in their car and outran the tornado, only to come back to there home completely gone. Everything including their photos, photo books, etc. She said people are finding photos 150 miles from their owners and reconnecting them on FACEBOOK. This is what pushed her over the edge to start Heritage Makers. She said she knew, if she used Heritage Makers she would never have to worry about having to find her babies photos in the ditches or woods of Alabama (which you would never recover them if they were in there). With Heritage Makers she would just have to go in, publish another book, and that would be that. All her books, projects and photos would be preserved for a lifetime!!!

I had tears in my eyes hearing this story. I told her that is why I am Heritage Makers consultant. I wanted to help others to not have to worry about their story not being told or their photos lost. I offered to bring my scanner to Alabama and help others get their pictures preserved. I'm going to remain in contact with her and see what else we might be able to do as a family.

So I just wanted to share this story with you. I thought it might make a difference in your life too and maybe you might decide today is the BEST time to start telling your story and preserve your photos. We really don't know what tomorrow will bring!"

~If you would like to start saving your pictures and memories or better yet help others do so, head to my website: MyStoryBookLady.com to get started! Click Here to watch a quick video about Heritage Makers.
~ I live outside of the Atlanta area and have access to a high speed scanner (30 pic per minute) and can help anyone that was affected, by scanning in their remaining pictures.
~ We are looking for consultants to help us spread the word about our mission to preserving photos and memories! If you would like to help us, please call me: 404.729.0388 or send me an email to Betty@MyStoryBookLady.com

New Products for Businesses

2011-05-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

Heritage Makers has introduced a new line of products that are perfect for promoting your business as well as creating personalized family projects. When you click on the “shop” button in the HM web site you’ll notice the product categories have been slightly reorganized. “Business supplies” has been added as a new category and links to specific information on the new items which include business cards (single and double-sided), an 8.5 x 11 flyer, an 8.5 x 11 booklet (saddle-stitched), and an 8.5 x 11 wire-bound book.

All of these products offer unique applications for home or office, but the 8.5 x 11 booklets are especially exciting! If you are a real estate agent, travel agent, retailer, photographer, etc. imagine how you could use this format to build your business. On the home front, imagine how this product could be adapted to showcase a sports team, school activities, or a family vacation. Father’s Day is coming up. Can you think of a better way to pay tribute than a 16-page, full color magazine? ~ Betty

Show Your Patriotism!

2011-05-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Just 2 weeks until Memorial Day! Can you think of a veteran or someone currently serving in the military you’d like to thank on this patriotic holiday? Take 10 minutes to customize a greeting card template and direct ship it to them or their loved ones. Let them know you support them for supporting our country’s freedoms! Search the template gallery for “military,” “USA,” or “patriotic.” ~ Betty

Gifts & Greetings for Father's Day

2011-05-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Need ideas for ways to show Dad how special he is? Watch the recorded webinar presented by Studio Product Manager Lynda Angelastro here. Check out many one-of-a-kind gifts and greetings, including décor for his man cave at MyStoryBookLady.com!

Wedding Projects

2011-05-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Know any brides-to-be this summer? Did you know Heritage Makers has 255 pre-designed projects under the “wedding” category in the template gallery? Invitations & save the dates, thank-you cards, guest sign-in books, canvas prints, love storybooks, change of address card decks, shower gifts & much more! Give a gift that’s more meaningful than any off the couple’s registry! Either make it for them or give them a gift certificate to create their own! ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Studio Tips

2011-05-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of helpful tips from Heritage Makers Studio Product Manager Lynda Angelastro:

Sneak Peek of HM Studio Art for May

2011-04-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned to MyStoryBookLady.com for more art to be released.

School, Teacher Gift and Graduation Project Ideas

2011-04-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

For more ideas browse the Template Gallery at MyStoryBookLady.com

Cool “Share" to Facebook Feature!

2011-04-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Now you can share a preview of any Heritage Makers project directly to Facebook. What a great way to keep friends and family members in the loop about your latest photos and HM projects! Just click the “share” button in the project view:

Then you’ll see this screen:

Then type a personal message and send it off. It also gives you the option to post to the Club HM page as well.

New Products! - Canvas Frames, 4 x 6 Greeting Cards, 4 x 6 Invitations

2011-04-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Canvas Frames
Now you can give your custom canvas a great finishing touch by adding a beautiful frame. The new frames are available for most canvas sizes and provide a flush, contemporary accent to deep canvases, and a unique shadowbox look for regular canvases. Crafted from natural wood with a black satin finish, the frames are available as an upgrade option at check out when you purchase a new canvas. Go here for more information.

4 x 6 Cards and Invitations are back!
Create personalized greeting cards and invitations in this popular format. Competitively priced and perfect for all sorts of special occasions, you’ll love what you can do with Studio software and the amazing collection of Heritage Makers digital art and templates. And make sure you get the biggest discount by signing up for Club HM! Ask your consultant (that would be me! :) for details. ~ Betty

Board Books To Be Discontinued

2011-04-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

It's sad, but true... (remember...don't "shoot the messenger")!

Due to ongoing difficulties and associated costs with manufacturing the board book, we will be discontinuing this product. To ensure that clients have the opportunity to publish a board book project they may have been planning, we have established the following schedule:

1) Users will be able to download board book templates and start new projects until April 30, 2011.

2) Board books can be ordered through June 30, 2011. Projects completed on or before June 30th will be available for viewing indefinitely to allow users to recreate their projects in a different book format.

Please let me know if you need any help at all getting your projects published ~ Betty

Booking Blitz Today! Special April Host Rewards Just Announced

2011-04-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Ah Spring...the snow is disappearing, flowers are popping up and our Brand New Story is in full bloom! In fact, Heritage Makers is so excited for spring, we've decided to put a little spring into your April by offering a special hosting and sponsoring spree.

Host a workshop (can be in person and/or virtual workshops) in April and you can choose a host gift of 25 FREE publishing points ($150 workshop minimum). Combine this with our fabulous free publishing and 1/2 price points rewards and you are likely to find a new spring in your step! Just look at all the free publishing you can receive.

$150 Sales => 25 publishing points
$200 Sales => 75 publishing points for $10
$300 Sales => 95 points for $10
$400 Sales => 140 points for $20

Remember that in addition to the host rewards all attendees can receive a FREE 5 x 7 greeting card.
Hosts will also receive an extra gift for booking during the blitz...a limited edition HM Keepsake Photo Bracelet!

...but that's not all...

As part of our Spring Spree we're adding 25 publishing points to the new consultant signup kit in April. That's our oustanding consultant opportunity, 10% off all publishing all of the time, 25 FREE publishing points, and of course our incredible income opportunity for only $50! Wow!

For those new consultants who want to boost their success by purchasing a Business Add-on Kit, we're also adding the option to get the first month of the 150 Club HM point plan for free*. Add that to the 25 free publishing points in their signup kit and they receive 175 free publishing points for only $150, plus the benefits of owning a HM business! Wow again!

Spring has sprung and we have a story to tell! Use these great tools to make your Spring spectacular! Ready to book a workshop? Questions? Ready to work with me helping others preserve their photos and stories? Call me @ 404.729.0388 or email me today. ~ Betty

* Club HM point plan is a 3 month minimum commitment. Consultants can choose to downgrade their point plan after initial 3 months.

