About Us

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Meet our Wonderful, Creative and Experienced Staff

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Adrienne Frank,

(Ade) Owner  

I have been scrapbooking since I was a child. I can recall my High School years of scrapbooks filled with pressed corsages, restaurant menus, and many other souvenirs.

In 1995 I discovered a home based company that brought scrapbooking to a new level. My friend Jane and I, would travel for miles in search of paper, stickers and die cuts, even using cookie cutters to cut shapes from. There were only a handful of stores across the country when my husband and I decided to pursue my dream of opening a store.

In 1998 we began the long process of researching, preparing a solid business plan and building out our storefront. There were few manufacturers at the time and we waited as much as six months for some orders. In June 2000, we opened the doors and life has never been the same since.

What a rewarding experience it has been to share in so many lives. Each customer that walks through our door touches my life in some way. While the industry itself, has grown and changed, the principle behind it has not. The very nature of the business is about sharing bits and pieces of our lives with one another. In happy and sad moments, the message is still the same.

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Chloe

Shop Dog

Chloe is a Shih Tzu, and is the official Shop Dog in the store. She can either be found greeting you at the door or fast asleep in her bed, surrounded by her beloved, stuffed animals. She is friendly and loves children. Chloe began scrapbooking in June, 2003 but the subject is always the same: "It's All About Her!"

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Jennifer Frank  

Manager

I have always had a passion for creative outlets! As a child I would write stories and illustrate them. I started scrapbooking in middle school when my mother would take me to crop with her. That opened the door to yet, another, creative outlet. I took art and photography classes in High School and College and perfected my skills. I worked in the store during my spring and summer breaks from college and my love for scrapbooking grew into a passion. It  seemed inevitable that I would end up back here after college. I love what I do! Those of you that know me, know I love bright colors, plaids and polka dots, and lots of embellishments. I am so glad to be a part of this amazing journey and to be able to share it with my Mom. Together we are partners and creating memories that will last a lifetime!  

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Margaret Shurack

The moment I walked into Made For Memories, 5 1/2 years ago, my life was changed. At long last, I had found a hobby! My husband and I moved to, (retired to)  Sarasota in 1994, but after 6 months of golf and eating out, I found myself bored and needed something to do. I returned to teaching pre-school, 3 days a week. My daughter's wedding is what brought me into the store where I found my second home. After scrapbooking for six months I found a true passion and began working in the store part time. I now work 3 days a week as well as teach our SDU program. Now I have a grandchild to scrapbook, and will soon have another as well, to keep me busy. I never run out of photo's or ideas! 

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 Jeannie Leikin

I have been scrapbooking for about seven years, but never knew what it was really about till I found Made For Memories. I have always been, dare I say, "crafty", and I still try just about every new thing that comes along. My husband Marty and I share a love for the water, and we feel right at home in Florida. Both of us grew up in Ohio, and never dreamed of moving, until two years ago when we moved to Sarasota. I have been married for 40 years and have two wonderful daughters. I always have something great to scrapbook!

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Gina Barnaba

I have always loved making things by hand. I have enjoyed many kinds of crafts, from jewelry making to cross-stitch, but my favorite and most addictive has been scrapbooking! I started stamping and card making in 1996 and moved into the scrapbook world in 2003, while pregnant with my daughter. I love that card making, stamping and scrapbooking cross over.

I like many different styles and constantly strive to learn new techniques. I also can't stop my desire for the newest gadget or tool that hits the scene. My life changed when my friend Kate, introduced me to Made For Memories. I was like a kid in a candy store. Now I get to play in the candy store, and meet wonderful people who love to do what I do; create spectacular memories that will be handed down generation after generation! 

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Sheri Maruca 

Resident Volunteer

I have always enjoyed crafting hobbies, like cross-stitch, ceramics, quilting, watercolor painting, photography and of course, Scrapbooking! I started creating scrapbooks as a teenager, but I really got excited about them in 1998, when I saw some completed albums that looked amazing. I had to learn those techniques to properly show off the photos of my adorable 5-year-old, David! I have been hooked ever since - this is the hobby that has truly stuck. My friends think I'm a scrap-a-holic, and I guess it must be true, because my dining room has been turned into a cropping center - just ask my husband, Mike.

I love helping our around Made For Memories because I'm surrounded by all the exciting new things in scrapbooking and the staff is pretty nice too - we laugh a lot! Plus, I get to play in a creative atmosphere while helping others! What could be better than that?

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Meet Our Wonderfully Talented and Creative Design Team

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Jenny Frank

My mother is so creative and talented and i was always inspired by her. When she introduced me to scrapbooking in 1996, i found my creative outlet, very quickly. i stepped away from scrapbooking during high school, and ventured into photography. Throughout college i dabbled a little here and there with scrapbooking, and through my Photo-Journalism Major, my passion for preserving my photos, grew. i returned home after college and began working in the store. i then took my creativity to another level.

i am a very Bright person and LOVE anything pink! My layouts are always bright,  colorful and filled with clean and simple elements. i love making cards and my new found creative outlet has become... stamping. i look forward to teaching more classes and meeting all of you!

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Jessica Ashodian

My name is Jessica and I have been scrapping' for about 3 1/2 years. I love being able to express myself creatively and create keepsakes at the same time. With a husband I love, a daughter I cherish more than anything else, and a large loving family, I have no shortage of photos and memories that I want to cherish and remember forever! I am so excited about all of the wonderful women that I have met so far. And I am doubly excited about all of the things that I have yet to learn!

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Gina Barnaba

Yippee, I made the design team! See my Bio above!

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Tissiana Bowman

I've been scrapbooking for eight years. I am a former school teacher and principal but am now fortunate enough to spend my time traveling and pursuing my hobby of scrapbooking.

I have submitted work to Creating Keepsakes and can usually be found working on layouts for Scrapbooking contests. My first scrapbook was an alternate assignment for a college class project, but I continued with others due to my love of photography. My style is diversified but my focus remains the same...the pictures. They say it all!

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Becky Saladino 

I started scrapbooking in 2003 when my son was only six months old. I felt such an urgency to capture all of those "firsts" that baby moments bring. As any beginner my style was simple and then one day I discovered the Autumn Leaves "Designing With" series of books, and the "Beyond" series books by Making Memories. Nothing was the same after that. Before I knew it I was surrounded by hoards of stamps, papers, and embellishments!

I enjoy taking photos of my family and friends and turning them into creative layouts. I also love to mix unconventional color combinations and use dimension on my pages. Exploring various techniques and the many ways they can be applied to a layout is a priority for me. I also enjoy cooking, shopping, travel and am actively involved in my church. By day I am a management consultant, and by night I am an avid scrapaholoic! I thank God for all the blessings in my life which are definitely a gift from Him.