CHA Winter 2012 :: Making Memories
Forgive me if I was curious about Making Memories. Curious in a ‘so what is the game plan?’ kind of way. See, Making Memories has been a big industry player for a long time. They grew from a small store to a big chain of stores and a big percentage of the wholesale market as a manufacturer. And they were always very specialised in scrapbooking, hence the name of the company. The Slice portable cutting system seemed a big success. Then two years ago they debuted a jewelry line as a big part of their booth space, and buyers started to question – right there on the floor – if they were supposed to buy this for their scrapbook stores or whether it was for stores who specialised in that sort of thing. A year ago, they launched a line of paper rosettes and fancy prize ribbons, and again scrapbook store owners were a little confused about how this would sell in their shops when it seemed more in line with gift wrap. And then at the summer 2011 show? They just weren’t there at all.
But here they were, with a big booth on the show floor at CHA Winter 2012. The Slice was still a big item in the floor space, but there were new paper lines too. Paper lines that were definitely scrapbooking supplies. Though slightly different to things we have seen before. Let’s start with Children at Play.
Rather than their in-house designers, this is a licensed collection with art from Sarah Jane Studios designed to fit the standard line-up of Making Memories products: 12×12 and 6×6 papers, letter stickers, tapes, layered stickers and die-cut shapes.
The paper dolls are an interesting choice. Not at all like the paper dolls that were all over the scrapbooking industry circa 2002 and more like the classic paper dolls that came in a punch-out or cut-out book from childhood. Those of you with little ones: something you would add to scrapbook pages or cards? (And if you are a paper doll fan, have you grabbed a copy of the Black Apple Paper Doll Primer – because that is enough to make me think maybe I do need paper dolls in my life after all. But anyway, back to Making Memories.)
Lots and lots of pink in the girlish side of the collection of course. The album is especially sweet.
And everything also available in blue, with wagons and kites for a soft take on boy-themed scrapbooking. I’m wondering if the nostalgic design of these papers and embellishments make you think of scrapping current photos or older images? For anyone with a stack of mid-century black and white snapshots, this could be the most perfect collection ever – but most of us would have far more current pictures than those older treasures.
But it wasn’t all childhood nostalgia — how about Modern Millinery? A brighter collection with crisp black accents and inspiration from the world of textiles, florals and fascinators.
This reminds me more of the Making Memories collections from their most popular days, but with a touch more drama. Remember Noteworthy? I can see those same florals and mix of pinks, purples and turquoises here, and that was a collection I really loved.
Plenty of textile elements in this collection, plus those classic tiny letters are back at the bottom of a sheet that now includes words and phrases too.
So many lush flowers – but will you put them in an album or on something you can wear or gift? I think this might be a safer move – those last few collections make it seem that Making Memories wants to get into other markets, but this collection could get that cross-over while still being relevant to papercrafters. Perhaps a bit more useful to the bottom line.
And saving the best for last, this was my favourite thing from the Making Memories release: 12×12 lace papers that include a layer of lace, tulle or netting stitched to a cardstock background. I can’t see they would be very useful in pieces, because it would probably be cheaper to buy just the fabric if you wanted to use it in smaller sizes, but as a 12×12 background it gives a new look to the base layer of a page with a lovely texture. Looking forward to giving this one a try!
Opinions then: is Making Memories back on form? Are you excited to see them back on the market?
Since it has been a while since Making Memories has released a new collection, there isn’t a lot of MM in stores now, but you can find a few big bargains here should you want to grab a bit of classic MM before it disappears.
Read more about:
Next post: CHA Winter 2012 :: GCD Studios
Previous post: CHA Winter 2012 :: Crate Paper
5 February 2012, 09:17
I must say I am on the fence right now.. I’ll have to maybe warm up to it.. I am looking forward to seeing what they will bring us.
5 February 2012, 09:24
I’m really glad to see Making Memories seem to have found their way again. They were one of the first brands I came too when I started scrapping but their ranges in recent years have been uninspiring. The Children at Play collection isn’t really my cup of tea (I have no small people to scrap) but Modern Millinery is divine. The berry coloured paper and the black lace paper are absolutely gorgeous and will certainly be on my wish list. Welcome back MM, please keep it up!
5 February 2012, 09:27
I like some elements from each collection. It will be fun to see them in a store altogether. I agree that Modern Millinery is reminiscent of Noteworthy, and I liked that collection, too.
5 February 2012, 09:28
yay!! love all of it! Great patterns, colors & textures!
5 February 2012, 09:41
Hmmm, I can’t quite decide… I like some of the pieces, but some of the collections are just too “cute”…
5 February 2012, 09:44
Mmmh, MM is not my favorite company, but I do love the Slice. This boyish line is cute, I love the patterns and the colors! I will give it a try!
5 February 2012, 09:49
I’m VERY excited about the “relaunch” of MM. Those floral paper looks beautiful!
5 February 2012, 09:57
DD will definitely love the paper dolls. And the lace paper is perfect for scrapping wedding pages. What bugs me though is pink for girls and blue for boys – DD prefers blue to pink. I’d love to be able to scrap a really girly BLUE page,
5 February 2012, 09:58
love how cute everything looks!
5 February 2012, 10:24
I’ve always been a big fan of Making Memories, from the early days when I was a brand newbie to scrapbooking. I was concerned the company was going under because I’d seen so little of them lately. I’m glad to see they’re making a comeback, and I cannot WAIT to get my happy little hands on some of that Modern Millinery collection. :)
Shimelle, of all the CHA coverage I’ve seen/read, yours is the absolute best. I’ve really enjoyed reading all of your commentary and seeing all of your photos. Thank you so much for sharing CHA with us.