Studio Tip of the Day

2011-03-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

When designing paper, photo and embellishment-intensive projects, be sure to remove all left over items from the pasteboard (the white space surrounding the live print area). Occasionally, projects with element-intensive pages and cluttered pasteboard areas do not print correctly. Removing left over design components from the pasteboard lowers overall file size and helps your product print more quickly and dependably.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Look Who's Talking Now!

2011-03-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

First Oprah, then INC 500, now a great article in Women's Day magazine! Look whose talking about Heritage Makers now!

HERITAGE MAKERS FEATURED IN WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE

Provo, Utah – March 23, 2011 – Heritage Makers, the leader in personal publishing for hardbound storybooks, was recently featured in the nationally acclaimed Woman’s Day magazine. The article, written by financial guru Mary Hunt, praises the home-party network as a profitable business opportunity for women who wish to contribute to the family income without working outside of the home. Heritage Makers was one of three companies highlighted in the article. The magazine is now on newsstands.

“It’s a special honor to be recognized as an industry leader by Woman’s Day,” states Justin Biggs, General Manager at Heritage Makers. “We know that consumers face many challenges in today’s economy, so we feel especially pleased that our company is helping women to succeed—personally and financially. Our network of consultants across the United States and Canada is making a difference in the lives of families by helping them share the power of story. Earning a significant income every month is just an added bonus. Our consultants love what they do.”

Amie Austin, a Heritage Makers consultant in Southern California, was chosen to represent the company for this article. “I love what I do!” says Amie, “Heritage Makers has empowered me to build a solid business, while still being able to take care of my growing family.” She continues, “There’s simply no other company around that offers a product and a business opportunity as unique and rewarding as Heritage Makers.”

Heritage Makers has grown at a rapid pace since its founding in 2004 and is now the nation’s leading storybooking company, offering a wide range of digitally-created and professionally-designed products including books, cards, scrapbook pages, canvas prints, and much more.

Anyone can become a Heritage Makers consultant. The start up consultant kit starts at $50.00. To learn more about becoming a consultant and joining this unique direct selling company, visit MyStoryBookLady.com.

About the Company

Heritage Makers is a company and a community that believes in the power of strengthening family relationships through storybooks and other customized keepsakes. The Heritage Makers publishing platform is easy to use—anyone with photos and a story to tell will enjoy the process. With Heritage Makers’ unique online publishing tools, these stories can be preserved forever in custom hardbound books and related projects. In addition, Heritage Makers offers a unique income opportunity fueled by a strong sense of mission that resonates with consumers.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Token of Appreciation for My Club HM Members

2011-03-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Club HM began in January and is growing by leaps and bounds! No doubt it is the hottest club to be in! To celebrate, my founding members who have hit their 3 month mark of membership with me will receive these cute key chains. Hope they like them! :) Want to find out more about Club HM or sign up? Visit MyStoryBookLady.com today! ~ Betty

Introducing the New “Inspirations” Online Class Logo

2011-03-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Heritage Makers recently made a name change to the Studio Master Classes hosted by Lynda Angelastro and Tanja Rigby. They are now referred to as “Inspirations” online classes. We are thrilled to show you the new logo for these classes.

The name “Inspirations” better represents the never-ending stream of ideas and design excellence that the classes now provide. Regardless of your particular interests or level of Studio experience, there is something for everyone in these classes, and we’re sure you’ll agree this logo captures that spirit.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

2011 Ambassador Family for North Fulton March for Babies

2011-03-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends ~

Our family is honored to be the Ambassador Family for the 2011 North Fulton March for Babies! We are very excited to be a part of March for Babies on April 30th in Roswell, GA and hope you will join our team!

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. We're walking because our first son was born 16 weeks to early. We're walking because we want to do something about this...

The money we raise will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Please join our team. You can do so on our website. If you can't walk with us, please help us reach our goal by making a donation. You can do that online as well. ***All donations are matched by Northside Hospital***

Thank you for helping us give all babies a healthy start!

Would you like to see what March for Babies is and why we're walking?
Click here to see a short video.

To learn more about the March of Dimes, register to walk with our team, or make an online donation please visit our family website: marchforbabies.org/bkm2jbmommy

~ Betty

Special Requests? Yes!

2011-03-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to see if you could hurry an order along? Have you wondered if you could get your canvas without a UV coating, order your playing cards without rounded corners, or maybe order a greeting card with a matte finish or minus the bar code? Within certain limitations, our Solutions Center can handle your special requests. There are fees associated with these customization options, so call the Solutions Center to learn what they are and what choices you have. You can reach them at 1-866-694-3767. ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Connect with Cards

2011-03-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

We all know how important it is to connect with people. We send birthday cards to friends and family, Mother's Day cards to mom, sympathy cards to those grieving, and thank you notes to express our gratitude. Think about how warm and fuzzy you feel when you receive a card in the mail from someone who thought enough to send it. Now think about how warm and fuzzy someone else feels when YOU send THEM a card!

Now think about how much you are spending to create those warm and fuzzy feelings. If you are like me, I suffered from "sticker shock" the last time I looked for a greeting card at my local card store! And then to have to slap the postage on top of that was ridiculous. So I found an affordable way to send custom cards to your friends, family and business contacts that they will love and I want to share with you...

I simply use my Studio account with MyStoryBookLady.com to create my cards, address them and send them all right from my computer! For example, when I know that a friend's birthday is coming up I log into my account. I look in the Template Gallery for a birthday card template that I like. I get the template and customize or edit however I want. Then I publish the card. It will then go into my "completed projects" where I can choose to "direct ship" the card to a recipient in my address book. I check out using my Club HM discounted publishing points that I receive each month and pay .63 cents for my card to be printed, stuffed, addressed and sent First Class to my recipient! It's way cheaper than the card store and those warm and fuzzy feelings are priceless.

I invite you to send a card today! Then let me know about your experience. ~ Betty

Limited Time Leather Covers

2011-02-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

If you’ve seen the beautiful leather covers available on the 11 x 13 Legacy books, you may have wished you could put the same elegant cover on a different sized book. Now, for a limited time, you can! Heritage Makers has secured a limited number of leather covers for our 11.5 x 8.5 and 8 x 8 Storybooks. These covers will only be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait to take advantage of this option. Just like black end papers and matte covers, it is available as an upgrade at check out.

The cost for the 8 x 8 leather cover is $10, and for the 11.5 x 8.5 is $15. Publishing points can be applied as payment for this upgrade. You can create a new book project, or perhaps you’d like to reprint an existing book with this new and stylish leather covering. You’ll still have your original cover design, only it will be printed as a dust jacket to protect the leather cover. ~ Betty

What Are Cornerstone and Foundation Books?

2011-02-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

Once you’ve fallen in love with making pages and projects in Studio, put cornerstone books on your to-do list. Cornerstones are books you write about your life and the lives of your parents and grandparents. Designed to preserve the photos and memories of you and your loved ones for future generations, these books also put treasured stories in the heart of your home and can be a rich and meaningful family experience.

Start your cornerstone to-do list by documenting your grandparents’ lives. The easiest time to help grandparents write their stories is while they are living in the family home and remain in good health. Once they retire, many grandparents move into smaller, easier-to-care-for, or warmer-climate accommodations. Downsizing often means that precious records, mementos, or photos are scattered among family members or get boxed up and sent to a storage unit. Just asking for access to these family records often brings to light stories that no other family members have heard.

