Memory Files
Hi! I’m Sandy Ballard and I am excited to share one of my latest projects I crafted recently!
Memory Files
Yes, they were introduced about 3-4 years ago (I believe Heidi Swapp’s blog had featured them with some beautiful designs), and we are still lovin’ how easy they are to make, fun to give, and a cherished way to hold memories!
This particular file design was created in one of our craft classes here at our shop and the ladies LOVED IT! They went on to create several more files at home and are now hooked! There are many super cute pre-printed file folders out there at office supply stores and they provide a great base to start your memory file. If you can’t find any designs that you like, you can start with any file folder, and then cover the inside and outside with whatever charming papers you want!
If you’ve scrapbooked before (in some way or another) then designing a memory file should be a breeze for you. The same techniques you use for your layouts can be used for these files, made to fit your photos and momentos.
Creating a Waterfall
In our class, we taught the ladies how to create a “waterfall” for Photo Mats, allowing for many photos to be added inside the file(s). The fun paper accessories including the bracket borders on the front of the file were created using Kiwi Lane Designer Templates (best scrapbooking tools ever!) They really make the process easy and exciting. Kiwi Lane has fantastic tutorials to watch and learn!
Thinking Ahead
Memory Files are such a great gift to create and give, and they are much easier to mail out to someone than a 12×12 scrapbook layout! Here are several ideas and events for you to feature in your file(s): birthdays, anniversaries, trips & vacations, school events, pets (so sweet), Baby’s First File (cute idea too), sports events (you can fit those team photos 8×10 right inside a file folder flap!), recipes (feature your faves by category-yum!), reunions, etc.
Storing your Memory Files
Now that your pumped up and excited about filing…. onto storing them for safe-keeping.
I’m still searching for perfect ideas for file storage/boxes. {Again, Heidi Swapp had some adorable cases with handles, but they have been discontinued- so sad! If you’ve found a case that would work, let us know! But, I did find this unique old storage case at an antique store that caught my eye. I’m not sure what it’s original destiny was before I found it, but it is officially now a fantastic memory storage case, and it even coordinates with my home décor so I can leave it out for reminiscing at anytime.
Products Used:
Kiwi Lane Designer Templates; Papers: My Mind’s Eye “Cut & Paste”/ Hello; Echo Park “Lucky In Love”; Colorbok; Embellishments: Wood Laser cuts by WeRMemory Keepers, Martha Stewart Button Punch, Basic Grey Magnetic Discs, Decorative File Folder, Scor-Tape 3/8”.
This is a nice file folder to create as a gift. I think I need to create for my 9 preschoolers that will start Kindergarten this August. Thank You great idea