Randi's Review	Sarah' Review	Rachel's Review	Cathy's Review	kathleen's Review

Review by Guest Artist, Melanie

Leave Memories has put together a nice set of stamps for using on layouts about ‘home’ called, appropriately "This is Home." I knew just what photos I wanted to use when I saw this set.
As with all unmounted stamps, before using them, they have to be prepared. I used EZ Mount foam sheets for the backing and trimmed with KAI scissors. These stamps were relatively easy to cut out because most of the images were words, letters or phrases and hardly any small images to cut around. The set comes with a set of alphabet letters in the same architectural type font that is used throughout the whole set. The first creation I made with these stamps was a layout of our house during construction. I used the title phrase “This is Home” and added the phrase “under construction”. I stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.



Supplies:
Cardstock: Close To My Heart
Patterned Paper: Flair Designs, Inc.,(house plan); Sweetwater (brown, stripe, and tan weave)
Stamps: Leave Memories "This is Home"
Twill: Fibers by the Yard
Buckle: Nun Designs
Tsukineko Versa Mark
Ranger Embossing Powder
Font: SBC Lovemom
Adhesive - Adhesive Tech Glue Runner


I had trouble getting the alphabet stamps as close together as I would like when using them to form words on an acrylic block. This is NOT the fault of the manufacturer. This is just because of the small amount of rubber around the edges of the stamp, no matter how close they are trimmed. Also, it may be because I sometimes like my alphabet letters to be closer together than most people may desire. I resorted to stamping each letter individually, which I don’t recommend if you are using Versamark because it’s impossible to see where to stamp the next image. I’m sure the more I use these stamps I will become more familiar with the placement of the letters to achieve the look I desire. The words and phrases are great. There are so many uses for them. Obviously, I will be doing a "Home Sweet Home" layout soon.

I love the way the image design purposely has "white" space in the letters to make it look like the letters aren’t filled in all the way. The design mimics the look of the work of an architect. I also like the guide lines around each letter. I just know some of my friends are going to see my layouts and wonder “how did you do that?”. They will love this stamp set.

In another layout, to go along with the "home" theme, I pulled out some older photos of a home improvement project we did several years ago. I showed the before and after photos throughout the 2-page layout. I also used the key stamp from the Leave Memories Ribbon Stamp set. I like how well different Leave Memories stamp sets work together so beautifully.



Supplies for both layouts:
Bazzill Cardstock
Paperloft papers
Fibers by the Yard Twill
Leave Memories "This is Home" stamps (title) and Leave Memories Ribbon Stamps (Key)
Other Stamps: My Sentiments Exactly (address)
Ink: Jacquard Sepia (for aging the papers), Color box Fluid Chalk for Title, address and key
Adhesive: Adhesive Tech Glue Runner

In summary, this is a beautifully designed set of stamps. The architectural design look of the stamps is very unique. It has many phrases that naturally go with the theme of the set, but can be used for other things (vacation, summer, coming, going). And in addition to these words and phrases, it has an alphabet set included in the same font as the rest of the set. Other wood-mounted alphabet stamps cost more than this whole set! It’s another hit from Leave Memories and a great purchase at $16.00.

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Review by Randi

A great variety of fall phrases, appropriate for many autumn activities, especially Thanksgiving, await you with the "Autumn Gratitude" set of stamps from Leave Memories. It also includes leaf images.

On this layout I used the leaves from the stamps. After embossing them with clear powder, I cut them out and used them as random embellishments scattered throughout the layout. I also used the word "FALL" from the set as a title and attached the defition of a pumpkin (also from the Autumn Gratitude set) under the title block.

Supplies: Paper, DCWV
cardstock, Bazzill
Autumn Gratitude stamps, Leave Memories
Pearl Ex inks, Jacquard
Brown ink, Ancient Page
Pumpkin cut-out, Two Busy Moms
Twill, FBTY
Mini Brads, JoAnn ScrapEssentials
Dymo label

I took a different approach with this layout and used the stamps to create the PAPER. It started with plain, white cardstock. I stamped hayrides all over the page then embossed with clear embossing powder. Rubbing in Jacquard ink in small sections, I worked around the page until it had a "patterned paper" look to it. Finally I stamped small Leave Memories leaves using Jacaquard's Gold Metallic Pearl Ex inks.