Our “How I Became Your Grandpa” and “How I Became Your Grandma” 8 x 8 cornerstone books by Lynda Angelastro make writing family stories simple. Download the templates, look at each spread, and make a note of how many photos are needed for that topic. Only have three photos of Grandpa as a baby instead of four? No problem, find photos of the family home, scan birth certificates or fill in a photo box with patterned paper. More photos than allowed for in the design? Go to “manage pages” and duplicate a spread or two. Your book can be a few pages bigger than the template and need not be like anyone else’s.

If your grandparents are no longer living, ask parents, aunts, or uncles to help you write the stories and find the photographs. Make it a family project. You’ll be grateful you did, and so will your brothers, sisters, and cousins.

If you’re doing the math, writing a story for each grandparent is four books. Add four more if you’re helping with a spouse’s grandparents. Try to get at least one done every quarter. Put it in your day planner. Add it to your computer calendar. Plan ahead and you can make many opportunities to talk to family members about your grandparents at family gatherings.

Once Grandma and Grandpa’s lives are documented, turn your attention to the growing up stories of your mother and father. The 8 x 8 storybooks “Before I Was Your Dad” and “Before I Was Your Mom” by Wendy Bailey are perfect for the job. Documenting the lives of your parents is far easier if they live close enough to share facts and photos, but if they don’t, make it one of the priorities on your next visit.

Finally, write the stories of you and your spouse. If you have children, you can use the same “Before I Was Your Dad” and “Before I Was Your Mom” storybooks. Swap some of the cover papers around to give the books a different look from your Mom and Dad’s. Your book is every bit as important as your parents’ and grandparents’. How precious would your book be to your spouse, your siblings, your parents, or your children if tragedy ever struck?

Cornerstones do not have to be 8 x 8 storybooks. The 12 x 12 “Hats Off to You Grandpa Ben” and “Hats Off to You Aunt Alice” templates make wonderful life story books for Grandma and Grandpa or Mom and Dad.

“Through the Years: Male” and “Through the Years: Female” 11.5 x 8.5 storybooks, by Wendy Bailey again, also make good choices for cornerstone volumes.

And, if you like the 11.5 x 8.5 storybook format and want to make a snapshot of your family heritage before working on individual cornerstones, check out the template “Becoming the Goddard-Angelastro Family” by Lynda Angelastro. With a three-generation family tree as the opening spread, followed by pages about you, your spouse, your parents and grandparents; this overview of family heritage works well for both traditional and blended families.

While you’re checking cornerstones off your list, consider working on a couple of “foundation” books each year. Foundation books are a series of 12 x 12 storybooks that capture the flavor of your family across the years by providing a look at the ways various holidays and traditions are celebrated. These fun and easy-to-make books provide an over-time history of what makes your family unique and special.

Foundation books currently available include: "How the Butlers Celebrate Birthdays" by HM Signature Templates "How the Butlers Keep Christmas" by HM Signature Templates, "A Prezant’s Hanukkah" by Christine Prezant, "A Butler Thanksgiving" by Elisa Black, "Family Weddings" by Elisa Black, and "Family Love Stories" by Lynda Angelastro. More titles will be added this year including family, baby, and vacation books.

Chances are that one of the things that drew you to Heritage Makers was your enthusiasm for capturing just the kind of family stories we’ve been talking about. You understood the importance of making these precious memory books the heart of your home. There’s also a good chance you haven’t got to them yet. February is cornerstone month. Put cornerstone and foundation books on your to-do list and use Studio Night to work on them. Be sure to sign up for Club HM today of you haven't yet! As a member you'll save big on publishing all year long and get Premier for free! If you've already got points, but no Premier, contact me today to find out how you can get Premier for as little as $8.33 per month. ~ Betty

Article from my February Celebrations newsletter. To subscribe to my mailing list drop me an email.

Club HM Contests

2011-02-04T17:14:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the good times we’re having on the Club HM Facebook page? If not, you’re missing out on a boatload of fun! This Monday, we’ll announce our “Firsts” winner, but right now, let’s get started with this week’s challenge. How about a “2011 HM Souper Bowl” project? We’re not looking for pictures of your family in front of the TV. What we want are pages and projects that show off and preserve your favorite RECIPES. From onion dip, to pulled-pork sandwiches, to brownies – show us what your fans are cheering about this weekend! Visit the Club HM Facebook page for details. ~ Betty

Have You Heard About Club HM?

2011-02-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about Club HM? It’s a great new option for people who love to publish because it offers fantastic savings on all your Heritage Makers projects plus it gives you free access the amazing Premier collection of digital art and templates! Watch this short video to see the benefits of Club HM. Then head on over to MyStoryBookLady.com and sign up for Club HM today. ~ Betty

Wow! Super Discount on Premier!

2011-01-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love having a Premier account? Here’s an opportunity you can’t afford to pass up: Through the rest of January you can purchase a full 12-months of Premier access for only $79.95. That’s a 20% discount off our already discounted yearly Premier plan! Let’s be honest—you need the power of Premier in your life. The 4,000 pre-designed templates give you options for every season and occasion imaginable. And 50,000 digital art pieces make dressing up your photos and stories a pure joy. So contact your consultant (that would be me! :) and get back on the path of publishing nirvana. It’s just the right thing to do, especially now before the month ends. ~ Betty

Free Premier Weekend!

2011-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

You’ve seen the amazing templates and art work that are part of a Premier account. Wouldn’t you like to have a chance to create a fabulous project using the Premier art? If so, this is the weekend you’ve been waiting for! Our FREE Premier Weekend begins on Thursday, January 27 at 7:00 MST and runs until midnight MST on Sunday, January 30. That means you have nearly four days to play with, experiment, and create beautiful Heritage Makers projects with our exclusive designs. You can kick it off with the “Make it in Moments” Master Class on Thursday night at 7:00 MST (click here to register) then visit the Club HM Facebook page for additional ideas and inspiration. Better yet, consider becoming a member of Club HM. You get a free Premier account + the points you need to make the projects you want to do this year. You won’t want to miss out on the unique opportunity to test drive a free Premier account this weekend. Go to MyStoryBookLady.com to create your free account today! ~ Betty

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

2011-01-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

Wow! I'm blown away by all the creativity within our Heritage Makers community! Check out these ADORABLE Valentine gift ideas that YOU can make easily and then head over to MyStoryBookLady.com to get started :)
Our next Studio Master Class is Thursday January 27, 2011...mark your calendar now!

Your child's teacher will LOVE this!

Tell your hubby what you love about him!

12x12 Storybooks

Tell your significant other what you love about them with this "I Love You Because" template.

Love Notes to Lift and Inspire! Drop these in your child's lunchbox, drop one into a girlfriend's purse, hubby's nightstand, in a neighbor's mailbox or just give one to a random stranger as an act of kindness!

Lunch Box Love Notes! Slip these into your child's lunchbox for a note of love and humor in the lunchroom! :)

Love Coupons! Create your own Love Coupons and give to your spouse for Valentine's Day and let them "cash them in" all year long!

RAWR!!! Adorable Valentine's cards to send with your little dino man to school on Valentine's Day!

"Bugs and Kisses" Treat Toppers! Fold over our playing card decks to create these adorable treat bag toppers!

Just for Fun - Valentine's Jokes playing card deck!