5 February 2012, 10:47
I have been a huge fan and work in my lss, so have been wondering what’s going on since they’ve not really been catering durectly to scrappers as you were saying. They’re also now doing more direct marketing for their products through their website, but it doesn’t really help us Canadians when the shipping is expensive. Like my Slice when it’s working, but not loving the new stuff really. Not so much my thing… Interesting to see what happens with them.
5 February 2012, 10:53
I used to be a big fan and believe it or not, I hoarded lots of their Noteworthy line which I still have untouched in my growing stack! MM, anyone? Glad to see them back although, I don’t feel the same way to these new products except maybe the pretty lace papers which may again end up untouched…
5 February 2012, 10:55
I’ve always liked MM so i’m hoping these lines are as good as they look.
5 February 2012, 11:19
Looks more like the old MM that I loved. The lace and rille papers are very intriguing and can’t wait to get my hands on those. I think I need to see the papers IRL. I don’t want just old MM. I would like to see that style with a twist or two to update it.
5 February 2012, 11:41
Nice look on here!
5 February 2012, 11:54
I like the mix of patterns and florals in the Modern Millinery. I can also see the paper dolls working on a heritage page in the same way that dress makers dummies have appeared in lots of pages.
** Kate **
5 February 2012, 13:33
Oooh, I love these-especially the Paper Doll Primer-whimsical and fun!
5 February 2012, 13:48
Loving all the pink!
5 February 2012, 14:11
Some cute things for sure, but does not excite me like some of the other things I’ve seen.
5 February 2012, 14:49
I love paper dolls…and will definately be looking out for them.
5 February 2012, 14:50
I loved mm back in the day! I’m excited to see their new lines.
5 February 2012, 14:56
their embellies look nice. i like the lace paper but not sure about the rest. Seems abit 2003 to me. :(
5 February 2012, 15:08
I like their new stuff. The paper doll line is definitely a different look for them, but they’re using a different designer. Love the little letters and words and phrases stickers. And I love the flowers.
5 February 2012, 16:36
I really like the paper dolls and that whole vibe but its fairly similar to other things that OA and CC have done just in a slightly different colourway.
5 February 2012, 17:23
hmmmmm…..interesting…..I too am on the fence.
5 February 2012, 17:49
Like the lacey background papers best but there are parts of each new collection I would use. Those flowers are beautiful but I don’t know if i could use them in an album where they’d get crushed.
5 February 2012, 18:40
hmmm I would say they are not on track quite yet. Used to love them. Keep trying MM, we miss you.
5 February 2012, 18:57
Well, Modern Millinery is a return to form. I’m kinda surprised the company didn’t sink under its own weirdness over the past year or so — perhaps this is the beginning of a comeback, eh?
5 February 2012, 19:22
I like the paper doll line and also O Happy Day, hopefully we’ll see more good stuff coming from them.
5 February 2012, 21:16
The weird thing about MM is that while I pretty much never see them online they are ALL OVER my local Michael’s with tons of products. I suspect they might feed more to that big box store lately that you mentioned in an earlier post.
5 February 2012, 21:24
Loving that lace paper!
5 February 2012, 23:11
I agree. I like those lace papers too.
6 February 2012, 06:38
Wow, two very different lines and a pleasant surprise…I recall an email from the president last year saying that they were taking MM in a new direction and the implication was that they were moving away from scrapbooking…I love the boy/girl collection. It is definitely something I would use for my kids since I have one of each!!
6 February 2012, 06:59
I’m not really sure what I think about this. The Modern Millinery looks nice but I think I really need to see it all in person to make up my mind.
6 February 2012, 07:31
I’ve always liked MM embellishments. Maybe they found out that these other crafts are more fad and we scrapbookers are here to stay!
6 February 2012, 08:23
I’ve always like MM, they had great Customer Service! I’m interested in seeing those kites and pinwheels up close!
6 February 2012, 11:42
Making Memories had always been one of my favorites and now it seems like they are back on track with the MM we all knew and loved!
6 February 2012, 14:38
I have some fabric with a design from the first range and really like the retro children at play feel not sure how much I would use it in my scrapbooking though.
6 February 2012, 18:11
These releases by Making Memories are really interesting. They seem so different from their previous lines (like you said). I’m honestly not sure how I feel about them, but then again, neither really fit my typical style. I do like those letter stickers with Sarah Jane, though!
7 February 2012, 14:37
I’m looking forward to those kites!
7 February 2012, 16:20
I’m not sure to be honest. Nothing is really speaking to me here. Children at Play is kinda cute and the Lace paper and flowers are pretty, but I don’t think I’d buy any of it. I like so many of the other collections better. I’m glad to see they have new lines…they just aren’t for me.
8 February 2012, 15:59
I’ve been an MM fan since way back when!
5 March 2012, 01:06
mm is back!
13 January 2020, 07:18
The content of your article page is very good, I find the content is quite good and helpful to me, thank you for sharing.
27 March 2022, 13:54
Hey I have this great design on my blog? mind if you check sometimes? :) *
9 April 2022, 09:23
I must say i take pleasure in the blog. Really getting excited about read more. Keep writing. Thanks for discussing, this can be a amazing article. Actually looking forward to read more. Really https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/76953763/about Great. Awesome article. Really looking forward to study more. Keep writing.