Supplies: White cardstock
VersaMark
Clear Embossing Powder, Stamp Affair
Two-Tone Gold Red Pearl Ex Stamp Pad, Jacquard
Two-Tone Color Gold Violet Pearl Ex Stamp Pad, Jacquard
Essential Color Sepia Pearl Ex Stamp Pad, Jacquard
Fall stamps, Leave Memories
Sepia ink, Jaquard
tree stickers, Jolee's Boutique
metal word, memories, JoAnn ScrapEssentials

Fall is coming, faster than we think! With medium stamps such as "FESTIVALS," "FOLIAGE," GRATITUDE," and smaller stamps saying things such as "farmer's markets," "apple orchards," "family blessings," "gathering & harvest," this would be a GREAT set to add to your collection. Do it this summer so you are ready for all of those fall festivities!

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Review by Sarah

Leave Memories Diva-FIED Fonts: Handy and Versatile

After a month of working with several different Leave Memories sets, all of which were quite small, a week of playing with the Diva-FIED Fonts set left me breathing a sigh of relief. FINALLY! A font set that is sized large enough to be handy and versatile on a variety of pages.

I truly enjoyed using the Diva-FIED Fonts. This set is comprised totally of letters and numbers in three font variations, and also includes small general images. Because this is a font set, the letters are easy to customize to any title or sentiment you wish to stamp without limitation.

All letters of the large, serif font measure about 1" tall. I was relieved to work with a font that I felt was minimally large enough for creating titles. This font also includes a mixture of upper and lowercase letters for an eclectic mix that has a charming effect on any page of any subject. This font coordinates well with other fonts in your collection as well as other images. All around, it is adaptable, versatile and a real winner that I will return to over and over.

The following page demonstrates Diva-FIED Fonts used with Leave Memories Spring Garden Font and other stamp images.

Paper: Die Cuts With a View (Stack III, background and mat)
White Vellum
Yellow Floral Print Vellum
Stamping Supplies: Leave Memories (Diva-FIED Fonts)
Leave Memories (Spring Garden Font)
Jacquard (Pearl Ex Stamp Pad: Essential Color Black)
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder: Crystal Clear)
Embellishments: Magic Mesh (Fine Weave Roll)
Magic Mesh (Dottie Ann)
"The Young One" (11-12 Week Fetal Model www.hh76.com)
Altered Frame: Making Memories (Metal Frame)
Jacquard (Pearl Ex Stamp Pad: Metallic Color Gold)
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder: Crystal Clear)
VersaMark (Pad)
Stampabilities (Tapestry Pattern Stamp)
Silver Spiral Clip
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder: Gold Glory)
Yellow Fiber
Yellow Embroidery Floss
Gold Thread
Rubber Stampede (Butterfly Stamp)
Memories (Dye Ink Pad: Black)
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder: Iridescent Ice)
Yellow print vellum
Scissor Sisters (Texture Cream Paper)
Supplies: Adhesive Tech (Permanent Glue Runner)
Adhesive Tech (Glue Gizmo)
ZIG (Millennium 08 Pen)

There is also a small serif font which is simply a smaller version of the font I just mentioned. This allows for perfect coordinating with the big font for secondary title lines, prepositions in long titles, or as an option for small lettering - even stamping on ribbon would work nicely with this small set.

"Those Pudgy Little Legs!" uses both the large and the small serif fonts from the Diva-FIED Fonts set.