Perfect for any child that attends a Christian or Catholic school. Adorable religious themed playing card deck.

A VERY sophisticated Valentine's Day 3-panel card.

Do you LOVE Deeply? Tell that special someone that you do with this beautiful card!

A Gift For YOU on MY Birthday!

2011-01-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

It's MY birthday, but I want to give YOU a gift! :) In honor of my birthday...and the fact that I'm 25 and holding...I am giving away 25 publishing points ($25 value). The first 10 clients to come clubbin' with me will get put into a drawing for 25 publishing points! What a great way to get started! Call me to join before 10pm Thursday January 13th to be entered into the drawing.
~ Betty

What is Club HM and won't you join with me? Read on below.
---
Does one of your new year's resolutions include doing something with those photos of yours that are locked on your computer or stashed in a box under your bed? Then I am so excited to tell you about Club HM! There are many reasons why you should join so I thought it would be helpful to list them here for you:

1. Celebrate your stories all year long!
2. get points monthly at wholesale (25-34% off) This is great especially to send cards every month :)
3. FREE Premier account ($20 monthly value)
4. 4000+ pre-designed templates
5. 50,000+ pieces of digital artwork (It's like having the ENTIRE scrapbook store at your fingertips, literally!)
6. unlimited photo storage space
7. FREE project upgrades
8. Sign up special of 100 additional points for $50 (so you can get started on ANY project on your list :)
9. monthly additional publishing discounts
10. online idea classes and Club community
11. free local digi crops + scanning services
12. fun contests, great prizes and much more!

Ready to get started? Use this handy list to get ideas and inspiration. Check the projects that you want to do.

Then use the flyer below to see how many points you will need to do the projects you want to do. Choose the points plan that works best for you and call me 404.729.0388 to get set up. It's that easy!

Betty Miller
Personal Publishing Coach
MyStoryBookLady.com
Betty@MyStoryBookLady.com
404.729.0388

SnOMG! It's A Virtual Workshop Tonight!

2011-01-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

SnOMG! We have had a blizzard in the ATL today and THAT is a rare occurrence here! It's a perfect day to stay home, spend time with family and create some *snow* memories :) It's also a perfect day to join us for a Virtual Workshop tonight and learn how to preserve those memories...

So jump in your PJs, grab a warm beverage and come to our Heritage Makers online class. We’ll share with you great project ideas, show you how to use HM Studio to make a project, and answer any questions you have about working in Studio. And the best part: no mess, no guests, and no clean up. You can join us right from your home computer. Simply accept my invitation by clicking here to register and log in to the class at 8:30pm ET, 7:30pm CT, 6:30pm MT, 5:30pm PT. We’ll be there ready to teach you more about HM Studio.

Invite a friend! The more the merrier :)
"See" you tonight~
Betty

And The Winners Are...

2011-01-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Some of my most favorite Christmas moments were receiving holiday greetings designed at MyStoryBookLady.com from my friends, family and clients! What an honor it is to receive your cards and be included in your family's traditions. To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to have a contest for the best HM cards that I received. And the winners are...

1st Place Winner is The Schell Family! You win 20 publishing points!
2nd Place Winner is The Kearns Family! You win 10 publishing points!

Congrats to you both! Happy New Year! :)
~ Betty

Why Should You Join Club HM?

2011-01-05T07:06:00.000-08:00

Does one of your new year's resolutions include doing something with those photos of yours that are locked on your computer or stashed in a box under your bed? Then I am so excited to tell you about Club HM! There are many reasons why you should join so I thought it would be helpful to list them here for you:

1. Celebrate your stories all year long!
2. get points monthly at wholesale (25-34% off) This is great especially to send cards every month :)
3. FREE Premier account ($20 monthly value)
4. 4000+ pre-designed templates
5. 50,000+ pieces of digital artwork (It's like having the ENTIRE scrapbook store at your fingertips, literally!)
6. unlimited photo storage space
7. FREE project upgrades
8. Sign up special of 100 additional points for $50 (so you can get started on ANY project on your list :)
9. monthly additional publishing discounts
10. online idea classes and Club community
11. free local digi crops + scanning services
12. fun contests, great prizes and much more!

Ready to get started? Use this handy list to get ideas and inspiration. Check the projects that you want to do.

Then use the flyer below to see how many points you will need to do the projects you want to do. Choose the points plan that works best for you and call me 404.729.0388 to get set up. It's that easy!

Betty Miller
Personal Publishing Coach
MyStoryBookLady.com
Betty@MyStoryBookLady.com
404.729.0388

Last Chance for 2010 Tax Write-Off!

2010-12-30T19:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve! As I ponder back on this year, I've come to the conclusion that life is just better when you have a job that you love...and I LOVE being a Consultant for Heritage Makers. The fun, friendships and rewards are priceless. 2011 brings incredible new things to help clients publish their treasured stories and also help consultants create a business that brings in significant income. I can't wait to experience the most incredible year yet and I would love to share it with you!

What better way is there to end 2010 than by starting a new business for 2011? If you have a PASSION for photos and stories (OR you know someone that does) I invite you to find out how you can turn that passion into cash. Sign up to work with me as a Heritage Makers consultant by Midnight on December 31st and write it off as a business expense! {Consult with your accountant.} Click Here to see everything that you receive in your Business Kit + find out how you can save $85 :)

Questions or need help getting signed up? Call me 404.729.0388 or email me. I look forward to working with you! ~ Betty

Publishing Discounts Starting January 1st

2010-12-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

The word is out! We have some great publishing discounts coming up on our special Valentine’s Day Playing Card Deck, the 12 x 12 Story Book, and 12 x 12 Post-Bound Book. These excellent projects will be highlighted in my upcoming Celebrations newsletter (click here to subscribe), and the 10% publishing discount will begin on January 1, 2011. The 10% discount will be taken at check out so it costs you 10% less to publish these items than usual. Start the new year off with a fun new project with My StoryBook Lady. Happy New Year! ~ Betty

Stock Up on Card Points for 2011

2010-12-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

Have you experienced the magic of receiving a card created at MyStoryBookLady.com? Do you remember how special you felt? And wouldn't you like to share that feeling with your friends and family? Of course you would! :) Now is the perfect time to stock up on card points to use all year long... Use your card points to send New Years greetings, Valentine's Day cards, birthday cards, thank you notes or any kind of card to let someone know that you are thinking of them.

A custom-printed greeting from MyStoryBookLady.com is sure to be appreciated by any friend, relative, co-worker, or neighbor in your address book. Click here to see a flyer announcing the “Seasons Greeting Card Sale.” It features significant savings on both invitations and greeting cards, and the more you buy, the more you save. The sale ends December 31st so call your consultant (that would be me! :) today!

Did you know MyStoryBookLady.com has a direct-ship option? Just enter addresses into your Studio address book and choose direct ship when you go to publish your card. For a small extra fee MyStoryBookLady.com will insert your cards in an addressed envelope and ship them directly to the recipients. Everyone loves simplicity, and direct ship makes it all so easy. Call 404.729.0388 or email me today! ~ Betty

Season's Greetings from My StoryBook Lady

2010-12-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

My StoryBook Lady and my family would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday. It has been my pleasure assisting you with your holiday projects and seeing them after they were completed. I'm proud and humbled that you allowed me to have a part in your holiday season. I look forward to working with you in the coming year. May it be filled with wonderful moments that become cherished memories for you. Thank you for believing and sharing in the mission of
Heritage Makers.

