The Primetime? Sublime! Contest is coming to an end. But don’t worry…you still have until Monday, May 31st to submit your entries. We’ve received some incredible entries so far. Keep ‘em coming!
To enter the contest, see the details here.
Just in time for Father’s Day, we’ve released our June art collection early! Check out all of the incredible digital art perfect for canvas prints, storybooks, posters, scrap pages, and more. Show dad how much you love him with a beautiful gift from Heritage Makers. And delight yourself with our gorgeous art!
To see the new art, go here.
Submission sample for Best Life Story Project category.
By Liz Thompson
My submitted project is a collection of a late father’s memories and insights about life, along with memories of him from numerous family members and friends, all pulled together so his three children would know and never forget their father. The children watched him struggle with Lou Gehrig’s disease and finally succumb to it.
Tom was a very strong man in his values and insights on life. He was very active in his community and left an impact on every life he touched.
Tom’s widow, Cathy, interviewed Tom during the last few months of his life so that his children could learn more about him. Cathy reached out to Tom’s family and friends after he passed and requested they answer a few questions about Tom and share their thoughts so she could pull it together for his children. It was too emotional of a project for Cathy to put in a book, so she requested that I do it.
Tom’s children received this book on the second anniversary of his death, November 4, 2009, and were overwhelmed by it. Many other family members received a copy at Christmas last year. Words cannot adequately express the impact it had.
Tom Hopkins, though I’d never met him, has had a profound impact on me. From the day I met Cathy and she told me the story, through the many long hours of reading and copying into the book, and through Tom’s thoughts—the thoughts of his family and friends—I experienced a wide range of emotions and a warmth toward this man. I am truly sorry I had never met him. His courage, strength, and wisdom replay in my mind on a regular basis and have impacted how I handle some of life’s challenges. If I’m ever feeling down, I just need to read a few pages of Tom’s insights and everything is immediately back in perspective, including my faith that God has a plan and everything will work out.
This year the categories are a bit different. In the past we have awarded for Best of Heritage Past, Present, and Future. But with our growing storybooking numbers and product line, we’ve decided it’s time for a fun change.
This year we are featuring the following project types in the Best of Heritage contest:
Best of Heritage Categories: (projects that are story oriented)
Best Life Story Project: life history, family heroes, overcoming adversity, healing story, etc.
Best Special Event Project: reunion, birth, wedding, anniversary, birthday, vacation, sports season, school year, party, graduation, retirement, etc.
Best Tribute Project: any project that is intended to strengthen relationships and/or build self-esteem (eg. “What I Love About You”).
NEW! Studio Showcase Project: (projects that are decorative in nature) a canvas, poster, greeting card, scrapbook page, or any craft or home décor item using Studio
Check out Best of Heritage on the Reunion site for more details on how to submit your project. The deadline for all entries is June 15.
Want to make your home a heritage home? Here’s a great example.
This Father’s Day, give your MVP his own wall of fame!
With our canvas and greeting card sale, a meaningful gift for dad is quick, easy, and a great deal!
8×8 canvas + 5×7 greeting card
only $25.95
8×20 canvas + 5×7 greeting card
only $55.95
20×20 canvas + 5×7 greeting card
only $79.95
This sale ends May 27, 2010. Contact a Heritage Makers consultant today to get this fabulous offer!
By Shana Davis
Since I was a young girl I have known the names of my great grandparents. Some of them I knew personally. One great grandmother’s name has always been just a name on my pedigree chart. She died at the young age of 29 leaving four small children. My grandfather was only 18 months old when she passed away. My grandfather did not remember well so we never heard any stories about her. Her name is Addie May Wood Peterson.
In August of 2009 I learned that my cousin had obtained one of Addie’s original journals. He scanned in the pages and transcribed it. He also collected some old photos and other history relating to her family. I knew I needed this information. I knew I had to publish her story. I thought it would be a great project to work on this winter after the holidays.
While putting this book off, I felt a sense of urgency. I wasn’t really sure why. I was working on some other projects and did not want to set those aside. I gave in to the sense of urgency, set my other projects aside and started publication of her story. I planned a trip to the
My sister prompted me to go to the new LDS Church History Library and look for some personal information for Addie May Wood. I went there while working on the publication of her book and told the workers what I was looking for. They told me there was about a two-month backlog and I would have to wait for it. I told them about my experience mentioned above and a kind worker told me to do some family research on the computer and she would see what she could find. She found what I was looking for in about 10 minutes and printed it out while I was there.
(Me and my son Bennett. Bennett was named after my great grandfather who was written about in my book.)