Stamping Supplies: Leave Memories (Diva-FIED Fonts, Large and Small Serif) All Night Media (Swirl Stamp) Color Box (Pigment Brush Pad - Amber, Marigold) Memories (Black Dye Ink Pad)
Paper: Scissor Sisters (Texture Cream)
Scissor Sisters (Textured Orange)
Embellishments: Trasparency Backing from Packaged Embellishment
Spiral Clip – Altered
VersaMark (Watermark Pad)
Fun Stamps (Black Embossing Powder)
PLAID (Apple Barrel Colors: Pumpkin Acrylic Paint)
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials (Small Orange Brads, Large Black Brads)
Supplies: Adhesive Tech (Permanent Glue Runner)
Loew-Cornell (Paintbrush)
ZIG (Millennium 08 Pen: Black)

The third font included in this set looks like handwritten letters :again in an assortment of upper and lowercase letters of the same height. Also included are the numerals 0 through 9.

On the following page I used the small handwritten font to double as title and journaling on a small, 8" x 8" theme page. I also used stars and squares included in Diva-FIED Fonts to create the background texture.

Stamping Supplies: Leave Memories (Diva-FIED Fonts: small handwritten letters, miscellaneous shapes)
Memories (Black Dye Ink Pad)
Suze Weinberg (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder)
Paper: Scissor Sisters (Textured Orange)
Paper Pizazz (Basketballs)
Embellishments: Fiber Accents (Orange Fiber)
Unknown Basketball Sticker
Gold wire made into jump ring

I was completely tickled to find the variety of basic shapes : stars, stars in circles, linked squares, hearts, and "splat" or flower shapes. They vary in size from ¼” diameter to approximately 1 ½" diameter. It was so fun to have some images to work with, and these are of such a pleasing, general nature as to be useful for quite a variety of different project subjects. I used these both to make background paper and to accent projects in need of a tiny image.

Below, an example of the splat-flower image used as background embellishment. I am sorry that the scan does not rightly demonstrate the holographic embossing powder which was used on the splat-flowers and produced a lovely shimmering effect on the page. I also used the large serif Diva-FIED Fonts letters.

Stamping Supplies: Leave Memories (Diva-FIED Fonts, large serif font)
Jacquard (Pearl Ex Stamp Pad: Essential Color Indigo)
Suze Weinberg (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel: Clear)
Leave Memories (Diva-FIED Fonts: splat-flower shape)
VersaMark (Watermark Pad)
Ranger (Holographic Embossing Powder)
Paper: Crafts, Etc! (Orange Marble)
Paperbilities (Gray Cardstock)
Embellishments: Spiral Clips - Altered
Jacquard (Pearl Ex Stamp Pad: Essential Color Indigo)
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder: Crystal Clear)
Photo Corners, colored blue with stamp pad
Supplies: Adhesive Tech (Permanent Glue Runner)
ZIG (Millennium 08 Pen: Black)
ZIG (Fine & Chisel Pen: Pure Blue)

This Leave Memories set is easy to cut out and has minimal insetting of images to each other. All letters are positioned in nice, straight, horizontal lines, with the only deviation from the straight lines being in the 13 assorted shapes. All rubber is used economically without overcrowding.

Stamping Supplies: Leave Memories (Diva-FIED Fonts: large serif letters)
Memories (Black Dye Ink Pad)
Stampin' UP! (Stampin' Emboss Powder: Crystal Clear)
Paper: Paper Pizazz (Basketballs)
Embellishments: Magic Mesh (12" x 12" Fine Weave Black)
Silver Spiral Clip
Frances Meyer (Basketball hoop sticker)
Fibers By The Yard (Orange Twill)
Unknown Basketball sticker
Craft Button
Supplies: Adhesive Tech (Permanent Glue Runner)

In Summary: Leave Memories has created a winner with the Diva-FIED Fonts set. Including three font variations and 13 assorted shapes, this set is eclectic, charming, versatile and easily customizable for use again and again on a wide variety of pages. Highly recommended.

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Review by Rachel

Have you ever wanted a Dymo tag in a specific color but that color just wasn’t available? Well, Holli Boyd of Leave Memories has thought of just that instance for you! You can now customize your own embossing tapes into whatever colors you desire. This set has a set of large size alphabet stamps, another alphabet that looks just like the Dymo tags. There are also three sets of numbers; one small, one medium size, and one small set of embossed numbers. Also included are several words that look like Dymo tags and their counterparts in just normal word stamps. I found this set a lot of fun to work with but I really had to think hard of how to use it on my layouts. This set is fun! In fact, if you are doing an album about your love of scrapbooking this set is for you. The words included are “journal”, “keepsake”, “legacy”, “memories”, and “highlight”.

