A Memory Dex Tutorial by Rachel Lowe

Hey Clique friends, Rachel here and I am thrilled to be back as a guest designer for January.

So let’s talk all things Memorydex! Initially I had little interest in creating memorydex cards, how could one ever create with such a small area to work with and what was the actual point of them?! In my pursuit of creating something everyday, which is my ‘must do’ to maintain my inner calm I started to play and from there my passion grew.
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I love creating inspirational quote memorydex cards, which I sit in a tray on my desk, yes they look pretty but the quotes remind me of the things in life I am grateful for, a quote of encouragement when perhaps my day is not going so well.

Taking this a step further I always create a memorydex card celebrating our seasons, our holidays and traditions.
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Themes are also another focus, such as travel highlights memorydex cards. You have the option of incorporating a photo to the front of your memorydex card or placing them on the back with a little journalling. I often cut a small envelope, attach to the back of my memorydex card and fill with photos and journalling. You will see this is a 3D bag that I then filled with beach themed elements. Memorydex cards don’t have to be flat.

You have either the choice of using a Memorydex Roller or a tray (or both!). These are super simple to create. As long as you have a box with a minimum width of of 5 inches you can personalise your own tray. Use a standard memorydex card to line up where you need to punch two holes, front and back of box, insert two straws (I have a collection of coloured ones), thread some strong string down the straw, through the punched hole, do this to both sides and tie a knot to secure. You then just have the fun part to do, decorate your box. ​

So here is the kit I received from Clique kits to do some Memorydex creating:
Here are links to products still available!
Serendipia Main Kit
Serendipia Junior Kit
Stamp Sets and Inks
Altenew String Art Dies

I have a Heidi Swapp Memorydex punch* and her metal dies (you get one in the Clique Kits Memory Dex starter kit!). There are also cut files available if you have a cutting machine. The good thing about owning the punch, you are not  limited to certain shapes and sizes, with the punch you can create almost any shape and size memorydex card.

* These are expected to be in stock soon so be on the look-out!

I created a mid sized tray to put my memorydexcards in, keeping it simple but pretty, using the clear stickers in the kit and papers to cover outside only.
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I headed over to the Clique Kits store and downloaded the flower and rainbow digital cut files. I ensured that I used a width size so they would fit in my tray. I paper pieced both cut files and on the flower cut file I added with foam tape some extra petals (release compound function of you have a Silhouette Cameo and drag out the specific pieces you want to cut) to add dimension.

I stamped both the beautiful girls and coloured to shades to coordinate with my papers. I added them with foam tape over the flower and rainbow shapes. I used the cut ephemera to embellish, tucking them under the girl stamp. I finished off with my inspirational quote/word. I cut 2 1/2 inches in width (with enough height to attach to the back of the shapes) white cardstock and punched, then gluing this piece behind the flower and rainbow cut files.

Clear memorydex cards are all the craze at the moment, and fun to fill with pretties such as sequins and decorate the outside. You can either Fuse it together if you have a fuse tool, or hand/machine stitch together. I added townie cut flowers to the inside along with white sequins and clear heart sequins. I then added the puffy bird sticker to the outside and the die cut phrase sentiment with small flower.
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Another great idea for a memorydex card is cutting an envelope and filling it  (this is where you can add photos, journalling) as I have done here, filling it with die cut ephemera flowers.

Here is an example of a tab metal die memorydex card, I kept this one simple but adding a strip of pom pom ribbon to add texture and using two different papers for the base.

As you can see from all of my memorydex cards created with my kit, you certainly can create a variety of shapes, sizes, materials and themes. I have used a few extras from previous Clique Kits, and yes they are amazing for using up your stash of embellishments and paper pieces (as you don’t need 12x12 papers).

You will be able to pre-order the Heidi Swapp black spinner and the Heidi Swapp Memory Dex punch in the Clique Kits shop very soon so stay tuned!

​If you have any questions please leave it in the comments and I will get back to you! I hope I have inspired you to start your own memorydex collection.  
I will also be posting some FB memorydex card challenges soon, so watch out for that. Join The Clique for this and other events and a chance to win great prizes!

Rachel X