~ Betty Miller

Celebrate January 2011 with Bonus Host Rewards!

2010-12-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hosting a Heritage Makers event with My StoryBook Lady is always fun and rewarding, but to help ring in the new year, we have made it even more rewarding than usual. During the month of January only, you’ll earn even more free and half-priced items and points. The more your guests purchase at your workshop, the more you are rewarded. In addition, each guest receives a free greeting card simply for attending the workshop! To learn more about this exciting opportunity, click here, then contact me, your Personal Publishing Consultant to schedule your very own Heritage Makers workshop today! Remember, workshops can be done in-home, online, at a coffee shop, one-on-one...anywhere! :)
Click here to see my open dates for January. Morning, lunch bunch and evening times are available.
~ Betty

You're Invited! Last Online Class of 2010 Tonight!

2010-12-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

Click this link to register for the class: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/961855865
Monday December 13th, 2010 8:30pm ET, 7:30pm CT, 6:30pm MT, 5:30pm PT
See you there!
Betty

Post-Bound Album Featured in Creating Keepsakes Magazine!

2010-12-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

Our Post-Pound Album attracted the attention of the editors of Creative Keepsakes Magazine. Take a look at the feature in their “Latest & Greatest” section. Here’s what they wrote:

”Without a doubt, one of the easiest ways to create a beautiful scrapbook album is to upload your photos to a printing service. Heritage Makers has made that process truly delightful with gorgeous albums that you can customize to fit your personal style. You’re going to love sharing these professional looking, completely personalized albums with your family and friends.”

Ad in Creating Keepsakes Digital Newsletter

To leverage the editorial comment in the magazine, we purchased an ad (shown below) in the “CK News Flash” a digital newsletter that goes out to 147,000 subscribers across the country. Visit MyStoryBookLady.com to start your post-bound album today! ~ Betty

Fun Holiday Card Contest!

2010-12-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Announcing a fun holiday card contest! Here's how to enter:

1. Create your holiday cards at MyStoryBookLady.com

2. Send me your card via snail mail. Contact me for address.

3. Must receive your card by December 31st, 2010.

4. I will select a random panel of judges to help me judge the top 2 cards!

First prize winner will receive a coupon for a free Swatch/Flip book! ($19.95 value)

Second prize winner will receive 10 publishing points! ($10 value)

So be sure to send me your card! I LOVE to see your cards! :)

Your Personal Publishing Consultant,

Betty

Double Discounts on Canvases!

2010-12-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

Looking for a Christmas gift guaranteed to delight that takes only minutes to make? Look no further than a wrapped canvas from MyStoryBookLady.com.

During December all canvas sizes are available at “buy one, get one half off” pricing. That means you can save up to $70 when you buy canvases in pairs! With hundreds of gorgeous designs in the template gallery, there is no doubt several will be perfect for showcasing your photos. And think of the impact they’ll have as gifts to family members and friends!

Here’s a suggestion…at these prices, why not order of a couple of canvases for yourself? After all, the discounts are good all month, and wrapped canvases dress up your walls like few things can. An update on the family portrait…an early start on your Valentines gifts…so many possibilities.

You love the “Buy One, Get One Half Off” Canvas Sale, right? Well, it just got even better! Keep reading...

Publish any size of canvas before December 11^th and get an additional 10% off at checkout! Here we go again with the double discounts! And, we’ve extended the UPS Ground shipping deadline to December 11^th to match the sale period so you don’t have to pay extra for shipping! Check out the updated flyer here.

Note: The extended deadline for UPS Ground shipping (Dec. 11) applies to canvases only.

Here’s something new…the “Click & Give” Sale

If you need a super-quick gift, check out the pre-designed canvases ready to order without further customization. They’re fast, they’re fabulous, and they’re priced with both the “Buy One, Get One Half Off” and 10% off discounts. This “Click & Give” special is only available until December 11th.

See the selection of ready-to-order canvases here.

Contact me to order your canvases right away! ~ Betty

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Black Friday/Cyber Weekend Doorbuster Sale!

2010-11-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

Here’s a Black Friday Weekend Sale that doesn’t involve getting up at 4 am. It’s a special deal on both sizes of swatch/flip books and it’s being offered only on the MyStoryBookLady.com blog and Facebook page.

Swatch/flip books are perfect for gifts and stocking stuffers. To order, contact your HM consultant...that would be me :) at 404.729.0388 or email. Hurry! This sale ends midnight on Monday!
~ Betty

December Art Comes Early!

2010-11-25T06:56:00.000-08:00

To jump start your holiday creativity, our December art went live today. This month’s collections feature coordinated winter holiday kits, our first tempting takes on Valentines’ Day art and timeless baby and birthday themed offerings. We’re also including a simple and elegant set of nativity silhouettes. See it here.

For ideas on using these new collections, tune in to the next online Master Class, “To Die for December Art,” on Thursday December 2, 2010. Go here to register.

Happy Storybooking! ~ Betty

Thankful for You!

2010-11-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

One of the delights of being My StoryBook Lady during the holidays is the spirit I feel as help you publish your projects. I am honored to be your partner as you express your love and caring to family and friends through the power of Studio.

During this season of reflection and thanksgiving I express my deep appreciation to my consultants and clients everywhere. I am truly impressed with your commitment to fill the lives of those you love with the joy that Heritage Makers brings.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember to take your camera so you can capture the memories! :)
Betty

Seasons Greetings Card Sale - EXTENDED til Dec. 14th!

2010-11-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

Missed the sale last month? No worries. There is still time!

A custom-printed holiday greeting from MyStoryBookLady.com is sure to be appreciated by any friend, relative, co-worker, or neighbor in your address book. Click here to see a flyer announcing the “Seasons Greeting Card Sale.” It features significant savings on both invitations and greeting cards, and the more you buy, the more you save. The sale ends December 14th so call your consultant (that would be me! :) quickly!

Did you know MyStoryBookLady.com has a direct-ship option? Just enter addresses into your Studio address book and choose direct ship when you go to publish your card. For a small extra fee MyStoryBookLady.com will insert your cards in an addressed envelope and ship them directly to the recipients. Everyone loves simplicity during the holidays, and direct ship makes it all so easy. Don’t wait too long, the direct-ship deadline is December 14th. Call 404.729.0388 or email me today! ~ Betty

It's Time to Turkey Trot!

2010-11-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is next week! A time for food, family, and football. Make sure you have your camera on hand to capture all the memories. And while you are visiting family and friends why not Turkey Trot? What is a Turkey Trot, you ask? Well, you love the storybooks, cards, calendars, etc. from MyStoryBookLady.com and you want to share them with all your friends and family so they can experience the magic as well. I have some cute little bags that I will put some samples in along with a catalog and some order forms. When you see everyone at Thanksgiving simply pull out the bag, share with them the products and catalog, then take their orders. You will then help them experience the magic of storybooking and earn some free goodies for yourself :)

Turkey Trot bags are ready to go! Call me to get yours today 404.729.0388 ~ Betty

Avoid The Rush - Publish Early!

