Memory Makers Magazine delivers what they promise. The tag line on the magazine cover identifies the publication as a community of ideas and inspiration primarily for scrapbooking, and the magazine does a good job hitting their target. This is not a rubber stamping publication, but so much rubber stamping is used in scrapbooking it can be a useful resource for stampers who like to scrapbook.

Memory Makers is published nine times a year by F&W Publications, and sells at a reasonable price. The newsstand cover price is $5.95, but a yearly subscription can go as low as $2 - $3 per issue if you search for discounts. The magazine does not undertake anything ambitious, just creative layouts that are doable for your average scrapbooker.

Scrapbooking subjects are tackled by dividing them into three departments: community, ideas, and inspiration. Community includes Journaling Spot, On the Web, Reader Mail, ScrapHappenings, and Great Finds. Ideas cover Calendar, Digital Design, Focus on Images, True Colors, Page Maps, and How Do You Do That, and Inspiration includes Reader Idea Gallery, It’s About Time, Getting Started, Take 2 and Inspired Living.

A tag line on the cover promises fast scrapping because of the magazine’s easy to follow page maps. The page maps can make the three departments easier to find, since Community has a rose colored banner with a C on the top of the page, Ideas has a blue banner with an I on the top, and Inspiration has a peach colored banner with an I. The C, I, and I do not really stand out enough from each other, plus doubling up on two letters out of three isn’t helpful.

The technique pages offer good ideas. The February 2008 issue covers dribble paint writing, multi colored stamping, mesh doodle frame, chipboard tile letters, crumpled paper flowers, hand stitched letters, and flocked paper. The dribble painting is journaling titles that are written with acrylic paint using a pointed bottle tip. It’s such an easy idea! And cutting out paper flowers and crumpling gives fast depth to your page.

The feature stories of the month included Page Essentials, Single and Lovin’ It!, everyday Memories, and Scrap Your Mistakes. Page Essentials is the top picks from several design masters. Because several designers were used, the top 50 essentials were sometimes repeated in different ways. Some designers specifically said they couldn’t work without Adobe Photoshop, and some said they couldn’t work without computers. But at the end, the list of 50 page essentials still didn’t add up. One essential was 3-D embellishments; others were brads, buttons, chipboard, and lace. Aren’t they all 3-D embellishments? One essential was adhesive, adhesive, adhesive!, and others were foam tape and glue stick.

The publication offers contests, advice, and additional information online. There is a forum to connect with other scrapbookers and discuss common interests.