I have been honored to publish her story at last and have enjoyed reading every journal entry and every recollection and looking at each photo. I have loved the spirit I have felt while reading and publishing this book. It has been a very tender experience for me. I feel that I have a connection to her now. More than just a name on my pedigree chart, now she is a part of my roots. I admire her faith, beauty, spunk, hard work, and determination. It is difficult for me to imagine the agonizing grief she and her family must have felt during her final days. (She passed away from meningitis about four month after giving birth to her fourth child.) I appreciate the decision she made to marry Bennett (my great grandfather) and have children. Even though she passed away at such a young age, she made an unforgettable difference in my life. Without her, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I look forward to meeting her in the next life.
Special Thanks to Alina Merryweather for creating such a beautiful template I could use as a starting point. That saved me a lot of time and ensured I had coordinating elements.
See Shana’s Book Addie May Wood.
Make your own heritage storybooks with our Cornerstone series found in the Template Gallery.
Questions? Comments? We’re interested in what you have to say. Please comment below.
Marge is an 80 year old Digital Diva! Check out her amazing Heritage Makers story!
I don’t know about you, but I have not been doing so well on my Project 365. So, I’ve decided I need to set some new goals to help me achieve this… and really, help me preserve the everyday moments.
I realized that when I made the goal to take a picture everyday, I didn’t think it through. I hadn’t decided what kind of pictures I wanted to take. Do I want to take pictures of my family? my dog? the everyday nature outside my house? I had no idea. And I also hadn’t thought about what I would do with the pictures once I had them. Did I really just want them to sit on a blog forever?
Originally, I took pictures of random objects—an apple on my desk, a small notepad of colored paper, a shelf on my wall. But these didn’t really make for the interesting stories I wanted to preserve. I didn’t want to follow a blog so uninteresting and I’m sure no one else wanted to either.
So, here I am… at the beginning. It’s not too late for me to start over. But this time I will do it right.
First, I need to decide what my ultimate goal is. Really, what I would like to do is create a coffee table book with the 13×11 Legacy storybook, displaying nature shots. I’m not the best photographer, but having such a goal will help me learn. After I have completed this goal, I can move on to other picture-taking goals that will help me preserve the moments.
Second, I already have a blog and a camera, now I need to make sure I set aside some time each day to take the photos and post them on my blog. I don’t have much time in the morning, but I could certainly find time after work.
Once I feel I have the photos I need I can easily design and create my book.
There you have it. I can still participate in Project 365 even if it is a little late and I missed quite a few days. And it helps to have a bigger purpose in this goal.
Summary of My New Project 365 Goal
Ultimate Purpose: Create an 11×13 Legacy storybook, featuring nature shots.
Execution: Everyday after work (except on weekends when I will have more time) I will take a few photos of the nature around my house or wherever I happen to be. I will then post some pictures on my blog along with a creative blurb. Once I have all the pictures I want, I will create my book.
Start Date: May 11, 2010
You can view my blog Light and Rain (also found in the sidebar). Go ahead and give me photo tips and make sure I keep on the ball.
Here are just a few templates you can use to generate some of your own Project 365 Heritage Makers ideas. You can also view more in the Template Gallery.
Project 365 Revised designed by Darcie Toom
12×12 storybook, Template ID: 25695
Nature’s Bounty designed by Susan Chaney
13×11 Legacy storybook, Template ID: 2260
Jill Means’ Family Photo Album designed by Jill Means
12×12 storybook, Template ID: 29158
Hopefully you showered mom with fabulous Heritage Makers storybooks, canvas prints, and greeting cards for Mother’s Day. Now, it’s time to think about dad!
Honor dad with a fabulous sale…all month long!
In May, buy one, save on the second! And, if you’re a Club Premier Member, you save even more on the second copy.
8×8 storybook first credit: $44.95 second credit: $35 Club Premier: $20*
8.5×11.5 storybook first credit $62.95 second credit: $40 Club Premier: $25*
12×12 storybook first credit: $71.95 second copy: $45 Club Premier: $30*
And, be sure to keep our Father’s Day deadlines in mind:
Order your Heritage Makers gifts by the date below by 5:00 p.m. mountain daylight time in order to receive items by Father’s Day. That’s 4:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Central, and 7:00 p.m. Eastern times.
Father’s Day
June 3 (USPS/Ground)
June 7 (Two Day)
June 9 (Next Day)
Go ahead, honor dad! Pay tribute to all the “dads” in your life this Father’s Day.
Project of the Month: Make a Decorative Clock
Decorate any room with a Heritage Makers-designed clock. You can customize it with your family photos or use the art to create an elegant addition to your home décor.
For instructions, click the Project of the Month tab at the top or click here.
Tips and Tricks: Manage Pages in Studio
Once you know how to effectively manage your pages using the Manage Pages option, you’ll find that creating your multiple-paged projects is much quicker and easier.
For the tips, click the Tips and Tricks tab at the top or click here.