2010-11-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us! At Heritage Makers we cherish this time of year because so many people love what our projects can do for home, friends, and family. Please keep the following in mind to ensure a flawless holiday experience:

Be sure to use the Holiday Hits early publishing incentive to save an additional 10% on selected products. Refer to the weekly specials on the Holiday Hits Publishing Guide.

Remember, the normal HM production time is 5-7 business days. However, during November and December, the sheer volume of projects may require additional turnaround time. To help you plan for holiday gift giving we have established holiday deadlines for various shipping methods so that you can be assured your project will be delivered by December 24.*

For example, the deadline for “Next Day” shipping (Dec. 10) has been established by taking into consideration both the anticipated holiday production time and the shipping time required to assure delivery by Dec. 24. It does not mean you can expect delivery in 7-9 days (standard 5-7 business days + 2 day shipping).

Note: If you require early delivery so you have time to ship to another location, you must place the order on or before Nov. 30 (posted re-ship deadline).

*Deadlines assume normal holiday shipping schedules and do not include situations outside of our control such as severe weather, courier delays, equipment failure, or other unexpected interruptions.
from blog.heritagemakers.com.

Call me at 404.729.0388 or email me with questions. It is my pleasure to help you! ~ Betty

New Gloss Coating!

2010-11-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

Heritage Makers has a fantastic new publishing option for 12 x 12 scrap pages and 11 x 14 posters. It’s called “gloss coating” – a heavy duty UV coating that is perfect for place mats or “dry erase” applications. Gloss coating is free to Premier account holders and available for $1 per page for everyone else. Select “gloss coating” at check out.

"Holiday Hits" Early Publishing Discounts Available November 1st!

2010-10-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

During November you can double your discounts by taking advantage of two great specials! The first you already know about–the “Gotta Try It!” publishing points packages. This is simply the best way to get started in Heritage Makers. Save 40% when you buy packages of 25, 70, or 150 points combined with a 3-month Premier account.

Now “Holiday Hits” provides a second way to save! Each week during November we are featuring a different group of Heritage Makers products. If you complete and publish these items within the specified weeks, you will get an additional 10% discount at checkout. In other words, the points required for each item will be reduced by 10% when they go to publish. What a great way to stretch your dollars during the holiday season! Here’s an example: The regular price for a 16 x 20 wrapped canvas is $89.95, but if you publish during the second week of November (7th-13th) you will only be charged $80.95.

To help you plan for the holidays, we have created a special “Gift Publishing Planner.” It lists each product included in the promotion and indicates the time period during which the project should be published to receive the 10% discount. It also has a weekly planner/gift list with blank lines so you can fill in names, specific gift ideas, and the number of points required for each item. Total the points for all of the items on your list. If you need more points, consider purchasing one of the “Gotta Try It” options (if you need Premier), or a regular points package (if you already have Premier). You can download the Gift Publishing Planner here.

Holiday Hits will be officially announced November 1^st. A special home page ad will link to further details on the early publishing specials and several helpful resources. For example, there will be links to specific project suggestions in the template gallery. Furthermore, Lynda Angelastro has recorded special 15-20 minute video demos for each week offering gift ideas, tips and tricks, and more! This is the best time of the year to be a Heritage Maker. Don’t miss this opportunity to create holiday gifts that will be cherished by everyone on your list!

Note: The current “Card Crazy” special is creating a lot of excitement. Guess what’s on the list for an early publishing discount during the first week of Holiday Hits – that’s right – greeting cards! Buy cards now and get a double discount (or increase the discount they already received) by publishing your cards early!

Questions? Need help? Call me! 404.729.0388

Betty Miller

Your Personal Publishing Coach

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Get Card Crazy!

2010-10-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Stay ahead of your holiday to-do list! Lock in on this card special and I'll help you design your cards when you get your fall photos! Do you own a small business that sends out holiday cards to your clients? Let me help you create a beautiful card that they will remember!

Hurry! Offer expires October 31st, 2010 so call or email me to let me know how many cards you need ~ Betty

Faves of the Week

2010-10-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just published a few items that I had to share! They are just too adorable! These projects can all be found in the Template Gallery. I just simply picked the ones I liked and edited with my own touches. Each project took less than 5 minutes to complete.

And the BEST part? I got all of these projects for free just for being a Consultant! All I paid for was shipping.

12x12 Scrap Page. I will cut these out for 6x6 tiles, adhere to the tile & sell at my booth :)

12x12 Scrap Page

Halloween 20x8 Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Halloween Match Book Covers - 12x12 Scrap Page

12x12 Post Bound Album for my son's school work =)
Template designed by Joyce Williams
Template ID: 39864

12x12 Post Bound Album (back cover) for my son's school work

12x12 Scrap Page for more 6x6 tiles to sell at my booth

What Can You Make With Premier?

2010-10-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

With Free Premier Weekend now officially under way, you may be wondering what you can make? May we suggest a few fabulous ideas. Take a look at some quick and simple greeting cards, canvas prints, planners, and more. In fact, all you have to do with these templates is swap your own photos and you’re ready to publish!

Happy Halloween
designed by: Barbara Frig
5×7 Greeting Card: Landscape
Template ID: 42380

No customization needed with this one. Simply select and publish!

Witching You a Spooktacular Halloween
designed by: Sandra Dovre
20×8 Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Template ID: 42083

2011 Nature Calendar
designed by: Jill Means
11×8.5 Calendar
Template ID: 42331

Holly Branch Holiday Card
designed by: Jill Means
5×7 Invitation: Landscape
Template ID: 41492

Get the entire canvas print set and decorate your home all four seasons.

Season Series—Winter
designed by: Jill Means
16×20 Canvas
Template ID: 41484

Scouts Honor
designed by: Darcie Toom
12×12 Post-Bound Album
Template ID: 42544

Share a Moment of Sweetness
designed by: Michelle Wolfley
12×12 Scrapbook Page
Template ID: 41823

Beauti-FALL Girl 2-Page Set
designed by: Heidi Jackson
12×12 Scrapbook Page
Template ID: 42607

Rigby Family Planner
designed by: Tanja Rigby
Square Flip Book
Template ID: 42717

Pet Tribute
designed by: Margaret Barrett
20×20 Canvas
Template ID: 42714

Simply Beautiful
designed by: Tanja Rigby
18×18 Wrapped Canvas Deep
Template ID: 42719

Don’t forget, Free Premier Weekend lasts until Sunday! Simply log into Studio to join us! Don’t have a Studio account? No problem! Get a free Studio account here.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Special Premier Offer

2010-10-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend only!

During Free Premier Weekend, you can get a special price on Premier when ordered online. Get a year’s worth of Premier for only $99.95 or 3 months of Premier for only $29.95. That’s less than $9/month!

Remember, Premier gives:

Complete access to nearly 50,000 pieces of digital art.
Creativity with thousands of templates.
Unlimited photo storage.
And so much more!

If you are enjoying Premier this weekend, you can enjoy it all year long…and be sure to take advantage of this special pricing.

Simply upgrade your account in Studio to get the special pricing.

Call me 404.729.0388 if you have any questions! ~ Betty

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

2010-10-12T05:12:00.000-07:00

We want to wish all of our Canadian friends a very Happy Thanksgiving! After you’ve had your fill of turkey and reminisced with family and friends, take some time to record your Thanksgiving memories with a Heritage Makers project. Here are a few we recommend for this special day.