I used the medium sized embossing tapes for a title block on the following layout. I wanted this layout to have a fun and informal feel to it.

Preparing a Princess:
Supplies used:
Title – Embossing Tapes – Leave Memories
Stamps: “enduring moments” – Ribbon Phrases – Leave Memories
“Precious” – Ribbon Phrases – Leave Memories
Cardstock: Bazzill
Ink: Gold/Red – Two Tone Color – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Versamark – Close To My Heart
Black – Essential Color – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Silver – Essential Color – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Ribbon: Grosgrain – Fibers by the Yard
Embossing Powders: Clear – Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel – Suze Weinberg
Silver Pearl – Hero Arts
Buttons: Dress It Up
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech

In this second layout, I used the other regular alphabet for the title block again. This alphabet is so versatile and can be used on layouts for all kinds of situations.

 

Soccer with Grandpa:
Supplies used:
Alphabet Stamps: Embossing Tapes – Leave Memories
Cardstock: Bazzill
Rub-ons: Trademark – Small – Making Memories
Tag: Unknown
Staples: Target
Ribbon: Fiber by the Yard
Pen: Pigma Graphic – Sakura
Ink: Copper- Essential Color – Pearl Ex Stamp Pad – Jacquard
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech

In the last layout, I used the embossing tape words to describe our family get together. I used the words "highlight," "memories," and "legacy." To achieve the look I wanted I alternated the embossed word with the regular word stamp. I then highlighted the regular words with chalk.

Special Times:
Supplies used:
Stamps: Embossing Tapes – Leave Memories
Cardstock: Bazzill
Ink: Black – Essential Color – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Embroidery Floss: DMC
Buttons: Dress It Up
Vellum: Close To My Heart
Chalks: Lilac – Glitter chalk – Craft-T
Plum – Craft-T
Transparencies – Hammermill
Acrylic Paint – Lilac Dust – PLAID
Fiber: Fiber by the Yard
Beads: Unknown
Font: Scriptina
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech

In conclusion, although this set had me stumped for awhile I was able to overcome it. This set can be very versatile and quite fun. I love the look of the embossed tapes and you can now customize them to any color you want. You are no longer tied to the color of tape Dymo produces. I enjoyed working with this set and enjoyed the challenge it provided me!

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Review by Cathy

Leave Memories Unmounted Stamp Set: Kiss Off Cubes- a Textured Cube set is a set of 24 decorative squares with an individual design imprinted in the rubber stamp. Right away, I could imagine ways to use this set. I am impressed by the quality and the variety of the images in the Kiss Off Cube Stamp Set. The assorted squares can be used alone or together to make a background, border or accent. The squares can be used easily in scrapbooking and card making.

The Leave Memories Unmounted Rubber Stamp Sets come in a rubber stamp sheets. Unmounted stamps are a very inexpensive way to build a stamp collection. For the beginner, I recommend the Scimitar Instructional DVD: Inside Scrapbooking-Featuring Unmounted Stamps by Leave Memories. This DVD will give you instructions on cutting, mounting and stamping with unmounted stamps. The Scrapfriends Review Team reviewed two mounting systems that you may find helpful: Original HALOS and HALOS II and the EZ Mount System.

The Leave Memories Ribbon Stamp Set will take about 30-60 minutes to prepare. A good sharp scissors is needed, I recommend the KIA Scissors that is part of the EZ Mount System. These heavy-duty shears work extremely well.

The stamped square image is a one inch square. The Creating Keepsakes Large Square Punch provides the perfect sized square mat. Let me tell you, the images are beautiful with tiny details. Squares can be u sed to decorate borders, photo frames, tags, cards or by themselves as a decorative square accent. My first example shows a huge selection of decorative squares made with the Leave Memories Textured Cube Set: Kiss Off Cubes.