8×8 Canvas Template ID #: 35359
 

24×18 landscape poster Template ID #: 20449
 
8×5x11 scrap page Template ID #: 3226
 

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Free Premier Weekend

2010-10-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

We’re so excited to announce our first Free Premier Weekend! That’s right, from October 14 - 17, you can get full access to a Heritage Makers Premier account, absolutely free. This is a no-risk opportunity for you to try designing storybooks, canvas prints, greeting cards, playing cards, photo books, and more with over 47,000 pieces of digital art and thousands of pre-designed templates.

Imagine having free reign on a scrapbook store. That’s what it’s like when you use Heritage Makers Premier account. Unlimited creativity and fun is waiting for you! Join us!

Here’s a sampling of some of the art you’ll find in Premier:

To participate in FREE Premier Weekend, simply log into Studio and click on the “unlock Premier” button. This button will be available from 7:00 p.m. October 14 until noon October 18 MDT.*

If you don’t already have a Studio account, get a free account here.

*Note: All projects created using Premier art during Free Premier Weekend must be published by Monday, October 18th at 12:00 noon MDT. After that time users will not be able to edit projects without a Premier account. Once the completed project has been published, it can be ordered at any time.

Christmas Publishing Deadlines Announced

2010-10-04T04:41:00.000-07:00

The HM Christmas publishing deadlines have been announced. Check them out and call me to order your publishing points so you can get your projects and gifts DONE before "Santa" gets here!

October Art

2010-10-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

Great news! We've just released the October art! You're going to love what we've got for you this month at MyStoryBookLady.com.

Today you'll find 18 brand new collections! In fact, with the addition of these new collections, there are 712 active art collections and over 47,000 pieces of digital art in Studio! View the art catalog here.

We're extremely excited to introduce you to the new art in October. Take a look at four of our favorites.

A Spooktacular Evening: This collection was purchased specifically with the little "spooks" at your house in mind. You can capture all of your Halloween memories!

Elements of Nature: This lovely collection from the talented Jill Means can be changed to match your color scheme.

Scouts Honor Elements: A bright and cheerful collection to help you document the activities of the boy scouts in your life.

Harvest Moon: "Hoo, Hoo"...if Owls are your thing, this fun collection is a must!

from the Heritage Makers business blog.

Gotta Try It! Christmas Ideas!

2010-09-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

‘Tis the season to try MyStoryBookLady.com! It’s the perfect time to give the gift of heritage with our fabulous “Gotta Try It” sale. The templates featured here make it so easy to give the perfect gift and send adorable greeting cards.

This festive card will delight your friends and family.
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Decorate your tree, banister, of doorway with this magical playing cards.
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Here’s the perfect bedtime story while the wee ones wait for Santa to come.
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Take a twist on the traditional holiday card with this 3-panel family fold.
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Or simply stay with classic style with the clean lines of this greeting card from Jill Means.
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from blog.heritagemakers.com

Gotta Try It! Thanksgiving Ideas!

2010-09-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

More ideas just keep coming! Are you looking for some ways to dress your Thanksgiving table? With the “Gotta Try It” sale you can try all of these decorations ideas.

Everyone will know exactly where to sit with these lovely place cards.

 

Share all of your Thanksgiving blessings and then keep them for years to come. This flip book is the perfect way to say “thanks.”
 

There’s just something magical about the fall season! Take photos and then put them in this adorable board book. All you have to do is swap your photos!
 

Everyone can share what they are thankful for with this blessings bucket.
 

Record your holiday traditions with this “How the Butlers Celebrate Thanksgiving” book. Simply swap your photos and your memories and you’re done!
 

Gotta Try It! Halloween Ideas

2010-09-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

We want you to try MyStoryBookLady.com! With our incredible “Gotta Try It” sale going on right now, you can try our Studio at an incredibly discounted price.

And, to help inspire you, check out some templates that will make awesome Halloween decor! You can delight all the spooks that knock on your door!

Playing cards are perfect to string up around a doorway, on the kitchen table, or on a banister.
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Send Halloween greetings to your favorite ghouls and goblins with this greeting card.
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Use these Halloween gift tags to decorate goodie bags for your child's friends at school.
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Gotta Try It!

2010-09-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

Create something new with your photos! You've "gotta try" the Studio at MyStoryBookLady.com! For a limited time you can get a 3 month membership to Premier (our digital collection of 45,000+ art pieces...it's like having the entire scrapbook store literally at your fingertips!) and fantastic deals on keepsake publishing projects. Simply upload your photos and choose from thousands of fun templates to create a project you'll be proud to display or give for the holidays.

Did You Know?

2010-09-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

Did you know you can direct ship any Heritage Makers greeting card or invitation, to anywhere in the US, for only $.60 cents/card! That’s right, $.60 cents! It’s cheap, convenient, personal and oh so creative. All you have to do is create your personalized greeting card or invitation, click direct ship at checkout, and we’ll take care of the rest! Want to ship to Canada? It’s only $1.00 to go over the border.

Are you ready to make a greeting card? Check out these beautiful templates. And the best part is you can make any of these cards in less than 5 minutes! Just swap out your photo, add a message, and that’s it!
Get started today at MyStoryBookLady.com

from blog.heritagemakers.com

What Will $200 Buy For Christmas This Year?

2010-09-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a great way to give MORE for LESS this holiday season! When you purchase a $200 publishing points package from MyStoryBookLady.com, you actually receive 265 points. BUT if you place that order through your consultant (that would be me ;) as a separate "workshop" (where you are the sole attendee) you can also collect the hosting rewards totaling 45 points. That's a TOTAL of 310 points for only $200!

You can use your publishing points toward ANY project from gallery wrapped canvases to greeting cards to calendars. Here are just a few ideas of how you can use your publishing points:

Happy Labor Day!

2010-09-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know?

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. Military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair. All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race was held that day from 1950 to 2004.

Enjoy this day with your friends and family!

Celebrate Grandparents Day

2010-09-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

Who puts the “grand” in grandparents? Celebrate Grandparents Day on September 12th with a tribute project from My StoryBookLady. Make a storybook sharing grandpa’s stories, a beautiful greeting card to say thank you, or a delightful canvas to hang on the wall.

We’ve got some beautiful templates to help you on your way. Check out our selection of templates to help you tell the grandparents in your life how much you love them.

Plus, we know your time is precious. With our templates, you can quickly and easily create something memorable. In fact, some of these projects can be completed and published in just 5 minutes!
1. Grandma’s Card: 5×7 greeting card

Make this card! Swap out the photo and you’re done in less than 2 minutes!
2. Wild About You: 5×7 greeting card

Make this card!
3. Grandparents Day Basic Art: 3-panel family fold

Make this family fold!
4. Grandma’s Lil Love Bug: Swatch Book

Make this swatch book!
5. Simply Sweet Brag Book: Swatch Book

Make this swatch book!
6. Some Bunny Loves You: 8×8 Canvas

Make this canvas! You can be finished in less than 5 minutes!
7. Grandma Gift: 20×8 Canvas

Make this canvas!
8. A Walk With Grandpa: 16×20 Canvas

Make this canvas!
from blog.heritagemakers.com

Yummy Squash Casserole Recipe

2010-08-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad gave me some squash fresh from the garden yesterday. I took it home, sliced it up, steamed it and made a Baked Squash - Southern Style casserole. Now, I've made this casserole before, but I really must have done something right because my hubby went back for seconds! And if you know him...he's pretty picky about his food. Here's the recipe:

Baked Squash - Southern Style
2 - 10 oz packages of frozen yellow summer squash (or use fresh like I did)
1 TBS minced onion flakes
2 TBS + 2 TSP low cal margarine (I used butter)
2 egg whites (I used one egg)
1 1/2 TSP sweetener (I used sugar)
1/2 TSP salt
1/8 TSP pepper
3 TBS dry bread crumbs

Cook squash according to package instructions. Drain. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash in large bowl and mash well. Add onion flakes, 2 TBS margarine, egg whites, sugar, salt, pepper and 1/2 of the bread crumbs. Mix well. Pour mixture into a 1 qt baking dish that has been sprayed with a nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining bread crumbs.
Dot with remaining margarine.
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until set and lightly browned.

Each serving provides:
90 calories
1/4 bread serving            4 grams protein
2 veggie servings             4 grams fat
1 fat serving                    10 grams carbs
10 additional calories*    426 mg sodium
0 mg cholesterol
*Add 6 calories if sugar or fructose is used as sweetener.

Enjoy!

August Back 2 School Digi Crops and Classes

2010-08-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Greetings! We are super excited to share the latest news and announcements from our convention this past week! Hope to see you soon at one (or all) of digi crops being offered in August! Pick the date that works best for you and RSVP so we can save you a spot.

Online Class: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/479552880
Date: Monday, August 16th
Time: 8:30pm EDT
Location: Your computer and phone

Evening Digi Crop
Date: Monday, August 16th

Time: 7 - 10pm
Location: Caribou Coffee in Woodstock, GA - near Super Target on Hwy 92 at 575

Evening Digi Crop: http://yarp.com/1a2907774895
Date: Tuesday, August 17th
Time: 6 – 10pm
Location: Starbuck’s Coffee – Corner of Alpharetta Hwy & Mansell Rd, Roswell, GA
...
Daytime Digi Crop: http://yarp.com/f42591c5e5d1
Date: Monday, August 30th
Time: 9am – 1pm
Location: ROAM – 5815 Windward Pkwy (2nd floor)
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(note: ROAM offers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks)

Your StoryBook Coach,
Betty Miller
404.729.0388
http://MyStoryBookLady.com/

New Products

2010-08-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Breaking News! We just released some fantastic new products:
12x12 post-bound album
Deep depth gallery wrapped canvases in 3 sizes: 18x18, 18x24, and 24x18

Happy Anniversary!

2010-08-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

16 Years ago today I married my best friend in the whole wide world! It seems like just yesterday. Time certainly flies when you are having fun. Happy Anniversary to us : )
What special occasions are coming up in your life this year that you are going to celebrate?

Tips For Creating Photo Jewelry Projects with Studio

2010-08-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some helpful tips for getting the best results when designing jewelry using Studio at MyStoryBookLady.com. Be sure to order your necklace and bracelet credits before August 31st while they are on sale. My design services are FREE with your purchase if you choose not to design it yourself. Email me your order and your photos...I'm happy to help :) ~ Betty

Check Out My Latest Project

2010-08-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Finished my Family Yearbook for 2009. It's an 11.5 x 8.5 storybook. Now on to the next project!

Click here to see the entire book. Enjoy! ~ Betty

10 Tips For Taking Baby Photos

2010-08-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friends from Kodak, check out these 10 tips for taking the perfect baby photo.

1. Get down on their level. Hold your camera at the baby’s eye level to capture the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles.

2. Use a plain background. An uncluttered background forces attention on your baby. Place your baby against a plain background or move yourself (and the camera) a few feet.

3. Capture feelings. A smirk, a frown, a wail - capture all the emotions, not just the pretty smiles. Babies are uninhibited and uncensored, show it in your pictures.

4. Get close. Zoom in, filling the frame to emphasize what’s important, creating a more impactful photo. Capture the details, like blue eyes, a toothless smile, or tiny fingers.

5. Show scale. Take pictures of your baby with items that will show her relative size - a teddy bear or Daddy’s hands. Take a series of pictures with the same object as your baby grows.

6. Try different angles. Get down on their level, shoot from high above, shoot some sideways, some looking up at them.

7. Include other people. Capture others with the baby - Big Sister feeding the baby or Grandpa dancing with his little grandson. Make sure to include everyone who visits your baby.

8. Take some vertical pictures. Many subjects look better in a vertical picture - from the Eiffel Tower to portraits of your friends. Make a conscious effort to take some vertical pictures.

9. Use natural light. Shoot photos next to windows or outdoors, taking advantage of natural light. Cloudy, overcast days provide the best lighting for pictures of people.

10. Take lots of photos. Always keep your camera handy! Babies change so fast, capture every moment right from birth, including all firsts. Document a day in the life of your baby.

For more tips, tricks, projects and ideas on photographing babies, visit Kodak.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Partnership With Captures By Summer

2010-07-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce My StoryBook Lady's partnership with Captures By Summer, a North Atlanta photographer. We are offering an AMAZING special on Gallery Wrapped Canvases and have extended the expiration date to this Saturday July 31st. Take a look (enlarge the flyer by clicking on it):

Call us today to book your photo session and purchase your canvas credits! :)
Betty and Summer

Gallery Wrapped Canvases Galore

2010-07-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

With Christmas in July in full swing, we’ve been finding lots of great wrapped canvases in our Template Gallery at MyStoryBookLady.com. Take a look at some of our favorites here.
8×20 Shadow Flower

You could even publish this one without any personalization! It’s quick and easy!
Family Canvas Poster

MC Savannah Collection

Heidi’s B’s

If you like what you see (and we’re sure you do) be sure to take advantage of the incredible Christmas in July specials. See the specials here.

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Create A Canvas In 5 Easy Steps

2010-07-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Gallery Wrapped Canvases are one of our Christmas In July specials this month. Want to turn your photos into works of art? Not sure how to get started? No worries...I am here to help! Here is how you can create a beautiful Canvas at http://MyStoryBookLady.com in 5 easy steps...

Serving Top Quality

2010-07-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

What do you know about the "green" side of Heritage Makers?

* Did you know that HM recycles all of its scrap paper and extra cardboard? They work with a lot of paper daily: cutting, folding, packaging. But they don't want anything to go to waste.

* HM prints on SFI certified paper. This means that they paper used is approved by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.(SFI) who promotes responsible forestry management. This includes protecting water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and Forests Exceptional Conservation Value. To learn more about SFI, visit sfiprogram.org.

* Storybooks are wire stitched to create a longer, more durable binding.

* Canvases are hand cut and hand stretched.

* End sheets come with a linen strip that reinforces book binding.

* Matte finish is a laminate to repel water and better protect your books.

* HM uses a top of the line printer for high quality prints.

Rest assured, your projects are in great hands. HM's goal is to make sure clients receive the best quality. They are using reliable, efficient equipment to ensure it's all done right, and done right it is. Enjoy!

from Heritage Makers Connections June 2010

Create Things With A Purpose + Ways To Use Cards

2010-07-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

More ideas can be found in the Template Gallery at MyStoryBookLady.com. Contact me for pricing...otherwise you will pay retail on my website. Christmas In July offers the LOWEST deals of the year on cards, invitations, calendars, playing card decks and canvases so stock up before July 31st :) ~ Betty