Images above were stamped with Versamark or Pearl Ex:Essential Colors-Black and Gold. The images then were colored with Craft T Decorator's Chalk. Some images were embossed with embossing powders.

The next set of images uses the Leave Memories Kiss Off Cubes with Interference Inks from Pearl Ex. The images tone on tone, look terrific:

Supplies Needed:
Pearl Ex Stamp Pads: Interference Inks- Red, Violet and Blue;
Clear Embossing Powder.
Cardstock-Green, Burgundy and Blue.

My first project is a layout using the Kiss Off Cubes to decorate a photo frame and as accents. Notice that Scrapwork's Hugz fit perfectly with the 1 inch squares.

Supply List
Color Blocked Paper is stitched together;
Leave Memories Unmounted Rubber Stamps: Kiss Off Cubes;
Versamark Ink;
Craft T Decorator's Chalk;
DCWV: Rub on Words: Friendship;
Snowflake Brads: Uunknown;
Scrapworks Hugz: White;
Let's Celebrate Ribbon: Unknown; and
Adhesive Tech: The Borderline Glue.

The layout below features a border of Leave Memories: Kiss Off Cubes matted on black card stock. Two other squares are turned and used as accents. These Cubes were made by stamping the image onto white card stock, embossing it with gold embossing powder and then coloring it with Craft T Decorator's Chalk.

Supply List
Leave Memories Unmounted Rubber Stamps: Kiss Off Cubes;
Pearl Ex Stamp Pad: Essential Color Gold;
Craft T Decorator's Chalk;
Black , yellow and Red Cardstock,
FBTY: Fabric Tag, Twill and Fiber ,
Making Memories: Rub On Alphabet- Rummage White;
Ranger: Gold UTEE;
Stamp N Up: Celtic Stamps;
Versa Mark; and
Adhesive Tech: Borderline Glue and Hot Pot.

I really love the Kiss Off Cubes and plan on using them in my future layouts. I now have four sets of Leave Memories Stamps, and I intend to keep on using them and to add to my collection. Leave Memories Unmounted Stamps gets a high recommendation from me. I recommend them for purchase.

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Review by Kathleen

This week I worked with the ‘Passport to Travel’ unmounted stamp set from Leave Memories. This set has an uppercase alphabet, set of numbers, various words that relate to traveling, such as "journey," "adventure," "discover," and many more. The set also comes with images like coins and keys.

I really like this set because you do not need to use the set necessarily for "travel" related pictures. For my first layout, I chose the words "Relax" and "Enjoy" to create the title. I also used the alphabet and numbers from this set for the remainder of the title.

‘Relax and Enjoy’
Products used:
Leave Memories - Passport to Travel unmounted rubber stamps
Creative Imaginations - patterned paper
Bazzill Basics - cardstock
ColorBox - fluid chalk ink (French blue)
Fibers By The Yard - blue sheer ribbon
Wright - white twill
Micron 05 - black pen
Kathleen Campos - photographs
Adhesive Tech - Glue Runner
Other - safety pins

My second layout features pictures taken at LegoLand in California. I used a combination of the phrases available to create the tag on the second page of the layout: "Travel and explore this world." Even though these pictures are of miniatures of world monuments and cities created from Legos™, there is still that sense of travel involved.

‘LegoLand’
Products used:
Leave Memories - Passport to Travel unmounted rubber stamps
Jacquard – PearlEx Essential Color - black
Adhesive Tech – Glue Runner, The BORDERline, The Glue Tube
Sizzix – Shadowbox alphabet
Slick Writer - black pen
Kathleen Campos - photographs
Paper Wizard – patterned paper
Other - safety pins

In summary, if you are looking for a stamp set that offers a lot of versatility, this is one to get. Do not be fooled by the title of the stamp set ‘Passport to Travel’ and think you have to have vacation pictures. The words in this set can fit into almost any part of life. I know that having two small children, for them life is a “journey” as they “explore this world” and “discover” the “key to life” and therefore I see many layouts in my future using this stamp set.

‘Passport to Travel’ from Leave Memories is a great set for any level of scrapper and stamper.

For more information visit Leave Memories